19 Kislev at Headquarters
On a typical evening, you’d walk through the entrance to Mironova and expect to hear the sounds of ping pong balls and playstations. Not any more.
For the past four weeks, all you could hear in Mironova was the sound of boys studying Tanya and Maamorim by heart. They got up early in the morning to go to the Mikva, and spent their free time after school saying Chitas. Each Farbrengen got more intense as the boys took on new Hachlotos, preparing themselves for the New Year of Chassidism.
“Mivtza Yud-Tes Kislev” reached its climax yesterday. A large ceremony was held and the winners of the prizes were announced. Coming in first place were: Misters ?-?-? Sulai and Moshe Olshevsky. With G-d’s help, they will pack their bags in a few weeks, and board the plane to spend Yud Shvat in 770!
Berel Chupin came in second place, receiving a Sony PSP. There were many other prizes including a Kodak 5MP camera, four 3.2MP cameras, gameboys and lots more.
The program was a huge success, filling the fifty boys in Yeshiva with a special energy and excitement that will no doubt continue throughout the year and help bring “Moshiach Now!”
House Call
Being Yud-Tes Kislev, I was feeling a bit inspired by the effect of the Alter Rebbe in the world today. Even in remote areas, sparks are shining in Jewish souls. I decided to call someone who has been to camp and has been inspired, but for some reason or another, has never made it to Yeshiva. Avrohom Gurevitch is living in Ismael, a small suburb of
When I asked Avrohom if he new today’s Jewish date, he very matter-of-factly said, “Today is Yud-Tes Kislev, the day that the Alter Rebbe was freed from prison.” Recently, the Shliach in
Avrohom wanted to know if there was a camp this year and how it was. He has an internet connection at home and checks our site regularly, eagerly awaiting new posts.
Avrohom and Eli Chaim. Simferopol, 2002.
Belanova, 2003.
Levi Zelixon, Avrohom and Chaim. Belanova, 2003.
Levi Raskin with Rafi and Avrohom. Belanova, 2003.
Avrohom recieving his Teffillin. Mironova, 2003.
Tzivos Hashem of the C.I.S. totally prepared for Chanukah
Tzivos Hashem of the Former Soviet Union has finished all their preparations for Chanukah. The director of Programs and Publishing of Tzivos Hashem, Rabbi Shmuli Brown decided its time to give all Shluchim in the whole of the former Soviet Union a chance to benefit from the world reknown olive oil workshop.Rabbi Yossi Glick, director of the FSU branch of Tzivos Hashem says, “By making workshops available to the Shluchim, it will give them more freedom to make as many programs as possible whenever they would like without having to rely on Tzivos Hashem traveling to their city with our workshops”.
The set that is available to the Shluchim consists of an old fashioned style press made of metal and wood and all the necessary equipment to show the children how to make olive oil whilst simultaneously teaching the children about the Chanukah story and miracles. Tzivos Hashem has already sent out many presses even
Besides for the presses that got sent out to the Shluchim, Tzivos Hashem will be traveling around the FSU to the cities that specifically wanted their trained staff to show them the Chanuka program which includes olive oil, dreidel and latke making.
Farbrengen in Seagate
In honor of the 19th of Kislev, the Rosh Hashanah of Chassidism, a beautiful farbengen was held at Yeshiva Tiferes Menachem of Sea Gate, NY. Everyone made Lchaim, sang Niggunim and listened to words of inspiration from Rabbis Avrohom Lipsker, Abba Paltiel, Sholom Baras and Dr. Dovid Sholom Pape. Aside from the regular faculty and students, many guests and former students participated. Among the students of the Yeshiva are seven graduates of our very own Yeshiva in Yeka.
Binyamin Kaminsky's Experience in Yeka!
Here is an essay that Binyamin Kaminsky wrote about his experience in Yekatrinoslav last year (Not this past year). All I can say is beautiful.
The words and phrases ricocheted feverously in my head constantly, day in day out, without so much as a few seconds for my mind to ponder rationally for a brief moment, the task I was about to undertake. "You're crazy!" "No seriously, what are you really doing this summer?" "Are you out of your mind?"
