From the Desk of the Director Are kings anointed or appointed? Is leadership a function of personality or profundity? Is the leader “born in” or sworn in? These are some of the questions raised in this week’s parshah Miketz. One approach to the subject can be found in Pharaoh’s description of Joseph as “a man in whom the spirit of G-d [dwells] … there is none so discreet and wise.” This stance is supported in our haftarah where King Solomon’s total acceptance by the people follows their recognition that “the wisdom of HaShem dwelt within him.” In our parshah, Pharaoh indicates to Joseph that, “only in the throne will I be greater than you.” Rashi adds that the term ‘throne’ is a metaphorical term for royal rank. He cites the passuk – “Vigadel et kiso mikisai adoni Hamelech David” – referring to the possibility that King Solomon would in some way supersede his father David. Both references to kingly characteristics stress the relationship to another monarch. While Pharaoh indicates that none can exceed him, the reference to Solomon implies that the next generation can excel - in wisdom, of course, and in basking in the spirit of HaShem For that is the authentic Jewish approach to national leadership.
Sincerely yours,
Dear TT Reader, In the coming weeks we will begin to plan our overnight tiyul in the Golan during the kid's pre-Pesach school break. This Tuesday night Fiddlin' & Food resumes with the topic of Shabbat. The group will be involved in experiential explorations of this day to offer them a feeling for Shabbat that they are not exposed to in their traditional academic school settings. The program begins at 7:30pm in the youth lounge. Donuts and drinks. NESTO was proud to be represented at the official dedication of the SJA-OU Jerusalem World Center this past Sunday night. As a group, we would like to join in the many tributes that were paid to Seymour Abrams at the festive dinner, and add that we are grateful to be recipeints of his generosity. NESTO, which was founded by a group of Anglo teens nearly a decade ago, sees as its main focus the absorption, acclimation, and integration of teen olim from English-speaking countires into their new lives as citizens of Israel. While many of the programs are social and recreational in nature, allowing for teens to bond with one another and share their day to day experiences of being in a new, and different culture in an informal setting, there are other equally important goals. Education, in the form of informal programming and Shabbatonim form an integral part of our mission. NESTO views the establishemnt of strong Torah observance amongst its members as an additonal form of helping them adjust to their new surroundings. In the wake of the challenges that are now facing both teen olim and their parents, NESTO will be branching out to offer family programming and teen/parent communication-building workshops.
NESTO will be sponsoring an Informal Shabbat Experience
Funded in part by the Schmelzer family of Efrat in honor of the upcoming yahrzeit of Mrs. Schmelzer's father, the shabbaton is designed for English-speaking teens who would like to come to a traditional shabbaton but find the rules and the programming too rigid. The OU Israel Center, successfully transplanted from its home of more than two decades at #10 Straus Street, is a dynamic hub of programs and activities including informal Torah classes, special shiurim, lectures on a wide range of contemporary topics, panel presentations, debates, video evenings, a Judaica reference library, a soon-to-be lending library, a Torah Tape library, a soon-to-be multimedia library, a Jewish Values Educational Center, tiyulim, Shabbatonim, counseling... and a lot more, making it a "home away from home" for hundreds of English-speaking visitors, Olim, and students. Torah Tidbits, which you are reading at this very moment, is our popular, award-winning weekly Torah publication. From its humble debut eight years ago as a single two-sided sheet of paper photocopied 60 times and distributed in two shuls, TT now is a 32- to 40-page booklet, in over 7500 copies, distributed to dozens of shul and many other outlets in Jerusalem and many other places around the country, including Raanana, Beit Shemesh, Gush Etzion, Tzfat, Rehovot, Petach Tikva, Bnei Braq, Be'er Sheva, Herzliya, Givatayim, Neve Tzuf, Nof Ayalon, Bar Yochai, Maale Adumim, Mitzpe Yericho, Kochav HaShachar, Beit El, Modiin, Chashmona'im, Matityahu, Maale Levona, P'sagot, Peduel... Mail subscriptions bring TT to Arad, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Eilat, and other points around the country. The electronic versions of TT, via email and the internet (on the OU's website, www.ou.org/torah/tt) bring TT into many thousands of homes around the world. TT is read on all the inhabited continents, including such places as Malta, Argentina, Turkey, South Africa, Kenya, and the former Soviet Union. TT might be the first Torah publication available for the Palm. Makom BaLev is the name for the NCSY-in-Israel chapters which are blossoming all over Israel — in Nahariya, Netanya, Ra'anana, Lod, Jerusalem and Efrat and soon in Bet Shemesh and Bat Yam. These chapters offer Israeli kids a real home away from home with the opportunity to meet socially and study Torah together, participate in a number of chugim, get involved in chesed programs and to enjoy themselves in a relaxed Torah orientated, NCSY-style atmosphere.
