Chesed Mission 2020/5780: Day 8

We started our last day in Israel by visiting soldiers at the Latrun Tank Museum. We had a chance to take pictures on the tanks and give out gifts to the soldiers. 

Then we went to Kever Rachel to pray Mincha. We had in mind all of the people we interacted with this week. We spent the final moments of Chesed Mission recapping our amazing and inspiring moments during a tisch before we left for the airport!

Chesed Mission 2020/5780: Day 7

We started off our early day at Yad Lakashish, where we saw how this organization gives the elderly a skill and something to do during the day. We walked around the workshops in awe of the handcrafted works of art the participants were making. We then went to the shop to purchase some of these products. 

Our next stop was Keren Or, where we sang and danced with children from ages 6-21 who are disabled and blind or visually impaired. Due to our experience at the blind museum last night, we were more sensitive to their situations. In addition to dancing, we were able to thank the hardworking volunteers and workers there. It was a special experience because everyone took someone’s hand and started dancing. Even if we didn’t get a smile from the kids, we understood that they felt our presence. 

Next, because of our large group, we couldn’t all fit into one hospital. Therefore, we split up and went to Tel Hashomer and Schneider’s Hospital. I went to Tal Hashomer where we delivered toys and jewelry to the patients and their parents. Everyone there was super appreciative and friendly and thankful that we came. My friend and I went into a room with a mother and a small baby. We handed her a baby gift and she was so appreciative and said “this gift is so fitting.” She played with it for him and let us watch. I gave her a necklace and she was so happy. My friend explained to me later that she went back to give another gift and she said, “It’s okay more people need.” This experience made me realize the importance of appreciation and giving.

Then, we went to a mall to eat lunch. 

After that, we traveled a long way to get to Bet Elazraki, a Emunah children’s home for children at risk. When we arrived we heard inspiring words from the inspirational director, Yehuda Kohn and watched a video about successful commanders who came through this program. Something special happened next. Yehuda explained that the 18th year annual chesed mission group had dedicated a plaque in honor of Rabbi Besser, Susan Franco, and the Chessed Mission Team. We had a nice ceremony while internalizing that chesed mission’s name will be on the wall throughout the year. Chesed mission’s legacy is important and honored in this special place from now on. We also gave out gifts. In addition, Albert Chehebar delivered Tefillin sponsored by his parents to the bar mitzvah kids of this year. Our group was in awe of this amazing chesed that the Chehebars provide. We then ate dinner and got to know the kids. After, we danced till we heard the ground shake. Everyone was smiling and having the best time. I got to know three beautiful, happy, and fun 14 year old girls. They immediately became my friend. It was hard to leave at the end. I was comforted when one of my new friends walked me to the bus, but I still didn’t want to leave. However, I had a feeling that she would remember me and I would remember her as well.

We got on our bus to travel back to the hotel, when all of the sudden it started hailing. People on my bus were frightened, so we bursted out in a united song of “Kol berama”. After uniting with children with disabilities and children from broken families, uniting with our own community was the right way to end a meaningful day!

~Vivian Cohen, Class of 2021

Chesed Mission 2020/5780: Day 6

To kick off Day 6 of our amazing Chesed Mission, our lovely students visited the the children of Aleh, a school for children of all ages with various types of mental and physical disabilities. Our students played, interacted, and danced with them throughout the morning. 

Then we visited Steve Gar in the Gush to hear about his experiences as a first responder, later followed by the best falafel in Israel. After we were taken by Mr. Gar to the Pina Chama, or warm corner, in Gush Etzion. There, the soldiers stationed in the area can come during breaks to be fed warm food and be comforted by the volunteers. 

Moving along in our day, we went to Save a Child’s Heart, where we played with the children  post and pre surgery from around the world receiving heart transplants from this beautiful organization. 

To top off our fantastic fun filled day of chesed, we put ourselves in the shoes of those we were visiting through out the trip by attending Dialogue in the Dark. Here, the group experienced various situations lead by visually impaired instructors as a look into their everyday lives.

