In Honor of Chof Beis Shvat

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Inside

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

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We'd like to thank

Thanks for giving us

advice, making sure our

work is sent in, and

helping us come up with

great ideas.

-Staff at G.C.

Mazal Tov G.C.

staff members CM

Gurkow, R Cunin,

and C Cunin on your

Bas Mitzvah!!

Mushkie Lipsker!

What’s black and white and red all over? You got it – the most awesome, greatest, funniest AND funnest newsletter in the whole wide world – Global Connections – which you are reading right now at the Day of Celebration LIVE! Full of stories, fun pages, a contest, and more, we’re sure you will enjoy all the pages of it! We’re at an exciting time now at the Day of Celebration. We are sitting all together, and we are all so excited to be seeing our friends. It’s so cool to see the person whom you’ve only known through webcam, in REAL life! This month is Shvat. Shvat is a month with many Yomei Dipagra. We just passed Tu BiShvat! Now is Chof Bais Shvat, where we learn many lessons from the Rebbetzin. Don’t forget – we love getting your things! If it’s a painting, drawing, a fruit for Tu BiShvat or anything else, you can email us and we’ll put it on the Fridge! Enjoy the Day of Celebration, have a blast at the Kinus, and for those of you who unfortunately cannot make it, we are thinking of you. Chana Stein, Editor-in-Chief

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#The Fridge#

I thought everything was

really good. Everyone did a good

job. #SC

Wow, very nice! I

enjoyed reading it. It's

very toichendik.

\Anonymous

So, so cute. Better

then the first! The

fridge is especially cute.

]Estie Vogel

Do you have comments, stories, or pictures you want on the fridge? Email them to g7soseditors@gmail.com.

FYI, your submission does NOT have to be a compliment/comment, as some of you may think. You can submit anything you think other readers may enjoy, including Mazal Tov notes, short stories, pictures or your own 'To Do' list.

Mazal Tov Shaina Ezagui

on winning sour sticks!

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Congratulations Shaina Spalter for winning

the summer scrapbook!

WOW! The

newsletter was

great. I especially

liked both of the

serials.

%An O.S. Mom

Really nice work!

It looks like a lot

of talent and

hard work was

put together into

making this.

Thank you!

+Morah

Blesofsky

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Caption describing picture or graphic.

Creamy Rich Hot Chocolate

Recipe Corner

1. Place the light cream of half and half into a heavy medium pot. Add the milk, chopped milk chocolate, and the bittersweet/ semisweet chocolate. Stir in corn syrup with your whisk or wooden spoon.

2. Cook over low heat until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Continue to stir until it cooks. Make sure the heat stays low so the chocolate doesn’t burn.

3. To serve, ladle the hot chocolate into mugs. Add whipped cream or marshmallows if desired.

Enjoy!!

2 cups light cream or half and half 2 cups whole milk 4 ounces good quality milk

chocolate, chopped or broken. 4 ounces good quality bittersweet or

semisweet chocolate, chopped/broken into very small pieces.

1 tablespoon dark corn syrup Whipped cream or marshmallows,

optional.

What could be better than a warm and creamy cup of hot chocolate on a cold wintery day? Don’t you reach for your cocoa powder just yet. Follow this awesome recipe and be rewarded with a nice cup of rich, creamy, and sweet hot chocolate that can warm up even the coldest day.

Ask The Teacher

Interviews with staff members of SOS Name: Morah Chaya Blasberg

What is something about Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka that impacts you in your daily life? I am named

after her.

What is one thing you can learn from all the young students in the Online School? How learning can

be so fun and you can make such good friends in school even when you live so far from each

other!

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THE DEADLINE IS YUD ALEPH ADAR!!

Ask The Teacher continued

What is a winter activity you enjoy? Sledding

thank you, morah blasberg!

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Rebbe Story

An entry in a Yeshiva

student's diary from 1952. Dear Diary,

The Rebbe instructed Yeshiva students to visit Shuls in Crown Heights and neighborhoods surrounding Crown Heights

every Shabbos and to share Sichos with the people who were there. I and the other participating students prepared a weekly report of all the visits. The Rebbe was pleased with the report, but not completely satisfied. On the bottom of the report, the

Rebbe responded: "Next week's report should be twice as long." -Mendel, 1952

Wow, imagine if you got such a response!

