Grand Bat Mitzvah Shabbaton for Shluchim Online School

FRESNO, CA [CHI] — This past Shabbos a group of 5th and 6th graders attending the Shluchim Online School gathered together for a grand shabbaton at Chabad of Fresno, in conjunction with the Bas Mitzvah celebration of one of their fellow classmates, Esty Zirkind.

The Shluchim Online School consists of a boys and girls division directed and run by Rabbi Gedalya Shemtov, Rabbi Moshe Shemtov, Mrs. Gitty Rosenfeld and and a devoted teaching staff. The boys division has been made possible by Meyer and Lilian Nigri and Family of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

B”H, This get-together was an amazing experience for the girls to inspire and enjoy one another in a chassidish, fun and inspirational way.

As girls from Duluth, Carlsbad, Temecula, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Sacramento and Valencia arrived and greeted each other, a tangible energy and excitement could be felt. Each girl received a beautiful welcome kit from The Shluchim Office and enjoyed a delicious supper, compliments of The Zirkinds.

Throughout the Shabbaton, the girls enjoyed exciting trips, crafts, swimming, acting, learning, farbrenging and scavenger hunts.

On Friday their day began with greeting their fellow classmates who could not attend, on the computer, and followed with a grand scavenger hunt at the mall, bowling, swimming and preparations for Shabbos. Throughout Shabbos, they shared their unique Shlichus stories, farbrenged with one another, sang niggunim and got ready to celebrate Esti’s Bas Mitzvah. This inspiring Shabbos ended with a lively dance of “From 770 we’re marching out” and havdallah under the stars.

Motzei Shabbos and Sunday were action packed with a Living Torah video, a trip to 7-11, delicious pizza and falafel, bumper boating, go-karting and laser tag. This exciting day ended with Esti’s beautiful Bas Mitzvah celebration where the girls performed a skit for the Chabad of Fresno community. With all the speeches, dancing and even limo transportation, no wonder it so hard to say goodbye.

We would like to thank the Zirkind Family @ Chabad of Fresno, CA for hosting this event for the students.

We would like to thank Ms. Gillie Resnick for coordinating this Shabbaton.

We hope it has given the Rebbe much nachas.