Lichyot B'yachad - in this innovative project teenagers from several religious yeshiva high schools in the Gush Etzion meet together with secular students from Kibbutz Givat Brenner (and soon from the Bet Sefer Galili in Kfar Saba) to study and learn together Torah text on a weekly basis. It is hoped that this program will be replicated in schools all around Israel, to be followed up with after school activity, seminars and Shabbatonim Nitzotz - one of the best kept secrets of the Israel Center. Some 200 overseas students studying in Yeshivot in Israel volunteer their services to nine different social welfare programs on a weekly basis. Soon we will open the "Kochav" program to host the Nitzotzers once a week in the new Teichman Youth Lounge at the Israel Center. Bet Kharkov - hundreds of young people have made aliya from the OU program in Kharkov, Ukraine in the last ten years. Beit Kharkov offers them a chance to meet each other, cope with their issues of integration, and experience spiritually nurturing programs that facilitate their absorption into Israeli society and that also help them grow as Jews.
Gesharim - the Israel Center's Youth Programs are poised to relaunch the very successful Bar/Bat Mitzva programs with the children of Russian speaking olim - and now with the younger participants in the Makom Balev project - in order to prepare these young people to take on the joys and responsibilities of Jewish life. They will participate in special study programs, Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparations and chugim - and the parents too will join their children for Shabbatonim and the Bar Mitzvah celebrations. UPCOMING In the next few weeks the following programs and activities at the Seymour J. Abrams Orthodox Union Jerusalem World Center will IY"H be launched:
• The Jewish Values Education Institute OHEL SHMUEL, the Beit Knesset on the ground floor of the Center building will be used for special Shabbat and Yom Tov services, beginning in the near future. We also hope to start a regular Friday night and Shabbat morning minyan, with a special Israel Center flavor very soon. Ohel Shmuel was the venue of the very first activity at the new building - first night of Slichot, which attracted an overflow crowd. We are pleased to say that many of those who could not make it into the Center that night for Slichot went to their second choice, the Great Synagogue. Blumenfeld Hall is the venue of our major lectures and programs, several of which, so far, have overfilled the 200 seat auditorium. This Chanuka, two special children's programs were held in Blumenfeld Hall, adding an extra festive note to the Festival of Lights. Teichman Youth Center, one flight down from our Keren HaYesod entrance (or right off the garden when entering from Rechov Mendele) is the home of NESTO's weekly programs as well as other special youth activities. There are plans to have the TYC hopping every night of the week as well as some daytime slots. The Ganchrow Beit Midrash is home to many shiurim, our new Beis Medrash program, Daf Yomi in English, our daily Mincha Gedola minyan, and the not yet daily Maariv. Plans are afoot for a major build-up of S'farim for the GBM, which will enhance its Torah atmosphere and better attract individuals and chevrutas to spend a couple of special hours learning Torah. And we are still hoping to have a morning daily minyan, although among those who have expressed interest, there is no agreement as to timing. The Israel Center takes pleasure in announcing the opening of a BETH DIN to arbitrate monetary disputes only. Except for a filing fee of NIS200 per case there is no charge for his service. Please call 5667787 ext. 204 for further information.
Emanuel Quint and Yitzhak Fund, Co-chairmen A note to past donors of the Israel Center. Donations to the Israel Center that were acknowledged with plaques in the old building, or those for which plaques were promised, will all be recognized in the new building at 22 Keren HaYesod. It will still take time to organize, but please be assured... and patient with us. Your support was and is greatly appreciated. Volunteers Our first call for volunteers a couple of months ago was answered by many enthusiastic individuals who are and will be helping with the libraries, hosting programs, and performing various other volunteer tasks. We can always use more volunteers, especially as our activities expand. Please call 566-7787 ext. 204 [The Mikeitz Homepage]
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