בס“ד Postcard from Brooklyn, New York

Hello Rabbi! I must say it was really nice to some of Rabbi Cohen’s signature intonations. I receive a message from you. Sorry for not writing also wound up being a little ahead of my current back until now. I have been meaning to, but I Semicha program, thanks to Shliach Moshe TheThe YGYG ConnectionConnection didn’t get around to it until now. Wolvovsky who took the time to learn the The Rabbinical College of Australia & NZ Newsletter fundamentals with me every day. I also find Boruch Hashem the learning is great, and I myself learning Ma’amar after Ma’amar in the certainly have Yeshivah Gedolah to thank for that! mornings. Being able to do all of this really makes Ah, how I miss it. You surely know that us former me glad, and my success accurately reflects what ISSUE Bochurim get together and reminisce about the I tell everyone; that going to Yeshivah Gedolah good ol' Yeshivah Gedolah days and how other was the best decision I ever made in my life. yeshivahs just aren't the same. They aren't! Believe me when I say that I use every 08 Where's the enthusiasm, the noise, the awesome opportunity to boast about Yeshivah Gedolah! 29 Adar 5772 Shluchim, the great Hanholo, the occasional (And I sure miss the absolutely superior food, 23 March 2012 Dovid Staples is an alumnus of the Mivtzah, the Friday night meals, the Melava which is much better than what I have had at all Rabbinical College of Australia & Malkahs, the Fabrengens, the communal my other Yeshivahs. Would you believe it? I have New Zealand, 5771 (2011). He is satisfaction, and the joy of learning that one not had lamb chops even once since I left naturally breathes in the Melbourne air? Aye, if currently studying for Semicha Melbourne.) there's one thing I still carry with me from (Rabbinical ordination) at Chovevei Yeshivah Gedolah, it is, "keep on truckin’; don't I am doing well in all other respects as well, thank In this Issue: Torah, in Brooklyn, NY. In this letter, drop till you stop," courtesy of Yakov Backman. G-d. I recently took up a job at HASC, which Dovid shares with us his current provides educational and clinical services for Passover-Australia prepares experiences, and the indelible Perhaps I am beginning to rant, but I don't think I children with special needs. G-d willing, I am Farbrengen: impression that Yeshivah Gedolah ever properly expressed my appreciation for starting to work with a special-needs boy this This is who we are! has had on him. everything that the Shluchim and Hanholo of week. I also took up a position as a fundraiser for Yeshivah Gedolah did for me. In fact, I didn't fully a special-education program in Crown Heights. Mishloach Manot packages appreciate it until after I found myself outside of It's nice to be able to make a positive influence. Purim Mivtzoyim 5772 Yeshivah Gedolah’s environs, and I realized how Passover-Australia is a project of the much I progressed there. I could hardly open a Send my best to all the other members of the Hanholo, and to all the Bochurim. I wish you a Roving Rabbis Update: Rabbinical College of Australia & N.Z, and Gemoro when I first arrived, and I certainly could The connection continues... is organized and conducted by its Shluchim. not decipher even one paragraph of a Ma’amar. super successful year! Inspired by the call of the Lubavitcher By the time I returned home, I started giving All the best, Postcard from Brooklyn, NY evening Shiurim on the Gemoro that I learned in (An alumnus writes…) Rebbe to ensure that every Jew has a place Yeshivah Gedolah, accompanied of course with Dovid Staples at the Pesach Seder, the Shluchim reach Siyum HaRambam out to Jews in remote locations across the country, providing them the means to

Siyum Harambam experience and celebrate Passover. Last Our Website year alone, over 370 Jews attended the The Rabbinical College of Passover Seders, close to 90 house visits Earlier this month, hundreds of men and women Australia & NZ Website is were conducted, and countless men laid attended a grand Siyum HaRambam constantly updated, and may be Tefilin. For some, the activities of Passover celebration in Melbourne Australia, at Yeshivah viewed at: Australia are their only connection to RabbinicalCollege.edu.au Centre’s Werdiger Hall. The event marked the Yiddishkeit throughout the year. completion of the 30th study-cycle of three daily chapters of Rambam, and the 10th study-cycle This year, Passover-Australia will be

