Community Magazine August 2019

28 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Torah Luminaries Light Up The Jersey Shore MACHLA ABRAMOVITZ Rabbi Rachamim Aboud and Mr. Harry Adjmi greeting Rav Elya Brudny to the Welcoming event. Rabbi Dovid Nojowitz speaking at the Welcoming event. Also seen (L-R) Rav Mordechai Ezrachi, Rav Hillel David, Rav Elya Brudny, and Rav Benzion Ezrachi (son of Rav Mordechai Ezrachi). “L o hayah velo tihyeh – “There never was such a thing, and there never will be!” This is what Rabbi Shmuel Choueka said about the “Shabbat of Hinuch” on July 4 th weekend on the Jersey Shore, as he described the experience to Rabbi Tzvi Lang of Torah Umesorah (TU), on whose behalf the special event was held. The expectations going into the weekend were very high – and the event far exceeded each and every one. Deal residents were privileged to host and to receive blessings and learn fromsome of our generation’smost renowned Torah sages, who spoke to them on the vital subject of hinuch – education. This event marked the first time the Sephardic community hosted the TU organization, offering a long-overdue opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding work that TU has done for our children, and for Sephardic communities throughout the U.S., for over 45 years. Maintaining the Sacred Connection The weekend was also a time of reunion. As soon as Rav Elya Brudny, Rosh Yeshiva of the Mirrer Yeshiva, sawRav BaruchMordechai Ezrachi, one of themost prominent Roshe Yeshiva in Jerusalem, they warmly embraced. Their acquaintance goes back half-a-century, to the time when Rav Brudny studied in Israel as a young man. “Even then,” the Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva told the rabbis assembled in the elegant home of Mr. and Mrs. Sammy Sasson that Friday afternoon, “Rabbi Ezrachi, [was acknowledged as a gadol beYisrael [giant in Israel].” The community rabbis took this occasion to hail the success of TU’s programs and workshops that directly impact Sephardic yeshivot. For example, around two years ago, Rabbi David Ozeri arranged for every Sephardic rebbe to obtain a salary increase of $10,000, which was made possible with the assistance of TU that raised $2.7 million on their behalf. Additionally, TU provides training programs for principals, teachers, and mashgihim , as well as two graphics workshops, that benefit Sephardic schools. Many mitzvah and Torah posters gracing classroom walls carry the TU insignia. Rav Brudny observed the changes he’s seen in the Brooklyn Sephardic communities sincemoving into the neighborhood 55 years ago, noting, “Today, the community is growing. Every day another school, another synagogue, another program, another initiative.” Rabbi Ezrachi, who, at the age of 90, made the difficult trip from Israel to New Jersey, spoke glowingly of TU’s work, and equated supporting TU to supporting the Mishkan , the Sanctuary built in the desert that connected our nation to Hashem. “Today, the Rosh Yeshiva explained, “the only way to maintain this sacred connection is through the education of our children.”