Bringing out the best in others!

We all know that Shabbat is a time to disconnect from our digital worlds. It is a time to reconnect with yourself and with others. As we gather around the table Friday night, sharing stories, singing our hearts out and enjoying a divine meal (thank you Dani, Daniel, Mo and Eddie!), Shabbat is the perfect recipe to reflect, relax and rehabilitate. The next morning, we got into our learning groups and had a program called “Leaders in their Natural Habitat”, focusing on the quality of leaders, and how we can be leaders in our own communities. We talked about legendary men and women who have all helped change our world for the greater good. It reminds me of the saying “when you drink the water, remember the person who dug the well”. Within this context, Yachad helps us continue to dig wells for others. On YBY, we learn when to lead and when to step back and allow others to showcase their abilities and talents. This style of leadership is what identifies Yachad and Yad B’Yad as a one-of-a-kind organization. For me, this was by far one of my most meaningful lessons during Shabbat. Although this YBY trip emphasizes growing as an individual and using these skills to become a better leader, our attention continues to look for opportunities to bring out the best in others. I look forward to spending next Shabbat, and the coming weeks, with an absolutely phenomenal group of people!

Merrill Brenner

P.S After Shabbat, we played an INCREDIBLE game of Human Apples-to-Apples where we all dressed up in crazy costumes and had a really fun time and, of course, had another awesome dance party.