“כי מציון תצא תורה ודבר ה’ מירושלים”

NEWS & VIEWS e-mitzion Dear Students, Alumni, Parents and Friends, As we launch the year of The official newsletter of Midreshet HaRova 5771, I would like to share with you some of my experiences from the E l u l 5 7 7 0 last few months

A wedding It was my pleasure to attend the wedding of Ali Veres (5767) to Zach Isakow at the end of May in Montreal. As you all know, the is named after Ali’s grandfather of blessed memory, and it was my honor ! to be part of this most wonderful simcha. In an ideal New Year! New Look! New Format world I would be able to attend all of our students’ weddings. Unfortunately that cannot always be, ith the New Year of 5771 about to begin, and the Class but when I do actually make it, it always gives me Wof 5771 having recently arrived at the Midrasha, we are great pride to watch one of our students under the celebrating by creating a whole new look to the E-Mitzion. chuppah. The added bonus on these occasions is the chance I get to spend with our alumni. In truth Now with a format that is heavily reflective of the happenings this turned out to be an all-Midrasha event, since Ali’s of the Midrasha, each edition will begin with News and Views: sister-in-law, Sarena Isakow from Toronto, is attending personal reflections on Midrasha news, as well as a take on the Midrasha this coming year b’ezrat Hashem. current events in both and the world. Inner pages will continue to bring you divrei and informative articles on the happenings at the Midrasha, as well as announcements of bogrot smachot and news. We look forward to your comments and input!

At this opportunity, we would like to thank Rav David Berg whose dedicated efforts to date have shepherded the format of our newsletters from the earlier Kol HaMidrasha printed format to the techno-age E-Mitzion newsletter. Chizuk I was back in North America just a week later, in Baltimore Losing Mentors at the beginning of June where we held a heart-rending After much travel, I returned home afternoon event in learning and prayer for our alumnus, to contemplate the year that has Rachel Minkove (5762), who is suffering from a relapse of passed and to plan and look forward cancer. Rachel’s words were clearly the highlight of the to the coming year. Unfortunately, afternoon. Her strength and faith is my return was met with a batch of Program of Chizuk for Rachel Minkove simply an inspiration. Our hope bad tidings, climaxing in the passing (Rachel Tova bat Yehudit Esther) and prayer is that sooner rather of our beloved Rosh Yeshiva, Rav

Rachel Minkove attended Midreshet HaRova in 2001. She went on to receiv than later we will be able to Yehuda Amital Zt’l. Perhaps one of the reasons that I have The University of Maryland, and taught in Jewish day schools in L.A. In 2008, shortly after moving t New York, Rachel was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She underwent chemotherapy, a marrow transplant and radiation. Rachel went into remission for several months, but in March 2010 learned that she had a recurrence. She is presently continuing e a degree in history from deeply appreciate all your prayers and learning in her honor—now more than ever. celebrate her full recovery. I am spent virtually all of my adult life working in year programs is o Date: her treatment. Rachel and her familybone > Sunday, June 6, 2010 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm indebted to our bogeret Jamie a direct result of my own life-changing experiences all those Program: > Introduction Where: > Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School Mrs. Zipora Schorr Rosen Arts Center, Mintzes Theatre Director of Education Gluckstadt Chubak, who brought years ago at . 3300 Old Court Road Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School > Baltimore, MD 21208 Shiur Enter through the High School Rav David Milston Director Overseas Program Midreshet HaRova, Yerushalayim Rachel’s condition to our attention For more information: > > Contact Dvar Torah Rabbi Shmuel Silber When I arrived in the Gush in the late autumn of 1983, I Bernie Kozlovsky [email protected] Rav, Suburban Orthodox Congregation 410-653-9810 Toras Chaim, Baltimore, MD > Tehillim and to Dr. Bernard Kozlowski, father > Concluding Remarks came with no substantial Torah knowledge, and more Rachel Minkove > Tefillat Minchah of Penina (5770), for his tireless efforts significantly, with little to no religious direction. A year in in putting the event together. The Yeshiva is clearly insufficient to truly cater for the former,

