Good Erev Shabbat to all!
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Baruch Hashem, the Hebrew Academy of West Queens Annual Dinner was a beautiful and inspiring evening. We would like to express Hakarat HaTov to the Dinner Chairmen, Mr. & Mrs. Amnon Fayziev , the honorees, and the administration for all their efforts making the dinner such a big success. Also, thanks to all our supporters who came in person and to those who contributed in the beautiful dinner journal.
The evening was enhanced with uplifting words of Torah and Chizuk by Rav Avraham Benhaim, Shlita of Congregation Magen Avraham, as well Rav Yitzhak Yehoshua, and Rav Shlomo Nisanov. The award to the Levine family was presented by our own Rav Mordechai Hecht, Shlita.
he Alumna of the Year award was presented to Dr. Siller, by Rav Leibel Rockove of Congregation Nachlas Avos. Dr. Siller was recognized for serving as an exemplary role model for HAWQ students for achieving outstanding success in both the Torah and secular worlds. Her dedication to the field of mental health in the Torah community was also noted. The crowd was very touched by her fond memories of her years at HAWQ.
The theme of the evening was that Every Jewish Child Deserves a Torah Education. This theme was highlighted by the Nisanov and Wallach families, whose sons, Natanel and Yaakov, were able to overcome early academic difficulties, and in HAWQ achieve acceptance into the highly regarded Yeshiva High Schools, Mesivta Atares Yaakov (Southshore) and Chofetz Chaim in Kew Garden Hills. It was also emphasized that Yaakov’s and Natanel’s success was made possible by the partnership that was forged between the Yeshiva and the parents working together.
Another powerful lesson of the evening was a thought expressed by Mr. Martin Levine, whose father was a founder and first president of HAWQ. How the efforts of one individual could still be reaping benefits more than four decades later!
Since this week’s Parsha contains the third paragraph of Kriat Shema, let me take the liberty to express a short idea from the first paragraph of Shema that relates to this year’s Dinner. The Pasuk states that you should teach Torah to your children (V’shenanta l’vanecha) when you are sitting at home and when you go on your way (B’shivticha B’baitecha u V’lechtecha Baderech). The prefix "bet" is translated as meaning "when". The Torah is giving a time frame when to study. However, if we understand the "bet" as "through" the Pasuk takes on new meaning. Teach Torah "through" the way you conduct yourself, whether at home or outside the home. The most powerful tool we can utilize to teach Torah to others is the example we set and how we live our lives. Certainly, this important lesson can clearly be learned from this year’s worthy honorees, whose outstanding accomplishments are an inspiration
Shabbat Shalom!
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