OHR SOMAYACH EXECUTIVE MENTORS MISSION TO Jul. 8- 15, 2007

With Special Visit to Rome

All expenses are tax deductible executive mentors mission FROM JUL. 8 – 15, 2007

Co-Chairmen YAAKOV KAPLAN, Toronto • DANNY LEMBERG, Lakewood • JAKE KOVAL, Cleveland

hr Somayach has, in its 35 year history, brought thousands of young Jews to a life of v’Mitzvohs through it’s Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) program which brings college-age men to the Yeshiva in OYerushalayim for three to six weeks, for its unique blend of high level shiurim in Torah and hashkafa given by some of the most exciting and knowlegeble talmidei chachamim who are also experts in secular philosophy and sciences. Our staff have included over the last few years lumineries such as Rav , zt”l, Rav , Rav , Rav Moshe Shapiro, Rav , Rav Dovid Gottleib, , Rabbi Dr. Yitzchok Breitowitz and many others. Intergral to this Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) program is intensive touring and interaction with madrichim and tutors. While the Yeshiva has been doing an excellent job at exposing the JLE participants to Torah u’Mitzvohs dur- ing their stay at Ohr Somayach, one component has been lacking - exposure during the JLE program and con- tinuing contact with yeshiva educated, sophisticated and successful people who have the sensitivity and empa- thy needed to serve as role models and effective mentors and guides to help integrate these Jewishly evolving students into the larger frum world. The opportunity is being extended to you to be a pioneering mentor to these young men - both in Yerushalayim and when they return to their studies in North America. You can make a difference in the lives of these young searching Jews and fulfill the mitzvah of pidyon shevuyim of nefashos. Join us on this once in a lifetime opportunity!

2 executive mentors mission FROM JUL. 8 – 15, 2007

JOIN US IN ROME OR MEET US IN ISRAEL

Rome Itinerary with RABBI BEREL WEIN SUNDAY JULY 8

4:50 pm Depart to Rome from JFK

MONDAY JULY 9

7:35 am Arrive in Rome 9:00 am Shacharis in the Great shul followed by breakfast at Yotvata restaurant 10:30 am Check in to hotel, refresh

Tour with world renowned historian RABBI BEREL WEIN

11:30 am Begin tour in old Jewish ghetto-Via Portico d'Ottavia Initially built in 146 AD, Il Tempio, Museo d'Arte Ebraica, Piazza Cinque Scole named after the five synagogues which existed in the square during the epoch of the ghetto. 1:30 pm Mincha and snack 2:00 pm Continue to Titus arch, coliseum ,roman forum 4:30 pm Rest up at hotel 7:30 pm Dinner with lay and community leaders of the Jewish community 9:30 pm Evening Stroll "La passeggiata", the walk about town after dinner. In our evening stroll, we will take in: Michelangelo's Capital Hill, the Piazza Venezia, the Fountain of Trevi, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Camp di Fiori and the Farnese Palace, plus other surprises along the way. 11:00 pm Marriv at hotel

TUESDAY JULY 10

6:00 am Shacharis in hotel followed by breakfast 7:30 am Leave to airport Israel Itinerary continued on next page

