Community Magazine January 2021

30 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE “ To learn, to teach, to observe and to practice. ” This is the mission statement of Ohr Halacha, a unique institution which prepares young Torah scholars in the Sephardic community for a life of service as religious guides and leaders. Employing a large assortment of educational methods, Ohr Halacha’s semichah (ordination) program enables our community’s young, ambitious students to acquire the knowledge, expertise, and training they need to serve as halachic decisors and as the next generation of leaders in our community. Ohr Halacha was established in 2014 under the guidance of Rabbi Eliezer Harari, Rabbi David Ozeri, and Rabbi Yosef Galimidi. It is led by its renowned Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Hayim Arking, who also serves as administrator of the kashrut division of the JSOR (Jersey Shore Orthodox Rabbinate), the premier kashrut organization for the Deal area. Ohr Halacha’s recently-appointed Executive Director, Rabbi Abe Elbaz, brings to the organization years of experience and expertise in community outreach. He is available by phone to offer any assistance or information relevant to Ohr Halacha’s work. Students in Ohr Halacha spend five years engrossed in advanced Torah learning, delving into the Talmud and its commentaries, and covering large portions of the Shulhan Aruch and later halachic works. Comprehensive exams are administered, testing the students’ mastery of the material. Ohr Halacha graduates currently serve as rabbis, teachers, and speakers in Deal, Lakewood, Brooklyn and many other communities. Beyond producing religious leaders, Ohr Halacha also works directly with the Sephardic community in various different capacities, running several important programs: Sofer Center Ohr Halacha’s center for everything related to safrut (the writing of tefillin , mezuzot, and Torah scrolls) is located in Ocean, NJ (416 Deal Road). It was started four years ago to give Deal community members access to top quality tefillin and mezuzot at affordable prices. Ohr Halacha has a team of expert sofrim and talented young rabbis who are available to tend to all needs involving tefillin , mezuzot, and Sifre Torah . Bar mitzvah boys are invited to come and watch their tefillin being put together, giving them an unforgettable, inspiring experience and a precious memory that lasts a lifetime. The Kollel is in the process of training more sofrim to enable the Sofer Center to further expand its activities. Shaatnez Center The Shaatnez Center, also located in Deal, is operated by a team of shaatnez checkers who have completed 60 hours of training, learning all about fabrics so they can easily identify shaatnez . The center is run as a service to the community, in an effort to help community members observe this mitzvah . Recently, someone called the center to arrange the inspection of a number of items, and the staff member asked about the garments. Upon receiving the information, the inspector was able to determine right away that the clothing is free of sha’atnez and does not require checking. Ohr Halacha is planning to host to another course to train more sha’atnez inspectors for the benefit of our ever-growing community. S H A A T N E Z C E N T E R O R GA MA R I T B R I T M I L A T O R A H L www.ohrhalacha.org rabiarking@ohrlacha.org 732-359-3080 OHR HALACHA Spreads its Wings Throughout the Deal Community and Beyond PNINA SOUID Shaatnez training at Ohr Halacha. Rabbi Gideon Ben Moshe who administers semichah testing giving a shiur.