YTC Journal 2018
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ר״ח סיון תשע״ח • MAY 15, 2018 Yeshiva Toras Chaim/Denver Alumni Association Annual Dinner honoring Rabbi Shlomo and Mrs. Tzurtie Braunstein Ateres Zekeinim Award Mr. and Mrs. Shmuel Herskovits Parents of the Year Award Mr. and Mrs. Nachman Kleinman International Keser Shemtov Award Mr. and Mrs. Yakir Markowitz Alumnus of the Year Award ע"ה R' Yudi Harbater Memorial Tuesday, May 15, 2018 Dyker Beach Golf Course 1030 86th Street Brooklyn, New York ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER MESSAGE FROM THE ROSHEI HAYESHIVA שליט"א Moreinu HaRav R’ Yisroel Meir Kagan שליט"א Moreinu HaRav R’ Yitzchok Wasserman כינוס לצדיקים הנאה להם והנאה לעולם גמרא At first glance, this would seem rather odd. The that were gathered together צדיקים does not state that the ,itself כנוס decide or do something. Just the mere fact of the their being together, seems sufficient for it being something . לעולם to them and alsoנאה serves to כנוס The explanation for this is that the the צדיקים encourage, to warm, and to give the assembled that עבודת ה' strength to continue, each in his own way, the he is engaged in. Just the proximity of the others will give each person the uplift needed. ,the fact that the Talmidei HaYeshiva ,כנוס So to, in our their families and friends gather together will enable all of us to draw strength and inspiration from each other. Through the ,כותלי ישיבה of the time and effort spent in the זכות the in Torah and Yiras Shomayim experienced by the עליה Talmidim who are strengthened and encouraged by our dedicated supporters, we will all be revitalized and carried forward to greater heights. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER MESSAGE FROM OUR DINNER COORDINATOR Twenty six years ago, a small group of devoted alumni gathered together and decided to celebrate the Yeshiva's 25th anniversary with a formal dinner and commemorative journal. We attributed the enormous success of the Dinner to its being a one time event. Each year, we are delighted and encouraged with the strong response to the Alumni Dinners. This 26th Alumni Dinner promise to be as exciting as the past Dinners, and I am very pleased to once again be a part of making it happen. The Dinners serve to reconfirm and exemplify the strong kesher between the Yeshiva and its talmidim. Also, by participating in the dinner and journal we all have an opportunity to demonstrate our hakaras hatov to the Yeshiva. A strong showing at the Dinner sends a very positive message back to the Yeshiva and is surely a source of encouragement to the Hanhala. May we continue to be a source of nachas to our Roshei HaYashiva and Rebbeim. Chesky Schonfeld ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMEN It has been our pride to serve as Chairmen for the Alumni Association Annual Dinner. We certainly realize the effect of this great Makom Torah upon us and all of Klal Yisroel. Our admiration and appreciation of the Roshei Yeshiva, HaRav R’ ,שליט"א and HaRav R’ Yisroel Meir Kagan שליט"א Yitzchok Wasserman for over 50 years of Harbotzas Torah with love and devotion to each and every talmid, knows no bounds. We therefore cherish the opportunity to demonstrate our Hakaras Hatov in this small fashion. The entire Alumni Association deserves tremendous credit for its ongoing commitment to Toras Chaim in all ways, throughout the year. The success of tonight’s Dinner could have only been attained with their help. Congratulations to all the honorees, and all the guests who have participated on their behalf. Your assistance in helping the Yeshiva meet the challenges of tomorrow is immeasurable. Shimshi Bandman Nissan Ringel Dovid Bloom Heshie Schertz Mordechai Kliger Dinner Chairmen Journal Chairmen Moshe Fleischman Aryeh Leib Klainberg Avichai Muller Avrohom Orlofsky Campaign Chairmen ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER Yeshiva Toras Chaim Alumni Association dedicates tonight’s Dinner in memory of ל ע"נ הרב יהודא אליעזר בן משה ישראל הרבטר ע"ה ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER לע"נ הרב יהודא אליעזר בן משה ישראל הרבטר ע"ה R’ Yudi learned in YTC as a bochur in the early 70’s and returned as a kollel yungerman for several years before joining the Darchei community in 1985. He was a most dedicated father, friend and community member whose warmth, caring and sensitivity to others endeared him to all. He was a beloved talmid, entrusting Yeshiva with his three sons and one son-in-law, as talmidim, and championing Yeshiva’s cause in promoting and assisting in Yeshiva events. יהי זכרו ברוך ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER We take pride this evening in paying tribute to Rabbi and Mrs. Shlomo Braunstein Ateres Zekeinim Award ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER Rabbi Shlomo and Mrs. Tzurtie Braunstein Ateres Zekeinim Award With respect and admiration for the towering contributions you continue to make to the Olam HaTorah. We are humbled and grateful for the warm interest and support you so graciously express for Yeshiva. And most of all, we thank you for sharing with us your remarkable family members, R’ Naftali, beloved and devoted Menahel of Yeshiva, and R’ Yanky, a most wonderful addition to our staff of Rebbeim. It is a special pleasure to have your grandsons, as our talmidim, as well. