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Community Happenings
Around the Community
Saving Lives Sunday Event Raises $1M
On Sunday, an all-star team of international celebrities joined together to support emergency first response organization United Hatzalah of Israel in its fight against Covid-19 coronavirus. The virtual event, titled “Saving Lives Sunday,” included messages from Jay Leno, Nuseir Yassin (Nas Daily), Rona-Lee Shimon (Fauda), Adam Kantor (Broadway), Dudu Aharon, Lior Suchard, and Mark Gerson, who each shared a special heart-filled message, or song, saluting the first responders and United Hatzalah founder Eli Beer.
The event, which was streamed live on YouTube and on a dedicated website www.SavingLivesSunday. com, succeeded in raising more than $1,000,000 to support United Hatzalah’s fight against Covid-19 Coronavirus.
The video also highlighted guest appearances by dozens of people, young and old, whose lives were saved by volunteer first responders from United Hatzalah. In a truly special tribute, many of those who were saved got a chance to speak directly to their rescuers in conversations that were shared via zoom with those watching the event.
“My life was saved,” said Eli Beer towards the end of the video. He then thanked the doctors and nurses in Miami who saved him and those who donated towards the EMS organization: “Without you, the donors, this organization would not be able to do what it does every day.
“I also want to thank all of the volunteers of United Hatzalah in Israel and around the world as well as all of the other Hatzalahs. Think about it. People are hiding in their homes trying to protect themselves from this terrible virus. But when a
PHOTO CREDIT: UNITED HATZALAH
United Hatzalah volunteers at a Yom Ha’atzmaut parade during the pandemic
Hatzalah volunteer gets a call, they don’t think twice. They run to save the person in need and put their own lives in danger. Now that I am in Israel, sometimes out of the window I see Hatzalah volunteers passing by with their siren on, and I know that they are going out to save someone. So I want to thank you for everything that you do.”
Saving Lives Sunday: A Streaming Event Honoring First Responders and Welcoming Home Eli Beer can be viewed here: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=QL1T6S 6rDIY or here www.SavingLivesSunday.com
Darchei Torah Families Get a Delicious Taste of Yeshiva – and Shabbos
Nearly a month has passed since Yeshiva Darchei Torah closed its doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the Yeshiva’s trademark chinuch and limud haTorah has continued unabated – from nursery through kollel – via
distance learning.
The talmidim of grades N-12 have stayed connected with their rabbeim, moros and general studies teachers on a daily basis with special, subsidized “kosher” tablets that were modified to enable videoconferencing and
Rav Yaakov Bender greeting parents at the Yeshiva Darchei Torah – To’ameha-drive-through event last Friday
file sharing – and nothing else. A telephone call-in option is available as well, and weekly shmuessin and occasional assemblies continue to inspire the talmidim. The Beis Medrash and Kollel continue to learn together via a sophisticated tele-conferencing system that enables not only shiurim but chavrusa learning as well.
Last Friday, a unique event was held in the Yeshiva parking lot: “To’ameha,” a chance for the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Yaakov Bender, and the menahalim and principals, to see and greet their talmidim – and parents –from a safe distance as they drove by in their vehicles. A highlight of the event was the distribution of a package of kugel and cholent for each family, freshly cooked by the Yeshiva’s indefatigable chef, Mrs. Chana Florans.
The response of the Darchei Torah parent body – both to the distance learning as well as to To’ameha – has been positive across the board. One
Efraim Horowitz enjoying the Shabbos delicacies of To’ameha
couple wrote, “Darchei Torah and its hanhala has injected positive energy into the entire home. It’s helping the parents work through it and the children are really happy and thriving, Baruch Hashem. The devotion of the rebbeim and moros is incredible!”
They concluded, “This past Erev Shabbos drive thru was just taking this Darchei experience even further. What a hug! The talmidim feel treasured. We, as parents, we feel treasured. Thank you, thank you and thank you!”
Northwell Health Thanks SKA Spark! Challenge Winners
The Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls’ video highlighting medical assistants, one of the careers the girls had observed at Northwell Health in the fall, won the Northwell Spark! Challenge 2020 award for Best Presentation.
The SKA team, together with
their mentor, Dr. David Friedman, and the head of SKA’s Science Department, Dr. Chana Glatt, donated their $1,000 in prize money back to Northwell in order to provide personal protective equipment to medical professionals in these trying times.
