Community Magazine May 2021

34 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Whirlwind Changes Changes followedalmost immediately. “Wecannot havea successful kehillah without a daily minyan ,” Hacham Yosef said. Although the members felt it was impractical, they had given their word and they organized it. Two weeks later, another directive was given. “We must have a shiur before Shaharit ,” he said. “We will quicken the pace of the prayers and spend 20 minutes learning.” This was in line with the passuk in Mishlei (28:9) that states, “One who turns away his ear from hearing Torah, his prayers are also an abomination.” The surprises did not end. “We will be learning gemara, starting with Masechet Berachot ,” he said, overruling their protests that perhaps Humash or halachah may be more appropriate. “My mission is to burn out the am haaratzut from the community. You are all capable of becoming talmide hachamim , and we will reach this goal together!” The early morning class began with just seven people. Shortly afterward, Hacham Yosef added a Wednesday evening class in which he taught another perek of the masechta . He would read, translate, and explain each word, patiently guiding his students on their path to becoming proficient. The shiur included active participation, where each member of the class got involved in the give-and-take of the learning. Before long, they were learning not just Rashi and Tosafot , but adding Rishonim such as the Rif, Rabbeinu Yonah, and the Rambam as well. The 20-minute shiur now spanned an hour, as the participants longed to absorb as much as they could. After a year and a half, the shiur completed the entire Masechet Berachot . Rabbi Raful insisted they make it a communal celebration. “We had a gala meal with music and dancing, and all the Rabbanim and dignitaries of the community came,” Ezra Erani recalls. “They had never experienced such a joyous occasion, and neither had we. It made a tremendous impact, and as we began Masechet Shabbat , more classes led by more Rabbanim were added.” Harav Asher Hachuel, shlita , taught a class for beginners, which attracted an ever-growing group of newcomers. Limud Torah Surges – Not Only for theMen When Hacham Yosef felt the kehillah was ready for another innovation, he introduced Torah learning to the Shabbat morning minyan . His students, who were growing by leaps and bounds, were to become the teachers for the rest of the congregants as they learned hilchot tefillah . During the week, Hacham Yosef would make sure they knew the material, and after keriat haTorah , they would break up into small groups and teach the halachot to the others. Success breeds success, and before long the members began coming in to learn on Shabbat afternoon as well to increase their limud Torah . While Hacham Yosef was pleased with the growth in Torah of the men, he knew that this revolution must include the women of the community as well. Sparing no effort, he retained Rebbetzin Zahava Braunstein, a”h , to deliver classes for thewomen, and she became their rolemodel. She taught a class everyMonday night in Congregation Bnai Yosef, while Rabbi Raful taught the men in another room. As the new minyan expanded to include 20 families and continued to attract new ones, they moved to new quarters, eventually renting their own building. The small group was now its own kehillah , and Hacham Yosef knew it was time to take it to a new level. True, learning Torah every morning and on Shabbat was impressive, but his goal was to create a kehillah of talmide hachamim . The time was ripe to open a kollel, which would lay the groundwork for the crowning glory of their new community: the founding of Yeshiva Ateret Torah. Enter Rabbi ChaimAharonWeinberg In preparation for its opening, Rabbi Raful searched for the right mehanech to lead the school. He zeroed in on Rabbi Chaim Aharon Weinberg, zt”l , a talmid of Yeshivas Telshe who was embarking on his career in hinuch . As a Vizhnitzer Chassid, Rabbi Weinberg would not make such a move without the consent of his Rebbe , and Rabbi Raful went along with him to Monsey to discuss his plans with Harav Mordechai Hager, theVizhnitzer RebbeofMonsey, zy”a . After hearing his plans and seeing his devotion, the Rebbe advisedRabbiWeinberg to The Siyum of Masechet Berachot attended by the Rabbanim of the community. Harav Chaim Aharon Weinberg, zt”l , with Hacham Yosef.