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Erev Rosh Hashana
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September 19, 2009 |
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Ksiva v'Chesima Tovah! Take your pick- Torah from a Rebbe or from an alumnus or from both! Rabbi Cheplowitz delivered a community mussar shmooze in Milwaukee this
week that I am attaching the link for you to download it here.
In addition, this edition includes an article written by Rabbi Akiva Males for his local Jewish newspaper that discusses a lesson he learned at WITS- a must read!
New Year's Resolutions in September
By Rabbi Akiva Males (Class of 1992)
In the fall of 1988, I began a new chapter in my life. It had been almost a year since I delivered my Bar Mitzvah speech in my family's warm suburban synagogue, and just a few months after I completed eighth grade at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland - the Jewish day school I had attended since pre-kindergarten.
That fall, I was a freshman settling into the dormitory of the Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study (WITS) - a Yeshiva High School in Milwaukee, WI where the next four years would pass far too quickly.
In these few lines, I cannot adequately describe the camaraderie, Jewish learning, and new experiences that would be an integral part of my high school years on the shores of Lake Michigan. However, I would like to share one episode of that first fall semester that I will never forget.
It was September, and we could all sense the rapidly changing season. The leaves were starting to color, we watched deer gracefully dart through the Yeshiva's property and disappear into the woods. We had also enjoyed a Rosh Hashanah holiday unlike any we had known in our hometown synagogues. We had less than a week of Yeshiva remaining until Yom Kippur - after which we would return to our homes across the USA and celebrate the Succos holiday together with our families.
Aside from being the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah also begins the period known as the Asseres Yemei Teshuvah / Ten Days of Repentance which culminate with Yom Kippur. Rabbi Powers - our ninth grade Talmud instructor - explained that according to Jewish tradition, G-d welcomes our sincere return to Him throughout the year. However, it is these ten days of the Jewish calendar that are most conducive to approach, reconnect, and rebuild our relationships with G-d.
Although we had only known Rabbi Powers for a few weeks, my classmates and I felt a strong connection to him. He had an infectious smile, a sense of unbridled enthusiasm, and a palpable sense of concern for each of his young charges.
In the spirit of the Ten Days of Repentance, Rabbi Powers asked us each to take out a pen and paper so that we could embark on a learning experience together. He asked us to spend a minute or two in thought and then compile a private list of what we would each like to change about ourselves in the coming year in order to become a better Jewish person.
While I have no recollection of the items I came up with, I will never forget that day's lesson. After a few minutes, Rabbi Powers asked us to look over our lists and cross off half the items. We were puzzled by his request. Why did he put us through the effort of compiling a lengthy New Year's resolution list if we were just going to cross off half ? However, Rabbi Powers had earned our trust, so we followed his instructions.
He then asked us to do the unthinkable - cross out half the items remaining. We were perplexed, and a murmuring could be heard. Most of our lists were left with only one or two items of possible self-improvement. (One classmate from Chicago whispered to me, since his list was already so short, he now had nothing left to improve about himself.)
Rabbi Powers quieted the room and went on to explain that our Talmudic sages had long ago taught: "Tofasta Merubah Lo Tofasta / if one attempts to take hold of too much, he takes hold of nothing." The reason why most of us never carry through with our New Year's resolutions is that we have taken on too great an assignment. While it is important to dream big, as human beings, it is crucial that we remain realists.
While more than twenty years have passed since that morning's lesson, it is one which I try to remember each year at this time. Self-improvement is a difficult business that goes against our basic nature. In order to experience the satisfying taste of success, our resolutions need to be realistic; and we need to be careful not to bite off more than we can chew.
We are currently in the midst of the Ten Days of Repentance. There is no period in the Jewish calendar more conducive to spiritual renewal than now. When it comes to rebuilding our individual relationships with G-d, we all have some work to do. By setting realistic goals for ourselves, we stand the best chance of achieving the outcomes we desire.
Rabbi Akiva Males is the spiritual leader of Kesher Israel Congregation in Harrisburg, PA. He can be reached at rabbimales@yahoo.com
There is a new site to keep you updated with the Alumni Sefer Torah campaign as it progresses, click here to go
to it and see the brand new video that is currently up at alumnitorah.com.
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Mazel Tov to Yehuda and Rachel (Schnur) Salamon (Class of 2001) on their wedding.
