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Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchok/Torah Institute of Baltimore Hosts 58th Anniversary Banquet
By Isaac Draiman Photos Credit:Eli Greengart
Posted on 03/03/11 | Comments (0)
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 3 - On Tuesday evening, March 1, 26 Adar I, Torah Institute of Baltimore hosted their annual banquet, celebrating fifty eight years of chinuch in the Baltimore community.
Rabbi Boruch Neuberger, member of the Vaad Hachinuch and the Executive Board, chaired the event. He opened the event by welcoming those who were attending, and thanking the rebbeim who give so much to the children day in and out, and those who worked so hard to make the evening possible.
Rabbi Neuberger elaborated on the admirable relationship between the Cheder's Menahel, Rabbi Eliezer Eisgrau; the president, Rabbi Hillel Tendler; and the Vaad Hachinuch, led by Harav Nosson Nussbaum, shlita. Rabbi Eisgrau and Rabbi Tendler work hand in hand on a daily basis, with every step under the guidance of the Vaad Hachinuch.
Rabbi Hillel Tendler, president, remarked that fifty-eight is the numerical value of the word “chein”, which represents the joy that emanates from the understanding that there is nothing richer than a life as an eved HaShem. “Tonight we are celebrating “chein” years of building children to serve HaShem with joy.”
He mentioned the founder of the cheder, Harav Yitzchok Sternhell, zt”l, who established the Cheder and found joy in serving HaShem even after the Holocaust. Rabbi Tendler urged the attendees to continue to support and stand by the Cheder while it provides chinuch to the children of Baltimore.
Following Rabbi Tendler's remarks, Harav Sheftel Neuberger, shlita, Menahel of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, presented an award to Rabbi and Mrs. Ariel Sadwin, who were honored with the Community Service - Parents of the Year Award. Rabbi Sadwin is the founding director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of Agudath Israel of America, where he is at the forefront of protecting the rights of Orthodox Jews and representing interests of individuals and Torah organizations in state government. In just a few short years, he has opened doors for the community and made a kiddush HaShem in the halls of government. The Sadwins home is open to all and they are raising their children in the atmosphere of Torah, avodah and gemilus chassadim.
Rabbi Yosef Berger, Rav of Kehillas Kol Torah, presented an award to Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Gordon, who were honored with the Shearis Hapleita - Parents of the Year Award. Despite a busy professional life, Dr. Gordon makes time to attend shiurim and sedorim and to be involved with his shul. In their unique, quiet and unassuming manner, the Gordons have given of themselves to many chessed causes in the community and serve as role models to many families. They have raised a family committed to Torah, yiras shamayim, and middos tovos, and the Cheder is very proud to count this wonderful family as part of their family.
Harav Nosson Nussbaum, shlita, presented an award to Rabbi Dovid Meister, who was honored with the Rabbi Yitzchok Sternhill Memorial Award for his thirty six years as principal of the general studies department. Rabbi Nussbaum described how the Cheder was established by a group of individuals who had survived the Holocaust and wished to teach Torah the way that it was taught in Europe before the War. For about twenty years, the students attended secular classes in the afternoon at Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim/Talmudical Academy. In 1973, with only three weeks left until the start of the school year, that arrangement was disbanded. At that crucial time, Rabbi Meister stepped up, and at great personal sacrifice, built an entire secular studies department in a period of a few short weeks. Since then, Rabbi Meister has maintained his position and developed this department with diligent and loving deliberation. Together with his eishes chayil, the Meisters have built a home filled with limud haTorah and renowned for chessed, and have raised a beautiful family of continuing generations of ovdei HaShem. Rabbi Meister never closed his Gemara, and always continued with a strong learning schedule. He is now returning to full time learning.
Representing the student body, Shlomo Zalman Skulnick, an eighth grader at the Cheder, presented Rabbi Meister with a beautiful scroll signed by every talmid in second through eighth grade in recognition of Rabbi Meister's contributions to the Cheder.
On pre-recorded video, the honorees accepted their awards and discussed the beautiful accomplishments of the Cheder, the inspiring atmosphere that permeates its walls, and how the Cheder has made a great impact on their own lives.
It was a beautiful evening that left the attendees with a deep sense of a appreciation for this vibrant makom Torah that is in their midst.
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