NSPRINGewsbrie 2020 • 5780 f “You empower our Ohr Stone students, staff, emissaries and soldiers participating in the fight against COVID-19. We are implementing the messages you inspire us to teach and study in the beit midrash to help the needy, the isolated and the lonely, and provide effective leadership for communities across the globe. Thank you.” President and Rosh HaYeshiva

RABBI AND RABBI KENNETH BRANDER DANCE WITH THE SEFER TORAH DEDICATED ON RABBI RISKIN’S BEHALF IN HONOR OF HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY. “The tragedy of corona has Wishes a Very Special given our students the opportunity to be very much 80th Birthday to Rabbi Shlomo Riskin involved in chesed, in helping Ohr Torah Stone celebrated Rabbi Riskin’s birthday in a with health care, visitations to the elderly who are alone, and most fitting tribute, through 24 hours of Torah learning even in many private study in preparation for Shavuot. sessions. Hopefully, our abbi Riskin is a true visionary leader. He has touched the lives of students understand that Rthousands of people through Ohr Torah Stone’s pioneering approach is first and foremost to leadership training and Jewish outreach in and across the about doing chesed to help globe, shaping Modern Orthodox society as we know it. So many people others. throughout the world appreciate his sensitive and forward-thinking approach to Jewish law and living. As the Rambam explains, the central mitzvah of our As Rabbi Riskin has dedicated his life to bringing people closer to Torah, You) והלכת בדרכיו :it seemed most fitting to celebrate his birthday through a day of Torah Torah is learning. From May 27 – May 28, Ohr Torah Stone hosted a full 24 hours shall walk in God’s ways), chief of learning leading up to Shavuot, with 96 classes given by educators from among which is compassion every Ohr Torah Stone program in honor of Rabbi Riskin’s birthday. and loving kindness.” We want to thank Rabbi Riskin for his wisdom, vision and guidance, as we Rabbi Shlomo Riskin wish him a wonderful 80th birthday. Founder and Chancellor 2 OTS NEWSBRIEF Building Jewish Community in the Midst of a Worldwide Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic struck everyone, in every community throughout the world. The scope of Ohr Torah Stone’s work, with emissaries placed in approximately 300 Jewish communities globally, positioned us to help people worldwide face this new and frightening challenge.

hanks to your support, Ohr Torah Rabbi Hertig returned to Zurich in 2015 Since before Purim, Rabbi Hertig has been TStone has a special ability to provide to become the Assistant Rabbi of a fielding a host of new questions related to emotional support, Jewish engagement diverse community of 2,600 rang- celebrating holidays and commemorat- and connection through emissaries in ing in Jewish practice from secular to ing life cycle events. “By Purim, we were Jewish communities throughout the Modern Orthodox. In 2017 he was already making adaptions, including live- world. appointed Community Rabbi. He has streaming the megilla reading, which older had to be particularly responsive to and more vulnerable people really appre- community needs in recent months ciated. New questions since then have since the coronavirus crisis began. related to concerns about burying loved “What we do as and community ones, saying kaddish, and celebrating life- leaders in our daily work and lives is the cycle events. I am already considering the opposite of social distancing. We are many questions that will arise once I am doing outreach work, trying to bring able to reopen the . The Straus- people closer, visiting the sick and the Amiel staff has been in constant contact elderly. All of our work had to change and Rabbi Brander and Rabbi Birenbaum, dramatically, and we adapted very in particular, have provided invaluable quickly.” guidance on a host of new halakhic issues.” Among the many adaptations was the THE STRAUS-AMIEL STAFF OFFERED GUID- ANCE TO EMISSARIES HELPING COMMUNITIES introduction of weekly online pre- RABBI NOAM HERTIG RECEIVED HIS RABBINICAL THROUGH LIFE’S MOST PAINFUL MOMENTS. Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat programs ORDINATION AND TRAINING THROUGH OHR and on Saturday evening. TORAH STONE. HE IS NOW THE COMMUNITY havdala RABBI OF HIS COMMUNITY IN ZURICH, “People frequently share that it’s the SWITZERLAND. highlight of their week. I think that when the crisis is behind us, we may see many Rabbi Noam Hertig grew up in Zurich, more people in synagogue than before.” Switzerland. Impressed with the leader- ship he showed while working in various According to Madeline, a local commu- roles, in particular with local youth, nity member, “Rabbi Hertig is giving us the community explored his interest in so much during this very difficult time, studying towards rabbinical ordination finding a way to keep us close in every in Israel and then returning to serve the way possible. It is truly ‘living, practicing’ community where he grew up. After .” researching various rabbinical schools, In many small, remote communities, it became clear that Ohr Torah Stone these emissaries are the address for offered the best option. “I was excited emotional support and Jewish connec- about the opportunity to study at The tion. Today, they are doing this work Beren Academic Center.” Rabbi Hertig through online classes and activities for was ordained through the Joseph all ages, as well as phone calls to provide and Gwendolyn Straus Rabbinical guidance and comfort. Seminary and received practical tools through the Straus-Amiel Rabbinical Yehuda and Batya Stroll left for Tukoman, Emissary Program. “A rabbi needs to Argentina just over a year ago after know the texts, but also needs tools and completing the Straus-Amiel Rabbinical guidance to be a community leader. The Emissary Program and the Claudia Beren Academic Center offered both.” Cohen Women Educators Institute. SPRING 2020 • 5780 3

