Shluchim Kids Attend Own Kinus

“Chassidim are one family.” Most of us are aware of this quote from HaYom Yom, but this Monday, the pisgam came to life as over 75 Tzeirei HaShluchim joined in the 3rd annual Kinus HaChadorim, in the Chabad Center of Newtown, PA.

“The Kinus is especially meaningful to me,” said Mrs. Miriam Gerber – co-organizer of the event. “As a mother of young Shluchim, all too frequently our children feel as if they are the only ones learning in a small school, with long travel etc. Today, these children know they are part of a huge family.”

Greeting the children as they walked in were 3-D displays of a small town, including a park, airport and home – filled with Mitzvos. “Ba’asi LeGani is really about bringing Hashem down in this world,” said Kinus organizer Mrs. Blumie Gurevicz. “The children built these displays on their own, as a hands-on demonstration of making this world a garden for Hashem.”

But the real theme of the Kinus focused on Ahavas Yisrael and Achdus Yisrael. The students of the participating Cheders – Cheder Menachem of NJ and Cheder Chabad of Greater Philadelphia – spent the morning in workshops, learning and exploring the concepts of Hiskashrus, Ahavas Yisrael and Ba’Asi LeGani.

“It is so beautiful to see the children interacting with each other, making new friends,” said Mrs. Goldie Azimov, administrator of Cheder Menachem of NJ. “Every child is truly happy to be here.”

Not only the students, but even the staff and shluchos, enjoyed the chance to interact and unite. With the help of many volunteers, under the capable direction of Mrs. Nechama Haskelevitch, every moment proceeded in an organized fashion.

The Kinus program continued with a grand banquet, where each Cheder performed presentations on Ahavas Yisrael, sang niggunim and heard words of inspiration from guest speaker and Head Shliach, Rabbi Avraham Shemtov of Philadelphia.

“The idea for a Kinus started 4 years ago,” explained Mrs. Chanie Zaklikovsky, principal of Cheder Menachem of NJ. “I was on the phone with a teacher from the Cheder of Yonkers, NY. We realized that we were dealing with similar schools, struggling with similar issues – and we thought how wonderful it would be if we could have our students meet each other. The date was set, preparations were made – but on the day of the Kinus, the tri-state experienced a snowstorm. The next year, we did not let anything get in our way and the Cheder of Yonkers hosted the first Kinus. Now this is an event the children look forward to every year!”

The most uplifting moment was the Kinus Hachlata. In the spirit of the year – Tof Shin Ayin Alef – ‘tehei shnas am echod’ – the students resolved to strengthen the bonds of the family of Shluchim. Each child received a pen, notepad and a penpal from another Cheder. With a resolution towards achdus and love, each child is on the path towards new friendships and experiences. After all, Chassidim are one family.

To support the chinuch of the Tzeirei HaShluchim, please visit chedernj.com.