WOODCLIFF LAKE—In a first, the Valley Chabad Teen Initiative recently held an illuminating mother and daughter event just for teens, grades 8–12, and their moms.
The ladies bonded over cheese boards, salads, sushi, and soup, music — and the creation of beautiful fused-glass mezuzah cases.
Estie Orenstein of Valley Chabad Center for Jewish Life told Pascack Press on Oct. 27, “Words of inspiration were shared about the beauty of the mezuzah and what it adds to the Jewish home. The moms had a great time seeing how well their daughters knew them in a fun game.”
A mezuzah is a piece of parchment called a klaf contained in a decorative case and inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21), in fulfillment of the commandment to “write the words of God on the gates and doorposts of your house.”
As Chabad.org notes, the commandment to affix a mezuzah to the doorpost of a home’s main entrance (there are several interpretations about how best to comply with this) is widely followed in the Jewish world, even by Jews who are not religiously observant.
“While the important part of the mezuzah is the klaf, or the parchment, and not the case itself, designing and producing mezuzah cases has been elevated to an art form over the ages. Mezuzah cases are produced from a wide variety of materials, from silver and precious metals, to wood, stone, ceramics, pewter, and even polymer clay,” the site says.
According to Orenstein, who founded the Valley Chabad Teen Leadership Initiative in 2008 with her husband, Rabbi Yosef Orenstein, and ran the event, the moms and daughters — some 40 for this first outing — also received Shabbat candle kits distributed by Ilana Schulman of Montvale, “who shared how by lighting shabbat candles we can add more peace and light to the world.”
Mezuzot, Orenstein said, are meant as divine protection for the home — their location within the transitional space of a main entrance is key.
“We want to bring the sacred parts of our home — what goes on in the kitchen and the study and the library — to bring those influences and spirituality to the outside world,” Orenstein said.
She added that the craft project, candle lighting, and games were a big hit — “the moms are such a big part of their teens’ lives” — and that the evening culminated in a musical performance by Chava Morgenstern of New City, N.Y.
“It was fantastic, it was elegant, it was bonding, it really was a nice vibe, and we will be doing it again,” she said.
Valley Chabad has programs for toddlers, youth, teens, adults, and the community — including those with special needs.
The Valley Chabad Teen Leadership Initiative’s CTeen program was founded as a small network with a few chapters of Jewish teens in select locations. Its goal: “provide them with the opportunity to meet, laugh, and learn with other Jewish peers.”
CTeen has expanded to become the fastest growing Jewish teen network in the world, with over 200 chapters worldwide.
CTeen encourages teens to grow and learn about themselves and their community. Core values and character development are reinforced through social get-togethers, community service and fun in a dynamic Jewish environment.
Online, Valley Chabad lauds its CTeen leaders, “engaged youth who plan, direct, and lead CTeen events and programs”: Ella Glastein of Hillsdale; Ilana Schulman and Tiffany Suponitskiy of Montvale; Hailey Migdal of River Vale; and Billy Gold, Alexis Mayer, Hannah Nadel, and Jack Silver of Woodcliff Lake.
Valley Chabad Teen Leadership Initiative is a grant recipient of the Dryan Family Foundation, the George and Martha Rich Foundation, and the Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation.
The programs are open to all Jewish teens regardless of affiliation. To learn more or to have your teens volunteer, visit valleychabadteens.com or email rabbiyosef@valleychabad.org.