Chesed Mission 2020/5780: Day 5

The fifth day of Chesed Mission started for 10 girls at 5:30am, where they walked with Ms. Lamm to Hadaya and the Kotel to pray at sunrise. The first stop for the whole group was Ilanot School for Special Children, where we met some of the students who go there. These students have various disabilities and it was hard for us to communicate with them. We had the opportunitiy to listen to their school choir. You could tell in their passion that they not only loved to sing but it was their happy place. That showed us that just like we have to find our happy place for even the smallest of bad days, they use their happy place to always remember that life is a gift even with a disability. 

Our second stop was to United Hatzalah, where we got to learn about how they are innovating to reduce the response time to any emergency. We then dedicated a defibrillator to help save lives.

After that, we went to Afikim, an after school program for children at risk. We played bingo with questions about Israel and then had a big dance party where a lot of us created special bonds with the children that made it hard to leave. 

Our last stop of the day was Susan’s House, where we learned how the organization got started and what they do to help teenagers at risk. We then got to see all the different works of art that the teenagers have learned how to make and then we even got to shop some of their handmade items. 

While the day may have started off hard as the day went on it became more clear why Illanot was the first stop on our journey and why what we are doing on Chesed Mission is very important! ~Frieda Maleh and Marcelle Sasson, Class of 2021

Chesed Mission 2020/5780: Day 4 - Shabbat

Right before Shabbat, we took a bus to the Old City and walked to the home of Aba and Pamela Clayman and went up to their terrace that has front row seats to Har Habayit. As we took in the breathtaking view, we sang songs with Israeli soldiers to welcome in Shabbat. Then we went down to the Kotel for Arbit and Kabalat Shabbat. There we started a huge circle with people that were praying at the Kotel. We then walked back to the hotel where we were joined for Seudat Shabbat by a group of lone soldiers and alumni from Flatbush learning in Israel for the year. 

On Shabbat day during lunch we heard from a couple of our alumni about their experiences. We then walked to the Old City for Seuda Shlishit with soldiers from Thank Israeli Soldiers. We ended Shabbat with a musical havdalah, singing and dancing, and gifts for the soldiers.

After Shabbat we went to Pantry Packers to help pack food for the needy. We packed hundreds of portions of peas, couscous, and barley. We then ended the night with a late dinner on Ben Yehuda!

Chesed Mission 2020/5780: Day 3

On the 3rd day of Chesed Mission we visited the Michael and Lola Goldstein Emunah Day Care Center located in Neve Yaakov. The school serves poor families by offering free day care and therapy for parents in order to build healthy family lives. All of us had a great time blowing bubbles and playing with all the children. No one wanted to leave!

After that, we went to Machane Yehuda to have lunch and buy awesome gifts and food for Shabbat. We’re also looking forward to going to the program from Todah L’Tzahal at the house of Abba and Pamela Claman. After that, we plan on praying Friday night prayers by the Kotel. Following this, we will be going back to the Inbal for dinner with Lone Soldiers and Flatbush Alumni learning in Israel for the year!
We are looking forward to spending Shabbat in Jerusalem. Shabbat Shalom from Israel!

Chesed Mission 2010/5780: Day 2

After a delicious breakfast, we kick started our first full day of Chesed at Meshi, a center for children with disabilities. We split up into rooms and were able to have one on one time to connect with a child. We participated in many different activities with the children. Immediately after walking into the room, we felt the energy and happiness of the children and teachers. Everyone was so excited that we came all the way from America. After creating a bond with the children, it was difficult to say goodbye.

We then distributed toys to sick patients at the Hadassah Hospital. We tried to uplift the families in the hospital with small acts of kindness.  Next, we visited the cemetery of many heroes and soldiers of our homeland at Har Herzel. There, we also gathered to hear some more about the heroism of two soldiers: Yonatan Netanyahu and Dvir Emanueloff. We heard the personal story from one of our tour guides as well as an injured soldier from Tikvot. We ended by saying a perek of Tehillim and then united by singing “Acheinu” with hope for our brothers in the army and pride in our nation.