5TFR rosh chodesh LECTURE series
PARTICIPATING SHULS: Cong. Beth Sholom, Cong. Kneseth Israel, Cong. Shaaray Tefilah, YI of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, YI of Woodmere
Invites you to a ZOOM shiur
kavannah counts lessons from the rokeach’s life and writings
dr chaya sima koenigsberg Sunday 11 am, may 17th 23 iyar RESIDENT SCHOLAR AT THE STRAUS CENTER FOR TORAH THOUGHT AT YU INSTRUCTOR AT STERN COLLEGE AND YESHIVA COLLEGE
THIS LECTURE IS SPONSORED BY:
FEIGY AND BEIRISH ELEFANT לע״נ Pesel Gitel bas Yeshayahu Yitzchok Hacohen & Reb Yosef ben Shimon
VIDEO LIVESTREAM at 11 am: HTTPS://ZOOM.US/J/6027991166
MEETING ID: 602 799 1166
A meaningful way to mark a yahrtzeit. TO SPONSOR, EMAIL US AT ONTHEWAVELENGTH12@GMAIL.COM BE A PART OF social distancing UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL LET’S STRENGTHEN EACH OTHER SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE: INSIGHTS, CHALLENGES & TRIUMPHS. Please submit your entry of 30-300 words to be shared at our Chodesh Tammuz event, Be”H Tuesday Evening, July 7th, the 15th of Tammuz A COLLECTION
OF ESSAYS
Building Worlds. Close at Heart
With Virtual Classrooms, Darchei Torah Becomes a Yeshiva without Walls
Yeshiva Darchei Torah salutes its rabbeim, teachers, moros, menahalim and principals for rising to the occasion during this challenging time. With creativity, ingenuity and devotion, they are providing our talmidim with the trademark Darchei chinuch, utilizing video conferencing, remote learning, and, most importantly, tremendous ‘heart’ and mesirus nefesh in this sacred endeavor.
We salute our one-of-a-kind parent body for being our full partners in the education of their children, encouraging, cooperating, providing valuable feedback, and, most importantly, proving in a new and tangible fashion that ‘chinuch truly begins at home.’
Moshe Brandsdorfer, executive director of the JCCRP;
Miri Stern of Kosher Response;
Gabriel Boxer, the Kosher Guru; and community partner Pesach Osina visited the 101
Precinct to express their gratitude to the officers. They are seen here with Officer Kevin Campbell
The Nikolsburger Rebbe journeyed upstate to Woodbourne this week to see the construction being done on the shul. The shul was originally built in 1920 – 100 years ago! This summer will be the tenth year since the Nikolsburger Rebbe reopened the shul.
Quarantine Birthdays in BYAM
Every girl looks forward to her birthday all year and can’t wait for a small celebration with her class and teachers in school. What happens when school is closed for the corona pandemic? The dreams of a young girl’s big day have all been washed away.
To the rescue once again is the devoted menahel of Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam, Rabbi Nosson Neuman. He recognizes and understands the dashed hopes of these girls sharing their special day with others. Rab
bi Neuman has been going around since Pesach, delivering small birthday cakes (with social distance precautions) to all those special birthday girls! The smiles on their faces are enough to brighten up the world in this unprecedented time.
That special unparalleled BYAM warmth continues to shine forth as an inspiration to our parents and especially to our precious talmidos.
May we soon celebrate all occasions back in school in Yerushalayim Ihr Hakodesh!
Did you know? Woodrow Wilson signed Mother’s Day into law in 1914
Chai Lifeline has launched “Going Through It, Growing Through It: Torah Perspectives and Mindful Coping in the Age of COVID-19,” a lecture series offering divrei chizuk and psychological and practical guidance during the current health crisis. The series will include video and audio recordings of renowned rabbanim, speakers, and mental health e xperts, as well as members of Chai Lifeline’s crisis intervention team, Project Chai.
The first video in the series features Rabbi Eytan Feiner, r av o fCongregation Kneseth Israel, colloquially known as The White Shul, in Far Rockaway, New York, along with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Fox, Project Chai Director of Interventions and Community Education. Upcoming talks will feature Mrs. Yael K aisman, noted educator and lecturer, and Project Chai Associate Director Zahava Farbman, MSW, Ph.D. candidate. Yiddish options will be available as well.
