The Chanukas Habayis was an opportunity for the organization to express its sincerest hakaras hatov to Star- K Certification for their very generous lead capital gift, to the several extremely generous individuals whose serious capital commitments allowed for the purchase of the Lev Shlomo building, and to the anonymous previous owner who paid the mortgage, interest and taxes for five years and then sold it to CBMI for the same price he paid for it five years prior.

Many of CBMI’s dedicated supporters were in attendance at the event which gave them the opportunity to see, up close, the beautiful building which serves as the hub for CBMI/ Lev Shlomo’s operation. The event also served as a platform to inform the community of the vital role CBMI & Lev Shlomo plays in caring for the youth of the Baltimore community and to thank the generous individuals that enable the organization to carry out that role.
 

Rabbi Aryeh Zigdon, founder and director of CBMI began by introducing Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, shlita, both in his capacity as a Rav in the community as well as head of the Star-K, to address the gathering.  Rabbi Heinemann gave over a powerful lesson from the Chofetz Chaim of the importance of first and foremost prioritizing the needs of the young men in the community and that the Hakaras Hatov to the Star-K comes only after that is taken care of.

Rabbi Zigdon then thanked his friend and colleague, Rabbi Shaya Kohn. Together Rabbi Zigdon and Rabbi Kohn work daily as rabbeim, parents, mentors, and friends to the hundreds of boys affiliated with CBMI/Lev Shlomo. He expressed how crucial the acquisition of this building was as it showed the boys that the community cares about each and every one of them and is willing to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars for them to have their own “home”.

Rabbi Zigdon beamed with pride as he related how the boys themselves rallied together to put the building together for the upcoming Chanukas Habayis. Boys stayed up until 1:30 am Motzaei Shabbos painting, shlepping, cleaning and setting up. He gave a special thanks to Yitzy Ezra for a superb paint job and to Yitzy Seidel and Yakov Rosen who, aside from cooking the food, catered the entire event themselves.  He pointed out how the entire building, in general, is cared for by the boys themselves, so each boy takes pride and personal responsibility to maintain the proper environment.  He shared the nachas of seeing the alumni of the Yeshiva who have married and are raising their families as true ovdei Hashem.  

Dr. Avrom Pollak, President of the Star-K was introduced next and he related how when he first met with Rabbi Zigdon, he did not know of the organization at all. However, he was so moved by Rabbi Zigdon’s dvarim hayotzim min halev (words that emanate from the heart, enter the heart) that he not only contributed, but requested to become a full-fledged Board Member and partake in perpetuating this vital mission.

Rabbi Zigdon ended by thanking the Star-K for being their largest and most consistent benefactor who on top of their significant capital pledge, continues to fund the majority of the Project Build Summer Extreme program annually. He also expressed his tremendous hakaras hatov to all those who continue to make CBMI/Lev Shlomo possible including their amazing Program Directors and faculty, Rabbi Baruch Leff, Rabbi Dovid Meyer and the many others who dedicate themselves to the success of the young men that walk through Lev Shlomo’s doors.

Rabbi Zigdon acknowledged the presence of the dedicated Rabbonim from the community and from Yeshivas Ner Yisrael and thanked them for their constant guidance, support and availability. Lastly, a deep and heartfelt thanks was given to the CBMI Board Members, and most importantly to Rebbetzins Zigdon and Kohn who make it possible for their husbands to do the work that they do, as well as serve as mothers to so many of the boys and host them almost every Shabbos.

To learn more about the vital work CBMI/ Lev Shlomo does for the Baltimore community and to find out how you can be a partner in this vital mission please visit their website www.cbminstitute.net and/or email office@cbminstitute.net.