OHR SOMAYACH EXECUTIVE MENTORS MISSION TO ISRAEL Dec. 30, 2007- Jan. 6, 2008 Visiting Scholar Rav Yosef Kalatsky Shlita Special Visit to Athens executive mentors mission FROM Dec. 30, 2007- Jan. 6, 2008 Committe Chairmen YAAKOV KAPLAN • DANNY LEMBERG • HARRY ROTHENBERG SID BORENSTEIN • MORDY SCHRON • CAREY WOLCHOK hr Somayach has, in its 35 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 secular philosophy and sciences. Our staff have included over the last few years lumineries such as Rav Nachman Bulman, zt”l, Rav Nota Schiller, Rav Mendel Weinbach, Rav Moshe Shapiro, Rav Berel Wein, Rav Dovid Gottleib, Rabbi Akiva Tatz, 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 executive mentors mission FROM Dec. 30, 2007- Jan. 6, 2008 JOIN US IN ATHENS OR MEET US IN ISRAEL With an Introduction to the Chashmonaim Athens Itinerary and Greek History from Rabbi Aaron Hirsh SUNDAY DEC 30, 2007 4:30 pm Depart JFK Airport NY for Athens MONDAY DEC 31, 2007 9:20 am Arrival at Athens Airport from New York by OA flight No 412 9:30 - 10:30 Transfer to Rabbi Mendel’s house at the city center 10:30 - 11:30 Glatt kosher brunch at Rabbi Mendel’s house (Chabad of Athens) 11:30 - 11:45 Transfer to the Beth-Shalom Synagogue 11:45 - 12:00 Reading of the Torah (Parashat Vaera) 12:00 - 12:45 Tour of the Beth-Shalom and possibly Etz-Hayim Synagogues 12:45 - 1:15 Transfer to the archaeological site of Acropolis 1:15 - 2:45 Tour of the Acropolis 2:45 - 4:45 Panoramic city tour of Athens 4:45 - 7:15 Rest at the hotel 7:15 - 7:45 Transfer to Rabbi Mendel’s house at the city center 7:45 - 9:30 Dinner at Rabbi Mendel’s house 9:30 - 10:30 Transfer to the airport TUESDAY JAN 1, 2008 1:20 am Departure to Tel-Aviv with Olympic flight No 301 Israel Itinerary continued on next page 3 executive mentors mission FROM Dec. 30, 2007- Jan. 6, 2008 Israel Itinerary Visiting Scholar Rav Yosef Kalatsky, Shlita TUESDAY, JAN 1 2:30 pm Depart for Nahariya 3:15 am Arrive in Israel - Olympic Air Flight 412 4:30 pm Meet with Rav David Abuchatzeira 5:00 am Check in at Inbal Hotel 7:30 pm Dinner at Kibbutz Lavi with JLE SPECIAL HASHGACHA ARRANGED FOR OUR STAY! Mr. Robert Aberman Mr. Harry Rothenberg - 5:45 am Bus to Kosel for Vasikin minyan A Jew in the Work Place 6:30 - 10:30 am Breakfast at Hotel 9:30 pm Depart to Hot Springs 6:00 pm Depart from hotel to Kosel 10:00 pm Hot Springs at Chamei Teveria with the JLE Opening ceremonies at the Kosel 11:45 pm Depart to hotel Introduction to the students, interactive shiur by Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Mendel Weinbach FRIDAY, JAN 4 Followed by Maariv 7:30 am Shachris and breakfast at Kibbutz Lavi Dinner at the Simcha Hall overlooking the 9:15 am Leave for Tour of Meron (weather permitting) Kosel, 1:00 pm Check into Hotel Ron and lunch Guest Speaker: Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky Prepare for Shabbos 10:30 pm Return to hotel 4:00 pm Depart for tour of ancient shuls in Tzfas culmi- nating with Kabblos Shabbos in the orchards WEDNESDAY, JAN 2 of Tzfas in the theme of the 16th century kab- 6:30-10:30 am Breakfast at hotel balists where Kabbolos Shabbos was composed 9:30 am Depart from hotel to Ohr Somayach by R. Shlomo Alkabetz. 10:00 am Shiur by Rosh Yeshiva 6:00 pm Opening talk by Dean - Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr 10:20 am Talk by Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb (to Mentors and Somayach, Rabbi Nota Schiller in Yosef Karo wives only) on Basics of Kiruv Shul 10:45 am Short Introductory Shiur by Rabbi Gottlieb to 6:30 pm Festive Dinner - Ron Hotel dining room Mentors and JLE on “The Golden Calf”-Textual Guest speaker - Mr. Raphael Zuker Problems 8:30 pm Late Night Tour of the dark alleyways of 10:45-11:50 Women-Special program led by famed author Tzfas Sarah Shapiro mentoring the girls on the 10:00 pm Tisch by our own Chassidic Rebbe, Mercaz