According to Rabbi Stroll, “When people hear I’m in Argentina, they compare it to Providing Crucial Support When New York. However, our community is small and far from everything — a two- it’s Most Needed hour flight from the capital, Buenos Aires. We have about 50 active families, When women in chronic crisis face COVID-19, their situations including people of all ages, from young become even more dire; and the role of Yad La’isha: The Monica children through the elderly. We are Dennis Goldberg Legal Aid Center & Hotline, more critical. there for everyone.” arit is a mother of four children who recently received her Sget (divorce). Tirza Karniel, her social worker from Yad La’isha, continues to counsel her to make sure she has the tools she needs to take care of herself and her family. Because Tirza is in regular contact with her, she understands the details and depth of Sarit’s daily struggles and knows that since the COVID-19 crisis began, her financial situation has worsened, creating major worries about feeding her family. Below is the message FOOD CARDS OFFERED SARIT Sarit shared after she received very generous food card from CRITICAL RELIEF. Yad La’isha to a local supermarket. “I have been unable to work since the COVID-19 crisis began. With four young children home and no job, the situation has been extremely difficult. Yad La’isha has been a lifesaver for me. The food card made such a difference. You should have seen the looks on my children’s faces when I came home from the super- market with the food I bought — you helped me make them so happy.” Yad La’isha’s team of social workers has RABBI YEHUDA AND BATYA STROLL, ALUMNI been working day and night to ensure OF THE AMIEL TRAINING PROGRAMS, CONNECT JEWS TO JEWISH LIFE IN THEIR REMOTE the wellbeing of the women they help — COMMUNITY IN ARGENTINA. women home full-time with a house full of children, enduring the strain of their Rabbi Stroll is a rabbi and Batya is the ongoing battle to obtain a from their principal of the local Jewish afternoon recalcitrant husbands, and working to school. Together, they run programs for rebuild their lives post-divorce. Most teens and young adults. “I believe our have endured abusive marriages and role here is even more important now. are working hard to build their Because the public schools are not in resilience and be there for their children. session and people are craving routine, Because of their round-the-clock work, we have increased our online religious Yad La’isha’s social workers saw the school hours. We now provide classes YAD LA’ISHA SOCIAL WORKER, MICHAL OR increasing financial distress of so many online daily, rather, than the three times HAS BEEN WORKING NON-STOP TO HELP who lost jobs, and looked for a solution a week that we typically meet. And the HER CLIENTS. to provide for these families’ most basic activities we’ve been doing for teens and needs. Thanks to generous donors, 40 women and their children (200 people) young adults online have more partici- received food support in time for Pesach. Recognizing that the financial strain pants than ever, even attracting people would continue for weeks and possibly months, these families received a food who are more removed religiously.” card in May and June, as well. As they marked the one year anniver- While social workers have worked to alleviate clients’ emotional strain, Yad sary since their arrival in Argentina, the La’isha’s lawyers have continued to advocate using every means available. Strolls received the following thank you Israel’s Supreme Court recently issued a landmark decision in a case brought note, “Since you arrived, you have won by Yad La’isha on behalf of an aguna who has been fighting for her freedom for all of our hearts and done an exceptional more than a decade. In a precedent-setting case, the court upheld a fine of NIS job in our community. We are so fortu- 5,000 per day issued by the Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court of the aguna’s husband, nate to have you here. We look forward on the basis that the father is behind the son’s refusal to grant a get (divorce). To to continuing to watch your family grow date, total fines against the father amount to over NIS 920,000. as we enjoy the fruits of your work.” According to Pnina Omer, Director of Yad La’isha, “Our lawyers have been According to Rabbi Stroll, “Our success is advocating to the full extent possible to move cases forward. At the same time, a credit to the training we received in the social workers have been calling daily to help clients cope and build skills they Beren-Amiel/Straus-Amiel program and will need once they secure a divorce. We are providing for clients’ immediate to the staff’s continued guidance and needs, strengthening them emotionally, and doing everything possible to help support through this challenging time.” them move on with their lives.” 