Community Magazine November 2019

48 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PNINA SOUID A few months ago, a special “Evening of Recognition of Torah Study” was held in Deal, NJ by Kollel Ohr Halacha, saluting seven students who recently completed their course of study for semichah (ordination), and honoring the distinguished rabbis and generous benefactors who have worked to create such a successful Torah institution. Kollel Ohr Halacha was founded by Rabbi Hayim Arking with the support and guidance of several prominent community rabbis, including Rabbi Eliezer Harari, Rabbi David Ozeri, and Rabbi Yosef Galmidi, with the goal of producing competent poskim (halachic decisors). The intensive program combines the rigorous study of halachic texts with exposure to experienced rabbis so that the students emerge with a thorough knowledge of source material and – no less importantly – with the skills for applying this material to real-life situations. Ohr Halacha also runs numerous community-based programs (see sidebar), and has launched a Sofer Center in Deal to train young men to become sofrim (“scribes” who prepare Torah scrolls, tefillin , and mezuzot ). GAINING INSPIRATION FROM HACHAM OVADIA, ZT”L The Evening of Recognition was graced by the presence of several distinguished figures, including Rabbi Rahamim Aboud, who presented each young rabbi with a set of sefarim signed by Hacham Eliezer Harari. Other prominent guests in attendance were Rabbi Saul Kassin, Rabbi Meyer Yedid, and Rav Shmuel Pinhasi, who delivered a special address to those who had assembled. Rav Pinhasi emphasized the unique greatness of those who dedicate themselves to the in-depth, detailed study of halachah so they can provide halachic guidance. He noted the inspiring example of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l , who invested tireless efforts to not just master the entire corpus of Torah, but to determine the practical halachah. An earlier example is Maran, Rav Yosef KOLLEL OHR HALACHA: TRAINING THE RABBIS OF TOMORROW A PROGRAMWAS DEVELOPED… TO PRODUCE RABBANIM TO GUIDE AND LEAD SEPHARDIC COMMUNITIES OF THE NEXT GENERATION. (L-R) Rabbi Shmuel Pinhasi and Rabbi Hayim Arking.