program. Topic: “To be a Jewish Woman Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb Today-What Do We Really Want?” 11:10 am Mentors and Students Learn SHABBOS, JAN 5 12 noon Wrap-up of Shiur with Rabbi Gottlieb (for 7:50 am Shacharis Mentor wives as well) 10:15 am Kiddush in Ron Hotel- 12:30 pm Talk by Rabbi Kalatsky in the Main Beis Guest Speaker, Mr. Dovid Mandelbaum Medresh for Mentors and Students 10:45 am Mentoring JLE students 1:00 pm Group Photo in Courtyard 11:15 am Festive lunch in Ron Hotel dining room 1:10 pm Leave for lunch at the Tamir - Guest speaker, Guest Speaker, Mr. Sid Borenstein Mr. Morris Smith. 2:30 pm Tour of historical Tzfas throughout the ages 3:15 pm Tour - JLE & Mentors - of Kever Rochel from its Biblical Origins through the Modern 6:30 pm Meeting with Mr. Bernard Hochstein State of Israel 8:00 pm Shiur with Rav Elyashiv and Maariv 4:00 pm Mincha at Ari Ashkenazi Shul 9:00 pm Dinner at Restaurant with Guest MK Rabbi 4:30 pm Festive Seudas Shlishis - Ron Hotel dining room Avraham Ravitz - head of Degel HaTorah party 8:30 pm Melave Malka at the Kever of Rabbi Shimon Bar 10:30 pm Visit with Rav Gamliel Rabinovich Yochai in Meron with the band “Simply Tzfas” Guest Speaker, Dr. Matt Eichen THURSDAY, JAN 3 9:30 am Depart for Ohr Somayach SUNDAY, JAN 6 10:00 am Shiur by Rosh Yeshiva Free day 10:20 am (Men) Learn Gemara Sugya with Center students 6:30 pm Reflections and follow up ideas - (Women) Special Shiurim Dinner with Rav Nota Schiller 11:30 am Depart for Bnei Brak to meet with Gedolim 8:30 pm Leave to airport Please note: All times are approximate and both times and destinations are subject to change. We also anticipate meeting with other Gedolim and Israeli dignitaries. 4 executive mentors mission FROM Dec. 30, 2007- Jan. 6, 2008 JLE Participants Here is a sampling of the participants from previous programs. The full list is available upon request. The Boy Who Blew Off Bush Inspiring Others / Inspired To Change UCLA Freshman DAVID BUZGALO just graduated from the Univ. of JEFF STEINBERG’S gifts, playing viola and violin, earned him Montreal with a BSc in Actuarial Mathematics. an invitation to meet and perform for the President , during a Buzgalo not only won a Gold Medal in Canadian National recent visit to California. Jeff, about to declare himself a Competition for his virtuosity (competitive excellence beyond all Philosophy Major, likes to focus on cosmic questions not nation- others) as a classical pianist; he has also been ranked as the fifth al politics. He turned down the opportunity to mingle with the best pianist in Canada. politician-in-chief, to attend to more pressing issues in his life. Born March 10th, 1982, David was raised in a Jewishly proud Jeff won major scholarships to attend the Interlochen School but not yet halachically anchored home. Both of his parents are for the Arts (High School) as well as UCLA. He has also earned Math Professors. recognition as an accomplished athlete. At the tender age of 12, David had already recorded an album, Jeff, born Dec 13th, 1985, had a Conservative Jewish upbring- foreshadowing his later accomplishments as a nationally ing. [Sounds like his parents had around 1.6 children, meeting acclaimed pianist. the median birthrate for Jews with similar backgrounds.] David writes: "I have lost myself in terms of my Jewishness…I Jeff was referred to Ohr Somayach by Rabbi Benzion Klatko, think I absolutely need to take a good look at myself in the mir- aka Rabbi K, who used to work for Ashreinu LA (The Zarets) ror and figure out the truth and the key to reigniting my and is now cruising campuses from coast to coast in search of soul…with Torah ." non-observant candidates for kiruv programs in Israel. David`s friend, Jason Lipner, directed him to Ohr Somayach. Past Mission Participants HARAV YERUCHAM OLSHIN MR. & MRS SHMUEL ROTHMAN Rosh Yeshiva - Beth Medrash Gavoah MR.