3 executive mentors mission FROM JUL. 8 – 15, 2007 Israel Itinerary TUESDAY JULY 10 5:00 pm Rest up at hotel 7:00 pm Dinner at restaurant 2:30 pm Arrive in Tel Aviv - travel to Yerushalayim check in to Plaza FRIDAY JULY 13 Hotel, rest up 7:00 pm Mincha & dinner in hotel with 8:00 am Shacharis greetings from Ohr Somayach Hanhalah 9:00 am Breakfast 9:00 pm Depart to Kosel for Maariv 10:00 am Metulla border between Israel and Lebanon 10:00 pm Return to hotel Hula Valley, Kiryat Shemona, white-water rafting down the Jordan River WEDNESDAY JULY 11 2:00 pm Lunch and mentoring in Meron - Tomb of the legendary Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai Davening Schedule: 1. Great Synagogue across the street from the Plaza 4;00 pm Prepare for Shabbos! (3 Minyanim: 6 am, 6:45 & 8 am) 2. GRA shul (10-15 min. walk) 5:45 pm Depart for tour of ancient shuls in Tzfas culmi 7:00-10:00 am Breakfast in hotel nating with Kabblos Shabbos in the orchards 10:00 am Depart for Ohr Somayach of tzfas in the theme of the 16th century kabbal 10;30-11:30 am Opening ceremony - Meet the JLE boys ists where Kabblos shabbos was composed 11:30-12:30 pm Mentoring session by R. Shlomo Alkabetz. 12:30-2:00 pm Gala lunch and greetings from Gedolei Eretz 7:45 pm Opening talk by Dean – of Ohr Yisroel and Israeli dignitaries Somayach, Rabbi Nota Schiller in Yosef Karo 2:00-5:00 pm Tour Harei Yerushalaim & Mincha Shul 5:00 pm Return to hotel 8:30 pm Festive Dinner – Ron Hotel dining room 7:00-9:00 pm Dinner at restaurant with R. Dovid Orlofsky 10:30 pm Late Night Tour of the dark alleyways of 9;00-10:30pm Maariv and visit with Gedolim (in the past R. Tzfas Elyashiv, R. Gamliel Rabinovitch) 11:30 pm Tisch by our own Chassidic , Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb THURSDAY JULY 12 Morning schedule same as Wed. TRACK ONE SHABBOS JULY 14 10:00 am Depart for the north - Tour of the Jordan Valley, Picturesque Kfar Charub, former 8:30 am Shacharis Syrian bunker on the Golan Heights- View of 10:45 am Kiddush in Ron Hotel the Galilee 11:00 am Mentoring JLE students 1:00 pm Lunch and mentoring at Gamla - the Masada 12:00 noon Festive lunch in Ron Hotel dining room of the North - Mincha in the oldest synagogue in 5:30 pm Tour of historical Tzefas throughout the ages the world from its Biblical Origins through the Modern 2:30 pm Sample the mouth-watering beverages of the State of Israel Golan Winery in the city of Katzrin 7:00 pm Mincha at Ari Ashkenazi Shul 4:30 pm Breathtaking hiking trail of Wadi Debora - 7:30 pm Festive Seudas Shlishis - Ron Hotel dining second highest water fall in Israel room 6:30 pm Check in to hotel 9:30 pm Departure for Yerushalayim 7:30 pm Dinner 9:00 pm Candle-light Kumzits at Amuka SUNDAY JULY 15

TRACK TWO Morning schedule same as Wed. & Thu. 10:00 am Depart for Ohr Somayach 11:00 am Depart for Ohr Somayach - final mentoring 10:30-12:00 Mentoring session session and farewell banquet. 12:00-1:00 Shiur from senior Ohr Somayach lecturer 5:00 pm Check out of hotel - depart for Bnei Brak 1:15 Mincha visit with Gedolim 1:30 Lunch 7:30 pm Dinner & maariv 2:30-5:00 Kever Rochel 9:30 pm Leave to airport

Please note: All times are approximate and both times and destinations are subject to change. We also anticipate meeting with other Gedolim and Israeli dignitaries.

4 executive mentors mission FROM JUL. 8 – 15, 2007 JLE Participants - 2007

Here is a sampling of the participants in this program. The full list is available upon request.

