A Wonderful, Inspiring Start

Shabbat's Yeshiva Shabbaton lived up to my (afore-posted) expectations, and certainly whetted my desire for more. It succeeded on two levels. It brought together over 600 alumni who were inspired and began to be galvanized to serve as Torah UMadda's troops and advocates in Israel. (In Israel, we call that גיבוש.) In addition, and more importantly, I was deeply moved (as were the members of my family), by Yeshiva's revitalized connection to Israel and to the advancement of Torah UMadda here, for the greater glory of God, Torah and the Jewish People. President Richard Joel, in particular, made it very clear just how profoundly he feels that commitment and wishes to find ways to express is tangibly. He is clearly the right man at the right time.

Now, the challenge lies before both him and before us. Followup is the name of the game. If all of the good will and belief that were expressed during Shabbat (and throughout the week's symposia) are harnessed, then this Shabbat will come to be seen as a significant point in the creation of the Orthodoxy that Israel so desperately needs, and has never had. הלואי