4 OTS NEWSBRIEF Jewish Cultural Facilitators Play Multiple Roles Throughout Israel, Yachad’s outreach workers are helping those most in need, providing emotional support, Jewish engagement and building community — now more than ever. the scroll of Esther within the community,’” explained OTS President and Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Kenneth Brander. “But this year, due to the large number of people in isolation, our Yachad program hosted a live stream of the megilla reading on our Facebook page so that even individuals who feel alone could still celebrate Purim as part of the whole.” Once public gatherings were prohibited, facilitators found creative solutions to reach out, build and unite communities. Around the country, facilitators brought Kabbalat Shabbat programs to the street — As cars played music, people were drawn outside, uplifting their moods, connecting them with their neighbors, and helping them bring in Shabbat with joy. Nechama Alcoby, who works YACHAD FACILITATOR, EDNA LOWENSTEIN DELIVERING FOOD DOOR TO in the Gilo neighborhood of DOOR IN EILAT. , brought a per- sonal touch to Yom HaShoah achad outreach facilitators’ placement in community (Holocaust Remembrance Day), centers throughout Israel offered them a unique opportunity Y delivering small plants, each to evaluate and respond to families’ wide-ranging needs as with an Israeli flag, to over 300 faced increasing restrictions due to COVID-19. Their elderly Holocaust survivors. community-building efforts took many forms. Facilitators “We were looking for a way to mobilized volunteers to check in on the elderly unable to leave reach out to people who are their homes; deliver food packages to those who lost jobs and isolated and show them they craft activities to families with young children. They created are not alone. The response interactive online classes and activities to help families engage was really wonderful.” T, an their children around the holidays. elderly woman she visited, On Purim, Yachad partnered with the Tzohar rabbinical NECHAMA ALCOBY VISITS ISO- shared, “You are giving us an organization to offer “Megilla BaKehilla,” megilla readings LATED, ELDERLY HOLOCAUST infusion of love. The connec- in 550 public locations throughout the country, including SURVIVORS, BRINGING CONNEC- TION TO ISRAEL AND SHOWING tion to the outside world and community centers, cultural centers, parks and libraries, THEM THEY ARE NOT ALONE. your caring just fills our hearts.” all run according to health ministry guidelines. Recognizing According to Tal Brill, who works in Pardes Hana, “We’ve had that 80,000 Israelis were already in isolation due to the to work differently than before, but in some ways, the current coronavirus outbreak, Yachad also hosted a facebook live situation has enabled us to have even more of an impact.” megilla reading. “‘Megilla BaKehilla’ means, literally, ‘reading Through “Zikaron BaSalon” (“Memories in the Living Room”), Yachad facilitators arranged for local community members to invite Holocaust survivors into their homes to share their stories with a group of the host’s friends and family on Yom Hashoah. “We moved the format online and instead of a few hundred participants attending in person, there were over 1,500 households watching 35 different sessions.” In addition to the online classes, phone calls to residents, and volunteer efforts, Tsuriel Assaf has been preparing a variety of short videos about the holidays, the weekly Torah portion and Jewish values to share with people in Misgav, where he works. Local residents, Galit and Guy shared the following, “We just want to say thank you for all of the programming you are providing us — for the content, the taste of the holidays, the meaning and depth. You’ve taken a difficult time and filled YACHAD COORDINATOR, ELIYAHU GALIL DROVE THROUGHOUT HIS COMMUNITY OF MA’ALE YOSEF TO HELP RESIDENTS GET INTO THE it with goodness. We are proud to live here and we already see SHABBAT SPIRIT. the fruits of your work in the next generation.” SPRING 2020 • 5780 5

