An Experiential Yud Shevat

by Sarale Blau – Beis Rivkah

Yud Shevat. A huge day for every Chabad chossid. Teenagers know the historical significance of the day, but how do we get girls that were born after Gimmel Tamuz to feel the significance of the day? How can we bridge the gap between the people who lived with farbrengens and yechidusin and the high school girls of today?

The girls watch videos, they go to the Ohel. But in order to prepare for Yud Shevat, the girls of Bais Rivkah got to go behind the scenes of a live My Encounter with the Rebbe interview with JEM. Instead of having someone talk AT them, the girls had the opportunity to have someone talk to them and with them. In a living room style setting with a piano backdrop, the girls sat riveted as the interviews unfolded.

With camera, lights and action, Rabbi Yechiel Cagen of JEM’s My Encounter with the Rebbe project arranged for three charismatic and eloquent women to share their personal experiences of the Rebbe with the girls, and to answer questions that the girls had. Under Rabbi Cagen’s guidance, the girls themselves interviewed the women, and were able to internalize how the Rebbe so lovingly cares for every Jew.

Over 500 girls participated in this special project, in eight different sessions held over the course of two days.

The first interviewee, Mrs. Yehudis Engel, told them how she always felt that the Rebbe was like her Zaidy and that she felt so close to him. She recounted that as a young girl she’d walk from Williamsburg to Crown heights every Shabbos Mevorchim with her father to join the Rebbe’s farbrengen and it was the highlight of her month! At times, she was the only girl there.

Mrs. Tzivia Jacobson, the second interviewee, talked about her yechidus with the Frierdiker Rebbe and about the Rebbe being mesader kedushin at her wedding. She also described some of her late husband’s, Rabbi Gershon Ber Jacobson, many interactions with the Rebbe.

In the third interview, a girl asked Mrs. Sara Karmely what her last memory of the Rebbe was. “There is no last memory” she said with a smile.” The Rebbe continues to be with us and help us.

Even if a parent passes away, G-d forbid, the connection is still there, even if you can’t see them. So too with the Rebbe, he is our father and therefore, even though he may not be here physically, the connection is still there.”

The girls were riveted as they listened to the Rebbe’s practical advice to Mrs Karmely, on Shalom Bayis and maintaining peace at home at all costs.

The girls were very moved by the opportunity to participate in the actual transmission of these experiences. “We learnt about what is was like to be with the Rebbe before Gimmel Tammuz, but at the same time it helped me recognize how I can connect to the Rebbe now too”, said Chana L.

“We all hear so much about the Rebbe, but this felt so real. It may have been a short session, but it’s more than we’ve learnt in a long time”, said Tova N.

Many of the girls’ questions centered around how the connection with the Rebbe can be experienced by young people today.

Bais Rivkah wants to give a special thank you to Mr. Yerachmeal and Rivka Leah Jacobson who generously funded the special program. It is an experience that the girls won’t forget for a long time.