בסד Winter 5773/2012 etzionUPDATE from Yeshivat Har Etzion Save THE Date! Etzion Foundation Annual NY Dinner Participants in Rabbinic Conference with Roshei Yeshiva Sunday Yeshivat Har Etzion First- Advanced Scholars at March 10, 2013 Ever Rabbinic Conference Migdal Oz This year, in conjunction with the Annual This September saw the opening of an all- In This Issue Dinner, the Yeshiva hosted a two-day new flagship program at Migdal Oz. Four The New Year Begins 2 conference for rabbinic alumni at the days a week, ten select women aged 25-35 Revava Expands 2 Grand Hyatt Hotel in NYC. The conference, are participating in the groundbreaking Yoni Jesner z”l Tenth Yahrzeit 2 supported by the Yeshivat Har Etzion Center Advanced Scholars Program in Talmud & HaRav Amital zt”l Yahrzeit 3 for Torah Leadership (CTL), was attended by Halacha (in Hebrew: Tochnit Mitkademet B’Ron Yachad 3 over 50 YHE alumni professionally employed be’Gemara u’be’Halacha). Virtual Beit Midrash 3 in either Jewish education or the rabbinate, Torat Chaim: Live from the VBM 3 Esti Rosenberg, Head of the Beit Midrash, including participants who flew in especially New! Phone App 3 explains, "This is a hand-picked group MIA Zachary Baumel 4 from England, Brazil and Australia. of the brightest and best, who will be Liwerant Memorial 4 The first day of the conference featured studying intensively for two years. Our goal Chafetz Chaim Inscription 4 shiurim and presentations by HaRav Aharon is to produce women who are truly talmidot Schreiber Scholarship Fund 5 Lichtenstein, Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein, Rav chachamot." Beit Sefer Amital 6 Alumni Reunion 6 Baruch Gigi, Rav Mosheh Lichtenstein and (continued on page 8) YHE Overseas 6 other prominent rabbis associated with the Annual Dinner 7 Yeshiva. Education & Family in the Modern World 9 Mrs. Esti Rosenberg, Head of the Beit The Ra’anana Connection 9 Midrash in Migdal Oz, joined the Roshei Aseret Yemei Teshuva 9 Amital Program for Holocaust Studies 10 Yeshiva for an engaging and interactive Jewish Studies in Secular Schools 10 panel discussion on the second day of the Summer Study Days in Tanakh 10 conference, which was hosted at the Fifth Studying with the Prime Minister 11 Avenue Synagogue by Rabbi Seth Grauer ‘96, Migdal Oz - the New Year 12 Associate Rabbi of the Synagogue, Assistant Singing & Selichot in NJ 12 Principal at the YU High School for Girls, and Advanced Scholars, from left to right: Briana Alumni Achievements 13 Leibovich, Michal Halberstadt, Alona Gleizer, From Sinai to Ethiopia 13 one of the major driving forces behind the Adina Mann, Fran Tanner, Shuli Schwartz, Avigail conference. Gelman, Gilat Ben Shachar, Efrat Barchad. Absent: Alumni News 14 Shlomit Shevut Recent Publications 16 (continued on page 8) The New Year Begins – Revava Expands Welcome Machzor 45! Revava – The Riva The 45th machzor of the Yeshiva began Koschitzky z"l Torah on Rosh Chodesh Elul. The Beit Midrash Enrichment Program was joined by 51 first-year Israeli Hesder is enjoying an impressive start to the new students and 57 first-year students from Yeshiva year. In addition to the vast array of North America and England, and 6 post- Tiyul in Yerushalayim with Rav Menachem Leibtag chugim traditionally offered, the program college overseas students. Sixteen first-year has branched out to include guided study talmidim in the MTA program, from South tracks in the areas of Tanakh, Halacha and Africa, Australia and New Zealand, began Machshava. Guest speakers and engaging their studies in January. The Beit Midrash panels have been introduced to enrich the also welcomed ten talmidim studying in regular learning cycle. the Darkaynu Program for special needs This year, a strong emphasis is being placed students; this is the largest group since the on developing the Shana Bet schedule to program began seven years ago. The 140 First Melave Malka of the year for Hesder and reflect the added potential and background incoming students join the 305 talmidim overseas students. From left: Yehuda Meir, Eran of second year overseas students. Rav already in Yeshiva, making for a total student Yegayov, Shlomo Goldstein, Yosef Brander, Alon Zilbershain and Zacky Rosenthal Binyamin Zimmerman '96 is leading the body of 445 (of which 87 are currently in new Shana Bet program, providing valuable active army service). The Yeshiva is currently group with such a will to grow in the ways of guidance and mentoring for the participants. studying Masechet Bava Batra. Hashem. To me, this is the most impressive component of Yeshivat Har Etzion, not to A key element of Revava is the "Preparation "We are blessed with an exceptional group mention the all-star staff of prominent and for Life" program, for Israeli students in their this year," says Eli