What lesson would YOU take from it?

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Raizel

and the Golem

Part 2 Last time, beautiful Raizel was sitting by her parents front desk,

helping them sell wine. An evil priest is cooking up a plan, and the

Duke of Prague does not know what to do - he hasn't found

anyone suitable to marry his son. What will happen next?

“Five dollars a bottle!!” cried Raizy. “Taste my father’s most

delicious wine!!”

In walked Priest Petro. “I would like to order a bottle of wine. Can I

please buy on credit?”

“Oh yes, of course!” answered Raizy with a smile.

The priest took a few bottles, said goodbye and left. This happened

time and time again.

A week later, Raizy was again sitting at her desk in front of the wine

shop. This time however, she was looking through her notebook of

all those who purchased on credit. This is very strange, she thought

to herself. The priest has already come many times, and each time

bought wine on credit. I wonder when he’ll pay his debt.

Suddenly, Ivan, the priest’s servant walked in. “How much does a

bottle of wine cost?”

“Five dollars.” was the reply. He handed the money and was

about to leave, when Raizy called behind him, “Your master still

owes me ten bottles of wine!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” said Ivan, as he walked

out the door.

“What’s the matter with him?” Thought Raizy, as the anger shot up

in her body. “First, he buys ten bottles of wine without paying,

claiming that he will do so later. Then, he sends his servant to

continue purchasing as if nothing has ever happened! I wonder if

he thinks that he will never pay back his debt... I must go talk to

him!” But then, a thought came to her mind: “Wouldn’t my father

be angry at me for going into the house of a priest?” But she

pushed away that thought justifying her actions.

Her decision was made and without permission from her parents,

she went to the house of Priest Petro. ~~~

Priest Petro, after completing his first part of the plan, happily went

back home and barely sat down to dinner, when he heard a

knock at the door. Looking through the window, a wicked grin

spread across his face. It was Raizy! His scheme was materializing

right in front of his eyes.

Happily, he opened the door. “Raizy, I’m glad you’re here!” he said

with a disguised sweetness. “Tell me, what’s on your

mind? Come, sit down!”

“Petro,” answered Raizy angrily, “you already bought

ten bottles of wine from me, and without paying your

debt, sent your servant to buy more bottles as if nothing

has ever happened!”

“Oh,” said the priest, “the wine didn't taste good. Here,

drink some of it and see for yourself.”

Raizy took one bottle and started to drink. It didn’t taste

bad, as she had imagined, rather quite the opposite! It

tasted just as delicious as the other products from the

family store! She tasted bottle after bottle…

“Haha! This is great! Now she will fall into my hands. My

plan is working just perfectly!” Petro thought to himself

wickedly. Priest Petro knew some of the Jewish laws. He

knew that wine which was touched by a non-Jew

became not Kosher. So he planned that Raizy should

get drunk from non-Kosher wine, and aside from

getting drowsy, her soul would fall into a slumber,

thereby, easily falling into his trap.

“Raizy,” said Petro, “you are such a sweet girl. I would

like to show you what we have in our Church. I’m not

going to make you worship anything; I just want to

show you around. Would that be fine with you?”

Already drunk, and sinking into the depths of Tumah,

she agreed.

“Let’s make a time.” Petro told her.

Raizy knew that if she would do this, her parents would

be very angry. So in order for them not to realize, she

said, “Five o-clock in the morning.”

They said goodbye and Raizy went home and snuck

into bed.

~~~

Raizy woke up with a start! It was 4:42 AM. She quickly

got out of bed, got dressed, broke the window of her

bedroom, and ran to the non-Jewish side of town, and

stopped by the church. She knocked on the door and

it was slightly opened, the Priest standing there with a

smiling face.

“Hello Raizy! Come in, I would like to show you around.”

They started off at the first floor. “This is where we pray.”

They continued to the second floor. “This is where we

party.” Then they went to the third floor. “This is where

we study.” They finally came to the fourth floor – the

top floor when they saw a room with a set bed.

“What is this for?” Raizy asked.

Priest Petro, with an evil smile on his face, said “For

you!”

And before Raizy could think, she was

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already locked up in the highest floor of the church. She was

trapped, and there was no way to escape….