Fostering Personal and Religious Growth Choosing to Stay in in a Changed Reality Israel eira Saffra, a student in the Maria and Joel Finkle Overseas Program at When the COVID-19 pandemic MMidreshet Lindenbaum never expected to leave Israel so suddenly just after began in Israel, nearly all of the Purim, but when the coronavirus pandemic struck, she flew home to be with her students participating in the family, including her father, who was ill with COVID-19. Her father has since recov- post-high school Amlat Program ered and she is with her family in Lawrence, New York. Thanks to the dedication of the staff, her learning continues to flourish. for Latin American Students decided to stay and continue with Every class continued as students began to return to their homes; all classes were their full programming schedule, moved online and the schedule was rather than return to their homes adjusted to accommodate students in throughout Latin America. multiple time zones. In addition, teach- ers have been calling students individu- Valerie Bigio arrived in Israel in September. ally to check in and help them continue Although she originally planned to stay along their personal journeys. for six months, she was gaining so much that she extended her stay to allow her to “I love Midreshet Lindenbaum. In addition complete a full year at Amlat. to the high level learning which sets the school apart, everyone is so supportive, and really helps each of us grow personally and religiously. The teachers have gone

MIDRESHET LINDEBAUM STUDENTS MEIRA above and beyond to make sure everyone SAFFRA AND ELIANA SCHOCHET IN THE LINDA can participate fully and gain as much as AND MURRAY LAULICHT BEIT MIDRASH possible.” In just a few examples: Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut were full of meaningful, interactive programming, including a virtual tour of Har Herzl, and participation in the Israel ScaVentures Quest (a virtual Israel scavenger hunt to help participants learn about the country). Women from all of Midreshet Lindenbaum’s programs — the overseas program, Amlat (the program for students from ), the Israeli program, and also alumni — participated in the daily daf yomi ( study) class taught by Rabbanit Sally Mayer (Rosh ). VALERIE BIGIO COULDN’T IMAGINE SPENDING THE LAST FEW MONTHS ANYWHERE BUT AT The teachers reached out to students at all hours of the day and night. A teacher re- OTS’S AMLAT PROGRAM. cently spent an hour on the phone with Meira, just to discuss her own personal growth. “I grew up in a small Jewish community in In honor of her father’s full recovery from Cali, Colombia. Although I was fortunate COVID-19, Meira prepared and led an hour- to have a Jewish education, I didn’t have long class on the topic: “Adaptability and a strong religious background. The Amlat Working towards a Better World — As Seen program offered me the opportunity to through the Narratives of Noah and Yonah.” study in Spanish and explore Judaism in a In addition to the class, she also organized a deeper, much more profound way. I knew “kugel drop off,” in which girls prepared kugel I would be accepted with open arms.” and dropped it off for a friend so they could The Amlat Program, where students enjoy their kugel together during the class — learn at The Besen Family Center for continuing to foster the strong bonds among Advanced Jewish Studies, is the only them while also learning Torah. program in Israel