CHIDON 5785
Challenge yourself to master the seforim of Rambam that the Rebbe would campaign for us to learn.
Connect with hundreds 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.
Registration Deadline:
28 Elul / October 1
Learning Goal
Our goal for this year’s Chidon is to fluently master the entire Sefer HaMada of the Rambam. This sefer is the first of the Rambam’s Magnum Opus - the Mishneh Torah. In it, he discusses the principle Mitzvos and concepts of Yiddishket that are fundamental to our faith. Each test will focus on a different topic of Halachos in the Sefer. The Sefer is in Lashon Kodesh and can be purchased at any Judaic bookstore.
The topics included in Sefer Hamada are:
Here is a link to buy the sefer.
Here is a link to buy the sefer with English translation. (This sefer cannot be used in the test.)
Here is a link to an online version of the sefer with an English translation that you can use for reference while studying.
The Study Guide is available here.
Tests
Every four weeks there will be an accumulative test on one topic of halachos.
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.
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.
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.
Since the goal of the Chidon is to sharpen your skills for learning inside, you may use the Hebrew or Yiddish 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.
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.
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 which you created before the first test.
Rescheduling Tests:
The only instances where a later test date is an option are if you have an overlapping school program or extenuating circumstances. If this occurs, you must email chidon@batshevalearningcenter.com by the Sunday before the test.
No exceptions will be made.
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.
Here is the Study Guide.
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.
Any who receives an average of 65% or above is eligible to receive a plaque, regardless of whether she is attending the Shabbaton. The plaques can be picked up at the Gameshow on Sunday evening.
Pick-up or shipping is not available after the event.
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 the 1st test (2 Cheshvan/November 3) you can no longer participate you can receive a 50% refund for your registration fee.)
Registration Deadline:
28 Elul / October 1
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
27 Tishrei / October 12
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Ok, I need all the info.Every four weeks there will be an accumulative test on one topic of halachos. They will be available on our online testing site (www.classmarker.com) 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. Each test will be available for 24 hours from 8:00 pm (EST) Motzei Shabbos until 8:00 pm (EST) Sunday night. Once you begin taking the test, you will have exactly one hour to complete it.
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How can I chat with fellow Chidoners?When you sign up you will have the option to join a whatsapp group with the other girls from around the world 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.
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Who should I study with?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 study 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.
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What will the tests look like?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 NOT necessarily be in order of the sefer. 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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Am I ready to send in my test?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. After you finish the 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.
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What should I do if I know I won’t be able to make it to the test?If there is an unusual situation, you can email chidon@batshevalearningcenter.com and ask for permission to reschedule. You must email us at least one week before the scheduled test date.
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Will the Rambam's minyan hamitzvos be included on the first test?No.
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Tell me more about the Shabbaton!After all five tests, there will be a Shabbaton retreat. Any girl who maintains a passing average [65% or above] will be eligible to join for a $250 fee or by fundraising $500. (The top ten finalists are invited to come for free.) Girls with the top ten grades will compete in the final chidon competition.
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I can’t wait! What should I do if I have more questions?If you have questions that your mentor is unable to help with, you may contact: chidon@batshevalearningcenter.com