This past week one of my dreams came true!
We had our first Moshiach Chidon for local Moscow girls on Sunday, and it was really amazing BH! It wasn’t on the scale that I originally dreamed of, but it was truly a breakthrough nevertheless, and really felt like a taste of Geulah..
My first hesitation before launching this chidon was that besides the fact that I had no sponsor, I didn’t feel quite comfortable offering prizes for participating in Moshiach learning...
I asked the Rebbe this question, and opened to an amazingly clear answer, where the Rebbe wrote that, “_we see clearly that when in addition to the pleasure of the Gdly soul, there is also a pleasure for the animal soul, *meaning that we pay money*, then the success happens much faster and in a much more complete way_!”
That took care of my main doubt… and I decided that in the worst case, even if I wouldn’t manage to find a sponsor, I would still do it and pay for it myself over a few months…because I truly believe that it’s the most important cause to give to.
But then I still doubted, is it worth investing so much for something that would be done in such a rush? The maximum time I had to run it from A-Z was just over 3 weeks! It just didn’t make sense.
I asked the Rebbe this question too, and BH again got an amazingly clear answer, that “_now is the most opportune time to work with youth, not only because it’s most necessary, but because with today’s youth *it’s possible to accomplish in a very short time what in previous generations would have taken years! And that although it requires a lot of energy and devotion, and letting go of all calculations and cold intellect, those who work with youth also catch these special youthful qualities*! As we see with the first Geulah from mitzrayim, that the youth were the first to recognise HaShem..”_
After reading this letter, I had no more excuses!
The “marathon” began...
We went ahead with printing the learning booklets, which were already translated to Russian from last year’s Tut Altz campaign for anash, and publicised the contest.
B”H we had a total of 18 live classes over the next 3 weeks, plus many more girls learning via zoom or recordings, and on their own.
As we started to plan the live event, I thought about decorating the room as the “Era of Geulah” but then realized that it would be much easier and better if the participants themselves would be the ones to create the Moshiach art!
But again, I wasn’t sure.
I felt they would only participate if it was part of a contest, and so I thought of raffling off one of my dimes from the Rebbe set in a beautiful necklace, between all the art contestants…
But it was one of the hardest decisions to make!
My father had given me a total of 3 dimes.. and BH I already have 3 of my own daughters who I would want to gift them to... plus I would actually love to make such a necklace for myself!
I don’t have a way to get more of them...
And even if I was ready to give one away, I would want to know for sure that it’s worth it - that I’m getting the most benefit from it ..
But here, there was less than 2 weeks left to the event, so how much can the girls invest in it already? And would they even go for it? Do they even understand it’s value?
And I need to decide now, but I have no way to know in advance how many girls would participate, if any at all...
It just doesn’t make sense - it feels like I’m wasting it!
But those words rang a bell..
It’s what we’ve been learning all this time -
That when fighting a war, the only thing that matters is victory!
The king is ready to waste all his treasures for the chance to win, even if it’s not guaranteed…
Deciding to give away my dime felt like real
-בזבוז האוצרות
But look at what 2 countries in a physical war are ready to waste and lose and sacrifice for the sake of victory...
OUR war is definitely no less important!
And I was reminded of the prize jewel of the Kings crown.. that He was ready to crush even just for a tiny chance that a tiny drop would enter the prince and revive him, even though there was no guarantee...
And when I thought that maybe it’s silly, unwise, irresponsible - because I can “get much more” out of this dime...
I remembered all we learned about Shtus d’kedusha-
That it may be “silly,” but it’s definitely for the sake of holiness, and that’s exactly the way to build the Mishkan -
Without making calculations...
With tears in my eyes, I realised that this little dime is my donation to the mishkan. I don’t have gold and silver to give, but I can give what I do have…
My small contribution to Geulah.
And I also realised that at this point, there is anyway no way that I would feel comfortable wearing the necklace myself anymore - once I already had the thought of giving it away..,
So with the support of my mashpia, I launched the art contest as well…
And the next day, as Lag Baomer entered, I had the big miracle that I was waiting for! A sponsor suddenly replied to all my messages - and said that they would cover the whole project!
It was such a huge relief!
As the days went on.. I saw the full extent of the truth of the Rebbes advice - of the benefit of offering a monetary prize, and of how quickly today’s youth can transform and accomplish!
It turned out that nothing was wasted at all!
BH Over 100 girls participated in the learning on some level, and most of them also took the written test of 120 questions about Moshiach.
The learning added up to way over 770 hours!
And we also had over 30 girls who participated in the art contest!
I want to share 11 of the most touching moments and feedback -
1. During these few weeks, I was able to watch first hand how our Shabbos guests spent almost their whole long Shabbos afternoons studying the booklets and asking questions about Moshiach and Geulah! One of the girls said that she never asked so many Jewish questions in her life - she never felt so interested and invested until now.
2. Right after the test on Wednesday night, tons of girls sent messages thanking me for the opportunity to learn and take the test! I totally didn’t expect it! Of all the events and programs and classes that we’ve had over the past 10 years, there’s never been this amount of positive feedback and gratitude! I realised the learning was incomparably more internalised this time!
3. One girl who joined from a far away city, told me that right after taking the test she felt so inspired that she wrote a beautiful poem called “Moshiach is with us” and by the next day she already turned it into a video in which she sang it as a beautiful song! When I told her I’m not sure if she can be included in the lottery because it was really meant for those who could be there in person, she said she didn’t care because this was just from her heart! https://youtu.be/DwXAb9qloQ8
4. Another girl who previously had a very hard time accepting many aspects of Yiddishkeit, told me that when she got to the question on the test, “Why do we need Moshiach?”, for the first time it hit her that after witnessing all that’s been going on in the last few months.. she realised that we really do need Moshiach! That we are not managing on our own... and we need some Higher help!
