ב“ה R APPREC NTEE IATIO OLU N D V IN ET NE JN R Setting the Tone P א חסיד מאכט א סביבה P c י”ב סיון תשע”ז TUESDAY, JUNE 6TH 2017 ABOUT US About Us rs JNet provides all Jews with the opportunity to study any Torah topic with an assigned study partner (chavrusa) over the phone or online for half an hour a week, free of charge. All teachers are volunteers who enjoy the opportunity to bring the warmth of Torah and Judaism to others. A non-profit organization, JNet fills the need for a more personal, fulfilling, and convenient way for Jews to connect to their heritage. Chairman Men’s Coordinator Graphic Design Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky Yisroel Ohana Rabbi Mendy Drookman Vice-Chairman Women’s Coordinators Mrs. Shaina Lerman Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky Chava Hinsey Mrs. Esty Raskin Advisory Board Nili Navot Layout Design Rabbi Moshe Bryski Sarah Mizrachi Rabbi Levi Groner Rabbi Mendy Deitsch Shira Nesenoff Shipping Rabbi Tzvi Freeman Administration Rabbi Boruch Gancz Rabbi Efraim Mintz Israel Scholte Dinner Coordinator Sara Marshall Advisory Board Mendy Kulsky Spanish Division Finance Journal Ads Rabbi Mendel Gorowitz Rabbi Mendel Kotlarsky Brachi Rodal Rabbi Yehushua Rabbi Shmuli Bendet Hindy Feldman Rosenbloom Strategic Planning Jeffrey Perlman Rabbi Eliezer Shemtov Rabbi Duvie Feldman Shira Nesenoff Director Production Special Thanks Rabbi Yehuda Dukes Rabbi Nochum Schapiro Benshimon Studios Director Editing Mrs. Sarah Dukes Spanish Division Mrs. Estie Shurpin Jewish Educational Media Rabbi Chai Kohan Mrs. Shana Balkin Rabbi Zalmy Negin, Mamosh Music Director Technology Rabbi Sholom Ber Neshama App Rabbi Mendy Margolin Baumgarten Rabbi Eytan Waxman Rabbi Yossi Cadaner Rabbi Menachem Posner The Jewish Children’s Museum 718-467-4400 • www.jnet.org • [email protected] facebook.com/jewishlearningnetworke • skype: jewishlearningnetwork 2 APPRE NTEER CIATIO LU N D VO IN ET NE JN R Setting the Tone P א חסיד מאכט א סביבה P rs DEDICATED TO THE REBBE With thanks to all our volunteers and supporters. In the merit of your efforts, may we see the coming of Moshiach now! י”ב סיון תשע”ז TUESDAY, JUNE 6TH, 2017 FROM THE CHAIRMAN A Message from Our Chairman rs One of the Rebbe’s ten iconic mivtzoim is Limud Torah. Although the Rebbe began actively encouraging this mivtza in the late 1960s, limud Torah is and al- ways has been a defining characteristic of the Jewish nation. When Yaakov went down to Mitzrayim, he sent Yehuda ahead of him. Rashi explains that Yehuda was sent first to build a beis medrash because in order for Bnei Yisrael to thrive, their environment had to be (and still must be) one in which Torah study is the first priority. The theme of this year’s dinner is “A Chossid Macht A Sviva, A Chossid Creates an Environment.” Just as generations ago Yaakov sent Yehudah ahead the ,תשמ”ה of him to ensure that the environment would be one of Torah, in Rebbe states “One should strive as much as possible, and more, to influence every single Jew, regardless of his location or circumstances, to designate a set time for Torah study. When one encounters a Jew in the street, [he] should ask him if he has already set a time for Torah study. If he has, [he] should influence him to increase further—ideally, by influencing him to be- come a teacher himself.” Torah study surpasses all the great ;“ותלמוד תורה כנגד כולם” We say every day mitzvos mentioned that bring us reward not only in the world to come but in this world, as well. The staff and dedicated volunteers of JNet work tirelessly to fulfill the Reb- be’s instruction of “einemen di velt durch limud hatorah” so that all Yidden, no matter where they might be in location or level of Torah knowledge, have the tools to create an environment of Torah for themselves, for others, and for the whole world. Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky Chairman, JNet 4 FROM THE DIRECTOR A Word from the Director rs Setting the Tone Chassidim bring a new meaning to the idea of "environmental change" a Chossid macht a seviva, A Chossid creates an environment. Running an organization like JNet gives me the opportunity to see the effect that you volunteers are having on your environment on a daily basis. With today’s incredible advancements in social media and communication, JNet chavrusas are learning on on Skype, Facebook, WhatsApp, and now the new and exciting Neshama app, which will, b’ezras Hashem, bring learning to Millennials and enhance learning worldwide! Together, we have, boruch Hashem, been incredibly successful, and, at the same time, we are always aware that there are additional areas in our environ- ment where we have yet to “set the tone.” We can also inspire our study part- ners