Community Magazine February 2019

Rabbi Baal-Lev expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Syrian community for the assistance and support it has provided to the Bukharian Community of Queens and Brooklyn, and for enabling Kollel Milhamta to enjoy such great success. He noted that several prominent rabbis and leaders of the Syrian community hosted or spoke at parlor meetings for the kollel, taking precious time away from their important work for their own institutions and projects for the benefit of the Bukharian Jewish community. For example, Rabbi Joey Palacci, Rabbi Joey Haber, and Rabbi Eli Mansour delivered a series of lectures in the community about Shovavim , the six-week period during the winter when it is customary to work on raising our standards of purity and modesty. Last year, during the winter of 2018, the kollel’s parlor meeting was hosted by our community’s very own Rabbi David Ozeri, despite being very busy running his special Purimcampaign at the time. Other prominent figures fromthe Syrian community also attended the event, including Rabbi David Sutton, Ezra Erani, Joe Setton, Jimmy Khezrie, Gabe Khezrie, and Ronnie Adjmi. "Learning Torah does magic to the community," says Ezra Erani. Rabbi Baal-Lev emphasized the especially warm relationship he enjoys with these esteemed individuals, and the encouragement they have consistently provided. The event was attended by numerous figures from the Bukharian community, including Ruven Yusupov, Yona Batchayev, Yossi Yitzhakov from Miami, Yehuda Barchov, Boris Ahronov, Yitzchok and Shalom ShalomovandYosefBorochov (fromMonsey).Distinguishedfigures from Ashkenazi communities in attendance included Rav Eliezer Ginsberg, Rav Elya Brudny, Mr. Rubi Schron, and Reb AvrahamFruchthandler. TheBukharian Community in Queens The project to build Torah life for the Bukharian community in Queens was spearheaded by Mr. Simcha Alishayev, who partnered with Rabbi Shmuel Elishayev from Bnei Brak to build Yeshivat Shaare Zion and the Beth Gavriel Bukharian Jewish Center in Forest Hills. Many rabbis, including Rav Igal Haimov and Rav Tzadka, built additional Torah institutions for the Bukharian community in KewGarden Hills. In 2013, after 14 years of diligent Torah study in Eretz Yisrael , Rabbi Baal-Lev arrived in New York and connected with a group of young men who recognized the rabbi’s unique strengths and talents which could benefit the Bukharian community. These men include: Avraham Davidov, David Davidov, Roman Davrayev, Steven Davrayev, Danny Khaimov, Nir Tahalov, Pinchas Yagudaev, Moshe Isakov and Ariel Yosefi. Eager to establish a vibrant center of Torah learning for promising young scholars, they helped the rabbi set up the kollel. Around a year later, Rabbi Baal-Lev had a meeting in Rav Igal Haimov’s home. “I have taken the community to this level,” Rabbi Haimov said. “Take a part in this project and help take it further.” Rabbi Baal-Lev took these words to heart. In just five years, he was presiding over a full-time, active bet midrash pulsating day and night with the rigorous, intensive study of Torah at the highest levels. The revered 20 th -century sage Hazon Ish (Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz) wrote that the greatest influence upon a community comes from Torah scholars learning in its midst . Kollel Milhama is a shining example of this influence, as noted by Rabbi Noach Oelbaum, one of the leading rabbis in Queens. “What we have here inQueens is a reine vinkel (a pure corner) which influences the community,” Rabbi Oelbaum says of Kollel Milhamta. The kollel welcomes all who wish to participate in its various programs, regardless of their level or background. The atmosphere is friendly and amicable, and everyone is made to feel comfortable. Kollel Milhamta has expanded into our neck of the woods, as well, opening a nighttime learning program in Flatbush, at E. 7 th and Ave. L, which operates six nights a week from 8:45pm to 10pm. The Flatbush program is run by Rabbi Baal-Lev’s brother, Rabbi Emanuel Baal-Lev, with the encouragement of Rav Elya Brudny. The “War ofTorah” The name “Milhamta Shel Torah” literally means “the war of Torah,” and it was selected on the basis of the comments of the Or Ha’haim Ha’kadosh , one of the famous Sephardic Torah commentators, regarding the war waged by the nation of Amalek against the Jewish People. The Midrash teaches that Gdbrought Amalek to attack the Jews because they were lax in Torah study, and the Or Ha’haim explained that certainly, the Jewswere involved in study, but theywerenotwaging the “ milhamta shel Torah ,”investingenergyandpassionintheirlearning,applyingthemselves to reach the highest standards of achievement. It is only through this “war,” our rabbis teach, that we earn peace and the arrival of Mashiah . True to this goal, Rabbi Baal-Lev is not sittingonhis laurels, contentwith his kollel’s achievements. He aspires to extend his reach even further, to establish a kollel and Torah center in every neighborhood, and to build a yeshiva and a Bet Yaakov school. TheBukhariancommunityemerged frombehind the IronCurtaineager to rebuilditselfafterdecadesofisolationandSovietoppression.KollelMilhamta, the first institution of full-time, rigorous Torah learning in the community, is emblematic of its resounding success in surmounting the huge obstacles that stood in the way of this lofty goal. Like our own Syrian community, our Bukharian brothers and sisters have beaten the odds and refuted the naysayersbytransplantingtheircustomsandtraditionsonAmericansoil,and, now, by building a glorious citadel of learning that shines the brilliant light of Torah far andwide, throughout thecommunityand farbeyond. Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach.  Her coaching specialties include life, career and dating coaching.  Ellen can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com .. “Our goal is to bring more Torah, kedushah , and taharah to our community.” Rabbi Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Yeshiva of Lakewood, delivering a shiur to the avreichim and baalei habatim of the kollel. 30 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE