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DECEMBER 22, 2016 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Torah in Action: Yeshiva Darchei Torah Dinner to be Held Jan. 15
Mr. Mordechai Schwartz
Y
eshiva Darchei Torah will celebrate its 44th anniversary at its annual dinner on January 15th, when it will pay tribute to eight distinguished families from the Yeshiva community. Mr. & Mrs. Mordechai and Gyla Schwartz Guests of Honor Mordechai and Gyla Schwartz are the proud parents of Esti, Fishel, Tova, Daniella, and Sari. Esti, a TAG graduate, went to Bnos Chava Seminary last year and is currently pursuing a degree at Touro College. Fishel, a talmid of Yeshiva Darchei Torah since Pre-1A, will be completing Mesivta this year. Tova, Daniella, and Sari are each currently TAG students. Mordechai learned at Yeshivas Kol Torah in Eretz Yisroel and at Ner Yisroel in Baltimore. He is an attorney and CPA and works at a trading firm in Manhattan. Mordechai and Gyla support various Torah and chessed mosdos in America and in Eretz Yisroel, and are active in community and school needs. Mr. & Mrs. Eli and Breindi Amsterdam Parents of the Year Both of Eli and Breindi Amsterdam’s sons are Darchei Torah talmidim: Moshe is in the eleventh grade at Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, and Ari, an alumnus of the Mesivta, is now learning at Beis Medrash Toras Chesed in Lakewood. They have two daughters: Rena is a high school student at Masores Bais Yaakov, and Penina is married to Meir Schattner. The Amsterdams live in Flatbush and daven at Rav Eliezer Dovid Rapaport’s shul, Zichron Avrohom Yaakov, and at Agudath Israel Bais Binyomin. Eli serves as import director at Outerstuff, a sports apparel manufacturing business. A native of Belgium
Mr. Eli Amsterdam
and Eretz Yisrael, he learned under Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, shlita, at Ateres Yisroel in Yerushalayim and maintains a strong kesher with his rebbi until today. The Amsterdams have often hosted Rav Ezrachi, and their home has been the site of many shiurim delivered by the Rosh Yeshiva to the men of the community. The Amsterdams are involved in numerous efforts of tzedakah and chessed – invariably away from the limelight – whether it is Yeshivas Livnas Hasapir/Chush, the Israeli organization Refuah Viyeshua, or the keren tzedakah of their shul, which enables mispallelim in need of financial assistance to be helped in a generous and discreet manner. Eli is married to the former Breindi Werdiger. Breindi, a devoted mother and grandmother, is a full partner in her husband’s efforts. She is a frequent volunteer for the Satmar Bikur Cholim, whether driving patients to Manhattan hospitals or taking care of other vital needs. Mr. & Mrs. Shlomo and Blimy Weiss Kesser Shem Tov Award Shlomo and Blimy Weiss’s relationship with Yeshiva Darchei Torah began in 2003, when their son Pesach joined the Yeshiva’s nursery. Pesach was followed five years later by his brother Tzvi, who is now a talmid in Mesivta Chaim Shlomo. The Weisses have taken an active role in the Yeshiva; Shlomo serves as a member of the executive board and Blimy is enthusiastically involved in the Women’s League. They have two daughters, Bella and Malka, who are students at TAG. Shlomo, a native of Flatbush, is the CEO of Millin Associates LLC, a revenue cycle management and software company. Kvius ittim laTorah is the driving force of Shlomo’s day;
Mr. Shlomo Weiss
it begins early with his daily chavrusa and extends to other sedarim that he keeps, including a telephone seder that he has with a chavrusa in Eretz Yisrael. Shlomo, an alumnus of Mercaz Hatorah of Yerushalayim and Torah Vodaath, holds a Bachelor’s degree from Touro College and an MBA from Long Island University. Blimy, nee Solny, hails from the Upper West Side of Manhattan. A devoted wife and mother, she also dedicates a considerable amount of her time to a variety of chessed projects, including volunteer work for the Bikur Cholim of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway and providing crucial assistance to new mothers. The Weisses’ Lawrence home is a hub of chessed. They spearhead annual fundraising events on behalf of the Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society (RCCS), a life-saving organization that they are deeply passionate about and on whose board Shlomo serves. He is also involved in other chessed and Torah initiatives, from hachnosas kallah to Yeshiva Shavei Chevron. Shlomo serves on the board of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, where their son Pesach learns today. The family davens at Heichal Dovid. Hon. & Mrs. Phil and Esther Goldfeder Hakoras Hatov Award Phil Goldfeder was born and raised in Far Rockaway, where he attended Yeshiva Darchei Torah and the Yeshiva of Far Rockaway. He studied at Midrash Shmuel in Yerushalayim for two years and later received a degree in Political Science from Brooklyn College. Phil has spent his entire adult life as a public servant and tireless advocate for our community. Whether as a member of the New York State Assembly from 2011 until this year or in his prior positions in New York City
Hon. Phil Goldfeder
government and the office of United States Senator Charles Schumer, Phil’s integrity and singleminded focus on helping people has earned him well-deserved accolades from across the political spectrum. Phil’s skills and tenacity were put to the test in countless situations, none more so than during Superstorm Sandy and its aftermath. Most of Phil’s district was devastated by the storm, including his own home and office, yet Phil selflessly focused on the relief efforts and subsequent rebuilding needs of the larger community. While many of Phil’s accomplishments have been well-documented, many will forever remain unknown, especially the assistance that he provided countless individuals and families in a quiet manner. Phil recently left government to serve as the assistant vice president for government relations at Yeshiva University. Phil is married to the former Esther Oppenheimer of Woodmere, who graduated from SKA and Touro College with a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. She teaches physical education classes at TAG and SKA. They have three children, Eliana, Asher and Gabriel. Asher, following in his father’s footsteps, is a talmid at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Also to be honored at the dinner: Rabbi & Mrs. Shmuel and Chana Rochel Witkin, Harbotzas Torah Award; Rabbi & Mrs. Eliezer and Leah Ament, Rebbi of the Year; Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel and Rivky Brudny and Mr. & Mrs. Yosef and Aliza Wartelsky, Alumni Leadership Awards. To place an ad in the journal, to make dinner reservations or for other information, please call 718.868.2300 ext. 237; email dinner@darchei.org; or visit darchei. org/dinner.