Agudath Israel Visits Ohr David

Slightly ahead of the East Coast snowstorms, they arrived in Yerushalayim for the fourth annual Agudath Israel Yarchei Kallah program. Every year, religious businessmen and professionals take time from work to learn for a week in Israel as a show of solidarity. They participate in an intensive program of shiurim delivered by prominent Rabbonim and Maggidei Shiur. This year, as in the past, some participants agreed to take part in a panel discussion in Yeshivat Ohr David on the topic: “Being a Ben-Torah in the Workplace.”

For the past 23 years, Yeshivat Ohr David of Yerushalayim has specialized in educating post high-school students from day schools and suburban Yeshivos. The student body now numbers 35 with plans to expand enrollment to 50 students for the Fall session. Its loyal alumni comprise over 500 students. Since most of the Yeshiva’s students eventually become professionals or business people, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yosef Granofsky, a graduate of Yeshiva University and talmid of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, felt that the students’ exposure to religious businessmen and professionals, while still in yeshiva, would help prepare the students for the challenges of a working environment. “Ohr David is not a Yeshiva for a year, but rather a platform for the rest of the boys’ lives; therefore, this panel is very useful as a lesson for the boys,” he declared.

His sentiments were echoed by the Menahel of Ohr David, Rabbi Langsam who said, “I try to arrange this every year to let the boys see where they are headed and to show them that they can be successful in the so called ‘Real World’ as Torah Jews.”

Participants in the panel discussion included; Dr. David Diamond, a pediatrician and chairman of the panel; Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger, head of a major software company geared to the health field as well as a daf yomi magid shiur; Mr. Chaim Leshkowitz, an attorney and practicing CPA as a partner in an accounting firm; Dr. Irving Lebovics, a Los Angeles dentist and chairman of Agudath Israel of California; and Rabbi Yosef Chaim Golding, Managing Editor of the Jewish Observer and a co-founder of JEP.

Each of the panelists emphasized a different aspect of the Ben-Torah’s relationship to the workplace. Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger observed that the alert Ben-Torah learns quickly that G-d is in charge because efforts expended in business are not necessarily reflected in the results.

Dr. Lebovics concentrated on the importance of maintaining a connection with one’s Rebbe. He related how, after consulting with his Rebbi, he opposed the Mayor of Los Angeles on a bill the Mayor strongly favored. The Mayor later told him that while he was upset that Dr. Lebovics had opposed the legislation, he would have lost all respect for Agudath Israel, if he had supported the bill.

Mr. Leshkowitz described how maintaining the morals and values acquired in the yeshiva, can help one become a walking Kiddush Hashem. A man once related that he was seated next to a gentile client of Mr. Leshkowitz on a plane. Since he was wearing a yarmulke, the client remarked to him that as a result of his association with Mr. Leshkowitz, he had come to associate the yarmulke with integrity.

Rabbi Golding stressed the importance of seeking the advice of one’s Rabbeim before embarking on any major undertaking. He described how he used his Rebbe’s advice to help start JEP and other programs geared to help Jewish children.

All the panelists agreed that, for a Ben-Torah, choosing right over wrong would lead to professional, as well as moral, success.

The impact of the panel discussion on the students of Ohr David was summed up by R’ Yechezkel Karfiol, a Rebbe at Ohr David: “The response of the boys told us that this was a successful panel discussion. That night, during night seder, they had great questions for us. Some even tended to have a different outlook on life. It was a tremendous experience for them.”

Some of the students who participated shared their view of the forum. Boruch Jankowitz of Brooklyn, a talmid at Ohr David said: “It was a real boost for me to put more effort in my learning because I saw how important it is from another angle.” A second year student at Ohr David, Binyomin Karr of Hewlitt concluded: “It gave me encouragement to attend Yeshiva, as well as college, when I get back to America.

R’ Yossie Friedman, director of admissions and a Rebbi in the Yeshiva, observed: “These successful religious professionals impressed the boys not only with their experience and insights, but also by graciously extending themselves to come to Ohr David to meet with the boys. We are very grateful to them”.

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