Yad Eliezer
One of the unique features of the yeshiva’s off premises activities is its Chesed program. Over the year we have the opportunity to really roll up our sleeves and make a difference to families across the country.
Just last week was one of those special days. Came Tuesday afternoon and instead of our regular Tiyul schedule we were brought to the warehouse of one of the largest if not the largest Chesed organization in Israel: Yad Eliezer. From here hundreds if not thousands of families receive boxes of food that literally make the difference as to whether they will have food that month. After seeing a presentation of some of Yad Eliezer’s activities, the fun started. Boxes and boxes were packed, full of the basics; oil, canned foods, dry goods, sugar etc.
As the items were passed down the assembly line, quicker and quicker, as we got the hang of it, we could just think of those families who unfortunately do not have the means to feed their families. “Watch out here comes the beans”, came the warning as bags of beans came flying down to be packed.
We certainly look forward to our next opportunity to help out.
Raffle 2011
Raffle 2011- 2012
Once again the yeshiva is in the middle of one of its major fundraising drives. Building on last year’s success where we topped of $50,000, this year we are aiming at $75,000. These fundraisers is what it makes possible the yeshiva fulfilling its vision of “No Jew will be left behind” especially because of financial need.
And the excitement mounted as the Talmidim got ready for an evening of calls, reaching out to the former Talmidim and friends of the yeshiva. Call after call, the response was strong with our alumni coming through time and time again. As the Talmidim enjoyed the sushi! They were recharged.
At one point Rabbi Langsam who is heading the drive this year had to say enough “I can’t keep my eyes open anymore”
Yet the boys said, leave the call sheets with us and we will continue.
Came the next Sunday night and once again the boys came through with call after call while the grill was on and the steaks were cooking!
And then the week after were Alumni gathered at the house of the Rosh Hayeshiva, Rav Granofsky shlit”a they themselves calling on there friends and others.
B’h the momentum is building and the boys want more.
And what about you…..?
Click http://ohrdavid.org/buy-raffle-tickets-now-2/ and become a partner in the Chinuch of the yeshiva, building generations on and on.
It is only with your help that we do continue.
Thank you in advance.
BNEI BRAK
Shyne visit
Let it Shyne!
Shuki Weinstein
As Tuesday came and went, the absence of the weekly trip had the boys disappointed, but little did they know the Rabbeim had another surprise up their sleeves. This Thursday, at 4:54 p.m., a school text blast went out saying “Shyne is in the House!” For those of you that are not familiar with ‘Shyne’ (a.k.a. Moshe Levi), let me break it down for you. Shyne was raised on the streets of Brooklyn, low on dough and mixed with the wrong crowds. With a rough background and a passion for music, he began to pursue his rap career. What started out as a rhyme or two on the streets of Flatbush turned into top hit singles that featured the hottest artist of the time.
Having all the materialistic pleasures at his fingertips, Shyne’s Jewish soul yearned for truth. Both of his parents, although Jewish by law, had no affiliation with Judaism. Shyne, however, remembers his grandmother telling him stories of great Jews such as Avraham Avinu, Moshe Rabbeinu, and Dovid HaMelech. Shyne told us that all his life, before making any major decision, he made sure to pray to The One Above, the same One that Avraham, Moshe and Dovid prayed to. Due to unfortunate incidents, Shyne was incarcerated for about a decade. Unlike many who spend their time behind bars counting the cracks in the wall, Shyne used his time to get close to HaKadosh BaruchHu. “For eight years straight,” said Shyne, “I davened Shaharit at sunrise.” He said that he knew that if he started his day with tefilah and tefillin, it will protect him from danger that surrounds him. After being released, he continued on to Jerusalem where he now learns in the Bellz Yeshiva, in addition to keeping up his rap career.
Shyne opened up his vort by telling the boys that they cannot go through life thinking that someone owes them something, especially G-d. He said each of you is here for yourself. You have great Rabbeim, but they can’t do stuff for you, they can just help. He told over the story of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons that ‘got smoked’ on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. He said that although they were great Tzadikim they went in to do the avodah ‘like they own the place,’ without first consulting Moshe or Aaron. Had they asked for help and guidance, they would have avoided a deadly mistake.
