By: Mrs. S. Rosenfeld and Mrs. A. Capurso
Beis Chana spent Tuesday giving thanks in the aftermath of the great miracle that we experienced with the safe return of our students who had gone missing during a Shabbos afternoon walk in Orlando, during our annual Shabbaton.
After davening, the students wrote Panim to the Rebbe to say thank you for the many brochos that we received. The Panim were delivered to the Ohel on Tuesday afternoon followed by our students coming together for a grand Seudas Hodaah. The atmosphere was electric, and the students all cheered excitedly as Brocha and Rivka arrived with their mothers and sisters.
Rabbi Benzion Korf, who was one of the first to arrive in Orlando on Motzoei Shabbos, addressed the girls and then several girls spoke, sharing the different feelings they experienced during those agonizing sixteen hours when their friends were missing. It was beautiful and heartwarming to hear the students’ thoughts, the lessons learned, and to see them show hakaras hatov to those who they felt had helped them. They also gave Brocha and Rivka gift certificates to buy themselves new shoes, which they lost during their ordeal.
Brocha, Rivka, and their mothers also addressed the students and teachers. The underlying theme of the day was thanking Hashem for the many miracles He performed, which ended in such a wonderful outcome with the safe return of our girls.
We are humbled and so grateful. As you can imagine, this was an extremely difficult time for all of us. Our thanks go to so many people for all they did.
Rabbi Chaim Zvi Konikov, Rabbi Yosef and Mrs. Chanie Konikov, Diti Glazier, and all the volunteers in the Orlando community who were there all night helping out. Rabbi Benjy Korf and brothers Mendy, Motti and Zalman, as well as Zalman Myer-Smith came immediately to take over the situation. Rabbi Mendy Levy, Mr. John Capurso, the Hatzala and Chesed Shel Emes volunteers, and all other volunteers from Miami and Orlando searched in the darkness for the missing girls. Ayelet and Shayna Bortunk came to be with us, the students, and Brocha’s and Rivka’s parents.
We are so grateful to all the parents who encouraged their children and helped them throughout the long night. A huge thank you to our Bnos Chabad head Chana Vita Wolf and her friend Leah Lew who we flew in from Atlanta to help chaperone the trip. Their strength, compassion and guidance were incredible and had a very positive effect on the girls.
We are exceptionally proud of our students. They reacted to this very frightening situation with such bitachon, maturity, and unity. They sang nigunnim, gave tzedakah, made hachlatos, told stories, and gave each other so much chizuk.
Many of the Chassidic concepts that they learn in school became a reality. “Tracht gut vet zein gut,” “Simcha poretz geder,” “hiskashrus to the Rebbe,” were all moved from theory to practical applications. Beis Chana was given a real test that night, and our girls rose to the occasion. We truly have much for which we are grateful.
And finally thank you to all those who davened and were with us in thought, and for the many brochos we received and the thousands of tefillos that led to our witnessing an open miracle and the safe return of our beloved students. Boruch Hashem!
We love you!
Trust me, I know.
Thanks for always being there.
Brings tears to my eyes. I am so greatful for the happy ending and that the school concluded it in this productive and complete way
Thanks for letting us know
How did your wonderful production THE FOURTH LEG story about the lost girl who made a deal with G-d if she and friends would be saved in Israel connect and help? What did these girls think and pray so successfully too that we can do to become successful in bringing Moshiach faster. We need something to really work, and perhaps these girls have a key.
We are so thankful for the outcome that they are bh fine and how Klal Yisroel came through
…and Kiddush HaShem all around
Zalman Myers Smith is the man.
From
An admirer in coral Springs
Very touching thanks hshem
No. 1. I also am wondering what the update is on that gentleman that went missing. Every day I go on COL hoping that we will hear news that he is safe IYH. Please keep us updated.
Mendy, as usual putting others before yourself, even if you don’t know the people!! A special shout-out to u and Mr. John Capurso for scouring the area all night and not giving up!!! you are a true example to all.
text beautiful welcome back the main thing you are both alive and that’s the main thing we want moshiach now BH
Diti Glazier is amazing!!! hashem should repay her and all the people who helped out!! soo proud of you!
Zalmen Myer- Smith is our hero.
Nick..
Zalmen Myer- Smith is our hero.
Nick..
I’m so grateful and happy their alive
i love that pic by havdala, you see the aftermath of the food….
Zalman Myers Smith is the man.
From
An admirer in coral Springs
Such an amazing article! Brought tears to my eyes… But this is probably the third time that an article was posted without thanking Mrs. Rosenfeld! She kept calm and kept us calm as well! She was such a huge part of this miracle but she’s never mentioned!
Beautiful closure for the ordeal.
Boruch Hashem Elokei Yisroel.
Best, selfless volunteer!
In the words of Dovid Hamelech “Henay Ma Tov Uma’nayim Sheves Achim Gam Yachad”. Which means behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers tonight together in harmony. And these pictures and the friendship that I see effortlessly illustrate that ki’pittell of Tehillim. May G-D send MOSHIACH NOW to pick us up and reunite us with our loved ones once again!!
Lovely to see,any update on the gentleman מאיר הילל.
We should hear good news.