to set the tone in their own lives with more learning and more mitzvos, and we can expand the effects of our tone-setting even further by reaching out to one more person we know, to inspire them to set their tone to ruchniyus. Boruch Hashem, so much has been happening since our last dinner. We are matching more chavrusas than ever before, and our staff has grown to include many new and talented people who contribute so much to what we do. We are excited to share two great articles written by our members, as well as a sampling of bios about some of our amazing chavrusas in the featured members section. Please enjoy! Also take a moment to look at our list of members and donors. See if you can find your name and read some of the beautiful dedications made in your honor. Whether you are still using a dial tone to connect to your chavrusa, or video conferencing on your smartphone with Neshama or WhatsApp, let’s tone up our learning and help bring Torah all over the world until the knowledge of Hashem covers the world like water covers the sea. Rabbi Yehuda Dukes Director, JNet 5 FEATURED SPEAKERS Our Featured Speakers rs Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky is Chairman of the Interna- tional Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, Vice-Chairman of Merkos L’lnyonei Chinuch (edu- cational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch), and Chairman of JNet. Rabbi Kotlarsky travels the globe estab- lishing Jewish centers for Chabad-Lubavitch and has become known as “Judaism’s Globetrotter.” In many countries, he is the public face of Chabad, visiting heads of state and opening new Chabad centers worldwide. Neshama App Presentation We are excited to share a short demonstration of an exciting new “Uber for Torah” app that we have been working on. 6 FEATURED CHAVRUSA Featured Chavrusa of the Year rs Dr. Sean (Yisroel) Fowler Age: 31 Location: Boone, NC Occupation: Clinical Psychologist I grew up with a knowledge that I was Jewish but not much more than that. I became more involved when I went on Birthright and stayed in touch with Rabbi Shlomo Elkan, who recommended I learn on JNet. I learn Tanya every week with my chavrusa, Rabbi Mendy Bronstein. I find the lessons and examples that we discuss to help me help my patients understand the issues they are trying to deal with. Upon finding out that I did not have a pair of tefillin, Mendy actually mailed me a pair, and we had a Skype session to learn how to put them on properly. I now put them on every day, and it helps me be more in touch with my Judaism and spirituality. I had a really hard time finding a job for after my residency that I thought would be right for me. When I shared with Mendy that I was bothered by this, he suggested I write to the Rebbe, a concept I was unfamiliar with. After sending in my P”N with a request for a blessing to find the right job, I found something that very week that was perfect for me! Rabbi Mendy Bronstein Age: 29 Location: Brooklyn, NY Occupation: Development Director The Rebbe encouraged us to never sit back when there is someone out there who we can have an effect on. Learning with Yisroel the past year has been a great opportunity for me to do this. Seeing how his learning really enriches his day-to-day life gives me a chayos (vitality) in my own life. I feel like I benefit from the experience of learning with him even more than he does! [Ed: Mendy has been a dedicated JNet volunteer for more than ten years!] 7 FEATURED CHAVRUSAS Finding the “Who” rs By Dylan Feinberg others. I continued to go to services and read books on Jewish law, and I About the Author even began to observe Shabbat, but Dylan Feinberg is 27 nothing seemed to be sticking. It was and lives in Taipei, during one of my late-night Jewish Taiwan. He is currently binge-reading sessions online that I pursuing a Master’s discovered JNet. I figured there had degree in Geography. to be some sort of catch. Would I have to purchase an expensive book set? Maybe it was a site aimed at y decision to lead a more proselytizing and conversion? In the Torah-observant life end, I decided to try it out and soon occurred in perhaps the M was connected to an amazing study most unusual of places: a mosque in partner. After getting a feel for my rural Kyrgyzstan. I was finishing up needs, we agreed that we would start a research fellowship studying global out learning Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. Chinese dialect communities. While This work was great for helping in the mosque, it occurred to me that me understand the “what” behind I knew more prayers in Arabic than Judaism, and my study partner’s in Hebrew, that I had been to more insights and clarifications helped churches than shuls.