| Winter 2007 Newsletter
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MAJOR GENERAL AMIDROR SPEARHEADS AFYBA CAMPAIGN
American Friends of Yeshivot Bnei Akiva took great pride in bringing Major General (res.) Yaakov Amidror to the New York area to speak at three events on behalf of Yeshivot Bnei Akiva. The speaking engagements were held in Scarsdale, NY, hosted by Ellen and Michael Goldberg,  featuring a wine tasting event in their home, in the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, and in Lawrence, NY, in the home of Reva and Marty Oliner. Amidror rose through the ranks of the IDF, becoming a leading expert in strategic planning and military intelligence and currently serves as Vice President of the Lander Institute in Jerusalem. |
Over 200 guests listened and were captivated by the General’s overview of current events in the Middle East, with particular emphasis on matters of Military Intelligence. He lauded the constantly increasing percentage of Hesder and Mechina students (many of them graduates of YBA yeshivot) who become IDF officers, especially in frontline units. They currently constitute over 40% of the officer corps.
Special thanks to our dear friends and committee members for their efforts to help ensure the success of these events and to Rabbi Kenneth Hain of Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence, NY, Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of the YI of Lawrence Cedarhurst., and our board members. |
| GIVING MAKES YOU RICH Excerpts from an article by Arthur C. Brooks (Entrepreneur.com) |
In John Bunyan’s 1684 classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress, the character Galus says, “He that bestows his goods upon the poor/ Shall have as much again, and ten times more.” Emerging evidence, statistics from real data, supports the contention that giving stimulates prosperity, for both individuals and nations. Charity, it appears, can really make you rich…
“People do give more when they become richer – research has shown that a ten percent increase in income stimulates giving by about seven percent – but people also grow wealthier when they give more…”
“More giving doesn’t just correlate with higher income; it causes higher income. And not just a little.”
”Psychologists and neuroscientists have identified several ways that giving makes us more effective and successful. For example, new research from the University of Oregon finds that charity stimulates parts of the brain….which are associated with meeting basic needs such as food and shelter – suggesting …that our brains know that giving is good for us. Experiments have also found that people are elevated by others into positions of leadership after they are witnessed behaving charitably.”
“As in the case of individual income, the evidence is that increases in G.D.P. and giving mutually reinforce each other; economic growth pushes up charitable giving and charitable giving pushes up economic growth…. In short, giving plays a positive role in American economic growth. It is a good investment for our country. Some might even go so far as to say that donating to charity is a patriotic act.”
AFYBA invites you to invest in the future of Israel in a mutually beneficial relationship. What is good for Israel is good for you! |
THE ROTHSCHILD PRIZE AWARDED TO RABBI MOSHE WEKSLER
Rabbi Moshe Weksler, Rosh Yeshiva of YBA Bnei Brak awarded the Rothschild Prize
 This year’s Rothschild Prize for Education has been awarded to Rabbi Moshe Weksler, Rosh Yeshiva of YBA Bnei Brak, at the campus of Hebrew University, and in the presence of Israel’s Minister of Education, Prof. Yuli Tamir. For only the second time since the prize’s inception nineteen years ago, an Orthodox educator has been named recipient of the prestigious award. Educators demonstrating excellence, initiative and innovation within Israel’s educational system are considered for the prize, and Rabbi Weksler was chosen from a group of 80 leading school principals throughout the country!
The Prize Committee described Rabbi Weksler’s unique traits and achievements in a beautiful booklet published for this event. They noted that he is a visionary leader, a man of broad horizons both in Torah and general studies, who succeeded in causing a complete makeover of a school that was near to closing its doors 17 years ago. At the time, the yeshiva numbered only 100 students, with only 15% eligible for a high school diploma. Today, the yeshiva educates some 800 students, with a success rate of over 90%! At this time, the yeshiva is considered one of the best in the country. The Committee also praised Rabbi Weksler’s outstanding personality, which they believed was the key to his great success, impacting his students far past their high school years at the yeshiva.
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| YAGDIL TORAH |
Mr. Ben Lande teams with YBA to promote the study of Talmud
Palpable excitement recently filled the Beit Midrash at YBA Netiv Meir, together with the 450 students from 19 different yeshivot of the Yeshivot Bnei Akiva educational network. Project Yagdil Torah, originally launched at YBA Netiv Meir and sponsored by Torah patron, Mr. Ben Lande, has since rapidly expanded  throughout YBA’s yeshiva high schools. Mr. Lande is a semi-retired businessman from Chicago who currently resides in Israel throughout most of the year. Thanks to his initiative and generosity, the study of Talmud has been significantly strengthened.
The express goal of Yagdil Torah is the study of Talmud for its own merit, l’shma, rather than as a part of a required school curriculum. The challenge placed before the students: learning 50 daf (a two-sided page) of Talmud, in addition to the material studied in the yeshiva, and successfully passing a test on the subject matter. In this year’s celebration, 88 students were recognized for their outstanding achievements and awarded a beautiful set of the complete Shas, Talmud Bavli. More than 350 other students were also awarded sets of Jewish exegesis, in recognition of their efforts.
Standing at the helm of this truly outstanding endeavor was Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Felix, Director of Education at YBA. The distinguished speakers were Rabbi Chaim Druckman, Chairman of Mercaz YBA, Rabbi Chaim Sabato, YBA Netiv Meir graduate, renowned author, and Rosh Yeshiva in Maale Adumim, and Mr. Ben Lande, sponsor of Yagdil Torah, who, in his fiery style, congratulated the boys and declared that the future Roshei Yeshivot of YBA were present in that Beit Midrash. He then went on to join the hundreds of boys, with their Roshei Yeshivot, in song, dance and a true celebration of Torah.
