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By Rabbi Avi Schwartz On the landscape of Israel, the most daring generation of Jewish youth since the Maccabees and Bar Kocha are the veterans of 1948, who forever changed Jewish and world history. Now elderly and frail their spirit has not faded as they now set to serve again opening the Shomrei HaAm youth leadership training centers in Cedarhurst, Flatbush and Herzliya, Israel. Under the leadership of my father, the famed Palmach Commander Mordechai Schwartz, otherwise known as Motzik HaGrazan, Motzik the Axeman, and his comrade, Michael “Mike” Shamah, they are trailblazing a new initiative in Jewish leadership aptly called “Real As 48”. Within a very short time since its inception, Shomrei HaAm has instituted a Palmach Torah Youth Center that is officially linked to Israel’s Palmach Museum, a meeting of the minds that would have been unthinkable to reach decades earlier. This significant act of reconciliation between such different mindsets - the Torah community and the Palmach - was quickly noticed, earning endorsements from such leading and illustrious rabbis such as Rav David Feinstein, Rav Shlomo Herbst. “They have innovated a new youth movement that combines true Torah and Palmach leadership skills,” Rabbi Herbst said. My father remembers how in 1948, the Jewish fighting groups put aside their political differences in their struggle to defend the newborn Jewish state. “All of us strove to create a new reality for the Jewish people, each in his own way. 64 years later we need to rekindle the passion of service that was part and parcel of all the four groups,” my father
said. “The establishment of Israel was a conflagration of extremely talented, intelligent and dedicated young adults, both in Israel and America, who focused and envisioned on creating an Israel of high moral caliber and selfless dedication to the Jewish people.” As part of its unity iumage, the organization will invite leading individuals from across Israeli society to speak at its events. “Shomrei HaAm is fulfilling a gap that has been missing for sometime within the Jewish community,” said Ret. IDF Col. Gabi Raz, general director of the Israeli Olympic Range in Herzliya. “The candidates will undergo special leadership and management skills training. We want all the candidates, no matter their religious or non-religious affiliation to return to their respective communities as well-informed Jewish leaders, ready to lead and serve,” said Capt. Ofer Rozenman, the center’s managing director. The most striking feature of Shomrei HaAm is the opportunity for youths to interact with my father’s generation. “It will, if done correctly, infuse lifeblood into a desperately needed vision that made Jews in Israel and America bond and committed during the early years after Israel’s birth,” commented Dr. Richard Israelowitz, a professor of social policy at Ben Gurion University. Shomrei HaAm’s curriculum also includes physical training to develop confidence and responsibility. One such skill is training in Krav Maga, originally known as Palmach Kapap. “I am always amazed how people undergo a transformation from non-confident to confident,” said instructor Tsahi Shemesh. “When I was approached by Shomrei HaAm I agreed seeing how unique its approach, and the necessary self-confidence that is required
Photo by Rabbi Avi Schwartz
1948 youth, Mordechai Schwartz and Michael Shamah, reunited at Shomrei HaAm meeting. of leadership.” Shomrei HaAm’s Jan. 2012 Open Enrollment will take place at its Five Towns headquarters at Happy Feet Studio, located at 595 Malvin Mall in Cedarhurst. “As a son of a ‘1948 youth,’ I know firsthand of their ‘Through Fire and Water’ mentality,” said Happy Feet owner Zvi Bornstein. “Their value of mesiras nefesh was and is for the community and not their own bottom line.” The six month intense training program entails: ■ Torah, Tanach, and Halacha ■ An historical overview of Jewish world contributions, ■ A study of anti-Semitic persecution and the longing to return to Eretz Yisrael, ■ The establishment of Israel ■ Management skills training ■ Leadership training ■ Physical training ■ Participation in various local chesed organizations
Monday’s miracle at Masbia By Yaakov Hawk A crowd of over 150 guests piled into Masbia this past Monday night to be treated food, gifts and live music. Philanthropy for the Future, hosted this incredible night at Masbia, helping Masbia feed almost double the amount of people that they usually feed at their Midwood location. This incredible event was run with a budget of zero dollars, as Masbia is currently facing tremendous financial strain. When PFF founder Yaakov Hawk approached Alexander Rapaport, director of Masbia with this idea it was a difficult decision for him to make, knowing that events like this, frequently go over budget and it was his responsibility to make sure Masbia can keep serving meals to New York’s hungry. As Mr. Rapaport said “Although we’ve had Channukah events and treats in previous years, weeks ago we had decided not do anything special this year due to our financial situation”. After Hawk reassured Mr. Rapaport that “zero means zero”, knowing that Masbia does not have money to supplement to this project, Mr. Rapaport happily jumped on board. After seeing PFF’s work in progress, raising money, finding a band to play and collecting hundreds of toys to give out to Masbia’s guests and that PFF was really working hard, Mr. Rapaport agreed to buy special sufganiyot for the nights guests, but just as Mr. Rapaport was about to pay for the sufganiyot, a complete stranger in the bakery asked him how much he was spending on them replying “85 dollars” the man wrote him a check for 86, truly
■ Weekly interaction with the veterans of 1948.
