Community Magazine March 2016

co mm unity HIGHL IGHTS A number of years ago the Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Or Hatorah, Rabbi Yaakov Marcus, shlit”a , was very concerned about the extended “mid-winter break” given by many of the community schools. He met with Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l , and discussed it in detail with him. Hacham Ovadia emphatically stated in no uncertain terms that boys who are learning Torah on the level of Yeshivat Or Hatorah students should absolutely not take a long break from Yeshiva just for a “vacation.” Does that mean that Yeshivat Or Hatorah boys don’t have mid- winter vacation? Absolutely Not! They should just “do it right!” After a four day mid-winter break (Friday through Tuesday) which included a raging snowstorm, the talmidim returned to yeshiva on Wednesday morning. The sixth, seventh, and eighth graders traveled to Bet Medrash Govoha in Lakewood. The boys and their rebbeim were treated to a guided tour of some of the buildings, with stops at some of the batei medrash where hundreds of young men were learning. They also got to meet one of the chefs, and to see the BMG kitchen, which produces almost 4,000 meals three times a day. The highlight of the visit though, was meeting the Rosh HaYeshiva, HaGaon HaRav David Shustal, shlit”a . Rav Shustal spoke for a few moments, and then each boy had the opportunity to greet the rav and to get a beracha from him. Then it was back on the bus, and the entourage headed to Sky Zone Trampoline Park. On the way, with the help of the bus driver, a surprise color war broke out! On Thursday, the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders traveled to Pacplex where they enjoyed swimming and fun indoor activities. The younger division as the middle school division, led by Rabbi Yehoshia Alfih, participated aswell inmany creative activities surrounded by learning Torah. Many lessons were learned from the divrei Torah, Torah bowl, and grand bechina preparation. But more importantly, the young men of Yeshivat Or Hatorah learned how to “do mid-winter vacation right!” and enjoyed a fun packed break that did not hurt their level of kedusha that they strive to attain every day by learning Torah. How fortunate are the students of Or Hatorah to have such dedicated rabbis, principals who are so concerned for the spirituality of their students and merit to follow the directive of Maran HachamOvadia, zt”l. Yeshivat Or Hatorah Mid-Winter Vacation 84 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Off-Peak Megilah Reading Schedule PURIM NIGHT Wednesday Evening March 23 rd Time Location 8:30 PM Bnai Yosef 9:00 PM Bnai Yosef 9:00 PM Mikdash Eliyahu 9:00 PM Beth Medrash Yam Hatorah 9:00 PM Magen David Synagogue 9:30 PM Shaare Rahamim 10:00 PM Bnai Yosef 11:00 PM Bnai Yosef PURIM DAY Thursday March 24 th Time Location 10:00 AM Bnai Yosef 10:00 AM Shaare Rahamim 10:30 AM Bnai Yosef 11:00 AM Bnai Yosef 11:00 AM Mikdash Eliyahu 11:00 AM Edmund J Safra Synagogue 11:30 AM Bnai Yosef 12:00 PM Beth Medrash Yam Hatorah 12:30 PM Bnai Yosef 1:30 PM Bnai Yosef 2:30 PM Bnai Yosef 3:30 PM Bnai Yosef 4:30 PM Bnai Yosef 5:30 PM Bnai Yosef 6:30 PM Bnai Yosef LOCATIONS Synagogue Address Bnai Yosef 1616 Ocean Pkwy Beth Medrash Yam Hatorah 1573 East 10 th Street Edmond J Safra Synagogue 1801 Ocean Pkwy Magen David Synagogue 2130 McDonald Avenue Mikdash Eliyahu 400 Avenue U Shaare Rahamim 1244 East 7 th Street