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| Radio Kol Chai |
Israel Friends
of YBA recently held a successful radiothon
on behalf of the YBA Scholarship Fund,
raising NIS 500,000.
Scholarships will be awarded to students from 40 schools
this winter.
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| FIRST STEP TO NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS |
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BA Ulpana Netivot student takes
second place in international competition
Mor Tzaban, a 17 year-old senior at YBA Ulpana Netivot, seems to be on the fast track to a Nobel Prize in physics. After reaching the finals at the Young Scientists Competition held by INTEL, as well as a science competition at Weizmann Institute, Mor moved on to take second place in the International  First Step to Nobel Prize in Physics competition, where she competed with students from 76 different countries! This amazing accomplishment did not go unnoticed and Mor then received a special citation from the Minister of Education, Yuli Tamir.
Mor relates that her greatest moments of excitement and satisfaction took place each time her name and hometown were announced when called upon to present her work. “When I began my presentations the judges always asked with surprise if physics is studied in Netivot. I always answered with great pride – “Well, of course!” And, of course, everyone at YBA is extremely proud of Mor and her accomplishments. YBA’s initiative of expansion into development towns, such as Netivot, has demonstrated clearly the hidden talents that are uncovered there, and the wisdom of its educational vision.
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THE “GREEN” YESHIVA
YBA Sussya Plans Environmentally Friendly Campus |
YBA’s Environmental Yeshiva High School at Sussya in the South Hebron Hills is a veritable fountainhead of creativity and innovation. From its core concept of learning “Torah in nature’s classroom” and educating youngsters to love and know intimately the Land of Israel, to its exciting series of original, beautiful books focusing on various aspects of Israel’s geography and history, YBA Sussya continues to pioneer new frontiers in Jewish education.
The latest brainstorm of YBA Sussya’s leadership relates to their future campus. In line with the yeshiva’s basic philosophy regarding the centrality of our environment, the planned complex will reflect these principles in practice. For example, building materials will come from recycled sources when possible, the water on campus will be recycled for various uses and the electricity will come from nature, whether from the sun or from wind turbines which will generate power. The yeshiva has also recently completed the construction of its new Beit Midrash and looks forward to the new campus, with the support of the Ministry of Education.
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| YBA TO”M: CHAMPIONS ON AND OFF THE FIELD |
 Israel champion track team relinquishes participation in international competition due to religious discrimination
For many years running (literally and figuratively), YBA TO”M Youth Village near Hadera has produced Israel’s high school championship Track & Field teams. This year, the team was slated to participate in an international competition in Italy before Pesach. The prize ceremony was scheduled for the night of the Pesach Seder. All efforts to allow the team to participate in the competition, but not the ceremony, failed. Since the boys from TO”M would not compromise their beliefs, an alternate team from Israel was sent.
The leadership of YBA holds these boys in highest regard for their unwavering commitment and determination. The exclusion from the competition was extremely painful, following years of  participation in other athletic events around the world. But, they have demonstrated an understanding and maturity that clearly indicate what a long way they have come since making aliyah from Ethiopia, thanks to YBA TO”M.
This is what true champions are made of!
Newsflash! The Ministry of Education announced that YBA TO”M will soon be awarded the National Education Prize at a ceremony at the President’s residence. Stay “tuned” for the President’s presentation in our upcoming issue.
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| Planned Giving: Partnering for Mutual Financial Gains |
In appreciation of the continued support by our generous contributors, AFYBA has retained Mr. Glenn Gabin of Wealth Preservation Associates with his staff of tax and financial experts who will assist you to develop a customized financial plan, free of charge and with no obligation. This plan will maximize your current after-tax income and minimize your future tax exposure. As an expert in all fields of financial and estate planning, Mr. Gabin and his staff will be able to recommend the use of specialized trusts, cutting edge tax strategies, amendments to your wills, generation skipping techniques and investment options from tax deferred annuities to tax free life insurance investments plans and all other investments that will meet your specific needs.
As a result, AFYBA will receive needed financial support to our yeshivot, provided by the issuing carriers of the selected investments you elect to use, at no net cost to you. For only a small investment of your time, this confidential plan could be the most important step in reshaping your financial future and the future of AFYBA.
Mr. Gabin’s experience and expertise is second to none, a fact confirmed by his clientele which encompasses some 20% of the Fortune 100 companies and some of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
Remember, those who fail to plan, plan to fail!
Contact AFYBA as soon as possible and arrange your free consultation: 212-248-0471, AFYBA@verizon.net.
Help yourself while helping one of your favorite causes.
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| Shemitah Year at YBA |
 “For six years you may plant your fields, prune your vineyards and harvest your crops, but the seventh year is Sabbath of Sabbaths for the land.” Leviticus 25:3-4
During the Shemitah, or Sabbatical year, the Land of Israel must lay fallow. This Biblical commandment involves a vast array of laws and customs that have evolved over the centuries and preoccupies rabbinic authorities to this day. With the opening of the 5768 school year which coincides with the Shemitah year, Yeshivot Bnei Akiva launched a two-pronged campaign: first, an educational program in all the schools aimed at bringing awareness and understanding of this precept to our students and, second, the practical preparation of the schools to provide food products that meet the required standards. Both efforts were led personally by YBA Chairman, Rabbi Chaim Druckman. The book, Sod Haaretz, was an important educational tool utilized to make these ancient laws relevant and clear to YBA’s younger generation, living their lives in the modern Land of Israel.
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