offering young Latin “I can’t say enough about how wonderful the American women an opportunity to program and everyone involved has been. The study Torah full-time with peers who teachers will do anything to accommodate share their language and culture. The our needs. They allow us room to discover opportunity to study in Israel allows ourselves.” them to delve into Jewish texts and connect to their heritage on a level MEIRA IS SO GRATEFUL TO MIDRESHET LINDENBAUM that would be impossible in their home FOR SUPPORTING THE STUDENTS’ CONTINUED LEARNING, COMMUNITY-BUILDING EFFORTS, AND countries. PERSONAL GROWTH. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 6 OTS NEWSBRIEF Gaining Tools & Knowledge to Create New Opportunities and Build Community Ohr Torah Stone students are playing a unique role in building Jewish life and supporting people with a host of new questions and needs arising from the COVID-19 crisis. ael and Matthew chose to begin their I was attracted by the emphasis on rigorous learning that Ymarried life together in Israel, both through joining emphasizes deep inquiry, while at the same time combin- Ohr Torah Stone’s “extended family” of programs. While ing spirituality and philosophy. I was looking for a place Matthew is studying towards his rabbinic ordination at that would invest in training me to work as a professional The Joseph & Gwendolyn Straus Rabbinical Seminary, rabbi and I couldn’t be happier with my choice.” Yael is studying at The Susi Bradfield Women’s Institute of Halakhic Leadership (WIHL). Yael was seeking a similarly serious course of halakhic study alongside leadership experiences. “WIHL is really MATTHEW NITZANIM IS A RABBINICAL STUDENT AT THE JOSEPH & the perfect fit. I love the studies and all of the hands-on GWENDOLYN STRAUS RABBINICAL SEMINARY. training and classes that connect working in the modern world with the textual topics we’re addressing.” WIHL offers qualified women the opportunity to partici- pate in the highest level Torah study. Over five years, they cover all of the same material studied by men working towards their rabbinical ordination in Israel, completing the program with certification to become community spiritual leaders authorized to provide guidance in ques- tions of Jewish law. WIHL is enabling these supremely qualified women to achieve new heights in the Jewish world, helping them carve out leadership roles as spiritual leaders and halakhic advisors in communities, schools and organizations throughout Israel — roles previously reserved for men. The program not only prepares students to engage with halakhic discourse at the high- est level; it also prepares them for community leadership roles through hands-on internship experiences. A year ago, WIHL hired Rabbi Aviad Sanders as its first Director of Career Development and Placement, to ensure that these remarkable women will have mean- ingful professional opportunities in which they can offer their expertise and allow communities throughout Israel to benefit from their experience. According to Rabbi Sanders, “This is still a very new role for women in Israel, one that is unfamiliar to most people. My goal is to familiarize Israeli communities and organizations with the unique skills these women can bring to enhance our communities. Our students are serving as halakhic advisors in communities and in schools. We are also exploring the crucial pastoral role our students can play

