Dear Friend,
There are few experiences as profound as sitting at the Seder table to celebrate God’s miracles and the creation of the Jewish people. On the second night of Pesach, we begin counting forty-nine days leading up to the festival of Shavuos, when we celebrate our receipt and embrace of God’s Torah at Mt. Sinai. This period of counting, known as Sefiras Ha’Omer, is dedicated to preparing for that celebration. One way to prepare is Torah study, through which we best understand, and derive inspiration from, our religious experiences.
On April 29, 2018, indoors at Citi Field, the OU will offer a unique opportunity to celebrate our unity as a people and engage in Torah study during Sefiras Ha’Omer. At Torah New York, an unparalleled, diverse group of over thirty brilliant rabbis, teachers and scholars will illustrate the breadth and grandeur of the Torah. The variety of topics and levels will allow you to find the style and dimension of Torah study that most intimately speaks to you. In addition, Torah will be taught in honor of the 70th birthday of the State of Israel and in commemoration of the 25th Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt”l.
As an added dimension of the program this year, there will be special Torah tracks for high school students in conjunction with NCSY and post-high school students in conjunction with OU-JLIC. In addition, the OU will host a special event in the evening with YU Connects for the young men and women of our community.
The primary mission of the Orthodox Union is to strengthen Torah and mitzvos observance and inspiration for us as individuals and as a community, and this signature program illustrates that commitment. I hope that you join us on April 29th and continue with other ongoing opportunities for Torah study provided by the OU and by many other wonderful organizations, local synagogues and classes in your neighborhood.
I look forward to seeing you on April 29th at Citi Field. If we do not yet know each other, please come over and introduce yourself. Together we will learn, together we will grow, and together we will prepare for our receipt of the Torah on Shavuos, k’ish echad b’lev echad.
Please visit www.ou.org/torahny, for further information and to register, and for available sponsorship opportunities. Please address any questions about the program to Hannah Farkas at hannahf@ou.org.
Best wishes for an invigorating Pesach, a Chag Kasher VeSameach.
Moishe (Mark) Bane
President, Orthodox Union