106 74
NOVEMBER 25, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Hidden Sparks of Light BY SARA LIEBERMAN
Like the hidden jug of oil the Maccabim found to light the Menorah thousands of years ago, here are three people from around the world who quietly light up the night with their initiatives and kindness.
A SCHOOL WITH A SOUL Chanie Siegel from Lakewood, NJ
It
was summertime, and my daughter was having a blast in camp. She had left all her worries from a difficult school year behind. Meanwhile, I was back at home in distress, knowing it was unlikely she’d have a school to return to in the fall. We were lucky to have found a hidden gem, Yotzer Ohr Miami, founded by Mrs. Neitza Benbenishti, for our daughter, and we loved it. It was a breath of fresh air, a place that truly uplifted their students. They didn’t have a dorm at the time and boarding wasn’t ideal for my daughter for a number of reasons. It looked like we were back to square one for a school for her, with no viable option. One thing I knew was that we wanted her to stay in our hometown. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that she didn’t have a place to go to! So all summer, while I davened, made phone calls, researched and came up empty-handed, I said very little to my daughter. I mentioned vaguely that we were trying to find a way for her attend school locally. I didn’t want to totally shock her at summer’s end, so I didn’t let her know the extent of the situation. In reality, she had absolutely no school to attend come fall. In the meantime, I knew about 15 more girls who also needed schools. Our town is blessed with many wonderful schools where
girls thrive, but there was no school suitable for these 15 girls. Desperate parents bombarded Neitza with calls until she finally called me and said, “I started a school in Miami for my own daughter when she had no place to go. Why don’t you do the same? I’ll guide you.” My husband and I had spent time the past year speaking to Nietzah, sharing ideas and hashkafos, and she felt we could do this. So with the help of Mrs. Benbenishti and another very dedicated parent, we founded Yotzer Ohr Lakewood. The other mother even singlehandedly took over while we waited for approval from our rav. Once we got the go-ahead, we were fully invested. Never in a million years did I dream of opening a school. Three years ago, I was a stay-at-home mom, loving every minute of it. I loved taking care of my house, being available for my kids, and being in the background. I didn’t seek the spotlight. I never imagined starting a project of such magnitude, but the system was not working for my daughter and I had no choice but to try. The fact that it was the only option led me to a place of emunah and bitachon – we had to open a school. It was a bracha that the path was open before us; we had no room for doubts. It was clear to us that Hashem wanted this school to exist. My daughter
“WE SEE THE LIGHT AND SHINING POTENTIAL IN EVERY GIRL, AND WE FOCUS ON THAT SPARK”
- Chanie
