Community Happenings

Around the Community

Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi Visits Yeshiva Darchei Torah

The talmidim of Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Mesivta Chaim Shlomo and Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid joyously welcomed one of the most senior and illustrious sages of Klal Yisrael, Hagaon Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, shlita, last week.

Rav Ezrachi serves as the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel in Kiryat Sefer/Modiin Illit and has taught and developed generations of talmidim. A member of Eretz Yisrael’s Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, his influence and leadership extend beyond Artzeinu HaKedosha to the global Torah community.

The purpose of his trip to the United States was to raise funds for

PHOTOS BY NAFTOLI GOLDGRAB

Ateres Yisroel and to be mechazeik the Torah community in America. His shmuess at Yeshiva Darchei Torah touched on the current state of affairs in Eretz Yisrael as well as a fascinating and instructive story about Rav Shaul Barzam, zt”l, in his youth.

Rav Ezrachi spoke in basic Hebrew; Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva, translated throughout.

It was an unforgettable moment – and ma’amad – of kavod haTorah. Watch at Darchei.org/video

Around the Community

Friends, supporters, bnei hayeshiva and alumni all gathered together this past Motzei Shabbos for the second annual Kavod HaTorah Siyum, celebrating Yeshiva Gedolah of the Five Town's 19 Anniversary Celebration

Around the Community

A CATCH ’22 in the Year 2022

After a successful CATCH (Creating A Team Of Courage and Hope) event that was held on Monday, February 7, we are faced with a catch-22 conundrum. Here is a review of the event itself and then maybe you can help us solve it.

Mrs. Soshie Hirth, CATCH Team Coordinator, opened the evening with a perek of Tehillim. She thanked the White Shul for hosting the event and Yoeli Steinberg and Gourmet Glatt for sponsoring the ad campaign, as well as the hardworking members of the Catch team. She then reminded the over-120 attendees that it was no coincidence that this event took place in the White Shul. She remembered that 48 years ago a group of women led by Mrs. Hinda Karmel, z”l, and Mrs. Selma Weinberg, z”l, who came to the White Shul to introduce the idea of starting a Bikur Cholim in the community. About 28 years ago, a group of women came to the White Shul led by the formidable Mrs. Nechama Wolfson to meet with the Va’ad Harabonim and alert them about battered and abused women, and Shalom Task Force was born. So too, we women have an opportunity to make a difference, and it will be much easier since we do not have to start a new organization because CATCH is already here.

Mrs. Hirth then introduced an amazing woman, the founder of CATCH, Mrs. Jessica Tsur, who captivated the audience with her own journey fighting the demons of mental illness. She learned about the power of connection and was determined to help other sufferers connect by offering support groups led by professional clinicians. Her moving presentation was followed by Mrs. Toby Carrey, who is currently leading a support group. She spoke about the bonds of friendship and love that these women of all ages and all walks of life share with each other. To emphasize that connection, there were readings from the women of the support group sharing how important these groups are to them and how much they feel they have benefitted from there.

Rabbi Eytan Feiner, Mora D’asra of the White Shul, shared an amazing insight into the pasuk from Tehillim, “Hashlech al Hashem yehovcha v’hu yechalkilecha., Throw up to Hashem your problems and He will handle them for you.” Rebbetzin Tema Kamenetzky, zichrona l’vrocha, asked why such strong language is used – why are we saying “throw” and not a more gentle “give”? She answered the question herself by explaining that when you “give” something to someone, there is still a bit of it that remains a part of you, but when you throw something at someone, you do so with confidence that they will CATCH it!

That is what our CATCH groups represent: the ability of someone suffering from anxiety, depression or mental illness to literally “throw” their problems to a group of women who understand them and will support them.

Of course, the keynote speaker, the renowned Dr. David Pelcovitz, spoke about the effects of anxiety and depression and the understandable uptick living in this world at this time. But he also offered moving stories illustrating the power of connection and how potent it can be to reach out and help others, which is the main goal of our organization. One unforgettable story was about a young boy who underwent tremendous trauma when he saw his father who was high on cocaine kill his mother and then himself. Despite all odds, this boy ended up becoming a most successful person who was presenting a paper on the subject of the homeless, together at the same conference as Dr. Pelcovitz. He said he reached this plateau of success because of four little words.

After his parents’ death, he ran away to numerous homeless shelters. At one shelter, the man behind the counter not only made eye contact with him, he came around and put his arm on his shoulder and asked, “How are you doing?” No one had asked him throughout this entire traumatic time those simple caring words, which unleashed a flood of tears and pain. This man saw that this boy was very bright and arranged a scholarship for him to attend a prep school in the city where he did very well. He was then able to secure a scholarship to Princeton University and go on to become a leading expert on the homeless.

Just four little words can change a life. That valuable lesson is what happens in our support groups.

So what is the catch-22 conundrum? The evening’s success was evident in the many requests we received for help and that met the goal of the evening to face the reality and understand that there are people who may be your family members, your neighbors or your fellow mispallelim who need help. But if we cannot help them due to lack of funds, why would we consider this a success? In order to pay more clinicians, we need more funds so we can expand our support groups. The answer is really up to each and every one of us. By going online to www.catchsupport.org and donating money or sending a donation by Zelle at info@catchsupport.org, you can make a difference. You can find the video presentations of Rabbi Feiner and Dr. Pelcovitz on our website as well.

Dr. David Pelcovitz Rabbi Eytan Feiner