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Wednesday, 26 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 6, 2024

Our Harrowing Shabbos Adventure

From the COLlive Inbox: It was about an hour and a half before Shabbos when we realized: we were not going to make it to LA before sundown. What's a group of young girls on a road trip to do? Full Story

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August 12, 2011 7:05 pm

1. We are not a group of teenaged girls, we are a few years out of seminary. 2. We were not working for shluchim who did or did not ‘allow’ us to go. 3. We know fully, without the help of these comments, that it was risky and not smart. The point of the article was in praise of the shluchim. 4. Our mothers bh knew what was happening and trusted us to make good choices. We are mature adults and independent as such. Our parents have nothing to do with this. 5. We were not relying on the shluchim… Read more »

been there done that
August 12, 2011 6:04 pm

knowing that Monterrey is quite a few hours from LA, they did leave in the morning…but California is full of traffic… that was a bit risky

the right thing to do:
August 12, 2011 5:14 pm

traveling on erev shabbos should obviously be done responsibly. Besides for that it is a known thing that one should take challah and wine (and candles) with them.
this is supposed to be a precaution is case one is indeed stuck…but it is also suppose to help ( not sure if its a segulah so i’m not using that word..but that type of thing..) that one should make it to their destination on time…

to 17
August 12, 2011 5:13 pm

Agreed. Safety comes first. Not even really a matter of chassidishkiet, but plain old common sense, safety, responsibility, and tznius. If I was their mother, I would NOT be proud. We need to teach our children to be SMART about safety, and responsibility. And sometimes they are just not ready to be so unsupervised. BTW, I reember as a teenager, it was “cool” for girls even the supposedly chassidish one to have these types of adventures, and do things recklessly. It was never really my style, and my parents certainly would have been quite upset had they found out I… Read more »

girls travelling
August 12, 2011 4:28 pm

i know that the rebbe was against bochurim “touring”.does anyone know if this was also said regading girls?

RABBI AND MRS. MUCHNIK
August 12, 2011 4:10 pm

I personally witnessed how Rabbi and Rachli are the role model Shluchim. They are loving parents and gem of people.

To# 37:
August 12, 2011 4:08 pm

So that others shouldn’t emulate and then be a “hero of Hashgocho Protis”, and have something “beautifully written”!!

Read!!
August 12, 2011 3:19 pm

It doesn’t say, that they were counselors or working for shluchim, though they can take a lesson. It says they left in the morning, not close too chabbos. I assume Chabad house was locked- that’s why they didn’t stay there. Also,when you are stuck before Shabbos with the clock ticking, you start to panic. So perhaps they didn’t make the best decisions -don’t judge them now- Monday morning quarterback.

to all the mean comments
August 12, 2011 3:11 pm

i think they were very nervous and scared when it happened. why right all these mean comments? i;m sure they learned their lesson and it won’t happen again.

read the story...
August 12, 2011 3:04 pm

where does it say anything about them working for a shliach who let them do this?

To 33
August 12, 2011 2:39 pm

It IS a beautifully written article – and girls should enjoy their summers. It is wonderful that they have Hakoras Hatov. However….this is a story that could have ended r’l in a very different way. Leaving late on Friday, pulling into a seedy motel…walking alone – sleeping in a lobby in an inn…all extremely reckless behaviors…As a mom, my heart when into my stomach reading this. BH for the good ending, but there must be some introspection here of: -responsibility to shluchim for the girls they hire -responsibility for the girls to know Halacha about traveling on Friday afternoon (especially… Read more »

to #33:
August 12, 2011 2:22 pm

“they were not doing ANYTHING wrong”. Really??!!

excuse me!!!
August 12, 2011 1:42 pm

why is people always complaining??? whats wrong with girls enjoying their summer?? they were not doing ANYTHING wrong or prost…….this was beautifully written…once again!!!!

N.T

Dangerous
August 12, 2011 1:29 pm

There is something wild and loose about the whole story.

This is something that has to be addressed by camps, and the reason that so many are reluctant to allow their girls to go to day camps.

