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Many Differences, A Common Goal
Many Differences, A Common Goal
Lina Zolotarova
I found a great woman to learn Torah with. We are reading books together and discussing the insights. She is a great woman! She grew up very different from me - in a different continent and with a different religious background. I learn a lot from our conversations and our studies give me a feeling of peace. We are talking about all topics which come to our minds open and freely. Thank you very much for bringing us together. Read moreLooking for a Chavrusa, Found a Friend
Looking for a Chavrusa, Found a Friend
Ken Reid
I originally signed up for Partners in Torah because my in-person chavrusa ended and I was interested in continuing to learn. I live in Northern Virginia but spend winters in Florida so I needed a chavrusa that was ok with my changing schedule. You hooked me up with a great guy in the Five Towns. We have to learn by Zoom/Skype but we are committed and learn every week. I’ve gotten quite a lot from our learning. We started with Trei Assar (the small prophets) which are not exactly the main thing men study. I wanted to learn more about them because I am intrigued by the division of the Two Kingdoms and idol worship -- there's a lot of strong messages there for today's living. What I am doing with David Seelenfreund is reading the Small Prophets word for word WITH commentary. So, I am learning quite a lot -- and it's nice to be able to continue my reading of Hebrew. I basically learned to read Hebrew through Torah study since 2017. When I signed up I was looking for a regular chavrusa and found a friendship. Our relationship is very nice, even though we have not met in person yet. We keep talking about it, but it has not happened yet. He has shown me that Torah study is the key to leading a better life – even if it’s on Zoom or Skype! Read moreTime Well Spent
Time Well Spent
Shayna Gutke Poupko
Time runs on whether we are doing something or not. As a great-grandmother I am perhaps more aware of that phenomena. Learning has always been something I enjoy and when I was approached to join I jumped at the opportunity. Amalia Epstein and I have been learning for 3 years now and it is a wonderful match! She is intelligent, questioning, and truly interested in delving into the material we learn. We started with sefer Yehoshua, and Baruch Hashem have continued with Shoftim, Shmuel Alef and Shmuel Beis, and currently are trying to master Melochim. The subjects we learn have enormous relevance in our lives today. We often find clarity in the confusion of modern life from what we are learning. Amalia lives in the States but has visited Israel several times since our chavrusa has begun and we have met up twice. We share our worries, hopes, and thoughts. I feel that I have not only gained knowledge, but also a friend. Read moreLearning as Connection
Learning as Connection
Rachel Atlan
I saw Partners in Torah advertised in a magazine and I decided to give it a shot! I was hoping to create a "selfcare bubble" where I could concentrate on things that were important to me, like spiritual growth and learning, at my level and in my language. I asked to become a mentor because I wanted to commit myself to the project and really benefit from it as much as possible. After a few months passed with no reply, I was beginning to lose hope. But then quite out of the blue, I got the email that my partner had been found! I was very happy. Hendy and I connected instantly over the phone and I was amazed by how much we had in common. We started learning shortly afterwards and have been learning weekly for the past 3 years. Learning with her is a joy. She is intelligent, inquisitive, and knowledgeable. I know I have to prepare our lessons very thoroughly because her questions are always spot on! We often go overtime talking about our learning material and also about what it means to be a Jewish woman and mother in these times. In addition, she has become a real friend! We met in person when she came to Paris for a simcha and a year later she came to my grandson's brit mila in Jerusalem! I loved being able to introduce her as my learning partner!I hope our partnership will continue for many years BZH! Thank you Partners in Torah for introducing me to this very special person Read moreTransatlantic Connection
Transatlantic Connection
Julie Joanes
I have been learning with Naida Gould for over 5 years I believe. We try to learn every week together and have covered a number of books and topics. I'm in Israel and she is in Florida. We have been through a lot together. I had babies while we were learning so we took breaks. Also, we both lost parents and were there to support each other during the difficult times. When her son was in Israel he came to me for a Shabbos and it was wonderful! Read moreLearning Together
Learning Together
Noemi Handel
I joined Partners in Torah because I am a teacher and have always wanted to explain things to people who wanted to learn. I was hesitant to join this forum because I felt that I did not want to force Judaism on anyone and was worried I could not answer the partner's questions. Then I remembered the story of the Chofetz Chaim who said that in a time of fire you can even use dirty water, i.e. even if I do not know the entire topic I am allowed to say ,"I don't know," or ," I will look it up, " or ask someone who does know. I don't have to know everything! Wonder of wonders, in the process of teaching others, I have come to learn more and more. I appreciate this so much that there are no words to express my joy and sense of satisfaction. Furthermore, in the process of learning with others (learning, not teaching) I myself have gained a great depth of knowledge both of Torah text, Hashkafa (Jewish outlook based on Torah as presented by various Rabbis) and not so by the way have formed wonderful friendships with the people with whom I share my learning. I feel I have become a better person through learning from their positive influence! Thank you, Partners in Torah for this priceless opportunity. Read moreFinding Connection Amidst the Chaos
Finding Connection Amidst the Chaos
Audelia Eben
After October 7th, I knew I wanted to do something more to connect to my Jewish identity and to G-d. I also wanted to learn more about what made us who we are as Jews. There was obviously something special about our community that I did not understand or really appreciate growing up. I was hoping to just learn more about Judaism, our culture, and traditions. I learned a lot more than I expected. I am proud to say that my torah partner and I read the entire Torah parsha by parsha over the last year, and now we are continuing to read the rest of the Tanakh together. I also gained a great friend and Torah learning partner who has taught me so much about Judaism, who opened my perspective on being Jewish, and who inspires me to learn and grow every day. I was initially afraid to apply to partners in Torah, not knowing who I will match with and whether or not we would connect. But my partner and I connected very quickly. We spent the first day just chatting about ourselves and our goals, and the second time we spoke we already started to learn together. My experience learning with my partner has taught me that two Jewish people from different ethnic backgrounds, religious observance, geographic locations, lifestyles, careers, ages, and political views can still have such a strong connection that is largely attributed to simply being Jewish. It's incredible if you think about it. Learning about our history and G-d has helped me stay more positive throughout the many stresses in life. It also helped me gain access to other Jewish communities that pray for sick individuals and share learning opportunities. At the forefront, one of the biggest lessons I learned and I hold dear to me is that G-d was with us 3 thousand years ago and He is still with us today. I also pray a lot more than I used to and I feel more comfortable speaking about Judaism and Israel with others. Read moreMikveh Magic
Mikveh Magic
Ruthi Stern
I really don’t remember when it was, but MANY years ago, I got an email which asked if I would be interested in learning with someone, just one-half hour a week. I thought it would be in appreciation of Hashem letting ME be born into a family where I grew up frum, so I would try it. How much of an investment is a half hour a week? And there was no true long term commitment, you didn’t ask me to sign a 2 year contract, just to “try it!” I was matched up with a woman in her 50’s. In our first conversation, she asked me, “Why do married women have to go to the mikveh - men should go ‘to be clean!!’” I was not deterred, we spoke a little about it then, but the punchline happened several years later. Through the years we bonded in learning (and of course schmoozing!) and her mindset changed slowly. Then, one day, when I approached the subject again, she decided it was time. We had the zchus to very emotionally experience her being tovel in a mikveh- for the first and only time in her life! She was “kosher” to her husband from then on, because she was post- menopausal! It was a very special, spiritual time! I feel like Partners in Torah has given me this zechus that I will cherish forever. Read moreInstant Connection
Instant Connection
Baruch Weinberg
Something inside me, not sure exactly what, promoted the desire to want to mentor through Partners in Torah. I filled out the form to request a chavrusa and not that much later I was paired. To say the least,it was an instant success for both of us! We learned, grew, and connected in a very deep and meaningful way as if we knew each other for many years. Not much later I reached out for a second chavrusa and was paired pretty soon afterward. Again I can't describe what kind of perfect chavrusa it has been. They both feel like friends I have always known! Thank you very much for facilitating the ability to connect and make a difference! Read moreFour Years and Counting!
Four Years and Counting!
Nisan Blaxberg
I am pleased to report that Jeff Levine and I are still going strong as we entered the fourth year of our chavrusashaft! Last year, we completed the sefer, Chovos HaTalmidim, written by the Aish Kodesh, the Piazneczer Rebbe, and trundled forward as we began to explore the depths of Chovos HaLevavos. Jeff and I have never met, as he lives in California and I live in Maryland, but we have nonetheless committed to 30 minutes each week and have rarely missed a week. Read moreA Perfect Partner
A Perfect Partner
Randi Weingarten
Our learning has been great! We have read several books together and also speak about the parsha, articles we’ve read, or just about anything in our lives that is relevant to Jewish learning. Baila is a perfect partner in Torah. She is intelligent, friendly, reliable and so sweet! We learn almost every week consistently and I have been so inspired. We did meet a couple of times in person but she lives in Brooklyn and I am in Westchester so logistically it is difficult. I look forward to many more years of learning together IYH. Read moreInspired by My Student
Inspired by My Student
Baila Weis
Thanks so much for your wonderful organization… When I first decided to join Partners in Torah, it was with the hope that I would be able to inspire and share the Torah values that I was raised with. Little did I know just how inspired I would be on a weekly basis by my wonderful Partner in Torah, Randi Weingarten. Her sincerity, devotion, and genuine commitment to Torah constantly remind me how we are supposed to view our mitzvah performance… it is truly heartwarming to think that Partners in Torah has enabled the two of us to strive for the "freshness" of Matan Torah. May Hashem grant you continued success in all your Torah endeavors! Read moreBooks Are Just the Beginning
Books Are Just the Beginning
Estherkayla Fleischman
We are just completing a wonderful book/sefer on Pirkei Avos called Living Beautifully by Gila Ross. It’s excellent and very relevant to life today - I highly recommend it! After this week ,we will start a book called Soul Construction written by Ruchi Koval. My daughter used it with her Momentum group and it went over very well. Marleen tends to enjoy inspirational, ethical/mussar, self improvement books rather than straight halacha. I do visit her on my way back down the NJ turnpike to Maryland and we really make the effort to study every week. We enjoy each other's company and have the same worldview politically which brings us even closer together. Read moreConsistant Learning Leads to Incredible Growth
Consistant Learning Leads to Incredible Growth
Stephanie Gillman
I joined Partners in Torah because I had a deep yearning to connect with Hashem, enhance my knowledge and have a meaningful understanding of what it means to be Jewish. Being a Baal Teshuva has been such a fulfilling journey filled with learning curves and joy. My hope in joining Partners in Torah was to connect with a fellow Jew, someone who would be patient, non judgemental and be willing to answer my many questions and learn with me. My hope has far exceeded what I have and continue to experience. My learning partner has been such an incredible source of knowledge and kindness and I thoroughly enjoy and look forward to our learning sessions every week. We come from different backgrounds and I have learned and continue to learn an incredible amount from her. It has also been so special getting to know her as a person. Even though I live in NY and she lives in Jerusalem, and we have not met yet, that hasn't hindered us from forming a meaningful connection. I am so grateful that I have been paired up with my learning partner and that we are able to learn consistently together despite the differences in time zones. I am looking forward to continuing this partnership and grow in my observance. Read moreKeeping My Promise
Keeping My Promise
Avraham Kleiman
I try to keep my promises. I became a Baa'al Teshuvah in 2000 through an amazing organization called Aish HaTorah. As I pursued by Jewish education and my smicha, I was always intrigued by Rabbi Weinbergs request to teach what you know and made a commitment to do that if I could. Several years later, after digesting the entire Aish library of books and tapes, I was asked to join a rotation of Shabbat teachers at the shul. The first book we did was Rabbi Pliskin's Happiness and it was a great success. I was so motivated by the teaching experience that I enrolled in a 2 year teaching program at a local college and armed with all my new wisdom and skills began teaching whatever the Rabbi's would let me do. The highlight of that experience was a class I compiled on God and Science using Dr. Schroeder's book as a foundation. Hundreds went through the class over several years and for many it became the turning point for a more observant life. In 2016 my dear wife passed away and I was responsible for raising a 7 year old child alone. Many things needed to change, including my ability to teach at shul. I restructured my life and now included Torah learning from my home rather than the shul. I set a goal to learn with 2-3 people at home or on the phone. I wanted to share the richness that a Torah lifestyle had given to me with others. In that respect I contacted partners in Torah to offer my time to them and B'H they have set me up with several students. Some are young, some very old, and all are scattered everywhere. At present I have three chavrusas with partners in Torah, a very long standing partner here in Toronto,another newer chavrusa in Calgary, and finally one in California. The learning with each of them is exceptional and I'm pretty sure they love it as much as I do. In each case we base our class on a sefer and then I try to integrate the Torah for each chavrusa so that it relates to their current life. For example, if a person is a teacher I use teaching examples to explain the Torah we are learning. Each partner has always mentioned how our learning experience is a highlight of their week for them because it's so authentic and true for them. I think each chavrusa would tell you that they handle the stress of weekly life far better with our sessions. It is certainly the highlight of my week as I learn so much more than I could ever get by just reading the sefer. I believe that all my charusa feel that the learning is not only intellectual but therapeutic as well. I made a promise to Hashem to share his Torah and I'm happy to report that I'm now busy every weekday morning with at present 12 students. I keep my promises. Read moreA Covid Connection
A Covid Connection
Avraham Zuroff
It's hard to believe that it's been four-and-a-half years since I began learning with Rob. In February, I returned to our home in Eretz Yisrael with my wife after teaching Torah to Jewish students at a two-week winter seminar in Moscow. I enjoyed the immense interaction sharing the beauty of Yiddishkeit with other Jews from all backgrounds. I yearned for the opportunity to continue to share Torah and mitzvot with other Jews, but wasn't sure how I could. Then the COVID pandemic spread to Israel. As a result, I was out of work, and there was a lockdown. I saw an online advertisement about Partners in Torah, and thought to myself, "What perfect timing! I could continue to share my passion for Torah and mitzvot " So I decided to sign-up. After "meeting" Rob by telephone, we decided to learn by video conferencing, a technology that was new to both of us. I'm in Kiryat Sefer, Israel; and Rob is in New Jersey. Despite our geographic distance, Rob and I have connected by learning together once or twice a week for the last four years. Together we have learned about praying, Pirkei Avot, Chumash, halachot, Jewish philosophy, and more. I've told Rob that mitzvah observance isn't all or nothing; as long as we're growing, that's what Hashem wants. And I've learned from Rob to appreciate Yiddishkeit from a different perspective. We haven't had the opportunity to meet in person. But I hope that someday we will. Read moreTalmud for 23 Years
Talmud for 23 Years
Alan Morinis
I have been learning with Shlomo Jakabovits for 23 years. I reached out to Partners in Torah when I wanted to start learning Talmud. We have worked our way through many volumes over the years – most recently all of Shabbos; we are now on Chagigah. We are very committed to meeting every week, even if we have to move things around to find a time. Of course, our relationship has developed into a close and caring friendship. My knowledge of Talmud and halacha has grown and continues to grow, and for that – and for Shlomo – I am very grateful. Read moreGiving and Receiving
Giving and Receiving
Yisroel Leskin
My wife persuaded me to join Partners in Torah because someone she knows has been teaching for a long time in the program! Although I have been extremely committed and professionally involved in kiruv for many years, I felt it doesn't hurt to stretch myself a little bit further. Being a ba'al teshuva, I felt I have the capability to give back to anyone who wishes to learn the information that I may have gathered over the years. I was, Baruch Hashem, given a blessing from the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva, a'h, to enter the teaching field despite being trained and professionally qualified in another vocation. I feel that my main strength is in teaching and guiding my students in the way that Hashem wants us to live our lives. Instructing my Thursday night study partner has given me an opportunity to give back what I have learned from many Rabbis and teachers over the years. By giving, one is also receiving. 'Venatnu' in Hebrew is a palindrome, meaning it reads the same in both directions in the holy language. To give is also to receive. Interacting with my regular study partner has given me strength to continue with my own learning, as well as (hopefully) the value that he is continually gaining and continues to receive from my recommendations and guidance. I hope that Hashem gives us both good health and the ability to continue to learn with each other for many more years to come, and to see much nachas and satisfaction from our interactions together, for both me and my study partner. On a personal level, my study partner has joined us on the happy occasions of marrying off some of our children, Baruch Hashem. Thank you to Partners in Torah for all that you have given to both of us during the three years that we have been learning together. Read moreMother and Daughter
Mother and Daughter
Shani Kamilar
My mom was learning with a partner from Partners in Torah for a few months. She would excitedly tell us about it at every opportunity so I figured if she's enjoying it so much, maybe I'll give it a go! I've been learning with my partner for a little over 6 months now, and I love it! The time difference is a little challenging, but we make it work (I'm in Israel, she's in Chicago). We learn Hilchot Shabbat and Tanach together and I really enjoy it. Our chevruta gives me motivation and steadyness in my learning. I feel like I better understand the texts we learn together as a result of our learning. It's great! Read moreFood for Thought
Food for Thought
Remy Roussetzki
I signed up because I needed help understanding more in-depth the specificity of Judaism. I have found in Mark Yedlin a thoughtful, open-minded and very knowledgeable partner in Torah. We read and discuss together the parsha of the week. Mark explains to me the intricate and thought-provoking aspects of the Tanach. I was a philosophy professor in France and have a Ph.D. in comparative literature, so I cannot be impressed by generalities and easy answers. Mark Yedlin gives me food for thought, and sometimes it is not easy to ingest. We struggle together with the most difficult passages, which is what I love. Judaism is not for the faint of heart. Nothing is easy and smooth in the Jewish experience. We deal with that together. Read moreGrowing Jewish Connections
Growing Jewish Connections
Allyson Gur-Aryeh
I signed when I was just starting to practice more Judaism in my life and wanted to learn some of the daily customs. It started off just learning daily Jewish practices and then some prayers. We went on to learn the weekly Torah portion and then entire books of the Torah. Initially I just wanted to learn from someone who knows what they're doing because I didn't know very much at the time. It turns out that my partner is the most cheerful, open-minded, generous woman I know. She is always interested in learning any topic I bring up, whether she's familiar with it or not. Our weekly learning has had such a positive impact on me. It forces me to carve out time from my crazy schedule to devote to growing my Jewish connections. Read moreReconnected
Reconnected
Nancy Soffer
Robin and I began learning together close to 30 years ago. We learned together for about 10 years and forged a strong connection to each other. We learned in person during that time and we both gained a lot from our partnership. Over the years we both went through many challenges, and while we stopped larning together, we always maintained contact and our friendship. After October 7 of last year I felt that I wanted to do something meaningful as a zechus for the hostages. I right away thought about doing Partners in Torah. Then I realized that I would really like to learn with Robin again! I contacted her and she was excited about the idea of learning together again as well. We now learn on the phone, since she has since relocated, and we are both enjoying our learning sessions immensely. Read moreAbove and Beyond
Above and Beyond
Alicia Lombardo
I signed up because I wanted to have more organized Judaic learning. My partner and Torah has been above and beyond anything I could ever have imagined from a mentor. I have visited her in New York City three times and always enjoyed our visits. We are very compatible. Read moreOld Friends, New Partners
Old Friends, New Partners
Hadassa Sadowsky
I got into Partners in Torah to strengthen my halachic knowledge. I was partnered with an old friend from high school, surprisingly enough! We are both the same age and wanted to consistently learn hilchos Shabbos and it has really helped me grow spiritually and in my Torah observance. Each week we learn the halachos of Shabbos cooking and we have a great time each week while learning and growing! Read moreEvery Monday Night
Every Monday Night
Dvora Munk
About 23 years ago I got a call from Partner In Torah. They asked me some questions detailing a little about my background etc. I guess after their research they assigned me with Devora Krischeer from Phoenix, Arizona. I was not sure how exactly it was going to work, but after talking to Devora I was very impressed with her and we decided to learn once a week on Monday evenings. We are extremely close friends by now and we still keep the same schedule! Over the years We met quite a few times when Devora came to NY. She even stayed in my house overnight, we went out to eat, and always had a good fun time together. My husband (zichrono livracha) was also impressed with her and always tried to help us with some questions we had. We have covered quite a lot of material ,such as Tehillim, The World of Prayer, all chumash through “The Call of Torah (written by my father in law Rabbi Eli Munk). Now we are relearning The World of Prayer. Devora feels much more fluent in the Hebrew text and she wishes to better understand the meaning of the words of tefilah. Devora is an exceptionally nice, kind, refined person. She is very smart and knowledgeable, especially with limudei kodesh and halachah. Devorah is a gem. Thankyou for giving us the zechus to learn together. Mainly I thank Hakodosh Boruch for allowing this wonderful SHIDDUCH to happen. Read moreThe Comfort of Psalms
The Comfort of Psalms
Raphael Eisenberg
I remember one partner in particular. He was a psychiatrist and an elderly man in Illinois. It was a while ago in 2007 or so. He didn't have much background in Torah, but he said he heard a lot of Yiddish in his house growing up. His request was to learn Tehillim and that is what we learnt with both translation and commentary. We learned for quite a few months. Gradually I learned that he was quite ill with cancer. He enjoyed our learning sessions and I think found them heartening and enjoyed the insights into Torah and faith. Eventually when I couldn't reach him, I learned he had passed. Our learning was brief but I think it may have brought him some comfort to be learning Psalms. Read moreAlways A Teacher
Always A Teacher
Asher Korenberg
I joined Partners in Torah because I am a retired Judaica teacher. I realized that my obligation to teach Torah didn't end with my retirement. I have learned with several partners and feel as if I am doing my small part to help the Jewish community. May the program only continue to grow! Read moreNew Job, New Life
New Job, New Life
Joyce Avimeleh
I'd just gone to Gateways and learned that I'm obligated to keep the mitzvahs. Since I didn't know what any of them were, signing up for a Partner in Torah seemed like the next logical step. My goal was to learn Torah, which I’ve done, but I’ve also gained so much more. My partner and I have become very good friends, like a surrogate family. I have become Torah observant. I’ve grown so much through Partners in Torah. I quit the job I was at in order to be shomer Shabbos. My Partner in Torah's husband was the shliach to get me a job where he worked, which was a good job and I stayed there for 8 years. There, I met the woman who became my rebbetzin (her husband is my rav) and I'm very close with their whole family. Read moreIntimate with the Infinite
Intimate with the Infinite
Wendy Stern
About 30 years ago, my “baby“ brother Rabbi Mike Stern Z’L became frum through Aish HaTorah and Rabbi Gewirtz was at Aish at the same time so they became friends. My husband and I had just started on our journey in Yiddishkeit (with a 7 yr old and a 1 yr old) and my first ever Purim experience was at Rabbi and Rebbitzen Gewirtz’s house in Passaic. I remember the joy, the warmth, vibrant colors everywhere, the dancing etc. I remember loving that experience and wanting what I saw. Step by step we became shomer mitvot. I never had any formal learning, to this day I still don’t read or write Hebrew, but always sought out mentors and shiurim. Even though I have attended a Shabbos Tehillim Group for many years and I daven in English, the connection to the prayer was always a mystery to me. I heard over and over from my FFB friends how wonderful and comforting Tehillim was but I couldn’t open the door without a key. Timing was right and I filled out the form looking for my Partner in Torah to specifically take a deep dive into Sefer Tehillim. HaKadosh Baruchu gifted me with Michelle Thaler who lives in Israel. Every Monday at 8am my time we learn. What a bracha!!! Michelle had the key and has shown me how to connect on a spiritual level to the most beautiful words ever written. I had not been to Israel in 32 years and I was zoche to go in May 2024. I was able to finally meet Michelle in person and spent an afternoon together. Even though we never met it was like seeing a really close friend over some tea and cake. Obviously our learning leads to sharing our lives with each other in all its joys and sorrows. I knew that I was missing something, I call it being “Intimate with the Infinite “ As we learn together every week, going deeper and deeper, there is tremendous comfort and a realization how current it all is in 2024. I have only gratitude to Partners in Torah Rabbi Eli Gewirtz, and especially my dear dear friend and partner Michelle Thaler. Read moreConnecting to Our Roots
Connecting to Our Roots
Ruthi Tutma