“Since the onset ofthis pandemic, Chai Lifeline has been there for the Jewish community, which has been hit particularly hard,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, Chai Lifeline’s Chief Executive Officer. “In recent weeks, our Project Chai team has provided hundreds of personal consultations and interventions to families, schools, shuls, and organizations, reaching tens of thousands across the globe. This initiative will offer the community another resource on how to cope during these challenging times.” To learn more, visit www.chailifeline.org/covidseries. Chai Lifeline Launches COVID-19 Lecture Series
THERE FOR THOSE WHO NEED US MOST.
We were built for these times. We’ve been caring for our community for more than 100 years. And thanks to your support, we’re positioned to respond rapidly and effectively to meet the vast needs of all who are counting on us.
We’re on the front lines of the Covid-19 crisis, delivering meals for seniors. Stocking food pantries for growing numbers of hungry people. Offering emergency aid. Providing protective gear. Giving struggling families the cash assistance they need. Supporting cornerstone institutions that are the heart and soul of Jewish life. And ensuring dignified Jewish burials.
Your help is needed now more than ever to ensure the vitality of our community. With your support, we will get through this together.
If you need help, you can find resources at ujafedny.org.coronavirus/resources.
Ice cream was distributed to children in Woodmere this week to promote achdus and joy in the community. The initiative was sponsored by Adam and Lindsay Okun
Shulamith Goes the Distance
In the past six weeks, the world of education has been turned upside down. The faculty and staff at Shulamith School for Girls has stepped up to the plate to create a dynamic experience for the students. Shulamith has gone the distance and has been able to lead the way because of the phenomenal infrastructure laid over the past few years. With its broadminded, hands-on approach to education, a passionate faculty and staff, and a strong work ethic, Shulamith is weathering the challenges of remote distance learning.
For example, the Middle Division began its Chromebook program three years ago. Every class, in grades 5-8, had integrated the use of Google Classroom and worked with apps such as Thumbprint, Padlet, Notability, and Adobe Spark. This created a soft landing for students when the school moved to remote learning in March. A combination of project-based learning, Google Meet and Zoom classes, and interactive virtual assignments, with Google Classroom as the main communication platform facilitated a smooth transition for the students.
Shulamith’s success is more than the nuts and bolts of technology. Developing authentic relationships with the students is an integral piece of Shulamith culture. This is more important now than it ever was. Many teachers are worried that the technology barrier of Zoom diminishes student-teacher connection. In every division, the teachers work day and night to maintain those personal connections with the students. It is clear that while the students are far apart, they are close at heart.
Creating a comfortable environment is in everything that the Lower Division does. As parents and students discover that online learning is not easier, teachers have done everything they can to ease the burden. In addition to interactive live classes, morahs and assistants call parents and girls to check in. The familiar classroom walls were recreated on the teacher’s living room walls to create a psychological safety net for the children. First grade teacher Masha Hoffman gave the girls a Pesach chart to complete and was able to give girls prizes who completed it, just as she would have in school. This is just one of many instances where the teacher’s dedication and love for her students has led her to go the extra mile.
In the Early Childhood Division, in addition to twice daily classes on Zoom and a website with every resource a parent needs, morahs and assistant morahs call the girls to say hi and ask how they are doing. In Pre1A, girls have one-on-one sessions to work on their Hebrew and English writing skills. Nursery Morah Tzivia Lipsky offers one-on-one phone calls to connect with the three-year-olds who are overwhelmed by Zoom but miss their teacher and friends. All of the morahs send bedtime stories to parents via WhatsApp. Preschool director Esther Kirschbaum leads the monthly Rosh Chodesh sessions, singing, telling stories and wishing each birthday girl for that month a personal greeting. Every lesson is thought through, every story choice discussed, and every lesson reviewed, to create the maximum experience to help each girl feel connected.
In the High School Division, masters of the 21st century learning experience with a 1:1 iPad program and their innovative learning approach, decided to go back to basics with the good, old-fashioned house call. On Yom Haatzmaut, administrators Sara Munk, Ricky Gaerman, Naomi Munk
and activities coordinator Esty Munk rented an open top convertible and visited 115 students. Over the course of 10 hours, they delivered Yom Haatzmaut t-shirts and greeted each and every student. “It made everyone so happy!” said ninth grader Rebecca Schoenfeld. In addition, the administration coordinated placing lawn signs, congratulating not only the outgoing seniors, but the eighth grade class as well.