Was I indeed crazy? I didn't believe so, or at least when I had thought out the idea I didn't think so. Being a counselor at a camp for underprivileged Jewish children in the Ukraine was not by any means a minor task. Had my passion for caring, and helping the Jewish youth of our world become demented? Sure I had been president of the Hatnuah Jewish Youth Organization in Hong Kong, and helped out once a week in leading a children’s service at synagogue. But flying ten hours to Eastern Europe, only to have a three day bus ride ahead of me in an automobile that looked more junkyard scrap than vehicle, was slightly unnerving. This coupled with the fact that my attempted crash course mastery of the Russian language hadn’t been very masterful made my odds of productivity in Ukraine look very slim, and left the task ahead of me daunting. Yet there was a certain burning desire that persisted within me to continue my mission to help Jewish children less fortunate than I, and see that camp Yekatrinoslav, in Bellanova, Ukraine, a tiny speck on the map, would be a resounding success.
Following a three-day orientation designed to, “fire up” staff members, the campers were due to arrive. Needless to say I was superfluously worried. Suppose the kids didn’t like me? What if my Russian wasn’t good enough? However, the moment the first camper hopped off the first bus, with a smile adorning his face from ear to ear, I knew that going to the Ukraine, and following one of my true passions had been a wise choice.
As camp wore on, and I better familiarized myself with the children, my desire to be the best counselor, mentor, and friend to my campers increased exponentially. This was more than likely due to hearing ubiquitous horror stories of families shattered by alcoholism, death, and poverty. It was common for a boy to be an orphan or have had a parent pass away. Most of the kids came to camp for 4 weeks with literally a daypack on their back stuffed with two, if lucky three t-shirts. The boys couldn’t understand why the Americans had two oversized duffel bags each. I very quickly began to enjoy a newfound appreciation for just how lucky I was. Pocket change to me, was a small fortune to the boys. My spending habits, although normal at home began to feel disgusting. Furthermore, every hour I spent at Bellanova, I increasingly began missing my parents, siblings, and friends. Not because I was homesick, I had certainly spent similar periods of time away from home, but because I badly relished the opportunity to pay homage to all that I cherished in life, and all that I was so fortunate to have.
Although by the end of camp, I was definitely not fluent in Russian, the bond that I formed with the kids of Camp Yekatrinoslav transcended all notion of speech, and in fact was a language in and of itself. Proof of this was the emotional conclusion of our stay in Bellanova. To see 30 young viral men, tough enough to withstand four weeks of nothing but kasha and cabbage soup, sobbing in a circle is remarkable, and cannot be rationalized.
The leaps and bounds I made in my personal growth while in Ukraine were tremendous. Not only did I mature emotionally, but I also matured spiritually. I witnessed firsthand what utter caring and devotion, and the instillation of a few ounces of Jewish pride could do to a few kids. For four brief weeks, we gave 120 kids, the opportunity to be kids again. No more drinking, no more working, no more smoking, no more mourning. The results brought tears to my face, a sense of fulfilment and growth, and finally, a ticket back in August 2006.Suma Hosts New Show!
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Yeka in the News
"The official website of Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters," Lubavitch.com, seems to be taking a lot of interest in Dneper lately…A Letter From: Skitso-Fritso-Maisay!
Dearest Yekoids, Yekites and soon to be kites,
If there was ever a story of revealed Hashgacha Protis, this is it!!
So I spent the year in
As time went by, I forgot about Yeka and started to schedule my summer. A few of my American buddies came to
It was the last night of camp in Kharakov, and my phone rings. "Moshe Hecht you little *&%$*&!!!”
“Benny, is that you?”
“Yeah Mosh. You have no idea how much I love you, and need you…"
To make a long story short, Benny tells me the whole situation… how the camp really needs me for night activity, etc. I think I heard Akiva in the background telling Benny what to say!!
It was a really tough decision. I had made plans months before with my friends to go to
The first video that Akiva and I made, took just a few hours. I have to say, G-d works in funny ways. “A Mentch Tracht Un Gut Lacht,” is so freakin true! It was an honor and a privilege to be “Skitso-Fritso-Maisay” this summer!
The staff were the best group of guys I’ve ever worked with in my entire life. I always felt confident on stage, because the counselors were always there to cheer me on, so thank you guys. I really think we changed many kid’s lives this summer!!!
In closing; when the Rebbe starts to say Sichos again, you'll definitely hear the word YEKA!!!
I love you guys so much, and I hope you have as much fun watching the videos as we did making them!!
Peretz, I love you man (and sorry I had to beat you in color war).
Love, Skitso-Fritso-Maisay
Yeka camp picture... WITHOUT CAMP T-SHIRTS!!
... Stay tuned Yekoids... Next up is a composition that Counselor Binyamin Kaminsky wrote about last summers experience!
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