Design by DM Multimedia - www.dmmmedia.com event was recorded on video and, but it did so much to help me in the latter. Rav Amital for those who are interested, may be and Rav Lichtenstein became my mentors, but not in the viewed at: http:// suburbanorthodox.org/chizuk.php. normal sense of the word. My Hebrew and my insufficient depth of understanding left me hugely lacking in my Alumni overseas – Australia abilities to fully comprehend the superbly high academic In the meantime Rav Shames made his way to South level of learning as taught by my Roshei Yeshiva, but as I Africa, to interview prospective MTA’s for next year. And watched them intently day in day out I learnt what I could after the Northern Hemisphere year ended, both I and never have learned anywhere else. Tanya made the journey to Australia for the same purpose. Rav Amital’s constant striving for Kiddush Hashem, his I have not been in Australia for four years, and it was so awareness of the entire people of Israel, and his relentless nice to see our bogrot there. On Shabbat we got together struggle to provide truth and depth in a Jewish world that at the house of Ilana Herz (MTA 2007) for seuda shnia; to is frighteningly becoming false and superficial has inspired sit at the table with over twenty of our alumni was simply and strengthened my resolve throughout the years. And I wonderful – oneg Shabbat in the truest sense of the am left bereft and empty as a result of his passing. I never word! It is always difficult when traveling abroad being realized how fundamental a part of who I am he was until I away from home and the family, particularly on Shabbat, received news of his death. And as I stood by his graveside, but meeting up with our students – our extended family I found myself wondering how the world could be the – certainly compensates for that factor and is by far the same without this giant. highlight of the trip. The juxtaposition of my Rosh Yeshiva’s passing to the What inspired me most during my visit was to see how passing of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu Zt’l triggered this many of our alumni are heavily involved in informal instinctive feeling of despair as I began to realize that education. In Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, our students our mentors of old are slowly disappearing, and that, as are very much in leading roles in both their regional and time races ahead, it is perhaps my generation who should national Bnei Akiva, something I am heartened to know to be contemplating the needs of our people, and not just be the case with so many bogrot worldwide. relying on others to do the work. To discover that your contemporaries are Prime Ministers and Presidents is a involving negotiations over the release of Gilad Shalit. Whilst wake up call, and has triggered much introspection as we stand in awe of his relentlessly dedicated parents who to aims and objectives in life. Each and every one of us are doing everything humanely possible to look out for the must be sure to define his or her role periodically, and then well being of their son, we are simultaneously skeptical of make sure that that role be realized. the ramifications of releasing so many terrorists with ‘blood on their hands’. The dilemma is an enormous one. On the In Israel one hand, we must surely do all that we can to ensure the release of one Internal matters in Israel, though they have temporarily of our soldiers calmed, have also kept us very busy. The events in Immanuel in captivity, but where there were clashes between Ashkenazi and Sefardi on the other families to the degree that the High Court felt it necessary hand we must to intervene, have only come as a timely reminder that be aware that to qualitatively we are a far way from redemption. When bring a soldier ‘religious parents’ of little children, for whatever reason, home at any are unable to find any common ground whatsoever, then price will only encourage we know that we have an enormous task Hamas to try and kidnap others; furthermore ahead of us. No one can argue by freeing convicted murderers surely we will In truth our national struggles are to be the centrality of increase the likelihood of more terror at home. expected. In the Diaspora there is little Eretz Yisrael, but We know how the Maharam of Rottenberg to no friction between different sectors of died in captivity because he instructed his the community, because they simply have without a united community not to pay his ransom, in order to no need to work together; but in Israel, discourage similar acts repeating themselves as the ingathering of exiles intensifies, nation, we simply in the future. Personally I am totally torn there is bound to be struggle and friction. by this nightmare scenario, but I am not Ultimately the people in Israel are one cannot move convinced that intense internal pressure on people, with one Government, one