As every parent has learned over the past few months, school is about so much more than ABCs, Alef Bet, and grades. Teachers are so much more than instructors of information. School is a place of safety, comfort, growth, and relationships. Teachers are the caretakers of a child’s well-being and neshama. The girls of Shulamith benefit from a dedicated staff giving them more than the best possible education; they are giving the girls their whole hearts.
The Brecher family of Far Rockaway drew a colorful message for their neighbors
Close at Heart While Far Apart
The first grade rebbeim at HALB visited their students on erev Shabbos
Shulamith High School has always celebrated Yom Haatzmaut with incredible simcha and special surprises. This year proved challenging with a quarantine in place.
“The most important thing to me is that every girl feels special,” said Student Activities Director Esty Munk. “Each and every girl here is appreciated and missed. We wanted to turn Yom Haatzmaut into HOME Haatzmaut.”
After a full day of meaningful digital programming, Esty Munk, sitting atop a convertible covered in Israeli flags, equipped with blasting Israeli music and a megaphone, led a parade of faculty-filled cars around town, until every single Shulamith
High School student was visited!
Like other more typical Shulamith HS events, it was a team effort, with teachers and rebbeim following her lead in their decorated cars as they wished each student and family a chag sameach. After a quick social-distanced dance and a loud wish for a chag sameach, each student was thrown a bag with a SHS Israel Pride t-shirt and had a moment to greet teachers and administrators. Families created and waved handdrawn signs and faculty screamed “I MISS YOU” as the long parade of cars traveled around the Five Towns, Far Rockaway, and West Hempstead. Dean of Students Mrs. Ricky Gaerman continued the simcha by driving to Brooklyn and Queens.
Emotions ran high for students who had an opportunity to see beloved SHS staff for the first time in weeks.
“I cried,” said one sophomore. “I couldn’t help it. I was just so happy to see everyone. It was the highlight of quarantine.” Mrs. Gaerman added, “Yom Haatzmaut is always a highlight for our SHS students. When we realized that we would not be able to
celebrate Yom Haatzmuat in school with our students, we knew we still had to plan something that celebrates the miracle of Medinat Yisrael; but this year, we also had the added obligation of spreading simcha to each of our students.”
Shulamith High School’s priority has always been educating each student “from head to heart,” and quarantine certainly won’t stop us now!
Did you know? A mother orangutan never puts her babies down and typically nurses them for 6 or 7 years
Thank You!
TO OUR TALENTED, COMMITTED AND LOVING STAFF.
You continue to maintain a positive attitude and have not lost focus of your mission to build the future of our children. You are moser nefesh for the benefit of our children, you are our front line heroes.
TO OUR PARENT BODY.
You became teachers overnight and rose to the occasion. You remain steadfast in your support of the Yeshiva and are showing your children how to turn challenge into achievement.
TO OUR DEAR TALMIDIM.
You have put the energy of youth to good use, continuing every day to learn and to grow. The difficulties have been many, and you have shown the qualities and the strength to persevere and overcome.
Remembrance & Celebration at YCQ
Yeshiva of Central Queens students grades 3-8 attended Yom HaZikaron programs t hat were created and presented by Shirley Porad. Students sat silent ly as they listened to stories about selfless bravery and love for Israel through graphic stories and mean ingful videos of members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), soldiers who gave their lives defending the land and people they love. The pro gram ended with Tehillim for the soldiers, the victims of attacks, and the State of Israel. The program re minded us that the almost 24,000 soldiers who lost their lives protecting Israel and her people will not be forgotten.
The mood changed the next morning as the students gathered on Zoom for a school-wide Hal lel followed by an exciting lives treamed concert with Joey Newcomb and Rabbi Ophie Nat, singer a nd YCQ rebbe, accompanied by assistant principal of Judaic stud ies, Rabbi Moshe Hamel. The day’s events continued in the classrooms with quiz games on topics about Israel; students creating their own Israeli flags out of items they have in their homes and art students cre ating their own Kotels out of craft
supplies. One family built their own family Kotel on an entire wall.
To continue celebrating Israel’s birthday, on Wednesday evening, almost 300 gathered for a family Yom Ha’atzmaut Israel trivia Game Night, organized and run by Mrs. Liron Friedman. Over 60 ques tions were asked having to do with a ll aspects of Israeli life including history, politics, food and fun facts. It was a great way to celebrate the birthday of our home, Eretz Yisra el. The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) collected short videos o f the YCQ staff wishing Israel a Happy 72 nd birthday and saying a quick hello to their students and coworkers, and then put it together into a video that was sent to the entire YCQ family. The video brought c hizuk to students, families, and staff during this trying time. Even if we cannot all be together, the fac ulty and administration encourage s tudents to keep being in touch with friends and family, learning Torah and doing mitzvot.
