Tammuz 5770 / June 2010
You are certainly familiar with the famous mashal of the half-filled cup. While the pessimist bemoans the empty half, the optimist gratefully thanks Heaven for the full half.
The months of Tammuz and Av demand of us to mourn the absence of the Beis Hamikdash which leaves us with an empty half of the cup of closeness with our Creator.
But it is equally important for us to gratefully reflect on the full half of that cup which is represented by Ohr Somayach and the rest of the Torah world. Since the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, say Chazal, all that Hashem has in this world are daled amos of halacha.
You are an important part of the history of Ohr Somayach's monumental role in expanding those daled amos into a full half cup. Thanks to your role the cup continues to fill up with more and more young people reconnecting to their roots.
It is our prayer that with your encouragement and siyata dishmaya we will keep on filling that cup and bring closer the day when Mashiachwill arrive to rebuild the Beis Hamikdash and our cup will be full.
Alumni Update
Alumnus Zev Kahn, director of the Jewish Education Team (JET) in Chicago has just arrived with some of the university students he has influenced for the Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) summer program. They will be part of a group of students from a dozen campuses, one of the largest groups in recent years.
One of the highlights of this experience will be the opportunity to learn from and interact with the two dozen professionals and businessmen participating in the annual Mentors Mission which is headed by Danny Lemberg and Yaakov Kaplan, chairmen of our Executive Board.
Alumnus Michael Rovinsky, who graduated Ohr Somayach in 1982 and is currently living in St. Louis where he is a mohel and works for NCSY, this week shared many of his experiences in the field with the avreichim currently learning in our Ohr Lagolah Hertz Leadership Training Program. Rabbi Rovinsky enthralled with tales of kiruv through Bris Milah, and insights into the world of working in NCSY and in chinuch.
Kiruv Seminar for Bnei Torah
Next week on the Fast of Tammuz, Tuesday 29th June Ohr Lagolah are hosting their annual Kiruv Seminar for Bnei Torah. Speakers include the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Mendel Weinbach, Rav Moshe Shapiro, Rabbi Danny Kirsch (Director of the JLE in London), Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz, Rabbi Dovid Kaplan, Rabbi Dr Dovid Gottlieb, Rabbi Shmuel Bloom (former Executive Vice President of the Agudath Yisrael of the US and currently Dean of Ohr Lagolah), Rav Zev Leff and Rav Moshe Lazerus; as you can see an all-star line up. Please join us if you are in Jerusalem.
And in Conclusion
All of your rabbeim join us in praying together with you for the arrival of Mashiach and the transformation of the upcoming fast days into holidays for our people.
Rabbi Nota Schiller / Rabbi Mendel Weinbach
- Roshei Yeshiva
