16 AROUND THE COUNTRY 24 Shevat 5780 // February 19, 2020 AROUND THE COUNTRY SAN JOSE Kehillas Am Echad Celebrates 50th Anniversary, Hosts Harav Zev Leff On Shabbos Parashas Beshalach, Kehillas Am Echad of San Jose, California, hosted Harav Zev Leff, Rav of Moshav Mattisya- hu in Eretz Yisrael, for a special scholar-in-residence program, followed on Sunday by a Jubilee Gala event celebrating the shul’s 50th anniversary. Kehillas Am Echad, originally founded in 1969 as a small minyan hosted by the Sonnenberg family, Rabbi Menachem Levine, Mara d’Asra, and Harav Zev Leff, L-R: Mr. Daniel Reres and Rabbi Avi Leibowitz, Rosh Kollel has now developed into a vibrant Rav of Moshav Mattisyahu, at the dinner for Kehillas Am of Jewish Study Network, at the dinner for Kehillas Am kehillah with 90 families, under Echad in San Jose. Echad in San Jose. the leadership of Rabbi Men- achem Levine, Mara d’Asra. “It has often been said that was extremely well-received, as he being a link in the chain of mesorah Harav Leff spoke again at the shul’s the Bay Area has the most Jews, spoke ten times at various venues that goes back to Har Sinai. Avos U’Banim on the importance of but the least Judaism,” quipped throughout the community. On Fri- The packed schedule of shiurim father-and-son learning. Later, on Rabbi Levine. “Now, with siyat- day morning, Harav Leff spoke at on Shabbos began on Leil Shabbos, Motzoei Shabbos, Harav Leff spoke ta diShmaya, the kehillah has the girls’ high school, Meira Acad- as Harav Leff delivered adrashah in Hebrew to the very eager audi- become well established, with emy, discussing why women were at Am Echad after Kabbalas Shab- ence of Israelis and discussed some multiple daily minyanim and informed first aboutMattan Torah, bos on the lessons of Krias Yam Suf. of the fundamentals of Yiddishkeit. multiple shiurim every day of the as the passuk in Parashas Yisro Later, he spoke twice at a packed On Sunday night, at the dinner, week, including two Daf Yomi states, “Ko somar l’veis Yaakov.” oneg Shabbos on the age-old ques- Harav Leff’s address focused on the shiurim. This is largely thanks Harav Leff then addressed the local tion of why bad things happen to meaning of being part of a commu- to the dedication of several key kollel, the Jewish Study Network, good people, and on the purpose of nity and having a Rav who is a true community leaders, including Dr. on the role of a kollel and the del- tefillah. On Shabbos morning, Harav leader, praising Rabbi Levine for all Andy Hartman, shul president; icate balance between embracing Leff delivered thedrashah before of his accomplishments. The Jubi- Jonathan Kaye, vice president; the community and also serving Mussaf on how to maintain one’s lee Gala was similarly a “smash- David Raccah, treasurer; and Mr. as role models. Later, he inspired spiritual accomplishments. During ing success,” as attendees joyously Yitzchok (Kevin) Fagan, gabbai, as the students at South Peninsula seudah shelishis, he discussed the celebrated their kehillah and the well as many others.” Hebrew Day School with a talk on connection between man and trees, growth of Torah and Yiddishkeit in Harav Leff’s weekend visit the meaning and significance of in preparation for Tu BiShvat. Silicon Valley. PHILADELPHIA Daf Yomi Learning At Community Beth Solomon Kollel in Philadelphia Inspired by the incredible hisorerus from the speeches given at the Siyum HaShas, the CBS Kollel of Somerton in Phila- delphia, Penn., has increased the number of daily Daf Yomi shi- urim from two to three. In this diverse and growing community, men can choose to learn the Daf in either English or Hebrew, at times that are most convenient for them. There is an English Daf Yomi learning at CBS Kollel. shiur at 6:15 a.m. given by Rabbi Yosef Lindenbaum, and one at 8:00 p.m., given by Rabbi Yaakov 8:15 p.m. shiur given in Hebrew. the Siyum has given strength to munity member Yosef Aryeh Hoffman. For the Israeli com- Attended by men and boys alike, a steady dedication to learn day Naumets, who recently made a munity members, there is an the energy and excitement of in and day out. Mazel tov to com- siyum on Maseches Yoma..