This September, 5 representatives entered the classrooms of Lubavitch high schools in the Tri-state area to present the 11th and 12th grade students with a thrilling and unprecedented challenge.
They were invited to participate in a competitive Chidon in which they would master 52 maamarim (the entire Sefer Hamaamarim Yiddish of the Frierdiker Rebbe) in under 4 months. The students were handed booklets which outlined the rules and guidelines for the Chidon. They were offered weekly study sessions with their school representative and access to the sefer in both Hebrew and English for those who were not fluent in Yiddish.
Many of the students had never learned the Frierdiker Rebbe’s maamarim on their own before and were intrigued by the idea. “It’s such a great opportunity. I get to learn Chassidus independently, but in a framework that makes it accessible”, said Gitty Gajer, a 12th grade student at Bnos Menachem. Excitement spread quickly amongst the students and by the time the first test date came up on November 13, over 50 students from Bais Rivka, Bnos Menachem, Beis Chaya Mushka (Crown Heights), Bais Chana Academy and Monsey Beis Chaya Mushka had signed up.
These students will take 5 online multiple-choice tests over the course of the next couple of months. After all the tests are complete, the program will conclude with a grand competition between the representatives from all the participating high schools in the tri-state area. All participants with an average of at least 80% on all 5 tests are invited to compete in the Chidon. The event will take place in Crown Heights and will conclude with awarding a gold, silver and bronze medal to the top three winners. In addition, the students with the top 10 highest scores from all the schools will be taken on a 3-day weekend learning retreat. The retreat will be held in a beautiful, scenic location and will include stimulating classes and recreational activities.
The Chidon was started by the Batsheva Learning Center, an organization that aims to create more advanced learning opportunities for women. The Rebbe spoke on numerous occasions about the necessity for both men and women to study Chassidus on a deep level and how this study would enrich their lives as Chassidim. This Chidon aims to actualizing that vision by giving high school girls the opportunity to delve into texts of Chassidus they were never exposed to before. Many students felt both empowered and inspired by the experience. One student commented, “I’ve been learning the maamarim with my father and the content is so inspiring and applicable. It’s all about the generation before Moshiach and how our mesiras nefesh is stronger than the Torah giants of the past. It gives me so much confidence to not be influenced by the opinions of others around me and it pushes me to do more.”
The participating students have been spending much of their free time studying the maamarim on their own and with their classmates. They also meet once a week with their school mentor to review the material and get answers to any questions they may have had while learning. Many students found that as they studied the material, their mastery of these core ideas gave them a deep appreciation for Chassidus and the confidence to continue exploring Chassidus on their own.
Yehudis Hecht, of Monsey Beis Chaya Mushka said, “Honestly, I first decided to join Chidon because I figured I can always back out if it gets to be too much. But now, I’m loving it!”
Another Bais Rivka student said, ““I feel like I am on a high when I’m learning. This feeling is amazing and I hope it lasts a long time!”
Much hatzlacha
Is that devorah hadakov i see???
Nice!!!!
And hey gitty cheering you on from Kansas tziva!!!!!
It’s honestly very difficult , the quantity of maamarim ….
But hatzlacha rabba to everyone that is involved!!
Great idea, girls should definitely learn more,
Kol hakavod to bnos menachem and to Gittel
Way to go, Gajer.
—-Florida Crew
Hi I participate in the chidon and take upon myself all this extra work. Especially in twelvth grade where things turn to be automatically extra hard. I was debating at the begging whether i should apply for it or not. In the end I decided to try. Bh I’m having hatzlocho and loving all the learnt stuff. It’s so important for a bas melech to know it even more now that I’m abt to go to seminary ymh. I want to wish all those that are in it hatzlocho rabo umuflogo (including myself :)) and we should all be zoche… Read more »
we should have this!
Wow i wish they had this when i was in high school!
New Haven girls!! Kol hakavod!!
Thank you for making this possible!