By a camper of YTT – Swerdlov
“How can I know where I’m going if I don’t know where I’m coming from?”
It looks like an ordinary empty forest. A passerby could easily miss it.
But to some the place still holds significant meaning.
Exactly 6 weeks ago we stood, 52 girls and 12 women, singing “Ani Maamin” in a field near a sanatorium in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine where the Rebbe’s brother DovBer is buried.
Most of the women and girls there didn’t even know the Rebbe has a brother DovBer and if they did they knew very little about him.
Standing at the Tziyon of the Rebbe’s brother who died Al Kiddush Hashem by the Nazis Yimach Shemom with a group such as ours was as powerful as it was mind boggling to see how the Nazis work truly failed and here we are today, high school girls from all over the world joined by women and Shluchos from multiple countries returning to learn, grow, inspire, see, and experience where it is that we all come from.
Not just a visit of tours and sights but more of a wake up call to each of its participants; a chance to realize how deep our roots are and what we are really made up of. To experience first hand the Mesiras Nefesh, to witness up close the Jewish pride still felt in the air, and to be able to so tangibly touch the Rabbeim’s Brachos still very much ingrained in the land.
All this, to better understand where we come from and from there to better understand what we each have the power to become.
Through the Alter Rebbe in Haditch, to the Mitteler Rebbe in Nyezhin, followed by a climatic Shabbos in Mezhibush by the Baal Shem Tov full of singing Niggunim, Farbrengens, and inspiring words from all, we left feeling truly truly in touch and aware of the endless power, depth, and Chassidishkeit each one of us is so lucky to be part of.
Pumped with inspiration there was no better way than to start our 4 week journey covering every inch of land of Eretz Yisroel- “Eretz Asher Einei Elokecha Ba M’Reishis HaShana V’ad Acharis HaShana.”
We started with the 9 days in Yerushalayim and seeing for ourselves up close where the Churban was and where the Beis HaMikdash will very soon be.
Nothing can be called more hands-on learning than hearing Mrs. Swerdlov teaching Hilchos Beis HaBchira in the mornings and then seeing with our own eyes the very spot where it will all take place. We were even lucky enough to visit a museum that has already prepared Keilim for the Beis HaMikdash!
Moving on to the south and eventually the north we hiked, climbed, had a blast, and learned through it all about the richness we come from and the power we all posses. Through rafting down the Yarden, camel riding in the desert, Jeeping in the Golan, and hilarious activities by our counselors, we literally did not stop for even one second! Not only was Eretz Yisroel a beautiful land that Hashem gave to us but it slowly transformed into a place where we saw history come alive and genuinely felt that it was ours!
Along the way we met some incredible people; people who choose day after day to LIVE their lives Al Mesiras Nefesh so the people who died Al Mesiras Nefesh would have done so for a reason.
One of those people are Rabbi Yigal Kirshenzaft and his family who were the Shluchim of the Rebbe to Gush Katif and now live with their community in Nitzan.
24/7 the Kirshenzafts work to revive the people of Gush Katif, to continue inspiring them, to encourage them, and even to help them physically and emotionally be able to stand on their feet again. These people are living a life of Mesiras Nefesh, totally given over to the other Yid’s needs, when they too experienced the same traumatic story. Despite all, they continue to give to their community endlessly being true examples of Chassidim who push on regardless of what it thrown their way and continue to show that Eretz Yisroel is a land that is forever ours.
A definite highlight for everyone in camp was Shabbos in Chevron. The singing, the dancing, the Simcha, the day to day Mesiras Nefesh of the families living there all made up to a most amazing last Shabbos in YTT.
Reflecting upon how much we learned and saw we realize the influence the Rebbe has had on the world, we realize the influence the Rebbe has had on the world, we realize just how much the Rebbe shaped Jewish life globally, we realize what incredible stock we come from and from all that, we realize and truly hope to internalize just how much each one of us has the Koiach to do.
YTT has given us what we need to be a proud Yid and Chossid of the Rebbe in todays day and age. Never again will I learn Tanya the same way after having been in Hadich by the Alter Rebbe. After Seder Niggunim in the Baal Shem Tov’s Shul never again will I hear a Baal Shem Tov story without picturing in my head exactly what the scene must have looked like. Now I know what living Al Mesiras Nefesh means. Now I know that while it was others who died Al Mesiras Nefesh we must be the ones to live by it. To live every day and every moment according to what’s true and by slowly changing details in my life to move closer in that direction.
Thank you to the following people for making this summer a journey to be remembered and treasured for a lifetime.
Our camp directors: Mrs. Shosh Rabinowitz, Rabbi Leibel and Mrs. Miryam Swerdlov, as well as, Rabbi and Mrs. Shmuel and Chani Kaminetsky, Rabbi Yaakov Eckhaus, Rabbi Mordechai Telsner, Rabbi Chanoch Chaskind, Mrs. Dina Hurwitz, Mrs. Sara Nachshon and our incredible counselors: Chana Friedman, Chaiky Lipsker, Shaina Chincholker and Mushka Percia.
