ישיבת נר ברוך RABBI SHLOMO SINGER Rosh Yeshiva Associate Rosh Yeshiva PTIPASSAIC TORAH INSTITUTE RABBI BARUCH BODENHEIM EVERY JEW BELONGS IN YESHIVA h (PTI) & Ateres Bracha (NEVE er Boruc -PTI) in iva N vite yo Yesh u to Sunday December 7th, 2 014 Reception 5:00 PM in Ohel Miriam Hall Dinner 6:00 PM in Ohel Rivka Hall 181 Pennington Avenue, Passaic, NJ Couvert $385 per couple RSVP Annual Dinner Keynote Speaker Rabbi Paysach Krohn 19 MMC:C: MMr.r. TuviaTuvia LiebermanLiberman Mr. & Mrs. Samuel & Paula Gershonowitz Mr. & Mrs. Shem Tov Award Dovid & Shoshana Bobker Mr. & Mrs. Harbotzas HaTorah Award Marty & Joy Goldberg Kesser Torah Award Yeshiva Ner Boruch (PTI) and Ateres Bracha (Neve-PTI) Ph (646) 284-3377 | Fax (973) 689-9119 | 441 Passaic Avenue, Passaic, NJ 07055 For Ads & Reservations please reply online at www.ptiweb.org or email [email protected] HOME KESSER TORAH FOUNDER CHAI PLATINUM DIAMOND GOLD FULL H Q E G A Message from Rabbi Shlomo Singer Founder and Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Ner Boruch (PTI) This past year has been one of tremendous growth for Yeshiva Ner Boruch (PTI) & Ateres Bracha (Neve-PTI), We have continued to expand and improve the HaRav Tzvi Aryeh Zemel Beis Medrash, the Pearl Salomon Ezras Noshim and the HaRav Yaakov and Faiga Friedman Building. Baruch Hash-m, our growth is not only in the physical realm, but in the spiritual as well. We have increased the depth and breadth of our programming for both the men and the very worthy women of our community. What is the secret of our success? Deep down in every Jewish soul is a yearning for the truth. Once the soul is exposed to Torah, it seeks to delve deeper. At Yeshiva Ner Boruch (PTI) and Ateres Bracha (NEVE-PTI), we have taken up the initial challenge to ignite that spark, the Ohr Torah that is also symbolic of the Yontif of Chanukah, which we will soon celebrate. The message of Chanukah is clear. The Greeks did not want to harm our physical bodies; they wanted to destroy our spiritual fiber. The ensuing war was over our refusal to forget about Hash-m in our everyday lives. The Jews fought to maintain their relationship with Hash-m. We continue to win this war by coming to Yeshiva to learn and by bringing these lessons into the workplace and our communities. We aspire to create an environment at Yeshiva Ner Boruch (PTI) where our Talmidim can flourish under the guidance of our energetic Associate Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim, and our staff of charismatic Rabbeim. We find a way to reach each every Talmid regardless of his or her level of background. By learning Torah with a fiery passion, our hope is that our Talmidim will strengthen their attachment to Hash-m Yisborach throughout their lives. The Chovos Halevovos says that it is a Mitzvah for a person to earn a livelihood. At Yeshiva Ner Boruch (PTI), we offer the best of both worlds — the ability to support one’s family while having the opportunity to learn Torah in a genuine Yeshiva. We appreciate your continued support of our Yeshiva and thank everyone for attending this evening’s dinner. May we always be involved in Besoros Tovos (good tidings). HOME KESSER TORAH FOUNDER CHAI PLATINUM DIAMOND GOLD FULL H Q E G A Message from Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim Associate Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Ner Boruch (PTI) When I tell people that I teach in a yeshiva, they ask me, “Elementary or High School?”When I tell them that this is a yeshiva for adults they are astonished: is there really a yeshiva like that? Why would an adult need to be in a yeshiva? Why aren’t a man’s early years spent in yeshiva sufficient? I believe that the explanation can be found in the Torah. When Yitzchak Avinu and Rivka Imeinu davened to have a child, the pasuk says, “vayeaser lo,” Hashem answered him, referring to Yitzchak. Rashi points out that Rivka was also davening; so why doesn’t it say that Hashem answered them – Yitzchak and Rivka? Rashi quotes the Gemara in Yevamos 64a: “the prayers of a tzaddik who is the son of a rasha are not comparable to the prayers of a tzaddik who is the son of a tzaddik.” Therefore, although Rivka was a complete tzadekes, because her father was Besuel – a rasha – Hashem only answered Yitzchak’s tefillos, for he was a tzadik and the son of Avraham Avinu. But this answer needs further explanation, in light of the Gemara in Berachos 34a, which says that the level of a Ba’al Teshuva (master of repentance) is greater than the level of a completely righteous person. Based on this concept, Rivka should have been answered before Yitzchak! HaRav Eliyahu