Subject: Yeshiva Ateres Shmuel Yeshiva of Waterbury Fundraising Campaign - Dinner coming up. Even if you can't contribute please take the time to read. Thanks!
bs"d
Dear Friends and Family, amv"sh
Dinner time for Yeshiva Ateres Shmuel is once again here. Our family has had first hand knowledge of the amazing energy and spirit of this Yeshiva.
I was listening to Rav Alon Anava on a youtube on the Parsha today. He described a guy who attended shul on occasion who went to his Chabad Rabbi and told him. "Rabbi" I have some news for you but I don't think you'd like it so much. I'm getting married." Of course the Rabbi asked him why this was disappointing news, Lehefech, the opposite. As you probably guessed, the guy then told him that the girl is not Jewish. The Rabbi was at a loss as to what to tell the guy. He knew trying to dissuade him would fall on deaf ears. So he told the guy. I'm not trying to talk you out of it but how about taking a trip to the Lubavitche Rebbe and see what he has to say.
They came to 770 to where the Rebbe was giving out dollars. The guy told the Rebbe that he was engaged to a non Jew. The Rebbe looked at him and told him "I'm jealous"
This wasn't exactly the response the guy was expecting. He asked the Rebbe why the Rebbe was jealous of him. The Rebbe replied. G-d is giving you an unbelievable chance to get close to Hashem. I don't even have that chance. He explained. G-d is giving you a choice as to whether you wish to get close to Him or not. It's your decision. I don't have your struggle. I don't have the same Yetzer Hara. The way to get close to G-d is by choosing. Only you have such an opportunity.
Sure enough a few weeks later the guy broke the engagement.
In that story I saw the beauty of Waterbury. These guys have chosen to come close to G-d. They have had highs and lows. They are not going about their business, praying, learning Torah and keeping Torah and Mitzvoth in a routine manner. Yet they are acutely aware that their connection to Hashem is lacking. That alone is a true sign of Teshuva says Rabbi Anava.
We who are not experiencing their struggle are jealous!
Our Torah, our davening, our routine is in comparison somewhat empty, void of exuberance, longing and struggle. We do what we have to do. but the deep and intense yearning to be close to Hashem is missing....That only comes when you realize that you don't have it and desperately want to change. Only then do we have the golden opportunity to get close to Hashem.
So here is our opportunity. Being MeZakeh others, to enable others, to get a new lease in life. To choose life...and maybe just maybe that energy and that yearning and desire for closeness to Hashem will also rub off on us.
The Spirit of Yeshiva of Waterbury, also known as Ateres Shmuel, goes way beyond the walls of the Yeshiva.
Two recent examples.
I went with my teenage daughter to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Conference in the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan. There were over 40 Yeshivas and day schools represented. Several hundred projects. There were winners in Robotic 1st 2nd 3rd place, and for best STEM Project, 1st 2nd 3rd place and best school for STEM 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place for Schools with up to 20 projects, then for schools with under 10 projects etc. As they were announcing the winners, my daugher remarked that the winners were too nonchalant. They didn't seem super excited....That is until the Bais Yaakov of Waterbury won 3rd Place! You should have seen the tremendous excitement that teacher had getting that trophy! Was She excited! She was going nuts...Now that's more like it thought my daughter...That energy, that enthusiasm was contagious! and I thought to myself. "No wonder...She is coming from Waterbury..."
Then I went to the Israel Day Concert in the Park. There was lots of great music. Everyone was dancing and enjoying the music! But there was one red haired kid that just stuck out in the crowd. He was wearing the typical jeans, tshirt wearing airconditioned Tzizit on top of his clothes and he was dancing with all his heart and soul and just kept on dancing and dancing in the rain over a wide area of grass. His heart and soul on fire, full of joy, soaring. Hashem Melech, Anachnu Maaminim, Yisroel BeTach BaHashem. Nothing got him to stop and somebody looked at me and said "He's from Waterbury" as if I couldn't guess it myself!
So those are my stories...Thank you for reading them. May we all be zocheh to experience the energy, the life the exuberance and the Simcha Shel Mitzvah and Ahavas Yisroel and Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas Torah as do the students, faculty, community of Waterbury now Durham.
Please join us to pay tribute to this school that does so much and can and is changing the world to be a much better place.
Sincerely Robin Ticker
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