Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

1)         This week at Midreshet Moriah

2)         Faculty Dvar Torah – Rabbi Ari Shvat

3)         Mazal Tov

4)         Mi SheBerach

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This Week at Midreshet

Welcome back Midreshet 5772!

Pesach was a time to relax and experience Israel in the beautiful Chol HaMoed weather we had. For the students who returned to their homes in America, Canada, England and South Africa, it was a chance to enjoy family and friends "back at home". We're happy now to be back together and begin this zman with a tiyul by our very own Zev Orenstein from the David Project. We heard a "security briefing" in Gilo, overlooking the security fence at "the green line" and then had an inspiring tour at Har HaZeitim. We finished the day at Emek Tzurim at the site where archaeologists are sifting through Temple Mount dirt (years and years and layers and layers of history) All in all, it was a great way to reconnect with Israel and each other.

Wednesday night/Thursday was Yom HaShoah. We heard two testimonies from survivors - Rabbi Shaya Seidenfeld on Wednesday night and Rena Quint, Thursday morning. We learned about questions that Jews asked their Rabbis from their life in the ghetto - about Pesach and how to observe halacha in the poverty and danger in which they lived. In the afternoon we joined the Emunah Women's program in Rechavia where we heard the life story of a survivor who escaped via the route of Shanghai. Our own students (Dassie Goldman and Cece Muhlstein) participated by lighting 2 candles in honor of the 6 million Jews who perished.

Classes resume Thursday evening and we are looking forward to next week's Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration!

See the latest photos on our website: http://midreshetmoriah.com/galleries/

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Make it Count

Rav Ari Shvat

We read in this week's parsha about the counting of the seven days of tum'ah that the metzora must wait until he is tahor, or until he needs to be checked again by the Kohen to ascertain his status. This mitzvah of counting days sounds especially "familiar" this time of year when we count the days of the omer between Peach and Shavu'ot. We are also familiar with counting the days of impurity of tum'at met, and nidah and others, and the question is, what is the importance and significance of all of these "day-countings"?

We can explain that all of our days are numbered, and we have no idea whether we will live until 120, or chas v'shalom, as we commemorate on Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron, often a life is ended suddenly by a tragic accident, war, or the like.

Every day, especially as we prepare for matan Torah on Shavu'ot, we must remember that even when we are young, and kal vachomer as we grow older, our days are numbered, and we must make the most out of each and every day. Every day is a gift that we can either use for tahara, growing and learning, or chalila, tum'a.

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l, when asked to daven for a particular person, would not go to the kever of R. Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron, or the Rambam's grave in Teveriah or even the Ma'arat HaMachpela, but would ask his taxi driver to stop on his way to Yeshivat Kol Torah by the military cemetery of Har Herzl, (right across the street from Midreshet Moriah!), to daven by the holy soldiers who altruistically gave their lives for the Land, State and People of Israel, saying, there is no holier graves than theirs!

Let us appreciate and count each and every moment, not only for ourselves but for those k'doshim who voluntarily shortened and gave their lives so that we can have ours.

With Love of Israel,

Rav Ari Shvat

Shabbat Shalom

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Mazel Tov!               

Engagements:

Allie Ratner ('07-'08) and Simon Brookim  

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael  

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Mi SheBerach List

We have started a new list. Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add.  

Names added this week:

For complete 5772 list, please go to: http://midreshetmoriah.com/alumnae/?id=464