OHR SOMAYACH EXECUTIVE MENTORING MISSION TO ISRAEL Jan. 1- 7, 2007 With Special Visit to Prague OHR SOMAYACH INTERNATIONAL executive mentoring mission FROM JAN. 1 – 7, 2007 Co-Chairmen YAAKOV KAPLAN, Toronto • DANNY LEMBERG, Lakewood • JAKE KOVAL, Cleveland hr Somayach has, in its 34 year history, brought thousands of young Jews to a life of Torah v’Mitzvohs through it's Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) program which brings college age men to the Yeshiva in OYerushalayim for three to six weeks, for its unique blend of high level shiurim in Torah and hashkafa given by some of the most exciting and knowlegeble talmidei chachamim who are also experts in in secular philosophy and sciences. Our staff have included over the last few years lumineries such as Rav Nachman Bulman, z"l, Rav Dovid Gottleib, Rav Nota Schiller, Rav Mendel Weinbach, Rav Moshe Shapiro, Rabbi Akiva Tatz, Rav Berel Wein, Rabbi Dr. Yitzchok Breitowitz and many others. Intergral to this Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) program is intensive touring and interaction with madrichim and tutors. While the Yeshiva has been doing an excellent job at exposing the JLE participants to Torah u’Mitzvohs dur- ing their stay at Ohr Somayach, one component has been lacking - exposure during the JLE program and con- tinuing contact with yeshiva educated, sophisticated and successful people who have the sensitivity and empa- thy needed to serve as role models and effective mentors and guides to help integrate these Jewishly evolving students into the larger frum world. The opportunity is being extended to you to be a pioneering mentor to these young men - both in Yerushalayim and when they return to their studies in North America. You can make a difference in the lives of these young searching Jews and fulfill the mitzvah of pidyon shevuyim of nefashos. Join us on this once in a lifetime opportunity. 2 OHR SOMAYACH INTERNATIONAL executive mentoring mission FROM JAN. 1 – 7, 2007 Prague Itinerary with Rabbi Berel Wein MONDAY JAN. 1 - 5:45 pm Flight to Prague 2:30 pm walk across Charles Bridge, the new cemetery (Noda TUESDAY JAN. 2 - 7:55 am Arrive in Prague Byehuda), historic old town, shop finest Bohemian crystal 9:00 am Shachris / breakfast High Shul 7:00 pm Dinner at restaurant 10:15 Tour the Jewish Quarter- the Maisel, Spanish, Pinkas, Klaus 8:00 pm Hotel rest up, Ma’ariv Synagoues (some of the oldest in the world) see Ceremonial Hall, 10:30 pm go to airport the Old Cemetery (Maharal), Altneuschul. 11:55 flight to Eretz Yisrael 2:00 pm Mincha / Lunch Israel Itinerary WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 Meron- Mentor JLE students, lunch and Mincha 4:55 am Arrive at Ben Gurion 1:30 pm Arrival at Ron Hotel in Tzefat Depart for Plaza Hotel 3:45 pm Departure for tour of ancient shuls in Tzefat Shacharis at Hotel culminating with Kabbolas Shabbos in the 12:30 pm Depart for Ohr Somayach orchards of Tzefat in the time of the 16th 1:00-1:30 pm Mentoring JLE students century Kabbalists where Kabbolas Shabbos 1:30-3:00 pm Lunch in Ohr Somayach with JLE and was composed by R. Shlomo Alkabetz Greetings from Gedolim 5:30 pm Opening talk by Dean – Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr 3:00-5:00 pm Tour of of Harei Yerushalayim including Somayach, Rabbi Nota Schiller in Yosef Karo Kever Shmuel Hanavi or Kever Rachel Mincha Shul 5:00-5:45 pm Audience with Rav N.T. Finkel shlita 7:00 pm Festive Dinner – Ron Hotel dining room (If he is available) 9:00 pm Late Night Tour of the dark alleyways of Tzefat 6:00-6:45 pm Mentoring JLE students in Ohr Somayach 10:30 pm Tisch by our own Chassidic Rebbe, Rabbi Dr. 7:00 pm Dinner at the Plaza with Mr. Elie Horn Dovid Gottlieb 8:45 pm Depart for Kosel for Maariv (optional) 9:45 pm Depart for Plaza Hotel SHABBOS, JANUARY 6 8:30 am Shacharis THURSDAY, JANUARY 4 10:45 am Kiddush in Ron Hotel 7:00-10:00 am Breakfast served at the Plaza 11:00 am Mentoring JLE students 7:30 am Depart for the Kosel for Shacharis (optional) or 12:00 noon Festive lunch in Ron Hotel dining room davening at the Great Synagogue across the 2:30 pm Tour of historical Tzefat throughout the ages street from the Plaza (3 Minyanim: 6 am, 6:45 from its Biblical Origins through the Modern am and 8 am) or davening at the GR”A shul State of Israel (10-15 min. walk) 4:00 pm Mincha at Ari Ashkenazi Shul 10:00 am Depart for Ohr Somayach 4:30 pm Festive Seudas Shlishis - Ron Hotel dining room 10:30-12:30 Learn with students from Center and 7:30 pm Audience with Rav Dovid Abuchatzeira Presentation by Ohr Somayach senior lecturers Departure for Yerushalayim (if possible late night 2:30 pm Mincha visit to Amuka, Melaveh Malka event or