The Jewish Home | JUNE 23, 2016
59
Around the Community
Shor Yoshuv’s Forty-Ninth Annual Dinner, Honoring the Twenty-Fifth Yarzheit of its Founder, Rav Shlomo Freifeld By Liba Lieberman
T
he twenty-fifth yarzheit of Rav Shlomo Freifeld, zt”l, infused the recently held forty-ninth Annual Dinner of Shor Yoshuv with a nostalgic poignancy evoking the ruach of the yeshiva’s legendary founder, as well as his effect on the countless talmidim who were blessed to call him Rebbe. The dinner, boasting the theme “The Legacy Lives On,” took place on Monday night, June 6, at the yeshiva campus, bringing together friends and members of the yeshiva for an unforgettable evening of precious memories and kovod haTorah. Master of Ceremonies and Dinner co-Chairman Mr. Moshe Feuer opened the program by explaining the choice of venue for the event, the yeshiva itself. He explained that by hosting the dinner at the yeshiva, everyone attending could see what a beautiful makom Torah the yeshiva has grown to become, a makom Torah that “raises us all in our avodas Hashem. From 5 a.m. until well after midnight, there are programs for bochurim and the community.” He noted new and exciting changes in the yeshiva, announcing the yeshiva’s new mashgiach, Rabbi Elysha Sandler, and the invigorated kollel under the direction of Rabbi Noach Jaeger, son of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Naftali Jaeger, Shlita. In a short video presentation accompanying the dinner’s opening remarks, Rabbi Binyomin Cherney, Magid Shiur, enhanced Mr. Feuer’s comments about the yeshiva’s grandeur, explaining that at Shor Yoshuv, “bochurim learn about ahavas Hashem, not ahavas rules. Each bochur is a diamond by himself,” he explained. This year’s honorees reflected many different facets of the yeshiva, beginning with Rabbi and Mrs. Zev Bald, this year’s recipients of the Harbotzas Torah Award. Rabbi Bald’s love of Yidden and Yiddishkeit are evident in his work at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, where as Director of Development he works tirelessly for limud haTorah. He played a crucial role in Darchei’s historic building campaign, and brings that same de-
votion to Torah to his role as a kehilla member at the yeshiva. Rabbi Binyomin Sussman pointed out that Rabbi Bald, who is Rav Jaeger’s nephew, “motivates people to become Zevulun.” His wife, Leah, came from a home that welcomed newcomers to Yiddishkeit, and together the Balds continue in Rav Shlomo’s mission of bringing Torah to all members of Klal Yisroel. As the recipients of the dinner’s Kesser Shem Tov Award, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Gladstone hold the distinction of Andy being the yeshiva’s gabbai; someone who, in the Rosh Yeshiva’s estimation, “really runs the yeshiva.” Andy’s dedication to the klal has a special benefit for which he is deeply grateful. “My work creates a special connection to the Rosh Yeshiva,” Andy explained. Members of the yeshiva’s hanhalla pointed out that although Andy is now very busy working as the Global Director of Technical Operations at Curvature, a global third party IT services company based in California, he really never left the yeshiva. His inspired dedication to both the yeshiva and Rav Jaeger was a pleasure to behold during the awards ceremony. The Mesores HaTorah Award was presented to Rabbi and Mrs. Avraham Mordechai Freifeld by Mr. Yale Fishman, Dinner Co-Chairman. Mr. Fishman highlighted the special connection between the Rosh Yeshiva’s founding mission and Rabbi Avraham Modechai Freifeld’s work in Eretz Yisroel as Rosh Kollel of Yeshiva Cheshek Shlomo in Yerushalayim, where he spiritually guides members of his bais medrash with the same warmth and respect for individuality that underlies the yeshiva experience at Shor Yoshuv. Rabbi Freifeld came to honor his father’s extraordinary legacy, prompting Mr. Fishman to conclude, “We are all the spiritual children of Rav Shlomo Freifeld, and the brothers of Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Freifeld. When a son follows in his father’s footsteps, it inspires an entire new generation.” During his Divrei Bracha, Rav Naftali Jaeger, Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva, shared his appreciation for each honoree, saying that they are all people
he admires and cherishes. As the shepherd of his kehilla and in anticipation of the upcoming chag of Shavous, the Rosh Yeshiva went on to explain, “We may all go through different enjoyments in life that change with age, but Torah is eternal. The simcha of Torah is always there. It is the greatest legacy you can give you child and grandchild. The simcha that the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Freifeld, wanted from learning Torah continues to happen here every day. It is his greatest legacy.” The closing presentation in the dinner program was a special memorial tribute to Rav Shlomo by Rabbi Avrohom Fruchthandler. “Just as Rav Shlomo Freifeld was a talmid muvhak of his Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Hutner, ZT”L, so too, did he give that same love to his own talmidim,” Rabbi Fruchthandler began. “To know
Rav Shlomo was to love him, He understood how to cure the yetzer hora. He talked to Yidden. When a bochur confessed to him that he had just eaten a cheese burger, Rav Shlomo asked him, ‘Tell me, how was it?’ There was no Yid he couldn’t talk to.” He exhorted the crowd to help continue Shor Yoshuv’s legacy. “Rav Shlomo built an army of people who love Hashem and love Torah. Support what he built, and gain z’char yourself,” he concluded. “Do it now. Yasher Koach.” A special note of appreciation goes to the yeshiva’s CEO, Mr. Moshe Rubin, who was the driving force behind the dinner campaign and totally gives of himself on a daily basis to limud haTorah. May the legacy of Shor Yoshuv continue to inspire Yidden from all walks of life in the holy pursuit of Torah and mitzvos.
Save Big $$$
2 for1 sale On Selected Wigs*
SYNTHETICS BLENDS 100% EURO CUSTOMS from
$295 to $715
*Buy 1 at REGULAR PRICE and get second one for FREE Of equal or lesser value. No returns. Sale ends June 30th, 2016 All w with hechigs Only Visa, MC & Cash Accepted Hours: 11 - 5 sh
R' MORD er of ECH GROSS AI SHLITA
FULL SERVICE SALON Special prices now for cutting & styling
BORO PARK 4118 13th Ave. 718.436.4280
WILLIAMSBURG 210 Wallabout St. 718.643.4288