army forward. our Government helps the situation, vis-a-vis and one police force. The subsequent negotiations with Hamas friction is a direct result of the fact that we have to work together, but we have very different In conclusion, I hope the new format of E-Mitzion will objectives. The phenomenon is understandable, but still prove informative and pleasant to one and all. Again, I cannot be accepted. If we are to reach the finishing line in thank Rav David Berg for his many years of work in this our aim to attain Geula, then our fundamental attitude has matter, and wish myself, and Leiba Smith, who will be the to change. There will be no Eretz Yisrael for us, if there is no co-editor, hatzlacha in keeping E-Mitzion a helpful means Am Yisrael. I feel that this was a message that Rav Amital of staying in touch. tried to emphasize over the last years, but very few people We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our grasped the complexity of the lesson. No one can argue the students, alumni, parents and friends – a Ketiva VeChatima centrality of Eretz Yisrael, but without a united nation, we Tova – A happy and healthy New Year. May this year bring simply cannot move forward. final redemption for Am Yisrael. Another heart-breaking issue that has occupied us in Israel during the early summer months is the complex dilemmas Rav David Milston The following An Everlasting Kingdom The purpose of Rosh Hashanah and the days following is to contemplate the Creator of the The Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Universe and His Omnipotence. On the first day Yom HaKippurim is called Shabbat Shuva, when Dvar Torah of every year, we crown the Almighty God as the emphasis is wholly on repentance.1 But King of kings, hence the transition from “God” to why does this Shabbat not take place before “King” in the Amidah. for Ellul Rosh Hashanah, in the same way that Shabbat HaGadol comes before Pesach? What exactly does crowning the King mean? is an excerpt from And if, like all prayer, this is for our benefit and Would it not be preferable to enter the New not for His, how do we grow from it? Rav Milston’s new Year with the mistakes of the past behind us, two-book series on having completed our accounting and made When we proclaim God as King, we are openly our resolutions? It seems to dampen the declaring unconditional loyalty to His rule. We the moadim, festive atmosphere by beginning with a rather are also stating our faith and belief in everything depressing overview of where we failed once He does, irrespective of our own limited human Ki Va Moed again last year. understanding. We might not agree, but we trust. By crowning the Almighty God as King of In truth, this question should not be limited to the Universe, we are bearing which is in process. Shabbat Shuva, but the entire witness to His ongoing “official 10-day period” of Rosh Hashanah involvement in the world, Teshuva that begins after Rosh is not the end of and to His control over the Hashanah. Surely repentance daily running of our lives. should precede Rosh Hashanah? the process. It is By committing ourselves Perhaps our question is based rather the trigger to such a belief, we do not on a mistaken premise. beginning our deny our right to free choice, but we are defining that free If we are to understand Rosh ongoing and annual Hashanah purely as “The Day choice by recognizing our of Heavenly Judgment,” – when internal progress. limitations as human beings. decrees are made and the Believing Jews define free future sealed – it would be better to enter God’s choice as our ‘soul’ responsibility – our spiritual ‘Supreme Court’ with a firm statement of intent successes and mistakes, falls to temptation and – “Almighty God, I have thoroughly reviewed my religious status – all of these are in our hands behavior and I am determined to improve this and our hands alone. Our real achievements in year.” life are not so much determined by what actually But there is more to it than that. happens to us as by the way we deal with life’s curveballs. Rosh Hashanah is not the end of the process. It is rather the trigger beginning our ongoing and At the same time, we believe that Hashem is God annual internal progress. of the Universe. He is in overall control and our material wellbeing is ultimately in His hands. When we examine the Rosh Hashanah liturgy, we see the emphasis on “Malchut Hashem” – the Sometimes we can change a situation and must Kingdom of God.2 This is clearly reflected in the endeavor to do so. Yet if we fail; if the Almighty halachot of this period too, which implies there decides ‘this is the way it has to be,’ we must is more to this day than Heavenly judgment accept His Majesty’s decree while still being left alone. 3 with the choice of how to deal with our new reality. 1 Indeed the name of the Shabbat emanates from the Haftarah, which begins with the words “Shuva Yisrael” – Therefore, “God is my King” must be the starting “Return O Israel” (Hoshea 14.) 