I joined Partners in Torah to help spread yiddishkeit and teach people how to connect to their roots. What I gained was a true friend. She is very interested and willing to learn and we likt to talk about Israel and politics. We talk so much and then at the end of the hour I try to cram in a few things but it always seems to work out. I’ve grown so much because I have to learn myself in order to teach her! Read moreGoing Through the War Together
Going Through the War Together
Rachelle Kaufman
The importance of Torah study was my motivation to reach out to Partners in Torah to be connected with a chavrusa. My partner, Shoshana Deutsch, lives in Jerusalem and we speak on how the Parsha of the week relates to our lives and experiences. As two people going through the war together we have also supported each other through the emotional highs and lows, sharing our appreciation for living in the land of Israel and the wonders of Hashem’s miracles being performed around us each day. Both of us bring our unique perceptions to our study each week which enhances our understanding and experience. Shoshana is a wonderful friend and I was blessed to share a Shabbat with her family where she went out of her way to make me feel at home. Read moreHighlight of My Week
Highlight of My Week
Chani Pollins
I only joined Partners in Torah around five months ago! I wanted to share the richness and wisdom of Torah with my less-affiliated sisters. I’ve gained so much! I love the learning, the shmoozing and looking at life with different glasses on. I feel like I gained a sister! We banter, shmooze and learn and it's truly a highlight of my week. Thank you Partners in Torah! Read morePatient and Knowledgable Teachers
Patient and Knowledgable Teachers
Nelson Mason
My first Partner in Torah was Moishe Weber of Brooklyn, NY. I received the first tractate of the Talmud (Berachos) from Moishe. I improved my Hebrew reading skills by studying with him, although my Hebrew vocabulary is still quite limited. I'm now affiliated with the local Chabad chapters in my locale, and I often attend services led by R. Simcha Zajac and R. Yosef Chanowitz, in Rock Hill and Monticello, NY, respectively. I strongly recommend Partners in Torah, for people so inclined, to learn more about Judaism and study with very knowledgeable and patient teachers! Read moreNo More Excuses
No More Excuses
David Perl
I had heard about Partners in Torah for many years but I was always afraid to try. When COVID happened and I had all this extra free time. I felt like I didn't have an excuse anymore. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect but I’ve met so many new people. I have had 3 different partners since I started and I’ve enjoyed all of them. Unfortunately the first 2 had to drop due to illness in the family. I didn't think I could mentor someone, which was a big reason I didn't do it before. I wish I had joined earlier. Read moreLike A Brother
Like A Brother
Eli Katz
I joined Partners in Torah because I wanted to learn with someone who wouldn’t have access to Torah otherwise. I’ve gained and learned so much from Jay about chesed and perseverance through his kidney journey and advocacy, he’s like a brother. Read moreBeyond Reading
Beyond Reading
Leah Nagorev
I joined Partners in Torah to learn how to read Hebrew. I wanted to start davening and reading Tehillim in the Hebrew language as opposed to just reading the transliteration. I now read with much more confidence and accuracy. I know with daily reading I will significantly improve. My teacher gave me and continues giving me the right tools, tips, and tricks to enhance my Hebrew reading skills. Devorah is very special to me. I am truly blessed that I have such an amazing, patient, intelligent, and kind Partner in Torah. We clicked from our first conversation and often we go beyond the hour to schmooze about our daily life. She has helped me with other areas in Judaism. She is truly an inspiration. Initially our learning was just concentrating on perfecting reading and now we progressed to translating what we are reading so I can understand what I am saying when I daven and that is just a whole other level. I am reading and understanding, it's incredible! Devorah gives me the energy and drive to keep growing and learning. Read moreThe Peace in My Week
The Peace in My Week
Brandy Graff
I joined Partners in Torah because I had been curious about it for a long time and had a desire to learn more Torah. I wanted to have some more connection to Judaism aside from just cultural connections, sending my daughter to a Jewish preschool, and celebrating the high holidays. I was raised Reform and love being Jewish but assumed I didn't have time for this. After October 7th, I felt a strong inner push to live a more Jewish life even in small ways. I am still studying with my Torah study partner over a year after signing up with no plans to stop. I love learning with her! She has become a friend, a teacher, a partner. I love and look forward to our learning sessions. It's a little bit of peace in an otherwise very busy and hectic week! I have gotten so much out of my experience with Partners in Torah and tell everyone about it! It has brought me so much joy, wisdom, and just helps me to be a better person, better mom, and better Jew! I love the learning aspect of this so much and it is so low pressure. Sometimes we have time to read through an article and discuss it for like 20 minutes and sometimes longer or shorter. I just love this and it has opened my world to so much that I never knew about Judaism and that also brings a new way to see the world and to live my life. It has brought me a lot of happiness! Read moreSecond Time's the Charm
Second Time's the Charm
Shelley Orenstein
I joined Partners in Torah to learn more about Judaism. I was brought up Conservative leaning towards Reform. My parents did not follow our religion very much although I was a Bat Mitzva. My first teacher was very young and was not a good fit. My second teacher and I hit it off right away! We are still together today. We have met once as she lives about 45 minutes away from me. Any question I have, she answers or finds out the answer. I love learning with her. I have so much to learn, but she is patient and sends info for me to read or hear. Read moreIntellectually Stimulating and Spiritually Enriching
Intellectually Stimulating and Spiritually Enriching
David Schwartz
I originally joined Partners in Torah back in the early 2000s before I had my first child. My goal was to give Judaism a sincere chance by understanding some of its core tenets a bit better and getting a clearer sense as to what it is all about. I had a great partner -- he was literally a Rocket Scientist -- and we studied together for about 2 years. We focused on issues such as the divine origin of Torah and other fundamental aspects of Judaism. I came away from the experience with a deeper appreciation for Judaism to be sure. However, it didn't really stick. My wife and I did end up sending both our children to Hebrew school at our local synagogue, but we didn't attend Friday night services, nor High Holy day services. Nevertheless, the experience did help me appreciate my role as a Jew in the world and my identification as Jewish from a nationalistic perspective. When my children became more independent and ultimately as they transitioned to college, my interest in Judaism was reignited. Part of this coincided with a personal project I have been working on that touches on the nature of God in a broad, nondenominational sense. But I figured that being a Jew, I should learn more about the Jewish God. I reached back out to Partners in Torah and they once again paired me with a remarkable teacher (Chief Technology Officer at AT&T Business), William Gewirtz. With this new round of learning, I was hoping to delve into the nature of prophecy and understand the nature of the biblical gGod as set forth in ancient texts. My three-year learning partnership with Bill has become one of the most intellectually stimulating and spiritually enriching experiences of my life. Bill has an encyclopedic knowledge of Torah, Mishnah, Talmud and so much of Torah commentary. He also has a deep interest in history and in the origin of ancient texts. Lately, we have been reading a lot of Maimonides, including Guide for the Perplexed and his Commentary on the Mishnah. Due to Bill's deep understanding of these texts and his passionate connection to the subject matter, I have become inspired to learn more and develop a more nuanced understanding of this world. One of the techniques that we use is for Bill to provide me with a Youtube video of a talk by an academic scholar on a specific topic related to the nature of the Hebrew God or the interpretation of a biblical passage. This 45 minute video can lead to weeks of discussions and connections to other related texts and passages. My relationship with Bill has helped me grow as a person, has increased my understanding of the world, and has opened me up creatively. I am grateful to Partners in Torah for pairing me with such a great Torah partner and for the existence of their program. Read moreEmpowered and Excited
Empowered and Excited
Rose Bayer
I joined Partners in Torah as I was growing in my Yiddishkite, with the goal of learning halachot, such as the melachot of Shabbat and more laws of kashrut. I learn best interactively with others, so I was excited to learn with a partner so I could make real changes in my life and grow. I have not only accomplished my learning goals, but grown as a Jew, a woman and a person. Our learning has grown into parsha of the week, neve'im and more. I feel empowered and excited by the knowledge I've gained and the mitzvot I've incorporated into my life. I look forward every week to learning with my partner in Torah, Chaya Forma. She is inspiring, engaging and supportive, and we've grown a beautiful friendship as well. We are approaching one year of learning together in January and Gd willing many more to come! Read moreA Common Bond
A Common Bond
Tova Jaffee
A friend of mine at work told me that Partners in Torah was looking for more people who spoke Spanish. I wanted to practice more of my Spanish language skills so I thought this would be an interesting opportunity to do so. I also wanted to have a set learning seder. I was first set up with a Partner in Uruguay. It didn't work out; my Spanish was simply not fluent enough so I gave up on that. I was then set up with someone who lived in Florida; English speaking but she primarily worked at night and that was when I was free. So that didn't work out. Next and last, I was set up with my wonderful partner Carol, 9 years ago! I love that I have a committed schedule to learn Torah. I have another class in my community that I attend weekly as well as a Rosh Chodesh shiur. But the relationship I have with my partner Carol is special because it is not only about learning the text, delving into the meforshim, but also integrating what we learn together. I think because we live such different lives our learning is more enhanced through the common bond we share in our learning. We are just two Jewish women who love to learn our Torah! Read moreBright and Early
Bright and Early
Charlene Mandelbaum
When I was first introduced to the program and found out that my partner was in California (I am in Toronto) I could not understand how we would manage to coordinate our schedules. Karen Sarto was immediately on board and told me that she would make herself available for me. She has been so accommodating and flexible. Bright and early every morning, there sits Karen with her beautiful beaming face and positive energy. We have developed a lovely friendship, and often have to bring ourselves back to the topic of Torah, as we end up having wonderful and meaningful conversations as girlfriends and sometimes forget about the task at hand! The Torah study itself has been meaningful and enlightening to me, largely due to my partner and her support. I am so grateful to Partners in Torah for bringing us together, and I can't wait to meet Karen in person someday soon. Read moreKnow Aleph, Teach Aleph
Know Aleph, Teach Aleph
Karen Sarto
I joined partners in Torah during Covid as a way to connect with another Jewish woman and share what I know – “know an aleph, teach an aleph”. Charlene and I “clicked“ immediately and we have become, not only learning partners, but good friends – – even though we have never met in person. I am in Los Angeles and she is in Toronto. We’ve worked together and accommodated each other's schedule, even with the time difference we’ve made it work because we look forward to “seeing” each other every week! We learn something from the Torah portion each week and we enrich our “visits” with our personal stories of gratitude and challenge each week. Our dream is to meet in person one day – – very soon hopefully! In the meantime, we look forward to learning and growing together each week for many years to come! Read moreOrganic and Spontaneous
Organic and Spontaneous
Robin Meyerson
I’m lucky to learn with Holly Drinen. She’s so smart and has become my goal setting partner annually during elul. We have made challah together, made Chanukah donuts, and even traveled to Israel together! Our learning is more organic and spontaneous- less text based and more life experiences oriented. I really enjoy our friendship. Read moreA Positive, Enriching Experience
A Positive, Enriching Experience
Yosef Branse
In the summer of 2022, I viewed a SPIRIT presentation about Partners in Torah. It sounded very interesting. I already have experience in "virtual learning" via telephone or Zoom, having participated for over ten years in a similar initiative here in Israel, "Chevruta". (One of my study partners is actually in Johannesberg.) I've found that a rewarding experience, so I (and my wife) signed up for Partners in Torah. At the time of my joining, I had been retired for almost a year. I believe that one aspect of time management at this stage of life is creating commitments - e.g., in this context, committing to learn a certain topic with someone on a regular schedule. Learning with a partner is a good way to ensure that you understand whatever material you've chosen to study together. I have been learning with David Friedman of Phoenix for over two years. We're going through the Mishnah Brurah, chapter by chapter. We've managed to deal with the nine- or ten-hour time difference between Arizona and Israel. We've also become friends, discussing matters of mutual interest for a bit before we start our learning. Ffor instance, we both have sons who have been serving in the IDF in some capacity (his in the regular army, mine doing extensive reserve duty over the past year of war). We also had the pleasure of meeting in person a while ago, when David came to Israel to visit his son. I would characterize the growth as an enhanced appreciation of the Mishnah Brurah as a monumental achievement - the encyclopedic knowledge of the Chafetz Chaim, his mastery of multiple sources. clear explanations, etc. At the same time, it's been a challenge to navigate the technical aspects of learning Mishnah Brurah. It motivated me to wish to learn more about the historical development of halachic decisions, from the sources in the Bible and Talmud through modern authorities. All in all, it's been a very positive, enriching experience Read moreAdvice Accross the Ages
Advice Accross the Ages
Shayna Sumner
I first joined Partners in Torah when I had just come back from seminary and I was inspired to keep learning. I love that I get asked questions that I would have never come up with, and I love it! My partner is a good bit older than me, but we actually have so much in common. And we give each other advice on different things-she has kids my age, so she has great advice. Read moreBeautiful Teachings
Beautiful Teachings
Howard Weiner
I joined Partners in Torah to expand my knowledge of Torah and mitzvah observance. I wanted to become a better Torah Jew. I have learned a number of very beautiful teachings, some improvement of observance, and made a very wonderful friend. Rabbi Goldstein is quite amazing. He is smart, very knowledgeable, kind and patient. I really value him as a teacher and a friend. My learning has greatly deepened my longing to serve HaShem Yisborach. Read moreLearning Beyond the Challenge
Learning Beyond the Challenge
Lynn Hanfling
I joined a few years ago when there was a 3 week Happiness Challenge. I was paired up with Beth and have continued ever since. We look forward to our weekly meetings on Zoom and have gotten together for lunch a couple of times. We have explored several topics such as lashon hara, emunah, and tefilla. We share our love for Israel. It’s great learning together because I am learning new things to share with Beth! Read moreSearching for Meaning
Searching for Meaning
Yaakov Rabi
I joined Partners in Torah because I wanted to share my knowledge and passion with others. I found amazing people with different life paths than me, all trying to get closer to Hashem in their way. It forced me to understand the basics much better and to dive into new fields I wouldn’t have otherwise. I gained relationships with amazing people from different backgrounds and even other countries. I found that although not everyone is at the same level of Yiddishkayt, we're all aiming to get closer and to find the meaning in life. We became very close and look forward to our weekly learnings. Our weekly learning has helped me see the positive side of other people that are very different from me and to appreciate what each one brings and does. It also feels very good to know you have a growth impact on others. Read moreA Special Young Woman
A Special Young Woman
Russy Kahana
I joined Partners in Torah because I was looking to learn and grow. I hoped to find a partner to learn and grow with and hopefully inspire each other. The program seemed interesting and I got matched up once or twice but I didn't go ahead with the suggestions. Then one day I got an email about the Lev L'lev program and they asked if I was interested in learning with a special young woman. We gave it a shot and we've been learning for about a year now. I have a friendship with an amazing young woman. Thank you! Read moreBeyond Hebrew School
Beyond Hebrew School
Sarah Weiner
I joined Partners in Torah because I wanted to learn more about my Jewish faith. I hoped that I would enjoy and gain more insight and understanding of Judaism beyond what I learned in Hebrew school. I learned so much and gained many insights. I have had several partners over a period of time. My first partner and I really connected and I enjoyed learning with her and meeting her family. Read moreI've Learned A Lot
I've Learned A Lot
Chavie Halberg
I joined Partners in Torah because my husband thought it would be ok and I was convinced by a Partner in Torah representative that I have the capabilities. I wasn’t aware that I would gain anything but I’ve actually learned a lot! Because my partner is interested in all kinds of subjects, we have covered a lot of ground. In addition to the actual learning, we also connected on a personal level and have shared experiences and life lessons. I think of JoAnn as a friend now and really look forward to our connections! JoAnn has a very positive outlook on life and a sense of humor and is lots of fun to schmooze with. She comes prepared with questions which makes it easier for me as her partner. I feel more connected to being Jewish which I attribute in great part to the weekly learning. Read moreTwo Amazing Partners
Two Amazing Partners
Estie Siegal
Why did you join Partners in Torah? I joined Partners in Torah because I wanted to have learning in my schedule weekly and I figured when I'm giving something over, it will obligate me. I was hoping to get inspired and to inspire others. I’ve not only been inspired myself, I’ve inspired others and made friends! I've made connections that I really care about and people who I love! I have two partners. One is a girl with down syndrome- who is very on top of our learning. In fact, she started calling daily and we learn together for about 5 minutes. Another is someone who is newer to Judaism and wanted more of a connection. We related on a personal level and really like each other. I've had her and her husband for Shabbos and it was such a special experience. The learning really keeps me growth oriented! Read moreA Big Blessing
A Big Blessing
Abigail Leichman
I joined Partners in Torah because I felt eager to share my knowledge with those looking to learn more about their Judaism, and learn from them as well. I wanted to help another person discover the beauty of Judaism's texts. I've gotten a lot of gratification and two close friends! My first (long-lasting) partner, Sharon, is no longer learning with me but we remain good friends and recently had lunch together in Jerusalem. My present partner, Leya, has also become a cherished friend (along with her husband, Stephen, who learns with us each week). They have so many wonderful insights and I love studying with them. On top of that they are extraordinarily generous and kind people who inspire me. My experience has been very positive in many ways. First, it gives me the opportunity to study a text in more depth and through new eyes. Second, it gives me a set time to learn Torah. Third, for all the reasons cited above it has been a big blessing for me. Read moreEnhanced Understanding
Enhanced Understanding
Tara Rosen
I joined Partners In Torah to enhance my learning and knowledge of Torah. I was looking to enhance my knowledge of Judaism and gain a friend/chavrusa. Right now we are learning Reclaiming Dignity. It has given me such a deeper understanding of Tznius. I learn weekly with my partner and I truly look forward to it. I enjoy what we learn and I take it to heart. I love this program! Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of it and for an incredible connection with my loving partner, Sarah Rivka Rothman. Read moreSo Worth It!
So Worth It!
Channie Schwartz
I love learning something new with a partner. I enjoy discussing what I learned. I joined looking for knowledge and a new friend. I found both! We’ve been partners for close to 4 years now. It's going extremely well. I learned a lot from Hadassah. She's amazing. She's so so different from me and it's amazing how well we get along. Our learning has had such a positive impact. I’ve learned different books and each lesson was accompanied by an inspirational story. Our learning is so worth it! Read moreI've Gained So Much
I've Gained So Much
Yehudit Mazur
I joined because I was looking to improve my Hebrew initially, and wanted to do it with the basis of Tanach. I was really only hoping to better my Hebrew skills and gain a bit more understanding of Tanach. I’ve gained SO MUCH! An amazing teacher and friend, MUCH better Hebrew both modern and Biblical, in-depth Tanach learning, greater understanding of the jewish world in general, and so so much more! Meira is a gift to the world. She is so learned, and humble at the same time. To understand that she has been learning with me for FREE for over 11 years! I am so blessed to have her as a teacher. I am now learning full time, and doing this I am always able to check the things I learn with Meira and get an honest discussion about different styles and places. Additionally, I am teaching a little myself. I don't have enough praising words for Meira, so grateful. Even if half the teachers are as great as Meira, it is so worth it! Read moreSearching for Answers Together
Searching for Answers Together
David Schwartz
It was actually my cousin who got me interested. She'd signed up sometime in 2019, and as the lockdown of 2020 really got underway, we were talking on the phone and she told me about the program. I'd been interested in expanding my learning anyway so I gave it a shot. I'm not really sure what I hoped to get out of the experience. Answers to questions maybe. Torah study is bottomless and even with what little I knew by that point I had more questions than ability to find answers. I found many of those answers, and a whole lot more questions. Fortunately, I also found someone willing to search for answers with me. Shmuly has been the best study partner I could hope for. His suggestions on reading for the two of us have been enlightening and head scratching, and our conversations and study are a highlight I look forward to all week. Read moreClicked At First Call
Clicked At First Call
Rochma Jungreis
I was a mentor for 30 years. I am a teacher and Rebbitzen. I feel that yiddishkeit is meant to be shared. As an FFb and frum school graduate I know more than the average student just by my upbringing. Why not let others taste the beauty of yiddishkeit? I joined only for the zechus of helping another Yid find Hashem and love Him and have a relationship with Him like I do. My first partner had left 2022 Purim time. I put myself into the roster for a new partner. I didn’t hear back for a while so before the Yomim Tovim I reached out again and said if I don’t find a partner fast I will lose the momentum and give away the time to another chesed. That very same day my partner, a fresh almanah, was searching for Hashem. She asked for a sign. Then she saw Partners in Torah, signed up, and we were matched. We are similar in age, we are both artists, and both love crafts. I love my Yiddishkeit. She was searching. It clicked at the first phone call! We have been learning for 2+ years with the “promise” of many more 30+. We challenge each other with growth. My partner is an artist like me so we have that part of our relationship to share. She is a new bubby so we share that. Otherwise I am her Rebbitzen. She asks me haskafaha questions etc. She was a “clean slate” as far as yiddishkeit was concerned when we started. Now she is well on her way to Orthodoxy. We are friends. I hate to miss a week. We share articles and thoughts by email. Over the years I have learned a lot and have come to respect and honor my partners. Their sacrifices are HUGE compared to my nisyonos. I have become more focused on my own Yiddishkeit. I speak about my partner's nisyonos and growth to my family which inspires us to be strong in our own nisyonos. I love being a partner! Thank you for the opportunity! Read moreA Lasting Legacy
A Lasting Legacy
Marc Simchowitz
Rabbi Ginsberg changed my life. He opened my eyes to the richness of our Torah, inspiring me to follow our teaching to become the best person I can. Sholom was so many things to me: teacher, father, and most of all my friend. He was always clear about what Halacha requires from me, and though I come up short in so many ways, he was never judgemental or condescending. I still cry when I think of him, not because of my loss, but because he gave me an amazing education, a meaningful personal friendship, and an abundance of love. If I could only hear him say, “listen to this…” one more time. We studied many books over our 14 or so years together, including, not in any particular order: the Chumash, How Free Will Works, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Values Between Man and Man, Shaarei Halacha Avos DeRabbi Nassan, and Pirkei Avos. Our practice was for me to read every word out loud and at different points Sholom or I would interject questions or thoughts. When we finished a portion of Torah without commentary we’d go back and read that as well, which could generate more discussion. Sholom was such a scholar that by the time we got the commentary he had already given it from memory. Every so often he’d learn something he never heard of, making this a joint learning activity. No matter what we were studying, my Chumash and Siddur needed to be near for reference. His excitement and joy was infectious. One of the great gifts Sholom and Chaya gave me was a translation of a dedication my great grandfather made to his family as the benefactor for making the publication of Rabbi Boruch Ber’s magnum opus, Birkas Shmuel, possible. That translation gave me the names of ancestors I’d never heard of, many perished in the Sho’ah. Read moreDealing With Loss Together
Dealing With Loss Together
Gila Greenberg
Hashem was certainly involved in matching me with my partner in Torah, Shoshana Savitz. We started to learn together about 9 years ago, and we quickly learned that there were several things we shared in common. While I now live in Israel, and Shoshana lives in Massachusetts, we both grew up in New Jersey, not so far from one another. In fact, at the time, her parents and my mother lived not so far from one another. But as we continued to learn together, our connection grew and this is where Hashem's involvement became more obvious. During that first year, Shoshana's father had a series of strokes and was in and out of the hospital and rehab. I was sharing the care of my 95-year-old father with my sister. He would spend 6 months with me in Israel and 6 months with my sister in New Jersey. During that year, he was also in and out of the hospital a few times. They were both WWII veterans. We were able to share this and provide support for one another along with our learning. Then, in mid-November, 8 years ago as I was preparing for a trip to the US to visit with my father and bring him back with me to Israel, my sister informed me that he had taken a turn for the worse and I should get there as quickly as possible. At the same time, Shoshana let me know that her father was also declining. Our fathers were both buried in NJ a week apart. Their yahrzeits are exactly one week apart. Once again, we were able to support one another during the shiva, the shloshim and during the year of aveilut. And each year as we come to the yahrzeit we learn first for her father and then for mine. We are so grateful that Hashem brought us together at this critical point in our lives and so grateful for our friendship which has grown along with our learning. Read moreMaking a Shidduch!
Making a Shidduch!
