נופש הורים תשע”ח

Every year Seeach Sod treats the mothers of its very special students to a beautiful and meaningful retreat. This year’s retreat differed in two ways: The fathers were invited to join, and we went for Shabbos. Being that we were in the Ukraine for Shabbos in Mezhibuzh, the location of the tziyun of the holy Baal Shem Tov zy”a, took this Shabbos to an entirely different level. Rabbi Shimon Levy and his devoted staff, both the men as well as the women, took that into consideration. From the beginning to the end of this trip every single detail was attended to. But I am getting ahead of myself…..

Upon entering Ben-Gurion Airport early Thursday morning we were met by Rav Levy and several staff members. We received our boarding passes and food. We were given exact instructions regarding where to go. When we arrived we were off to Uman. Seeach Sod never allowed us to go hungry. We were treated to yet more food, drinks and knash. In Uman we had a sumptuous lunch, and then we were off to the Uman of Rav Nachman of Breslev. On the buses we were regaled with stories and explanations from Rav Chilik Frank and Rav Goldvasser. Their knowledge and delivery at every step of this trip made our tefillos that much more meaningful. It also made us realize that our gedolim were giants in every way, whose first and foremost concern was the welfare of every single Jew, and for klall Yisroel as a whole. We were told that actually Rabi Nachman had been in Breslev and went to Uman for merely six months before his passing. He knew that the Jews of Uman were all killed על קידוש השם, and so he wanted to be buried in their midst. These were Jews — thousands of them, men, women and children — who chose to be slaughtered rather than to convert to Christianity. I was overcome with emotion upon hearing this. Among those holy men, women and children there were probably many ignorant Jews who never had the opportunity to learn about Yidddishkeit. But when the time came when they had to make a choice between living as gentiles or dying as Jews there was no doubt in their minds: They would be killed, but they would remain loyal Yidden. It is no wonder, then, that Rav Nachman chose to be buried in Uman. We recited the tikkun klalli of Rav Nachman, and from Uman we went to Breslev. In Breslev some women braved the dark and steep steps to go up to the kever of Rav Nossen, the loyal disciple of Rav Nachman who wrote his teachings.

Seeach Sod doesn’t only attend to our ruchniyus; they also take care of our gashmiyus. And so on Friday morning we were treated to an outing to a water park!!! We were like children, going from one water slide to the other. I kept hearing from the women who joined in the fun, “When do we have the opportunity to do this in Eretz Yisrael??!” We really took advantage of every minute there. A good time was had by all. From there we were taken to the shuk. After all, what’s a trip for women without some shopping?! Sure enough, many women returned to the buses with lots of purchases. Upon our return to Mezhibuzh it was time to change gears and get back to the ruchniyus part of our trip. We were always cognizant of the fact, thanks to the explanations, of Rav Frank and Rav Goldvasser, that we were in the place where chassidus started, the cradle of the movement that changed the face of Klall Yisroel. We prepared for Shabbos and davened at the tziyun of the Baal Shem Tov, knowing that Shabbos we wouldn’t be able to daven there. Then we were treated to a beautiful choir. Plaintive tunes were sung, such as שפכי כמים לבך. I don’t think there was a dry eye among the men and women there. This choir set the mood for Hadlokas Neiros Shabbos. The music didn’t stop: As the women bentcht licht the choir continued to sing songs of Shabbos, such as the popular וזכני. I believe that every woman’s licht bentchen took on added meaning because of that singing, accompanied by our talented clarinetist, Rav Chilik Frank.

Then we were off to the old Beis Medresh of the Baal Shem Tov for Mincha, Kabbolas Shabbos and Ma’ariv. The tefillos at night and Shabbos morning were led by a wonderful chazzan and his equally talented choir. If not for the fact that one does not cry on Shabbos I would have shed copious tears. The davening was so inspiring, I could not help but think that the Baal Shem Tov, and the Ohev Yisroel in whose Shul we davened Shabbos morning, were telling the angels and HaKadosh Boruch Hu, “חזו בני” –Look at our devoted children who are all assembled here for one purpose, to pour out their hearts בשירה ותשבחות to the Ribono shel Olam. If only for this zechus, the zechus of their emotional and heart-rending tefillos, please bring the geula!!” After Ma’ariv on Leil Shabbos Kodesh we were treated to a spirited rendition of בר יוחאי נמשחת אשריך. I am certain that every one of the mispalllelim and mispallelos felt the simcha of Lag B’omer.

