A few weeks ago, on Shabbat afternoon, over 400 youth across the U.S. and Canada, including many New Jersey kids and teens, joined their local Bnei Akiva chapters for a special “Shabbat Lech L’Snif.” Participants joined at their respective shuls for an afternoon of fun and educational sessions, snacks and special themed giveaways, tied into Parshat Lech Lecha.

In true Bnei Akiva style, the sessions were led by teens themselves, allowing them to showcase their leadership skills. The teens were able to take the lofty ideas in the parsha and bring them down to their chanichim (younger students) through fun games and relevant messaging. Excitement was felt throughout the movement all week and on Shabbat knowing that hundreds of chanichim would be playing the same games and sessions throughout the country.

As Max Heinrich, mazkir, explained, “We often talk about being part of ‘something bigger’ and through this Shabbat, prepping with my co-mazkirim from other communities beforehand, we all truly felt part of something greater than just ourselves and our community—part of a greater movement.”