The week ended with winners of the Mitzvah Chart contest receiving pizza deliveries for all their con tinued hard work and positive attitudes.
Yom Hazikaron at Shulamith
At Shulamith Middle Division, our Yom HaZikaron commemoration was laden with content and meaning. Our Zoom assembly began with the lighting of memorial candles dedicated to specific soldiers, standing in respectful silence to the sounds of the siren, and watching the lowering of the Israeli flag at the Kotel. Students were intrigued to hear our very own Morah Tali Kozachkov share her experiences as a soldier in the IDF. We watched additional moving videos, learned about two American lone soldiers, Sean Carmeli and Max Steinberg, who were killed while defending our Homeland. and listened to the Keil Maleh Rachamim of the IDF Chief Chazan.
Our commemoration ended with tefillot for the State of Israel and for the welfare of our courageous chayalim who put their lives on the line every day so that our beloved Homeland remains a safe haven for the Jewish people.
Happy 72nd Birthday to Medinat Yisroel
HALB Lev Chana may have been forced, given the circumstances, to celebrate Medinat Yisroel’s 72nd birthday a little differently this year, but nothing could detract from the joy and excitement of the day for our children and their families!
Our children created Israeli flags and hats, shared mementos and memories of visits to Eretz Yisroel, set up elaborate birthday party decorations in their homes as part of a school-wide contest, baked blue and white birthday cakes with their parents and siblings, watched vid
eos and heard books describing the special qualities of key cities and places in Eretz Yisroel – Yerushalayim, Tzafat, Eilat, and a kibbutz. O ur kindergartners were challenged with building their rendition of the Kotel and then writing a special request to hang from its stones.
Our festivities culminated with a zoom concert by HALB parent Aryeh Kunstler, ably assisted by his son, Shmuel, a Lev Chana kindergartner. W e look forward to all of us celebrating Medinat Yisroel’s 73rd birthday in Eretz Yisroel.
Through remote learning with their classmates, Morah Keren Englard’s students in the CAHAL Shulamith K-1 class set up scenes from different places in Israel in celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut
MTA Celebrates Israel’s 72nd Birthday
Celebrating Israel at 72
Shulamith Middle Division had an exciting, hopeful, celebratory Yom Haatzmaut beginning with the entire student body singing Hallel together. The full day celebration featured live sessions on Zoom, including a look at Israeli women of consequence and what they contributed to the state and a “Yeah, Bit” dance experience with Morah Tali. In addition, there were a number of pre-recorded videos which enabled students to learn how to bake pita, make Israeli salad, and sing and sign the words of Chai. Students also watched incredible videos about Israeli innovations in agriculture, water preservation, medicine, science, technology and more, and saw how Israel shares its brainpower with the rest of humanity to make the world a better place. We visited holy and beautiful places in Israel accompanied by an informative and appreciative narration, and “escaped the room” with the information we learned. We enjoyed more dancing with Naz, who got us all on our feet and celebrating the day!
Our closing Zoom assembly once again brought the entire Middle Division together. We listened to eighth grader Ateret Tsaidi, who was privileged to live in Israel for a year, as she shared her beautiful memories of Chanukah, erev Shabbat in Yerushalayim, and Yom Haatzmaut on Israel’s 70 th birthday! Eighth grader Adina Baum created a video featuring pictures of students and faculty members with their families at various sites in Israel. A group of eighth graders presented a dance from their own homes on Zoom! We sang along to a video of A lfei Yeladim a nd ended the day with the singing of Hatikvah.
The MTA community had an amazing time celebrating Israel’s 72nd birthday on Yom Hatzmaut! Proagramming and events included an exciting family chagiga led by Tani Polansky, yeshiva-wide Hallel led by sophomore rebbe Rabbi Axelrod, divrei Torah from Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Taubes, and an Israel-themed Family Feud game hosted by Hatzioni, the yeshiva’s Israel Advocacy Club. Rebbeim and teachers also incorporated Israel into their shiurim and classes. Rabbi Tani Cohen’s Julius Wrubel Beis Medrash Katan Shiur enjoyed a two-part Yom Haatzmaut discussion as well as a musical kumzits, Junior rebbe Rabbi Schiller hosted the yeshiva’s weekly Y Club meeting and led an interactive discussion on “Y are there so many political parties in Israel and what do they stand for?” while science instructor Mr. Goldberg shared the connection between chemistry and the Balfour Declaration in his chemistry classes. Talmidim displayed their Israel pride by wearing blue and white and creating Israel-themed Zoom backgrounds.