kumzits 5:00 pm Depart for Tzefat to join the JLE (optional) in Jerusalem) 7:00 pm Dinner at the Red Heifer Restaurant with Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 9:00 pm Maariv and meeting with Rav Gamliel 8:15 am Shacharis at Hotel (If he is available) 7:00-10:00 am Breakfast served at the Plaza 10 am Depart for Ohr Somayach FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 10:30 am Developing follow-up programs and Farewell 7:15 am Shacharis at the Plaza 9:00 pm Depart for Ben-Gurion Airport 7:00-8:45 am Breakfast 8:45 am Depart for Tzefat with stop at the Tomb Please note: All times are approximate and both times and desti- Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai nations are subject to change. We also anticipate meeting with (Mentoring JLE students there) other Gedolim and Israeli dignitaries. 3 OHR SOMAYACH INTERNATIONAL executive mentoring mission JLE Participants - Winter 2007 Here is a sampling of the participants in this program. The full list is available upon request. The Boy Who Blew Off Bush Gerald also distinguished himself by carrying IIT`s Collegiate UCLA Freshman Jeopardy Team to victory in competition pitting college against college, JEFF STEINBERG`S gifts, playing viola and violin, earned him an and the cumulative knowledge of one team against anothers`. invitation to meet and perform for the President , during a recent visit Another sign of Gerald`s high comfort level with very intelligent to California. Jeff, about to declare himself a Philosophy Major, likes to people was his election to serve as Vice President of IIT`s Student focus on cosmic questions not national politics. He turned down the Philosophy Association. opportunity to mingle with the politician-in-chief, to attend to more Gerald was born on July 29th,1985. He grew up in a totally nonob- pressing issues in his life. servant, unaffiliated home in which his mother's mother inadvertently Jeff won major scholarships to attend the Interlochen School for the gets a good deal of the credit for his current interest in exploring Arts (High School) as well as UCLA. He has also earned recognition Judaism. Gerald's maternal grandmother absolutely forbade her daugh- as an accomplished athlete. ter, Gerald's mother, from attending Hebrew School. Jeff, born Dec 13th, 1985, had a Conservative Jewish upbringing. Naturally, in response to "No!" she said "I'm gonna !" Although she [Sounds like his parents had around 1.6 children, meeting the median never managed to follow through on that threat herself, she never lost birthrate for Jews with similar backgrounds.] her resolve. When Gerald got involved with a Maimonides program on Jeff was referred to Ohr Somayach by Rabbi Benzion Klatko, aka campus this past spring, and when Rabbi Zev Kahn, in Chicago referred Rabbi K, who used to work for Ashreinu LA (The Zarets) and is now him to Ohr Somayach`s JLE program this summer, Mom offered full cruising campuses from coast to coast in search of non-observant can- moral and material support! didates for kiruv programs in Israel. McGill`s MIKHAIL IOKHELES just received his B.A., with "joint Inspiring Others / Inspired To Change honors," in Economics & Political Science. DAVID BUZGALO just graduated from the Univ. of Montreal Mikhail is a world class debater with a promising future a defense with a BSc in Actuarial Mathematics. lawyer or state prosecutor. He was recognized, in `03, as a Buzgalo not only won a Gold Medal in Canadian National Massachusetts Mock Trial State Finalist. Competition for his virtuosity (competitive excellence beyond all oth- During his collegiate career, Mikhail served as Vice President of ers) as a classical pianist; he has also been ranked as the fifth best Finance for an undergraduate student society (they must have had pianist in Canada. some good money invested if they needed a hierarchy of officers just to Born March 10th, 1982, David was raised in a Jewishly proud but deal with finances !) not yet halachically anchored home. Both of his parents are Math Mikhail was born October 6th, 1984. He had a Conservative Professors. upbringing and attended Sharon Public High School where he distin- At the tender age of 12, David had already recorded an album, fore- guished himself as a straight A student and winner of "various South shadowing his later accomplishments as a nationally acclaimed pianist. Shore Interscholastic Chess League Awards…" David writes: "I have lost myself in terms of my Jewishness…I think Mikhail`s interest in coming to Israel was recently inspired by an old I absolutely need to take a good look at myself in the mirror and figure best seller, Exodus, the novel about Israel's birth written by Leon Uris.