YAEL NITZANIM IS THRILLED WITH THE HIGH LEVEL LEARNING OFFERED in health care settings — particularly as women facing AT WIHL. health challenges are frequently more comfortable dis- According to Matthew, “The Straus Rabbinical Seminary cussing their questions and personal issues with other provides the best possible opportunity for me to combine women. This would be a completely new role for women intensive learning with the leadership experience I need. in Israel, one that, until now, has been reserved for men.” SPRING 2020 • 5780 7

Among the opportunities WIHL helped create was a role for Yael and Matthew to build a community among young Shifting Plans to Serve the adults in their neighborhood of Jerusalem. Although they weren’t planning on launching their initiative until after Country Shavuot, they decided to “fast track” their plans due to the Just three days before Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli current environment. According to Yael, “As people were Independence Day) 60 young Israeli women feeling so isolated, we saw a need to create online pro- gramming with Jewish content to connect young adults to in Hadas — The Claudia Cohen Torah/Army one another and alleviate their loneliness. The response School began their army service three months has been fantastic.” early to help the country respond to the coro- Over the last few months, WIHL students and graduates navirus pandemic. who are serving in community roles have found many he coronavirus pandemic has changed all of our lives in more women turning to them than in the past, and with Tpreviously unimaginable ways. In September, over 120 many new questions resulting from the crisis. religious young Israeli women in Hadas — The Claudia Cohen Torah/Army School began what they expected to be nearly a Chamutal Shoval, from full year immersed in high-level Torah study before entering the Neve Daniel, described a army. As restrictions increased in Israel, the school moved the particularly heart-wrench- program online to enable students to continue their learning ing call from a former stu- schedule from home, connect with their friends and teachers, and further deepen their knowledge and skills. At the same time, dent. “This young woman’s the school remained in contact with the army to determine how grandmother has been they could help during Israel’s time of need. The students are completely isolated in her religious women who choose to protect Israelis’ safety through room in an assistant living dedicating a minimum of two years’ of their lives to army facility in Canada, and the service, after first strengthening themselves religiously through the learning programs at one of Midreshet Lindenbaum’s three family is concerned about campuses: in Jerusalem, Lod and Carmiel. her emotional well-being As the crisis expanded in scope, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during this very difficult took on a tremendous role throughout Israel — working with the time. My student typically police to enforce lockdown safety measures and with the health calls her every day, with authorities to staff emergency call centers. Students in Hadas the exception of Shabbat. volunteered to begin their army service early through helping the WIHL FELLOW, CHAMUTAL SHOVAL, IDF Home Front Command. IS RESPONDING TO MANY NEW Realizing that with the first HALAKHIC QUESTIONS RELATED TO two days of Pesach running One student who was part of the group that enlisted said the THE COVID-19 CRISIS. right into Shabbat, she following, “My friends and I joined early to assist the army and more importantly, our country and our people, during this corona- wouldn’t be able to call for three full days, she was very virus crisis. I am proud to be able to serve during this time of worried about her grandmother’s mental health. When uncertainty and need.” I consulted with a rabbi for guidance, we were told that Rabbi Kenneth Brander saluted the initiative saying, “We are because the second day of Pesach wouldn’t be yom tov deeply proud of these young women for their service and are for the granddaughter, and because this constituted grateful for our partnership with the IDF and their unwavering an issue of sofek pikuah nefesh (a potentially lifesaving commitment to protecting our nation, both in the face of our measure), during the current situation, Jewish law allowed enemies and all across the Home Front.” for her to call her grandmother on that day.” HADAS STUDENTS AWAIT INSTRUCTIONS. Rabbanit Devorah Evron, Director of WIHL, added “We are so proud of the women in our program who are continuing their rigorous study schedule while at the same time responding to brand new challenges arising during this unusual time.” Current realities have emphasized the need for women with WIHL’s training who can serve as role models, leaders and guides in their communities — now, and certainly in the future. Thanks to you, Ohr Torah Stone is ensuring that its students have both the textual knowledge and leadership capabilities to respond to evolving needs.

PHOTOS: BRIAN BERKOWITZ/TWILIGHT ARTISTRY; ARIELI ELCHARAR; HANNAH LEAH HASON; OTS STUDENTS, ALUMNI AND STAFF. GRAPHIC DESIGN: ZATAR CREATIVE • WWW.ZATAR.CO.IL