YOSS ECC Learning in Our Zoom Classrooms and Out
While the children at YOSS ECC are learning with their moros and Rebbe Eli Herzberg on Zoom each day, we also have weekly sessions of gym, music, and wacky science, plus weekly con
tests. Last week, the boys made volcanoes and homemade bubbles at their wacky science class and enjoyed exercise with our exercise video contest, where the boys taught other boys how to do different exercises at home.
The HALB staff has gone above and beyond to ensure that they maintain the personal relationships with their students even during these difficult times...as this is the essence of HALB!
JHC Family Zoom Reunion
By Lorey Friedman
On yom tov afternoon Rabbi Moshe Turk, founder and co-director of the Jewish Heritage Center, and his wife made a sidewalk visit to alumnae Melissa (Maisel) Rabb, who mentioned recently participating in a Zoom reunion program. “What a great idea,” Rabbi Turk immediately thought, and the idea of a JHC Alumni Zoom Reunion was born
More than 100 alumni registered to join this program to share current experiences and old memories and to lift each other’s spirits with encouragement and humor.
At 3:00 PM, N.Y. time, computer screens began to fill with JHC students from all over the world. From Israel to Arizona, Santiago, Chile, to Florida, Arizona to Massachusetts, and numerous points in between, almost 100 JHC alumni comprising three and a half decades of Center students joined together for a touching and often humorous family reunion.
The program opened with Rabbi Naftali Portnoy, co-director of the JHC, eloquently telling the alumni how much they inspired the rabbis of the Center. This was an understood reference to way in which these individuals, along with more than 2,000 others who became religious with the help of this Center, succeeded in traversing that difficult journey to lead Torah-true lives. Rabbi Portnoy’s beautiful message brought tears as well as applause to everyone, kicking off a special JHC family get together.
The first speaker, alumnae Cindy S, spoke about Covid-19 changed her life physically and spiritually. After a long serious hospitalization, Cindy described how, alone and fighting fear and despair, she felt uplifted by the wave of support from the JHC and others, especially by learning and praying for her recovery. This support gave her the strength to
maintain hope and fight the illness. After speaking, everyone gave her a huge round of well-deserved applause.
The two next two speakers, Sandy K. and Cheri L., spoke about their experiences of making Pesach living alone in quarantine and, in one case, it was doubly daunting, being her first Pesach at home and not by others. It was amazing to hear how they met the challenge and were able to find much meaning and even joy in the yom tov and the sedorim.
A photo montage followed, and as we “walked” down memory lane, we reminisced, laughed, and cried at seeing ourselves and others together at JHC events. The pictures reminded alumni and staff of the deep and meaningful times they shared together.
Many alumni spoke about their fond and loving memories of Rabbi Dovid Schwartz, z”l, a JHC Senior Rabbinic Educator for almost two decades, who sadly passed away two years ago. We saw anew how Rabbi Schwartz touched so many lives during his years at the JHC. Other memories focused on how students met the Center rabbis and how they became interested in considering a Torah lifestyle. One repeated theme was how the JHC so deeply affected and changed the lives of its alumni. Another was how the relationship between the alumni and the rebbeim and rebbetzins does not end; the alumni know that the rabbis and their wives are always there for them and their families. As the author of this article related on the Zoom session, “The JHC is there for their students/alumni for the good times and the hard times, during the easy and the not-so-easy.”
The reunion lasted over two hours for so many wanted to express appreciation. Then the JHC family waved good-bye, knowing that while apart in distance, they remain together in heart and mind.
Keeping the Gesher Family Together
Gesher has always prided itself on providing a rich educational experience, combined with a variety of other supports. The recent lockdown and school closures have created an opportunity for Gesher staff and administration to demonstrate the depth of their dedication and resourcefulness. And they have certainly surpassed everyone’s expectations.
In the first few weeks of the new reality, the faculty took on the chal
lenge of providing the high-quality educational product that is Gesher’s signature. The administration was hard at work setting up the background, organizing the Edmodo school platform to structure the programming. Teachers seemed to be working around the clock prerecording some of their daily lessons and preparing for their live Zoom Virtual Classrooms. Parent feedback was invited and the overall sense was that Gesher staff had done it again, providing highest quality and greatest quantity of educational content possible, bearing in mind the challenges families are experiencing with many children at home.
