Leeds School Celebrates Shvat

The Leeds Jewish High School, a regional high school for daughters of Shluchim in the North of England, celebrated Chodesh Shevat on chamisha asar b’shevat.

In the weeks leading up to this event all the girls worked extremely hard to create a 3D presentation depicting anything in relation to Yud Shevat and Chof Beis Shevat. The competition brought out the creativity of the students, all producing outstanding works of art with Toichen portraying various lessons and stories from the two special chassidishe events.

Rabbi and Mrs. Angyalfi were tasked with judging the competition, and then all went on to enjoy a pizza lunch followed by fruit smoothies and chocolate fondue in honor of chamisha asar B’shevat.

The program ended with the two younger classes doing a fantastic rendition of a perfectly memorized Bosi L’Gani and the two girls in the older class each spoke. Their inspirational words are presented below.

The exceptional atmosphere of achdus and chassidishe festivity surely brought much Nachas to the Rebbe.

What Does Yud Shevat Mean to Me?

By: Chanah Brochoh Golomb, Sheffield England

Yud Shevat is the day that our Rebbe took on the Nesius as the 7th Chabad Rebbe.
Although I unfortunately did not merit to see the Rebbe, I know that he is always here with me, guiding, leading and helping me in my spiritual growth and in his work that I am continuing, his Shlichus.
The Rebbe chose a special Mivtza that he asked us, his Shluchim to do, Uforatzta. He sent all us Shluchim out to all the corners of the earth to seek out those who are less fortunate and knowledgeable and teach about Torah and do its mitzvos.
This is my job as a Shlucha of the Rebbe. He sent out my family to a place where not many Jews live to help strengthen their connection to Hashem and to eventually bring them closer to yiddishkeit.
On Yud Aleph Nissan 5745 which was to be the last birthday on which the Rebbe farbrenged, the Rebbe said,
“I am the hands and feet of the Frierdiker Rebbe. Just like a Sefer Torah needs to dance on Simchas Torah and we are it’s hands and feet, so I am the hands and feet, continuing the Frierdiker Rebbe’s’ work”
So too I am continuing the Rebbe’s work, I am his hands and feet.
The reason we are able to continue the Rebbe’s work is because the Rebbe put his Kochos into us, to help us with our work from his Chassidus,
By living in a not yet frum community, I am showing the Rebbe proudly, “look I am continuing your work, look what I am doing for you and look how far you have therefore come.”
The Rebbe chose to call us his Shluchim for a special reason. We are his Shluchim, his messengers. We are coming from somewhere and doing a specific job that our Nasi has encouraged us to do. He encourages us to keep on trying to bring more yidden closer to yiddishkeit while he shepps nachas.
So Yud Shevat is the day that the Rebbe took on his great nesius, through much encouragement from the Rebbetzin, and is what brought about the establishment of my Shlichus, which has made me who I am today.
I will continue to do the Rebbe’s work with a smile and with the way of a Bas Melech Pnimah to make the Rebbe proud. Through this we will bring the Geulah speedily in our days, Omen.

What does Chof Beis Shevat Mean to Me?

By: Mussie Danow, Leeds England

“Can’t close my suitcase!”
Vroom! Beep! Beep!
“Please fasten your seatbelts”
“Ah, that was such a good sleep”

“Ma’am where to now?”
“The Ohel and then please Crown Heights”
“Omigosh! Hey! Long time no see!”
Go Kinnus! Oh what an awesome sight!

Yup, that time of year has come again
A buzz of excitement everywhere,
Credit cards are emptied and crown heights gets busy,
‘Cuz Kinnus has arrived with no time to spare.

From trips and games
To singing and cheering
Full of action and fun
With great counsellors, so loving and caring.

‘cuz it’s the time of chof beis shevat
A special time of year
When we gather from all over
To inspire and to share

A time to have fun
A time to rejoice
A time to just chill
A time to lose your voice

A time to socialise
A time to be inspired
A time to energise
A time you don’t get tired

From yellow school buses to Kingston avenue,
From late nights, to Beis Rivkah productions
Seeing camp friends, kinnus friends and even buzz friends
All the shop windows telling massive reductions

The most fantastic Shabbos meals
And going to bed past 5am
People looking at you as though you’re crazy
But you just go and tell them

That it’s the time of chof beis Shevat
A special time of year
When we gather from all over
To inspire and to share

A time to see family
A time to eat out
A time to bombard nosh world
A time to freak out

A time to tour crown heights
A time to go shopping
A time to nearly miss flights
A time to run without stopping

Meeting family and friends
Whom you haven’t seen in a while
Going up and down Kingston
And emptying the aisles

Visiting the Ohel
And 770 right there
A chance to refill your battery
For the upcoming year

‘cuz it’s the time of chof beis shevat
That special time of year
A time to learn, to grow and to inspire
And to bring everything back with us home, over here!