Yiska Roth
As I was deciding about having a learning partner, I had told my husband that I would really like to learn Messilas Yesharim, as a matter of fact, my partner Yiska wanted to learn Messilas Yesharim too! She was single at the time, and I had a strong feeling that I would be the one to find her Zivug. As our partnership evolved we slowly began to speak about the hard topic of Shidduchim. I decided to search for the perfect guy and as Hashem had it, he said yes and they were on their first date! It escalated fast and before we knew it she was a happy Kallah! What may have seemed to be just a learning partnership became much more, A making of a new Partnership, one of Husband and Wife! Read moreLearning in Her Memory
Learning in Her Memory
Elena Polyak-Duke
After being on the Momentum Women’s trip in November 2018, I decided to be matched and started learning with an incredible Partner In Torah: Kaila Hollander (from LA). We were coming up to over a year and a half of learning weekly together when Kaila suddenly passed away. I was heartbroken and devastated. I loved her so much. Many people reached out to me to continue learning with them and I needed a break. I was overwhelmed and didn’t know where to pick up the broken pieces. Of all the people who called me I connected right away with a friend of Kaila’s: Miriam Hendeles (from LA). I called her back when I was finally ready and asked if she wanted to learn together. We texted back and forth and she was in!! We got her approved with PIT and started learning every week!! We continued using the same book where Kaila and I left off (Positive Word Power). I love learning and discussing with Miriam. Recently we did the PIT Challah Bake Together!! It was so wonderful. We had so much fun!! I enjoy and look forward to my weekly lesson dates with Miriam. I’m comforted by the fact that Miriam was Kaila’s friend. My heart is warm and confident that Kaila approves of this incredible partnership. It truly is a “match made in heaven” and I’m grateful and blessed to be able to continue my PIT journey with Miriam!! Read moreIn Synch
In Synch
Carol Sirkin
My name is Helen and my partner is Carol. We've been learning BH for over 19 years and our relationship has been growing steadily all that time. We've been learning Chumash, now with Rashi, and spend time sharing our lives with one another. Several years ago we decided to "graduate" ourselves to being chavrusa’s, not just partners. Many times we've commented that our being brought together by PIT was hashgacha pratis, min haShamayim. We have shared so much during the years. When we began learning together Carol, a retired physician, was a dialysis patient, and subsequently received a kidney transplant. I live in Brooklyn, NY and she lives in Philadelphia, and we got together several times during those early years for "siyumim". Then, my husband got sick and needed dialysis, which was a very trying time, even more so since we were doing the treatments at home. Being able to share so much of that with Carol brought us even closer. Almost 2 years ago my husband got a kidney transplant from our son, and our partnership/friendship continues to grow! BH Carol is an amazing person, very involved in her community's shiurim for ladies, not only attending but organizing. Since I retired about 1 1/2 years ago we've been able to move our learning to the daytime, and BH she is always able to accommodate my changing schedule. I really can't find the words to express how grateful we both are that Partners in Torah "made our shidduch" those years ago. We've been learning on the phone all along anyway, and since corona, we're both staying at home much more. Our conversations have become even more meaningful as we share our lives and find that our attitudes and values are so much "in synch". Thank you PIT! I am ever so grateful for you bringing this friend into my life! Carol has helped me to grow in so many ways. Our love of dancing is another thing that we share, and we look forward to dancing together to greet Moshiach! Read moreNot So Random
Not So Random
Tehila Daveed
Imagine this - It’s March 2007 and a classroom of rowdy fourth graders is about to greet yet another new teacher. Although this “problem classroom” may have been intimidating grounds for some, I was excited about the challenge, and happy to have a job after moving back to the States from Israel. I still remember so clearly! I walked into that classroom with confidence, introduced myself as Ms. Daveed, and became known as their “saving teacher.” I gave the students assignments and projects based on their interests and really worked hard to get to know each child. I remember there were twins in the grade; two sweet boys. One of them was in this class, he was a bit on the quiet side. It’s funny, I even remember where his seat was in the classroom! I recall doing my best to help him thrive, and even have memories of meeting his parents at parent-teacher conferences. One of the reasons why I remember their mother, Tammy Lovy, is because she also worked at the school. A few years later, when my daughter also began teaching in this school, she actually worked with Tammy in the Early Childhood Department. They became friendly, and when my daughter got married, Tammy came to the wedding! I didn’t really think much about my acquaintance with Tammy, whom I hadn’t heard of in years. Until… fast forward to a few months ago… Although I’m retired, I’m quite busy with a lot of commitments, but when I saw an advertisement for The Shabbat Learning program through Partners in Torah, I couldn’t resist signing up. “It’s just 3 weeks” I thought, “I can handle this!” Yet, when I logged on to register, I was frustrated by the sign-up form because it was asking me to select very specific times of availability! My schedule changes daily and I didn’t want to commit to a time I couldn’t stick to. So what did I do? I just randomly threw out a time and day: Wednesdays at 3pm. The next thing I know, I get an email with the name of my new Partner: Tammy Lovy! Honestly, the name sounded familiar but I couldn’t place her. I called my daughter and asked her, “Remind me, do I know a Tammy Lovy?” My daughter said, “Of course! She taught with me, and you taught one of her sons!” When I called Tammy, we instantly made the connection! She hadn’t realized it was me because I registered for Partners in Torah with my English name, but as soon as I reminded her, we were so happy to reconnect! The funniest part is that Tammy also had a hard time coming up with a time to select on the sign-up form, so she shared that she randomly chose a time: Wednesdays at 3pm! It was clearly meant to be that we reconnect and learn together. We love our learning sessions, and I can’t believe that her boys are now 27 years old! Read moreSo Many Miracles
So Many Miracles
Nechama Burnham
I joined Partners in Torah after the terrorist attack here in Har Nof, (Yartzheit was this past week) when everyone asked themselves, what more can I do, how can I stretch and grow, l'ilui nishmas the Kedoshim. I love learning Torah, and my daughter has said for years that I should teach, but I don't feel I have the time to properly prepare classes for a group. However, one on one learning sounded just my speed. I have a wonderful Partner in Arizona, Vicki Coben, and my husband has been learning with her husband, Dan, as well! Vicki came on board because her family moved to Arizona from New Jersey, where she had been connected with Torah Links. Moving to Phoenix, they settled out of the Orthodox sphere, in Chandler, which was more affordable, but she felt bereft of her Jewish learning and connections, and her rebbetzin at Torah Links suggested that she contact Partners. Vicki has a real thirst for Jewish learning, is a very spiritual, as well as intellectual and emotionally intelligent woman, and her questions force me to re-examine many things that I learned at a young age, and may have accepted at face value, without really exploring in depth. At other times, she comes at the Torah learning from a different angle than I do, thus widening our perspective. Our partnership, therefore, is a wellspring of intellectual, as well as spiritual growth for both of us. Not only that, our connection has really blossomed into a close, "sisters from different mothers" relationship, in which we discuss everything from our children, and their challenges and triumphs, work-related issues, politics, covid, everything but the kitchen sink! After studying together for 3 years, first Aryeh and Dan, who have done everything from Pirkei Avos to gemara, then Vicki and I, who often go for 1-1/2-2 hours, and sometimes more than once a week, our main limud being Chumash, with many other topics that have come up over the years, we actually decided to visit our Partners, when we were going to the States for Pesach to be with 3 of my children, who were spending the Yom Tov together in Boston (just a hop, skip and a jump from Arizona?) We arranged a Shabbos for the 4 of us in the neighborhood of a wonderful kiruv shul. Unfortunately, our Partners live too far even from the nearest Orthodox shul, Chabad of Chandler, to join them for services. Boruch Hash-m, for the last 7 years, Vicki decided to give up going to shul for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and just commune with Hash-m through the prayers, and she says they are the best High Holidays she ever had! Three years ago, I lost another mitzva I had been doing weekly when the MS patient I had been reading the Parsha to each week passed away. Not wanting to leave a void, I decided to take on another Partnership and was gifted with a ba'alat Teshuva of many years, who has 4 children, 3 of whom are quite frum, and one "in process." Although she and her husband are observant, Debbie felt the lack of Jewish education, so we started learning, and the most amazing thing happened. About two weeks after we had begun studying together, we got an invitation to a wedding, which my husband left on my computer--I was flabbergasted. We had only just "met"--how could my Partner have gotten an invitation to me so soon? When I told my husband how amazed I was, he replied, "That's not your chavrusa; that's my talmid, who I have kept in contact within the years since he was in my shiur in Ohr Somayach." I replied,"Well, guess what? Your talmid is marrying my chavrusa's daughter!" Even more incredible than that, it "just so happened" that we had planned a trip to the States for my son's siyum haShas, celebrated in a very public way, as he is the senior educator at Partners in Detroit, and saw this as an opportunity for a big kiddush Hash-m, and his daughter's bas mitzvah, and the chasuna was scheduled for the Thursday before that Shabbos, also known in your parts as Thanksgiving. We were able to change our tickets to include this simcha, so I got to really meet my Partner in person, for the first time, at the chasuna! What a lovely way to begin a learning relationship. Of course, since then, whenever she comes to visit her 2 daughters in Yerushalayim, we get together, and usually, we go out to eat with her and her husband, and a good time is had by all! Debbie has her own very special qualities. She is someone who built herself up from a less than ideal childhood and came to Yiddishkeit without the benefit of a strong Torah education. Yet, she has brought up her children in Torah tradition, and has a thirst for Torah, which is what brought her to Partners! She and her husband, for example, have gone way ahead in the book on Hilchot Shabbos that we are learning, going beyond a weekly hour to explore a topic that entails restrictions and mandates because she wants to "get it right!" I wanted Debbie to choose the topics of our study, and they have varied over the years., although we always take time before the various Yomim Tovim to explore their messages and lessons for our lives. Debbie really appreciated the middos work we did during sefiras ha'Omer , and now, since Elul, we have been splitting our time between Tomer Devora, and Shabbos, both its halachos, through the sefer, "Learn Shabbos, in just 3 Minutes a Day," ( we learn 2-3 entries each week,) which is very lucid, getting to the bottom line of a clear psak, and Rabbi Shimshon Pincus' sefer, "Shabbos Kodesh," on the inner meaning and depth of Shabbos. Of course, we (both Vicki and Debbie and I) took the opportunity afforded by Partners, in celebration of the Shabbos Project this year, to explore in-depth the three mitzvos which frame Shabbos--Hadlakat Nerot, Kiddush, and Havdala, and we are sure this will help to elevate our Shabbos observance! This past year, my husband gave up his job in Ohr Somayach in order to begin online tutoring in Gemara, and the wife of one of his students, Devora Shore of LaJolla, California, wanted to learn as well, so she has joined Debbie and me for our Tuesday evening sessions. This has really enriched our study time, as we all share and add insights and observations, and bounce ideas off one another. Sometimes Debbie may have a personal question she wants to address, so the 2 of us continue past our hour as a threesome, to talk out various situations, explore options, etc. All of my Partners have helped me get perspectives on a person in my own life who has many life challenges, from her abusive childhood, right up to her present-day, lack of a job, of permanent living arrangements, security, etc. . Debbie suggested "meeting" with my friend over the phone, or Skype, to help her with some of the psychological tools and personal insights she has gleaned in life. So Partners becomes a conduit for each and every Partner to actualize themselves in ways they might not even have imagined! If there is anything else that might be of interest or help to you, let me know. I will try to get a screenshot of our WhatsApp Tuesday night session if it is not too late for photos, and to ask my husband for one with the Cobens and us, from our trip 3 years ago. Added part: Hello again! When Debbie and I were telling our new third partner, Devora, our story, and how I ended up overseas at her daughter's chasuna just a few weeks after we started learning together, she mentioned another piece of the puzzle that I had forgotten. When Debbie was speaking to her oldest daughter, Nechama, then living in Israel, she told her of the amazing coincidence that her younger daughter was marrying her new Partner's husband's talmid. Nechama told her, "That's not all, Mommy. Their son, Azriel, is running a business to help non-profits. He outsources, and I work, here in Israel, as his project manager! It REALLY is a small world! As a matter of fact, I forgot another coincidence. When Vicki and I got to know each other, she mentioned the name of her rabbis in Torah Links of New Jersey. Guess what? I taught her rabbi when he was in kindergarten!! Read moreA Coincidence? I Think Not!
A Coincidence? I Think Not!
Ellen Ben-Sefer
A coincidence? I don’t think so. Things happen for a reason. I joined Partners in Torah nearly five years ago after my son had serious neurosurgery and thankfully, recovered. I made a promise to myself that I would do something beyond what I was already doing to express my gratitude to HaShem. It seemed to me that I could do this by making a commitment to learning with a partner. I had doubts that I could even be matched with anyone since I live in Hawaii and the time difference is a big factor so I didn’t have high expectations. But, voila! I was matched with Binah Schiff in New York. This has been the most wonderful experience. Every time we learn together I come away with a sense that I have not only learned but have the space to ask questions, to draw parallels, to want to dig deeper and learn more on my own. In the end, this has become a friendship. We tell each other about our families, their triumphs, their accomplishments (come on, we are both parents!), their difficulties. Every single week, I have something to truly look forward to and savor. One illustration of how Binah goes above and beyond was Pesach. Normally, I order a large shipment from New York and supplement with whatever we can get here. This year, due to the pandemic, nobody was shipping to Hawaii and very little was available here. What would I do? I phoned Binah. I felt terrible about this. I knew New York was in the midst of the pandemic at its worst. She gave the name of a store near her to phone in an order and she would pick it up and have it shipped from her house to avoid going to a post office and standing in lines. Everything arrived and even more than I needed. Without Binah, I don’t know how I would ever have made Pesach. She even tossed in a few treats! That’s above and beyond what anyone can expect. But, that’s also who she is. A person who gives and does for others, quietly, without any fanfare. When my mother died nearly three years ago, Binah knew I was flying into New York for the funeral. She insisted that I stay at the airport when I arrived no matter how tired and disheveled I might be because she was coming to the airport to finally meet me. Did she have to do that? Of course not. And very kindly, she suggested we dedicate our learning to my mom’s memory for the year of evel. Where would I ever find anyone like this, a true woman of valor other than through Partners in Torah. Binah is a superstar! One of the best things that have happened in my life. Read moreA Match Made in Hollywood
A Match Made in Hollywood
Allan Katrun
Like many of us, I’m a busy professional with countless responsibilities, including family, learning, and being an active member of my community. Who has time for a Zoom session with someone you don’t know anything about, where they live or if you will have anything in common? Of course, it might be important for somebody who is looking to learn, but there are a lot of important things in this world. Especially in this situation of turmoil, we are all in the midst of – who has the extra time? But how can a Yid turn down an email requesting learning partners? Partners in Torah was seeking mentors to fill the requests of Jewish neshamos around the world looking for Torah inspiration? At one time, years ago in Toronto, I ran a weekly Partners in Torah learning session. Baruch Hashem, it was very successful. Scores of learning ‘partners’ from the Toronto area neighborhoods were created and filled up the Study Hall of the BAYT – one of the largest, orthodox Shuls in North America. But times have changed, as the newer even more successful version of Partners in Torah became phone and Zoom based. And now the organization was coming back to me, not as an organizer, but as a mentor. I tried to ignore the email from Partners in Torah, but Hashem had other plans and my fingers clicked the OK button, to be forgotten…….until a few weeks later – there was a response sitting in my in-box. Oh my, what did I get myself into? I barely have time for what’s on my plate now…… How in the world….? But the email was worded very smartly – “we found a “suitable” partner for you.” Little did I know that very soon, I would have a new ‘partner’ in my life. A partner that has become a friend, a soul mate in many ways, and a highlight of my busy weekly schedule. I must preface this short vignette with a bit of my background. Growing up in Miami in the late ’50s and ’60s, our lives were centered on the TV set. Besides the radio, there were few other outlets for family entertainment. I remember the excitement when color TV came out! Only the wealthier families could afford it, and most of us had to wait. We literally grew up with the many well-known national TV personalities on our screens. Many of course were Jewish, and the content was actually very ‘kosher’, family-oriented with positive values. I, perhaps like many of the generation, glorified the actors and celebrities we saw on a weekly basis. For example, as a young boy on one of our trips to Los Angeles, I actually snuck into a side door of the major CBS TV studios in Burbank. I’ll never forget walking down a huge hall connecting many studios. Over one of the oversized doors, an ‘on the air’ sign went from red to green. I opened the door to find myself on the actual stage of a very popular live national TV show just as it went off the air! I was in ‘heaven’! My reluctance to taking on a weekly Zoom chavrusa immediately turned to one of great interest, even excitement, as I was told my chavrusa would be Allan Kartun from Los Angeles. Allan just happens to be a known and respected Hollywood national TV director. And not just any director. He directed many of the ‘stars’ I had grown up with as well as many contemporary ones. Suddenly, my attitude toward our learning turned around! We have been ‘partners’ weekly now, for almost a year. We learn Pirkei Avos with various commentators. Allan loves our time together and expresses his enthusiasm for learning Torah and the strengthening of his connection to Judaism thru our learning. And he knows I feel exactly the same. But, there is a difference between us. Although I am a bit shy to admit – I will explain. A few weeks ago we were learning Pirkei Avos, Chapter 4 Mishna 1. The Mishna is teaching us the Torah perspective of who is to be honored. Learning the commentary of the well-known Ethics from Sinai by Irving M. Bunim, the author comments: “You can tell the character of a person by noting whom he praises, whom he honors, whom he considers his heroes. If he extols righteous Torah personalities, he undoubtedly aspires to their ideals. If he idolizes stage and screen figures, he still has not grown up.” When I saw the last sentence coming, my heart skipped a beat. Not wanting to insult Alan whose life is centered on ‘stage and screen figures’ I tried to skip the last line. But it was too late – we read it. Allan, sensing my reluctance in reading that, just laughed! Richie, he said, that’s not my problem, to me it’s my job. But from some of the stories you have told me - it certainly seems to be your problem! And we both had a good laugh! So, all is going well with our learning. Every Sunday morning with 3 hours of time difference between us, we delve into the majesty of the Torah. Truth be told, my childhood attraction to all things Hollywood still gnaws my conscience. But perhaps, that’s exactly why Hashem sent me my very special chavrusa. I have learned that within the world of glitz and glamor, there is a very intelligent, sensitive human being, and together with the Torah - we are one! Our deepest appreciation to Partners in Torah! Read moreA Whole New Connection to Judaism
A Whole New Connection to Judaism
Brianna Lopez
I have been teaching yoga for 50 years. Right before COVID hit and changed our reality, my career was at its height. I have my own yoga studio and was used to teaching all day! Whether giving private lessons, teaching yoga for breast cancer (I am a breast cancer survivor!), teaching chair yoga for people with disabilities and injuries…. Let’s just say that I was used to a very busy schedule! Thank G-d, as we’ve adapted to our new reality, I’ve been able to continue teaching yoga via zoom. Transitioning to virtual yoga teaching has been interesting, but there is another kind of “different” teaching experience that has changed my life. Yes, you read right: changed. my. life. I am 76 years old and therefore part of the “vulnerable” population in this COVID era. While some would enjoy the idea of lowering their commitments and responsibilities, I am a very active person and I need my life to have a purpose. Thankfully, teaching on zoom has allowed me to continue my purpose as a yoga teacher, but when we were in the first stages of COVID, I didn’t know what the future would look like for my career. It was during this time that I got an email about Partners in Torah. I knew about Partners in Torah for years, because we had lived in Detroit before we moved to Israel and they have a very active Partners in Torah program there. Actually, I had wanted to be involved but the sessions always conflicted with my teaching schedule. But I do remember having good feelings and memories about what Partners in Torah does. Getting this email at this uncertain time caught my eye. I opened it up and it was very engaging. I realized that I had been asking myself what more I could be doing, and joining Partners in Torah really seemed like a good idea! I thought, “I have the time, the space… maybe Hashem is telling me to change direction and do this!” So, I went for it. I signed up using the very easy application form. The only part I got stuck on was deciding if I should be a teacher or a student. I thought about it, and before I knew it I clicked on “teach.” I really wanted someone young and someone very new to Judaism. I then watched Moe Mernick’s videos, which were great. It turns out that I actually know his family very well from Ramat Beit Shemesh! One week later, I received an email telling me that they found a partner for me. The email included her name (Brianna Lopez) and her contact information and a bit about her. I wanted to accept her as my partner, but once I did, I was very disappointed. I got a message saying that she had just been taken by another mentor! For some reason, I was compelled to reach out to her. I sent her an email and introduced myself. I told her that I was looking to get involved with Partners in Torah and if she is still available, I’d love to be her partner. She immediately wrote me back and said that yes, she would love to be my partner! I reached out to Partners in Torah and I’m not sure what happened. Maybe there was a glitch in the communication? But in the end, we were officially paired up! We had our first introductory meeting. I asked Brianna about herself, and she shared that she had actually just found out she is Jewish 3 years ago! Brianna is from LA but lives in Israel now, which was great because there was no timezone difference to take into account for our learning. We initially decided to learn about Elul, and then shifted to learning Parsha. During our first sessions, Brianna was not working so she had more time to connect. We would talk for a minimum of an hour and a half to two hours! Each session felt like it went by in a second. We immediately connected and felt like we knew each other our whole lives! Brianna is my grandson’s age. She doesn’t have any family here in Israel. Through our learning connection, we’ve become like family to her. Now, you may be wondering why I say this beautiful relationship changed my life. I feel that this experience has allowed me to open up a whole new chapter of my life. Although I have attended Torah classes for years, I have never been the one to teach Torah to another person. Especially teaching Brianna, who is at the very first stages of gaining knowledge about Judaism, I feel a real responsibility. Joining Partners in Torah has given me the opportunity to go over Torah sources, put together a lesson, and truly delve into and understand the material that I am giving over. I now spend 8 to 9 hours a week preparing for our learning! I do this with joy and from a real desire. I gain so, so much from it! My partnership with Brianna is based on Torah. We have connected in such a special way through our learning. We feel so connected… both of us look forward to this all week long! It’s really a beautiful relationship, we already love each other! It’s like… love at first Torah! I love this experience and what it’s given me so much that I am telling you… everyone who knows me, all my yoga students and friends, know that I am now involved with Partners in Torah! I tell everyone about it and encourage others to sign up, too. I really hope that Brianna and I will get to meet in person soon. Hopefully, once it’s safe (because of Corona), she can come to us for Shabbat. We also want to visit the Kotel together! In the meantime, I am actually saving lots of Jewish books for her because we are downsizing, so instead of donating them, I am so excited to be able to give her lots of Jewish books. She doesn’t own any! Brianna is just being born into Judaism, and I am just beginning to discover a whole new connection to my Judaism and to myself. Thank you, Partners in Torah! Read morePartners.... and Coworkers!
Partners.... and Coworkers!