5. One girl sent me a Geulah vision board that she made on Canva, and when I asked her to show it at our event, she said she could, but that she totally didn’t make it “for” the contest… she just felt inspired and that’s what came out.
6. One talented girl who was not interested in the learning contest, (and who is unfortunately married to a non-Jew), got excited when it came to the art contest. She asked me to send her links to learn about 3 of the Moshiach topics that sounded interesting to her... and she spent the next week learning and thinking, and finally creating this magnificent art.
7. Another artist, who is a full Baalas teshuva, felt really motivated by the lottery for the Rebbe’s dime! Even though her diploma is due this week, and she was planning to devote her time to painting the circus art for it, she spent over 40 hours painting 2 beautiful Moshiach paintings instead - ones that she had not felt inspired enough to paint for years!
8. The 10 girls from the Jewish girls apartment said that they had a 40 second video presentation from all of them together. I couldn’t imagine what it could be, but when I saw it, it touched me to tears. It was tons of pictures of the girls doing mitzvos, which zoomed out to form the Beis Hamikdash. https://youtu.be/hsSJWOqFHdA
9. In the 5th stage of the chidon, 7 finalists each had a minute to say all they could about a specific topic - and what was so touching to me was that each of the girls naturally ended with a tefilla for Moshiach to come! Even though they were only asked to give information- their desire for Geulah just naturally flowed out… The learning itself had its desired effect!
10. One of our finalists had just given birth less than 2 weeks ago, but she spent the past weeks right before and after birth learning dozens of hours, and she was with us for the full 5 hour evening while her husband cared for the baby. Another finalist who also spent dozens of hours learning, participated till 12am while holding her 1 year old baby! In the meantime, her non Jewish husband spent his time learning Mishne Torah while waiting for her...
11. The girl who won the raffle for the necklace with the Rebbe’s dime turned out to be my own secretary! It was so special because she really deserved it - she worked so hard all year and is always so modest about everything she does. She could have easily won the learning competition, but she didn’t participate because she wanted to give other girls a chance to win. Also, last year, she took a hachlata to finish a complete cycle of Sefer hamitzvos. Over the last 11 months, she learned (and shared in our group) all 613 mitzvos! I was so happy that it went to someone who truly appreciated its value!
One girl made a beautiful 10 minute video of “10 mitzvos that i can’t wait to fulfill”
https://youtu.be/1k5ug0mRS6M
One girl made a website,
http://j92628oy.beget.tech/Moschiah_project/bekind.html
One girl painted a tambourine but with tons of meaning and detail,
https://www.canva.com/design/DAFCFTM_61k/AOySMq4hHtOEOWZl3I5tRw/view?utm_content=DAFCFTM_61k&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer
One girl painted an Aleph and gave over the whole sicha about the 3 meanings of the Aleph of Geulah! When I asked her where she learned it, she said she learned it on her own!
And here is a (google) translation of the 2 poems,
*MOSHIACH IS WITH US*
_Sara Klotz_
How long have we been waiting for the time
When He reveals Himself
The Almighty in this world will be with us!
And the pain of fathers and mothers
G-d heard - he came soon,
Filled the world with Himself and miracles!
And now the prophecies have come true!
All gathered in Israel
And the sacrifices were made with love for God!
And the air is full of Torah!
Everything has been done for us by the Almighty Himself -
The way to Himself opened in the hearts of people!
Moshiach restored the temple!
We stand there together
And the joy from the chest flies higher and higher!
And tears drip from your eyes
From the feeling that we are here now!
And everywhere only the voice of Happiness is heard!
And good reigns around -
And lend a hand to a friend, friend,
We must remember that we are one family!
You are a particle of the fire of the soul
Hurry to the one who is near
Give soon and fill the world with light!
The world is so beautiful, look around
Open your eyes and smile
The prophecies came true and everything happened!
Moshiach is with us forever!
And there will never be trouble!
And all the past is like a dream forgotten!
And here's the other one, (again with google translate):
*We Are Waiting*
_Tamara Kukhareva_
From the sad sky, the freezing winter, from the warriors and deaths made their way ..
Here is the action, in the order of things, which you have been waiting for
Our king will come, our king of kings, he is immediately ready to surprise
After all, he will meet us, the unforgettable "children", and send us to Israel
Under him there is no death, just as there is no poor, but there is a temple and wealth
With him there is no pain, no illnesses and troubles, there is revenue, friendship and brotherhood
He is ours, from his own, he is a descendant of David
Confident, kind and strong
Won't be beaten and won't be forgotten
Reliable, simple, us "feasible"
Having said three times, do not ask for more
It's too much to wait for checks
After all, G-d is waiting for trust, that everything is out of love,
Your comments are redundant.
And we will live, dance, exalt
Share success with everyone
And our world will be perfect, and you
You will understand how you will be embodied in it.
Harmony, happiness, warmth and comfort
Moshiach, come, because they are waiting for you here!
***
There is really so much more to share, but I’ll just end with this -
When there was a question on the test, “What helps strengthen your faith in Moshiach?” at least half the girls answered, “Learning about this topic..”
And to the question, “Why do you want Moshiach to come?,” so many girls answered spiritual reasons, connected to the opportunity to fulfill all the mitzvos...
The world is truly ready!
And there’s a reason that the Rebbe said that learning about Moshiach is the straight path…
May the zechus of their learning finally bring about the full revelation of Moshiach NOW!!!
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