Seminary Girls Mark 22 Shvat

By: Batsheva Fridman – student at Ohel Chana Seminary

While programs around the world were going on, including the Kinus Hashluchos, Ohel Chana Seminary in Australia made their own banquet to celebrate Chof Beis Shvat.

Over delicious milchig food made by the girls themselves, they recounted past and present stories inspired by the Rebbetzin and learnt a deeper meaning to the special day.

The room was beautifully decorated in sparkly fairy lights and a dim pink glow, along with hand painted pictures of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka on the walls; all contributing to the regal feel of the program. The girls each received a shlucha card with their photos and the name of their hometown, highlighting that wherever they are, they are shluchos.

As the courses went on, segments of a brochure prepared by their incredible dorm counselors, Chaya Jaffe, Shevi Serybransky and Pessy Bacher were read by different girls and discussed. Hachlato resolutions “for increased efforts in spreading Yiddishkeit, in particular, spreading the three mitzvos, lighting Shabbos candles, kashrus, and Taharas HaMishpochoh, which are associated with Jewish women” (Sicha Parshas Yisro 5750) were then taken on in honor of the Rebbetzin for the remainder of the year.

The banquet was followed by a chassidishe farbrengen given over by Mrs. Leah Greenbaum and the seminary girls sang the night away with niggunim and left the program inspired, rejuvenated and ready to delve into their last couple months of Ohel Chana learning.

May we all continue to learn from the wonderful attributes of the Rebbetzin as the Rebbe quotes “The uniqueness of the present day, the yahrzeit of a tzadkanis, involves the fusion of two opposite movements, the ascent of the soul to higher levels in the spiritual realms, and influence descending to the lower planes, “bringing about salvation in the midst of the earth.”