I must add here that I felt that I was so privileged to be davening in the Beis Medresh of the holy Baal Shem Tov and Ohev Yisroel zy”a. These were spiritual giants whose concern and love for every Yid knew no bounds. And here I was, on the accursed soil of the Ukraine that is soaked with the blood of Jewish martyrs!!! We were there to pour out our hearts to Ovinu shebashamayim!!! Truly, נצח ישראל לא ישקר!!! עם ישראל חי!!!

The seudos of Shabbos were replete not only with physical food to satisfy our palates, but with lots of spiritual food as well. At each of the seudos we heard not only from Rav Levy, but from Rav Goldvasser, Rav Frank, and some of the fathers who joined us. One of the fathers made a very valid point: Over Shabbos there were Jews of all kinds seated together, followers of many different Chassidic sects, and some Sfaradim as well. Yet their differences were put aside for the purpose of celebrating together. Indeed, it was a true display of achdus, of הנה מה טוב ומה נעים שבת אחים גם יחד. I was thinking as I witnessed this scene that this is what we refer to in the tefillos of the Yomim Noraim, ויעשו כולם אגודה אחת לעשות רצונך בלבב שלם. If only we could maintain such unity all the time, the geula would surely come…..

Shabbos afternoon we went on a tour of a castle, led by Rabbis Frank and Goldvasser. There is a museum there with displays of artifacts from Ukranian life. In fact, there is one room with objects from the lives of Jews who lived there. We even saw a display case with the cover page of the Tur, and Rav Goldvasser said that he would love to break open that case in order to see the pages of that Tur….

After an uplifting Seudah Shlishis and Havdalah we went to the tziyun of the Baal Shem Tov. There we all davened together, a unified Tehillim, and once again the choir sang for us to set the tone. I don’t think that anyone who was there will soon forget that מעמד תפילה. There is a lot of merit to tefilla recited individually, but nothing can compare to a tzibbur davening as one. May the Ribono shel Olam accept our tefillos in the way that HE in HIS Infinite Wisdom knows is best for us.

Sunday morning we set out for Berditchev. Who can describe the feeling to be at the tziyun of Rav Levi Yitzchok m’Berditchev, the great defender of klall Yisroel? We all cried there as we begged H-Shem Yisborach to listen to our tefillos in the z’chus of the holy Rav Levi Yitzchok zy”a. And then we were once again treated to the choir and Rav Chilik Frank on the clarinet as they gave us their rendition of the famous piyut of Rav Levi Yitzchok, in which he asks H-Shem to make a “deal” and take our aveiros, and grant us a year of gezunt and all brachos. It was so hard to tear ourselves from that tziyun, but time does not stand still. We needed to set out for Kiev from where we would board our planes to return to Eretz Yisroel.

But Seeach Sod had one more gashmiyus treat for us before our return flight: A boat ride on the Dnieper River. The weather cooperated, and two boats awaited the men and women. And lest we be hungry, Seeach Sod made sure that we would be treated to a lavish meal served on the boats. The atmosphere was light and carefree, and it was a very fitting end to a fabulous retreat.

Seeach Sod is always thinking about its parents. As we were about to exit the airport there were staff members who distributed chocolate bars with special wrapping: Pictures of our trip!!! Not satisfied with what it does — over and beyond the call of duty — for its special, special students, Seeach Sod is constantly thinking about what it can do to bring light and happiness to its parent body. I am in awe of everyone who works for this institution headed by Rav Shimon. All I can say is that I hope and pray that H-Shem bless all of you from HIS storehouse of brachos, and that H-Shem send you brocha and hatzlocha in your avodas hakodesh on behalf of our children.

And, of course, I look forward to next year’s retreat here in Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh as we greet Moshiach Tzidkeinu BE”H!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Tzirel Friedman