Racheli Ochs is from Passaic, NJ, and is studying marketing in Stern College for Women. She attended Bruriah High School before spending her incredible year in Israel at Michlalah. Racheli is so excited to spend her first summer on Michlelet teaching Torah and making a kosher with the girls! The girls  in Racheli’s Chaburah are Mindy Kagan (TAG), Talia Bennet (SKA), Penina Horowitz (Hadar), Sari Kirschenbaum (TAG), Ayelet Mandel (SKA) and Lilli Hirt (MHS). Racheli’s Chaburah is called “What is Your Spiritual Makeup.” The goal of the Chaburah is to study different kiddos in order to identify areas in our lives which we would like to work on, keeping in mind that the most durable growth is a growth that is built step by step. Our goal is to gain a clearer understanding of ourselves and how to channel our strengths and embrace our critical unique roles in Klal Yisrael. B’Ezras Hashem, we hope this experience can have application for the rest of our lives. 

What is something you are excited about for this summer on Michlelet?

Sari Kirschenbaum- I’m excited to find something I’m good at in learning and work hard at it and excel in that certain area Im Yirtzah Hashem.

Talia Bennet- I’m most looking forward to forming friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime and will be an important part of my growth and improvement as a person.

Ayelet Mandel- I’m most excited to grow in my spirituality and gain a greater connection with HaKadosh Baruch Hu and hope to grow along the way. I’m definitely excited to create the greatest of memories and experience the best chagigas and amazing kumzitzs.

Penina Horowitz- I’m most excited to continue learning with the teachers and Madrichot and absorb all the lessons that they’re teaching.

Mindy Kagan- I’m super excited for the Shabbaton up north!

Lilli Hirt- I’m really excited to get to see all different places I have never been to all over Israel.

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Today was a day full of firsts. We started off the day with our first homeroom and chaburot, followed by our first chessed trip which was absolutely inspiring! We had multiple options and I got the opportunity to go bake cookies and make cards for lone soldiers. The experience was unforgettable and very impactful. Then we had our first night speaker, Rabbi Dani Marcus, who moved us all with his inspiring words. We then finished off the day with an amazing night activity where we decorated cakes according to the theme of the summer: Brachos. This was another amazing day and definitely one for the books!

-Eliana Berman, Toronto

Tziporah Zwicker is from West Orange, NJ and is currently studying biology at Stern College. She went to Bruriah for high school and then spent a year learning at Michlalah for seminary. Tziporah went on Michlelet as a camper and is super excited to be back this summer as a madricha! Tziporah’s Chaburah is called “Touched by a Niggun: exploring our souls through music.” Each Chaburas is started off by listening to a different Jewish song with mainly English lyrics. The group then learns and discusses the different Torah messages and themes in the song. Some examples of the different songs they learn are Neshomele and Joe DiMaggio’s card by Abie Rotenberg, Vihaarev Na by Baruch Levine, The Artist by Ari Goldwag, A Did by Benny Friedman, and Forever One by Avraham Fried. The amazing girls in Tziporah’s Chaburas are Deena Arrobas (Tiferes), Tamar Eberstark (Manhattan High School), Esther Ginzberg (Maayanot), Adina Margolin (Ida Crown), and Lauren Zalisky (SKA). What are you most excited for on Michlelet this summer and why? Adina- I’m excited to see Israel for the first time, learn a lot of Torah in the Holy Land, and to continue being shark. Deena- I’m most excited to explore Israel, since it’s my first time being here!!! Tamar- I’m most excited for all of the chested trips! I love doing chessed and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to do so much chessed in Israel. Esther- This summer, I’m looking forward to learning tons of Torah, making new friends and memories, and experiencing Eretz Yisrael! Lauren- Given the fact that is is my first time in Israel, I’m most excited to learn and grow in the land of Israel. Even  though it’s been less than a week, we’ve done so much and I can’t wait for the best summer yet!

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We had an incredible and inspiring first Shabbos! We started off with an amazing tisch on Friday night featuring our “Rebbe and Rebbetzin”. Shabbos day we had a kiddish and learned about the importance of time. We ended Shabbos with a beautiful kumzits outside watching the sunset. This first Shabbos bonded all of us together and gave us many opportunities to grow!

-Ayelet Schochet, Boca Raton, FL

Our trip to Ir David was a beautiful experience where we learned about the city of Yerushalayim. It was full of excitement and fun as we trekked through the water tunnels! 

-Ariella Seltzer, Spring Valley, NY