The sun was high in the sky on Thursday as the students of Mesorah High School for Girls piled into the waiting vans, minivans and assorted cars. Excitement buzzed through the air—it was time for their annual retreat to Blooming Grove, TX, this year. The hour-long drive felt like a secret escape, a break from textbooks and schedules.
RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Front and Center: Nechama Leah Zakon and Shira Bracha Katz, the G.O. heads, orchestrated it all. They prepared food—deli sandwiches, an amazing salad bar, and delicious melons. They set the schedule, danced, sang, and laughed alongside their classmates.
- Kickball and Knock Out: The grassy field became a battleground. Kickball games were intense, with cheers and groans as players sprinted between bases. And then there was “Knock Out”—a basketball free-throw game where friendships were temporarily put on hold and the individual competition was fierce.
- The Unbeatable Trio: Pickleball, the pool, and the water slide were the day’s stars. The girls clung to summer, not ready to let it slip away. Each splash in the pool was a protest against autumn’s arrival. Laughter echoed as they sped down the water slide. The nearby pickleball court saw impassioned matches, sweat, determination, and the occasional victory dance.
- Schmoozing with the Wise: The girls reveled in the company of their teachers—Mrs. Susan Rich, Mrs. Esti Abrams, Mrs. Ahuva Becher, and Miss Shuvi Rich. They shared stories, laughed together, and played games.
- Nurse Lurie to the Rescue: Bug bites, headaches, and the occasional bumps and bruises—Nurse Lurie (a.k.a. Mrs. Lurie) handled it all. She was a superhero with a first aid kit, even making a late-night run to Buc-ee’s for water and snacks.
- Bonfire and Kumzitz: The bonfire crackled as the sun dipped below the horizon. S’mores were toasted, as a kumzitz was started. Arms around each other they sang and danced late into the night waving their glow sticks.
- Post Midnight Entertainment: The fun continued well into the night, with many determined to see the sunrise. Bananagrams, twisted kichels with the teachers, freshies and seniors bonding, clay beads bracelets making, and so much more.
- Exhausted but Happy: After Shacharis, breakfast, and clean up, by Friday mid-morning, the caravan of vehicles was packed with girls returning to school—sun-kissed, tired, and with hearts full of memories. In this out-of-school setting, friendships deepened, and bonds were formed. The Blooming Grove Retreat had woven itself into their teenage tapestry. ■
