Page 53 - HaMizrachi Sukkot 5784 North America

Rabbi Jesse Kyra Rabbi Zach
Horn Ashkanazy Frisch

s a committed student of the Rishonim y grandparents, Trudy and Sol would invite Rav Kook to my sukkah. Rav Kook
(earlier commentaries on Gemara) and Englander z”l would be the ultimate had a unique ability to connect with all types
Achronim (later commentaries), I am Sukkot guests. As survivors of the of Jews and to see the good in everyone. He
both humbled and inspired by iyun Shoah, they each had their own interacted with religious and non-religious
w
A(in-depth learning of) Gemara. A pierc- Munique and powerful stories to share. I s, Zionist and anti-Zionists, and was
Je
ingly deep explanation of Rav Chaim Brisker dis- My grandpa survived the war after doing able to see the value in many different views
secting a machloket (halachic debate) between forced labor in a Hungarian labor camp. My and bring people together. With the backdrop
the Rambam and Ra’avad breaking down the grandma survived Auschwitz and was liberated of what is going on in Israel, where there is so
opinions to their basic elementary components, from Mauthausen. They both came to Israel after much tension in society, I would love to ask him
a powerful penetrating question of Rabbi Akiva the war to rebuild their lives after so much loss. for his eitza, his advice, for how to navigate this.
Eiger, or taking apart and reconstructing a Tosa- My grandpa served in the Haganah underground There are also so many other big questions of our
fot – these continue to fuel my passion for Torah. army as an artillery engineer, and my grandma era – we have achieved so much in our country,
But when I read the derashot (exegesis) was involved in science research at Hebrew Uni- with kibbutz galuyot, but now there are other
of Chazal (rabbis of the Talmud) found in the versity. They were true pioneers of the State of questions – going up to Har HaBayit, building a
Gemara, I find myself lost. Our ability to darshan Israel. Beit HaMikdash, wearing techeilet – I would love
(make derashot), as I have heard from my rabbeim, My grandparents met in Tel Aviv, got married to hear his views on all of these issues.
is lost and along with that is a profound lack of in 1959, and then moved to New York for work
understanding of their methodology. Despite my opportunities. This was a difficult decision for
study of the creative interpretations found in the them, but throughout their life together, they
Torah Temimah, Malbim and others, I struggle to spent a great deal of time in Israel, supporting
find the same level of clarity and understanding their family here, and giving back to the land.
as I do in the Rishonim and Achronim. My dream of Aliyah was indeed sparked by their
I deeply yearn to observe Chazal decipher and legacy.
unravel depth in the pesukim (verses), drawing out Sitting in my sukkah with my grandparents
the halachic conclusions recorded in the Gemara. in my home in Jerusalem, and celebrating the
As a devoted student of both Gemara and Tanach, holiday with their first sabra great-grandchild,
I curiously thirst for a better perspective of how would be the truest form of nechama. They
Chazal interpreted and deduced halacha from would witness their legacy being continued in
the Tanach. the Jewish homeland.
It would be a dream fulfilled to host any of
the Tanna’im or Amora’im (rabbis of the Talmud), Kyra Ashkanazy, along with her husband Shlomo,
into my sukkah. I would cherish the experience is the co-director of JLIC at Washington University
of watching their brilliance of textual analysis
and penetration of the pesukim, to hear their in Saint Louis. Prior to this role, Kyra worked at
the Jewish Agency for Israel as a Donor Missions
questions and experience the wisdom in their
answers and further connect to such a central Manager, creating and curating meaningful expe-
riences for donors and groups visiting the Jewish
part of the mesorah which lays the groundwork Agency’s programs throughout Israel. Passionate Rabbi Zach Frisch is a graduate of the first class
and builds foundations for the entire Torah
She’ba’al Peh (Oral Law). about Jewish communal work, Kyra participated of Mizrachi’s Shalhevet leadership program, Rebbe
in Mizrachi’s Shalhevet leadership program, and at Sha’alvim and SFW, and Camp Rabbi at Camp
Rabbi Jesse Horn is a senior Ram at Yeshivat Hako- received outstanding training and preparation for Mesorah. He lives in Sha’alvim with his wife Tovah
tel and runs Mizrachi's Mechanchim program. shlichut. and their two children.

| 53