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PARTNER ENCOUNTERS
PARTNER ENCOUNTERS
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Shmuel Wagner
I just received a Partner Talk brochure from you. On the backpage flap there is a story titled “Partner Encounters.” I want to share with you some of my own Partner Encounter stories. Some three years ago you set me up with a partner, Josh Feldman from Detroit. The two of us learned together for about a year and then he went off to learn in Eretz Yisrael without us ever meeting in person. You then set me up with a second partner, Larry Rubin from California. We’ve been learning together for about a year and a half, also without ever meeting in person. I want to make two points based on my experiences. First of all, both of the chavrusas that you set me up with were great matches — you guys should take your matching methodology and become shadchanim! Second of all, I have to admit that I do hope and believe that my chavrusas have gained much from the time that we’ve spent learning and schmoozing together, yet I can say confidently that I have certainly gained tremendously from our time spent together. I look forward to our learning time all week long. A few weeks back Larry told me that we’d be breaking for a few weeks because he would be off in Egypt on a work trip. He mentioned that he’d be taking a vacation from his work and meeting up with his wife, who is Israeli, in Eretz Yisrael for a few days. Well, while he was off in Egypt, my wife and I had the opportunity to go on vacation to Eretz Yisrael. I contacted Larry, and sure enough, the day that we would be landing in Eretz Yisrael was the one day on his trip that he’d be in Yerushalayim. And so after learning together for a year and a half, we finally met in the Old City of Yerushalayim. He and his wife and my wife and I enjoyed lunch together in the Rova. We made up that they’d come out to Lakewood for a Shabbos sometime in the future. Earlier that day I had gone off to learn in my alma mater, Yeshivas Mir, and while there I looked up an old chavrusa of mine — Josh Feldman, my original Partners in Torah chavrusa who is now learning a full day in Yeshivas Mir. How nice it was to meet with him, too. Now that Larry is back in California, our learning is back on track again! I want to thank all of you at Partners in Torah for this wonderful organization that you have created. May you all continue to spread the light of Torah throughout the world, and to see nachas from your work. Read more
RETURNING 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 more
MEGA 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 more
RIFKA, 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 more
NOT 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 more
AN 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 more
STICKING 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 more
KEEP 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 more
FINDING 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 more