A Rocky Start
A Rocky Start
Chava.A
I thought about joining Partners in Torah for years, but I wasn't sure I was knowledgeable enough to take on that role. I'm a baales tshuva. I have an adult child off the derech. In short, I just didn't feel confident. But, eventually, a couple friends who are in the program convinced me to give it a try. I guess I originally hoped to have something of value to share with the person with whom I'd be partnered. The first person I was set up with was not what I expected. She turned out to be mentally unstable with a very serious psychological disorder, and moreover she was in an incredibly inappropriate relationship (with a married man). She really needed a therapist, not a learning partner. She just wanted me to listen to her struggles. But, as she was Jew, and she wasn't abusive to me, I felt I couldn't reject her. It was difficult to get in even 5 minutes of Jewish content during our sessions. I admit I was relieved when she started cancelling, and eventually just didn't respond any more. Looking back, I realize I should have let Partners in Torah know from the beginning. But I just didn't want to be the "Orthodox Jew" who ditched her. After that I was matched with my current chavrusa, Svetlana. I think we've been together about 3 years. It's been such a positive experience. We've become good friends. Although she may not be as observant as I am overall, she has a very strong background in Jewish education. She's brilliant, extremely well read, and knows PLENTY of Torah. She and husband were Russian refuseniks in the 70s and 80s, and have lived in the states for about 35 years. Their kids were born in Russia, but finished growing up here. Our learning relationship is mutual - not at all a one way street. I appreciate so many of her qualities, and she seems to appreciate me. She has life experience and hardships she's overcome from which I can really learn. And I see that I bring things to the table from which she benefits. I look forward to our weekly hour - our learning, and just keeping up with each other's life. We offer support to each other when needed, and we get pleasure from each other's simchas and accomplishments. We've spent time learning a couple of wonderful sefarim, and I look forward to more learning and friendship to come Iy"H. Read moreRenewed Excitement to Learn
Renewed Excitement to Learn
Rivky.N
I joined Partners in Torah inorder to learn from someone with more Torah knowledge than me. I hoped to enjoy learning Torah, and learn more about the ways of God. I have gotten an enjoyment for Torah learning, and an appreciation for Jews who may seem different than me. My partner was so nice and accepting, and we became friends. She would also give me advice from her experiences. I grew up in a toxic religious atmosphere, and didn't see the beauty in the Torah. When I was ready to start learning again, I was paired with the most amazing girl who had such smart insights to share, and was so growth oriented. We had meaningful and thought provoking conversations, and she got me so excited to start learning again. We stopped learning when I went to seminary in Israel, and I am so grateful for the incredible learning we did together. Read moreA Positive Impact
A Positive Impact
RS
I joined Partners in Torah in order to give back. I like to teach and I spent years learning. I felt that I learned enough that I had things of value to give over to someone else. I wanted to make a positive impact on the people that I will learn with. I have not only made a positive impact but I have learnt a lot as well. I learned how to connect with different types of people. I have learned the skill of being flexible and the true value of that skill. I enjoy learning with my partner a lot. We usually discuss the things that happen during that week and how we should view those events. It is great as it adds haskafa to our learning session, which is primarily composed of halacha. It gives me a fresh perspective on things that I sometimes take for granted. In addition, sometimes the messages that I tell my partner also help me deal with my problems. Read moreJust A "Normal" Jewish Guy
Just A "Normal" Jewish Guy
ST
I had been hesitating for a while about joining Partners In Torah (even signing up and then not using my account a few times). However recently I decided to try it (my wife as well gave me a push to do it which helped). I hoped to be able to learn and explain to someone unaffiliated what it is to be a regular "normal" Jewish guy- aka that we are not only Jewish Rabbis. I personally have grown by the fact that I'm learning a lot more and thinking a lot more as to WHY we do what we do as Yidden- and not just going through the motions. My partner and I are similar age and while we have not met in person we learn for half an hour on the phone most weeks. Besides for the learning part the conversations as well are so insightful and helpful. As I've continued on this journey I find myself understanding and appreciating the reasons behind what we do- which help me enjoy being a frum yid that much more. Read moreThrough Thick and Thin
Through Thick and Thin
JG
I like to keep up with studying and Partners in Torah gave me a reason to stay motivated. I hoped to gain insights and friendships. My partner and I started learning together some time after my first husband had passed away which was a difficult period for me and it gave me purpose to keep positive. We were still learning when I remarried and we shared experiences during that transition. We became good friends. My partner came to my area one weekend and we met each other in person. It was a special experience for both of us. Together we’ve learned reading(Karia) aleph beis, davening, parsha, tehillim, and in general many areas in the years that we have studied together. I believe that it has been a positive experience for both of us. We share each other's ups and downs. Read moreOctober 7th Inspiration
October 7th Inspiration
MW
I joined Partners in Torah to formalize and deepen my connections to the Torah and my wonderful tutor, Libby Kiszner. October 7th revealed how already connected I was to my faith and how much richer I wanted that connection to be. I have not been disappointed. As part of our learning adventure, Libby has recommended books on daily prayer; readings that have become an essential and cherished part of my daily ritual. Libby has mastered the art of meeting someone where they are and leading them to where they need to be as she addresses my many questions about how the Torah can instruct us in everyday life. I consider Libby my trusted tutor, my dear forever friend, and my family, too. This opportunity to enrich and fortify my Jewish knowledge and identity has helped me withstand the challenges of a world filled with ignorance about Israel’s rights and responsibilities and to better convey my growing understanding in more enlightened and engaging ways.Kudos to Libby Kiszner for the spectacular job she is doing with me. She will, of course, say it is Hashem. That is Libby. Read moreMe Time
Me Time
Gitty.F
I'm a Mom of 6 kids and I work part time. I felt like all I was just trying to do was get through the day - juggling all my responsibilities. While I love my family, I was missing something that would be just for me. Something that would fulfill me spiritually and intellectually. Partners in Torah does all that in addition to giving me a new friend that I have formed a strong connection too. I have been religious all my life and live in a close knit religious community. There are so many things that I have taken for granted my whole life. In our weekly learning sessions, not only have I learned so much from my partner, but I also have discovered a renewed appreciation for my heritage and all the beauty that I am surrounded with on a daily basis. Besides for our weekly learning sessions we Whatsapp throughout the week, keeping each other up to date with what is going on in our lives. Despite having extremely different backgrounds, we actually share a lot of common interests, have similar personalities, and have had a lot of similar health struggles and experiences so we bond over that as well. Read moreGratitude to the Gewirtzs
Gratitude to the Gewirtzs
Liora.L
I signed up for Partners in Torah purely because of my friendship with Rabbi & Mrs.Gewirtz who are an extraordinary couple. While I didn’t feel like I had much to offer, the person who matched me with my partner was super helpful. I had zero expectations. We started learning on Sunday evenings for about 30 mins. It was such a wonderful learning experience for me. At some point my Partner in Torah and I met. A few months later she was married and I was able to be at her wedding. After a few years my partner made Aliyah! While we do not learn together currently (she has another partner!) we are in touch and share a warm friendship. Read moreAn Eye-Opening Exchange
An Eye-Opening Exchange
Debbie .L
I joined Partners in Torah because as an empty nester and retired preschool teacher, I had free time available and wanted to use it productively. It took a while and a few partners until my partner and I really clicked, but we have been learning together for over a year now and I feel as though we are really good friends. I hope to meet her in person one day. We’ve learned a number of different seforim, one of which my partner introduced me to. I had heard of it but never looked at it. It was out of print and hard to come by. Through great siyata dishmaya I was able to find a copy and really enjoy learning it with her. Recently she mentioned another Sefer she really wanted to learn. It was not at all on my radar and as we learned it the first time I thought, “No way. This is too deep and complex for me.” Exactly that week a Rav on Torah Anytime began giving a shiur on that exact topic! So now we listen to the shiur together (it’s less than 15 minutes usually) and then discuss it. My partner has really opened my eyes in many ways. She is a pleasure to learn with. Read moreIgnoring the "What Ifs"
Ignoring the "What Ifs"
Karen Rubenstein
When I first considered signing up for partners in Torah, I was nervous. Nervous because I wasn't sure I wanted to make the commitment. What if I didn't enjoy it and didn't want to continue? What if the person I was learning with wasn't a good fit? Lots of "what ifs" went through my head! I decided to just take a chance - go with the flow! After almost 3 years of learning with Anna, I am so happy that I took the plunge. Anna has inspired me with her passion for learning and her depth of knowledge. We felt a connection right from the start, discovering many things in common. Many times we have talked about meeting in person but it just hasn't worked out yet. I hope it will soon. We have gone through Pirkei Avos and Yehoshua and are now learning Shoftim. In addition, we share divrei Torah that we have heard throughout the week. I feel our learning has enriched my life and I'm proud of the progress we've made together. Read moreA good combination
A good combination
Shira Klein
I signed up for Partners in Torah a couple of years ago when I was looking for something productive to do with my time which would make use of my skills. This has proven to be a match made in heaven. Although on the surface my partner and I are very different (she's twice my age, just for starters), once you get past that we actually have a ton in common (we're both iherb addicts). This has turned into a real friendship for both of us. We don't learn anything specific, we "just shmooze," but somehow it does both of us a ton of good. The combination of a knowledgeable but busy with life FFB taking the time to stop, think, and explain (that's me) and a flaming BT (that's her) is a very good one. Read moreI had no idea what was in store
I had no idea what was in store
Pictures
Alisa Givertz
When I first saw the ads for Partners In Torah's 3 week pre-Purim learning program I resisted. Eventually I thought, it's only 3 weeks I can commit to that. I had no idea what was in store. From our first conversation, I knew that HaShem had arranged everything. Of the more than 3,000 people who had signed up, G-d connected me to the one person that could understand the catastrophe that me and my family had experienced. I would never have raised the subject but my new study partner did. It was a shock - but a good shock. We both recognized that G-d had put us together. I am overwhelmed with emotion to think about how extraordinary it was - and how grateful I am to heaven for the generous and so special gift of my very, very dear friend. It has been 3.5 years of learning, growing and celebrating life together. And while we only get together a couple of times a year - busy lives! - we speak every week, learn together every week and are there for each other for celebrations and challenges. When one of my sons was married on Lag b'Omer, Devorah Genendy was there to celebrate the young couple. Most recently we met during Hol haMoed at the Kotel and for coffee in Mamilla. Partners in Torah has given me the dearest most precious gift: a friend who shares my values and enriches my life in ways I could never have imagined when I filled out a few lines to join and study Purim. The Master of the Universe is infinitely generous. Tears are running down my cheeks as I take stock of what a gift I received signing up for 3 weeks of learning. We never know what is possible. Enormous gifts can come when we have absolutely no expectation. I love my study partner and her friendship has enriched my life. Next week she'll come to stay with us for Shabbat with her daughter and we will study in person! Life is so good. Thank you for making this possible. Read moreMay her memory be a blessing
May her memory be a blessing
Nina Litvak
Cindy a"h and I started learning together about 10 years ago. Cindy was severely disabled due to advanced MS and could move only one finger. She suffered greatly due to her illness, but was always cheerful and eager to learn with me. We studied the siddur, mussar and emunah and became good friends. We learned on the phone and met in person once when I visited her in Las Vegas. Cindy had deep emunah and bitachon and I was blessed to have her in my life. She passed away earlier this year. May her memory always be for a blessing. Read more23 Years and Going Strong
23 Years and Going Strong
Chaya Weinfeld
Risa and I began learning some 23 years ago, back in November of 2001, a few months before my fourth daughter was born; today that daughter is the blissful mother of a little boy! We scheduled our learning session for Thursday evening, and are still going strong. Risa and I have gone through many of life's challenges and happy times, leaning on each other for support. We are so grateful to Partners in Torah for making the shidduch! Read moreI pushed myself
I pushed myself
Elana Moalem
Four years ago someone told me that Partners in Torah was looking for mentors. I have a hard time committing to long term commitments but pushed myself to do it. I was worried that maybe I didn’t know enough to teach another adult about Judaism. My partner, Janice, and I are different on a lot of levels but we clicked right away. Sometimes we use part of our learning time to just schmooze and have really gotten to know one another. It turns out we are similar on a lot of levels as well! She is very open minded and I have nachas watching her grow in her Jewish thought and observance. Our 4th anniversary is coming up and I am really glad I joined Partners in Torah, and that I have a lifelong friend in my learning partner. Read moreI Took a Chance
I Took a Chance
Greg Wasserman
I joined Partners in Torah because I had been in a relationship where my partner was opening my eyes to my Jewish identity, which I had previously been uninterested in. I had found a synagogue that I felt a connection to. Through the synagogue, I found a rabbi who held weekly learnings that were non-religious but with a Jewish focus. I was served a social media ad for Partners in Torah. It piqued my interest. Maybe this was a way to heal, find more connection with religion, and gain some clarity. So I answered the ad and took a chance. By joining, I had hoped to get a reminder of what I had forgotten during my Hebrew school days as a child--culture, customs, holidays. Someone who could handle my cynicism, understand my point of view, and educate me, learn with me, and slowly open me up to a deeper connection to myself. My experience with Partners in Torah was exactly what I was looking for, not knowing how we'd get there. I now better understand holidays, history, cultures, and customs. Through articles my partner brings, we study ways to live a better life, Jewish holidays, historical stories and their significance, famous rabbis and their teachings, philosophies, and understandings. I may forget a lot of what we study, but I feel closer to my Jewish identity, to others and how they see the world with a more religious lens than me, and to how to live a better life. When I joined, I was first matched with another partner, but that did not work out. I'm glad that instead of ending my involvement, I raised my hand to get matched with someone else. I'm blessed that I was then matched with Rabbi Yaakov Grossman; it's been a great pairing for me. He understands my cynicism, and welcomes my cautious, skeptical attitude with warm, delicate hands. I learned about him, his family, his job, and his career, and I have created a relationship with him. He brings an article weekly, usually from Aish or Chabad's website, for us to read and discuss. I walk away with insights, understandings, new perspectives, and always a history lesson, as Yaakov is passionate about everything. His passion, humility, and vulnerability make for great learning and keeps me growing in the direction I wanted when I first signed up. 100% my involvement has helped me grow and become more positive. Reading the Aish 48 Ways to Live alone has been a great growth experience. We're only a quarter of the way through them, as we usually have other articles or holidays to discuss. Rabbi Yaakov's passion and love for Judaism and Torah studying are contagious. And even when I'm skeptical, he allows me to keep that guard up while creating a positive experience. I don't know what other's experiences are like or what they hope to gain, but I'm lucky that Rabbi Yaakov finds the time we spend together of value, as I know it is for me. Read moreExperiencing Judaism more fully
Experiencing Judaism more fully
Sarah Berkowitz
Once I finished with school and seminary and 'real life' started, it was harder to find time to learn Torah consistently. Teaching is a great way to learn, and one-on-one learning is lower pressure and less prep than standing in front of a classroom, so Partners in Torah was the perfect opportunity. It's a commitment, but one that is very do-able. When I joined, I hoped to give and get - to share what I've experienced as a Torah-observant Jew, and to gain inspiration and wisdom from another person's perspective. I also looked forward to discussions on basic tenets of Judaism, as well as deeper Torah concepts. Ultimately, I got out of this experience exactly what I'd hoped for, and so much more. My Torah partner Rachel is a lifelong friend now, whether she likes it or not! Our friendship is so much more meaningful because it was built from a shared desire to grow in our spirituality. We speak on the phone just about every week, sometimes from different places around the country when one of us is traveling. Our Torah topics have ranged from Tefilah/prayer, to mitzvos and holidays, and more recently to the Parsha of the week. We also talk about life, Israel, and current events as they relate to Judaism. Many times one of us will bring up a topic or concept and the other will just have experienced something very similar. It's like there's a connection that runs between Atlanta and Philly and all these really interesting 'coincidences' happen. Studying consistently with Rachel has enriched my relationship to Torah and mitzvos in a very special way. You can live an observant life for decades because that's what you were born into and that's just what you do - but when you start to share it, to try to explain why and how, you have the opportunity to open your eyes and experience Judaism more fully. This has absolutely made a positive impact on me. Read moreYerushalayim to Houston
Yerushalayim to Houston
Eliyahu Miller
When I first joined Partners in Torah, I didn't see much in common with my partner. I was simply happy to donate some time and knowledge to someone seeking it. However, as we got to know each other better and began learning in earnest, I realized we had more in common than I initially thought. Despite our different backgrounds, our personalities and values aligned remarkably well. My partner, who had never learned Gemara before, surprised me with his quick grasp of the material. Thanks to our dedicated learning sessions, he now studies at an adult level comparable to any Kollel yungerman. What started as a plan to donate one hour a week has blossomed into three hours a week including an hour of friendly conversation. Although Matthew calls me Rabbi, our relationship has evolved beyond a typical teacher-student dynamic. We've developed a cherished friendship, and I look forward to our sessions as much as he does. I no longer feel like I'm "donating" anything; instead, I'm gaining immensely from our shared learning experience. We're currently studying Perek Eilu Metzios in Bava Metzia. Having covered about half the perek, including review, we find ourselves delving deeper into the Gemara, Rishonim, and Acharonim with each session. Our goal is to finish the perek, though it might take a few more years at our current pace. Despite the physical distance between Yerushalayim and Houston, we've managed to forge a strong connection. While we haven't yet met in person, we hope to do so one day. Until then, our weekly virtual learning sessions continue to enrich both our lives. Read more"Rabbis" in the room
"Rabbis" in the room
Judith Friedman
Wow, Partners in Torah has been part of my life since 2004. I can't imagine life without my partners! For my son's Bar Mitzvah, the irreplaceable Savta Selma gave him Rabbi Twersky's Visions of the Fathers, a commentary on Pirkei Avos. In it was the story of a son who had inherited his father's successful store. The store was doing poorly. The son went to his Rebbe and asked why that should be. The rebbe inquired, "When there were no customers, what did your father do?" Son replied, "He opened a sefer and learned." Rebbe: "And when there are no customers, what do you do?" Son: "I read the paper.." Rebbe:"There is your answer! Your father learned Torah when business was slack, so the Satan had to distract him with customers. He sees no need to distract you, so he doesn't send anyone your way." That story came to me at a difficult time in my life. I'm a physical therapist, and at that time I was doing homecare with infants and mothers. Brooklyn. A lot of scheduling around naps, parking, other therapists. One agency had triplets for me-- Ah, one parking!-- but they couldn't all be seen on the same day. Another agency had quintuplets-- same story, three on one day, two another day. Then I had one or two babies who cried incessantly. It sometimes happens, it's just not a match. You have to try a different therapist. This story gave me the idea: Maybe the Ribbono shel Olam wants me to do something other than turn minutes into dollars to care for my own family. Maybe I should be investing some of my time for another purpose. So I signed on with Partners in Torah. My first partner, Flora, was an astoundingly perfect match. We didn't realize how much we had in common until several months into our partnership, but we spoke each other's language immediately. We learned together for a year and a half. Unfortunately, at some point life got busy and we had to stop. A few months later, Partners called me with Andrea's information. When was that? 2007? 2008? We bonded immediately. She was so thirsty to learn! We learned two of Rabbi Pliskin's books, Love Your Neighbor, and Guard Your Tongue. We learned the morning blessings, Shema, and other prayers. We learned parsha--with Rashi a few years, with Rav Hirsch for a lot of years, and Rabbi Sacks after that. I'd spend time every Shabbos afternoon preparing, and when I'd call her on a Thursday night, I'd ask-- "What jumped out at you this week?"-- and it was almost always what I had prepared! Andrea moved in rarified social circles, and she was frequently in the position of being "the rabbi in the room". She was often asking me questions from her friends. She sometimes reported, "My friend said to ask Judith this!" Andrea has a straight heart, and a strong faith. At one point we had to put a pause on our learning-- but I promised her that as soon as she we could, we'd start again (which we did!) But during our time "off" Partners asked me if I would take on another partner. Of course I said yes, and that is how Margarita (now goes by Leah) came into my life. What, 14 years ago? What can I say about Leah? She also is so thirsty to learn! And also, a straight heart and a straightforward faith. She originally wanted to be able to read Hebrew and say the prayers. That went quickly! I remember one Elul we spent learning the Usaneh Tokef word by word. Excellent prep for the High Holidays. We learned morning blessings, Shema, Shemona Esrei. Then, realizing that an immigrant from Russia would not have the familiarity with Biblical characters that Americans of a certain age have by osmosis (think Samson and Delilah, David and Goliath) I decided it was time to introduce her to her family! We used the Judaica Press translation and commentary digest and started with Shoftim. She was hooked. On to Shmuel ALef! Hannah, Eli, Shmuel, Shaul, David! Yonasan! Shmuel Bais! She was enthralled. In her community of Russian expats, Leah also finds herself in the position of "the rabbi in the room." She always has excellent questions. She now knows the names of my rebbeim, to whom I go with some of her questions. Leah is fortunate to have her own Rabbi who is very involved in the Russian-Jewish community in her area. We are now in the final chapters of Joshua, and we've decided to circle back to Shoftim, and see how much deeper her understanding is now, several years of learning later. My motto with all my students is-- if you start learning and you don't stop, eventually you'll know something! I've been learning with Partners in Torah for over 20 years-- I can't imagine my life without the weekly learning, without my wonderful partners, without the give and take. As a baal teshuva myself, I always felt that everyone knew more than I, and everyone knew secrets to which I was not privy. I began to realize that I have been learning continuously (unlike some of my learned friends, whose regular learning ended after seminary) and I haven't stopped either, and now I , too, know something. "If you know alef, teach alef. If you know beis, teach beis." Oh, and P.S.: since I started learning with Partners inTorah I have never lacked for work! Thank you, everyone at Partners in Torah, for making this story-- and so many others!--possible. Read moreI have more time than I thought!
I have more time than I thought!
Penina Schwartz
I joined Partners in Torah because I wanted to learn more and help someone else. In the end, what I've gotten out of the experience is a wonderful friendship!! And I think I have inspired my partner too. We enjoy talking to each other and we have been able to talk out some important issues. While I thought it would be hard to find the time to teach, I've found I have more time than I thought! Read moreIt helps to have a guide!
It helps to have a guide!
Marc Hurwitz
I decided to join Partners in Torah after 10/7 as a way to reconnect to my faith. I wanted to take a deeper dive to understand more. We have studied a few texts, but “Ethics from Sinai” was incredible - it took us 9 or 10 months but it was so enjoyable and I learned so much. Now we are studying The Tanya. Marcel, my mentor, has been great. He really knows a lot and he’s super generous with his time and patience. I am so happy to have found Partners in Torah - it really helps to have a guide! Read moreFamily Impact
Family Impact
Victor Shine
In 2008 I got a call out of the blue that Partners in Torah was starting a brand new in-person weekly study session in Mill Basin (in Brooklyn). My wife and I were paired with a couple. I'd learn with the Gary while my wife would learn about taharas hamishpacha with Gary's wife every week. Eventually they made a decision to pull their teenage son out of public school and enroll him in Yeshiva high school. Rabbi Wrona was instrumental in helping to secure the funding to assist with tuition. A few years later, Gary was unfortunately niftar at a relatively young age. I feel very privileged to have gotten to know their family, and to have helped them continue the legacy, even just learning with them once a week! I have also had other partners in person and by phone, including in Toronto, Canada, and in Los Angeles, California. It was a very rewarding experience for me, as well as for those I mentor. I find that everyone knows something they can share, and partners can grow together as they learn and form a special bond. I have had five partners, and each one was a special experience. Read moreMore Confident in My Faith
More Confident in My Faith
John Suchart
I joined Partners in Torah years ago, because I was interested in increasing my knowledge of Judaism. I hoped to get a more advanced understanding. I am Reform and wanted to learn more from more learned scholars. Ultimately, I got everything and more than I expected. My instructor is fabulous... tireless, professional, caring, knowledgeable...a real joy to befriend. Today I am certainly more confident in my faith. Read moreMissing My Heritage
Missing My Heritage
Veronica Woodruff
I'm a Canadian, born into a medium-sized, strong Jewish community in Vancouver. Moved to Toronto and spent 30 years there. Toronto, certainly at that time, had an enormous Jewish community in every sense of the word. Huge, vibrant and with a place for every member of our people. About 15 years ago I married out and moved to Nova Scotia. The province had only about fifteen hundred Jews and that number seemed even smaller because I lived outside Halifax. I didn't drive so couldn't get into town to be with others. While Nova Scotians are considered to be *extremely* friendly and wonderfully open--and they were and they are!--they weren't Jewish, either. Until I left Toronto, I had never realized how much other Jews meant to me. I had always been proud of being Jewish but I had never been The Only One. I stress that I never experienced any anti-Semitism then (or now) in Nova Scotia, just that I missed "us." I missed that sharp and wry sense of humour. I missed our very distinct way of looking at things, although that may be particular of my age group. I missed our outlook, our speech patterns, even our inflection. These were things that I had never noticed until I came to Nova Scotia, probably because they had simply been a part of me, as much a part of me as my own face looking back at me from the mirror. Here, in Nova Scotia, there *were* no Jewish faces, at least not amongst the people I knew. And I was *lonely* for us. I was lonely for all that we Jews *are,* no matter whether we are Mizrachi or Ashkenazi or 'traditional' or 'liberal.' I had lost my tribe and I hadn't even realized how much I had belonged to it. For the life of me I cannot remember how I found Partners in Torah. I can't even remember that I was looking for it, for finding connection in some way. But somehow, and clearly with Hashem's help, I did. That was, what? 14 or 15 years ago when I was paired up with Rebbetzin Amy Handel in Israel. And from then until now, until this very moment, I cannot express my gratitude. From learning once a week, we now learn twice a week. From me trying to find 'reasons' why I couldn't learn that week (I thought it was Just Too Hard), I wouldn't *dream* of missing a shiur now, lol. We are learning Tehillim and we've read through and studied more than a few books. And that has been important. Of *course* it has. We are Jews: Learning *matters.* Amy is an absolutely brilliant teacher and I marvel at her breadth and depth of knowledge and I find it impossible to understand how she can somehow impart it into my kopf. But really it goes far beyond that, far beyond teacher and student. I would find it difficult to learn if there weren't a connection of some sort. A connection that transcends learning in and of itself. To me, people matter. And I hope I'm not only speaking for myself when I say that Amy and I have grown close. I *care* about her and about her family. I *want* to see pictures of a granddaughter's wedding and I *want* to hear about the games that were played at her shower, lol. I feel I know something about Amy's own parents, may they rest in peace. About her mother's unequaled talent at pairing colours, about her father's wise sayings. I feel as if I were to bump into any one of Amy's family that I would *know* them. I love Amy. I am grateful to her, too, but mainly I love her. And I am aware, too, that if it hadn't been for Partners in Torah all those years ago, I never would have had the chance to have even met her. A woman of phenomenal knowledge and being able to excellently teach it, a woman who is compassionate and caring and a woman of fabulous midos. She makes me always want to do better, to *be* better just because she is the way she is. I'll sign off now, but not before I thank Partners in Torah once again. With gratitude to Hashem. Veronica Woodruff (Kara Laya bas Rochel) Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Read moreI deepened my understanding
I deepened my understanding
Simcha Lauer
I joined Partners in Torah to share Torah with people who dont know much about it. I was hoping to deepen my understanding of the Torah topics by preparing to teach them. Now that I'm involved, the learning is going well. My partner always seems happy to continue, and I am enjoying sharing the Torah. It adds another slot of learning to my daily schedule. Read moreCommitted to My Goal
Committed to My Goal
Alex Davidson
My learning partner Rabbi Lowy was easy to get to know and learn with. We’ve had a tense moment or two over our time learning, but nothing we couldn’t resolve. I’m looking forward to the few years together ahead to learn shas Mishnayos together. It is a good feeling to know that Rabbi Lowy is committed to helping me with my goal. Thank you Partners in Torah! Read moreMy daughter set us up!
My daughter set us up!
