The “Voice of Sarah” writing contest, launched by Jewish Girls Unite, culminated on November 21/Cheshvan 24, in advance of Shabbat Chayei Sarah. The contest encouraged girls to consider and express in their own words, “How does our Matriarch Sarah inspire me? How do I emulate her and keep her legacy alive?” During a live, virtual leadership workshop with countrywide attendance, the top eleven winners were announced, the grand prizes were raffled off, and contestants presented their compositions to the group.
All contestants will be recognized and published on the JGU Blog (redesigned website coming soon)! The top eleven will each receive a prize from JGU:
Winners:
Sarah Emily Baum, Rivka Resnick, Basya Taub, Mushka Newman, Bina Meyers, Sarah Nessya Wolfe, Feiga Khutoretsky, Sorole Golomb, Blumi Marosov, Malkie Peiser, Tzipporah Prottas.
The Top 3 Winners of the raffle are:
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GRAND PRIZE ($250 with partial gift to organization of recipient’s choice that perpetuates Sarah’s legacy): Sorole Golomb
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2nd PRIZE (scholarship to JGU Winter Leadership Retreat): Blumi Marosov
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3rd PRIZE (like 2nd): Tzipporah Prottas
The broadcast featured Feiga reciting her poem, “Who Am I?” (excerpt below). Afterward, she remarked: “Thank you for this program! It’s amazing; I never really experienced JGU before, it looks like an unbelievable organization!”
“Who Am I?”
I’m at an age when I truly feel
With confidence and yearning so real;
I struggle to discover who I want to be
It’s a balance of worlds and realities.
One question with which I grapple,
That causes my world to unravel:
Who am I?
Am I defined by my clothes or hair,
Or perhaps by the shoes I wear?
Is it the designer label,
Or the mansion, house, or stable,
That makes me who I am?
Who am I?
It’s the generations that come before,
Sarah, our foremother of yore,
Instilling Middos, pride, and love
And the fear of Hashem Above,
To countless guests around,
And caused Hashem’s Name to resound
That makes me who I am.
Who am I?
It’s in me- her descendant
To carry on but a remnant
Of Sarah and her modesty,
Kindness, joy, and loyalty.
She treated each person with care so real
So I can’t help but truly feel:
She’s the foremother of my faith which I admire,
To follow in her footsteps is what I aspire.
JGU empowers our future mothers and leaders to channel the VOICE OF SARAH within them, by providing a platform and tools to inspire others through their talents and illuminate the world in all they do. AriAna, JGU camper, reflects: “JGU helps me on my journey to discover who I am.”
Cultivate your inner leader, create lasting friendships, and boost body and soul at an unforgettable Winter Leadership Retreat: “Where every girl grows, where every girl shines, where every girl is family!” Two programs are offered this year: December 25-31, 2019 (Grades 3-10); and January 23-26, 2020 (Grades 9-12).
For more info about weekly Online Leadership Workshops for girls, teens, women
contact Mrs. Nechama Laber at [email protected] or 518.727.9581, and register at JewishGirlsRetreat.net!
Voices of Sarah Winners:
Sara, my mother
Your legacy has upheld thousands of generations
Self-sacrifice through your pain
When you gave up being the mother of nations
Yet you were granted your dream and thus became
Sara, my mother
Sara, my role model
You stood by your husband’s side
With care and devotion, you taught
You became the woman’s spiritual guide
Your warmth and compassion they all sought
Sara, my role model
Sara, the prophetess
G-d said your level even by Abraham wasn’t surpassed
You were the one who should lead them in the right direction
Your belief in G-d eternally steadfast
You were the model of a women’s inborn perception
Sara, the prophetess
It’s you Sara, my mother who led me here today
It’s you Sara, my role model who I try to follow in your way
It’s you Sara, the prophetess whose message you’ve managed to relay
—Blumi Marosov, Age 15
Bnos Menachem
Brooklyn New York, USA
“Poem About Sarah Imeinu” by Sorole Golomb
Sara Imeinu.
My mother.
My Matriarch.
My role model.
Whom I try to emulate.
Not that we met
Although our souls may have.
Not that I tasted her loaves
Fresh from the previous week.
Not that I watched her light her candles
Ushering in the Shabbos Queen.
But,
She continues to inspire me.
For from who else can I learn
What it means to be selfless?
From who else can I learn
To follow blindly
In the way of G-d,
Believing He has paved a path for me.
From who else can I learn
The act of giving?
Giving for a higher purpose.
Giving for the Will of G-d.
Wholeheartedly.
For how much longer
Could she watch
Avraham childless?
G-ds plan must be fulfilled
She said
My significant role
In this story
Is to not play a significant role.
Quietly,
With poise
Like a true mother
A devoted Aishes Chayil
She placed the load
On her own shoulders
Giving Hagar a place in the home.
It wasn’t fair.
It was her place.
It was her right.
She wanted to give Abraham a son.
She didn’t know
That she would bear Yitzchak
And become a mighty nation.
She didn’t know
What G-d had in store for her.
She didn’t know
What the future would bring.
Yet she selflessly
Transcended.
Put herself aside.
Gave up
Her dreams
And played Her role
In G-ds script.
As the mother of our nation,
She guides us.
To trust.
To believe.
As we struggle to actualize our mission,
Our dreams,
She shows us
That there may be another solution.
Not to get distracted
By our vision
The way we
-little beings-
think things should happen.
There is a way to realize
The promises of G-d.
We learn from Sarah
Our significant role
When at home
When in view
She gives us strength.
As Jewish girls
We are the future.
The mother’s to be.
And from Sarah, we learn
How to be a mother.
A mother loves
Unconditionally
A mother imparts
Lessons.
And a mother gives
Selflessly.
I thank you Sarah
For showing me
How.
—Sorole Golomb, Age 17
OYY High Manchester
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Wohoo Sorole Golomb!! :)))
Well done,😀
yayayy soroleee
Sorole, you share the name of our mother Sarah. With an le for added affection. How wisely you captured the essence of our טייערע mother sarah.
May you be showered with. ברכות
Beautifully written as always!!! We love you!!
Mazal Tov, Sorole! So proud of you!!
Sorele I’m very proud of you. You can add this to your many literary achievements. Tatty