Lev HaTorah Builds over 30 Sukkot for Needy Families in RBS
On Tuesday, October 7th, in conjunction with L’maan Achai (the community chessed organization of Ramat Bet Shemesh) our students built Sukkot for single- mother households as well as other needy residents of RBS who are unfortunately plagued by illness or monetary struggles. By day’s end, we had built over thirty Sukkot - a true accomplishment.  Baruch Hashem we were able to sit in our own Sukkot, enjoying the Chag, with the satisfaction that several of the less fortunate souls of our community were doing likewise.  Click here to view photo gallery.

A Simchat Bet HaShoeva in the Sukkah of Rav Machlis and Family – A True Simcha
On Thursday night of Chol HaMoed, Rav Machlis hosted the entire yeshiva along with all of Klal Yisrael at his enormous Sukkah in Maalot Daphna for his annual Simchat Bet HaShoeva celebration. The Shechinah was certainly hovering between the walls that night as the Machlis Sukkah pulsated with words of Torah, the rhythm of song, and the rumble of dancing feet. The super-human hachnasat orchim (hospitality) of the Machlis family was even warmer than the delicious meal. After they bid farewell to Rav Machlis and his family, many of the boys took advantage of the opportunity to go Simchat Bet HaShoeva hopping in Mea Shearim.  The Yeshiva provided programming throughout the Sukot vacation, which included ATVing through the Judean hills, and a trip to Ein Gedi.

A Rocking Hakafot Shniyot in Yeshiva
After a day of intense Hakafot, as is customary in Israel, Lev HaTorah kept the simcha going with Hakafot Shniyot (a wonderful tradition which was enjoyed by all the boys, no matter if they were keeping a one or two-day Yom Tov).  These Hakafot, like the first ones, were filled with energy and honor for the Torah. The boys danced around the Torah with tremendous fervor and sang the appropriate zemirot with sincerity and strength.A big Yasher Koach to the Lev band members, David Epstein (02-03’), Gavi Zeitlin (04’-05’, current madrich), and Yona Friedman (shana bet). Many of the members of the Ramat Shilo community joined the Yeshiva for Hakafot Shniyot.

Yom Chesed in Yerushalayim
As the Lev HaTorah tradition, before the beginning of the new zman of Yeshiva, the Talmidim spend a day in Yershalayim involved with Chessed Projects. The boys visited many places including, Chazon Yeshayahu soup kitchen, Karmei HaIr soup kitchen, Yad Eliezer, painting apartments with Livnot U’Lehibanot, Pninat Shloshet avot (old age home), Hadasah Ein Kerem and Shaarei tzedek hospital.  In the middle of the day we stopped off at Magen David Adom for a tour of their facilities and to prepare for the upcoming Blood drive. The day came to its grand finally with an evening of games, laughs, and songs with the boys from Sanhedriah Orphanage.  It is an unforgettable experience seeing the smiles on children who saw so much pain in their lives. Click here to view photo gallery.  To view the event on Beit Sanhedria’s website click here.

Klaf and Tefillin Factory, Torat Chaim Seminar
As part of our Thursday Torat Chaim Seminars (which are geared towards bringing Jewish law to life) we journeyed to the famous Klaf factory of Zanoah. (A Klaf factory is one which fashions the skins of cows into kosher parchment for use in Torahs, Mezuzahs, and Tefillin.) At the factory, we were privileged to watch the factory workers engage in some of the critical stages of the scroll-making process; for example, the stretching of the skin and the indenting of the lines for a Sefer Torah. After that, it was on to a Tefillin factory where we witnessed the formation of the Tefillin batim (boxes) first hand. To complement the hands-on learning, a sofer visited Lev and reviewed many of the laws of Tefillin. Both visits were eye-opening experiences, as we gained an appreciation for the sweat and skill that go into our “ordinary” objects of holiness. Click here to view photo gallery.

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