~~~

“Raizy! Time for breakfast!” called Raizy’s mother, Sarah,

after setting up Raizy’s favorite breakfast on the kitchen

table. “It’s already 7:15!” said Sarah to her husband Reb

Chatzkel, “I wonder why she’s still not up?”

Sarah went to check in her bedroom, and was in a total

shock to find that the bed was empty! But what shocked her

the most was the broken window! “CHATZKEL! COME HERE

QUICK!” she yelled. Chatzkel was half out of the door on his

way to Shul when he heard his wife calling. He raced back

up the stairs, long black coat flying, and his Kasket - which

had earlier been perched on the top of his head - was now

half off in his rush. He raced to the room and abruptly

stopped in the doorway. His face paled as he stared at the

empty bed - and the broken window...

They searched all over the city, they asked everyone “Have

you seen Raizy?” but no one seemed to have seen her.

They searched and searched, until they asked one elderly

woman, who answered, “I had problems sleeping last night.

When I finally fell asleep, I was woken up by a bad dream. I

put on my robe and went outside to the balcony facing the

street. It was about ten before 5:00 in the morning, when I

saw Raizy running.”

“Which direction did she go?” asked the anxious parents.

“Weeeeeell, if I remember correctly, she was going to the

non-Jewish section of town.”

“Rebono Shel Olam!” the poor parents cried. “Why did this

happen to us?”

They went to the church and knocked at the door. The Priest

opened the door. “Oh, hello!” he said sweetly. “Aren’t you

Raizy’s parents? It’s so good to see you!”

“We want our daughter back!” they demanded.

“Your daughter you want? No, no, no! Raizy is forever mine!”

and with that, he slammed the door.

What could they do? “Sarah, don’t you remember that the

Rav can help any problem that there is? Let’s go to him and

ask his Bracha and advice! Surely he can help us.”

So off they went to the Rav and Tzaddik of their town, Rav

Yehuda Lowe, The Maharal of Prague.

In the modest home in the center of town, sat a famous -

and holy - man.

A G-dly light shone from his face, and his eyes penetrated

the deepest one’s soul. He studied Torah all day and night,

and was respected and revered by all. That day many

people were waiting outside his study, waiting impatiently to

speak with the saintly man.

When they got to his house, they saw many people there,

asking for advice and business matters, asking for Brachos

for children, and so on. When it finally was their turn, Reb

Chatzkel poured out his heart to the Maharal, telling him

everything that happened and asked him for his help.

“Priest Petro?!” the frightened Maharal exclaimed in surprise.

“I’m sorry, but he is such a strong and cruel priest, that even I

cannot help you.”

They were devastated! “Chatzkel, what are we going to do?

Even the Maharal cannot help us! We are doomed!”

Reb Chatzkel thought for a long moment and told Sarah,

“All we can do now is Daven to Hashem.”

To be continued...

Tehillim List: If you unfortunately have any names to add to this list, please email it to us SOSMonthlyNewsletter@gmail.com.

שיינא בן שמואל

רבקה בן מענדל מנחם

ה'חי בן הכהן מענדל מנחם

לאה בן דוד

דינה נחמה בן משה

לאה דבורה בן ליפמן אליעזר חיים

לאה בן הכהן משה

חוה בן יעקב

חנה בן זלמן שלמה

חנה בן הלל

רחל בן משה

סאשא שרה בן עמנואל יעקב

לאה בן מאיר שמואל

טויבא מרים בן משה אברהם

אורה בן יהודה

קיילא בן הירש ביצ

אביבה בן אייזיק

רחל בן הרץ נפתלי

אביבה בת דניאל

הלדה בת שירלי

ליבא אסתר בת חנה שרה אליזה רוחמה

רחל שיינדל בת לאה אלנה

דינה נחמה בת רייזל טובה

תמר בת דבורה שיינא

נחמה ביילא בת רחל חנה

ה'צבי בת ה'חסי

ביילא חנה בת דבורה

רייזל בת שיינדל

מאשא מרה תב אסתר

אורה בת רחל דבורה

שרון בת חנה

שרה בת פרידה

בעסי בת בריינדל

לויסא בת מרים

לאה נחמה בת צפורה ה'בתי

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What happens when 4 girls in G7 go to a

classmate's Bas Mitzvah?

Lieba Laufer, Chana Stein, Rivkah Sternberg, and Devorah Silberstein working on the

newsletter at the house of Chaya Mushka Gurkow.

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Rebbe Story 2

One time Reb Scholom Ber Gansburg was sitting opposite the

Rebbetzin. He noticed something seemed wrong with her

hand. He asked her a couple of times, and at first she

waved it away. After a couple more times of asking, she

admitted that her hand hurt. "Scholom," she said. "I see I

can't hide anything from you, which is why I'm telling you

this. But don't tell my husband this, because I don't want

to disturb him."

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Mrs. Halpinger bustled around the kitchen. Today was Friday and she had quite a few guests coming. “Let’s see,” she began making a list in her head. “We need fish, chicken soup, chicken, green beans, salad, Chumus, rice, and a dessert.” She was moving quickly today. The Chicken and fish were defrosting, the Chocolate Town Pie was cooling on the counter, and the Chumus was already resting in a Tupperware container. She had only peeled three carrots for the soup when the phone rang. “I should’ve realized that rude instrument would interrupt sooner or later...” she muttered to herself. She picked up the phone, and said hello. “Hey Ma! How are you?” It was her daughter Dini who had just gotten married and was living in New York. She was undoubtedly calling for a recipe. She went back to her peeling and was on her last rutabaga when the phone rang again. “Hello?” She asked. “Chello, Mrs. Chalpinger? I is calling on behalf of the UFI organization. Last year you chelped us out vith twelve dollars. You vill do this year too?” It was the usual solicitor call. “Might as well have some fun,” She thought. “Hello, Where do you come from? Ukraine?” “I is coming from Russia.” the woman answered. “Oh! My great

uncles niece’s granddaughter lives there! Very nice. How about you send an envelope in the mail.“Ok, I vill do that. Chav a good day! Bye.” As she continued her Shabbos preparations, her husband knocked at the door. “Good Shabbos Leah!” announced Rabbi Halpinger after Mrs. Halpinger had opened the door for him. “Good Shabbos Meir!” She replied while cutting the last tomato for the salad and throwing it into the bowl. The guests started walking in and she ran to put the last bowls of Chumus on the table. After Kiddush and challah, they passed around the salad and everyone began to enjoy the tasty meal. “How is the salad?” She casually asked her husband. “It, um, tastes very vegetably, maybe a little blander than usual...” Her husband replied. She glanced at everyone’s plates where a tiny portion of salad waited to be eaten. “Oh no!!” She cried, “I forgot to dress the salad!!! No wonder it’s so bland!!” She hurriedly collected the salad bowls and dressed the plain vegetables so that now they became quite tasty.

The name Chaya means life, which symbolizes the vitality that the soul infuses in the body. The name Mushka means Myrrh (pronounced “my-er”) — a fragrant spice. This represents the essence of the soul that transcends the body, because a pleasant aroma delights the soul’s senses, yet provides no nourishment for the body. The union of these two words in the name of one person symbolizes the completion of our efforts to unite the essence of our soul with our body. This means that our soul’s pleasure in G-d’s sweetness must not remain disconnected from our mundane lives. Instead, this pleasure needs to become our life’s passion to the point of a physical need. By filling our lives with Jewish joy and beauty, we carry on the legacy of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. Similarly, just like the undressed salad was plain and bland, so is life without any Ruchnius.

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The Conflict

Chapter 3 Summary: Leibel and Chasia have twin girls, named Sara Etka and Gittel Devosha. Zalmke tells his little brother Arele, and Arele's best friend Berke, his secret about Chassidus. Now read on. It was finally time to relax after a long, exciting day. The Zeligson family sprawled themselves on their beds, too lazy to get into their night cloths. Arele broke the silence with his annoying giggle. “Me and Berke know a very big secret!” He laughed, holding his tiny stomach while doing so. Chanale, who was eleven, immediately corrected him. “It’s Berke and I!” Hinda grinned approvingly, while Zelda, a nine year old drama queen, was feeling quite jealous that there was a secret going on that she did not know about. “You better tell me, Arele! Or else I’m going to tell everybody that you’re a meany!” She sputtered angrily. Hinda rolled her eyes. “Nobody is a meany! Only goodies!” Said Raizel, the baby of the family who was only four years old and couldn’t understand how her siblings called each other such horrible names, that only the terrible government deserved! Yisrolik and Fraida Zeligson had eight children. They had had another boy, Avigdor Yosef, who had tragically passed away eight years earlier, when he was only a month and a half old. No one knew why it had happened. He had just gone to sleep and unfortunately never woke up… Leibel was the oldest of the clan. He had gotten married pretty young. It was only ten months after his

wedding, and at the age of eighteen he was already a father to twin girls, born just the day before. Next came Itta, sixteen, the most gorgeous girl in all of Russia, people would say. She was tall and slim with large green eyes, and the prettiest auburn hair that came in shiny waves until her elbows. Her mother begged her to cut it, claiming it wasn’t tznius, but that was the problem with Itta. Slowly, she was slipping away from the life of her people and becoming extremely rebellious. She had even left the house to live with her friends who had rented out a tiny apartment for them to live together. At least most of them were Jewish, but had just swayed from the right path like her. She came home rarely for visits and broke her parents’ hearts when she did so. Studious Zalmke was two years younger than his sister. He was one of the most brilliant boys from miles around. Hinda, who was twelve, was gifted with the ability to sing beautifully, which she only used in the presence of women. She was extremely reserved and had a very good eye for observing her surroundings. Her sister Chanale was only younger than her by fifteen months but their personalities were miles apart. Chanale was a moody girl, with a frown always on her glamorous face. She always had a negative word for someone, but when you became close to her, you would discover a sweet, talented tween. Zelda resembled Chanale with the same gloomy nature, and overreacted to every small incident. Six year old Arele was quick witted and utterly irritating. Raizel was the doll, with her angelic adorable smile - she could melt away all of one’s

The room was quiet as the children waited for Arele to spill out his ‘big secret’. Suddenly, it dawned on Zalmke that he was about to tell them what he had told him and Berke today. That he was secretly learning the forbidden chassidus. He stood up from the bed he shared with Arele and crawled to the other end where his brother lay, giggling. He whispered into his ears, “Aryeh, please don’t tell them what I told you today. It was a secret, okay?” There was barely a chance that Arele would listen to him, but it was worth a try. Without warning, the bitter winter winds swarmed into the house. Itta had come home, standing in front of them before their very eyes...

To be continued....

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Howdy! This is Devorah Block reporting live

from the Big Sky Country! Montana is not a

very well-known state; however it is rich with

scenery and character. It has two national parks

in it -Yellowstone National Park, and Glacier

National Park. Both are filled with gorgeous

mountains, lakes, and bison, and with lots of

interesting and rare wildlife. Montana is filled

with gorgeous snowcapped mountains, overlooking

sparkling blue lakes. Helena is the capital of

Montana, and Billings is Montana’s busiest city.

There are lots of small cities with very few

people who live there, and everyone there -

which is not very much! - are very friendly and

easygoing. Montana is not the ideal place to go

if you are afraid of dogs because most of the

people there have big dogs to keep them

company.

Fun Facts Fifty-six of Montana's cities are considered "frontier counties", with an average population of six or fewer people per square mile. That’s TINY!

In 1888 Helena has more millionaires per capital than any other city in the world!

No state has as many different species of mammals as Montana.

In Montana there are more elk, deer, and antelopes than there are people!

Glacier National Park has 250 lakes within its boundaries.

The “Going to The Sun” road in Glacier Park is considered one of the most scenic drives in America.

Montana is considered one of the most scenic states in the country! It is definitely worth to go and visit, and make sure to stop by in Bozeman to visit one of the Shluchim there, Chavie and Chaim Shaul Bruk.

Glacier National Park

Bison

Montana's Scenery

Waterfalls at Yellowstone

National Park

Main Street in

Bozeman

Hot springs in

Yellowstone Park

Montana's Capital, Helena

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This Month

Looking forward to a great month!

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Kinus Hashluchos - 5772

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