Afterward Shyne opened up the floor for questions. Jake asked about how Shyne manages to keep his mind on Torah when he is out doing concerts. Shyne said that we shouldn’t think that he doesn’t have temptations, but “I know that there is a G-d above and that I’m going to have to answer to him.” Also he said that is why he is in Israel, learning and giving himself strength to survive in the world of tumah. Eli asked about his performances, and how a show today differs from fifteen years ago. Shyne said that the differences are minute: “I don’t use profanity and I just have a different conversation now. I rap about people who stand idly by while others need help. I always prayed to G-d before shows and I never had girls or drugs on stage.” Other questions followed along the lines of Shyne’s approach to G-d, to what he answered “I was always the person that I am today, trying to be the best man that I can be, except now I have a Gemora in my pocket instead of a gun.”
After Shyne was finished speaking, it wasn’t hard to tell that the guys were moved. I am sure that Shyne’s words will stay in everyone’s minds and hearts. After taking a couple of pictures with Shyne, he was on his way (with his Hasidish entourage) back to yeshiva. The boys thanked the Rabbeim for such a special afternoon and then went on to afternoon seder.
video of the shiur
Hospital Visit
Bikur Cholim
Yisrael Meir Brown
In Parshat Vayeira, Hashem appeared to Abraham while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent, just three days after his circumcision. Abraham lifted his eyes and saw three strangers approaching his tent. Abraham greeted these men, washed their feet and fed them. These three strangers, according to our tradition, were none other than three angels: Michael, Gabriel and Rafael. Each of these angels had a specific mission that he was sent on, and Rafael’s mission was to heal Abraham.
A question then arises: if Abraham needed refuah (healing), why didn’t Hashem heal him when he had appeared to him earlier that morning? Was there really a need to do the healing through an angel? Our sages taught us that the reason why Hashem appeared to Abraham is to visit him while he was in pain, and show us that when someone is sick we should pay them a visit. So why didn’t he heal him during his visit? To show us that Bikur Cholim (Visiting the Sick) should be done whether or not you think you can improve their health. Let’s just say that Ohr David Boys took this lesson to heart when they went to visit Bikur Cholim Hospital this Tuesday.
Equipped with three guitars, one ukulele, a drum, a flute, a juggler (our own Shaya G.), and a whole lot of funny hats, glasses and toys (thanks to Benjy and Henry), our OD musicians, vocalists, entertainers, and just plain old good hearted boys were set out to visit the sick. Under the guidance of our Rabbis; R’ Katz, R’ Ritholtz and R’Rocky, the boys split up into several groups. Some had the opportunity to visit the elderly, others were singing to those who just got out of surgery, and some got the joys of putting smiles on the faces of sick children.
Our boys sung songs ranging from ‘Am Yisrael Chai’ all the way to ‘L.O.V.E.’, with tons of variations in between. Some of them even had the enthusiasm to do the ‘Hokey Pokey’ with the kids — that sure made them laugh. There was one lady who said she was too weak to enjoy our visit and asked us not to even bother, but our boys didn’t give up too easy. After twenty minutes of singing and dancing in her room, she was sitting up in her bed with a big smile on her face.
Towards the end of our visit, the boys got to meet an old man with a great story. He said he was from Tel Aviv and was visiting Jerusalem for a short time. While he was at the city hall square, he had a heart attack and collapsed onto the floor. The shortest amount of time it takes for an ambulance to arrive from it’s base to his location was 13 minutes, during which every second would reduce the chance of his survival. It happened to be that Hadassah Hospital, four minutes prior to his heart attack, sent out an ambulance to his area to perform a maintenance check. When the emergency call went through, the ambulance was able to be by his side in under a minute. With every second on the line the EMT used a defibrillator to administer an electric shock to his chest to get the heart pumping—and nothing. “He told me later that he said a short prayer and then shocked me again,” said the old man, “and then my heart started pumping and I began to breathe.” The boys were amazed. “No matter what you call him; ‘Hashem,’ G-d,’ or ‘Elokim’,” he said “just know that he runs the world!”
With that great experience the boys packed up their stuff and left the hospital. “It is always a great experience doing Bikur Cholim,” said Rabbi Katz, “not only do the sick know that we care about them but we also gain a greater appreciation for our own health.” As the boys were getting on the bus back to Yeshiva, they began discussing future plans involving the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim.
