Participants of Mrs. Miryam Swerdlov’s Israel touring program for teens write about the life-changing experiences they had visiting Ukraine and Israel.
By F.B. – A participant of Mrs. Swerdlov’s program
Words cannot describe the feelings, the emotions and the growth of these 37 days.
We started in Kiev, and went to the Alter Rebbe’s Tzion in Haditch. The language has not been created yet to explain the pnimiyus hanefesh that was seen there.
Mrs. Miryam Swerdlov prepared us, as only she can, before we went into the tzion, most of all the 44 campers were crying. We felt like we had a yechidus with the Alter Rebbe. We went to Nyezshin, where the same thing was repeated with the Mitteler Rebbe, as well as Annipoli and Barditchev, where we understood that we go in ‘as is’, because Reb Levi Yitzchok is our ‘meilitz yosher’.
Of course before each mokom kodosh we were told about the Rebbe, we learned, we sang his niggun, (‘Mizrach Du’ became a favorite…) and we connected to the Yesterday. The name of our camp is YT”T, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, in each place we connected to Yesterday, to bring it to Today, for a better Tomorrow.
Mrs. Swerdlov is great at explaining and connecting to Yesterday, evoking and waking our feelings through words and niggun, Shosh Rabinowitz took incredible care of our Today – the Hotels, the food, the transportation, everything was planned to the last tiny detail.
The entire trip was a farbrengen. We learned lessons in life, we had shiurim daily, incredible life changing Rebbe Time with our dedicated 24/7 counselors, Ariella Schechter/Florida, Chana Ester Okunov/CH, and Sheina Klein/South Africa. They were true role models, and gave us their full time and attention at all times. Mrs. Swerdlov’s Shiurim and Swerly moments will stay with us forever. How can we forget: “Show up for your life”, “A chosid is a Mesudor”, “The first NO is the easiest”, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life”, “Every action has a re-action” remember, that wherever you go you take the Rebbe with you.”
By Z.T.:
When we stood at BabiYar, and saw the Ukrainians, a small part of me wanted revenge on the locals. Did they know how many Jewish lives had been claimed in their town? How many Jewish families suffered through their grand-parents’ hostility? Did the residents of Kiev not hear the gun-shots? And yet, I realized, LOOK AT US HERE, NOW. We are a large group of Chabad girls, back in this country, Jewish, alive, and well- the BEST REVENGE anyone could ask for.
Our first Shabbos was with the Baal Shem Tov in Mezibush. It was a Ruchniyusdiker Shabbos, as we never had experienced before. (Remember our age, we are post Gimmel Tammuz children.) We davened kabolas Shabbos in the Baal Shem’s Shul, and farbrenged an entire Shabbos with him.
Our second Shabbos, in Israel, we davened with the Rashbi in Meron, (the next Shabbos was Family Shabbos off), our fourth Shabbos we farbrenged in Kfar Chabad, and the last Shabbos, we davened where our tfillos all rise to shomayim, we davened with our Ovos and Imohos in Ir Hakodesh Chevron.
At every place, we met the Shliach and farbrenged with him. Of course, we had a great Chssidisher tour guide, Rabbi Choni Goldberg, exclusively, we met with Rabbi Astman and Rabbi Levenhartz in Kiev, Rabbi Wilhelm in Zitomir, Rabbi Horwits from Vinitza in Mezibush, Rabbi Yigal Tzipori in Kiryat Shmona, Rabbis Brod and Bolton in Kfar Chabad, Tova Mordechai in Tzfat, Rabbi Yonni Fein in Yerushalayim, Rabbi Mendelson in Arad, Rabbi Slonim in Mitzpe Ramon, Rabbi Victor Attia and Mrs. Bat Sheva Cohen in Chevron.
The trip was full of excitement as well, as we rafted the Jordan, hiked the mountains North and South, rappelled down cliffs, rode camels, (what a sight, 44 girls on 22 camels, we where a real caravan for an hour in the desert, we jeeped the desert too, learning about survival and the way that Hashem put everything where it has to go. We went to the Museum of the Blind and lived for an hour and a half in THAT world, we volunteered in Yad Sara, we went to Bait Hatfuzot. The lessons were so enhancing and deep. We even stayed in a 5 Star Bedouin tent, as Mrs. Swerdlov called it a 5000 star if you look at heaven……We learned the deeper meanings of everything, everywhere, not a second was wasted.
