YY YY CCCC AAAA Yachad YY YY CC AA AA Together YYYY AAAA CC HH HH AA AA DDDDD YY AA AA CC HH HH AAAAAAAA DD DD The Electronic YY AA AA CC HHHHHHH AA AA DD DD Alumni YY AAAAAAAA CCCC HHHHHHH AA AA DD DD Newsletter AA AA HH HH DD DD of AA AA HH HH DDDDD Ohr Somayach -------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Hinei ma tov u'ma na'im sheves achim gam 'Yachad' How good and pleasant it is for brothers to be 'Together' -------------------------------------------------------------------- Premier Issue - #1 Cheshvan 5755 -------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Introductory Message This new communication is intended to serve as a regular monthly forum for Ohr Somayach alumni and staff to continue the togetherness we experienced at Ohr Somayach and as a means for promoting mutual growth and development. Through the Internet we would like to create a virtual closeness so to speak, through which we could go down to the canteen and keep up on the latest news, go to the Beis Medrash and join a lively discussion, drop in on a shiur, present halachic or other questions, and offer our own Torah insights and thoughts for general debate. -------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Special Message from Roshe Ha'yeshiva Ma rabbu ma'asecha Hashem, How wonderous are Your works Hashem! kulam bechochma asisa. In Wisdom You have made them all. Tehillim 104:24 Dovid Hamelech not only challenged us to appreciate the brilliant tapestry of Hashem's creation but to find ways of utilizing the wisdom of each element of creation for achieving a closer relationship with its Creator. Electronic Mail is the newest breakthrough in the sophisticated world of computers and communication. Always on the lookout for opportunities to maintain contact with former talmidim and to establish contact with potential new ones, Ohr Somayach has initiated an ambitious state of the art outreach program via the Internet. While we are successfully reaching tens of thousands throughout the world each week with our Divrei Torah on Parshas Hashovua, Daf Hayomi, Halacha and Hashkafa, we can not neglect former talmidim like yourself, whom we can also reach by E-Mail. We hope you will enjoy these monthly updates on what's doing at Ohr Somayach and that you will stay in touch with us so that together we can translate this newest facet of worldly wisdom into another avenue of appreciating and utilizing the Divine wisdom in creation. Rabbi Nota Schiller Rabbi Mendel Weinbach -------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Greetings from Rabbi Samet Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succos, and Simchas Torah...this was certainly a busy season for you--one packed with ruchniyus (spiritual) uplift. It was a busy season for me as well, seeing that the learning in the Beis Medrash during the second and third sedorim was up to the standards we have become accustomed to at Ohr Somayach for this special season and placing talmidim with families for Yom Tov meals. How do we sustain the impact which these Holy Days have made upon us? The Mishneh in Mesechta Berachos tells us that the chassidim harishonim not only spent an hour preparing for tefilah but also an hour afterwards to internalize the experience of speaking to Hashem and carrying it with them into their daily lives. Perhaps a few moments of reflecting on what these special days meant to us will enable us to carry that meaning into every aspect of our lives and achieve for us the hatzlacha in ruchniyus and gashmiyus (material needs) for which we all pray. Yehuda Samet -------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Messages from Alumni David Schacht- ('78) I just wanted to say that I appreciate having a connection to Judaism and to Ohr Somayach available to me anytime I want to sit down at my computer. That means a lot to me. Also, I just received your Rosh HaShanah mailing, and it adds a special feeling to my day. Hillel Abramson- ('93) My family and I have settled in Monsey, and are currently renting Rav Abramov's home near the Yeshiva. I am learning full time at Ohr Somayach here, and teaching secular subjects at Mesivta Ohel Torah in the afternoons. Continuing my world tour of Ohr Somayach Campuses (Thornhill, Jerusalem, Monsey...) Darren Ernest- (JLE '94) The JLE program this year was heralded by many as one of the best JLE's ever because of the lectures, the tours and the great bunch of guys selected, all meshed together perfectly by the expert planning of Rabbi Geffen and his team. In Judaism, growth comes by connecting to others through 