Community Magazine March 2016

ADAR I - ADAR II 5776 MARCH 2016 29 “A True Kiddush Hashem” Students at Lev Torah are given the unique privilege of meeting and interacting with great rabbinical leaders of the Sephardic world, from both here in Brooklyn and Israel. Many prominent rabbis have graced Lev Torah’s auditorium with their uplifting words and sound guidance. These luminaries inspire the students to learn with enthusiasm, and serve as models of greatness for them to emulate.  Rabbi Shemuel Pinhasi of Jerusalem, a world-renowned authority on Sephardic halachah, remarked during his visit to Lev Torah, “This institution is a true kiddush Hashem .”   Rabbi Avraham Hamra, former Chief Rabbi of Damascus, went so far as to compare the standards of Lev Torah with those of yeshivot in the old country: “It is heartwarming to see our American youth learning on par with our days in Syria.”  Tears filled the eyes of Rabbi Yitzchak Berachah, Rosh Yeshivat Ateret Yitzchak, as he went from room to room and was surrounded by excited boys who kissed his hand and received his blessings.  Rabbi David Ozeri of Yad Yosef Torah Center said, “For weeks after I visited Yeshivat Lev Torah it was the topic of conversation with almost everyone I met. They are doing a special job in that school.”  Bringing Current Events to Life Yeshivat Lev Torah firmly believes in the importance of providing students with a comprehensive, well-rounded education, and in their becoming familiar with, and aware of, the world around us. This belief is the concept underlying the yeshiva’s rich and thorough current events program, in which the students learn about what transpires around the world and the issues currently facing not just the Jewish community, but the world at large. The unique program brings current events to life with slides, in-depth discussions, and special projects focusing on important news stories.   Of course, understanding the world around us requires understanding how we got here, and so Lev Torah affords great importance to the study of history. The school’s ambitious Holocaust program brought the boys back to the time when living as a Jew entailed great hardship and danger. They gained a newfound sense of appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy, which motivates them to perform more mitzvot and more acts of hesed .   Lev Torah provides a full Judaic studies program on Sundays, as well as a new Sunday afternoon athletic program run by the school’s extracurricular activities director, Mr. Yeshaya Samet.  Lev Torah for Girls Last year, Yeshivat Lev Torah embarked upon a new venture, launching a dynamic educational program for girls. The preschool building on Avenue Z is abuzz with excitement, as the program thrives under the outstanding direction of Mrs. Diane Shwekey. Three grades of girls are now learning a comprehensive double curriculum that matches or exceeds that which is being offered by other community girls’ schools. Enrollment is underway for the 2016-2017 academic year, and a third grade is being added. Lev Torah is excited to announce that the girls program is moving to its new facility to accommodate its rapid growth.   “I’m so impressed with how much my little girl knows!” one mother exclaimed. “She already says berachot and knows our holidays and all the different mitzvot and customs each holy day presents.”  Rabbi David Ozeri said, “For weeks after I visited Yeshivat Lev Torah it was the topic of conversation with almost everyone I met. They are doing a special job in that school.”