Just a quick hello...

Hi there!

Long time no speak. I don't have much time because I'm off from school today to study for my biology midterm and I have to go do that :) but I just wanted to pop in and say hi.
The Winter Issue was beautiful (I especially liked the cover) and for those of you who didnt read the footnote under the "To Be Continued," the story finished but you can look forward to some great features in the Spring Issue. Also in the Spring Issue, we will be introducing the Editorial Board 2012! Edboard members were informed this week and I look forward to working with them. Just a note to those girls who were not accepted: I wasn't accepted either the first time I applied. And now I'm COO. So you just never know.

Hatzlacha to everyone who has midterm exams.
Have a great day!

Meira

Regards from Eretz Yisroel!

Hi there!

Really I'm in the middle of midterms now so I don't have much time to write but I already studied almost everything for tomorrow so I can say hi!!

Pictures... a picture of the end of Neve's Chanukah Chagigah which all of the seminary girls from all over come to... it was amazing. Girls are awesome!!! Also, some Menorahs in Neve Yerushalayim where I go to school [we all light together in the dining room], and my Menorah! I saw that Tali mentioned something about where Chanukah happened so I thought I'd share a couple pictures of that special place - how it looks nowadays. The first one is the night before Chanukah started, the second is earlier this week.







Currently listening to... "Dreams Come True" by Abie Rotenberg on Journeys IV. Definitely worth getting if you don't have it yet!!

I hear our subscribers are getting the winter issue! Let us know what you think! I'll tell you my opinion - I LOVE IT and I think it's awesome!!!

Yay for our amazing staff and the 2011 Editorial Board!

And as Meira said, join us as we look ahead to spring - please, submit!!

How was your Channukah?

Hi there!

How was your Channukah? Baruch Hashem (thank G-d), mine was great. Busy, but great. My school had a chagigah (party) one day, a "Yom Iyun" (literally day of reflection/studying...) about how doing small things can make a difference, and a breakfast one morning. Not to mention non-stop play practice for our school play (which was tonight. i was a nurse)

Here's some Channukah pictures:

Menoras in the window:

My family's Channukah cookies: Delicious and cute at the same time! Here's a picture of one that I made that I thought was funny:(in case the lighting is bad, it says made of clay).

SO....bet ur not thinking about spring yet in this cold weather (that is, if ur somewhere cold :) ). But guess what? I am. So is everyone on the Yaldah staff, like Leah, Tali, Lena and Rebecca, Nechama (yeah, its cold, and b''H--thank G-d--raining, in Israel too), as well as our super EDboard 2011. And so should you. Submit to Yaldah!!!!! We want you to be a part of our Spring Issue! email submissions@yaldahmagazine.com to submit. I can't wait to see you in the Spring Issue. You can also send ideas for articles too!

I guess that's all for now! Have a great Shabbas!

Meira

Makeshift makes it

Hey everyone!
I feel horrible! Three days without a post is a bit much. I'm sorry! I had some... uh... technical difficulties. But I'm back!
Ask any little kid why we celebrate Chanuka and she'll tell you that the oil burned for 8 days. And that's all very well and good, but where did the oil burn? We seem to overlook the fact that the Greeks had quite recently defiled and destroyed the entire Bais Hamikdosh- including the menorah. Where was the oil burning? It was burning in a "makeshift" menorah, made of wood, that the Jews had thrown together in order to preform the mitzvah. Instead of waiting around in order to find something bigger- better, they preformed the mitzvah there and then. They took what they had available to them and used it to the best of their ability. Eventually they added tin to the menorah, then silver, and finally gold. Many times we wait around until we can do the action perfectly- but by waiting around you miss all the opportunities that come along the way. Chanuka attests to the fact that Hashem accepts makeshift and imperfect. Just do the best you can!
Have you ever started something small and imperfect that snowballed into something big?
Happy Chanuka!

Just a little

Hey guys!
Sorry this post is coming to you so late at night. That's what happens when you say that you're going to take a nap for "just 15 minutes." Tonight's short idea came from the same teacher who said the one I used on the first night.She made us chocolate mousse today. I like that class!
What makes Chanuka different from all the other holidays? On all the holidays we had an enemy and through nissim we defeated that enemy. So what makes Chanuka special?
During all the other holidays it was a sit back, relax, and enjoy the show kind of thing. Hashem did all the miracles, and we watched and celebrated. On Chanuka we went to war. We put in effort and fought. On Chanuka we put in a little bit of effort, we tried just an ounce, and Hashem took us all the way. From Chanuka we learn how far a little goes. A little bit of effort won us the war. A little jug of oil lasted for 8 days. Sometimes we feel like we're a nobody- to small to make any sort of difference anywhere. All we have to do though is put in that little bit of effort- Hashem will do the rest.
Happy Chanuka x3!
What was a time where you put in a bit of effort and saw great results?

Spread the warmth

Hey guys!
Happy Chanuka night 2! This morning I realized that it wasn't so smart of me to commit to writing on a blog every single night... I don't have the best memory when it comes to these things! But I'm going to do my best- that's my Chanuka present to you and myself.
Every day of Chanuka we read about a different one of the Nesi'im (princes) of the Shevatim (tribes) and the gifts they brought to the dedication of the Mishkon. Each day a different nasi brought his gift. On the first day Nachshon ben Aminadav, the nasi of Yehuda brought his gift- expensive and beautiful. On the second day the second nasi, Nesanel ben Tzuar, the nasi of Yissachor, had a decision to make. He could either try to "one-up" Nachson and bring a more expensive, fancier gift, thereby causing each succeeding nasi to have to bring a better, fancier gift than the one before, or he could forget his personal honor and bring the same gift as Nachshon. Nesanel chose to keep the achdus (unity)in Klal Yisrael. He brought the exact same gift as Nachson, and all the other nesi'im did the same. Nesanel let go of his personal pride in order to keep the peace.
On the second day of Chanuka, today, we read about Nesanel's gift. It's the exact same thing we read yesterday, and the exact same thing we'll read tomorrow, but there's a tremendous lesson we can pull out from this. A lot of times we feel that we need to be the best, we need to be noticed. Nesanel teaches us that's not true. Sometimes we need to take a step back so we can all share in the spotlight. So, today take a step back and perhaps look for that girl in your class who isn't always noticed- who perhaps doesn't have as many "gifts" as you. Pull her into the spotlight. Help her feel the warmth of the Chanuka flames.
What's one way you can help spread the light?
Happy Chanuka!

Happy Chanuka!

Hey there!
How are you? I feel really bad. I told you guys in my last post that I'd tell you as soon as I got my YALDAH. Well I got it that Shabbos and... I pushed it off a little :P But I did get it and it looks great! I'm so impressed with this issue. What's your favorite feature in the fall issue?
Tonight is the first night of Chanuka- I LOVE Chanuka. There's just something about it that really makes you smile. Anyway, my teacher was telling us that she and her husband have the custom to say a different short dvar torah every night of Chanuka, so I thought I'd bring that to the YALDAH blog. That should give it some life! Haha I almost just wrote light. Shows how into Chanuka I am.
My teacher (same one)told us today one of the divrei torah her husband says every year. She said that if after you light the Chanuka candles one goes out, you don't have to relight. This shows us that the end result doesn't matter as much as the effort we put in. Even if it looks like it didn't work out in the end- the candle didn't light- Hashem sees that you tried and you get the credit and reward for just doing that. We shouldn't get discouraged when things don't work out the first time. How does that saying go? If you fail the first time try try try again.
What area do you want to try harder in?
Happy Chanuka everyone!