News

Many young men return from Eretz Yisrael, having grown leaps and bounds, and are now looking to keep the momentum going. The big question that they ask themselves is whether they should focus on continued growth in Torah learning or follow the pursuit of earning? At our yeshivah, we ask the question: Why not have both?

BIRTHS

Eli and Sara Davidson on the birth of a son. Mazal tov to the grandparents, Yehuda and Gitty Lieberman.

On Sunday, December 18, Rabbi Shimon Kramer held a Chanukah celebration at the Merrick Train Station.  The celebration was attended by dignitaries, elected officials, representation from the Jewish War Veterans, and families and friends of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life. The first candle for Chanukah was lit by one of the dignitaries that attended. There was music, dancing, and entertainment by the children who learn at the Chabad Center. Latkes and other goodies were served at the end of the festivities.

In the days ahead of Knesset Member Itamar Ben-Gvir’s appointment this week as Israel’s Minister of National Security, liberal Jewish leaders in the United States issued a statement in protest of the Otzma Yehudit faction leader and his partner in government, Betzalel Smotrich, who was appointed Minister of Finance.

This past Motza’ei Shabbos, December 31, roughly 150 members of the Hillcrest community and beyond united for an avos u’banim program aptly entitled, “Achdus.” The event saw grandparents learning Torah concepts with their grandchildren, and parents engaged in learning with their children in a tremendous display of the achdus and warm Torah atmosphere that Hillcrest has long fostered. All enjoyed fresh pizza, tasty ice cream, and an array of incredible prizes.

In this week’s parshah, it states: “Yisrael bowed towards the head of the bed” (47:31). Did Yaakov Avinu bow to his son [Yosef]? Rashi explains: Yaakov Avinu turned himself toward the head of the bed. Based on this, our Sages taught (Shabbos 12b): “The Shechinah resides above the head of an ill person.”