We then continued our day with rikkudim at Shalva, an organization which supports families and children with disabilities. The site was huge and filled with an abundance of volunteers and children who were smiling from ear to ear. We learned about the background of how Shalva started. Kalman Samuels, the man who started Shalva, had a child who became blind, deaf, and mute. After his child learned to communicate, the Kalman's dedicated time to help children in a similar situation. He used a hardship to grow instead of an excuse which was an inspiration to us all. We were in awe to see what one man could do to the world. We ended off our second day in Israel by rock climbing with Tikvot.
~Vivian Cohen, Class of 2021

Chesed Mission 2020/5780: Day 1

We started off our 18th annual Chesed Mission to Israel at JFK airport. A group of 74 students - our largest ever - along with Rabbi Naftali Besser, Mrs. Susan Franco, Rabbi David Galpert, Ms. Tziri Lamm, and Ms. Samantha Chabot decided to spend their winter break in Israel visiting the sick, meeting with soldiers, volunteering in soup kitchens, interacting with special children, and so much more.  

On the plane we took advantage of the long flight ahead with an early shachrit at the break of dawn, which was my first time praying vatikin, along with many others. From the airport we went straight to set the mood as we prayed Arbit by the Kotel. I got the chance to spend my first ever moments in Israel praying in the most holy place in the world, an experience I’ll never forget. 

We then had dinner at Emek Refaim, where we got to taste a little of Jerusalem - food was incredible. To end the night with Chesed, we packed bags for soldier that we will meet through out the week.  
~Etty Jajati, Class of 2021

The Phoenix 2018-2019 Issue 8

The Phoenix 2018-2019 Issue 7

Heritage Trip to Poland 2019/5779: Day 4

This morning we visited Auschwitz I, the most visited site in all of Poland. What was once the center of the massive three-camp Auschwitz complex was reclaimed by the Polish government and turned into a museum in 1947, just two years after Russian soldiers liberated the camp. We began by walking through the famous "Arbeit Macht Frei" entry gate, yet another example of the Nazis' use of deception to keep prisoners in line. The museum's strict rules dictated that, for the first time all week, Rabbi Lubner would not be our tour guide. Instead we were led through the camp by a non-Jewish, Polish guide, and it was fascinating to hear tales of the Holocaust from his perspective. He even talked about which exhibits were most memorable to him when he first visited Auschwitz on a school trip as a boy. This part of Auschwitz mainly housed non-Jewish Polish prisoners, but many of the museum's exhibits are dedicated to telling the story of the 1.1 million Jews murdered at Auschwitz. We were moved by displays of personal items confiscated from Jews upon arrival - thousands of eyeglasses, hairbrushes, and even prosthetic limbs. The most disturbing was a massive display case of 2 tons of human hair collected from approximately 40,000 of the hundreds of thousands of women who were shaved upon arrival.

The rest of the day was spent traveling back to New York. We are all glad to be back home and reunited with our families and our beds, but every one of us was moved and changed by the many things we have seen, learned, and experienced over the past few days.

Special thanks to Mrs. Winkler for coordinating, to Mr. Hofstetter and Ms. Dweck for chaperoning, and of course to Rabbi Lubner for everything he did to make this such an extraordinary and meaningful experience.

New Orleans Chesed Trip 2019/5779: Day 4

We began our fourth and last day in New Orleans at Green Light New Orleans, an environmentally friendly non-profit organization, that began updating the light bulbs in the city to more efficient, energy saving bulbs. Once they completed that project, they started a project to try to save the city from flooding. We painted water barrels that release water slowly so the ground can absorb it in a way that it won’t flood. We painted barrels so that it’s a pretty fixture that people would want to display in their yards. We also cleaned up a local vegetable garden to help people access fresh produce.