Mazel Tov to Dovid Levy (Class of 1996) on his engagement to Esther Leibman.
Mazel Tov to Shua and Tzipporah Meltzer (Bais Medrash) on the birth of a boy.
Mazel Tov to Tzvi and Tybi Ray (Class of 1989) on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Yechiel Michel.
Mazel Tov to Aron and Leah Rubenstein (Class of 1999) on the birth of a boy.
Mazel Tov to Rabbi Duvi and Caryn Kramer (Bais Medrash) on the birth of a grandson.
 Donate $18 to WITS in honor of a lifecycle. E-mail me at alumni@witsyeshiva.com which lifecycle the donation is in honor of. |
 Reunions
You may have read about the exciting class reunion of the Class of 1999 in the last newsletter. Reunions are not limited to ten year reunions; so please contact me at alumni@witsyeshiva.com if you are interested in helping to organize a reunion for your class. |
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Alumni Scholarship Campaign 2009-2010
Thank you for helping us reach a record $143,000 in alumni donations in 2008-2009.
The WITS Alumni monthly giving club is up to 52 members. Help us reach our goal of 75 by the end of the year.
The Alumni Scholarship Campaign for 2009-2010 is continuing. September is the best time to jump on board and decide what you are able to give for the year. Alumni have given approximately
$10,100 since August and the goal is
$150,000 by August of 2010.
There are three funds that support scholarships:
· The Adina Kader Scholarship Fund
· The Debbie Rennert Scholarship Fund
· The Alumni Scholarship Fund.
There are four main levels of contribution:
- Freshman Level: $25 month/$300 one time
- Sophomore Level: $50 month/$600 one time
- Junior Level: $100 month/$1200 one time
- Senior Level: $150 month/$1800 one time
Please make your alumni contribution for the year and decide how to designate it and support WITS' present and future. Please support our goals and the initiative to increase the amount of monthly giving members from 52 to 75 by the end of the year. The donation page can be found here. You can make a one-time donation or monthly at this site.
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 Chavrusah
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| Thank you for staying connected! |
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Jay Hellman |
WITS Alumni Director
(414)963-9317 x124
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The Mach-WITS-a shekel automatic Monthly campaign is back! We currently have 52 monthly members at amounts ranging from $10 a month to $300 a month. Help us reach our goal of 75 total members for the year. Click here to sign up! We know you want to see WITS on your credit card statement every month! Make Paypal your pal! !
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Shabbos Sponsorships 
Are you looking to do something special in honor or in memory of a loved one or someone special to you? You can help make a Shabbos special for the talmidim at WITS by sponsoring
-An Oneg Shabbos for $100
-A Shabbos Kiddush for $180
-A Shalosh Seudah for $360
-A Shabbos Day or Night Seudah for $540
-A Festive Yom Tov Seudah- $750
-All three Shabbos Seudahs for $1250
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Shabbos in WITS 
Have you been back to WITS recently? Contact me at alumni@witsyeshiva.com and I will try and make arrangements for you to spend a Shabbos at WITS. I can arrange for you to stay by one of the Rebbeim. Get away and come back! |
Focus on Alumni
Nominate a fellow alumnus(or yourself) you know for focus on alumni at alumni@witsyeshiva.com
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| ALUMNI ADS
- Josh Wolf (Class of 1993)- Interest rates are at all time low!Contact me at joshlobo@aol.com for any mortgage questions that you may have
- Dovid Brafman (Bais Medrash)- 25% off Artscroll Books, 30% of profits go to WITS- (917) 696-7697, also selling lulav and esrogim, 30% profits got to WITS- dbesrogim@gmail.com
- Mordy Birnbaum (Class of 1998)- Beautiful arrangements and baskets delivered throughout ISRAEL. Seminary and Yeshiva students our specialty.Also for Shalom Zachor and Kiddush or any occasion-www.rddbaskets.com
- contact at (773) 942-1250
- Rabbi Yerachmiel Askotsky (Class of 1983)- Sofer- sofer@stam.net
- Yanky Berkovitz (Bais Medrash)- Commercial and Residential Insurance-jacobberkovitz@yahoo.com
- Tzvi Noble (Bais Medrash)- Jewelry at www.noblejewels.net
- Steve Askotzky (Class of 1985)- Personalized silver and gold jewelry at www.wow-imports.com
E-mail me at alumni@witsyeshiva.com to be listed.
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