Weber '81, Director of the caring Rabbeim, the beautiful surroundings, fifth and last year of the Hesder Program. Dr. William Major Overseas Program. "The and the special atmosphere that the Yeshiva Headed by Rav Hillel Rahmani and Rav sign of a successful beginning in Yeshiva provides for us. All of these components Benny Lehman, the program aims to is for talmidim to accept the challenge of together have created for me and my peers prepare students for life beyond yeshiva. being here and jump into Yeshiva life with an entirely new definition of what it means Experts address personal, halachic and a feeling of joy and belonging. And that is to study Torah. even economic questions which may arise exactly what's happened." Not only have I felt a significant improvement in all areas of life. Topics covered include in my Torah study, but almost every aspect of dating, marriage, home management, my avodat Hashem has gained greater depth decision-making, and more. Rosh Yeshiva and understanding. It's hard to express Rav Baruch Gigi explains, "Alongside our the feeling of awe that was experienced ongoing educational work, we strive to when the first recitation of the shelosh- provide our talmidim with the capabilities to esreh middot was wailed by the tzibbur on successfully confront the many challenges Sam Grill in the Beit Midrash the opening night of Selichot. That feeling they will face in their lives after Yeshiva, as was carried with us through the rest of Elul they work to forge a path of avodat Hashem zman, continuously learning and preparing in our complex world." Sam Grill, first-year talmid from Long Beach, for what were to be the most powerful NY shares his impressions of the first three Yamim Nora'im that I can recall. There was Yoni Jesner months in Yeshiva: "On the first day of zman never an instance where I experienced z"l Tenth Elul, we English-speakers fresh out of high such sincerity and clarity of mission as I school, were thrown into a bustling Israeli Beit did during the closing prayers of Ne'ilah. Yahrzeit Midrash. The energy in the air that day was After a very exciting and fun-filled bein The tenth yahrzeit almost overwhelming, yet definitely inspiring. ha'zmanim, my hope is to continue to not of Yoni Jesner '01 z"l took place on the 14th What astounds me most is the character only gain the most that I can, but also to Yoni Jesner z"l and dedication of the diverse talmidim of contribute my tile to the elaborate mosaic of Tishrei. Yoni, an the Yeshiva. Never have I been exposed to a that is Yeshivat Har Etzion." exceptional talmid from Glasgow, Scotland, 2 etzion UPDATE was mortally wounded on a bus traveling B'Ron Yachad The 5773 curriculum includes the following to Tel Aviv that was attacked by a suicide new courses: "Melachim Bet" with Rav Alex bomber. YHE alumnus and Israel; "Contemporary Issues in the Study musician Yoni of Tanakh" with Rav Amnon Bazak; "Laws Rav Yair Kahn, speaking at the azkara, said, Genut ‘92H has of Shabbat: Cooking" with Rav Yosef Zvi "Yoni's drive and determination were fueled released an album Rimon; "Laws of Blessings" with Rav David by a belief in Mankind. It was not a naive titled Ot Le'Ot, in Brofsky; and " Introduction to the Guide of trust that all men are inherently good, but cooperation with the Perplexed" with Rav Chaim Navon. Join a profound understanding that Man has popular Israeli now at www.vbm-torah.org the potential of improving himself and the singer Ehud Banai. The album features a world around him. He constantly worked on single called B'Ron Yachad, dedicated in changing himself, always striving to become Torat Chaim: memory of HaRav Amital zt"l. For many a better person. Yoni's legacy to us is to be years, it has been customary at the Yeshiva Live from the VBM inspired by his example to always strive to to sing this soulful piyut at the end of every improve ourselves, and to try to make the Thursday night mishmar. The beautiful world a better place." words, written by Rav Shmaya Kosson, Overseas alumni who return to Yeshiva for challenge Man to moral and religious the period leading up to the Yamim Nora'im awakening just as the morning stars emerge. are subsidized by the Yoni Jesner z"l Elul A clip of the song on YouTube features Program, established with the generous photos taken during the all-night mishmar support of Steve and Renee Adelsberg, that ended the summer zman at Yeshivat whose son David '01 was a chevruta and Har Etzion. The clip begins with a photo close friend of Yoni. The Yeshiva has invested increased effort of the plaque over HaRav Amital's seat in in recent years in strengthening the the Beit Midrash which succinctly states, connection with alumni, and the most HaRav "Through his Torah, tefillot and path, he natural connection is through Torah study.