The last two weeks have flown by in an instant, and sadly our unbelievable year at Ohel Chana has come to an end. These final weeks were filled with insightful guest speakers, outstanding programs, inspirational farbrengens and unfortunately sad goodbyes.

It all began with the voting for the annual Rochwerger award, where we all had the opportunity to nominate someone to receive an award based on attributes such as courage, self sacrifice and motivation. The award was presented at our graduation and a huge Mazel Tov to Mushkah Friedman for being the worthy recipient.

We were very privileged to have three exceptional guest speakers. Mrs Sheiny New represented The Jewish Taskforce Against Family Violence, and gave us a whole new wealth of knowledge about abuse in a marriage. Rabbi Leibl Wolf spoke animatedly of perception and the different ways one same event, object or person could be viewed. Lastly, Rabbi Glasman gave us a deep Chasidic insight into Shavuos, teaching us interesting meanings to things that we had never heard before.

Our last farbrengen with Rabbi Tenenbaum reminded us that although we were leaving seminary and venturing into a life of reality, we should continue to grow and learn and we should never forget all that we have gained from Ohel Chana and allow it to aid us in our future endeavours.

Then the goodbyes began in earnest. They commenced with our last Wednesday night get together at the home of Chabad Youth director Dina Kahn, where together with our brilliant heads of Bnos, each girl was personally thanked and given a small present as a token of their appreciation. We finally started to realise that our time at Ohel Chana was indeed ending.

Next, we experienced our final Friday morning Asifa with Rabbi Tenenbaum, Mrs Groner and our dorm counsellors. The classrooms were packed up and emptied, thank yous were made and presents were presented. Together we made our last trek down the road from class to the dorm, past all the familiar houses and people that we had come to know so well over the past year.

Our last Shabbos was out of this world. The five girls in charge adorably decorated the dining room to appear as a plane, and we were all presented cutely with food set out like a plane meal. Rabbi Kraz and his wife were our esteemed guests and added immensely to the overall atmosphere of the Friday night meal. Rabbi Kraz went around the table and instructed each girl to say something small, whether it be a dvar torah or one last message they wished to impart; the valuable comments and ideas conveyed will remain with us all for a very long time.

Sunday night, our last night in Melbourne was our graduation. Members of the community, girls from the high school and many others who we had come to know over the year came to show their gratitude and support. The girls’ speeches were delivered with eloquence and confidence and we were addressed by two parents, Rabbi Glick and Mrs Raskin. Both thanked us on behalf of the community as well as advising us for the future.

With the conclusion of graduation, it was time to head back to the dorm to finish packing up. The next morning we all arrived at the airport longing to remain in Melbourne and beyond satisfied with our unbelievable seminary year in Ohel Chana.

Eventful and fulfilling are the perfect description of the past couple of weeks in Ohel Chana. They began with wonderful Lag b’omer night programs that we organised and ran for both primary and secondary school. Primary was treated to an exciting and action packed fair, including yummy food, fun rides and a talented magician. At the same time high school experienced a really fun lag b’omer swimming party that lasted well into the night.

The following day we set off early on a brilliant trip to the Dandenong Ranges. First we stopped at Sherbrooke Forest to feed the beautiful Rosella birds before continuing onto A Thousand Steps where we had an intense workout, climbing up and then down one thousand stairs. The breathtaking view made it all worth it!! Our unique Lag b’omer experience came to a close with a delicious bbq and bonfire at the home of the Greenbaum family, where we concluded with a beautiful kumzits, singing around the fire for hours.

For our weekly Thursday night farbrengen we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to hear the unbelievable story of Mrs Esther Malka Groner, opening us to a whole new world through her recount of the amazing mesirat nefesh her family underwent to move into Chabad from the Satmar movement.  To say we were all extremely inspired is an understatement.

In honour of a girl's birthday we also had Rabbi Menachem Wolf, one of our teachers come farbreng with us. We had heated discussions which provoked intense thought in the minds of many of us, delving into the true meaning of being Lubavich and many topics branching off this central theme. It was truly a captivating and inspiring Farbrenegn

A fantastic mother and daughter learning program was organized by a few girls. The turnout was really good and throughout the dorm the success of the evening could be heard, with all mothers seeming to be enjoying the chance to learn with their eager daughters about all different topics, ranging from the parsha to Shavuos.

This brought us to in- shabbos which was meticulously prepared by five talented girls, who transformed our dining room into a real Midbar. Every last detail was attended to, from the wooden cutlery, to the mini Har Sinai model in the middle the room. The atmosphere was very uplifting and special as we realised we were entering the last three weeks of seminary. After the meal, Rabbi Yossi Gordon graced us with his wise words and thoughts- another farbrengen thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

In preparation fro Shavous we had a farbrengen on Erev Shavous with Mrs. Avigyil Wonder. It was a great  Hachanah for Kabalos Hatorah B’simcha U’bpnimiyus.

Before we knew it Shavuos had arrived and accompanying it as usual, was every girl hurrying around busily attempting to organise learning programs for all grades, running at all hours. Grades 5 and 6 had a smashing ice cream party, whilst listening to an interactive, excellent speaker, Rabbi Naphtali Abonaim. High school heard speakers on a broad range of different, interesting topics, before then having the opportunity themselves to learn in groups, with us girls helping out when necessary. On Shavuos day, we ventured out to shuls and Chabad houses all over Melbourne, running children’s programs culminating with scrumptious ice cream parties!!