Esther Kayla Fleischman
I joined PIT many years ago because I ran a licensed day care in my home with long hours, and wanted to volunteer in some way to make a difference in Klal Yisroel. I thought it would be a good way to meet a Jewish woman from a totally different background and perspective. Almost all my daughters are involved either in PIT or Oorah, and one of my daughters is involved with Momentum. At the time, 15ish years ago, one of my daughters was working in the PIT office and Marleen called in. After hearing her story, my daughter thought we would be a good match. We actually have a very good relationship - many similarities -and we have great conversations and great learning. I have introduced Marleen to many wonderful writers, including but not limited to: R' Berel Wein(Pirkey Avos) R'Zelig Pliskin, Reb Esther Jungreiss, Reb Tziporah H. Gottlieb, Reb Ruchi Koval and Reb Gila Ross, Rabbi Dr. AJ Twersky, and the Chofetz Chaim (Lesson a Day), among others. Marleen has joined our family for a wedding, and at least once every summer (sometimes more) on my way south back to Baltimore, I stop in to visit with her and we study in person. I am so grateful to HKBH for giving me the opportunity to meet Marleen and our studying together is a review of a lot of material that I might not have studied in years. Read moreTwo Perfect Partners
Two Perfect Partners
Pictures
Celia Minkin
I was lucky enough to be teamed up with the perfect partner, Joanne. Her background in Judaism was extremely limited. She was married to someone who wasn't Jewish and who, along with their daughter, was a practicing Catholic. She struggled with how a loving G-d could have allowed the Holocaust, a subject we discussed repeatedly. We learned several sefarim and she asked piercing questions. She was so open to learning about Judaism, despite a lifestyle that could have caused her to be defensive. Her pintele Yid and Yiddishe neshama were always evident, as I regularly pointed out to her. We laughed together frequently and heartily. Imagine my surprise, when she eventually casually dropped the information that her husband's parents were Jews! After over 3 years of a beautiful and rewarding friendship with Joanne, she became ill and passed away. This was very shortly after Oct 7, 2023. Her daughter found my email and very considerately wrote me the following: "Hi Celia, I am Joanne’s daughter and I am writing to you to inform you of her passing. She cherished the relationship the two of you built, and you were one of the only people she contacted in her final days. She kept up to date on the current situation in Israel and you and your safety were in her thoughts. Be safe and be well. " Joanne frequently expressed concern regarding the end of life, as she was not young. A few months after her passing, I was taken aback when I found the final passage we had learned together, marked by a bookmark, in Gateway to Happiness. "The most feared event in a person's life is death. But we have the ability to transform our death into the greatest act we will perform in our entire life. We can perceive death as our total submission to the will of the Almighty and find tremendous spiritual elevation. (Alai Shur). " When I informed Partners in Torah of the passing of my beloved partner, Joanne. I told Sharona "I don't know how I will ever again find such a perfect partner for me. I'll contact you again soon about obtaining a new partner." It seems that HaShem Himself partnered with Partners in Torah to find me yet again, the nearly impossible: a thoroughly delightful well-matched partner! Lee Schwimmer and I have developed a beautiful friendship over the past year. She is dedicated to learning and growing. She's smart and fun and we just have a wonderful time together while we learn. She teases me that I am constantly saying "that's a good question". Lee and her husband Dan, a tireless warrior for Israel, came to Israel this past summer for a lengthy visit in order to volunteer their time. My husband Pesach and I were lucky enough to meet Lee and Dan in Jerusalem, and I think this picture speaks a thousand words. The first image is Joanne, ע''ה Read moreGoing Shopping
Going Shopping
Aviva.S
As a PIT for 12+ years, it gives me great joy to share my knowledge of Torah with another Jew. I am careful to give over authentic information that is not too much for my partner to accept. It was therefore unchartered waters for me when my partner asked to learn the laws of modesty. What a beautiful topic! But one that is nuanced, and requires sensitivity. We started with a book that introduced each law of modesty with stories and insights. (To be honest, some parts of the book were too far to the right for our purposes, but we persevered.) Eva was inspired and ready to upgrade her wardrobe. But how? She shared her frustration in being unable to find tops and dresses that were modest. What to do? The next time Eva came to visit, we went out for lunch and afterward I took her shopping at a Jewish store. She loved all the many modest clothing options. And I was so happy to have helped Eva achieve her goal of upgrading her modesty. Read moreWe just clicked
We just clicked
Linda Baronkatz
Over the past year, Beth and I have studied and learned a lot of Torah from one another. While I had other partners, none except Beth could use zoom. The moment we met on zoom we clicked. Beth was more into reading books that had to do with Torah and Shabbat. The books I liked to read had to do with growth, character, bitachon, emunah. We started to combine the books together and there was a lot that had to do with each of them. Beth especially showed me and read books on the Yomim Tovim by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. He turned out to be very good and interesting. I introduced her to a book It's All In Your Mind by Sara Yosef. Beth and I hope to get together one day. We have talked about meeting in Kew Garden Hills. I hope we can continue to learn with one another. Thanks Partners in Torah for putting us together. Read moreShe never gave up on me
She never gave up on me
Galya.S
I am BT and realized shortly after sending all my children to Jewish day schools that I was woefully uneducated. No one had ever taught me how to daven, the order, the special add-ins or the explanations of certain prayers. As hard as I tried, I could not find anyone willing to go back to 1st grade with me so to speak. I davened for 2 years before an email from Partners in Torah appeared in my inbox. I immediately filled out the form, and excitedly waited to be partnered with a chavrusa. However, the blessing came with a challenge: I live in America and my chavrusa lives in Australia. KH we both have a household to run and a gaggle of kids between us. After emailing for a few weeks we found a time that could work for the both of us. But after a month we still couldn't adjust to the time difference and make things work. Then there was winter break, Chanukah, Shavous, summer vacation. And before we knew it, nearly half a year had passed! I was so sad. Did Hashem really send me a chavrusa just to take her away? But no, my wonderful chavrusa never gave up on me. Finally, after nearly a year, we had our first session. I am so grateful to Breindy for never giving up on me, for patiently listening to me mispronounce words and learn Rashis for the first time. I also want to express hakaros hatov to Partners in Torah for bringing us together! Read moreUnexpected News
Unexpected News
Quenton Little
When I had to fly home to see my dying great grandmother, who I am very close to and is a huge part of my life even today, in May of 2018, I had no idea that she would tell her whole family that she was in actuality a Ukrainian Jew who left Ukraine in 1936. She had kept her heritage a secret from all of us, because life was easier for non-Jewish people. In Ukraine, she and her sister had changed their names, adopted Christian faith practices in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, had a priest in their hometown of Berezhany forge church documents for them, and then had departed for Canada. She came from a large Jewish family of 110 people: parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents and many cousins. They all perished in the Holocaust leaving her and her sister as the only survivors. I am an ordained priest in the Anglican Church of Canada, and I am currently serving as a military chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces. With this new knowledge of our family and realizing that I am Jewish on my mother’s side, I began to process and wonder what this might mean for me. I am very fortunate that my wife and our two children, ages 4 and 1, have been so supportive of this newfound information. As March of 2020 came with the beginning of a massive world shut down, an advertisement for Partners in Torah popped up on my Facebook page. So, naturally out of curiosity I explored the program online and applied for a partner. I was sent several options, and my partner, Ely, happened to be around my age, married with four kids, living in Brooklyn NY. Once we connected, it was as if we had been friends our entire lives. We joke that we are probably brothers who were separated at birth. Our newfound brotherhood has emerged in amazing conversations about Jewish faith, family life, studying Torah together, and how these many facets come together to make this amazingly rich life that Jewish culture is based on. One Chanukah was particularly meaningful, thanks to my partner. That year, we did not celebrate Advent like we had in the past leading up to Christmas, but instead, we celebrated our very first Hannukah with this phenomenal Hannukah care package that my partner and his family sent us. We had a menorah, dreidels, and lovely gifts that we all used. Included was a Jewish cookbook that we made good use of over the holidays. We sent a Canadian themed Hannukah care package that included kippahs with a maple leaf on the top (I had one made for myself too), maple leaf cookies, and maple leaf earrings for my partner's wife and two daughters. I never had any inclination that Partners in Torah, along with my partner, would have such a profound impact on my life. Am I being educated on and embracing my newfound Jewish heritage and faith more? Definitely! And my partner has provided this positive welcoming environment for me to do so. I will always sing the praises of Partners in Torah; I recommend it to others any chance I get. I can’t express how grateful I am to gain such an amazing, friend, brother and educator as my partner. Read moreHealing the Soul
Healing the Soul
Tziporah.J
“Mom, why don’t you try Partners in Torah? They’ll match you with someone for one-on-one mentoring in learning Judaism, at your beginner level,” suggested my daughter Yael in March 2020. When Partners in Torah connected with me, I was newly diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. The average length of survival was three years… “I feel this is a wake-up call to shift my negative attitudes and behaviors,” I told my partner, Esther. “Everything in life is a gift, a chance for growth. The Torah studies will help you in every area of life,” she replied. I had little energy to study. So Esther gave me a simple first assignment: say the prayer “Asher Yatzer,” each time after I used the toilet. “Thank you, G-d, there are no blockages or ruptures in any of my organs of excretion. Blessed are you, who heals all flesh wondrously.” Since the chemo caused frequent use of the toilet, I was saying this prayer six or more times a day. It reduced my terror to be reminded that G-d was in charge, not cancer, and that much of my body was still working well. After a month, Esther suggested: “Can you try saying Modeh Ani, the prayer upon arising? And Shema, the prayer before we go to bed...” Esther explained the point of our many prayers was to keep ourselves in a state of gratitude and to always remember everything comes from G-d. We’d done this at the Veterans’ Hospital, where I’d worked with brain injury patients. Having them count all they were grateful for was the best way to help their injured brains shift out of anger or fear. Now Esther was helping me do that in the face of my own challenge. Twice a week, we discussed the lessons contained in that week’s Torah portion, and then we moved to other books on proper speech as well as podcasts. I truly felt that I was growing. While my greatest fear had been spending the short time I had left in pandemic isolation, I began to view the combination of a pandemic and cancer as the crucible I needed to devote myself to learning about the precious gift of my birthright. “Mom, you sound like a different person!” said Yael over the phone from her college dorm. I’d made more personal progress in six months with Esther, than in a lifetime of attempts at self-improvement. Each day I took care of my body–chemo, healthy food, acupuncture, vitamins–but the center of my life was getting closer to G-d through study, prayer and mitzvot. As my soul expanded, my body did its own healing. Cancer retreated, the blood markers returning to normal. “This is wonderful!” said my doctor, “Let’s hope you can live a normal lifespan." But I was no longer as focused on the length of my life as much as its quality. Thanks to studying with Esther, I understood a good life was always long enough. Read moreSo grateful we didn't reschedule
So grateful we didn't reschedule
Elizabeth.S
This week I found myself sobbing on the phone to a woman I barely knew. Oh, and did I mention that she was crying too? Wait, let me back up the story and start from the beginning. But you might want to hold onto your socks. I always feel better when I’m investing in my spiritual growth, but for the past several years, that’s taken a backseat to motherhood, work, and the chaos of life. On most days, I barely find time to take a shower, let alone open an inspiring book. But my life was about to change when I received an email asking me to participate in an “Influencers Virtual Challah Bake” with Partners In Torah. I felt it would be a very uplifting evening in these uncertain times. It was an opportunity to give my Instagram followers a chance to join together with hundreds of women around the world as a community for collective inspiration. To my surprise, I was so moved by the event that I took the plunge and signed up for the three week Shabbos learning program. This gave me the privilege to learn weekly with Partners in Torah’s Senior Educator, Adina Stilerman. Adina and I are very different women on the surface, with different backgrounds, different levels of religious observance, and very different interests. However, from our first call, Adina and I realized how much more in common we had beneath our outer shells. We are both working mamas with strong Jewish values and an incredibly passionate (sometimes maybe a little too passionate) approach to life. But, I had no idea that I was about to discover that we also shared a secret about a tiny corner of the earth—a place that changed us both forever…. When Adina called me for our second learning session, I was in the middle of a death-defying balancing act, with my right hand comforting my screaming 6-week-old baby, and my left hand scrambling to prepare his bottle, all whilst calling (read: shouting) instructions into the next room to my panicking 8-year-old daughter on how to get back onto her Zoom class. Are you picturing the mayhem? When I heard the phone ring, I thought to myself, “Oh no, that must be Adina! Not now! I don’t have time to study Torah right now! Why did I even sign up for this??” I ran and picked up the phone just before it went to voicemail, so I could tell her we needed to reschedule—not that there’s ever a better time with my current juggling act. Adina immediately sensed my frantic energy and said, “Elizabeth, is everything okay?” I started to list off my endless parade of stressors and was about to propose a reschedule when she asked me if she could tell me a story. “Um, sure,” I blurted out, figuring I could put her on speakerphone as I fed the baby and I would do my best to pay attention. Now, this is the part of the story that makes me so grateful that I didn’t reschedule on that day. She opened up to me, relating that when she found out that she was expecting her fifth child, she was still grieving the recent loss of her mother. At that moment in time, she couldn’t imagine being responsible for another baby. In addition, the news came just before she was scheduled to lead a Holocaust education trip to Poland. She just didn’t know how she would hold it together. For the first few days in Poland, she maintained a strong facade for the benefit of the group, but inside, she was miserable and feeling sorry for herself. Physically, she struggled with the long bus rides, and emotionally she was somewhat dispirited about the baby within. All she wanted was to go home. One morning, the tour guide came up to her on the bus and informed her that he had just added in a last-minute stop on their itinerary and asked her if she could speak there: The Children’s Forest in Zbylitowska Góra. Adina had been to Poland several times already but she had never visited that site. In fact, she was slightly annoyed that he had added it in without first getting her approval. Well, too late now! They were going to be there in 5 minutes, so she quickly Googled the place to help her prepare something to say. When the Wikipedia page popped up, her eyes skimmed the words and her heart stopped… What she read can only be described as a horror of the unimaginable kind. It was a heart-wrenching account of the massacre of innocent, helpless children. She read the date…June 11, 1942… the number 800 popped out at her….Jewish little children from an orphanage…marched from the nearby Tarnow ghetto…thrown in a pit…the German’s opened fired…tossed hand grenades… until the last screams were silenced…she closed the screen. She couldn’t read anymore. Adina got off the bus and walked slowly through the forest, well behind the group, toward the mass grave. Her heart was still racing but now her mind was running its own marathon. She thought about her four little ones at home, and of course the one on the way that she just didn’t have the perspective to appreciate…until now. By the time she reached the clearing, she was so overcome with emotion, she couldn’t even open her mouth to speak. She just wept. The group wept along with her. As she breathed in the air where these 800 pure young souls took their last breaths on earth, her mindset shifted completely. She was overwhelmed by an enormous surge of gratitude and purpose. She thought about the mothers of those children who would’ve given anything to save their precious babies, and her entire outlook on her impending blessing changed. The worry and anxiety she once felt no longer carried the same weight. She vowed to never forget to appreciate the gift she was granted – to be a mother. She turned upwards and with tears streaming down her face and overwhelming gratitude in her heart whispered, “G-d, thank you for giving me the privilege to bring another pure soul into the world.” Months later, G-d gifted Adina with a beautiful baby girl. That child carries her mother’s name and turned out to be the biggest comfort for her loss…” She stopped talking for a minute. “Elizabeth?” I couldn’t speak. “Elizabeth, are you there?”As Adina told me her story, a chill ran up my spine and I began to break down in tears. I could not believe what I was hearing. You see, I had had my own pivotal moment in that exact same place halfway across the world, deep within the Polish forest of Zbylitowska Góra!! “Adina, you’re not going to believe this.” I took her back to May of 2018, when I went to Poland on a whim. It had been a longtime dream of mine to take this intense journey, but like Adina, the timing was anything but logical. I had just suffered a second ectopic pregnancy and was recovering from emergency surgery to remove my ruptured fallopian tube. I was a bit of a mess both physically and emotionally. I remember feeling fear as the question of having children in the future hung in the air. And of course, there was anger towards G-d for putting me through this. My brother-in-law called me: “Lizzy, I just found this trip to Poland over Memorial Day weekend. We should sign up!” I told him I could absolutely not do that right now considering my emotional state, my two young daughters, and my husband’s insane work schedule. Mostly, I felt fragile and was experiencing situational depression. I could only imagine that a week of Holocaust history would pull me even further down my spiral of negativity. But after I hung up with him, the thought of going kept tugging at my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, nor talking about it for that matter! Finally, my husband Ira said to me, “Just go on the dang trip!! We’ll figure out how to handle everything here!” I booked it immediately before I lost the courage, and I don’t think I slept a peaceful night until the day we left. I was so unbelievably nervous!! From the moment we landed in Warsaw, and as we made our way through Poland, I felt a stronger connection to my Jewish identity than ever before. Each site we visited was like a call to action to bring forth the voices which could no longer speak for themselves. But as I related to Adina, it was the morning of our third day in Poland that was the pinnacle of the trip for me. The rabbi leading our trip came over to me on the bus and asked me, just as she was asked if I would be willing to speak at the place to which we were headed. I did not yet know that we were going to the Children’s Forest nor did I know anything about what had happened there. He said it may be the hardest moment of the trip for many of us and felt that because I was a mom of young children, I could help bring the significance of this spot to life. When we got there, he handed me a paper to read. It was a letter written by a young mother to her one-year-old daughter. The woman was sending her daughter away into hiding in order to save her life, as she knew that she herself would likely be sent to a death camp very soon. I read the letter and could barely get through it. She conveyed on that paper the torture of being torn from her baby, of the thought of never seeing her again. It was so real, so raw. Every member of our group was crying. I sat down on a tree trunk right next to the blue-painted fence of this mass grave, where 800 innocent children had been robbed of their lives, and I wept. The group gathered to say some prayers and comfort one another, but I couldn’t move from my tree trunk. I felt an overwhelming desire to put my newfound feelings into words. I pulled out my phone and typed a letter to my daughter back at home. “I didn’t know what it meant to purely love until I became your mother. I had no expectations for how those first moments would feel with you in my arms, but as I think of your beautiful faces now, I know I am fulfilling a special purpose. I am perpetuating our people who have endured persecution, expulsion, terrorism, and murder, all the while miraculously maintaining that unique identity that was the cause of the oppression. For this purpose, I feel incredibly lucky.” My time spent in the forest shifted my whole outlook on my critical role as a mother. Bringing Jewish children into the world is not simply about perpetuating numbers. It’s about kindling the Jewish souls in my charge. And so, dear readers, that’s how I found myself sobbing on the phone together with a woman I barely knew. Yes, we had just met, but at that moment I felt that we were intimately connected because of our unique shared experience. I also feel that it is not a coincidence that the material we received from the Shabbos Learning Program this week on Havdalah was about the fleeting nature of inspiration. We read that moments of clarity are like sparks. Most of the time they are only bold and bright for a brief time before they are gone and we feel ourselves slip back into the darkness of apathy and misdirection. But if kindled properly, like the Havdalah candle, they can turn into a blazing fire that lights up that darkness. It can be used as a memory one can tap into in time of need. I’m so grateful that I didn’t have a chance to reschedule my learning session with my Partner in Torah. Read moreA life-enriching friend
A life-enriching friend
Renee Chernin
I can’t believe it has been 16 years since Amy and I have been partners. I think we connected right away. We share a love of history and went through Ken Spiro’s course on aish.com early in our learning together. Amy is open to many Jewish topics and I have been changed by the breadth of subjects we have read together. Of course, we also spend time shmoozing! We have shared difficult and stressful times and celebrated each other’s successes. I admire Amy’s commitment to Judaism and how she cultivates Jewish thought and tradition in her life. I think because of this, she has helped me not to take my Judaism for granted. We've also visited one another in person, despite the fact that we live oceans apart. Amy and her daughter are as precious as family to me. Thank you Partners in Torah for making our match and giving me a life enriching friend. Read moreThe most thoughtful gift
The most thoughtful gift
Baila Karfunkel
My partner Ellen and I have been learning for 11 years. About 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo surgery. During that time, I faced a slow and grueling recovery. While many friends sent flowers, or contributed meals to our family meal train, Ellen's gift struck me as the most thoughtful. She knew what a reader I am, and paid for a subscription to Audible so that I could listen to books during my recovery. Not only did Ellen send something, but her gift showed that she knew me so well. It was exactly what I needed. Ellen is a blessing in my life, and I hope that everyone will be able to develop the type of friendship that we have through our weekly learning. Read moreAn unexpected visitor
An unexpected visitor
Larry Lesser
During my father’s two-year battle with pancreatic cancer, Akiva and I would start our weekly learning with an intention for his healing (along with a dedication in memory of Akiva’s father and of my father-in-law, z’’l). During the stressful period of my father’s decline, it was very comforting to have regular calls with someone who had knowledge and experience about what I was (and soon would be) going through. On Thursday May 5, 2016, my father passed away in Houston and I flew there. While it was meaningful to see many friends and relatives there, it was disorienting waiting 3 days for the burial and being surrounded mainly by people whose practice of Judaism is not as informed by tradition as mine now is. Attempting to balance connections with my faith, family, and home community, I decided to observe 2 days of shiva in Houston and then fly back to finish shiva at my home. When Akiva called my El Paso house Thursday night to learn, my wife Laurie answered and informed him that I was in Houston because my father had passed away, and then Akiva asked her for the mailing address of my parents’ 19th-floor Houston condo. She (and I) assumed that he was simply arranging to have a condolence card or tray of kosher food delivered. Imagine my surprise while sitting shiva in my mother’s living room on Monday to hear the phone ring from the building’s entry desk and my mother calling out, “Someone named Akiva is here to visit. Are you expecting him?” Sure enough, like a visiting angel, it was my chavruta all the way from Brooklyn! He walked in and gave me the ArtScroll book Mourning in Halachah -- a very helpful book since first-time mourners often do not have the chance to learn laws of mourning before they need to apply them (and later Akiva relayed some timely answers to followup questions I had after going through the book). Akiva joked that it was cheaper to bring me the book than to overnight mail it! He flew New York to Houston, drove a rental car straight to the condo to spend a meaningful hour with me, then drove back to the airport and flew back to New York. My relatives and I were stunned by the effort my partner had so graciously made for that shiva visit to someone he had previously spent only a few hours with in person. And when people asked how I knew that visitor from Brooklyn, it was a perfect opportunity to let them know about Partners in Torah. I hoped then that the next time we would meet would be for a simcha, and indeed when I went up to New York in 2018 for a family simcha, my wife and I went up a day earlier to be able to spend some wonderful time at Akiva's house. Read moreGenuine camaraderie in an age of shallow relationships
Genuine camaraderie in an age of shallow relationships
Forrest Kovach
Having a weekly Torah study session with a partner who shares your interests and is in a comparable stage of life is something special. My partner Bruce is far more knowledgeable about Torah than I am. Last year, I had the great opportunity to meet him in person. My wife Caren and youngest daughter Shira joined me on a visit to Bruce's hometown in Lawrence, New York, and it was amazing. Partners in Torah can help you find some camaraderie with your Jewish peers in this day of shallow relationships and only a few genuine friends. Jews of any age should consider letting Partners in Torah assist them in finding their chavrusa (study partner). Read moreWorlds apart, yet our paths have crossed
Worlds apart, yet our paths have crossed
Marni.S
My niece recently announced that she will not be becoming a Bat Mitzvah. A little of my heart broke. My sisters and I married Jewish men, and we thought that by raising our kids Jewish they would do as we had done - attend Sunday School, Hebrew School, have a Bat (Bar) Mitzvah and get confirmed. How is it that my daughter who is six is the last hope in our family of four grandkids for a Bat Mitzvah? After giving it some thought I realized how can I ask my daughter to commit her time and energy (and enthusiasm) if I do not give of myself except on Jewish Holidays? It was time for me to take action to make sure I am providing a Jewish home for my child to grow up in. I heard a blogger I follow talk about Partners in Torah and I literally had tears running down my face. I immediately went to the site to register and have had two calls with my partner in Israel. Worlds apart yet our paths have crossed and it seems we already have found common ground and I have already learned so much. I look forward to our weekly calls and will immediately be applying our conversations to my home. Thank you to Partners in Torah for this amazing opportunity. Read moreSo much in common!
So much in common!
Dana Basen
I am still in amazement that my partner and I were paired together. We are exactly a year and a day apart in age and grew up less than a half a mile from one another, although we never met. Shira went to a girls Yeshiva and I attended public school. Although we each were raised in a different type of Jewish home, our thinking and perspectives of the world around us are much alike. We have much in common, including our love of our Jewish life and studies, family and nature. Whether reading from a book or learning from one another, our discussions prompt related memories from different times in our lives and allow us to learn much about each other's daily life and families. We've become friends and often exchange texts during the week about everything under the sun; and although we now live on opposite sides of the country, I know I will one day meet Shira in real life! Read moreOUR SON’S PARTNER
OUR SON’S PARTNER
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Laurie Young
Rabbi Gewirtz, I cannot tell you how happy our family is with our thirteen-yearold son’s learning partner, Moshe Kaff. Not only has Avraham enjoyed learning these past few months over the phone from our home in Mercer Island, Washington, to Lakewood, New Jersey, but Avraham even stayed at Moshe’s house on his way to summer camp last month. Moshe insisted on hosting Avraham and showing him around Lakewood, a big treat for Avraham. Recently, I asked Moshe if he would try learning mishnayos with our eight-year-old. He agreed to give it a test run. Now Asher, too, has been trying to learn as many days as possible with Moshe. He enjoys it that much. Many, many thanks for your program. Read morePROGRESSING
PROGRESSING
Joseph Goldenson
A year ago I didn’t know the alef-bet. I kvell to myself because I can actually read now, not too fast, but when I get going, I can really cover ground! I really look forward to learning each week. David has given me so much insight and knowledge, and he treats me like a mensch instead of like some heathen. Partners in Torah is a wonderful opportunity to become somewhat informed, and this program whet my whistle to strive to take more classes. I learn from my kids, who are part of Partners in Torah, and they learn from me. My daughters live a Torah life, and I am very proud of them. I emulate them in my own way. Now that I know how to put on tefillin and a tallit, my kids gave me a gorgeous bag, red with a lion on it, embroidered with my Hebrew name, Yosef ben David. Read moreMISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Rob G.