2See Massechet Rosh Hashanah 4:5-6, and Shulchan Aruch - at the end of the third beracha, in place of “The Holy God” Orach Chaim – Simanim 591 and 592. – “HaKel HaKadosh.” This change is so crucial that if we 3 From Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur, there are a num- mistakenly say “Holy God” instead of “Holy King,” we must ber of additions to the Amidah. One of these is the inser- – in certain cases – start the Amidah again. See Shulchan tion of the phrase “The Holy King” – “HaMelech HaKadosh”, Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 582. point. We crown Him as King and hence acknowledge exceptional meaning and ourselves as His subjects, endorsing his policies and accepting relevance in this context. The his decisions whatever they may be. word “Hashem” is generally used in Biblical Hebrew to For if we do not internalize the ethos of God as King, there is no reason for regretting misdemeanors and transgressing Torah directives. The purpose of Rosh represent Why be sorry for discarding the the merciful directives of a King whom we do not Hashanah and the days facets of God that we really believe in anyway? And if we do following is to contemplate experience in this world. The word not accept His Omnipotence there is the Creator of the Universe “Elokim” almost always describes Divine little reason for prayer either. Who are acts of justice in our everyday lives. we praying to? And why make new and His Omnipotence…. resolutions if we feel no real obligation “God is my King” must be At the end of Yom Kippur, at the climax to see them through? of the Ten Days of Penitence, we declare that “Hashem Hu HaElokim” – the Provider This kind of reaction is indicative of our the starting point. of Mercy is that very same Provider of oft-insidious belief that Man is king. In Justice – He is One in every way. At the start of the process, we the depths of our hearts, we know we are not in control. We made a proclamation. By the end of that process, we state a know that however ‘advanced’ Man appears to be, we are limited fact. After Yom Kippur, our task is to deeply internalize that fact in our ability to achieve all we want. How many times do our well- into our daily lives. made plans fizzle into thin air? Let us now examine some deeper implications of crowning the Therefore, if we do not accept these fundamental truths, our Almighty. life will become a “Tower of Babel” – confused, with no real direction, no clarity of vision and no ultimate objective beyond The Shacharit Amidah introduces us to the notions of kingship our egotistical world. Without first clarifying our role in life, and with the beautiful songs of “Melech Elyon” and “Hashem Melech.” understanding our limitations and our potential, how can we The former emphasizes God’s greatness by singing His praises possibly realize ourselves? Hence these days are indeed days of and comparing His eternal power to the dwarfed limitations Judgment and this is why we crown God as King. of Man. The latter concentrates more on the infinite and everlasting elements of God’s being – “He is King, He was King, By recognizing this, we grow, because we can now take a and He will be our King.” genuine look at ourselves and take real responsibility (response-ability) Without first clarifying Having established His unparalleled for how we react to the circumstances supremacy and infinity, the Mussaf our King dictates to us. On these days our role in life, and Amidah then defines His essence. of judgment, we are judging ourselves. understanding our We begin by internalizing the most Therefore, Shabbat Shuva and the Days limitations and our serious implications of His Kingship by of Penitence cannot possibly precede reciting the famous prayer “Unetaneh Rosh Hashanah, because until we truly potential, how can we Tokef.”5 This shockingly blunt entreaty accept Almighty God as the Supreme possibly realize ourselves? reminds us what is at stake on this holy Ruler of the Universe, our repentance is day. Our fate is being sealed at this very merely lip service. moment, though we are also told how to rectify the situation.6 So, the first of the ten days begins with our heartfelt intent The rest of Mussaf is divided into three sections – Malchuyot, and direction and our coronation of the Almighty as the active Zichronot and Shofarot. Ruler of the World. The last ends with our dedicated cry of Each section comprises an introduction, 10 scriptural verses commitment and loyalty; a unanimous declaration that “God (three each from Torah, Nevi’im and , followed by is the Lord,”4 words that encapsulate the intensive process that another one from Torah), and a conclusion. When the Shaliach begins on Rosh Hashanah. Tzibur repeats the Amidah, the Shofar is blown at the end of The words “Hashem Hu HaElokim” – “God is the Lord” have

