Machon L’Yahadus Holds Annual Women’s Event

Photos: Chana Levine/COLlive

Hundreds of women and girls joined together last night at Lubavitcher Yeshiva for Machon L’Yahadus’ annual Boutique Auction, celebrating Rebbetzin Chana’s birthday in this special Hakhel year. Every chair in the audience was filled as a large crowd showed up to hear the beautiful words that were shared.

The always effervescent Miriam Friedfertig chaired the event. Rabbi Shloma Majeski, principal of Machon L’Yahadus, opened the evening with the Rebbe’s explanation of how we can make Hakhel a reality in our lives.

The evening was dedicated in memory of Sara Goldberg a”h and the audience heard from her friend Shainy Blotner about the impact she made during her short lifetime.

Malka Abalev, a Machon L’Yahadus alumna and currently student engagement coordinator for Chabad at Penn State, shared briefly her lively story filled with twists and turns of Hashgocho Protis of how she got to Machon L’Yahadus and the impact it has had on her life. Her story includes, in part, receiving a dollar of the Rebbe via her shluchim Rabbi Shmuel and Chana Tiechtel. That dollar was originally given by the Rebbe to Mrs. Hensha Gansburg who gave it to the Tiechtels to give to a student.

Malka then called Liba Rivkah Boss on stage. Malka had met Liba Rivkah at Penn State and urged her to attend Machon L’Yahadus. Liba Rivkah shared parts of her journey to Jewish observance and how meeting Malka and attending Machon L’Yahadus has impacted her life.

In a moving exchange, Malka gave her dollar from the Rebbe to Liba Rivkah, giving Liba Rivkah her blessing that she will impact people’s lives wherever she is.

Rabbi Majeski was presented with a special plaque by Malka and Liba Rivkah, representing his past and present students: “In gratitude for the tireless dedication and patient, sage guidance to all of your students.”

Musical entertainment featuring instrumentals opened the evening and was the finale of the program as well. At the finale, saxophonist and alum Sarah Avigayil Baum and vocalists Nadia Gold and Sofa Geula Yoffe – both current students – sang. In between each song, the young shared in just a few words what Machon L’Yahadus means to them: Finding answers to their questions and knowing where to find answers to questions when they have them; caring and being cared for like family at school by the staff and in the dorm by Mrs. Shterna Rodal; getting a firm foundation in Torah and Chassidus for establishing their own Jewish homes.

The delicious dairy buffet Melava Malka was set up beautifully by event designer Tziporah Hahn who said that she was aided by miracles to set up such a large event in such a short amount of time Motzei Shabbos.

All of the current students of Machon L’Yahadus, as well as many recent alumnae, were working before and during the event to help assure its success. They were directed by a team that co-ordinated the entire Boutique Auction which included Miriam Goldberg, Rivkah Luchins, Mirale Lazaroff, Hudy Lipsker and Yehudis Cohen.

Machon L’Yahadus would like to express heartfelt thanks and appreciation to each of the auction participants for their steadfast support of a cause so close to the Rebbe’s heart!

Machon L’Yahadus is under the auspices of NCFJE.

Mazal Tov to all of the winners!

Grand Prize: A Dollar from the Rebbe: Devorah Roness
Florida Family Kosherhomes.info Getaway: Aliza Elkayam
Ita Wig: Batsheva Feigenson

Split the Pot Winner:
Tzvi Shapiro

Gold Prize Winners:
$1,260 at Tzfasman Jewelers: Liba Rivkah Boss
$1,200 Cash: Basha Botnick
A Color Palette Session with Jessica: CM Lipskier
$1,000 at Kirsh Jewelers: Heniya Hirsch
$1,000 at Everything But the Baby: Leah Deitsch
$1,000 at Elite Sterling: Leah Ezagui
Exclusive Women’s Package: Chana Hershkowitz
Exclusive Men’s Package: Aliza Schmalberg
Magnificent Diamond & Sapphire Ring: Rivky Perlstein
Four Pairs of Glasses from See View Optical, up to a total of $1,200: S. Posner
A Month at Camp Emunah: Sara Hodaya Kohan
$1,200 Gas Card: Miriam Lipchik
iPhone 14 Pro: Nechama Dina
Two Airline Tickets Anywhere in the US: Leah Atlas

Entry Prize Winners:
Prize #1 ($250 to Albany Bakery): Y. Braun
Prize #2 (Handmade Challah board by Rabbi Daniel Sanoff #1 & set of Kosher cookbooks #1): Minkovicz
Prize #3 (Handmade Challah board by Rabbi Daniel Sanoff #2 & set of Kosher cookbooks #2): Sara Beznos
Prize #4 ($100 to Top Fashion & $150 to Totally Her): Nili Navot

If you have not yet claimed your prize, please reach out to Miriam Goldberg at 206-853-7747.