Chavi’s Club Unites Two Schools

Photos: Dina Koniaraski

“The achdus in this room is unbelievable, you can’t tell which girl is from which school!” was a refrain constantly repeated at the fourth Chavi’s Club Award Ceremony on Thursday night.

An unprecedented 103 girls from both Beis Rivkah and Bnos Menachem’s ninth grade participated in the Ahavas Yisroel program. Created by Leah Shear, and her daughter, Sara Shollar, Chavi’s Club is an inclusive three month program that is designed to promote awareness of the importance of Ahavas Yisroel. Four amazing leaders, Goldy Simpson, Faiga Teifenbrun, Shaindel Reinitz and Gittel Sputz, capably helped run the program with much chayus and dedication.

A mouthwatering assortment of fruit and grilled vegetable platters, cakes and personalized cookies, provided by Chavi’s brother, Levi Frydberg, greeted the girls and their mothers as they arrived in the Levi Yitzchak Library. They then sat back and enjoyed a stunning concert by highly acclaimed singer, Shaindel Antelis. Overcome by the beauty of the program, Shiandel later wrote, “I came out to perform for Chavi’s Club in Crown Heights which is a group of about 100 ninth graders from Beis Rivkah and Bnos Menachem, who took upon themselves to try and reach out to girls in school who may be lonely, look out and make sure girls aren’t sitting by themselves at lunch, smile at someone who may need a pick me up. I remember eating lunch alone some days in school so I really appreciate the chessed that the girls of Chavi’s Club do.”

The girls were awarded bronze, silver and gold certificates, based on the amount of months of the program they’d managed to pass. Congratulations to Simcha Leah Benarrouch, Aidel Bluming, Sheva Bronstien, Shaina Brook, Chana Brown, Shaindel Carlebach, Sheina Chayo, Sarah Cohen, Chaya Cousin, Rivky Dalfin, Chaya Henny Eckhaus, Sarah Fischer, Leah Fishbein, Sarah Gurevitch, Tzaita Gurevitch, Chanie Haberman, Batya Hadad, Shoshana Halon, Chumy Heber, Mirel Heller, Yehudis Heller, Chana Kornfeld, Feiga Khuturotsky, Liba Kirschenbaum, Chaya Sara Koniarski, Miriam Leah Libman, Shaindel Lieblich, Chana Lipskier, Chaya Mushka Lipskier, Mintcha Mayzlish, Henya Minkowicz, Penina Nimni, Chaya Odel, Mushka Palace, Esther Prager, Shaina Pellman, Sheva Raskin, Chevy Raymond, Raizel Rieber, Leah Rochester, Chanie Salek, Miri Samuels, Chaya Schapiro, Nechama Schmerling, Sarah Silverman, Batsheva Smoller, Cheyenne Telsner, Chaika Wilschansky, Cheni Wolowik, Shira Chana Yadger, Yocha Deitsch, Leah Schapiro upon completing all three months of Chavi’s Club and receiving the gold award.

A few of the girls who completed Chavi’s Club were chosen to speak about their experiences and how they felt it had affected them.

“And now, after three months of working on the Chavi’s Club program, the time has come for us to look back at what we have achieved. For me, more than what I have done, is the new perspective and mindset that will stay with me,” said Batya Hadad.

“Chavi’s Club is a successful program that has had a great impact on many high school girls. It brings a welcome and happy atmosphere to the classroom, makes us more aware of others and initiates friendships between girls that wouldn’t have otherwise been made,” added Chaya Schapiro.

Aidel Bluming concluded, “Chavi’s Club isn’t just a program, it’s a way of life. It taught me to look out for other people, to notice the girl that’s absent from school that day. To go and sit with a girl who’s sitting alone at lunch. I learned that just a good morning or small smile can change the rest of someone’s day.

Chavi’s Club is more than just a checklist – it’s how we think, act and speak. Thank you Chavi’s Club for giving me this amazing program to help me work on my Ahavas Yisroel this year.”

The Neshama of Chava Faiga Leah bas Elimelech HaLevi A”H should have an aliyah.