4 See Melachim Aleph 18:39, when reading the entire chapter from beginning 5 Written by Rabbi Amnon of Magenza. to end gives us a better understanding of the real essence of this phrase. 6 Teshuva, Tefilla and Tzedaka. each of these sections.7 leave shul on Rosh Hashanah with the knowledge that it is our responsibility – through our actions and behavior – to bring These three categories offer us a deeper understanding of the honor and credit to our very own King. fundamentals of Judaism by defining God as King of the Universe. Once we understand Rosh Hashanah in this light, it seems Malchuyot confirms Hashem as Creator King of the World; the obvious why it should be the starting point and not the Omnipresent Ruler of past, present and future. We pray that just conclusion of the year. In Jewish as it was once obvious to all creatures terms, repentance is not a guilt trip, that God is King, so will it be obvious The purpose of these days is but a concerted effort at true self- for the entire world to see in the future. to stop, look and listen before analysis. It is so much more than a Day Zichronot takes us a stage further. The we cross the potentially of Judgment. God will only write in His verses teach us that God is not a King book of Judgment if we fail to do so who is detached from his subjects. He dangerous road into the new ourselves. is deeply involved in everything that year. It is for us to introspect, The purpose of these days is to stop, goes on in the world. He saw, heard look and listen before we cross the and then did. We are reminded of analyze and conclude that we potentially dangerous road into the Abrahamic theology, which doesn’t have a golden opportunity to new year. It is for us to introspect, simply follow the belief of monotheism, analyze and conclude that we have a but fully understands Divine write ourselves in the Book of golden opportunity to write ourselves Providence too. Hashem is deeply Life for the coming year. in the Book of Life for the coming year. involved in the lives of individuals and nations. This is what God meant when I believe this is what Hashem wants he told Moshe that Pharaoh and his underlings need “to know us to do. Like any intelligent parent, the Almighty desires that that I am God in the midst of the land.”8 we reach the conclusions by ourselves. He only intervenes when we slack in our belief and determination. After all, He is Shofarot brings us to our role in life. We have established God primarily “Avinu” and only then “Malkeinu”! as the Supreme Creator and Eternal Ruler. We have emphasized our belief that the Almighty did not just create in the past but Rosh Hashanah is thus the launching of a process. It is a day of is still creating and running the Universe. Now we refer to the judgment of sorts, but primarily one of self-judgment, requiring people of Israel as the natural extension of the Abrahamic ideal. definitions of parameters, realization of truths and only then resolutions for the future. If we are to succeed in these days We speak of the Receiving of the Torah. Once the children to guide ourselves back to the path of the just, we need to go of Abraham have the Torah, they are empowered with the right back to the beginning – Long Live the King! responsibility of ultimately proclaiming God to the Nations of the World. So, our verses begin with defining God and end with the vision Rav David Milston of universal redemption, implicitly describing the role of Am Yisrael in this process. From the structure of our prayers on this holy day, we acquire a clear definition of the Creator and the purpose of the world. We are declaring God as King, acknowledging His perpetual creation and defining for ourselves both His role and ours. By the end of the day, we have not only reaffirmed our belief in God, but – by extension – our belief in ourselves. We have clarity about what we are supposed to do in this world. As ambassadors of the Almighty Himself, we are faced with the very same mission our father Abraham was charged with all those years ago. Therefore, after reiterating our reason for being as a nation, we