With the educational component set, and in order to ensure that the Gesher experience was complete, the administration turned its attention to the feeling of the Gesher family that is so important.
Virtual Rosh Chodesh assemblies, including celebrating birthdays of the month, were organized. Rosh Chodesh Iyar featured a presentation by the renowned Small Wonder Puppet Theatre. It was a special way to go into Shabbos rosh chodesh, with a warmth that benefited children and families alike.
As teachers have been preparing supplies for delivery or pickup, the administration took the opportunity to schedule a very special drive by party. Followingthe suggested safety protocols of PPE and distancing, the staff took positions along the street approaching Gesher and into the circular driveway. For a full hour, car after car pulled in to greet the morahs in the warmest way possible. Smiles and laughter filled the air, as students, parents, and many siblings joined the party. The bright sky add
ed to the enjoyment, and the acapella music was a great accompaniment. Every child received a treat and the students took home a special Gesher whiteboard to use during their Zoom sessions. Over the next several hours, the staff received so many wonderful messages and pictures of happy children who were so glad to greet their morahs in person and to start using their whiteboards to write messages of gratitude.
My 2020 COVID-19 Time Capsule Created by Ohel
OHEL Children’s Home & Family Services has made a special “My 2020 COVID-19 Time Capsule” available to students in the Jewish community. This time capsule project was created by Natalie Long of LONG Creations. It has been modified by OHEL’s team to meet the needs of the Jewish community and offers individuals of all ages a chance to document their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic becomes part of a history textbook,
this project will become a personal keepsake for years to come. With fun and engaging content, “My 2020 COVID-19 Time Capsule” will grant families time together that is both meaningful and memorable.
The workbook includes pages like “How I’m Feeling” to explore emotions in a meaningful way, “What Occasions Did You Celebrate During This Time?” to seal the memory of Shabbat and Pesach enjoyed in a different way, “A Letter to Your Future Self” to communicate a
Did you know? Mother’s Day is the third-busiest day for buying flowers
powerful message about living history, and more. In the process of logging feelings, this time capsule opens up a dialogue about mental health while facing challenges.
Given OHEL’s history in supporting individuals and communities in the face of trauma over the years, our team of experts continue to help strengthen those affected by the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tzivy Reiter, LCSW, Director of Children’s Services at OHEL, recommends the COVID-19 Time Capsule as a powerful tool to support the coping process through creative outlet of expression. The time capsule gives children perspective for their role in history and strengthens coping through acknowledging loss while simultaneously maintaining focus on positive lessons learned and the people who have helped our community through this crisis.
The recommendation is to complete only 1-2 pages per day to spread out the enjoyment, savoring the conversation that springs from each page.
OHEL continues to be there to provide families with resources, guidance, and support to manage effectively during this time. Visit www. ohelfamily.org/timecapsule to download the “My 2020 COVID-19 Time Capsule.” If you or someone you know can benefit from OHEL’s many supportive services during this challenging time, visit www. ohelfamily.org/covid19 or call us today at 1-800-603-OHEL.
The Kol Torah with Accountability Reverberates as Lomdei Torah Persevere
By Chaim Gold
Klal Yisrael is magnificent! In the chaos of the Covid-19 mageifah they are showing their love of Hashem and His Torah in unprecedented ways.
With communities around the world under lockdown and batei medrash closed, Yidden are finding all kinds of innovative ways to learn and focus on their learning even when they are holed up in the home, facing the difficulty of being easily distracted by the multiple disruptions that can transpire in a home setting when all children are home.
Bachurim, kollel yungeleit and baalei battim are not being mevater, are not foregoing their sedarim even in this difficult coronavirus environment.
“The Dirshu family of lomdim is on fire!” agreed Rabbi Aharon Gobioff, Dirshu’s North American director.
“This month, for the first time in our 25-year history, our lomdim took the Dirshu test remotely. In the past, Dirshu has had testing sites in each city where lomdim come once a month to take their tests. Because of the virus, this model, could not continue.
“Dirshu has therefore adapted and held pre-registration for the test where any Dirshu member was given a choice of whether to receive the test by email or by fax. I was flabbergasted by the response,” said Rabbi Gobioff. “Despite the fact that, obviously, our lomdim find themselves in learning conditions that are not optimal, they are pushing themselves and finding innovative solutions to make sure that they can maintain their Daf HaYomi shiur or Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiur.”