'mussar' and the performance of 'mitzvos.' What better place to do this growing than in yeshiva? Ohr Somayach has really given me the opportunity of a lifetime - a lifetime of opportunity! -------------------------------------------------------------------- -> News from Here & There *** The Ohr Somayach Computer Department (1) Ohr Somayach "On-Line"-- Posts seven lists on Internet. Approximately 20,000 readers and growing! (2) Game Development -- Selling like hotcakes. "Where in Israel" and "Judaic Wizard" are currently available and "Bracha-man" is coming. *** Belzberg Face Lift Remember Belzberg Hall? Thanks to a generous donation, it has been renovated top to bottom -- all the trimmings! *** Recent Smicha Recipients Rabbi Reuven Abedon Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Kane Rabbi Yehuda Albin Rabbi Yosef Kaufman Rabbi Robert Chevins Rabbi Binyamin Rafael Rabbi Yonasan Goldson Rabbi Yaacov Asher Sinclair Rabbi Shmuel Kalos Rabbi Yosef Weiss M a z e l T o v ! *** Recent Appointments -- A partial list of Ohr Lagola Graduates: Rabbi Yehuda Albin Chicago - Ohr Somayach Rabbi Avraham Greenberg Detroit - Day School Rabbi Raphael Hasan Edmonton - Day School Rabbi Shmuel Kalos Miami - Ohr Somayach Rabbi Daniel Morris St. Louis - Day School Rabbi Meir Pogrow YULA High School Rabbi Yakov Rosenstein Edmonton - Day School Rabbi Shraga Simmons Los Angeles - Outreach Rabbi Moshe Stollman Seattle - Day School *** New Publications Rabbi Gottlieb has recently published a collection of some of his best lectures entitled "The Search for Truth" transcribed by Ohr Somayach student Josh Hermalin. -------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Simchas & Announcements Joey Felsen became a Chasan this Elul. His Kallah, Sarah Wolfson, is from Lawrence, New York. A December wedding in New York is planned. Rav Schiller, shlita, had brisos for TWO grandsons: One on the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah, the other on the 24th of Tishrei. SHARE YOUR SIMCHAS! Please forward special announcements -- engagements, marriages, births, bar mitzvas, new house, new job, etc. -- to be included in upcoming issue of Yachad! -------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Topic of the Month In the spirit of togetherness with which 'Yachad' is initiated, we suggest the following topic for discussion: 'AREIVUS'- Sharing responsibility with your fellow Jew. The Gemara (Shavuos 39a) states: All of Israel are responsible one for the other. This statement raises thought provoking questions... -Is 'Areivus' a matter of kinship, common ancestry, background and destiny or is there something more to this mutual responsibility? -How far does this responsibility go? -What priorities are there to consider? -What are the practical halachic implications? We'd like you to share your thoughts on this topic. Next month, we will share some of your submissions with the readers of Yachad. -------------------------------------------------------------------- `Yachad' is a joint venture of alumni and staff and we foresee an ongoing process of development and renewal fostered by suggestions and ideas welcomed from all. We invite you to join as an active partner in this togetherness experience. -------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Contribute: E-Mail: address your message to: ohr@jer1.co.il set the subject to "Yachad" Fax: 972-2-812-890, Att: YACHAD Poste: Yeshiva Ohr Somayach, ATT: YACHAD, 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103, Jerusalem 91180, Israel -------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Subscribe: To receive "Yachad" via E-Mail, send the message: sub os-alum {your full name} to: listproc@jer1.co.il -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ohr Somayach Representatives Worldwide: Jerusalem, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Monsey, London, Toronto, Montreal, Johannesburg. For information about contacting your regional representative see the Jerusalem1 gopher or E-Mail us your request. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by Ohr Somayach Institutions J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J J L E Tel: 972-2-810315 Fax: 972-2-812890 JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE Internet:ohr@jer1.co.il -------------------------------------------------------------------- Production Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman Production Design: Lev Seltzer -------------------------------------------------------------------- (C) 1994 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.