7 There is a custom to blow Shofar at the end of these sections in the silent Amidah too. See Mishna Berura quoting Magen Avraham Orach Chaim 592, seif katan 1. 8 Shemot 8:18. For details regarding how you can dedicate all or part of the publication of the book please contact Leiba at [email protected] Below are two letters from bogrot of the class of 5770, from among the many letters our staff receive from students throughout, and especially at the end of, their learning year. We share their words, with their permission, as they distributed them Letters from Students to the Midrasha staff as a whole, and welcome , USA those of others who might wish to write in. , B a l t i m o r e 5 7 7 0 L e b o v i c : M a l k a F r o m , and Rebbeim, , Teachers , and Yet, despite Dear Staff , seen sights of holy magnitude Thank you for providing me with a beginningWe’ve spent: ten months devoted to ’ve all been through an enlightening and inspiring journey - and now we walk out the We’ve flown miles away from home . We experienced unparalleled, andshabbatot growing. , making friends . The normal hustle bustle sounds of the Rova, to our selfish ears – this time – sound learning ”. it’ - about to fall down. . It is a hell to behold door. We stay up into the wee hours ,of Good our -finalbye night as if by elongating the evening we can make time slow down. . I pick up our best efforts; the morning will arrive , right around that tempting, my mind bend as if glossed over with a like muffled murmurs of “Good-bye . We leave the safety ofWhy our enter ancient a place walls of only such to confusion find ourselves? Do I staringnot have right a map at ‘ ? Am I lost? No! I know exactly where I am – at the , that cliff dangling. My feet over all the too edifice eager toof reachreality that enticing locale Why do I go there? , I am not, but my zeal resembles one sewn to do his bidding , yet, I race there brink of the edge of the world , like and a death to experience . Finally I can stand unfettered, like my on parents this pedestal always ofdid ; will undesirable to common man –persuaded by the devil the pace; my motion is fluid with the familiarity of one who ,has like been I was here taught all ; tooput oftenmy feet before together Yes, I am about to leap into its arms – yet, today the waters look different. My, vantagein perfect point fluid hasmotion altered into and the I nowrealize calm that waters I am peering into these familiar depths’ve discovered from the opposite minimizes side the of harshnessthe abyss, ofI see impact over; mytuck shoulder my head the down beneath stone my armsof yesterday , as I With confrontation. I know what I need to, my do :feet I bend push my off knees the ground and I dive . ’ve progressed make an arch with my hands . It is through this. ten month meeting with clarity’re that different I can, turnyou and face the stagnate’s I’ve seen the .experts As I travel do ;deeper and lastly and deeper to where everything started beneath me . just peering above the horizon and I smile world with unquenchable ambition and instilled’s monotonous purpose . It’ sbonds all too and tempting stretch to that get circular wrapped existence up, handsin the into comfortin awhich line – of toa the line.cling For circlewhich all to the the , you just hope that when you get back to the point you started at that you Life is circular , a line moving ever forward , ears in which to , hearand heartthe call to do it all with vigor that power you can break through the circle . has a beginning andThank an you end for providing me with the tools to break through and create a beginning for myself . , build off of familiar motion. d’s help You’ve given me a refined set of eyes in which to view the world , with G- , feet in which to run in the right direction, mind in which to dig deeper Almighty . It is because of these-examine contributions my past to, maximize my very beingmy present that my, and experience found my here future at Harova will not just be a I thank you above : for it has helped me re , fleeting year All the best Malka Lebovic 5770 Thank you for being a part of this pivotal year in my life by which all future years will

