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LETTERS

TO THE

EDITOR

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editor@mizrachi.org

On the passing of Rabbi Nota Greenblatt We learned much Torah from Rav Nota, but Make Israel your own
zt”l on April 29th even more importantly, we learned how to
treat a fellow human being. WE VERY MUCH enjoyed your special edi-
“TELL ME SOMETHING about Rabbi Nota tion on the “Youth Aliyah Phenomenon”
Greenblatt in his younger days,” I asked a Rabbi Uriel Lubetski (Vol. 5, No. 1) – particularly because at Sha-
long-time resident of Memphis, TN. “Rav Director of Education, English Division, pell’s/Darche Noam and Midreshet Rachel
Nota is responsible for Memphis maintain- Sulamot and lecturer at Michlalah v’Chaya we have been part of this phenom-
ing its observant Jewish community,” he Efrat, Israel enon for well over four decades. We are
answered. As one of the founders of the proud that over 25% of our more than 4,500
school, Rav Nota went door-to-door not alumni – and an equivalent percentage of
only to collect money but to convince the our current students – have made Aliyah,
young Jewish families who lived there to and are making contributions to a wide
entrust their children to him. Since then, range of communities throughout Israel.
he remained connected to the school as an We have found that a combination of
engaging teacher, effective fundraiser, and strong commitment, good preparation,
dedicated board member. choosing a community appropriate for you
I met Rav Nota for the first time when he (and of course your spouse and children, if
was in his 80s and I was interviewing to applicable), and a supportive network of
become the Upper School Principal at Mar- mentors and friends are all ingredients to
golin Hebrew Academy in Memphis. As part a successful Aliyah. May many, many other
of my interview process, I had the honor of A job well done young adults and couples (and those young
meeting with Rav Nota. I was concerned I DON'T WANT to sound like a broken at heart) follow in the footsteps of these
that he would ask me questions about my record by repeating this, but I cannot tell happy and successful olim and make Israel
Torah learning and give me an exam. But you how satisfying it is to read HaMizrachi their own.
as I walked into his house, I was imme- magazine. I feel happy, proud, and inspired
diately put at ease and relieved. While he by it. You have created a publication that Rabbi Shmuel Jablon
did ask me where I learned, the rest of the does exactly what we want – happy, Executive Director, Shapell’s/Darche Noam
conversation was about getting to know optimistic, rich in content, and tzioni in and Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya
more about my family and my experiences. all the best ways. The content pieces are Efrat, Israel
extremely well done. But the personal
Since that first meeting, I understood why stories are golden. They are inspiring, real
Rav Nota was so successful at building and just wonderful. Kol hakavod on creating
the Memphis Jewish community. He was such a masterpiece!
down-to-earth and disarmed you with his
sense of humor. He immediately realized Rabbi Reuven Tradburks
who he was talking to and adjusted his con- Director, Israel office of the Rabbinical
versation and demeanor to make the other Council of America
person comfortable, whether young or old. Jerusalem, Israel

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