What a way to learn a lesson. Thank G-d for the happy ending.

anxious mom
August 12, 2011 1:14 pm

I think as teenagers girls and boys don”t realize the possible consequences of their actions. It is up to the shluchim they work for to take responsibilty and monitor their behaviour including where and when are you going for Shabbos. I remember those days of driving into L.A. from another area of Ca. and barely sliding into our hostesses home in time for Shabbos. This causes stress all around including parents, hostesses and the kids themselves. Shluchim, care for our kids the way you would want someone to care for yours!!! If you are still young yourselves, then do it… Read more »

agree to #17
August 12, 2011 12:31 pm

recklessness and irresponsibility is nothing to be proud of.
girls: you learned your lesson. don’t do that again

To #17
August 12, 2011 12:02 pm

I totally agree! Also, it’s one thing to make a day trip, but to travel so unprepared on Erev Shabbos – it’s totally wrong!!

why the drama
August 12, 2011 11:59 am

Pull over at a gas station, buy a beer for kiddush some potato chips and spend shabbos in a motel, why air your irresponsibility in public?

well said #17
August 12, 2011 11:57 am

as an aside (b/c I do not know the details of this story) this trend of young girls going touring, vacationing, is not part of our heritage! I do hope that these girls however sent a donation with their thank you card.

!!!!!
August 12, 2011 11:40 am

i agree with # 3 completely! u gotta be safe and not go crazy far places on friday aftenoon, esp if u know california fri traaffic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cuz i know and wud never do it!

Nothing wrong with you!#17
August 12, 2011 11:19 am

I fully agree with you! There are girls touring exotic places that their mothers and bubbys never heard of. ” Where are you going? Where are you staying?” “Oh don’t worry we’re going as a group. There are shluchim all over”. Since when is this the in thing to do? And since when do mothers feel they dont even have to fully know where their daughters are. Maybe I am old fashioned but i really can’t help it.

halacha
August 12, 2011 11:15 am

amzaing story about the sluchim etc BUT didnt you ever learn plain old shulchan aruch- col this is ur chance this is NOT the first story to b posted about ppl getting stuck b4 shabbos pleez post an article about these halachos we all need a review

CHOOKERS.
August 12, 2011 11:06 am

GREAT STORY.

chabad house
August 12, 2011 10:12 am

why didn’t these girls just stay at the chabad house over night, instead of sitting in chairs at a hotel down the street?

well said
August 12, 2011 10:09 am

agree with#17

wonderful girls, wonderful shluchim
August 12, 2011 9:55 am

but we still havwea shulchan oruch. erev shabbos we leave in the morning to get to our destination HOURS before licht bentchen-not just make iti or even an hour or two ahead.this is simple shulchan oruch.Very poshut-no wow story.

to #17 Gimatria TOV
August 12, 2011 9:21 am

The best post ever. Men Darf Unhalten In Di Klamkeh. BH you see beautiful chasidishe familys. the reaso there kids are following the Rebbes derch? Because parents still realize their 1st priority in life a as a chabad chosid is? where are your kids 24/7, call them txt them, show that you care about their Gashmiyus & Ruchnius. kamayim hapnaim el Panim ken Lev Hadam el Hadam. May we merit much Chassidishe Yiddishe Nachas. As a veteran Shliach, all I can say is that I DO NOT let our cgi staff travel more than 1Hour distance on a Friday. if… Read more »

yeah
August 12, 2011 8:32 am

go number 17 at least someone has the right idea. I agree completely.