F r o m : E s t h e r E v e l y n C h a b u b e , J u n e 2 0 1 0

Dear Staff , A r g e n t i n a . Its so difficult to put into words what these months in Israel, in Midreshet Harova, have meant to me. I can just express my thanks to you, to each and every person that makes up this institution, the teachers, as well as the administrative, kitchen and cleaning staff, mashgichot, madrichot and eim bait. I had many , many expectations for my time in Israel. Some of them have been fulfilled and some haven’t. However, the Midrasha has provided me with the tools I’ll need throughout my life to achieve the rest of the goals on my own. I’m taking with me a tzeida laderej you taught us, but most specially this new feeling of being so close to Hashem and to his Mitzvot. I was looking for inspiration, for motivation and you succeeded to transmit it to us. You made me discover this amazing world of connecting and davening to Hashem through singing, which is the , a lot of Torah that most fantastic thing . This last six months you helped us strengthen our commitment and love to our fellow people and to the Land of our Avot. I feel both responsibility and attachment to all of Am Yisrael, our ancestors, and to Eretz Israel . All the extracurricular activities, so well organized that we did along the year, and the interesting and varied speakers you invited to talk on every occasion show how much all the staff puts into us. It’s such a clean and comfortable place, so full of books and warm people difficult to say goodbye. Honestly, I can remember only good things about the Midrasha. Now we are challenged to bring into action what we’ve learnt. I think that thanks to the Midrasha and with Hashem´s help we will be able to do it! , that makes it Aloh Naaleh! he Midrasha is proud to have a relatively Tlarge number of students from the class of 5770 who are taking the big step of making , or, as part of their consideration for future aliyah, are staying for at least a further year and participating in a range of programs including University and sherut leumi.

Our apologies if we missed anyone in the following list: Best wishes for a successful and satisfying klitah to: Sigal Filarski, Nurit Rubinstein, Gabi Unterberg, Sophie White, and Tamar Ellerton

Best wishes for a successful further sojourn in Eretz Yisrael to: Dafna Farkas, Aviva Rotter, Molly Zuckerman, Yonit Goldberg, Nonny Gross, Gila Honigsberg and Ariella Newman

Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim

pecial thanks go out to bogrot, students, parents and Sfriends who enthusiastically responded to our Yom Yerushalayim campaign and distributed bumper stickers in the US, Australia, South Africa, and England. In light of the recent pressure placed on Israel regarding Yerushalayim, and in anticipation of Yom Yerushalayim, the goal of the campaign was to keep Yerushalayim in the minds and hearts of Jews in the Diaspora. The sticker was designed by Jessica Deutsch, a student of the class of 5770. Judaism Through the Arts

ach year, the art course at Midreshet HaRova gives students the opportunity Eto express their inner world through a variety of mediums ranging from plastic arts, to sketching, painting, and more. Taught by Rachel Himelstein, the course creates a format in which students can express their creativity through a variety of mediums as well as address halachic issues that may arise for the religious art student. Participants produce personal projects and are encouraged to create a portfolio, and may work as well on a combination exhibit with a shared theme.

Rachel presents a technique each week and facilitates independent work in the time that follows. “The program serves the right purpose in giving a place for students to express themselves artistically,” she shared. “We give them the time they need to do art for art’s sake, and where they need, to ask the questions that arise in the course of their work.”

The results are often remarkable, as the photos below illustrate.

Students are encouraged, as well, to participate in the yearly Yeshiva University S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program Art Competition where their art competes along with that of other seminary students in Israel. This year, our student Jessica Deutsch, won third place in the competition with her layered three dimensional painting below. Meira Altabet placed first and Aviva Rotter third in the photography category.

This year, work by our student Stacey Pieri, is being submitted to the Maartef, a Holocaust Museum in the .

As Rachel says, “It is very important to give these girls the expression they need, and we are delighted to do so.”