Mimi from Agoura hills, California
YOUUU ROCK!!!! Youre a special one
Best counselor EVER!! So caring, kind, fun, friendly, and chassidish! We were so lucky to have you as our counselor!!!
<3 a camper who admires you
Go sheina c!!! Im sure u did a great job!!! Miss u!
Live your favorite cousin
10/11 grade
For which grades is it?
Most amazing girl ever!
This summer was so incredible!
First, in Ukraine, we learned all about our Chassidic past and then in Israel we learned about our Jewish past. Everywhere we went, everything we did was fun as well as steeped in history. It’s an experience I know I won’t forget!
If we can’t do countdown when we’re all together, then we for sure cant do it over col 😉
Everybody be quiet…begin now in the comments. Where are you #1?
Thanks for being an awesome counselor!
Go Mimi
Go Mimi
Go Mimi
Go Mimi
Yes you mimi Levine UR special
Best counselor ever!!!!!!
Love the artical! Thnx mystery writer 😝
Looking good!
Apple
Thanks for your outstanding effort we really appreciated it
Go estie ravnoy
Love you girl! Look amazing <3
thank u mushkaaaaa !! Love u
This is for keeping your work secret for too long:P
We’re all so proud of you!
ur cousin ❤❤
She was amazing!!!!!
Aaah really miss it so much ! I had so much fun everyone who can GOOOOOO!!!!! This summer was a life changing for me thank u mrs swerdlov thank u counselors and thank u shosh!! We all had a blast !
Had the most amazing summer! No other year like ours 🙂
so glad my niece estee rav-noy had a gre.at time, go estee
!!!
No amnt of words are enough to thank our unbelievable staff. Chana, Mushka, Chaikie and Sheina went truly above and beyond to make this summer the best in every way. B’gashmiyus, in fun, crazy activities, and b’ruchniyus. In bringing out the REAL depth in everything we did.
And of course Shosh for arranging the tours, the accommodations, the food. (How much grass can we eat?
And YOU the campers. WOW. YTT COUNTDOWN! !!!!!!!!
You were great. Soooo proud. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THERE. FOR SHOWING UP FOR YOUR LIFE.
With awe, respect and a lot of love,
Miryam Swerdlov
Great job writing this article!!
Thank you so so much to the talented camper who put into words what we couldn’t. In writing this article you helped me remember an amazing summer and spread the word to others who might not know of it. I’m sure you’re a chassidishe, Yiddishe maidele because of this summer. Yasher koach!
This summer was so special and memorable in every way. Every single step had a history and a story to tell and I am so thankfu to the people who made it possible for me to see it first hand. For the first time ever I didn’t want to go home. I want stay in my real home-erets yisrael . At the kotel for the last time that summer was truly emotional. We all cried on each other’s shoulders because we wanted to stay. We wanted moshiach to come so that we could stay there forever. IYH we will be… Read more »
Thanks so much for an amazing summer
We love u swerly
I am so going on this trip!
It look amazing
Wow
🙁
Our 4 outstanding counsellers
We love u
Thanks for EVERYTHING
Thanks for a finiminal summer
Couldn’t have asked for a better summer
Much love
U were such an asset to our program
We all loved ur kind smile and fun times with us
It was so sad to see u go after our whole week with u in Ukrainw
We miss u
Thanks for all the Israeli stuff that needed to be done– u did it through all summer everything we needed was done
….without Mushka where would we be?
Mushka we love u
Best summer ever
Thanks so much for all u did from farbrengins to rebbe stories and all the interesting points u told us
We really appreciated it
Thank you Mrs.Swerdlov Shosh and the counselors for the
Most incredible summer of my life!!!
Every person who has the opportunity should go on this trip- it is worth every penny! How can I know where I’m going if I don’t know where I’m coming from?
Where do I start?
From beginning to end of trip- u always showed ur care
From the moment we started in Ukrainw we felt a breeze by our ancestors and it made us feel like we were with them
Spending Shabbos In mezibush i mean what could be better?
Going to all the kevarim singing nuggunim, reading our panim, crying all for each other we really really felt amazing
Thanks so much
Love your cousins
-Connecticut
Without u– this trip wouldn’t have happened
We love uu
:))))
A huge yasher koach
Mrs Sverdlovsk
Thank you for an INCREDIBLE, life changing summer
Ur warmth and selflessness really made us feel amazing
We loved this trip and would so do it again
With much love
A fellow camper;)
Ytt 5775
Best summer ever!!!!
We love you<3
rabeinu d’alma kula that was the summer of my life!! Thanks to Mrs swerdlov
Thank you fellow campers and staff for making this summer one of my most mesmerizing,most amazing summers I’ve ever had!! THANK YOU!!!!
ytt!!!!!!!! i miss it sooo much it really was the most inspiring trip ever!!!