After Green Light, we went to the Giving Hope Food Pantry. People come once a month to fill their houses with food. We helped unload the truck and organize the produce. We then handed out food to all the people that needed. We were able to meet them and greet them with smiles, hopefully making their day a little better. 

Afterwards, we went to Waffle on Maple and enjoyed a great final meal together. The New Orleans Chesed Trip was an amazing experience filled with Chesed and Fun! 

~Betty Greenberg, Class of 2019

Heritage Trip to Poland 2019/5779: Day 3

Day three of the Heritage Trip to Poland began with a short bus ride to visit four synagogues in the Kazimierz section of Krakow. Each synagogue differed in its founder and style. The first was the Rema’s shul, which is located right near his grave, which we also visited. The next shul, the Isaac Synagogue, was founded and sponsored by wealthy philanthropist Rabbi Isaac. After that we saw a completely different shul which is formalized known as the Kupa Synagogue but is nicknamed “Poor Man’s Synagogue.” This shul was not sponsored by a wealthy figure, rather the entire community collected money for it. All three shuls were built in the 1600s. The last shul, built in 1821, was called The Temple Synagogue and was very left wing compared to the others, and was thus controversial in its time. When we arrived there were already two other tour groups inside, and when one of them started singing and dancing near the bima, some of our students immediately joined in. Soon all three groups were singing and dancing together, a joyous moment that was a needed respite from the somber nature of many of the other destinations on this trip.

The next location we visited was the Plac Zgody, the big square where Jews were rounded up before being sent into the Krakow Ghetto. A few blocks away we stopped at a remaining piece of the actual wall of the ghetto and learned about the history of the Jews who lived there. This place was where many of the scenes in Schindler's List, the movie we watched yesterday on the bus, took place.

Our next (and highly anticipated) stop was Auschwitz II, also known as Birkenau. Upon our entrance, we all noticed the long train tracks that extended throughout the entire field. We later learned that as a result of these train tracks, Jews from all over Europe were sent to this camp. We learned about the process that arriving Jews went through. We visited the Quarantine Barrack, which was used to isolate Jews to ensure disease wouldn’t spread. Next we stopped alongside the section of the camp where Hungarian Jews were imprisoned. It was especially emotional for a few of us, as two students and one teacher had family members who were imprisoned there. Next we walked further into the camp to the remains of one of its gas chambers and crematoria, and read poems and first-hand accounts about the horrifying actions that were performed in there. After that we saw the Sauna, a building where arriving Jews were stripped of their clothing, had their heads shaved, had their belongings taken, and were tattooed with numbers. All these sites showed the dehumanization that occurred as the Nazis stripped the Jews of every aspect of their humanity.

Lastly, after leaving Birkenau, we went to our fifth shul of the day, Auschwitz Jewish Center, to sing, pray mincha, and engage in some group learning about the actions of a variety of individuals in the Holocaust and the choices they all made in their various roles.
~Terri Franco, Class of 2019

New Orleans Chesed Trip 2019/5779: Day 3

On the third day of the New Orleans Chesed Trip, the students helped Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds affordable houses for low income families. With the help of volunteers, the organization is able to sell the house at the lowest price available. We started out the day with cleaning up the area around the houses and split into groups to complete the houses. We put up siding, insulated panels, Tyvek, and more. It was a grueling day of work, but very rewarding when we saw how much we accomplished.

After a long day building, we returned to the hotel to get ready for the New Orleans Pelicans VS. the Golden State Warriors basketball game. Agtsr dinner we headed to Smoothie King Stadium (next to the Superdome). We even met another Jewish group from Los Angles and we shared some stories with them. Yeshivah of Flatbush got a shout out on the big screen and some of us were featured on the big screen as well. After a long day, we were able to have bonding time with our friends in the lobby. ~Chen Menashe, Class of 2019

Heritage Trip to Poland 2019/5779: Day 2

Day two of the Heritage Trip to Poland began with a stop at ישיבת חכמי לובלין an old Yeshivah built in 1924. The Yeshivah only operated for a few years because the funds ran out. The Yeshivah was used by the Polish and then returned to the Jews. It was than renovated and is now used as a Shul hotel and museum.  This Yeshivah started the Daf Yomi movement and therefore Rabbi Lubner led us through a bit of that morning's daf.