Mazal Tov’s & Announcements

Engagements & Marriages a boy, Benjamin Alan, to Jamie (Gluckstadt) Chubak (5762) Abi Laub (5766) to Joseph a boy, Calev Chaim, to Harriet (Lewis) Vogel (5766) Daniella Ginsburg (5767) to Sam Weprin a girl, Na’ama Shira, to Rony Sklar (Cohen) MTA 2005 Althea Zeloof (5767) to Danny Mirvis a girl, Noa Leah, to Nat (Karlikoff) (MTA 2004) and Mark Steiner Pearl Grunstein (5752) to Avi Unterman a boy to Abi (Offstein) (5752) and Jonty Blackman Yael Feinberg (5767) to Daniel Dori a boy to Sarah Rosengarten (5764) Anna May (5766) to Daniel Lester a boy to Dina Figdor (MTA 2005) Naty Gabbay (5763) to Danny Mishkin Naomi Samuels (5768) to David Elmaleh A l i y a h Ilana Herz (MTA 2007) to Ariel Hersh Lisa Teitelbaum (5770) Michal Kinstlinger (MTA 2008) to Brad Kitayon And to those students from the class of 5770 mentioned in our Ariella Sevitz (MTA 2008) to Ya’akov Pinsky article, Aloh Naaleh: Batel (Beth) Meshel (5759) to Shlomo Sigal Filarski Ronna Boltin (MTA 2006) to Yoni Hain Nurit Rubinstein Keren Wedcliffe (MTA 2002) to Shraga Sukenik Gabi Unterberg Sara Kagel (5765) to Avi Strum Sophie White Nikki Brown (5766) to Adam Hersh Tamar Ellerton Chaviva Pincus (5767) to Tuvia Felt Nava Karol (5769) Sheri Wolnerman (5764) to Yitzi Bardos Miri (Broner) Goodheart (MTA 2005) Aimee Braude (MTA 2008) to Roee Zahava Stadler (5767) to Mathew Paradisgarten Staff Mazal Tovs Simi Eloz (MTA 2002) to Maor Trabelsy To Rav Susman on the marriage of his daughter, Tamar, and the birth Chen Futeran (MTA 2006) to Itamar Shahar of a second daughter to Rav Susman’s daughter, Elisheva. Gemma Daniels (5768) to Alex Phillips To Rav Ari Landa on becoming a grandfather Ella Walters (MTA 2004) to Tim Rossanis Tova Kelman (5767) to Moshe Mark Lerer Baruch Dayan Ha’emet Eliana Kohanchi (5769) to Eli Langbaum We express our condolences to: Danielle Peeri (5766) Yehudit Tamir, our teacher, on the passing of her mother. Stacy Weinberg (‘5768) to Shabtai Horowitz Gila Lowinger (MTA 07) and Nicole (Lowinger) Isenberg (MTA 99) on the passing of their father B i r t h s Nava (5764)and Chaviva (5767) Pincus and family on the tragic a girl to Sarah (Shainhouse) (5768) and Rabbi Aaron Samole loss of their brother and son, Avi a girl, Halleli, to Dalya (Marks) Hazzani (5765) Gila Romanoff (5767) on the passing of her father המקום ינחם אותכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים (a girl, Yardena Sara, to Githa Markens (5756 Want to let others know your happy news? Have a story Midreshet Harova wishes a about your present work for Am Yisrael that might be good for other students, past, present and future, to see? Shana Tova Send it to Leiba at [email protected]. Information of particular relevance will be posted to the website and and a could be included in future editions of E-Mitzion. Shiur Dedications?? Chatima Tova Do you have an event or special person you would like to honor or remember? YOU TOO can dedicate Limmud Torah at to all its Bogrot, Midreshet HaRova. Categories include the email shiur, shiur students, Staff klali or all or part of a day or week or learning. and Friends and To dedicate, go to our secure website at www.harova.org, or contact Leiba at [email protected] for dedications in to all Klal Yisrael! installments.

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E-mitzion is the official e-mail newsletter of Midreshet HaRova Editor: Rav David Milston Contributing editor: Leiba Smith