of one daily chapter of Rambam. Prominent The Shluchim prepare the first shipment of supplies. servicing Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Darwin, community rabbis addressed the crowd about Lamplighter Weekly and Fremantle. In addition to the Passover the significance of the occasion. Lamplighter is a popular weekly Seders, the Shluchim will be travelling newsletter published by the through the Great Australian Outback, The event was organized by the Shluchim of the Chabad House of Caulfield in offering vital Jewish services such as Tefilin Rabbinical College of Australia & New Zealand conjunction with the Rabbinical and Mezuzot to all those in need. in conjunction with Yeshivah Centre. College of Australia & New More details and photos are available in the Zealand. If you would like to pass on our details to News section of the Rabbinical College website. someone you know living in the “Australian You may view current and past    Outback”, or you would like to donate, or issues at: request further information, please visit the In honour of the Siyum HaRambam, two sets of RabbinicalCollege.edu.au/ Passover-Australia website at: Hebrew-English Mishneh Torah were donated Lamplighter www.PassoverAustralia.com.au. to the Rabbinical College of Australia & New Zealand, by Marlene Gail Wolsh (of Vestal, NY), in memory of her mother, Krindyl bat Aaron Mordechai (Claire Feldman-Palnik). Corrections

The eleventh day of Nissan marks the birthday of the We recently published a record of a Farbrengen with Rabbi Moshe Lubavitcher Rebbe. Chassidim typically ready themselves for Feller (Issue 4), and another the occasion by preparing the type of gift appreciated by the Farbrengen with Rabbi Yossi Rebbe: Increased learning, added concentration during Gordon (Issue 7). Davening, charitable acts and good deeds. To assist the We thank them for recently students in their preparations, the Shluchim recently reviewing these articles for us, launched a Mivtza Hachana (preparation campaign). Look out and making minor emendations. for the full roundup in the next issue of “The YG Connection”. We have updated our archives, which are hosted at: The Rabbinical College of Australia & NZ recently purchased three sets of Shas (Oz V’hodor), which will be well utilized by RabbinicalCollege.edu.au/ our students. We thank Rabbi Shmaya Glick for his generous grant, as well as the other donors who made this possible. YGConnection

The electronic version of this newsletter (including more information and pictures) is available at: Rabbinical College of Australia & New Zealand www.RabbinicalCollege.edu.au/YGconnection 67 Alexandra Street, East St. Kilda, VIC 3183, Australia To subscribe, please submit your email address to [email protected] Phone: (03) 9525-9165 ~ Fax: (03) 9525-9970 ~ Website: www.RabbinicalCollege.edu.au בס“ד

