On Motza’ei Shabbos, March 1, parents of students in Yeshiva Primary and staff of the Yeshiva gathered in the Yeshiva Primary ballroom for an elegant melaveh malkah. Mrs. Judy Klein, Principal, welcomed everyone and thanked Mrs. Batsheva Dan for all her hard work planning the event and making it so wonderful. She also thanked Yafa Aronov for her help with the event. “We are partners with you, the parents,” she shared. “We want what is best for your children. Our role is to reinforce your values, our Jewish values. We want your children to reach their highest potential. An event like this helps us to connect and get to know each other better so we can work together for the best for your children.”
Rabbi Zalman Deutscher, Founder and Dean of the Yeshiva, shared, “This is a family melaveh malkah. When people ask who the students at the Yeshiva are, he responds that we are all Jews and part of one family of klal Yisrael.
He shared an inspiring story about the Baal Shem Tov who came to a village where a priest was badmouthing the Jewish people. He met with the priest privately and spoke to him at length. Afterwards, the priest left the town and wasn’t heard from. Much later, the gabbai, who witnessed the story, heard that there was a reward of a lot of money in a certain town for anyone who could relate a story about the Baal Shem Tov. He went to the town and ended up as a Shabbos guest in a wealthy man’s home. The man asked him to share a story about the Baal Shem Tov. The gabbai knew many stories, but for some reason his mind kept going blank. Finally, as Shabbos was leaving, he recalled the story of the Baal Shem tov speaking to the priest. The host then revealed that that priest had been him and that he’d done t’shuvah, but the Baal Shem Tov told him the only way he would know his t’shuvah was fully accepted was if someone would come and share the above story. All during Shabbos, the host, who recognized the gabbai, was waiting and hoping the gabbai would tell the story. He davened and said T’hilim and then his prayers were answered and the gabbai remembered the story. The Baal Shem Tov had told the then-priest to remember who his parents and grandparents were and that he could always do t’shuvah. This inspired him to change and start a new life.
Following this, Rabbi Avner Yusupov, Executive Director of Yeshiva Primary, spoke. He noted that there are three partners in a child. These include the two parents and Hashem. The school is a partner from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The teachers and rabbis need to work with the other partners. It is so important for parents to be involved in their children’s school, as children whose parents are involved do better in school. By coming out tonight, you are showing your children that you care about their education. “I am grateful for the privilege of being an educator to share what I learned in this very school.”
Next, Rabbi Deutscher introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Tamar Perlman, PsyD, a well-known psychologist, parent educator, and famous speaker.
Dr. Perlman shared that she attended Yeshiva Primary as a young student. She attended many prestigious schools afterwards, including the graduate school where she earned her doctorate; but the school that gave her the most important core beliefs and values was Yeshiva Primary. She shared that she felt humbled to speak in front of Rabbi Deutscher. She has so much gratitude to him and to Yeshiva Primary. “This was my first yeshivah! I work with Jewish leaders, and my beginning at Yeshiva Primary was a blessing! I don’t believe I would have anything if I didn’t have this blessing.” Everything comes from Rabbi Deutscher, who is only goodness. For him it is all about others. How blessed the staff is that has the honor to work with him, and how blessed are you, the parents. She shared that she worked with Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein zt”l, founder of Ohr Yitzchak Ateres Naava Seminary for Girls and Ohr Naava Women’s Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He opened a school for girls who were struggling and had very low self-esteem.
She shared that most mistakes in life happen when we don’t focus on the most important thing and let something else take over. She shared this idea with a parable about a man who buys his wife a rare songbird and they cook the bird. It doesn’t taste good at all. They missed the main purpose of the bird totally, which was to sing. We need to focus on our Jewish values in how we live our lives. It is a blessing when the school and parents partner together to communicate what is important to their children. Though she attended many wonderful schools, she shared that nothing came close to teaching the important values in life that Yeshiva Primary taught. “I see things more clearly in the chaos of the world because of it.” She pointed out that Rabbi Deutscher doesn’t teach lessons; rather, he is a lesson.”
She urged parents to be ambassadors and share the beauty of what their children are gaining with parents whose children are in public school and are missing out on learning what is truly important in life. By sending your children to this yeshivah, you are a leader in this already, she said.
She shared a story she heard from Rav Moshe Weinberger that illustrates how we put in all of our efforts knowing that Hashem is always there with us, ready to pick us up if we fall. Even when we are going alone, we know in the places of deepest aloneness that Hashem is behind us. This is the gift you are giving your children. “You are giving them a partnership with Hashem, and nothing can replace that.”
A parent’s love is endless, and Hashem’s love is even more endless. “I am so grateful to my parents for giving me this partnership, and I am grateful to Yeshiva Primary!”
Rabbi Deutscher then thanked the parents, the rebbeim, and the rest of the staff for coming out on a cold night to support the Yeshiva. Our goal is to give our students the opportunity to grow and learn, and to make decisions in life as practicing Jews.
The evening concluded with lively circles of the fathers and rebbeim dancing around Rabbi Deutscher; behind a mechitzah, the moros and mothers danced in a separate circle. It was a beautiful evening of achdus and support of this special mekom Torah.