Hooray! My apartment is kashered (98 percent anyway)! All the mezuzahs are up on my doors (all three) with kosher scrolls, the lights all have timers, and I even bought a “kosher lamp.” As for driving on Shabbos and using the elevator on Shabbos (I currently live on the twelfth floor), I’m still working on these. It’s okay, I need the exercise. I hope that I’ve covered all of my bases, but for now, I can relax. Yippee! Just thought you’d like to know in case you’d like to visit sometime. Please know that you’re always welcome. Good Shabbos! Read moreA MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
Diane Torgersen
Tobie and I have “been together” via Partners in Torah for almost five years. She has been unbelievably committed to our relationship and my biggest supporter in learning about Judaism. I discovered that both my parents were Jews when I was in my sixties. I have had the wonderful good fortune to have found a rabbi who has been totally supportive of me, teaching me and helping me feel accepted into my local Jewish community. I applied for membership in Partners in Torah, and this has been the perfect combination to speed my education along. I have said many times that I have had “many Jewish mothers.” Tobie and I have studied many things together, including the weekly parashah, and are now studying Pirkei Avos together. She has been generous in teaching me about the holidays with stories and examples from her own family. She sent me an excellent Hebrew letters booklet when I was struggling to learn Hebrew. She, her daughters, and even her kind husband listened to me stumble through the letters as I tried to read and say them. Thanks to all of them and my rabbi, I can now read most Hebrew. Tobie has become a wonderful friend and Jewish sister to me. She has shared her life, her family, and her stories with me. It has been an exquisite pleasure to have learned about her life and to have gained her help in understanding Judaism and in understanding my own parents, who had hidden their lives for so many years. I have said so many times that our relationship has been a match surely made in heaven! I thank Partners in Torah for their organization, which can make such a tremendous difference in a person’s life. With sincere thanks, Diane Read moreTHERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO LEARN
THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO LEARN
Ruth Schepartz
After my bat mitzvah, I pretty much dropped out of the Jewish scene except for attending synagogue on the High Holidays with my parents. In the last few months I’ve found that my interest in Jewish studies has increased. Actually, it went from being nonexistent to quite enthusiastic. I went searching for a forum but really didn’t know where to go until I expressed my interest to a friend, who suggested Partners in Torah. I called the coordinator of the Partners in Torah program near me, Dena Mayerfeld — a delightful person who welcomed me with open arms. After walking into my first Partners in Torah session in Passaic, I was greeted by a man with the widest smile I’ve ever seen, Rabbi Eli Gewirtz (Eli to everyone he meets). The next step was for Dena to find a partner well suited to me. That’s when I met Debbie. Wow. She is so wonderful. The mother of six kids, one a newborn, she still makes time to come and work with me once a week. She is truly a dynamo. My biggest problem is decid-ing what to study. She seems to be so well versed in so many fields, I didn’t know where to start. Right now the Hebrew language seems to be in the forefront. Learning with a tutor is an incredible opportunity. But the other thing that totally blows me away is that any question I have about Judaism, she’s right there to answer — and trust me, I keep her hopping with all of my questions. After every session, they end the evening with an interesting discussion on the Torah portion for that coming week. When I don’t get it, I have no qualms about going right to Debbie, Dena, the speaker, or even Eli and saying, “Excuse me, but what was all that about?” They usually laugh and then sit down to explain it to me thoroughly. You know, after all is said and done, no matter what I choose to study, the most important thing I’ve learned is that we may be different, but that’s okay. There’s always room to learn. And what could be more important than learning about Judaism? It gives you the opportunity to fill your mind with knowledge and your heart with wonderful people. Who could ask for anything more? Read moreMOTHER OF A RABBI
MOTHER OF A RABBI
Frayda Glass
Yes, I am a rabbi’s mother. But I never had a bat mitzvah and I received very little training in the Hebrew language, Torah study, the prayers, the ethical teachings, and on and on. I am so proud of my son and all that he has become in our Jewish community, but I am frequently embarrassed at my own lack of education during our services. My mentor, Cheryl Jacobson, has been a perfect partner for me. For the first three consecutive years of our work together we read each of the parashiyot via three different editions of the Chumash, and she helped me complete my introductory work in Hebrew. We are currently studying and translating from The Path of the Just and the book of Joshua, while at the same time continuing my Hebrew studies using Ha-Yesod. I cannot tell you how many times she has kept me from throwing up my hands and saying I was giving up on learning Hebrew because I was just too old. More importantly, she has always kept me on track while making me laugh. I am so grateful for my wonderful teacher and for all that I have learned being her Partner in Torah. Next year, we will study the siddur, and soon when my son looks down from the bimah, his mother will be fully taking part in the prayers. Thank you so much! Read moreMY FIBER-OPTIC SCHOLAR
MY FIBER-OPTIC SCHOLAR
Mark Ahdoot
Over three years ago when I signed up with Partners in Torah, Rabbi Benjamin Zeilingold called me for our introductory chat. He knew from my application that I worked for NASA and he seemed pleased to have a Partner in Torah student from Iran who was an aerospace engineer. From Rabbi Ben’s voice and slight British accent I pictured him as an intellectual professor. I began studying with him and I was amazed by how intelligent and sophisticated he was. After a while, he invited my wife and me to his son’s wedding, which would be held near my home in the Baltimore area. I was very anxious to meet him and his family. When we arrived at the wedding, I kept inquiring as to Rabbi Ben’s whereabouts, and finally I found him. I guessed correctly about his being a university professor, but was taken aback by the holiness of his glowing features. I felt even more blessed, then, to know him and very privileged to learn from such an educated scholar. His in-depth knowledge continues to amaze me. From time to time, we engage in intellectual discussions such as about new discoveries in space technology or interesting points in Torah. For example, I learned about Noah and the mishap with his grandson, which I had never known about, and then I learned the philosophy behind wearing tzitzit and why this is one of the mitzvot. On many occasions, he answered questions I’ve had since childhood. Last week he explained something that had been lingering in my mind for over thirty-six years. When I got married in 1972, right after the chuppah our rabbi told my bride and me to go into a room, close the door, and stay there together for seven minutes. My wife and I did not quite understand the meaning of this. We wanted to go and mingle with our guests. We’d always wondered about it. When I asked Rabbi Ben, he explained that this was the time for reflection, time to grasp the sanctity of the momentous event that had just taken place. He even explained what the reason could be for being in the room for seven minutes! Over a year ago, I introduced my brother, who is a gynecologist, to the Partners in Torah program. Since joining, he was motivated to become a mohel and has by this point performed over forty circumcisions. It looks like Partners in Torah can touch everyone. Read moreMY APPETITE'S GROWING
MY APPETITE'S GROWING
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Alan Morinis
ears now. We’ve worked our way through several volumes of Talmud, having just finished Maseches Megillah, and now we’re on Taanis. When I started this learning, I really didn’t have much in hand in the way of learning skills, nor even a clear idea how to learn, or even really why to learn. Because of developing a personal relationship with my well-skilled, experienced, and patient Partner through Partners in Torah, the doors of learning have opened wide for me. I still struggle with some of the learning skills, but I am supported every step of the way, and that has resulted in much learning and a real appetite for more. I see how I am growing and changing in my everyday life because of my learning relationship, and it would not have happened without Partners in Torah. Todah rabbah, Alan Read moreYANKEE HOSPITALITY
YANKEE HOSPITALITY
Bob Sterling
All of my life I have been haunted by the question: What is this life about, anyway? Well, now that I had my Brooklyn Shabbos experience, my question has finally been answered. You and your community showed me by example what this life is all about. I have never seen such warmth and love within a family and extended community. On a personal note, I just walked into my townhouse, and I am smiling from ear to ear at my great personal accomplishment in pushing my way through the fear of doing something new and different. I am ecstatic and grateful to you for allowing me to have this experience. I don’t know where the expression “Southern hospitality” came from, but after meeting you I need to coin a new expression, called “Yankee hospitality.” It is too soon to tell, but I know that this weekend will have a strong and positive impact on whatever time I have left in this world. Again, I am very grateful to you and your family. With warmth, Bob Read moreLEARNING AT LAST
LEARNING AT LAST
Michael (chaim Dovid) O Keefe
I’m a numbers person, but I will do my best to write my story on my mobile phone while I’m between things. Nothing magical about my story, just good traditional teaching of my once-lost heritage. Yacov Miller and his beautiful family reached out to me and invited me to learn what I knew next to nothing about. The value of these teachings is instrumental and sweet. The truth is that a beautiful thing happened in my life when I became connected to Yacov. Partners in Torah brought tefillin, mezuzahs, tzitzis, skullcaps, Jewish calendars, Jewish holidays, menorahs, the Sabbath, and most of all the Torah into my house. I am learning. About Judaism. Thank you to all who participate. See ya in Monsey for Passover, G-d willing. Sincerely, Chaim Dovid Read moreSERVICING THE WORLD
SERVICING THE WORLD
Jessica Erlbaum
Each week when I light my Shabbos candles, I thank Hashem for bringing me to the time in my life where I observe Shabbos, and for the people and programs that brought me to this point. As I’m saying these tefillos, I picture Partners in Torah front and center as my guide. My time as a student with Partners in Torah was the perfect first step for my formal adult Jewish learning. The one-on-one learning was exactly what I needed, providing me with classes tailored to my own needs and interests on terms that I was comfortable with. When I started Partners in Torah, I was a twenty-year-old working in the Jewish community with the intention of going to Reform rabbinical school. Though I was committed to the Jewish community and to being a Jewish leader, I had limited background in Jewish education and ritual observance. While I was not looking to take on any more observance, I decided to attend Partners in Torah with the objective of learning from an authentic Jewish perspective which would help me in my future endeavors. The personal connection I made with my chavrusa was so important to my own development, since I gained not only a teacher, but a friend and a role model. My learning answered questions that I didn’t even know I had and gave me knowledge that I hadn’t known I lacked. The more I learned of the emes of Torah and the more I was exposed to the unbelievable community of Torah-observant Jews, the clearer it became to me that I was now on a path toward a life of greater purpose and refined knowledge. This path eventually led me to learn in Israel and to ultimately become shomeres mitzvos. Partners in Torah is truly the remedy for a world lacking in kindness, wisdom, good character, personal development, and truth. The selfless service to the Jewish people which I witnessed on both personal and professional levels is unprecedented. My family and I are eternally grateful. Read moreTRULY AMAZING
TRULY AMAZING
Brent Sims
This morning I did the entire shacharis in Hebrew. I studied the applicable Torah portion afterwards. Tonight we’ll have homemade challah at our Shabbos eve meal (kosher, of course). Tomorrow I’ll daven, study a chapter of Pirkei Avos, and probably study some Rashi, too. I’m current on my Omer count. While it was Rabbi Yossie, my first Torah Partner, and Israel Zwick, my second Torah Partner, who have led me to this point, Partners in Torah made it all possible. I can’t thank you enough. This has been a truly amazing experience. Good Shabbos, Brent Read moreWON’T LET HIM STOP TEACHING
WON’T LET HIM STOP TEACHING
Jonathan Porges
I started doing the over-the-phone Judaism lessons about two weeks ago. My tutor and I have been going over history, starting with Genesis. I’m still not a religious zealot, but I’ve been enjoying the lessons. The guy you set me up with has been having trouble getting off the phone with me, because I won’t let him stop the lessons. He’s been telling me a lot of interesting things that I didn’t know about Judaism. He hasn’t focused mainly on the religion, but instead on the history, the varied interpretations of the Torah, metaphysical, spiritual, and esoteric knowledge. I’m actually cutting short a trip to Mexico for a scuba dive next weekend so that I won’t miss the week’s lesson. Thanks! Read moreEXPLAINING THE WORLD TO MY CHILDREN
EXPLAINING THE WORLD TO MY CHILDREN
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David Magerman
I want to tell you how Partners in Torah has impacted my life. I began this journey as a nonobservant Conservative Jew. I grew up with the typical Conservative Jewish education. I had a bar mitzvah celebration, but after that, I became one of the many High Holiday– Passover Jews. Once I left for college, you could no longer even say that. My connection to Judaism was in name only. My father died while I was in college. While I mourned him in the human sense of the word, I had no idea what my obligations as a son mourning his father were from a Jewish perspective. I knew what Kaddish was, but it didn’t mean anything to me. When I got married, my connection to Judaism grew, but only a little. My wife came from a kosher home, and so we kept a kosher home. My wife’s family celebrated all of the Jewish holidays, so we attended those celebrations. But that was the extent of Jewish observance. And, in any case, it was largely uninformed. I went along with it because that was my obligation as a husband. It didn’t go any further than that. When I had my first child, and he began to walk and talk, I realized that someday he was going to ask me questions that I could not answer. He was going to want to know what the meaning of life was and what the meaning of death was, and he was going to look to me for guidance about how to live his life. All I knew was a form of secular humanism, and I seemed inadequate to the task. I didn’t believe in anything in particular, and I was worried that I wasn’t going to be up to the task of explaining the world to my children. Everything began to change when we went on a family trip to Israel to visit my Torah-observant cousin’s family for his oldest son’s bar mitzvah. It was my first time back to Israel since I was a teenager, and I had a strong reaction to the whole experience: being in Israel, being with my cousin’s family, and being among a community of Torah-observant people. I had a strong feeling of belonging, but without any knowledge or understanding to back it up. Knowing that my ignorance kept me from belonging made me very sad, and a friend of my cousin suggested that, if I wanted to start learning, there was an organization called Partners in Torah that could help. When I returned to the States, I made a few radical changes in my life. I started attending morning minyans at my local Conservative shul. I started attended services on Saturday mornings. And I called up Partners in Torah and enrolled in the TelePartners program. I began learning with my chavruta, Daniel Altman, only a few weeks after I returned from Israel. We talked about what I wanted to study. I am an obligation-oriented person, always have been. So, I decided I wanted to know the rules. We settled on studying Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. We started from the beginning, but as every holiday, major or minor, approached, we jumped forward to the laws of that holiday. It was exactly the kind of program I needed to give me a sense of what daily life in an observant home would be like. My learning with Daniel was probably very similar to the way other TelePartners’ chavruta situations developed. We learned every week. If I had a scheduling conflict, Daniel always tried to accommodate my schedule. Once in a blue moon, he’d ask me to reciprocate. But generally, it was like clockwork, every Thursday from three to four p.m., I’d close my door at my office and learn Torah law. Let me describe the impact learning with Partners in Torah has had on my life today. I have slowly begun to take on the obligations of a Torah-observant Jew. I have taken on the obligation of saying the Shema twice a day. I start every day by putting on tefillin and reciting the Birchot HaShachar, saying the Shema and the Shemoneh Esrei. I end every day saying the Shema and the Shemoneh Esrei. I wear tzitzit every day. I don’t eat nonkosher meat, even out of the house. I learn Torah with four different chavrutas, including one from Partners in Torah and others from my community. I have begun attending services at a local Orthodox shul. More important, I have committed myself to living my life by Torah law. I don’t know all of the laws, and maybe I never will. But I understand that my life is governed by Torah law, and I make an effort to make decisions in my daily life based on that law. These are all of the steps I have taken in my daily life to begin to satisfy my obligations as a Torah-observant Jew. It is no longer a question of whether I am a Conservative Jew or an Orthodox Jew. I now know that I am a Jew who was born with the obligation to know and believe the Torah is true and with the obligation to observe all of the 613 mitzvot. That I am not observing them all as of yet just makes me human. Through my learning process, which started with Daniel Altman and will continue for the rest of my life, I will strive to add more observances. I may never get to 613, and I may never understand all of their intricacies of observance, but I understand that it is my obligation to observe all of them. Partners in Torah and Jewish learning have transformed my view of my relationship to Hashem, to the world, to my community, and to my family. It has made me aware of the impact that a lack of a Torah education has had on my life. Having three children has made me keenly aware of my obligation to pass on the lessons I have learned to my children before they are too old to easily adapt to a life of observant Judaism. The combination of these lessons has compelled me to take up the cause of promoting Jewish education. I have become a supporter of and active consultant to the Partners in Torah program, using my business experience and professional skills to help the organization run more efficiently and effectively. I have started my own charitable foundation, the Kohelet Foundation, whose mission is to increase enrollment in day school education by improving the business models of the schools. I have been devoting my time, on nearly a fulltime basis, to carrying out the mission of my foundation and making sure that as many kids as possible learn Torah Judaism when they should, as children, so they don’t have to spend their adult years playing catch-up. I am enormously indebted to Daniel Altman, Rabbi Gewirtz, and the Partners in Torah organization for bringing me to this level of understanding of my purpose in life, for making me aware of the obligations that I have that I never knew about, and for giving me the awareness to raise my children in an atmosphere of Torah observance so that I will fulfill what I consider to be my most important mission as a Jewish father: V’shinantam levanecha, to teach my children the words that Hashem has commanded us. With the utmost respect, gratitude, and love, David Magerman Read moreLETTING IT RIPPLE OUTWARD
LETTING IT RIPPLE OUTWARD
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Eric Schwartz
Hi! We haven’t missed a single week since I’ve reported last. We are learning the second volume of Strive for Truth! by Rav Dessler; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, and Loving Kindness adapted from the Chafetz Chaim. We learn some from each at most sessions. I am still so blessed to be able to learn with Sol, and he says the same. I know he’s not be-ing patronizing, since we are learning mussar (a joke!). My wife and seventeen-year-old son are going to Israel next month at the request of my son before he goes away for four years in the U.S. Army. My wife is a Messianic Jew and has been a strong influence in my son’s religious views. I have tried to learn with him consistently over the years, but he is often reluctant. I am sure his connection to Yiddishkeit is in no small way due to Partners in Torah. I could have nagged and bribed and used the often-tried methods of influence that failed for people like myself. But I believe the sight of me running to the phone on the night I learn and my enthusiastic involvement did strong kiruv here, unbeknownst to anyone. No one in the family has said anything, but in thinking about it now, I can see the ripple effect of Torah that we all hope to witness. I have to run, it’s Shabbos tonight and I alone in my home am shomer Shabbos (as best I can). Soon, b’ezras Hashem, that will ripple too. Kol tuv, Eric Read moreETERNAL THANKS
ETERNAL THANKS
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Cm
I can’t thank you enough for what your program has done for me. I started learning with my Partner three years ago and, although it was a very bumpy and emotional ride, this story has a happy ending. When I started learning with him, I had never heard the word “Shabbos” before in my life, never seen someone wrapping tefillin, nor had any idea what it was. I had heard the word “kosher” before, but I never met anyone who kept even the lowest level of kashrus. Three years ago I was dating a shiksa and I was planning to intermarry as my mother had. Fast-forward three years...and I just finished my five-month-long stay in yeshivah, where I was able to speak to two gedolim about mys-tical issues. You have done a tremendous honor in restoring the Yiddishkeit that was lost in my family for many years. According to the gedolim I met, I’m descended from some of the greatest tzaddikim throughout Jewish history. Years ago my illustrious rabbinical family was removed from their greatness, but you have done a tremendous honor in bringing their descendant back into Torah society. No matter how great my ancestors were, they needed a vessel to bring my family back to Torah and mitzvos. My Partner’s kiruv abilities were amazing, and without his coaching I don’t think I would have made it to yeshivah. Through a series of miracles, my sister, who was almost engaged to a gentile, was able to get on the derech, too, and now she is engaged to a Jew. May my story be a source of strength for your institution, and may the merit of my ancestors provide you with many blessings. Thank you and keep up the great work! Read moreTHE BEST IS YET TO COME
THE BEST IS YET TO COME
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Rabbi Manes Kogan
Dear Rabbi Gewirtz, I am writing to thank you and the leadership of Partners in Torah for your tireless work in providing Torah learning opportunities for myself and for thousands of others. I myself grew up in a nonobservant family which called itself traditional. When I grew up, “traditional” was the term we used to refer to someone who sat with his family around a Pesach table, who went to shul for the High Holidays, who fasted on Yom Kippur, and, in my case and in my brother’s, to someone whose parents sent him to a Zionist secular school and learned a good deal of Hebrew. An important part of that tradition was to “have” your bar mitzvah when you turned thirteen. To that extent, my parents took me to one of the main Conservative shuls in Buenos Aires, where I was trained to lead services, to chant the haftarah, to read from the Torah, and to put on tefillin. My early involvement with the secular youth group associated with my Jewish day school took me to Israel, where I finished high school, and upon my return to Argentina, I enrolled myself in the Conservative Seminary in Buenos Aires, one of the two available non-Orthodox institutions for training Jewish teachers. After three years of study I entered rabbinical school, and after five more years I got my rabbinical ordination and became a member of the Rabbinical Assembly, the rabbinical association for Conservative rabbis. While studying at the Seminario, my level of observance slowly started increasing, but I always looked at myself as a “searcher,” even after I had my own congregation, first in Argentina, then in the Dominican Republic, and then in the United States of America, in Roanoke, Virginia. It was in Roanoke that I first got in touch with Partners in Torah. I was serving as the rabbi of Beth Israel Synagogue, the Conservative shul in Roanoke, when one of my congregants, Arnold Masinter, brought to my attention a bookmark of Partners in Torah. I suggested that he call, and he got matched with his Torah partner. The positive influence of Partners in Torah on Arnold and on one of his thenemployees, who also joined the program, prompted me to call and ask for my own Torah Partner. A week later, the rosh kollel of KarlinStolin in Boro Park called me, and since that time, almost eight years ago, we have been Partners. My family and I have visited the Machlis family a few times in the past years and stayed with them for Shabbat, and our daughters developed a friendship. However, my main gain was in a deep and sweet (I don’t have better words to describe it) Torah study, which led me to new levels of Torah observance. Partners in Torah provided me with the greatest gift of all, the gift of Torah, a gift which broadened my mind, opened new doors for me, and made me believe that the best is yet to come. Partners in Torah did all of the above in a compassionate, yet professional, nonjudgmental way, reminding me always that we are all Jews, and that we all have a chelek in Hashem’s Torah. For all of this, Rabbi Gewirtz, I want to reiterate my personal sense of gratitude and appreciation to you and to Partners in Torah for everything you have done and continue to do for me and for many others like myself. May you go from strength to strength, and may Hashem crown your efforts with many blessings! Read moreDEDICATING AN HOUR
DEDICATING AN HOUR
Sol Handler
Our partnership started in March of 2005, with Henry making the grand proposal that we study Chumash, Mishnah, and Gemara. Ever since, we have studied for one hour every Friday morning at six a.m., alternating between Chumash, Mishnah, and Gemara, except for an occasional week when there was an emergency or one of us was away on travel. We are nearing the end of Chumash Bereishis, have finished Mishnayos Avos and are well into Mishnayos Berachos, and are nearing the end of the first perek of Gemara Bava Metzia. Who was it who said significant progress can be made from just one hour of study? That person was right, especially if it is a dedicated hour, each week. Usually, every Friday morning, my phone call is picked up punctually at six a.m. on the first ring by Henry, who always has a friendly greeting. One Friday morning, the phone rang a number of times before it was answered. Henry gave his usual friendly greeting, and the study session went very well, as usual: focused, concentrated, and with interesting questions and discussions. It wasn’t until later that day that I remembered that this was supposed to have been a scheduled day off, on which I had mistakenly called. But Henry never let on and the study session had proceeded with its full intensity and embellishments, as if nothing was amiss! This study journey has been wonderful and is continuing, with G-d’s help, up the proverbial Jacob’s Ladder, to who-knows-what destination. Thank You, G-d; thank you, Partners in Torah; and thank you, Henry Read moreWRESTLING WITH FIRST PRINCIPLES
WRESTLING WITH FIRST PRINCIPLES
Michael V.
Dear Rabbi Gewirtz, Please accept — and pass on to the donor — my sincere thanks for the ability to begin putting on tefillin each day so swiftly and affordably! I was raised a Reform Jew by dedicated and well-meaning parents and, although they are committed to Judaism to this day, the circumstances of my upbringing didn’t allow for much in the way of Jewish education. I met a wonderful woman in college and we were married soon after. We were always devoted to the idea of having a Jewish family, and Heather had a Reform conversion. She is truly a Jewish soul, and my bashert. For the next seven years, the best way that I could describe our Jewish practice is as a nondenominational wrestling with first principles. On the one hand, we imagined that — based on our upbringing or conversion — our Jewish practice was obliged to be within the boundaries of “liberal Judaism,” and we strove to find more rigorous and “rewarding” ways of practicing in this context. But we were plagued by the idea that, as Jews, Hashem had commanded us to be mindful of certain things. And each time we took on a new mitzvah — or part of a mitzvah — we were stunned by the sense of holiness growing within our lives. The growing realization was that we didn’t want to choose practices that were “rewarding,” but rather, that each time we chose to follow Hashem’s commandments for His sake, the reward sort of mysteriously took care of itself. In any case, my wife is at the moment in the final stages of a halachic conversion, and after having been separated for quite a long time at this point, we are looking forward to a halachic wedding soon! But back to the tefillin. It’s truly exciting to me that there are other people out there for whom the mitzvah of tefillin is so important that someone like me can telephone and have a pair sent, not in a week, but overnight. I love to relate this story because it is fun to tell, but also because it’s an affirmation of the urgency of performing this mitzvah, and of mitzvot in general. It’s not that the world would have ended if I hadn’t begun to put on tefillin for an extra week, but that the idea of not waiting any longer than absolutely necessary to begin doing so is significant, simply defies reason. In addition to the fulfillment of the mitzvah, and the feeling that I’m only beginning to discover its power and mysteries, putting on tefillin has already begun to unlock the power and mystery of my family’s past. I am named for my great-grandfather Max (Michoel), who died only about six weeks before I was born. He was the patriarch of my family, and came to the United States as a child, in 1906. I have seen photographs of his parents, and he was clearly raised in a religious family in Ukraine. I know that my grandfather and his siblings were confirmed in Cleveland’s largest Reform synagogue, and so I had always assumed that the keeping of mitzvot was something that my family had left on the other side of the ocean. However, on my next visit to see family after I began wearing tefillin, I was surprised when my grandfather gave me a small cloth bag. Inside I found tefillin belonging to my great-grandfather, my namesake. Not only did he own a pair (which I had never known), but they are also clearly worn from years of use. Although the tefillin are not kosher at present, I look forward to finding a good sofer who can advise me on whether or not they can be restored. How wonderful would it be to wear my great-grandfather’s tefillin! There are many reasons to keep the mitzvot — most of all because we are commanded to sanctify Hashem’s creation by doing them. But I am also convinced that sustained observance is the best explanation for the endurance of the Jewish people throughout the generations, against all odds. Please accept my sincere thanks for helping someone of such modest education and modest means to take on the mitzvah of tefillin with such ease and alacrity. Sincerely, Michael Read moreCHANCE OF A LIFETIME
CHANCE OF A LIFETIME
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Sruly Shain
My Partners in Torah story is honestly not much of a story. No miraculous turnaround or drastic changes have occurred. No wildly contrasting before and after pictures have been taken. But this — as you will see — is exactly my point. I began learning with my Partner — let’s call him Sam — about a year ago. Sam was attending college out of town, and has since graduated. His crowd of friends was very diverse. Being the warm person that he is, Sam was very close with a large assortment of his peers. Put this popularity together with the fact that Sam had a very minimal Jewish upbringing, and this is what you get: an easily influenced young man, who sees many different paths of life before him. He has no reason to feel compelled to pursue a specifically Jewish lifestyle over any other. Sam and I studied a book over the past year which explained why the Jewish way is the best way. But the book was really just a springboard for our very intense discussions on Judaism. As we were about to complete the book, we had another intense discussion, this time debating who had gained more out of our partnership over the past year. Fast-forward to last week: Sam is now teaching Hebrew classes for young children. He asked if I could arrange for a local study partner for him in his area. He has also been dating a fine Jewish girl for the last few months. Some people may feel that unless the story ends with “....and now he’s married, learning in a kollel in Yerushalayim,” it’s not that cool. The truth is, though, that with the help and guidance of Partners in Torah, this young man is moving forward to becoming a more affiliated Jew. He is now interested in advancing his Torah knowledge, and in discovering his Jewish roots. I think that’s fantastic! Partners in Torah is giving this young man a chance. A chance which he has been incredibly lucky to get. I know it sounds like a cliché here, but it’s true: This, if anything, is his “chance of a lifetime.” I am very thankful to be affiliated with this great program. And you never know... Maybe one day my story will end with “....and now he’s married, learning in a kollel in Yerushalayim.” Read moreSEEKERS NO LONGER
SEEKERS NO LONGER
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David Comins
Dear Rabbi Gewirtz, I have attended many secular seminars over the years where the terms “transformational” and “unrecognizable” are used to describe the experience. I never really believed the hype, but years after beginning at Partners in Torah and subsequently becoming Shabbos observant, my wife and I looked at each other one day and said, “Our life is truly unrecognizable!” We had been “seekers” for most of our adult life. We were both aware of being born Jewish but had extremely limited exposure to Yiddishkeit and were happily unaffiliated. We felt comfortable and pleased with our circumstances and surroundings, and yet... At nearly age fifty, my wife had felt the need to attach herself to a “higher power,” but had no natural path to follow. She made a concerted effort with the help of several friends to investigate the possible avenues for connecting to a higher power available in the metropolitan region; interestingly enough, though we visited several exotic houses of worship, including Christian ones; Orthodox Judaism wasn’t even on the list! We accepted an invitation from a friend for a Shabbos service in 1999. It was in an inner-city shul that had seen its heyday probably seventy-five years ago. The service was held in a dark basement on a cold February day, there were barely ten men there, we couldn’t sit together, and the whole thing was in a language we couldn’t read or understand. When we thanked our host but politely declined a return visit, she wisely urged us not to stop but to please get in touch with someone we both knew in Passaic who was skilled in outreach. Just at this time my wife was considering going to a Messianic Temple in Garfield, New Jersey, hoping to combine the best of Christianity and Judaism. Our new Passaic contact begged her not to go, describing in a long, impassioned e-mail the Jewish neshamah and how damaged it would become by being exposed to that other religion. He said that even though men have an obligation to go to shul, Judaism really thrives in the home. He invited us to his home for a Passover Seder. It was the first time either of us had been to a traditional Seder. I was touched by the tradition being passed down from the generations, as the grandparents as well as the host’s adorable eighteen-month-old son were there. It was on a weekday evening and only after we finished at two a.m. did we realize why he had asked if we wanted to stay over! There was something magical about that evening; perhaps it was that the two of us, coming from small families and having no children of our own, felt the glowing love of a Jewish family for the first time, a family who could reach out to strangers and make them feel welcomed. We asked our host where to go from here. He suggested both a weekend Gateways seminar and acquiring a chavrusa through Partners in Torah. We dutifully followed his advice. Actually, my wife, Chaya, enrolled first, and after a couple of weeks I decided to join, too, so as not to be left too far behind. I’m not sure I had ever spoken with an Orthodox man before. I had a preconception that my chavrusa would be bookish, without humor or a sense of the world. How wrong I was! I was fortunate enough to have a chavrusa who seemed to know everyone in town, was outgoing and funny, and had an incredible family. It took me a while to wrap my head around the fact that a man who had seven children, a responsible job, and other learning obligations would willingly give up an evening each week to tutor a stranger. For free, no less! The rest of the story can be told rather quickly. My wife and I both took to our studies eagerly. After a few weeks of learning and being invited to a few Shabbos meals and melaveh malkahs, we felt like we were more connected to people in Passaic that we had ever been in our twenty years in our Montclair, New Jersey, hometown! After less than a year we decided to move to this holy community, and miraculously bought a wonderful new home and sold our old one very quickly. When we were chosen to be honored by Partners in Torah as “Partners of the Year” in 2000, my wife had a beautiful idea. Our wedding twenty-one years prior had not been a Jewish one and, now that we were moving to the community, it would be special if we could sanctify our marriage with a genuine chuppah ceremony. She reasoned that at the Partners in Torah’s annual fund-raising breakfast there’d already be a hall, the crowd, and some food; all we’d need to add would be a chuppah, the music, and we’d be all set! Rabbi Gewirtz loved the idea and we’ll never forget how he and his team transformed the grounds of the Ohel Rivkah school into a place of holiness and sanctity and allowed us to enter into a true Jewish marriage. Looking back, that was the best day of our lives. We felt the love of our friends, family, and new neighbors that we’ve grown close to over the years. After the year at Partners in Torah, I joined a yeshivah in Passaic, where I’ve learned regularly ever since. Chaya learns as well, and we aspire to keep growing and emulating the people at Partners in Torah and other neighbors, whose highest calling is to do good for others and share their love of Yiddishkeit. May the organization continue to grow and thrive for many years to come! Best wishes, David and Chaya Comins Read moreLIVING MY DREAM
LIVING MY DREAM
Moshe T.