Those who prove to be exceptional will be invited to Shomrei HaAm’s Palmach 2000 Program in Herzliya to undergo advanced training as they re-trace the various 1948 campaigns. “The potential inherit in their new and dynamic leadership program to inspire both Israeli and American Youth to continue the spirit of ‘48 is great.” remarked Adiel Ron, Global Alliance Executive for Telco Industry. Shomrei HaAm’s aspiration is to produce a 1948 Youth in present day form possessing a charismatic personality, great inner strength, a sense of mission and fraternity, and the character and abilities ready to lead and serve as committed Jewish leaders in all fields of endeavor. To further inquiry about Shomrei HaAm and its enrollment program, contact me at mschw136@aol.com
Shul celebrates with Siyum By Lauren Golubtchik
Photo by Alexander Rapaport
Volunteers such as Yaakov Hawk, founder of Philanthropy for the Future orchestrate a Chanukah miracle for Masbia and recipients at their event. a Chanukah miracle for Masbia. To make the Channukah celebration more joyous, PFF decided to give out to toys and bring in a live band to elevate the spirits of the guests. The over 200 toys that were distributed, were collected in the DRS Channukah Toy Drive as well as from Build - A - Bear for Tzedekah in Beaver Lake this past summer. The band, Betach comprised of members from community schools DRS and Rambam donated their time to liven the spirits of Masbia’s patrons. As keyboardist Yaakov Feldstein put it “We felt that on Channukah we need to give back a little to the community and the smiles we put on peoples faces really makes a lasting impact” and the guests
felt the same way with one guest thanking us for “Giving my family a night of happiness, presents to make my kids happy and great food for our stomaches”. The event itself, was one of Masbia of Flatbush’s busiest nights according to manager Joyce Morales. One of the most noticeable things in Masbia Monday night, was the large number of families with many young children, who generally do not come out of embarrassment. But this night was different, volunteers made everyone feel welcome, with warm greetings and gifts, to give everyone the greatest Chanukah gift of all, Happiness.
Our shul, Congregation Bais Tefilah of Woodmere ,under the direction of Rabbi Shaya Richmond, hosted a shul wide Siyum this past Shabbat, Shabbat Chanukah. This Siyum project was started last year to enable our entire congregation to get the mitzvah of learning the entire Torah from Bereishis until the last word in the Gemara. Members of all ages, both boys, girls, men and women, were all part of this project. Dr. Joe Rozenbaum and President Jay Fuchs oversaw the mass organization, under the guidance and leadership of Rabbi Richmond. “It spans Gemara mishna, Torah neviim, and kesuvim”, says Rabbi Richmond. The goal of the learning project is to unify everyone, in our shul and the greater five towns community, so that we will all merit a piece in the world to come. For more information regarding Congregation Bais Tefilah of Woodmere please contact Shul President Joh Haft @ 516 633-
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THE JEWISH STAR December 30, 2011 • 4 TEVET, 5772
1948 youths return to serve