Page 5 - HaMizrachi #26 Tu Bishvat USA 2021

TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Ari Rockoff

Branches that Grow

y new role as Executive Vice modern life; Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz ל"צז, learn from those who are no longer with
President of RZA–Mizra- whose tremendous scholarship opened us, and continually energize those who
Mchi that began two months the worlds of Gemara and Jewish spir- are shaping our Movement today.
ago has aroused conflicting emotions: ituality to thousands; Rabbi Gedalia Tu BiShvat captures this duality – it is
excitement at new beginnings and Dov Schwartz ל"צז, former Rosh Beit a day that marks the boundary for ter-
mourning at a sense of loss. HaKavod of RZA–Mizrachi, who was umot and ma’asrot, when we focus on
On the one hand, these past months a tower of Torah and halachic leader- gathering in the fruits of the past year,
have seen such a time of renaissance and ship; Rabbi Dovid Feinstein ל"צז, whose and also a day on which we traditionally
renewal for our Movement. Rabbi Hart halachic authority guided our commu- plant new trees.
Levine has joined our team, charged nity, continuing the legacy of his father,
Rav Moshe ל”צז; Rabbi Lord Jonathan
with establishing Mizrachi NextGen to wider Jewish community and world in “” Our Torah is an Eitz
engage and inspire a new generation of Sacks ל"צז, who brought Torah to the Chaim, a tree of life,
American Jews to share in the respon- an unprecedented and dignified way;
sibility for the future of Israel and the Rabbi Yehuda Herzl Henkin ל"צז, who with deep roots and
Jewish nation. Shira Kaplan, our inaugu- played such a key role in the flourishing new branches – and
ral Chalomot Young Leadership Fellow, of women’s Torah learning; Rabbi Fabian we must continually
is producing our new podcast, Voices Schonfeld ל"צז, who was a pioneer of
of Our Nation, with accompanying Orthodox Jewish life in America and an learn from those who
videos sent out weekly in our Shabbat unabashed champion of Religious Zion- are no longer with
B’Shabbato e-newsletter and posted on ist values, and more. And as we were us, and continually
social media. And Rabbi Aron White, about to go to print, my own community
our man on the ground in Yerushalayim, of West Hempstead, NY was shocked energize those who
is spearheading the Tzurba M’Rabanan by the loss of our Mara D’Atra, Rabbi are shaping our
learning program and the rollout of Yehuda Kelemer ל"צז, a ‘rabbi’s rabbi’ Movement today
our mizrachi.tv/rza platform that has who was renowned for his acts of chesed.
engaged dozens of communities since
its launch on Chanukah. Celebrating new beginnings and mourn- Over the coming months, in the USA
ing are in conflict, but our tradition
But these past months have also brought teaches us to address both together, in edition of HaMizrachi, we will be look-
us great loss. Along with the precious a holistic way. As Jews and as Religious ing at both our past and future. Each
individuals the pandemic has taken Zionists, we know our Movement has edition will feature teaching from our
from us, the whole Jewish community roots that ground us, and branches that leaders who have passed on and on
is reeling from the passing of so many grow. We must attend to both: connect- whose shoulders we stand, along with
of our leading figures, whose guidance ing ourselves to the legacy of those who words from new voices, who will inspire
and leadership shaped the Jewish world came before, and encouraging those us to advance our Movement toward
new vistas of impact and influence.
as we know it: Rabbi Norman Lamm who will bring new growth and life to
ל"צז, former honorary President of our community. Our Torah is an Eitz
RZA–Mizrachi, whose brilliant drashot Chaim, a tree of life, with deep roots and Rabbi Ari Rockoff is Executive Vice
brought Torah messages to every facet of new branches – and we must continually President of RZA–Mizrachi.

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