HAMODIAC40

The annual secular studies fairat Bais Yaakov of Boro Park wasalways a reflection of the higheducational aspirations of ourprincipal, Mrs. Georgie Schorr. Itwas a synthesis of aesthetics,scholastics and technology, agoal-oriented project that pre-sented the work of more than onethousand students. Unfortunate-ly, this year, the fair, which wascoordinated by Mrs. Schorr, was atribute to her memory as well —as she was nifteres this pastShevat.

In the years that she led theEnglish department, many pro-grams were enhanced and manyinnovations were established.She expanded the school library,media center, science resourcesand resource room, for example,and initiated classroom libraries,computer/lab centers, and tradebook programs.

Mrs. Schorr was a shopper, asshe harnessed much funding andgovernment entitlement pro-grams; naturally, she adhered tothe state-mandated curricula, asshe felt confident that every frumchild had the potential andinnate desire to succeed andaccomplish. After nine years ofher leadership, the learning envi-ronment is strong and secure. Herprinciples of administering to theneeds of the holistic child havebeen engrained in the staff. Theschool has maintained its profes-sional reputation through herefforts, her predecessor’s efforts,and the efforts of the administra-tion, all of whom miss her pres-ence and impressive demeanor.Tehi zichrah baruch.

Bais Yaakov of Boro Park SailsThrough Time:

There was a feeling of excitement

permeating the air,

As Bais Yaakov students prepared

for their SS Fair.

Weeks were spent building, paint-

ing, doing research too,

It was remarkable to watch their

talents shine through.

Mrs. Schorr always advocated the

fair,

For she felt it benefited the stu-

dents each year.

It gave each child an opportunity to

excel,

As we’ve all witnessed so very well.

On February 26, their beautiful

projects were displayed,

And viewed by every single grade.

Parents and relatives were invited

too,

To “shep nachas” from all that their

children did do.

The auditoriums were decorated

beautifully by Mrs. Nissen and Miss

Cohen,

Who placed us all into a different

time zone.

Through “time” the children really

helped us sail,

As they portrayed different eras in

every detail.

The topics ranged from the Indians,

the Colonies, and Age of Exploration,

To the Intrepid, the Mayflower, and

the presidents of our nation.

Both American and European histo-

ry was included,

There was barely a topic that was

excluded.

The fair turned out to be a smash-

ing success,

For every child tried her best.

As people have always said far and

wide,

Of its teachers and students, Bais

Yaakov can take great pride!

(By Mrs. Gantz — 4th grade Teacher)

On Tuesday, February 26, 2008,Bais Yaakov of Boro Park held anamazing event. With the help ofmany teachers, students, anddevoted parents, the 4th- 8thgrades proudly presented theschool’s Social Studies Fair.

As I walked into the auditori-um, I could not believe my eyes.Loads of projects dotted the vastauditorium. I did not know where

to start! I walked past the beauti-ful model of the Empire StateBuilding, the eye-catching TwinTowers and the Ellis Island dis-play. Then I looked into a cellarfilled with shining jewels. Ienjoyed the England table, withits Queen Elizabeth, Big Ben,Fashion Shop and “Chunnel.”TheGedolim of England display wasreally interesting and beautiful.

Our class worked on theNative American time period.One group did longhouses androundhouses, by covering big bas-kets with fur.They made holes ontop to let out smoke from the“fires” inside. The second, whoportrayed hunting, fishing andplanting, decorated Indians aim-ing a cardboard bow and arrow atanimals, trees and grass, with anIndian holding a net and fishing,sitting at the edge of a pan filledwith blue jello and toy fish. Apitchfork and some other plant-ing tools were stuck through a

realistic-looking arrow sign.Indians stood near flowers. Asmall sign said, “The ThreeSisters,” and there stood corn,beans and squash. “Whenever Itell little boys about the three sis-ters, they get all upset — theywish it were the three brothers!”my principal joked.

The group that showed hownative Americans dressed creat-ed a lifelike Native American fig-ure, in a complete Indian cos-tume, with moccasins. My groupmade igloos out of marshmallowfluff, marshmallows and cotton.We built a huge tepee, withsmaller rows of tepees and a ‘fire’with people sitting around. It feltso good to show my mother all theprojects. All the endless hours ofeffort and hard work, truly paidoff. We all felt so proud to be partof such a wonderful school! Iwrite this article filled withpride!

(By C.M. Bergman - 4th Grader)

Bais Yaakov of Boro Park Annual Social Studies Fair

5 ADAR II 5768 Community MARCH 12, 2008

Rabbi Mordechai Becher Discusses Reaching Out

To the Non-ObservantBy Daniel Keren

Rabbi Mordechai Becher, sen-ior lecturer for Gateways andauthor of Shaar Press’s Gatewayto Judaism: The What, How andWhy of Jewish Life, spoke atCongregation Nachlas Yitzchok(Rav Oelbaum’s shul) in KewGarden Hills, Queens, onMotzoei Shabbos, February 23,about the obligation of all frumJews to become more involved inthe kiruv effort to bring non-reli-gious Jews back to Torah. Thelecture was sponsored by ProjectInspire and was dedicated to therefuah sheleimah of AishHaTorah’s founder and dean,Rabbi Noah Weinberg (RavYisroel Noach ben Hinda).