Our next stop was Majdanek where we spent the majority of our day. We walked the entire camp witnessing the living conditions, gas chambers, crematorium and more. We completed our experience with a memorial of those shot and killed in the back section of the camp. We recited a Perek of Tehilim and said kaddish as we concluded our day at Majdanek.

The second half of the day consisted of a 3 hour bus ride allowing us to regroup and rest. Our final stop of the night was a gravesite. This wasn’t your ordinary cemetery. It was a memorial for both Polish citizens and Jews who were taken out of there towns nearby and shot in huge graves. We all took our time to reflect on ourselves as we read the letter our parents had composed for us. Silence filled the air and tears were streaming down everyone’s faces. Our night ended with a beautiful dinner and a session where we had the opportunity to express our thoughts and feelings.
~Michael Chattah, Class of 2019

Sephardic Heritage Trip 2019/5779: Day 6: Cordoba

On our last full day in Spain, we headed out after another great breakfast to Córdoba. Our first stop was Medina Azahara, the magnificent palace complex built by Abd al Rahman III in the 12th century whose archaeological remains were discovered not that long ago. We began with an animated video that allowed us to imagine what the beautiful city was like at the height of its splendor. We then proceeded to explore the remains. Not only did we take beautiful pictures, but the breathtaking scenes taught us about the Golden Age of Muslim Spain and the setting in which Sephardic Jews flourished.

We continued on to the beautiful city of Cordoba . We had a quick lunch and enjoyed ice cream while sitting at a café. We then took a walking tour through the charming streets of the city. We learned about some of the famous Jews who lived in the city such as R. Yehuda Halevi and Rambam. We prayed a meaningful mincha in the only synagogue still standing of 17 the city once had.

Finally, one group of students went shopping while another hopped on Segways and e-bikes and explored different parts of the city like the Roman bridge and a gorgeous plaza. 

We then boarded the high speed train to Madrid where we had dinner in a kosher restaurant and wraped up our trip with a discussion and activity around the table. We were joined by three alumni who are studying abroad for the semester in Madrid. We’ll be checking in to a hotel tonight and leaving back home tomorrow morning. We can’t believe how fast the week went! It was a spectacular trip that gave us memories for a lifetime.

~Ezra Faks and Lily Beyda, Class of 2019

New Orleans Chesed Trip 2019/5779: Day 2

On our second day in New Orleans we began our chesed activities by partnering with the NOLA Tree Project at the KIPP: Leadership Elementary School. There, we were split into different groups to help out in different areas of the school.

Some of us decorated bulletin boards, hung up school decorations, separated answer sheets for state exams, diagnosed computer problems, organized the library, and more. We also had the opportunity to learn about the amazing work of NOLA Tree Project in restoring the beauty of New Orleans.

We then traveled to southern Louisiana where we enjoyed a thrilling airboat tour. We saw alligators up close and even were able to hold some! The experience was exhilarating.

The next stop was a tour of the Lower Ninth Ward and Jewish cemetery. We saw the destruction of Hurricane Katrina - even fourteen years later. We saw the houses that were rebuilt as well as those that have yet to be restored. We stood next to the levees that played a huge role in the destruction. We then visited the Jewish cemetery where the community members buried Sifrei Kodesh and Sifrei Torah that were damaged during the hurricane. It was touching to see how the community cared for these holy works like fellow fallen community members, burying them next to their loved ones.

After dinner, we went to the French Quarter and waited in anticipation for the famous Jazz Concert at Preservation Hall. Once inside, we realized our wait was well worth it. The  musicians gave it their all and everyone in the room was tapping and swaying to the sounds of their instruments and voices. It was a great end to a very long day.