Page 24 - HaMizrachi Chanukah 5784 North America

JEWS

with
VIEWS Rabbi Tzvi Orit

Wohlgelernter Samuels

hen Rav Meir Shapiro started the moment that has given me inspiration
daf yomi, he had a dream. Con- during these challenging times (I
ceptually it is very simple – all the have many in mind) is from last week,
Jewish people united in learning when I was helping with Mizrachi’s
Wthe same daf everyday no matter Aglobal women’s Unity, Song, Tefillah
We asked five what. The success of daf yomi has proven itself and Hafrashat Challah event in Efrat. A lot of
many times, however personally I never fully
preparation comes with these sorts of events
accomplished appreciated it until now. that sometimes you don’t enjoy the moment.
It’s like your own event and you want everything
Amidst all the chaos of war in our base in the
south I had the great privilege of making a siyum to turn out just right.
Jews from on Masechet Kiddushin (and Seder Nashim) with on me, I stood on the stage and the producer
As the lights turned on, cameras were all
a sponsored BBQ seudat mitzvah for over 100
around the soldiers. The joy of celebration of Torah cast a gave me a thumbs-up that the event is now live
great light in the darkness we find ourselves in.
streaming. There were over 400 women from
It was particularly inspirational that we finished around the globe and close to 400 women who
world: a Masechet which is all about a Jewish couple came in person.
choosing to build a home together and continue
I stood there in awe, almost in tears as one
the chain of the Jewish people. who put so much energy in a single initiative,
In these diers on our base in a simple, yet moving chup- finally saw all the pieces come together, it was
This siyum followed the wedding of two sol-
a moment of gratitude. I looked around and
challenging pah. This event imbued in us an even greater saw the amount of women that came together
appreciation of Am Yisrael and Torat Yisrael. The
from all walks of life and all parts of the world
spirit of the Jewish people is rock hard. Need- ד ָח ֶאֶ ב ֵלֵ ְבְּ ד ָח ֶאֶ שׁי ִאֶ ְכְּ.
times, what is less to say once the copies of Bava Kama came I felt the need to say a וּנ ָי ֱח ֶה ֶשׁ and so I did.
out they were quickly snatched up by soldiers
hungry for more Torah. During these challenging times, when a
one moment single day that goes by feels like a year, when
at nights it is hard to sleep and breathe, when
we worry about our soldiers, those murdered,
that has wounded and of course all of our brothers and
sisters taken hostage, it is moments like this
given you that inspire and give us hope. It is the sense
of unity that will keep us together and give us
strength.
inspiration? ה ָר ָצָּ ַבְּ ,ה ָר ָצָּ ַבְּ םי ִנוּת ְנְּ ַה לֵ ֵאֶ ָר ְשְִׂי תי ֵבְּ לֵ ָכְּ וּני ֵח ַאֶ"
"…ה ָיָּ ִב ְשׁ ַבוּ
�
Orit Samuels lives in Efrat, having made Aliyah
Rabbi Tzvi Wohlgelernter works for Mizrachi-JLIC at from LA in 1994. She is the program director for
Givat Shmuel. He is currently serving as a reservist Yachad at Camp Ennismore, and is Israel Project
on an IDF base in the south of Israel. Manager on behalf of Mizrachi Canada.

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