30 August 22 • 2019
jn
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haya Mushka High School in
Oak Park provides its students
with one of the most unusual
high school experiences around.
The school, founded 10 years ago, is
an all-girls Chabad school whose main
goal is to train young Jewish girls to be
shluchos, which directly
translates to “the wives of
rabbis.
” The focus of the
school is not on getting
the best grades or getting
into a good college, but
instead on allowing its
students to become the
best people they can be, said the school’
s
founder Bassie Shemtov, also director
and co-founder of Friendship Circle.
“We focus on educating them to view
all their Jewish brothers and sisters
the same, whether they are Orthodox,
Reform or not really practicing at all,
”
Shemtov said.
Four years ago, in pursuit of this goal,
Chaya Mushka began its Chavrusa pro-
gram. The Chavrusa program is centered
around Torah study and brings together
Chaya Mushka’
s senior class with Jewish
women in the community who practice
Judaism at varying levels. The young
women are given the opportunity to
impart their knowledge of Torah and
create a deep spiritual connection with
these women.
“To see the girls thriving and just so
proud of how they can connect on such
a deep level is so empowering for every-
one involved,
” Shemtov said.
One of the women who participated
in the program is Renee Laker of West
Bloomfield. Laker has been involved in
Chavrusa for two years.
“I have been extremely impressed with
the young women and how deeply they
love Judaism and are able to have a larger
picture of the world,
” Laker said. “I am
so inspired by them.
”
Prior to joining Chavrusa, Laker didn’
t
even know Chaya Mushka existed.
“I heard about it through Friendship
Circle,
” she said. “When I began, I was
expecting it to be a purely academic
pursuit, but it really was like a book of
life for me. I learned about Judaism, but
it was more about learning to be the best
human being you can be.
”
Chana Schmotkin, 18, of Oak Park
looked forward to participating in
Chavrusa throughout her high school
career. For her, being in a position of
teaching was a new experience.
“The program opened my eyes and
made me realize I have a passion for
teaching I never had before,
” Schmotkin
said. “It is exciting because I do hope to
have a Chabad house and teach in the
future and this was the first step to that.
”
This past year, Chaya Mushka’
s senior
class took a short trip to New York with
the women they had spent the year
studying with. The trip included a tour
of a Chabad community in New York, a
visit to the Ohel and the chance to hear
speakers discuss different aspects of
Judaism.
“The trip was beyond special,
”
Shemtov said.
Shmotkin said, “We got to work with
other women outside of the partners we
worked with every week. We got to work
together and discuss and inspire each
other.
”
Overall, the most powerful thing for
the participants of Chavrusa was the
connections they were able to create with
each other and their faith.
“There is something beautiful about
women studying with other women,
”
Laker said. “Especially being taught by
someone who could be my granddaugh-
ter and seeing how much respect they
have for each other and their communi-
ty. It really has left me feeling extremely
hopeful.
” ■
To learn more or get involved, contact
Bassie Shemtov at (248) 613-9218.
back to school
Bassie Shemtov
LINKEDIN
Students study with local Jewish women.
Rayna Kogan of West Bloomfield, Danielle
Sprecher of West Bloomfield and Chabad Girls
High School student Rivkie Katz of Chicago
study together.
Oak Park Mayor Marian McClellan studies with
a student.
Women
Women
Teaching
Chabad High School in
Oak Park allows senior
class to teach Torah
to Jewish women in
the community.
JESSIE COHEN JN INTERN
PHOTOS BY DERRICK MARTINEZ