Dessler, zt”l, author of Michtav Me’Eliyahu, reconciles these two Gemaros. A master of repentance is on a higher level than a completely righteous person because of the great effort that it took him to reach the same level as that righteous one. In the eyes of Hashem, it is the effort and struggle that really count! On the other hand, when the Gemara says that the prayer of a tzadik who is the son of a tzadik is greater than that of a tzadik the son of a rasha, it is only talking about a tzadik like Yitzchak, who blazed his own trail in service of Hashem. Yitzchak pushed himself to excel on his own, using his father’s greatness as a starting point for his own growth, not as an endpoint. Avraham developed the attribute of kindness; Yitzchak didn’t just follow his father, but instead developed the attribute of fear of Hashem – a new avenue! This actually takes even more effort than repentance, since, by nature, people are happy simply to coast along, serving G-d the same way their parents did, with no individual exertion. This is why Yitzchak’s prayers were answered before Rivka’s. And this is why we need a yeshiva for adults. Hashem tasks us with being in a constant state of growth and continual focus in our service of Him, yisborach. A yeshiva is the vehicle that will help us grow and will carry us forward from level to level. Hashem looks at our effort; He can see us coast or can see us battle. Yeshiva Ner Boruch (PTI) is a place of constant focused effort, where we all strive for spiritual growth. HOME KESSER TORAH FOUNDER CHAI PLATINUM DIAMOND GOLD FULL H Q E G MR. & MRS. DOVID & SHOSHANA BOBKER Harbotzas HaTorah Award Originally from Brooklyn, Mr. Dovid Bobker learned in Yeshivas Torah Vodaas and Merkaz Hatorah under Rabbi Aryeh Rottman in Eretz Yisrael. Upon returning to the New York area, he joined the Bostoner Yeshiva in Brooklyn learning by day and pursuing a degree in Computer Science by night. Later on he completed his MBA at Baruch and successfully established himself in the field of Wealth Management. He currently works for Merrill Lynch based in New York. Locally, Mr. Bobker generously gives his time to Yeshiva Ner Boruch (PTI), whether it is learning there, or attending minyanim daily. The Bobkers are longstanding, active members of Agudas Yisrael Birchas Yaakov of Passaic Park as well. Mrs. Shoshana Bobker came to Brooklyn from Eretz Yisrael at the age of two. In Brooklyn she attended Shalamith School followed by Machon Rivkin seminary in Yerushalayim. Mrs. Bobker earned her Masters degree in Nutrition and has been teaching Nutrition in Kingsborough Community College as well as running a private practice at home. Helping her clients in the Passaic Clifton Community with Nutrition counseling has been very rewarding. She has also taught a college level Nutrition class in the Bais Yaakov of Passaic. Whether it is helping out the local Bikor Cholim or leaving their door open and inviting to guests, Dovid and Shoshana and their family feel privileged to be part of the Passaic Clifton community as well as members in Yeshiva Ner Boruch (PTI) and Ateres Bracha (NEVE-PTI). HOME KESSER TORAH FOUNDER CHAI PLATINUM DIAMOND GOLD FULL H Q E G HOME KESSER TORAH FOUNDER CHAI PLATINUM DIAMOND GOLD FULL H Q E G MR. & MRS. SAMUEL & PAULA GERSHONOWITZ Shem Tov Award It is truly hard to believe, but Sam and Paula have now resided in Passaic, NJ for 30 years. The transition from a small Orthodox community to a thriving center of Torah-Judaism is somewhat similar to how Sam and Paula have evolved. Interestingly enough, Sam and Paula have similar backgrounds. Both are from small towns in Northeast Pennsylvania, only 30 minutes apart – Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton. They grew up in traditional Jewish homes, but had little actual Torah education. Yet, it was from these homes that Sam and Paula began their quest for more. Sam, having very little “zietsfliesh”, did not last long in his Orthodox synagogue’s Talmud Torah, and was “ejected” before his Bar Mitzvah. As a matter of fact, due to no fault of his own, Sam’s Bar Mitzvah celebration was actually cancelled. (haven’t you heard of “Hurricane Agnes-the Great Flood of 1972”?) In preparation for his Bar Mitzvah, Sam was instructed to participate in a new organization, namely NCSY. This was his first exposure to real Yiddishkeit. Sam did grow up in an Orthodox shul and he did recognize that there was Shabbos and Yom Tovim, but there was something lacking. NCSY was the start of his journey, but it was the frum community of Pittsburgh, PA that helped pave his path toward a firmer commitment to a life of Torah-Judaism.