A New Best Friend: The Car!
Reb Paltiel*, a lomeid Dirshu, remarked, “My car has become my best friend. It is difficult for me to learn at home with all of the kids home and needing to be entertained.
The house is flying and the focus to learn, chazer and go over the blatt mentally to retain its content was challenging...until I thought of my car. I go out to my car and that is where I do my blatt every day.” Reb Paltiel adds, “Still, I was finding it a bit hard to learn without my regular chavrusah and then I had a brainstorm. My chavrusah began to come over in his car. We park next to each other, each of us ensconced in our respective cars, windows closed and learn every day on the phone together. This way we can see each other and talk to each other while keeping safe!”
In the truth, the quest for growth in Torah by all of Klal Yisrael is deeply moving and gratifying. Rabbi Avigdor Berenstein, a senior member of Hanhalas Dirshu in Eretz Yisrael, related that Dirshu, in conjunction with “Kol Hadaf,” an organization in Eretz Yisrael that makes telephone shiurim available to the public, has ensured that most of Dirshu’s shiurim have migrated during the coronavirus crisis to Kol Hadaf where participants can access and participate.
“The response has been overwhelming!” says Rabbi Berenstein. “Klal Yisrael, despite what they are going through, are thirsting for Torah learning and want to learn with accountability, not just to be ‘yotzeh’, but to learn!”
“I Missed Work, But I Never Missed One Blatt or One Chazara!”
A truly remarkable story that depicts the tenacity of lomdei Torah to continue learning and reviewing no matter what the circumstance was related by Rabbi Gobioff:
Reb Michoel* is a baal habayis who lives in Lakewood. He has already finished Shas with the Daf HaYomi once, and now, for the present machzor of Daf HaYomi, has decided to take his learning to a new level by joining the Dirshu Kinyan Torah Daf HaYomi with tests every
Participants at a recent Dirshu Bechina in Brooklyn, New York
month.
He was so dedicated to really learning and knowing the daf that he changed his daily schedule. Instead of leaving work at 5:00 p.m., he decided to leave at 4:00 p.m. What did he do at 4:00 p.m.? He hired a yungerman to learn with him every day. He also hired a second yungerman to review the blatt with him and he reviewed the blatt himself a number of times as well. By the time he reached the end of the month and the test, he knew every blatt, in his own words, “backwards and forwards.” When Reb Michoel was asked how he was managing to sustain this schedule under corona, he explained, “Where there is a will there is a way. There was the telephone and the computer. I missed work during corona, I missed multiple simchos during corona, but I haven’t missed even one blatt or one chazara!”
“It is these heroes who have kept the flame of Torah burning brightly, despite the adversity,” remarked Rabbi Gobioff.
“I So Wanted to Give This
Korban to Hashem…”
Indeed, Dirshu coordinators from Tel Aviv to Toronto, from Bnei Brak to Boro Park, and from Antwerp to London, were overwhelmed at the numbers of people who signed up to get the tests via email and fax.
One coordinator related, “We told our chavrei Dirshu that the tests would be emailed at 7:00 p.m. Due to some technical glitch it didn’t start arriving in people’s inboxes until about 7:20. Do you know how many messages and phone calls I received during those twenty minutes from worried lomdim who wanted to make sure that their tests were coming?!”
The truth is that the dark clouds and tragedy that Covid-19 has inflicted on the world and especially the Jewish community has also had silver linings. The way Yidden have dedicated themselves to limud haTorah, often in very suboptimum conditions, has been nothing short of incredible!
The Dirshu offices in Lakewood received a call from a test taker who said, “I always invest a tremendous amount of time in learning and chazering before each test. This year, about three days before the test, I began to feel symptoms of coronavirus. I developed a fever, my senses of taste and smell were affected, and I felt awful. Sunday, 25 Nissan/April 19 dawned, and by the time evening arrived and the test landed in my inbox, my fever had well surpassed 103 degrees. What did I do? I took the test! It was difficult, but I felt that the most appropriate words that came to my head were, ‘Avar zemano, batei korbano’ – if I let the time pass, my korban, my sacrifice to Hashem of learning and taking the test under such adversity, would be lost. I wanted so much to give that korban to Hashem, and I am so gratified that I did!”