The Boy Who Blew Off Bush Jeopardy Team to victory in competition pitting college against UCLA Freshman college, and the cumulative knowledge of one team against JEFF STEINBERG’S gifts, playing viola and violin, earned him anothers’. an invitation to meet and perform for the President , during a Another sign of Gerald’s high comfort level with very intelli- recent visit to California. Jeff, about to declare himself a gent people was his election to serve as Vice President of IIT’s Philosophy Major, likes to focus on cosmic questions not nation- Student Philosophy Association. al politics. He turned down the opportunity to mingle with the Gerald was born on July 29,1985. He grew up in a totally politician-in-chief, to attend to more pressing issues in his life. nonobservant, unaffiliated home in which his mother's mother Jeff won major scholarships to attend the Interlochen School inadvertently gets a good deal of the credit for his current inter- for the Arts (High School) as well as UCLA. He has also earned est in exploring . Gerald’s maternal grandmother recognition as an accomplished athlete. absolutely forbade her daughter, Gerald's mother, from attending Jeff, born Dec 13th, 1985, had a Conservative Jewish upbring- Hebrew School. ing. [Sounds like his parents had around 1.6 children, meeting Naturally, in response to “No!” she said “I'm gonna !” the median birthrate for Jews with similar backgrounds.] Although she never managed to follow through on that threat Jeff was referred to Ohr Somayach by Rabbi Benzion Klatko, herself, she never lost her resolve. When Gerald got involved aka Rabbi K, who used to work for Ashreinu LA (The Zarets) with a Maimonides program on campus this past spring, and and is now cruising campuses from coast to coast in search of when Rabbi Zev Kahn, in referred him to Ohr non-observant candidates for kiruv programs in Israel. Somayach’s JLE program this summer, Mom offered full moral and material support! Inspiring Others / Inspired To Change DAVID BUZGALO just graduated from the Univ. of McGill’s MIKHAIL IOKHELES just received his B.A., with Montreal with a BSc in Actuarial Mathematics. “joint honors,” in Economics & Political Science. Buzgalo not only won a Gold Medal in Canadian National Mikhail is a world class debater with a promising future a Competition for his virtuosity (competitive excellence beyond all defense lawyer or state prosecutor. He was recognized, in ‘03, as others) as a classical pianist; he has also been ranked as the fifth a Massachusetts Mock Trial State Finalist. best pianist in Canada. During his collegiate career, Mikhail served as Vice President Born March 10th, 1982, David was raised in a Jewishly proud of Finance for an undergraduate student society (they must have but not yet halachically anchored home. Both of his parents are had some good money invested if they needed a hierarchy of offi- Math Professors. cers just to deal with finances!) At the tender age of 12, David had already recorded an album, Mikhail was born October 6, 1984. He had a Conservative foreshadowing his later accomplishments as a nationally upbringing and attended Sharon Public High School where he acclaimed pianist. distinguished himself as a straight A student and winner of “var- David writes: "I have lost myself in terms of my Jewishness…I ious South Shore Interscholastic Chess League Awards…” think I absolutely need to take a good look at myself in the mir- Mikhail’s interest in coming to Israel was recently inspired by ror and figure out the truth and the key to reigniting my an old best seller, Exodus, the novel about Israel’s birth written by soul…with Torah ." Leon Uris. David`s friend, Jason Lipner, directed him to Ohr Somayach This summer will serve as a bridge between Mikhail’s under- graduate study and Law School. He writes, “Now is an impor- Approaching Perfection: From GPA’s to Making the Grade with G d tant time to reflect upon my life and my faith.” IIT ( Institute of Technology) is MIT-Midwest. IIT’s A friend, DAN HOROVITZ is also participating in this sum- GERALD NORBY has maintained a near perfect 3.8/4.0 gpa mers’ JLE. Dan persuaded Mikhail that Ohr Somayach’s summer through three years of academic study. program will best address his long simmering interest in better Gerald also distinguished himself by carrying IIT’s Collegiate understanding what it means to live with integrity as a Jew.

5 executive mentors mission FROM JUL. 8 – 15, 2007

JOIN US ON THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY! For reservations and more information please contact Rabbi Avremi Neuhaus - Mentors Mission of Lakewood Tel: 908-770-4492 Email: [email protected]