My story is not unique, but meaningful to me. Until I was twentyfive, I led the life of a traditional, non-Orthodox Jew. You know how it goes. My family went to “temple” for Rosh HaShanah and fasted on Yom Kippur. We celebrated Chanukah and Passover. Through a series of events I was led to Partners in Torah, where I was embraced and helped to find my way in Yiddishkeit and in life. I was born and raised in the suburbs of New York. My father was raised in a traditional non-Orthodox home from the Lower East Side. My mother was a nonaffiliated Catholic. She had no connection to her religion. My father insisted that he wanted his children to be “raised” Jewish. I’m not quite sure what he had in mind. Perhaps he wanted me to have a Jewish identity. But my father knew enough to be aware that I was born Catholic because Judaism follows the religion of the mother. The plot thickens... When I was eight days old I had a bris. The blue card was signed by a prominent mohel with a note that read, “With intent to convert.” A year later, after my first birthday, I was taken to a mikveh, where I was “converted” by three “Orthodox” rabbis. I will return to this process later in my story. I was privileged to attend Orthodox yeshivahs for almost ten years. They were smaller coed schools that somehow understood my background. I was never counted for a minyan or asked to lead the davening. And I understood that, but on a minimal level. It was very confusing for me to wear a kippah and tzitzis all day at school only to throw them off as soon as I got home. Many of my friends lived in the same town as the yeshivah, but I had to commute every day. Then when I was ten years old, I got to spend Shabbos at a friend’s house. The Goldberg family made me feel right at home. I loved to see the interaction between all of the family members. I enjoyed listening to divrei Torah. My dream became to one day move to this same place and raise my own family there. For high school, I attended a nonsectarian private school. My connection to Yiddishkeit began to dwindle, yet I maintained my family’s traditional values of not eating pork or seafood and not mixing meat and milk. In life we can often look back and pinpoint a small handful of life-changing events. My college years seemed to have most of them. I attended a major Catholic university, where I was required to take classes given by clergy. This put my own knowledge about Judaism to the test. It also brought me closer and sparked the pintele Yid inside. I knew that I had to learn more. Little by little, I began taking on more halachos. I began to eat only glatt kosher meat, although I cooked it in my parents’ nonkosher pots and pans. I bought different sefarim and Jewish books, but never felt satisfied. Meanwhile, I interned at a financial services company in Manhattan. I was there several days a week helping stockbrokers. Sam Miller was the only Orthodox broker in the office. Suddenly, I felt myself drawn to him and began asking him questions pertaining to Judaism and Torah on a daily basis. One day Sam asked me if I would be interested in learning with a partner for an hour a week. He told me to call 1-800-STUDY-42. This was my introduction to Partners in Torah. The next day I called. I was given the option to connect with a phone partner (calling card included) or I could meet with someone in person in the same town as that of my old yeshivah! I was overjoyed to return to my old stomping ground, where I had spent my first Shabbos and hung out with all my friends. Throughout my years at Partners in Torah, I was teamed up with several partners, all of whom were special in their own way. David was one Partner who helped change my life. Returning to the beginning of my story, when I discussed my bris and being converted, I told David that I had always doubted as to how “Orthodox” rabbis could have agreed to convert a baby who was being raised in the home of a non-Jewish mother and nonobservant father. David was sensitive and agreed to help me have my documentation reviewed with Rabbi Gewirtz. Rabbi Gewirtz reviewed the documents with his colleagues and confirmed that there was no way to be 100 percent sure this type of conversion was legitimate and that they had their doubts. In short, if I wanted to lead a life of being shomer Shabbos and shomer mitzvos, I would have to convert. At that point, I had already been keeping Shabbos and kosher for some time. Rabbi Gewirtz agreed to help me any way he could, and so did David. However, I knew that if I wanted to become Jewish I needed to leave no stone unturned. I had several unsuccessful attempts at contacting a local rabbi whom I was told could help me. Finally, I had a friend of mine who was related to him call him on my behalf. The rav explained he did not know me well enough to help me. Immediately, I began searching for other rabbanim who could help. My closest friends at Partners in Torah were the only ones who knew about my struggle. They all helped me in different ways, and I sure that I’m not even aware of everything that they did on my behalf. Almost a year later, I ran into Rabbi Gewirtz. I told him that I had not been successful in finding a rabbi to help with my conversion process, but I would not stop searching. I also told him that I enjoyed learning an hour a week at Partners in Torah, but my neshamah yearned for more. I told him about a learning program at nearby yeshivah for baalei teshuvah. Rabbi Gewirtz encouraged me to go there. That week I met with the rosh yeshivah, Rabbi Cohen, for the first time. I felt compelled to reveal my situation and told him that I was very much interested in learning but that I could not be counted for a minyan or called to the Torah for an aliyah. Rabbi Cohen didn’t hesitate to offer his help. I was elated; finally somebody would be able to help me with my conversion process. I immediately started learning at the yeshivah, and an hour a week of learning turned into an hour a day. Then three hours a day, then five, until I was learning three sedarim a day. Almost ten hours a day! I loved it, but it was not easy and it was quite a challenge. Getting up at five a.m. to drive to the yeshivah for shacharis. Trying to take a nap between sedarim, and then not getting home until ten or eleven p.m. But I realized that I was also lucky, because my early yeshivah background helped me absorb the various Talmudic topics that we covered. It gave me a leg up on my learning. Finally, after six long months, the moment of truth arrived. Rabbi Cohen called me late one evening to let me know that the next day I would finally be Jewish. The seventeenth of Tammuz was my new birthday. That was my first fast as a bona fide Jew. There are not enough trees to print enough paper to fill with the words of thanks I have to all of my friends and rabbis, especially Rabbi Gewirtz and Partners in Torah. Today I am living my dream. I have been married for five years and live with my own family in the same town where I went to yeshivah. My children are not only Jewish from birth, but they are also frum from birth. Who would have dreamed of that? Read moreMY ROLE MODEL CHANA RIVKA
MY ROLE MODEL CHANA RIVKA
Orly Shor
I joined Partners in Torah two years ago. In my initial conversation with Partners in Torah, I was very candid in explaining our family background and history: I told them that my husband was a convert, I have three kids, we keep Shabbat and kosher, the kids go to Jewish preschool but I don’t observe the laws of tzniut or cover my hair. I joined Partners in Torah because I had just had a baby and I couldn’t push myself to get to shul, so it was hard for me to follow the weekly parashah. I wanted to cover the parashah in my session with a partner, as well as learn and expound on other Jewish subjects. But most of all, I was looking for a role model. My family is living a Jewish life in a place where there are very few observant Jews (you can count them on two hands) and I needed inspiration. I was matched with Chana Rivka — a mother to fourteen kids who had just had a baby herself and was looking to learn with someone. To tell you a little bit more about myself: I have a PhD in psychology and I’m working as a change management consultant in IBM. My job takes me on extensive travel all over the States. I am away from my home a lot, and often have meetings late into the night. In the two years that Chana Rivka learned with me, she would call me on a weekly basis at each hotel that I stayed in, no matter what the time difference was. (She would even call at midnight her time if need be to make sure I would not miss a class.) Alone in the hotel, away from my family, away from anything holy, it was the call I was always waiting for. A piece of light in the midst of my material life. During the time Chana Rivka learned with me, our conversation also turned to personal issues — family, marriage, and the home. I wanted to do more, but didn’t want to have it forced on me. (In my initial conversation with the organization I mentioned that I would hang up the phone if someone would pressure me to cover my hair.) In her gentle way, Chana Rivka kept giving me her guidance and support, and a year ago I began covering my hair and observing the laws of tzniut. Chana Rivka made sure that we learned thoroughly all the rules of family purity. I bought a book she recommended and every class we learned a chapter. I had my fourth child four months ago. Chana Rivka came to visit me when my baby was a month old. It was the first time I met her. There is so much to tell about her. I’ve learned so much from her. Her support and guidance went ten million years beyond the initial parashah classes I was looking for. She is such an inspiring, selfless woman. My role model. Read moreTEFILLIN IN OHIO
TEFILLIN IN OHIO
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Ilya
Dear Rabbi Gewirtz, My name is Ilya, and I am a junior at Miami University of Ohio. For the last week, I have had the immense pleasure of praying with tefillin every day, something I could never have imagined myself doing just a year ago. Thanks to the incredible commitment you and others like you have made to reach out to the nonobservant Jewish community, I have come quite a distance in both my understanding and practice of the commandments of the Torah, although I know I have distance yet to go. Thank you and all your supporters for helping me afford my first set of tefillin. Respectfully, Ilya Read moreMY OWN LIVING STORY
MY OWN LIVING STORY
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Rebecca Hale
I live in Incline Village, Nevada, which sits directly on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Mountains, with my husband of eleven years, Brian, and our two children, Madeleine and Dylan. It was my sister who first connected me with Partners in Torah, which is based in New York. It was really like a miracle to have some-one to learn with, because there are almost no knowledgeable Jewish women anywhere close to where I live right now. It is so hard at times to stay on track and handle all the influences that my family and I need to deal with. I studied with my first teacher, Rivka, for about six months. I enjoyed learning with her tremendously, but she had to take a break due to the arrival of baby number three. Rivka still calls me to check in periodically, and I often think of her with warm wishes and prayers. The next teacher assigned to me was Leba, which means love. This is a perfect name for her. The funniest thing about Leba is that she calls me very late at night, around midnight or one o’clock New York time. This is probably because she is very busy with her family, so I am thankful when I realize that she is making special time for me. We have studied very well together, and I feel like I’m progressing a lot with making the Torah my own living story. Learning one-on-one with another woman is an excellent way to study. Leba is very knowledgeable, and has been learning for a long time. Putting a special woman’s perspective on Torah is something that I believe a woman can really do best. For example, when we studied the story of Moshe, Leba pointed out to me that it was Moshe’s mother, Yocheved, and his sister, Miriam, who conceived and carried out the entire plan for Moshe’s rescue. They refused to be daunted by the anti-life forces that were confronting them in Egypt, and through their intelligent planning for the future, the survival of the Jewish people was once again secured. Leba is an extremely nurturing individual. She also has a very high respect for being b’simchah, happy, and I appreciate that because I do feel that life can be fun. Thank you very much, Partners in Torah! Read moreMEETING ON THE MOUNT
MEETING ON THE MOUNT
Sanford Kadish
Rav Chanina Goldfinger, of Brooklyn and Montreal, has been my Partners in Torah chavruta for about six years now. We’ve been together through so much, covering Masechtot Berachot and Sanhedrin. Chanina has patiently guided me through some more challenging sugyot, and I shared several of the margin notes from the Israeli Steinsaltz version of the Gemara. We had a wonderful experience when we actually had a chance to meet a couple of years ago in New Hampshire — a case of hashgachah pratit that must be shared. Chanina’s extended family was coming down from Montreal at the end of the summer to spend Shabbat at a ski resort in Lincoln, New Hampshire, and I was working in Manchester, New Hampshire. Prior to his family’s excursion, we arranged to meet on the following Sunday morning and spend the day together. Chanina had called me using a phone card, and I told him that I would call from my cell when I was close to Lincoln. Lo and behold, the cell service in the mountains in that northern area is often iffy. I kept trying to call and stopped at every resort, notably the one where I thought they had stayed. I checked every tourist stop in Lincoln, and there are several. After about an hour of traversing the area and inquiring to see if a Goldfinger family was registered at each resort (which again and again got me only the following, to be read with a good New England accent: “Goldfingah — like the James Bahnd movie — nevah stayed heah!”...), I was ready to head back to Manchester. Clearly better planning would have been advisable. Just on a lark, I stopped one last time at the major tourist information location. Lo and behold, I saw a full-sized copper minivan with Quebec plates and a mother and two daughters attired in the requisite skirts. “Mrs. Goldfinger?” I inquired. “I’m Sandy!” “Baruch Hashem — you found us!” she shouted joyfully. “Chanina is inside getting information. Go get him!” I had the stark realization then that I had never seen a picture of Rav Chanina. However, realizing that most everybody else in a tourist trap would likely be attired in short pants and a T-shirt, I ventured forth. Needless to say, there was only one person in the store with a kippah and tzitzit, so we embraced and sighed with relief. We spent the rest of the day together. Chanina had with him his family (all girls at that time — they have since added a son), his wife’s parents, and his sister-in-law, who was equipped with a camera for the incredible sights. It was a glorious day of sightseeing at White Mountain, viewing another of Hashem’s profound creations that clearly confound atheists. I gave his daughters horsie rides and finally got all of their names down pat. We shared thoughts which we had not discussed previously on the phone. Chanina had brought some incredible cookies from one of Montreal’s best bakeries, which I enjoyed the entire following week. Finally, we bid adieu and headed back home. It was a wonderful day and clearly worth sharing as one of those great stories. Read moreTHE BEST PART OF MY WEEK
THE BEST PART OF MY WEEK
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Jeff Kates
I have a suburban, Long Island, New York, liberal, scientific, Reform Judaism background. After college, I moved to a small southern city with a small Jewish community. At that point, I had some personal experiences that made me want to speak to an Orthodox rabbi. I called the phone number on a random Jewish charity fund-raising mailer that had arrived at my office and asked the man who answered, “Is there an Orthodox rabbi there I could speak to?” He responded in a heavily accented voice, “We are all rabbis here.” When I told him about my situation, he told me that I needed to call a 1-800 telephone number. He sounded busy and said no more. I followed through, and contacted an office in Jersey where I was told they would arrange for me to have a study partner. The result has been fantastic. I have studied with my Partner almost every Tuesday evening for the past eight years. When we study it is as if the world stops, and a new world of Torah begins. I never could have imagined that weekly Torah study would be one of the best parts of my week and my life. Eight years of study have rushed by. It seems like only yesterday that we began. I look forward to my Tuesday night studying. It is enlightening, uplifting, and a haven. It is wonderful to have a Partner in Torah. Read moreTORAH IN EL PASO
TORAH IN EL PASO
Larry Lesser
Out here on the western tip of Texas, structured opportunities for individualized learning with people with strong Judaic backgrounds are limited. Thanks to Partners in Torah, I began learning regularly with Akiva in the spring of 2006, starting with Pirkei Avot and then moving on to ArtScroll’s volume 3 of Seder Moed. Nearly each week, our session not only involves learning the actual content of the text but also helps me improve my Hebrew reading skills (so that I have a chance to keep up with my nine-year-old son, who is a student in El Paso’s small Jewish community day school). Akiva is patient and receptive to my varied questions (whether or not they directly relate to the mishnah at hand) and e-mails me during the week with answers on the rare occasions when he cannot supply them during our telephone call. While there are many differences in our backgrounds, it is heartening how this is not an obstacle — and is sometimes a strength — to our learning. It is meaningful that we not only learn together but also exchange holiday greetings and share in each other’s milestones. For most of the last year, our learning was dedicated to the merit of my father-in-law, z”l, and last year I was also touched to receive an invitation to the wedding of one of Akiva’s daughters. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend, but I got to see wedding pictures. I did have the pleasure of meeting Akiva in person when a spring 2007 academic conference I attended brought me to Brooklyn. After Havdalah, Akiva picked me up from the conference and brought me back to his house to do some in-person learning, meet some of his family, and enjoy delicious refreshments. While time will tell whether El Paso is meant to be a long-term home for me and my family — we’ve been here since 2004 and I have a tenured position at the university here — I am so grateful that Partners in Torah offers an avenue for continued Jewish learning and growth between any two cities that telephones can connect. Read moreJUST A LITTLE LOST
JUST A LITTLE LOST
Doreen Deney
I want to share the story of how I met my Torah Partner. I live in Florida but was in New Jersey for a few weeks this past June. I have never driven in New York and was told it could be a very frightening experience. Still, I wanted to meet my telephone study partner, who lives in Brooklyn, because she and I work so well together and I have been learning so much from her. Wanting to put a face to the name and the chance to meet my Partner in person, I took the challenge and actually drove through Manhattan, over the Brooklyn Bridge, and into lands I had never before ventured. I only got a little lost, but eventually I found my way. My meeting with my Torah Partner was a wonderful experience, and I am so glad I got to spend some time with her in person. It’s funny, but as I write this, I realize that the story I’ve just told you is a metaphor for my experience with Judaism, in the sense that I am “just a little lost but I am slowly finding my way.” And that’s thanks in large part to my Partner in Torah. Thanks for putting us together and giving me a chance to explore my heritage with such a wonderfully knowledgeable and giving mentor. Read moreLAYING TEFILLIN IN MISSISSIPPI
LAYING TEFILLIN IN MISSISSIPPI
Roman K.
To Whom It May Concern: First of all, please forgive me for the delay in expression of my sincere appreciation and thank you for the tefillin that I received from your organization two and a half weeks ago. I would like to thank both you and specifically the donor for the amazing gift of tefillin. Without the donation I would not have been able to afford them at this time, and doing the mitzvah every day for the last two weeks has been very rewarding. I was at first adamant about first saving the money to buy a pair (I am a college student), but after much consideration I realized that the sooner I am able to wear them the better. An interesting occurrence happened when I got the tefillin. The day the pair arrived I was leaving to go to Mississippi to help rebuild after Katrina. It so happened that the five people from the local Hillel that I was going with and I were going to stay for the week with an organization called CORE, Christian Organization Relief Effort, in Ocean Springs by Gulfport. Like most everybody else down South, these people are a religious group of Christians that got together to do missionary work in the form of relief. We were sent to them because the new NECHAMA organization was not set up yet in New Orleans. I was very concerned and very selfconscious about taking the pair of tefillin with me into this situation, but there was no way I would leave them behind now that I had them, and I felt that I must put them on every day that was allowed, with no delay. So I decided to take them down with me and hopefully have the courage to put them on every morning. Each morning after breakfast, when 99.5 percent of the Christians there, all very nice people, had their devotion service in the church right by the camp, I would sneak off and lay tefillin. By the end of the week I was comfortable enough to even wear a yarmulke on Shabbos (I had worn a baseball cap until then) in full view of the entire Christian camp. The purpose of this story is to say that although one might think that the more one does according to the Torah and rabbis, the harder life becomes — and that one must live with constantly looking different and for that reason be ashamed — I think that wearing the tefillin made me stronger and more confident about being a Jew and being proud of it. That week in Mississippi was meaningful for me because we helped people, but also even more so because in putting on tefillin I was able to start each day of hard physical labor knowing that I had connected with my Jewish faith. I would like to once more express gratitude for the tefillin and extend a yasher koach to the donor and to your organization for what you provide to college students, many of whom are in the process of finding where they belong Jewishly, and in the greater world, which often comes hand in hand. I would also like to extend a very big yasher koach to Rabbi Aryeh Cohen from the Minneapolis Kollel, whom I first met at the Maimonides Program and who got me the tefillin from your organization. Sincerely, Roman Read moreTHE SANDY SPRINGS JEWISH “WRAPPERS”
THE SANDY SPRINGS JEWISH “WRAPPERS”
Don Memberg
Dear Rabbi Gewirtz, Please extend my heartfelt thank-you to your organization and to the donor who made it possible for me to get these beautiful and kosher tefillin. As president of our small and special congregation, I have found inspiration to become even more involved in my Jewish heritage. I had been borrowing tefillin since my own tefillin from my bar mitzvah have needed replacement. At our congregation, we started the “Sandy Springs Jewish Wrappers,” and encourage coming to services on Sunday morning to “wrap” tefillin, then “rap” right after at a breakfast and learning session with the rabbi. It is catching on. I’ve attached a copy of our jingle for your enjoyment. Here in the neighborhood of Sandy Springs, we are now on the Atlanta synagogue map! I hope you’ll soon be getting lots of other calls for tefillin as more and more people, like me, look for a more meaningful journey of Jewish learning and discovery. Sincerely, Don Memberg, President Congregation Anshei Chesed Read moreLIFE AND THE PARASHAH
LIFE AND THE PARASHAH
D.s.
Hesh and I have been studying the weekly parashah. He is very good at this. Sometimes I do all the talking and other times he does all the talking. Usually I play the role of the one who takes notes and listens. My wife always wants to know what Hesh had to say about the weekly parashah. All my friends know about Hesh and they too sometimes ask, “What does Hesh say about this?” Oh, I even have had a couple of rabbis I know asking about Hesh’s insight on the weekly parashah. Since we have been studying together, I have noticed that my life for that week kinda coincides with the parashah. I don’t know why, it just does. Wow, did you guys know that Partners in Torah did that? It may be Hashem’s way of telling me that I made a good choice with Partners in Torah. I finally got to meet Hesh in person last year. As we traveled from Spain to Dallas, we stopped over in New York. We met and talked as we waited for the plane. He met my wife and daughter. I have sent him a couple of family movies of ourselves. The relationship has become a friendship. Read moreTORAH: MY EMOTIONAL SUPERGLUE
TORAH: MY EMOTIONAL SUPERGLUE
Aharon Birenbaum
This is my last month of Partners in Torah. I am leaving to learn in yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael at the end of August. I must say thank you for something I appreciate incredibly. First of all, I would like to thank Partners in Torah on a personal level. My Partner, Shimi, has, over the past two years, grown to be one of my closest friends and confidants. I am so glad to have met him through your amazing organization. It was a godsend. Our one-hour sessions in Mesillat Yesharim, and then later Nefesh Shimshon, were the highlights of my week. Sometimes we would just discuss Torah, life, and Hashem, and carry on late into the night. Shimi influenced me greatly, and I cannot adequately describe his incredible patience and sensitivity in dealing with me and in listening to me vent my frustrations. I cannot express my gratitude to Partners in Torah for setting us up, granting us the time on the phone, and the (light) badgering to get started. On a more global scale, I am privileged to be a participant in such an amazing program. The support the mentors provide is unquantifiable. More than anything else, the secular world screams out for friendship. Deep care, trust, and commitment are rare to come by in this dark pit of an atheistic world we live in. To have a true friend is so important. How much more so when this friend becomes a mentor and teaches life lessons and shares values! As I have learned through Shimi, nothing serves as emotional superglue as much as Torah. I’m sure your work is not easy. From finding the mentors to nagging the participants, from fund-raising to chizuk, Partners in Torah seems like it is trudging uphill both ways. However, let me be one to say thank you, for your dedication, your perseverance; your efforts have not gone unnoticed. I wish the organization, its supporters, its volunteers, its participants, and all of klal Yisrael much success, blessing, advancement in Torah, growth in middos, and all other great things. Read moreTHE TEFILLIN CONNECTION
THE TEFILLIN CONNECTION
Stephen F.
