Community Magazine March 2014

90 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Community Chest Entire Shas Completed in One Day at Shas-A-Thon The idea to have nearly 300 young men learn 10 dafim each to finish the entire Shas in a single day under one roof was novel enough. But to have it done as a hizuk to couples waiting to be blessed with children and a fundraiser for an organization that helps them makes it historic. On Sunday, February 16 th , the Ocean Place Resort in Long Branch, N.J., turned into a veritable bet midrash during the day, and a banquet hall as evening turned into night, as theAT.I.M.E. Shas-a-thon members sat and learned the 10 dafim assigned to them and then celebrated the completion of all 2,711 dafim . “Torah is meant to be given over fromone generation to another,” said Rabbi Shaul Rosen, founder and director of AT.I.M.E., as seder broke for a gourmet lunch. “That is what is missing here. And by you learning Torah, they will be merit to have their own children.” The goal of the Shas-a-thon was simple: get 271 people to learn 10 dafim each and make a siyum haShas all in one day. Each learner was sponsored by other people, usually for hundreds, or thousands, of dollars. Weeks earlier, each person was given an ArtScroll Gemara to help him prepare for the event so that it would be a hazarah and not learning for the first time. As night fell, preparations began for the gala siyum , with music and a seudah . Rabbi David Ozeri addressed the people, “MetLife, Citi Field and now Shas a-thon. Has it ever happened before, the whole Shas, finished under one roof in one day? I don’t know if it ever happened before,” said Rabbi Ozeri to thunderous applause. “It’s mind-boggling.” Harav Mattisyahu Solomon, Mashgiach of Bet Medrash Govoha, addressed the siyum , pronouncing AT.I.M.E., “not only an organization but a movement.” “The last thing that we have to do is to call upon the zechut haTorah ,” the Mashgiach said, referring to the learning as a zechut , “to tap into the wonderful source of life.” Yeshivat Or Hatorah 7th Grade Sefer Torah Campaign A visit from the Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Yaakov Marcus, to the boy’s elementary school division of Yeshivat Or Hatorah is always cause for excitement. Sometimes it is anxious excitement, as the talmidim (students) might be called upon to prove to the Rosh Yeshivah how well they are learning. This time, though, the cause for the visit was a special surprise that has reinvigorated the spirit in the school – the Sefer Torah project. Rabbi Marcus assembled the seventh graders, the oldest class in the school, who will become bar mitzvah this year, and he announced that they have been chosen to make a dream come true –writing and dedicating their very own Sefer Torah! As soon as the announcement of the seventh grade Sefer Torah project was made, the boys lost no time figuring out how many cousins and uncles and other friends and relatives they could rely on to buy dedications, whether big or small. More than one enterprising young man considered the possibility that he might be able to talk one of his relatives into taking on the cost of the entire Sefer at $36,000. But not to worry – there are plenty of opportunities for anyone who wants to have a share in this unique Sefer Torah. Yeshivat Or Hatorah Elementary School was built through the tireless work and devotion of Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Yaakov S. Marcus, and Principal Rabbi Eliezer Zeytouneh. Their belief is that every child deserves to and can receive a quality yeshivah education with special attention being paid to preserving the Syrian/Sephardic tradition. Since their doors opened in 2006, their commitment to this goal has not wavered. As the seventh grade inches towards starting their very own daily minyan at the yeshivah, they plan to fulfill the dream of completing the writing of their very own Torah with great joy and dancing Pesah time. Anyone interested in joining this exciting project is invited to contact the yeshivah at 718-645-4645 or yohoffice@aol.com to make a pledge. Rabbi David Ozeri speaking at the Shas-a-thon. Rabbi Shmuel Choueka celebrating at the Shas-a-thon.