Today is June 20, 2013 - 12 Tammuz 5773
Mid-Winter Kallah 2012 Recap
By Elan Weinberger, METNY President
This year’s Mid-Winter Kallah was AMAZING! USYers enjoyed great programming, Ruach, and friendships that will last for a lifetime. The theme, “METNY Goes Greek,” enticed everyone to wear togas, wreaths, and truly be a METNY God/ Goddess. The two co-Chairs, Yuval Yoseffy and Jillian Mergruen, worked tirelessly to make sure that everyone had a great time! And everyone surely did have a great time! With icebreakers about designing your own God/Godess and a Tikkun Olam fashion show, everyone was sure to enjoy this event. USYers learned about the Israeli government through a Knesset Government simulation, where USYers debated numerous issues that are being argued in the actual Knesset today. On Saturday night we had a toga party, where everyone showed off their toga making skills. On Sunday, we started the morning with a creative service focusing on prayer through music! This service taught USYers that there are more ways to connect to God than through just prayer. We finally ended with a Social Actions program that taught USYers about disability awareness. Although everyone is sad that Kallah is now over, everyone should look forward to their spring kinnusim! Talk to your divisional youth director for more information.
By Stephanie Nelson, METNY Israel Affairs Vice President
This past weekend 8th graders and USYers experienced one of the most incredible events of their entire lives! METNY MID-WINTER KALLAH!
The fun and exciting god and goddess themed weekend began with an incredible introduction from our co-chairs Yuval Yossefy and Jillian Merguen. Next, all of the USYers got to know each other a little bit better through some icebreakers. Now, we were all introduced and ready for some Kabbalat Shabbat! The room was filled with kavanah and enthusiasm within each USYer and 8th grader as he or she welcomed Shabbat.
Next came my personal favorite part… FOOD! We had a lovely Shabbos dinner, which ended with some incredible Ruach. The night wouldn’t have been complete without a sicha, Israel Program, and even a late night optional Heschel Session.
Saturday morning was filled with tephilot, sichot, and some more food! Sadly, Shabbat eventually had to end but everyone was excited to see what was in store for the rest of the night. After changing into our togas, we came downstairs and experienced an awesome Tikun Olam program called MR. and MRS. METNY. USYers would vote with money for the couple that they wanted to win; it was a very entertaining and enjoyable way to begin our night. After some laughs at the competition, we all went into the dance where we truly did “dance the night away”.
The next morning METNY woke up to an excellent Greek God themed Shacharit where we prayed with our friends one last time before we would need to say goodbye.
Overall, Kallah was an astounding and remarkable event! I am so sad that it is all over but I can’t wait to see all of my friends again at the upcoming kinnusim!