rid myself of my loneliness and spend the rest of the journey with him. I started Purim Mivtzoyim making my way forward, and soon The Purim outreach activities of our students again tried to contact his fellow Shluchim, but enough found myself face to face with one were not limited to Melbourne, and several was still unsuccessful. Without much of a choice, of the foremost Roshei-Yeshivah of the Shluchim travelled to Brisbane and Cairns. Even he made his way to the taxi rank. Suddenly, he time. As we began conversing, it emerged when things seemed to be going wrong, they heard a holler above the din of Melbourne that he was travelling on a similar mission; were really working out for the best, as seen in airport, “Rabbi, where are you going?” Moshe he was also looking to establish an the following incident: turned around to face an elderly Russian Jew, underground Yeshivah in Kharkov”. who was only too happy to offer him a ride. Shliach Moshe Backman travelled to Brisbane in At this point of the narrative, Reb Mendel order to help the local Shluchim spread the joy During the ride, Moshe learned a little about his This is who we are! interjected, “"You see, Kinderlach of Purim. After spending an action-packed Purim new-found friend, who was returning from a (children), the Mesiras-Nefesh (self- day in Brisbane, he set out for the airport bright business trip to Singapore. Moshe used some of Rabbi Binyomin sacrifice) of the Rosh Yeshivah!” and early the next morning, with enough time to the time to discuss Judaism, and Tefilin Cohen is Rosh catch his return flight to Melbourne. On his way specifically. The Russian businessman was Yeshivah (dean) at Reb Mendel paused, his eyes spanning to the airport, he tried to call his fellow Shluchim initially not that interested in laying Tefilin, but the Rabbinical the crowd. He waited expectantly, as if back in Melbourne to confirm that they would be slowly warmed to the idea. By the time the car picking him up from Melbourne airport. However, arrived at Rabbinical College, our Russian friend College of Australia anticipating a question. It wasn’t long in coming. “But,” exclaimed one of the he was not able to get through to them. eagerly put on Tefilin. Now Moshe understood & New Zealand. At a why he been unable to arrange a ride! recent Farbrengen at audience, “If the Rosh Yeshivah exhibited After Moshe landed at Tullamarine Airport, he the Rabbinical Mesiras Nefesh by making this journey, College, in honour of his birthday, then surely, so did you.” Rabbi Cohen shared the following “No!” responded Reb Mendel with words of inspiration: twinkling eyes, “My journey was not an act I recently heard a story about the well- of self-sacrifice. For, as you know, I am a known Mashpia (Chassidic mentor), Reb Chossid. And a Chossid’s raison d'être is Purim 5772 Mendel Futerfas. I cannot vouch for the to advance the cause of Yiddishkeit! The Purim 5772 (2012) was cele- details of the story, as I did not hear it self of a Chossid exists solely for Torah brated on Wednesday evening, firsthand, but there is certainly a lesson to and Mitzvos. For me, travelling in March 7, and Thursday, be had: dangerous conditions to establish a March 8. Students of the Rab- Yeshivah was no self-sacrifice; it was the The hour was already late, but the binical College of Australia & very purpose for which I exist! Dos bin Chassidim showed no signs of fatigue as New Zealand brought the joy of Purim to Ich! (This is who I am!)” a wide variety of businesses, eateries, they gathered around Reb Mendel residencies, hospitals, old age homes, Futerfas, who was reminiscing about a  markets, schools, childcare centres and treacherous journey that he once took on Fast forward several decades. By now, prisons. They also assisted and partici- his way to assist an underground Reb Mendel had finally escaped Soviet pated in various events conducted by Yeshivah in the city of Kharkov. Russia, after having served some local synagogues, Chabad Houses and "I gripped the bars attached to the exterior seventeen years in Siberian prison community organizations. Aside from of the railway car, struggling with all my camps, for the “crime” of spreading hearing Megillah, the commandments of Purim include Mishloach Manos (gifts of strength against the wind, as the train Jewish observance. Reb Mendel lived in food), Matanos L'evyonim (giving chari- made its way down the steep slope. Most London for some time, where I came to ty), and participating in a joyous feast. of the travellers were safely and know him. comfortably ensconced in the warm train Mishloach Manos packages: 1,100 + We were once learning together, when in compartments, but I travelled outdoors, on Megillah readings: 85+ walked a Bochur who excitedly launched a small bridge connecting two of the train Megillah reading attendance: 1,000+ into the details of his most recent Peulah Roving Rabbis Update: Theconnection continues... coaches. The bitter cold bit into me as the Matanos L’evyonim: 50+ (activity), which required him to walk from wind fiercely whistled its way past me. But Tefilin: 200+ In issue 4 of “The YG Connection”, we described the experiences of Hirschel Gourarie North London to the East End of London. I had little choice. Anti-Semitic drunks Purim parties: 40+ The walk was about an hour each way, and Shmuel Lipskier, who spent their mid-winter break reaching out to Jews in were a common feature of the Russian and the Bochur was very proud of the Campbelltown and Parramatta, New South Wales. In particular, the Shluchim spent railway scene, and throwing Jews off fast- personal effort he expended for the sake Mishloach Manos packages several meaningful hours visiting a young family on the outskirts of Campbelltown. moving trains was a favourite pastime of of Jewish outreach. Over six months later, the connection still continues, with the following email recently theirs. With my conspicuous beard and In the weeks prior to Purim received: Peyos (sideburns), I would have made an Reb Mendel, not wishing to discourage 5772, students of the Rabbin- ical College devoted much of easy target for them. My only option was the Bochur, listened in respectful silence. Hi Hirschel, to try and keep a low profile, huddling However, after the Bochur left the room, their free time to preparing between the railway cars, as the train he turned to me and quietly said, “When thousands of Mishloach Just letting you know that we spent last night watching the DVD of Purim that you Manos packages for distribution within steadily journeyed towards the city of we were in Russia, we spent three hours sent us. The whole family munched on the Purim treats from you and your friends, the community. These Mishloach Kharkov.” every Shabbos morning walking to the and watched the movie. It was such a great DVD for all ages. We couldn’t stop laughing Manos packages help facilitate ob- Mikvah, and another three hours at the humour of the jokes at Haman and his family. Even his wife looked evil. Some “Suddenly, as the train rounded a curve, I servance of the Purim commandments. returning. We reviewed Chassidic two hours later we all went to bed. noticed another traveller up ahead. He discourses the entire way, and spent the was an obviously religious Jew, and he Then I gave the boys a quiz … what does the name Ester mean? What does the word next couple of hours Davening. And we was travelling between the railway cars, More photos are available in the News Purim mean? And so on and so forth. It was so much fun, we even play acted some of didn’t think much of our efforts. After all, like me. There were just three or four section of the Rabbinical College web- the roles. I was the beautiful Queen Ester. Jakie, well he always plays the evil fellows… this is who we are; it is for this purpose coaches separating us, and I was glad to site. It was so much fun! that we exist!” Thank you again.