CHIDON 5783
Challenge yourself to master the Kuntres Umaayan of the Rebbe Rashab.
Connect with dozens of high school girls around the world with the same goal.
Leave with the confidence and the skills to open any sefer on your own.
14 schools from
10 cities.
28 maamarim mastered.
1 grand
championship.
Registration Deadline:
28 Tishrei / October 23
Learning Goal
Our goal for this year’s Chidon is to fluently master קונטרס ומעין, a series of 28 interconnected מאמרים written by the רבי רש”ב in the year (1902-1903) תרס”ג.
It was written at a time when the רבי רש”ב was battling many secular ideologies, including those of the Haskalah movement, that were prevalent amongst Russian Jewry.
The theme of the ספר is the foolishness of sin, the loftiness of the נשמה, and how it has the power to overcome all obstacles.
Each test will focus on one section of מאמרים.
The sefer is in Lashon Kodesh and can be purchased at any Judaic bookstore or online here.
The translated version of the sefer is available for purchase here.
Tests
Every four weeks there will be an accumulative test on one section of maamarim.
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They will be available on our online testing site to be taken on your own time. A few days before the first test, you will receive a user ID and login password for the testing website. You will use the same username and password for every test.
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Each test will be available for 24 hours from 8:00 PM (EST) Motzei Shabbos until 8 PM (EST) Sunday night. Once you begin taking the test, you will have exactly one hour to complete it.
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There will be 20 multiple choice questions on each test. The questions will be written in English, but will test your knowledge of the original Hebrew words of the sefer and will contain phrases from the original text. The questions will be in order.
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Since the goal of the Chidon is to sharpen your skills for learning inside, you may use the Hebrew sefer on the test. You may not have any writing in the sefer you use on the test. However, you may underline words or phrases.
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Please double check your answers after finishing the test to make sure they are correct- sometimes your answers may shift by accident while scrolling. Be careful, because if a mistake like this does happen, you will not receive points back.
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After sending in your test , you will be able to see your grade, but not which questions you got right or wrong. The grade you see on the screen is final and will not be changed.
Click here to access the testing website. For each of the 5 tests, use the username and password that was emailed to you before the first test.
Weekly Study Sessions
Every school has an assigned mentor who is your go-to person for any assistance you may need with studying for the Chidon. Your mentor is the teacher/bnos head who introduced the Chidon to your school.
Once you register for the Chidon, she will contact you about a weekly chavrusa session that will be available at your school.
Your mentor will be present at your school’s weekly study sessions to guide you and help with any questions you may have.
A study guide is available for download here.
The Retreat
All participants with an average grade of 65% and above will be eligible to join a beautiful Shabbaton retreat for a $250 fee or by fundraising $500. (The top ten finalists are invited to come for free.)
The retreat will be an opportunity to reflect on your Chidon experience, bond with like-minded friends and celebrate your incredible accomplishment. The program will include reflection workshops, bonding activities and engaging in-depth learning classes—a small taste of what Batsheva Learning Center offers!
The retreat will take place at a venue in upstate New York. Transportation from and to Crown heights will be provided. Busses will leave Crown Heights Friday morning and return Sunday afternoon, in time for the Chidon competition.
Participants from out of town will be responsible for their own travel and accommodations to and from New York prior to the retreat.
(For information about scholarships or to sponsor a friend's Shabbaton fee, please contact Hadassah Shemtov at hadassah@batshevalearningcenter.com.)
Grand Championship
On Sunday evening, there will be a grand Chidon competition between the top ten finalists from all the participating high schools. If applicable, a Zoom option will be offered for international students who qualify to compete in the championship.
All Chidon participants, family and friends in the New York area are invited to watch the competition. There will be an option to watch the event virtually as well.
Contestants will be asked questions to assess their mastery of the entire sefer, which they will answer orally. They will be allowed to bring their sefer on stage. The event will conclude with awarding gold, silver and bronze medals to the top three winners.
Stay in touch
When you sign up you will have the option to join a whatsapp group with the other girls who are participating. The whatsapp group is not a place for official notifications, rather it is a social network to ask friends questions and get to know the other girls who are learning the same material as you. You will be informed of all official updates via email.
If you have questions that your mentor is unable to help with, you may contact chidon@batshevalearningcenter.com
For questions specifically about the study guide or about content on the tests, you may contact dsilberstein@batshevalearningcenter.com
Registration
All students in 10th, 11th and 12th grade are invited to register for this year’s Chidon.
There is a $50 registration fee. A few days before the first test, you will receive a user ID and login password for the testing website.
(If a week after 1st test, 24 Kislev/November 28 you can no longer participate you can receive a 50% refund for your registration fee.)
Registration Deadline: 28 Tishrei / October 23
ALL THE DATES
Dates to look forward to!
Block off the following dates on your calendar.
Please note that there will be no make-up tests allowed.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
28 Tishrei / October 23
TEST 1
מאמרים א' - ו'
5 Cheshvan / October 30
TEST 2
מאמרים ז' - י"א
3 Kislev / November 27
TEST 3
מאמרים י"ב - ט"ז
8 Teves / January 1
TEST 4
מאמרים י"ז - כ"ב
7 Shevat / January 29
TEST 5
מאמרים כ"ג - כ"ח
5 Adar / February 26
CHIDON RETREAT
24 Adar - 26 Adar
March 17 - March 19
Friday Morning - Sunday night