All in all, YT”T was an incredible experience for 44 very lucky girls. We became family, we were from all over the US, one girl from France, and even a girl from Israel, who said she never saw the land THIS way.
C.V. writes: I am going home with a full fledged flame that I hope will never dim, I learned the meaning of Chabad and the responsibilities that I have as a Chosid of the Rebbe. Thanks for giving me the tools and the experience which helped make me proud! Never will I forget this summer!
What did this trip do for us?
It made us proud to be the Rebbe’s children.
It brought our Yesterday into our Today to bring a better Tomorrow.
We learned the deeper meaning of Everything.
We grew in our Ruchniyus through Rebbe Time and Shiurim.
WE HAD SO MUCH FUN.
It made sisters out of 44 individuals.
It really brought Moshiach closer.
IT WAS WORTH EVERYTHING AND MORE.
Thank you Mrs. Swerdlov, Shosh, Ariella, Chana Esther, Sheina, Rivka, Rabbi Choni, Rabbi Pinya and everyone else who had a hand in this incredible journey.
Interviews for the SWERDLOV UKRAINE/ISRAEL PROGRAM (YT”T) will take place during the chof-beis shvat convention.
Please email [email protected] or call 718.774.1813 for an appointment.
a bunch of ppl i know
i was in mini’s progrem few years ago & i have to tell you that neshama in every minute we were together…she took care of us on the best way! she is the best!!!
if you have the option just let your daughter go…you will see your daughter after that & dont forget to tell us how she had changed….! she certainlly would be like the kineret & not like yam hamelach.. 😉
swerlly, thanx for everything!!!
machanyim 5767!!
its worth every penny !!!!you will experience spiritual highs and have th eblast of a lifetime!!!everyone must go!!!!!!!!!
camper 2010
this is worth every penny. unbelievable,inspiring, and just amazing.
I went on the israel program when it was only to israel – not ukraine, but it still was the best summer of my life! mrs swerdlov puts her heart into it and really cares about the girls, and the program is just 100% UNREAL. everything about it was superb. I say you’d be stupid not to spend the money and go!
as i sit here reading the comments, girls you know what i am doing, no, i am NOT eating cheese cake…..i am crying. THANK YOU all of you for your wonderful comments. it warms my heart and shows me that all the hours, work, planning and heart that goes into this incredible program, is worth it, and that you appreciate it. you all know i LOVE doing this and growing with you. thanks for your warm words. it makes me feel that it pays to keep on goin’………… can’t wait to see you all at the Friday night seuda Reunion… Read more »
We sent our daughter on the YT”T program with Mrs. Swerdlow lasy summer, and can tell you as parents that this was the best money we ever spent on a summer experience. It was more then a trip to see the sites, it was more then a visit to the holy places in Ukraine, it was a trip where the girls lived and experienced what they saw in a way that only Mrs. Swedrlow can make happen. If your daughter is in 10th grade, find a way to send her on this trip, as this will a be dollar well… Read more »
to all 10th and 11th graders, go!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it is the awesomest trip in the world! you will never forget it and will always be thankful that you went!
sooo excited!
omg this is the BEST summer program ever!!!!!
it’s life changing for real!!! im a different person!!!
between r amazing counselors and the girls its just the best!!
it rox!!!!
If you can afford it definitely, send ur daughters. I’ve only heard good reports. If only my parents could afford it I’d go as well. It’s definitely not an opportunity to pass up.
This past summer is one summer I will never forget. I had an unbelievable time and I felt that even just Ukraine alone was worth every penny that went into that summer! Words cannot describe the fun I had, in fact fun was brought to a new level on Mrs. Swerdlov’s program. I came to realize that you don’t need an amusement park to have a good time, but a learning experience does an even better job! I would greatly recommend this program to every tenth and eleventh grader! You will have a summer that will change your life!
Morah Swerdlow!!!thankyou forsuch a incredible trip!!!
it’s 4 girls coming out of 10th and 11th Grades.
This is one summer experience that is so unreal. I had the opportunity to talk to the Rabbeim and have an absolutely uplifting experience. No matter how may times you may visit Israel, you will never have the same experience if you go with this program.
Our daughter went last year. Best thing we did for her!
tenth and elevinth grade and is for 37 days
for wat age girls and wut month is this?
was the best decision i ever made for the summer!!!! highly recommend any girl whos up for a summer shell never forget 🙂