Another amazing week had passed in Ohel Chana, we only have a few weeks left and this is evident as you look around and see many girls making the most of their time. Girls learning in chavrusah, extra Shiurim in the dorm and extra Shiurim with Beth Rivka girls.

On Wednesday, our dedicated teaching methods teacher; Mrs. Moshel arranged for us to have two special-ed teachers from Yeshiva College come to speak to us. They gave us many interesting and practical ideas to help us with our future careers as teacher, particularly in the important field of special-ed. Since we are nearing the end of our Teaching Methods course, this was very beneficial, thank you Mrs. Moshel for organizing this for us. 

This week we had a wonderful Achdus and Hakhel program arranged by six girls in the dorm. First we made and ate sushi, and then we created awesome signs to decorate the dorm. Thank you to the organizers and to Esther & Mussy for helping us make it happen.

We were very privileged to have the honour of a Thursday night Farbrengen in honor of Pesach Sheini with an international speaker. Mrs. Esther Sternberg from Crown Heights told us many interesting and personal stories of her family and the Rebbetzin. It was evident from Mrs. Sternberg’s talk that the one point she wanted to bring out was the Rebbetzin’s deep care for every single Jew.

It was very interesting and inspiring to hear so much about our beloved Rebbetzin!  

After our great Pesach vacation, which many of us enjoyed staying in Melbourne, seminary began with even more enthusiasm for the next term and the final Sheva Shabosos of our great seminary experience. The dorm activities, schoolwork, outreach and the many programs that we run returned with even more chayus than before. We will chap arein all that we can in these last remaining weeks in OC!!

The first of the many farbrengens was lead by Rabbi Aron Laizer Ceitlin from Tzefas in honor of Beis Iyar, the Rebbe Maharashs birthday. He began by telling us many anecdotes to illustrate the theme of “Lichatchileh Ariber.” Throughout the farbrengen Rabbi Ceitlin continuously stressed the idea of small acts having great effects on the people and the world around us. Rabbi Ceitlin farbrenged with us until three in the morning, leaving us with everlasting messages engraved in our minds and hearts.

The next day, we all ran to class rejuvenated from the night before and excited to keep on learning all that we can. Engrossed in our studies, the day went by with our usual amazing teachers and classes. As the week went on, every girl took in all that she could from every class, chavrusah, and late night learnings.

We are IYH planning Hakhel programs for each of these last 7 weeks.

On Thursday, a few girls organized a fun hakhel ice cream party. We played some games and learnt together as we enjoyed the delicious ice cream.

The first one was a real smashing success and really enhanced our Achdus even greater than it was until now!

After our gathering, Rabbi Moshe Feiglin joined us for our weekly farbrengen. With his inspiring words, he instilled in us a sense of pride of being a part of the Rebbe’s army. We all left with a strong connection to our Rebbe.

The next day we had a guest speaker, Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie, a Shliach from California. He spoke about the power of Shluchim and the strong impact they have on their surroundings.  He also spoke about Chabad being the powerhouse of the world, and having the Rebbe as our energy provider.

It was a very thought provoking and practical session about the world of Shlichus and our task in the Rebbe’s army.

After this inspiring week, each girl felt the strength that we were graciously given as the Chassidos of the Rebbe. We hope to continue to give Hashem and the Rebbe lots of Nachas.

On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons we each got to go to the local schools and observe classes in the younger primary grades. Some of us went to Yeshivah and others went to Bais Rivkas. It was really interesting and informative to observe a class in action and to see the wonderful theories we learn in class put into action.

Thursday night we got the opportunity to farbreng with Rabbi Yehuda Divries. He shared with us his experiences in the former Soviet Union and miraculous stories that happened to him. He stayed late in the night and left us all moved. Motzei Shabbos, in honour of Chof Hey Adar we had a lovely Melava Malka at Mrs. Groners house. Both Rabbi Chaim Tzvi and Mrs. Groner spokes about the significance of 25 Adar and related stories, some of them personal about their encounters with the Rebbetzin. We also played a few games and shared Divrei Torah. It was so nice to sit together with all our dorm mates and share a great time both B’Gashmiyus and B’Ruchniyus.

This week we were privileged to have Mrs. Majesky, principal of Bnos Menachem, come talk to us. She is visiting Australia for her son’s wedding, so we took the opportunity to farbreng with her. We sang many niggunim and heard Hashgacha protis stories. Later on in the week, on Tes Adar, Rabbi Yanky Barber from South Caulfield came to farbreng with us as well. He told us many inspiring stories and spoke about his shlichus.

Second week-

This week started off with a smash. On Sunday we were busy preparing our Purim costumes and shalach manos. The Dorm Counselors made a beautiful program for us in the Mezz which included a great dinner and exciting Purim activities including Sumo Wrestling. It was really a blast!!

On Monday night, before megilla reading, we had a Tzivos Hashem rally for the primary students. The children had a chance to make their very own masks and shalach manos to give to their friends. The children enjoyed an awesome magic show and ended off the rally with saying the 12 possukim. After the rally, we rushed to shul to hear the  Megillah. Straight after Megillah reading we were busy with the high school function. The girls loved playing lazer tag, moon bounce and many other activities organized for the party… All day Purim we were busy going to school to give our bnos girls mishaloch manos, going on mivtziom to different old age homes, and then to our suedos.  Thursday night we had a farbrengen with Mrs. Leah Greenbaum who spoke about the whole idea of shlichus and stressing how the Shliach has the Koach of the mishalach and has to remember that whatever he or she is doing is through the mishalach’s koach. What an inspiring way to end our Purim week!!