Last weekend, the students of Mesorah High School for Girls experienced an unforgettable Shabbaton that united all grades in a spirit of joy, achdus, and inspiration. The trip ─ organized by Elisheva Sionit, Chayala Heimowitz, and Rivkie Craven, and chaperoned by Mrs. Abrams and family, Mrs. Senft and family, Rabbi and Mrs. Becher and family, Rabbi and Mrs. Epstein, Shuvi Rich, and Tzippora Pam ─ began with a lively bus ride where friendships blossomed across grade levels, and the atmosphere was filled with laughter, deep meaningful conversations, and a spontaneous Kumzitz that set the tone for the entire Shabbos.
Upon arrival, the students hit the ground running, diving straight into an energizing activity before settling into their bunkhouses. Once ready, everyone enjoyed a delicious Toameha—warm, comforting food to tide them over until the festive Shabbos meal. It was a wonderful start that ensured everyone was in the perfect frame of mind to welcome Shabbos.
Welcoming Shabbos with Meaning and Unity
As the sun set, Kabbalas Shabbos began with heartfelt tefillos and uplifting words from Mrs. Becher, who spoke about the theme of “being present.” She shared how, as Jews, our sense of being present is enriched by learning from the past and planning for the future, giving a unique perspective on how we approach time. The room filled with song as everyone joined in, creating a powerful feeling of togetherness and purpose.
A Festive Shabbos Meal
The Friday night seudah was a feast for all the senses. With beautifully adorned tables and an abundance of mouthwatering dishes, the meal was both nourishing and uplifting. Mrs. Abrams and Shira Wiener each addressed the group, weaving the Shabbos theme into their words of inspiration and reminding everyone of the beauty in each moment. After the meal, the Oneg continued the joyous atmosphere, featuring a panel discussion moderated by Mrs. Senft. Panelists Mrs. Becher, Tzipporah Pam, Esti Michaels, Talia Wiener, and Baila Grebenau shared practical advice on time management, self-care, and prioritizing what matters most.
Shabbos Morning Reflections and Learning
On Shabbos morning, the students gathered for tefillah, Kiddush, and a special workshop led by Mrs. Epstein. Her message about appreciating the present resonated deeply, encouraging everyone to focus on the good in the moment and find joy in life’s simplest blessings. The seudah that followed featured Halleli Lewis, who delivered a mashal about using each moment to perform mitzvos, and Leah Tropper, who shared additional insights that inspired all who listened. Zemiros and heartfelt songs filled the room, enhancing the sense of unity and spiritual growth.
An Afternoon of Rest and Thoughtful Connection
Shabbos afternoon provided time to relax, play games, take peaceful walks, and deepen connections with peers and teachers. Rabbi Epstein hosted a lively Q&A session that addressed students’ heartfelt questions, further solidifying the sense of connection and understanding.
A Meaningful Close to Shabbos
As Shabbos drew to a close, everyone gathered for Shalosh Seudos and inspiring words from Rina Hartman, followed by singing that brought everyone together in a spirit of achdus. Rabbi Epstein’s recitation of Havdalah provided a memorable conclusion to a truly impactful Shabbos.
The Fun Continued: Motzei Shabbos Activities
The evening was far from over. A delightful Melava Malka featured peninis and soup, followed by a creative project: crafting calendars tied to the Shabbos theme of appreciating the present moment. A spirited game of Jeopardy brought laughter and fun, and the night ended with a bonfire where students sang, danced, and bonded in a uniquely moving atmosphere. Watching a Yoel Gold production further deepened the weekend’s theme, reminding everyone of the importance of using time wisely and embracing personal growth. As a special treat we relived our production memories by watching the 2024 Mesorah play.
From Mrs. Ahuva Becher
Dear Parents and Staff,
Wow! What an amazing Shabbaton we just experienced as a group! I was honored to be there with my family and be part of this incredible experience! I truly can not put into words how incredible it was to watch each and every student there!
The incredible feeling of achdus, looking out for each other and making the most of every amazing moment that the Shabbaton heads had planned and executed so beautifully was truly inspiring!
The atmosphere was charged with a positive and growth-oriented energy! The games were so much fun and so well planned, the food was delicious and plentiful, the speeches by both students and staff members were all inspiring, relatable, real, and practical!
The attention to detail on every aspect of this shabbaton, from the theme, gift bags, decor, games, food, snacks, programming, speeches and workshops, to the labeled danishes given out for the ride home, was felt in every moment!)
A MASSIVE thank you to our incredible, outstanding, talented, hard-working shabbaton heads, Chayala, Elisheva, and Rivkie!!! They worked tirelessly for weeks, planning, brainstorming, cooking, shopping, packaging, executing and so much more to pull off the most unbelievable shabbaton! They spent hours upon hours upon hours planning each and every moment of this shabbaton so that every moment of it can be maximized and used in a way that would be both enjoyable and meaningful!
Thank you to all of our Mesorah students who came out after school to help with the cooking, baking, peeling, errands, packaging, labeling, shopping and much more! We could not have pulled it off without their help!
Thank you to all the parents and teachers who lent their homes and Shuls so the girls had a place to make this all happen.
A special thank you to Mrs. Abrams, Rabbi and Mrs. Epstein, Mrs. Senft, Shuvi and Tzipora for joining! Each staff member there added so much and made such an impactful difference in the shabbaton experience!
And of course, thank you to Rabbi Kosowsky and Mrs. Rich for being behind all of this and making it possible!
Wishing you all a wonderful evening,
Mrs. Becher
From Mrs. Laya Senft
Dear Parents,
About an hour ago, I came home from my first Mesorah Shabbaton. I just want to let you know what a special experience it was for me. Your daughters are amazing -- the sincerity, achdus, kindness, care, empathy, leadership and warmth that I witnessed were outstanding. I was so impressed with the many different aspects of this beautiful event that they put together, from welcome packages to gorgeous table settings to articulate divrei Torah to inclusive activities... and huge quantities of delicious homemade food that just kept appearing! I loved spending time with girls and getting to know some of the unbelievable qualities within each one. I was touched again and again seeing how they look out for each other and strive for greatness, going out of their way to try to make everyone comfortable and do the right thing. It was difficult to leave the camp grounds tonight -- they've created an atmosphere charged with positive energy!
Thank you to Mrs. Becher and the Shabbaton heads for all their hours and hours of work. Thank you to Rabbi Kosowsky and Mrs. Rich for striving to bring out the best in every student, always. Thank you to each and every Mesorah girl for her unique contribution to the extraordinary atmosphere I was privileged to experience. And thank you to you, the parents of these gems, for the constant effort you invest to raise inspiring Bnos Yisrael in these challenging times.
May we share much nachas!
Gut voch,
Mrs. Laya Senft
Final Farewell and Lasting Memories
After an uplifting and busy Shabbos, students packed up, enjoyed one last delicious breakfast, and boarded the bus home. As they returned, it was clear that this Shabbaton had left a lasting impression. It wasn’t just a weekend away—it was a transformative experience that brought the school community closer, fostered personal growth, and instilled a sense of pride in the students’ shared values and purpose.
This Shabbaton wasn’t simply an event; it was a defining moment that reminded everyone what makes Mesorah so unique—a place where all grades come together as one family to grow, learn, and find inspiration for the future. ■
