On Wednesday, October 26, Shevach High School students enjoyed a special event in honor of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. Under the direction of the Shevach Menaheles, Mrs. Shulamith Insel, the morning was glamorous and inspirational. The program was run by Shevach Educational Administrator Mrs. Devorah Kovitz, who worked with her dedicated committee of seniors to make it a special morning. The Rosh Chodesh Committee heads, together with the G.O. heads, transformed the multi-purpose room in a manner that embodied their 5783 theme of “FLYING HIGH.”
After being treated to a gala breakfast, Mrs. Insel introduced the program with words of welcome and insights into the significance of Cheshvan, which follows a month of davening, fasting, Sukkos, and Simchas Torah. She urged the students to hold onto that connection to Hashem. In that regard, Cheshvan – which Chazal call MarCheshvan – is noteworthy. In English, Mar means Mister, an address of honor and importance. Therefore, Cheshvan is a significant month, in that it connects us to the elevation we experienced in the month of Tishrei, which had preceded it.
In an interesting note, the guest speaker, Rabbi Nosson Greenberg, a rav in Far Rockaway, spoke on a similar theme. With his trademark English sense of humor, he described the seasons of the year, and in particular Cheshvan, as the beginning of the winter. Just as we prepare our clothing for winter, we have prepared ourselves for the winter in Tishrei. Indeed, the “clothing” of Hashem, so to
speak, is our mitzvos. Just as clothing can sometimes define us, our mitzvos define us. They make us who we are. The 248 positive commandments in the Torah represent our limbs, i.e., us. We all aspire to wear royal clothing and strive to a higher level of spirituality. In Cheshvan, that preparation starts to bear fruit as we approach several months of no yamim tovim. But our mitzvos of Tishrei will carry us forward.
Altogether, the morning was an exciting start to the winter months, and it gave the students much to think about and much to internalize. Kudos to Shevach G.O. heads Eliana Deil, Esther Greenfield, Aviva Robinson, Chana Tova Kasirer, and Ella Marcus, and to Rosh Chodesh heads Menucha Fedowitz, Chana Ilyasov, Rivka Jacob, and Meira Levy for a job well done!