Rabbi Becher began his talkby referring to the Sifre’s com-ment on the passuk (Devarim32:4) that says, “Kel emunahv’ein avel.” Kel emunah meansthat Hashem is a G-d of faith.The Sifre explains that Hashembelieved in His world, and thenHe created it.

Without belief in something,Rabbi Becher noted, we are notgoing to create or invest in some-

thing. Every morning we sayModeh Ani, thanking Hashem forreturning our souls to us, and wesay “rabbah emunasecha.” This isusually translated as “Your faith-fulness is great,” but accordingto the Sifre, it might be translat-ed as “Your faith in us is great.”

The knowledge that Hashemhas faith in us should infuse uswith the capacity to have faith inourselves. Harav EliyahuDessler, zt”l, points out thatmany of the greatest aveiros inthe Jewish people’s history werethe result of incomplete belief inourselves. The sin of theMeraglim, for example, cameabout because the spies did notbelieve that the Jewish peoplehad the merit to conquer andenjoy the Promised Land.

Rabbi Becher said that RavYosef Ber Soloveitchik askedwhy believing in the chosennessof the Jewish People is notamong the Rambam’s 13Principles of Faith. His answer isthat this belief is embedded inthe 12th principle — to believein Moshiach. A belief in the com-ing of Moshiach means that webelieve all Jews will do teshuvah

at the end of time, so that abelief in Moshiach also means abelief in Klal Yisrael. RabbiBecher stated that Hashembelieves in us, which makes usworthy of tremendous siyattadiShamaya.

Rabbi Becher recalled thatwhen he was on the faculty ofOhr Somayach Yeshivah inYerushalayim, he once traveledto South Africa to lecture.During his stay when he went ona picnic outing with aJohannesburg Rav, they encoun-tered three backpackers. Therabbi waved to them and invitedthem over.

One of the backpackers said,“Kosher food! Haven’t had thatsince my bar mitzvah.” RabbiBecher referred to this asbageling — an attempt by aJewish person who does not havea very Jewish appearance toidentify himself to one who does,and to form a connection withhim.

Rabbi Becher’s South Africanhost invited the three backpack-ers to join their barbecue. One ofthe young men mentioned thathis sole connection to Judaism

was an “Ask the Rabbi” elec-tronic site to which he had beenemailing questions for the pasttwo years. It turned out thatRabbi Becher was the rabbi whohad been answering his ques-tions! The South African rabbigave the young man his card andinvited him to his synagogue inJohannesburg, the SunnyroadShul.

Two years later, Rabbi Becherwas back in South Africa foranother lecture series. While inshul, he was approached by aman with a beard and a yarmul-ke who asked, “Do you remem-ber me?” It was that same back-packer.

Rabbi Becher explained thatthere is more to this story thanthe obvious hashgachah pratisthat brought the two backpack-ers together with the rabbis.There is also the element of freewill, which the South Africanrabbi used when he invited theyoung man to his shul.

Rabbi Becher continued thatour obligation not to stand bywhen a fellow Jew is in troubleextends to spiritual trouble. TheTorah demands that we step in

when spiritual dangers confrontour brothers.

One need not be a kiruv pro-fessional to help non-religiousJews discover their preciousTorah heritage. One of the prob-lems of reaching out is non-frumJews’ stereotypical image of theOrthodox. “When we are friend-ly, when we smile, when we areopen, when we explain some-thing,” Rabbi Becher said, “thereis nothing better to eliminate[these] negative stereotypes.”

He called on all those in theaudience to sign up for a seriesof three workshops specificallydesigned to help members of thefrum community reach out moreeffectively to their non-frum rel-atives, neighbors and colleaguesat work. Project Inspire will con-duct this three-part kiruv semi-nar in Queens at the YoungIsrael of Kew Garden Hills onTuesday evenings — March 12,19 and 26.

For information on the semi-nar or to inquire about similarProject Inspire training pro-grams in your community, pleasecall (212) 391-6710, extension 23,or email jhedaya@aish.com.

Dept. of State Envoy to Address

UJO BreakfastBy the Friedlander Group

On Sunday, March 16, theUnited Jewish Organizations ofWilliamsburg’s AnnualLegislative Breakfast will takeplace at the ContinentalBallroom in Williamsburg,Brooklyn. The goal of the break-fast is to bring together a dis-tinguished array of communal,religious, political, governmen-tal and civic leaders to expresssupport for the thrivingWilliamsburg community andespecially the crucial role UJOhas played in facilitating its

growth and success.This year’s breakfast will be

dedicated to the theme of com-bating anti-Semitism and theimportance of protecting thesanctity of cemeteries. TheUJO, under the leadership ofits dynamic president RabbiDavid Niederman, works vigi-lantly to represent the interestsof the community concerningthese issues, working closelywith government to ensure thatthese fundamental liberties areprotected in every facet of daily

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