Kol Yisrael Areivim

Ohr Torah Stone was presented with a special prize from the Israeli Ministry of Defense in recognition of its exceptional efforts in providing temporary shelter for refugees from Israeli’s northern communities during last summer’s Second Lebanon War. “We teach our students that all of Israel is responsible for one another, said Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. “So it was only natural for us to rise to the national challenge of helping others in desperate need.”

Pictured, left to right: IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Recognition Committee chairman Benny Gaon, OTS Director General Yinon Ahiman, Arik Wurtzberger, principal of the OTS Jacob Sapirstein Boys High School.

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin addresses a “Lunch and Learn” session at the law offices of Drache, LLP in Ottawa, Canada.

Adam Katz, surrounded by students from the Neveh Shmuel High School, at the dedication of the Katz Dining Hall.

A Shabbat to Remember

A lively Shabbaton on the Israel Henry Beren Campus provided plenty of big-brother mentoring time for participants in OTS’ Darkaynu Program for young men with developmental disabilities. The Darkaynu students, who are “sidestreamed” with post-high school overseas students at Yeshivat Gush Etzion, enjoyed learning, singing and sports activities with one-year post-university students from Yeshivat Hamivtar Orot Lev.

A Salute to Hadas

Two young women from OTS’s Hadas Program, which combines Torah study and service in the Israel Defense Forces, joined Maj. Gen. Elazar Stern, Director of Personnel for the IDF, at a recent reception for Hadas at the New York home of Ralou and Ron Stern. Shani Frankel and Talia Gordis, both 21, have completed officer’s training and signed on for a third year of service - Shani as a commander of new immigrant soldiers and Talia as a researcher in the Intelligence Corps. After Stern stated that the army should be a place where all Israelis meet, the soldiers described the challenges and experiences of being a young religious woman in the IDF – and the important role that Hadas plays in giving religious girls the tools and self-confidence to integrate into the IDF.

Pictured right to left: Stanley and Raine Silverstein, Talia Gordis, Shani Frankel.