Dear Rabbi Gewirtz, My name is Stephen and I am sophomore at MIT. I am writing to you in order to send a heartfelt thank-you for the tefillin that I received from your organization a week ago. I thought perhaps your benefactors might like to hear the story of my religious “journey” over the last two years. My family is Reform but active. I was born and raised in Kansas City, a city with many virtues; however, diversity in Jewish identification and practice is not one of them. Growing up, I strongly identified with “being Jewish,” but that was only within the limited context of my experience, which was attending services on the High Holidays, celebrating Chanukah and Pesach, and attending bar mitzvahs of friends and family. I would say that I always “believed” in Hashem, but not in a critical manner and not in a way that influenced my decisions. In providing this description, I would like to firmly assert that I am in no way trying to criticize the Reform movement, but rather just explain that it simply did not engage me. My views changed largely because I attended school in Massachusetts and was exposed to Jews from a variety of backgrounds at MIT Hillel. To condense a rather long story, I decided over time that it was valuable for me to observe mitzvot in the Torah. Shabbat was a given because it was my gateway to learning about Judaism, and it quickly became my favorite component of observant Jewish life. I was more skeptical in my approach to prayer. I prided myself on my approach to Judaism as being highly selfmotivated. The first “book” on the reading list was the Torah, of course. Inspired to read for myself the Toraitic injunctions to keep kosher, observe the Sabbath, act charitably, and the like, I strengthened my conviction to observe sometimes less-than-convenient laws. I couldn’t find a Torah reference to prayer, though. This made me confused. Why should I do something thrice a day if it’s not even in the Torah? I thought. Well, the Torah is not the full story, of course. Prayer, I learned, was formalized by our Sages in the second century as a substitute for the Temple service. For me, this was a bit of a letdown. Then there was the issue of tefillin. I thought they were — in a word — weird. I actually consciously rejected them. It is a commandment to have the words of G-d as a sign on my hand. Why did this mean something ritualistic as opposed to the pragmatic message of “using” one’s hands to perform tikun ha’olam? I read the Torah on my own, and the latter was the meaning that I had devised...it made sense to me. I raised this issue to my Orthodox friends. They told me that tefillin are a symbol and a reminder to use your hands to perform good deeds. I wasn’t convinced...because I have found that at MIT and in other places, the Reform community tended to be much more active with social action than the Orthodox community was. In short, the tefillin confused me. They seemed to stand for a good idea in principle, but it seemed to me that the emphasis on ritual detracted from what I perceived to be the “big picture.” Two things changed my mind. One was the first time I actually put on tefillin, which was at an AIPAC program over the summer. I made a friend named Amir, who knew a friend of mine in Cambridge. One morning that I had woken up early, he asked me if I would join him for services. Later, he asked me if I had ever worn tefillin. No, I said. Cautiously he asked me if he could show me how to lay them, and I agreed. This made him very excited and he told me that this was a big deal. This story isn’t one of those types of baal teshuvah–type stories where I suddenly, upon putting them on, had some powerful connection to Hashem. Actually, it was highly anticlimactic and confusing because it took me about fifteen minutes to get them on. In some ways, the process still seemed more like a ritual than a meaningful connection, but through Amir, I found a much more earnest and what appeared to be sincere desire to “be” Jewish than what I perceived among Orthodox students in my own community. The second experience was my Birthright trip. During the trip, one of the rabbis whom I got to know through several conversations provided me with the contact information for your organization. My attitude toward tefillin changed. Yes, they were ritualistic, and yes, I did not understand them, but the ritual became something much more. In the ritual, I sensed an amazingly powerful connection to my people’s history... It amazed me to think that tefillin had been used as a way for Jews to connect to G-d for so many generations. It also became a motivation for me to pray, which I have begun to do about once a day. I kept in contact with Amir and spent a Shabbos as a guest with him once. I told him that it meant a lot to me that he showed me how to put on tefillin six months earlier. He told me that one of his friends at his high school had taught him how to use them, and that a year later he had died of cancer. You can imagine how shaken I was to hear that. He told me that when he puts them on, he remembers the friend. I felt strangely connected to the person Amir was describing through the shared experience bound in teaching a peer how to use the sacred objects. I still believe that there are other ways to observe the commandment in Deuteronomy 6:8, but I felt a strange but personal desire to make this traditional mitzvah my own. I thought perhaps the benefactors of my subsidized tefillin might like to hear this story. Best regards, Stephen Read moreA SPIRITUAL DOMINO EFFECT
A SPIRITUAL DOMINO EFFECT
T.e.
To the generous benefactor of the tefillin, Words cannot sufficiently express my gratitude to the donor who made this mitzvah possible. Without the support system of a family, taking on many mitzvahs at once can be a great financial strain. I want the donor to know that not only is he helping me to fulfill the mitzvah of tefillin, but his generosity has also cleared the way for me to fulfill many other mitzvahs as well, creating a spiritual domino effect that will continue for the rest of my life. Every mezuzah, every kosher meal, every pair of tzitzit will be bolstered by your generosity. Every day as I put on these tefillin I will do my best to remember the generosity of the anonymous donor and the person in whose honor this was done. Thank you for doing this great service for me and the Jewish people as a whole. Read moreA VIRTUAL MEZUZAH HANGING
A VIRTUAL MEZUZAH HANGING
Vivian Lerer
I have been learning with my Partner for a little over two years. It has been an inspiring journey for the both of us. She had a limited background in Judaism, consisting mainly of memories from her grandparents’ Seder and her grandmother’s candelabra, which she inherited. Her original quest was to learn how to read Hebrew, and that allowed me to segue into many areas, such as the chagim, the parashiyot, and customs and ceremonies. She now lights candles and says Modeh Ani and Shema each day. Through mutual consent, my Partner and I decided to do our learning using Skype and a webcam, facilitating our experience and making it more personal. I encouraged her to get a mezuzah and have someone — in this case a Chabad rabbi — put it up on her front door. As we continued our learning and explored the three parashiyot of Shema, I encouraged her to consider putting up additional mezuzot. She received two as a gift from a friend and purchased a third. Unfortunately, getting someone to hang them on the doors presented a logistical problem, so I suggested we make use of our webcams and engage in a virtual mezuzah hanging. I sent her notes on the placement of the mezuzah, and we had a sort of dress rehearsal before the actual placement on the lintel. When she felt completely confident about the procedure she put it in place and said the berachah. She was so touched and truly felt a moment of spirituality. This is the area we are working on now, spirituality Read moreSAME NAME, SAME HERITAGE
SAME NAME, SAME HERITAGE
Rachel B. Rubin
My Torah Partner and I have been learning together for the past three years. As soon as we were matched, I felt incredibly fortunate. Aside from being the same age and sharing the same first name, we had a similar outlook in life, yet hers was infused with an understanding of Judaism and Torah which I did not yet possess. Rachael Avigdor and I first met face-to-face at the Partner Appreciation Dinner in May of 2006. I spent the night in her house in Brooklyn — we watched an empowering Jewish movie, walked around Williamsburg, and enjoyed seeing one another face-to-face. Since then we have met numerous times — at Rabbi Gewirtz’s house for Shabbos, at her parents’ house for Shabbos several months later, for a friend’s wedding, and, most recently, for my own wedding. I felt extremely blessed to have my Torah Partner attend my wedding; she was an amazing presence and really brought to life the lessons we had learned together about marriage and partnership. My Torah Partner is a wonderful teacher and friend, and she is also one of the people I admire the most in the world. She truly lives her life by the Torah, always doing her best and helping others. She is an inspiration and I feel truly blessed to have her in my life. Read moreINNOVATIVE OUTREACH
INNOVATIVE OUTREACH
Rebecca Wolf-lippmann
Dear Rabbi Gewirtz, I am more than delighted with your innovative outreach program for teaching Torah to the entire Jewish community of all denominations. I am blessed to have an Orthodox Partner in Torah, Marilyn Silverman, who lives in Spring Valley, New York. I am a Reform Jewess who observes kashrut, Shabbat, and festivals, in addition to teaching Torah on a rotation basis at Temple Sinai in Delray Beach, Florida, where I am vice president of religious activities. Aside from Shabbat, one of the highlights of my life is my weekly Thursday night chat with Marilyn. Thank you for making this possible. B’shalom, Rebecca Read moreA TRIBUTE TO MY TORAH PARTNER: KEN YIRBU
A TRIBUTE TO MY TORAH PARTNER: KEN YIRBU
Steve Lerman
It all started with my business client and friend Eli Shindler, who asked me one day if I would maybe consider doing weekly telephone learning with a study partner. Um, possibly, I replied, if I have the time, maybe, um...let me think about it...maybe. I had no idea (although I should have) that possibly-let-me-thinkabout-it-maybe to an observant Jew who is committed to regular Torah study means absolutely!-now!-definitely. Not thirty seconds later he handed me the phone and I found myself talking to Partners in Torah, and thus began a series of events that has changed my life. After talking to me at length, Partners in Torah teamed me up with Gedalya Engel, who was since honored by the organization as a chaver tov. He certainly has been a chaver tov to me! Gedalya and I finally connected by phone and in no time at all I knew that Partners in Torah had chosen the right chavrusa. I felt comfortable immediately and we had a terrific conversation about learning and what to learn. I decided that since I had never really gotten a good read on Chumash with Rashi, this was the place where I would like to start. We started learning near Simchas Torah, and we have had only a few missed sessions. Considering both our schedules, this itself is remarkable and shows our commitment to learning. We vary the topics for special weeks such as Purim and Pesach, which makes the learning that much more interesting. But Gedalya’s impact doesn’t stop there. In December of last year, my eighty-seven-year-old mother passed away after a long illness. One evening during shivah a new face appeared in the house, and I knew who it was even before he spoke. Of course, once he spoke it was obvious: this was the owner of the same voice I learned with each week. Gedalya had come to pay me a shivah call all the way from Brooklyn to Plainview. It was ironic to meet for the first time at a shivah, and it was a meeting that I will not forget. He got my address from Eli Shindler, even though the two had not met before this (never mind how they made contact; as Harry Golden wrote, “All Jews meet in a basement once a week”). That same evening Eli and others from Geri-Care, the company that Eli owns, also paid me a shivah call, and that’s when we learned that Geri-Care is a sponsor of the St. Louis Shabbaton that Gedalya and Chany Engel help run. The conversation turned to the Shabbaton, and my daughter Erica found it all very interesting. The next week found her on the bus to St. Louis, where she had a wonderful time and became fast friends with Chany. Now Erica also has a chavrusa, Chava Lea Abramson, and is learning each week and giving us all lots of nachas. Gedalya’s warmth and friendship have enriched my family. Through this experience, I have come to feel much closer to my Jewish heritage. I have gleaned wonderful lessons from Rashi’s insight, and also learned just how daunting Rashi’s task was (“Rashi didn’t have ArtScroll,” as Gedalya points out; baruch Hashem, we do). And I also learn from Gedalya’s knowledge and experience, and his love for what he does — which is so contagious — and I am tremendously grateful. For such chavrusas, ken yirbu! Read moreI'M IMPRESSED!
I'M IMPRESSED!
Freddy Sayegh
Dear Rabbi Gewirtz, I could count on one hand the number of people who have been able to make an impact on my life. You, my friend, are one of them. Though we have only recently met I feel like I have known you forever. There are not many things that impress me in this world, but I am both impressed and jealous of your love for klal Yisrael, which is contagious and inspiring. I can’t help but think about what the world would be like if we had more rabbis such as you leading am Yisrael. I could easily write a few pages telling you how much I love being a part of your program and how much I look forward to studying with my Partner every week. But I won’t bore you, because I know anything that I write you must have already heard a thousand times over. I only wish there was a way for me to thank you enough. Since I cannot come up with any good ideas, I will be open to suggestions. If there is anything you feel I could do to help you promote PIT, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will always do my best. Hazak u’baruch! Sincerely, Freddy Read moreMY FAVORITE DAYS OF THE WEEK
MY FAVORITE DAYS OF THE WEEK
Irv Yitzhak Frumberg
I am new to Partners in Torah and only recently came back to my Jewish beliefs since my return from Israel in 1976. The Partner you have set me up with, Greg Wall, who lives in New Jersey, has not only been a good partner, but has become a true friend. Living in California makes it difficult for me to attend your Annual Partner Appreciation Dinner on May 2. This is just a brief letter expressing my personal appreciation to you and your organization. I have started to attend minyan services on Monday and Thursday mornings, and to attend as many Shabbat services as I can at the synagogue we joined only a few months ago. I haven’t been a member of a synagogue since 1968, when I joined to have my firstborn learn for his bar mitzvah. The reason I attend the synagogue then is because those are the days when the Torah is taken out to be read from and I’m able to give it a kiss when it passes by me. I kiss it to show my reawakening love for it and my rekindled affection for Hashem. I also figure it can’t hurt to be looked upon with a little kindness from the One Above. Shalom and todah rabbah, Irv Read moreHOME AWAY FROM HOME
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Robert E. Goodman
In the summer of 2002, I found a flyer for Partners in Torah at the Aish HaTorah center in Rockville, Maryland, that I frequently attended. It seemed like an interesting program to study over the phone. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I tried it. I called the Partners in Torah office and they asked me all sorts of questions about my current Jewish observance, religious background, and what I wanted to study. I was initially matched with someone who I was never able to connect with, so I called up Partners in Torah again to see if I could get a new Partner. I was immediately matched with Bruce Listhaus of Flatbush, Brooklyn. I was naturally apprehensive about studying with someone I had never met who had likewise never met me. I see now how courageous Bruce and I both were to try this experiment. As Bruce can tell you, becoming more observant was new to me, rather scary, and even anxiety producing. I wanted to study Jewish texts with the utmost intellectual honesty, but I was not on a specific observance track to change my religious outlook from the Conservative Judaism I grew up with to the Orthodox Judaism that I now practice. Hashem moves in mysterious ways, and it has clearly been bashert for Bruce and I to be Partners. Bruce and I became fast friends immediately and even closer friends during our continuing seven-year partnership. Our studying together has given me a deeper understanding of our Jewish texts and prayers, the Jewish calendar, the holidays and their ritual significance, the importance of keeping a kosher and shomer Shabbos home, and much more. Bruce has helped me to understand and internalize so much about my Jewishness that saying “thanks” is not enough. I am amazed that so much time has passed so quickly, that I have learned so much, that I have come so far, and that we have shared so many significant and emotional milestones, like his son’s bar mitzvah, the marriage of one of his daughters, and the death of my dad, Charles Goodman. As a study partner, Bruce was not obligated to help and be so kind as to attend the funeral and make shivah calls, but as a friend, Bruce felt he did. That is just the kind of man, the kind of friend that Bruce Listhaus is to everyone who knows him and loves him. I have been made to feel as a welcome guest in the Listhaus home. I have watched their children grow up and mature, and now see their grandchildren doing the same. After seven years and hundreds of study sessions, many Shabbosos spent in their home, celebrating their family simchahs together, and celebrating of the completion the Siyum HaShas at Madison Square Garden, whenever I call the Listhaus home, the phone is picked up with the usual shout to Bruce, “It’s Rob!” and Bruce is quick to pick up the phone. The Listhauses are a truly loving and nurturing family and I am honored to be their friend. I owe a great deal to Bruce for introducing me to his vibrant Jewish community that is the congregation of Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyomin. When I come to Flatbush, I feel as if I have a second home. I owe this to Bruce for introducing me to so many kind, generous, warm, and friendly people. Now, whenever I walk into the beis midrash to daven or study, I am immediately greeted with warm smiles and friendly handshakes by many of Bruce’s friends — and now my friends, too. I carry the goodwill examples shown to me by Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyomin into my own Jewish community and welcome the stranger in whatever ways that I can. Over the course of the last seven-plus years, I have traveled lightyears in my Jewish faith and observance. I know that I owe all this to Bruce and Judy Listhaus and their family, to the congregation of Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyomin, and most of all to the tireless good souls at Partners in Torah for making this possible and for showing me the beauty, love, and value of Torah. Read moreFINDING ANSWERS
FINDING ANSWERS
Binyamin Brager
Dear Partners in Torah, I’m sure you hear this all the time, and it is something that is brought by Chazal, but I have certainly gained very much from my Partner in Torah. We have only been learning for a few months (Mesillas Yesharim), but I have seen that I have gained so much, and this sefer lends itself to bringing on some very relevant questions, especially for the newcomer to Yiddishkeit. As a baal teshuvah myself, through learning with my Partner I am reliving the exploration of many of those nagging questions that I had (and to some extent, still have) when I was just starting out on my journey of learning Torah. There are so many things that are so simple when you learn them, yet we haven’t thought to dwell on them in the least bit. Learning with my Partner has helped to revitalize my own beliefs and attitudes, and hopefully is giving strength and knowledge to my Partner, which will enable him to have a better relationship with himself and with Hashem. Thank you, Partners in Torah, for such a wonderful organization that does so much for the frum community, as well as for the not-yetfrum Partners. Best regards, Binyamin Read moreKEEP YOUR EYE ON THE TARGET
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE TARGET
David Hager
I live in New York and I signed up for Partners in Torah just before landing a very demanding job in real estate law. After taking the job, I was afraid that maybe the commitment to learn with a Partner every week would be too much for me. But I decided to continue and see how it would work out. That was a long time ago. It’s been approximately seven years that my chavruta, Ofer Gamliel, and I have been studying together. Ofer lives in Indigo, California, near Palm Springs. We study once a week and to date we have finished several masechtot of Gemara and many areas of halachah. Ofer is a professional commercial pilot, trained in Israel by the IDF as an F-16 fighter jet pilot. A few years ago, Ofer was flying to upstate New York for his company and had an hour stopover in Newark International Airport. Thus I finally got the opportunity to meet Ofer, with whom I had been speaking on the phone for so many years. The meeting at Newark was inspiring. When we sat there together, Ofer shared with me something that is very interesting: When a fighter jet pilot flying at full speed passes a stationary object, he will see that object only after it’s behind him. That is, one’s brain cannot process the information fast enough; by the time the pilot can process the information and see the object, the jet has already passed it. I think that this is a message to us as well. We travel through life at extreme speed; we are so busy with our daily activities. Unfortunately, we often do not see what is in front of us until it has already passed. Thanks to Partners in Torah, we can slow down just a bit and focus on opportunities of learning, teaching, and growing — such as those weekly transcontinental phone calls I have had for many years and hope to continue for many years to come. Read moreSTICKING TO THE SCHEDULE
STICKING TO THE SCHEDULE
Aviva Ghatan (of Blessed Memory)
On a recent Tuesday morning my special break from the world was scheduled for ten thirty. After getting four young girls on the bus by eight a.m., I bathed the littlest Ghatan and we were off for an exercise walk. I was detained on the way and found myself running late. I also found myself running with a stroller down Ocean Parkway (quite a sight). When I finally reached home, I quickly ran up the stairs. At exactly ten thirty I reached my Partner, an established middle-aged professional. Still huffing and puffing, I explained (so she wouldn’t call an ambulance) why I was so out of breath. My Partner was so touched that she too was out of breath. She said, “I am so happy this hour means as much to you as it does to me. I’m amazed at what you went through to be on time for me.” Needless to say, I now understand the importance of having a zeman kavua, a set time for study. It’s important that we both honor it “religiously” (no pun intended). In life it is not always what we say alone that has an effect on people but what we do. I wish you all hatzlachah in all your endeavors, and may this special mitzvah of taking your time to spread Torah, and taking it seriously, be a protection for you and your loved ones. Read moreAN END OF YEAR ACCOUNTING
AN END OF YEAR ACCOUNTING
Shayna Dena Rupp
Dear Rabbi Gewirtz and PIT Staff, Thank you so much for providing me with such a special privilege of being a Partner in Torah. It is a unique opportunity for one's own spiritual growth. I never thought I would nd one hour a week to commit myself for this learning session, but Hashem has cer tainly given me special si- yata diShmaya to find it. Sometimes even on erev Shabbos , or (can you imagine?) on erev Pesach . At the end of each year as I make a spiritual accounting, I am struck by and inspired by this thought: I don t know what I'm coming with to the day of reckoning, but Hashem,Tuesday mornings from eleven to noon, almost every week, are all Yours! May all our efforts bear fruit. May you merit enormous hatzlachah in this special endeavor. Read moreNOT JUST A PARTNER - ALSO A FRIEND
NOT JUST A PARTNER - ALSO A FRIEND
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Anonymous
I am writing to you to thank you for all you have done and are doing. I was a mentor in Partners in Torah for two years, and I see the great impact it makes on people’s lives. I taught in a day school and, through Partners in Torah, the parents of one of my students made their home kosher, and others are on their way up. I started this off when I was single. I was hesitant to do it. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to answer my Partner’s questions. And who was I, anyway, a twenty-year-old, to teach a woman old enough to be my mother or grandmother? I realized it’s not the age that matters; it’s the relationship that counts. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. Now I’m getting married and moving, but I look forward to continuing it after my wedding when things settle down. I would encourage everyone to try it. Based on my experience, these are a few things that I feel can make it easier to get started: • Sit with another mentor the first few times and observe how she does it. When I did that, I saw it wasn’t so intimidating. • Keep in mind that your Partner has come to learn because he or she wants to know. He is coming to understand, not to argue. • Don’t be afraid they’ll ask questions that you can’t answer. They’ll honor the fact that you’ll get back to them. Time and time again, I found words I did not think I had. Hashem puts the right words in your mouth. • Keep in mind that you are coming as a partner — a friend. It’s important to show care and concern. I encourage everyone to get involved. Once you start you won’t want to stop. It will become a meaningful part of your life. I looked forward to going as much as my partner did. It’s a two-way thing. You both gain. Good luck! Read moreRIFKA, MY TORAH TEACHER
RIFKA, MY TORAH TEACHER
Sabrina Woodru
My name is Sabrina, and I am learning Hebrew and how to get the most out of Shabbos from my Partners in Torah teacher, Rifka. I need to tell you about her. You see, I came to learn so that my last words to my family, friends, and Hashem might be in Hebrew, the language of my people. Although I have had many blessings in my life, health is not one of them. But sometimes knowing when to begin counting the sunrises is a blessing in itself. I want to leave them, my most precious blessings, my babies, more than memories. I want them to have a Jewish life, as they have Jewish souls. Read moreMEGA BIRTHRIGHT EVENT
MEGA BIRTHRIGHT EVENT
Rabbi Eli Gewirtz
I’m writing from Israel, where I am still on a high from the Birthright Israel “Mega Event” I attended this past Sunday in Latrun. As we’ve done in the past, Partners in Torah set up an information booth, along with fifty or so other vendors who come to sell their wares. Our wares, baruch Hashem, went over quite well. Over eight hundred people signed up for a partner! Part of the Mega Event featured a concert and rah-rah session where they heard a variety of speeches — including one from the prime minister. The atmosphere was not terribly spiritual and there were components that our staff could certainly have managed without. While the concert was going on some distance away, exhibitors broke away to daven maariv. With my fingers pressed tightly against my ears to block out the background noise, I made it through until Shema Koleinu, where I included a tefillah for the over seven thousand acheinu b’nei Yisrael who were there. Whatever kavanah I was able to muster was shattered when the crowd suddenly broke out in song, which was at first barely audible and then turned into a frenzy. Unaccustomed to instant gratification as I was, the tears started to flow when I caught the words: “Anachnu maaminim b’nei maaminim... — We are believers the sons of believers and Hashem in Heaven is the only Source we can ever rely upon.” I knew that most of them had no idea what the words meant, but I couldn’t help but think (I know, I was supposed to be davening) that despite the mundane nature of the event, the message of the need to turn to our common Father was somehow getting through. And if we all share the same Father, they’re obviously our brothers and sisters. Though I’d love to stay in Israel for another month or two, I expect to return home early next week and face the daunting and exciting challenge that Hashem has put on our lap with these college students. Recognizing that Hashem in Heaven is the only Source we can ever rely upon, I nevertheless welcome anyone who would like to be involved — on any level — with this possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Read moreRETURNING THE GIFT
RETURNING THE GIFT
Stacey Baron
Several years ago I was matched up with a partner locally here in Baltimore. My partner instilled in me a love of Yiddishkeit that I still have today. She encouraged me to go to Neve Yerushalayim, and she laid the groundwork for me to build and cultivate my identity in the Torah outlook. She still serves as a mentor for me, as well as a friend. Since then I’ve built a family, bli ayin hara, and in turn I touched another partner. About three years ago, Partners in Torah contacted me with a name of a girl to learn with. She was just starting out and wanted to learn halachah. We hit it off well, and I encouraged her to learn more. She went to Neve Yerushalayim during semester and summer breaks until she graduated. I just had the zechus and nachas to wish her a mazel tov on her wedding last Thursday in Yerushalayim. I was so happy that the chesed someone showered on me had additional influence on this lovely girl. Read morePARTNER ENCOUNTERS
PARTNER ENCOUNTERS
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