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David Katz

Yinon Ahiman

OTS NEWSBRIEF OTS USA Yeshivat Darkaynu Yeshivat Gable HouseGable [email protected] London N3 3LF London N3 David Frankel www.ots.org.il Tel: 212-935-8672 212-935-8672 Tel: c/o Mr. Paul Winter Mr. c/o UNITED KINGDOM Tel: 972-2-548-8444 New York, NY 10036New York, 239 Regents239 Park Road Friends of Ohr-Torah, Ltd. Friends of Ohr-Torah, [email protected] FOUNDER AND CHANCELLOR: CHANCELLOR: AND FOUNDER Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin Dr. Rabbi SPW Chartered Accountants 49 West 45th Street, West 45th Suite49 701 Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander Kenneth Dr. Rabbi P.O. Box 1037 , Israel Box 1037 90435 P.O. PRESIDENT AND ROSH HAYESHIVA: HAYESHIVA: PRESIDENT AND ROSH DIRECTOR GENERAL:DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, : INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR: INTERNATIONAL

- - l. ׳׳ mourns the passing of Elaine and Norm Brodsky Brodsky Norm and Elaine re re doing our ’ atzmaut programming ’ m so grateful to everyone ’ s been crazy with all of the ’ , studying there from 2007 - 2010. The impression he made on the the on made he impression The 2010. - 2007 from there studying , ve learnedve so much.” ’ aadya aadya was a member of the firstcohort of studentsat Men for AMLAT STUDENTS MEANING A EXPERIENCED AMLAT REMEM (HOLOCAUST HASHOAH YOM FUL BRANCE EVEN DAY), WITH RESTRICTIONS DUE TO COVID-19. “Our “Our job is to experience maximize in Israel their and we learning best under circumstances.” unusual Galit Dabbah Argentina arrived in in February, just She Israel. in beganpandemic coronavirus Israel before the from commented, “I involved with the Amlat program. These past few weeks incredible, have been with absolutely so activities — many it classes changes and and different than I but I expected, a full, revised program, classes, including paired text daily learning and activities. group Yom Ha included stations throughout the building with activities related to the State of Israel. According to Valerie, “I came here to grow grow came “I to here Valerie, to According religiously and spiritually, and thanks to doing.” I’m what work, that’s everyone’s aspect program.” our of Stone hosted a Ohr virtual Torah In a to Yerushalayim, Saadya tribute on Yom Torah. of and words singing with Etzion Gush of tour Darkaynu Program z Ehrenpreis, Saadya and his many friends is evident by the nearly 1,000 people who were virtually present at his funeral and the stories and pictures streaming in. that have been Avi Ganz, Program Director of Yeshivat Darkaynu, shared, sented “Saadya everything repre special about Darkaynu: the challenges, the positivity ever-present and triumphs warmth, and the that closeness which overlooked every in on live legacyandwill name His differences. or distances transcended Ohr Torah Stone’s Stone’s Ohr Torah S

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CONTINUED FROM 8 PAGE L, SPEAKING AT ׳׳ s delicious — we really feel like ’ s preparing it with love, taking care taking us.” of love, with it s preparing ’

girls girls and their parents felt the best built she Israel, in stay deci to them for was sion food and it he As soon as Aliza realized that most of the checking in with us. the Even cook, Moshe Berman, moved his family into the building at the beginning of the Hecrisis. went above and beyond to make sure we would have has has worked so hard take care of us. Aliza a built has Goldberg,director, program the fantastic learning schedule, and is always to to celebrating all of the in spring Israel. I holidays never dreamed that would change so our much, but lives I cannot think of a better place to be right now. The staff THROUGH THE DURATION OF THE CRISIS. “When I decided to stay longer than I had originally planned, I was looking forward LINDENBAUM, PREPARED FOR A MEANINGFUL A FOR PREPARED LINDENBAUM, STUDENTS. THE SEDER TOGETHER WITH PESACH BUILD THE INTO FAMILY HIS MOSHE MOVED ING SO HE COULD COOK FOR THE STUDENTS MOSHE BERMAN, THE MIDRESHET CHEF AT CHOOSING IN ISRAEL STAY TO SAADYA EHRENPREIS,SAADYA Z OF HONOR IN DINNER STONE’S TORAH OHR RISKIN SHLOMO RABBI 8