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER We take pride this evening in paying tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Shmuel Herskovits Parents of the Year Award ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER Mr. and Mrs. Shmuel Herskovits Parents of the Year Award Partnering in your son’s chinuch has been a privilege and an opportunity to observe the remarkable chinuch of your home. The impact of your quiet service to the Dallas community, are broadcast by your many friends and admirers. We are proud to be among them. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER We take pride this evening in paying tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Nachman Kleiman International Keser Shemtov Award ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER Mr. and Mrs. Nachman Kleinman International Keser Shem Tov Award You embody the core values of Yeshiva and serve as an inspiration to further our vision of nurturing erliche Bnei Torah. A talmid par excellence, we treasure our exceptional relationship, spanning the continents and decades. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER We take pride this evening in paying tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Yakir Markowitz Alumnus of the Year Award ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER Mr. and Mrs. Yakir Markowitz Alumnus of the Year Award A true ambassador of the YTC mission, you live your life as a committed, and we shep nachas ,בן עליה and בן תורה caring from your many accomplishments. Your special continued connection with Yeshiva is a source of great joy to us. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER YESHIVA TORAS CHAIM SPANNING THE DECADES The chain of mesorah weaves its way through our history forging a path that links father to son and Rebbe to talmid. It is the enduring strength of this bond that insures the survival of our people and it is the fire of Torah that fuses each link to this chain. “Study is the life breath of the Jewish people - the goal of Jewish .זצ"ל existence - its purpose, its destiny,” stated Reb Aharon Kotler Jewish life stands and falls in the measure of its devotion to study. It is the devotion of Bnei Torah to study which provides the life-blood of Yiddishkeit even to those limbs which are far removed from the heart. The survival and eternity of Jewish peoplehood depend on the development of talmidei chachomim. It is they who transmit our spiritual heritage from generation to generation. Without its talmidei chachomim, Jewry lacks those men of wisdom who are links in the great chain of tradition spanning the ages and it lacks the educators to instruct the coming generation in the purity and perfection of our eternal tradition. In the tradition and spirit of “survival strength”, Yeshiva Toras Chaim was founded in 1967 in the solid rock of Torah precepts. It was the first Yeshiva high school between the Mississippi and the West Coast. With its foundation firmly entrenched in Torah, YTC began its upward growth. From that fledgling state the Yeshiva has grown to a formidable institution. Despite numerous challenges, the Yeshiva has indeed “shteiged”. The original student body consisted of 34 young men. Through careful cultivation and nurturing the fertile soil of young hearts, this number has continued to grow as the hearts of our talmidim turn with devotion to the bottomless depths of teachings in yam hatalmud. While providing for a total experience in an atmosphere charged with the spirit of Torah, Yeshiva Toras Chaim’s uniqueness is manifested through its focus upon the development of each individual talmid. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER These talmidim have come from a wide range of places, as far away as Iran and as close as Denver, as exotic as Mexico and as familiar as Brooklyn, as distant as the Soviet Union and as near as Kansas. Yet, as diverse as their backgrounds are, these young men have found common ground in the pages of the gemara and in the joy of “chapping a tosfos kashya”. They have found themselves through the guidance of a Rebbe and through being part of the heritage of Toras Chaim. The years spent in Denver and the memories of that time are highlighted by the heritage of Toras Chaim, those small nuances of style and comportment that uniquely say “Denver”, while they merge the personality of Rebbe to Talmid. Perhaps it was the tie that added a special touch of esteem to a budding Talmid Chochom or the visits to the nursing home that blended a refining stroke of compassion to our adolescent hearts.