What's wrong with ME
August 12, 2011 7:58 am

When I read this story I had very different thoughts than most of those in the Comments. What has happened to us as Chasidim? How is it possible for single girls to be traveling in all kinds of places around the world wwithout a care. Big Deal ! They’ll get stock on the road they’ll check into a motel after all they’re modern emancipated women! they’re not old fashioned Shtetl girls from Nevel! They’ll have Hasgocho Pratis and they’ll end up speaking to someone (male or female) about Judaism! Wow what a Kiddush Hashem !? So what’s wrong with me?… Read more »

NOLA
August 12, 2011 7:44 am

#12 most of your story is correct, Your uncle was stranded with his family and guests. However,contrary to reports, as awful as conditions at the Superdome were – crowding, non-functioning bathrooms, stifliing heat, lack of food and water, etc. there were no murders, stabbings or other horrific crimes. Both the girls story and the events of Hurricane Katrina and other disaasters have the same messages. It is always wise to remember the Scout motto – be prepared, to take all precautions to avoid any anticipated problems. I am distressed by some of the comments in the story and the responses.… Read more »

#12, there were no murders in the superdome
August 12, 2011 3:07 am

No other terrible crimes either.

for next time
August 12, 2011 2:40 am

ein somchin al hanes

Agree with 5
August 12, 2011 2:21 am

Shluchim are out there to be an address for Jewish people to go to in times of need. However, although they might not show it or ask for help financially or in an other way – they really need it!
Please be sensitive and menchlich and give back to those who are bending over backwards to help others.

Super touching
August 12, 2011 1:18 am

I was truly touched by reading the article. It’s truly very touching what these shluchim did for these girls. It reminds me of a story that happened with my Uncle and aunt who are shluchim in Louisiana. By hurricane Katrina, he received a call from a couple teenaged Jewish girls who were vacationing in New Orleans, “we are in our hotel and they are evacuating the hotel and instructing us to go to the super dome, how do we get there?” He told them that he’s uncomfortable with letting them go there and he’ll pick them up and they”ll stay… Read more »

wow
August 12, 2011 1:11 am

this story was amazing!! even more so when i realized that i stayed by their house for shabbos and how amazing they were!!! amazing people!!!

It's wrong!
August 12, 2011 12:26 am

I can tell you hair raising stories of girls that got lost on Friday (went to Reform synagogue, had Jews drive to the grocery store and buy them kosher food!!!) from today until tomorrow. Bottom line: Shluchim, don’t let your counselors leave more than ten minutes after camp is over. If they miss that deadline, they stay home for Shabbos. Also, check traffic before you leave – if there is traffic skip it. Fill your tank Friday morning – not on your way to the freeway, etc.

scary, but inspiring
August 12, 2011 12:07 am

We know that everhything hashem does is for a reason. without all this happening , you would not have been affected so positively the way that you were..and who knows in the future how this experience will lead you to do good for others and impact other peoples lives in such a special way the way these shluchim have done for you.

Similar Story
August 11, 2011 11:50 pm

We has a similar story in California, stranded before Shabbos booked into the closest hotel near Rabbi Levitansky A”h in S. Monica. I will never forget how he invited us girls into his home. How fortunate we are to be Chassidim of the Rebbe. Chasidim Zeinin ein Mishpocha. Ashreinu Matov Chelkeinu!

Chaim Tovim
August 11, 2011 11:25 pm

This is why Shulchan Aruch says not to travel Friday afternoon…

Mr. 3
August 11, 2011 11:08 pm

BS:D
hello to # 3 if you had any experience in life you would understand that even the mistakes we make are arranged by Hashem for a purpose. be a little bit more accepting , it’s enough criticism on these cites, you think after their experience they need your ” expert advice “

Been there
August 11, 2011 10:45 pm

I have had to crash at shluchim a few times when younger.. and let me state this: be generous later on in life…

Shluchim are not a free camping grounds.. The least you can do is support their continued work

amazing
August 11, 2011 10:44 pm

this is so inspiring! BH you all are alright! Thanks for sharing this

hello......?!
August 11, 2011 10:19 pm

why were you roadtripping on friday afternoon?
its all HP, and you still need to plan ahead and be more cautios ALL AROUND!

go the muchniks!
August 11, 2011 10:10 pm

rabbi dov and racheli muchnik are real inspirations and shluchim of the rebbe. i have seen it myself first hand! keep it up!

Wow!!
August 11, 2011 9:52 pm

R.B. Does it again!! WoooHooo!!:)
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