Young Shluchim who participate in MyShliach’s Ach Sheli “big brother” program met their mentors for a special program in Oholei Torah this past Thursday.
Ach Sheli pairs young shluchim around the globe with bochurim who give of their time once a week to learn, shmooze and farbreng with the boys, helping them maintain and strengthen Yiddishe and Chassidishe values in their remote places of shlichus. There are currently over 350 boys and girls in the program.
As participants from around the globe traveled to Crown Heights for the Kinus Hashluchim they were offered a chance to meet their long distance chavrusas face to face.
“The energy was incredible,” said Rabbi Mendel Weingarten, Ach Sheli coordinator. “The program has seen tremendous growth over the past year, with over 200 participants in the boys’ division and many joining the girls’ division as well. For most of the boys here, they were meeting their mentor in person for the first time.”
The program began with a test for the boys who are competing in the upcoming Chidon Sefer Hamitzvos. Rabbi Zalman Glick, Editor in Chief of the Yahadus curriculum, tested the boys. “I was extremely impressed with the level of mastery the boys had over the material, especially since It’s only 7 weeks into the program and they’ve only taken 3 tests” he said. 326 boys and girls from the MyShliach division of Tzivos Hashem are enrolled in this year’s Chidon Sefer Hamitzvos. The boys will return to New York for the International Chidon Hamitzvos in Adar, iy”H.
The young shluchim and bochurim then learned together and enjoyed a special program.
“It was amazing to see the excitement on the kids’ faces, especially the ones who were meeting their chavrusos for the first time,” Moshe Shapiro, a bochur in Oholei Torah who participates in MyShliach, said. “It would be even more amazing if we could do this more often!
Many of the bochurim currently giving their time shared that they had participated in the program as boys, and they want to be able to share the same chayus and connection they felt with the newest generation of young shluchim.
As a bochur thinking about joining Ach Sheli, Shmuel Rubinstein shared his thoughts at the end of the day. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to join the program and be a mentor, if I would have the time to spend, but after seeing the chayus in the zal with all of the chavrusos learning in the same place, I’m sure this is something I want to be a part of.”
MyShliach would like to express their hakoras hatov to the event coordinators and especially to the Hanholo of Oholei Torah for making this event possible. Thank you!
MyShliach, a project of Merkos Suite 302, coordinates regional shabbatons, Chidon Sefer Hamitzvos, the Yaldei Hashluchim Book Library, online farbrengens, surprise nosh packages and other programs for the well-being of shluchim’s children worldwide.
Every child benefits from such a relationship. Kids in crown heights too, I hope someone starts such a program for local kids soon.