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דייסב
GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS YESHIVA COLLEGE CAMPUS SOUTH AFRICA
ROSH YESHIVA
ROSH YESHIVA

Rabbi David Stav

Wearing The Yeshiva College Campus, comprising the Yeshiva College School and the Yeshiva Mizrachi Community with its
- UNIQUE RABBINIC OPPORTUNITY -

Our Masks partners the Beit Mordechai Campus Kollel / Midrasha as well as Bnei Akiva and Emunah Ladies Beit Midrash, is a
vibrant and active campus with over 750 students in our school and over 500 families in our community. The campus
is the home of religious Zionism in the South African Jewish Community and is a beacon of light around the world.

The Yeshiva College Campus seeks to appoint a Campus Rosh Yeshiva who will lead, guide and build our Shul
congregations, our Torah learning, our school and community activities - ןקז דעו רענמ - from young to old, and into
the next generation.

Continuing in the footsteps and legacy left for us by our dear and esteemed Rosh Yeshiva of many decades, Rabbi
he most well-known symbol of on Purim? The Talmud asks, “Where of how G-d runs the world, and with Avraham Tanzer Zt”l, we are searching for an innovative and dynamic candidate with a warm personality, a relentless
Purim is the mask. There is no can we find Esther in the Torah?” What total faith and bitachon we rely on Him work ethic, steeped in Torah learning, knowledge and instruction of halacha. We are looking for a Rabbinic leader
Tkindergarten or school in the is the source of Megillat Esther in the to never abandon His nation. connected to the values of Talmud Torah, Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael who will work with our team of committed
Jewish world in which children and Torah? The answer is surprising: “And Rabbanim to strengthen the connection of our community to learning, all aspects of religious life and to the State of
parents don’t know that you celebrate I will certainly hide (רי ִּ ת ְ ס ַ א ר ֵּ ת ְ ס ַ ה) My The truth is, this is how we should feel Israel.
Purim by putting on a costume. Even Face on that day.” every year. I remember Purim in the
those who don’t remember exactly what year of the Gulf War, when we were The successful candidate for this position must hold the following credentials, and embody the following values and
happened on Purim and why we cele- What is the connection between Queen constantly running to the sealed rooms personality traits:
brate know it’s a must to dress up, and Esther and the words “I will certainly for fear of chemical attacks; then too,
I’m sure you all have fond memories of hide My Face”? There are times in we wore masks. On Purim that year, has spent a substantial period of time in full time is an outstanding leader with strong abilities in
Purim in your childhood. Jewish history when Divine Providence we came back out to our lives, with- learning in Yeshiva / Kollel (minimum 5-7 years) and interpersonal relationships
is apparent and clear. Yetziat Mitzrayim, out masks. Divine Providence was obtained a recognised Semicha (From the Israel Chief must be able to set the halachic standards of the
The source of this minhag is in the for example. Anyone who saw kriyat revealed to us in that despite dozens of Rabbinate or equivalent) campus and serve as the Halachic Posek on halachic
Mahari Mintz, who describes how his Yam Suf and the Egyptians drowning in missile attacks, less than a handful of has held a community leadership position in the area and religious issues
fellow Rabbis would dress up in cos- the sea while Israel walked on dry land Jews in the entire country were directly of communal Rabbinics must be passionate about community building in all
tumes. After him, the Rema writes in saw the extended Hand of G-d in the harmed. acts as a role model in terms of religious observance areas including school, shul and involvement of the
the Shulchan Aruch about the “custom world. But there are other times in our and practice Yeshiva Mizrachi community within the wider South
to wear masks on Purim.” For one look- history when everything seems dark; That Purim, the Jews had ora, light is an experienced teacher of all ages who will engage, African community context and international Jewry
ing from outside, it seems foreign and the world seems like a great, bubbling (to borrow a term from the Megillah). ignite and inspire the community members at all must be a passionate advocate for the State of Israel
strange to the spirit of Jewish tradition. pot left on the fire without supervision This year, the םיִנ ָּ פ ר ֵּ ת ְ ס ֶ ה is much greater. levels of prior learning with a willingness to actively engage in communal
Some even claimed that the source of or purpose. We will wear our masks knowing we has a breadth of knowledge in secular subjects and religious and Zionist activities
this custom was from similar events that still live in that Divinely-orchestrated how they relate to the Jewish role in the world, in involvement of a Rebbetzin would be enormously
happened in Germany and Italy in the This is the םיִנ ָּ פ ר ֵּ ת ְ ס ֶ ה the Torah hints to hidden reality, and wait as patiently as conjunction with being an accomplished Torah beneficial
scholar
Middle Ages. The Sages suggested dif- in these words. This is what the Jews we can for healing and comfort.
ferent reasons for this custom. Among experienced at the time of Mordechai
them, the fact that Mordechai changed and Esther. What did G-d want from Most of all, we want to see the faces of Please send a detailed cover letter and your curriculum vitae (CV) outlining your qualifications and experience to
his clothing from regular clothing to us? Why did Haman issue a decree our friends and loved ones. We want to Stacey Dembo at stacey@yeshivamizrachi.org.za by midday on Friday 12th of March 2021.
see who hides behind the masks. Deep
torn sackcloth and then to royal attire. to wipe out the Jewish nation? How
many questions would we have asked down, we also want to see G-d behind
However this year, I think we can add in those times, as in many other periods His mask, and imbue our lives with pro-
another idea. in which we were persecuted by mur- found meaning and significance. We
ָ
derous, antisemitic nations? want to see G-d’s light – ךיֶנ ָּ פ ר ֵּ ת ְ ס ַּ ת ל ַ א
Nowadays, this custom seems under- יִּנ ֶּ מ ִ מ, don’t hide Your Face from us.
standable and familiar. We all wear םיִנ ָּ פ ר ֵּ ת ְ ס ֶ ה – G-d ‘hiding’ Himself, is the
masks – young and old, men and mask.
women, Jews and non-Jews. Rabbi David Stav is Chief Rabbi of Shoham.
Hence we wear masks on Purim to
What does this tell us? What should express that this is a holiday of ר ֵּ ת ְ ס ֶ ה A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
we be thinking when we wear masks םיִנ ָּ פ. That we don’t understand one iota mizrachi.org/speakers

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