Thousands Celebrate Purim with Yachad With Israel slowly emerging from the latest Covid-19 lockdown, Ohr Torah Stone’s ‘Yachad’ Program for Jewish Identity once again partnered with the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization to coordinate Purim megilla readings in hundreds of communities across Israel. Now in its eleventh year, the outdoor program called “Megilla BaKehilla” (literally, “megilla reading within the community”) offered “Covid-safe” Purim celebrations …
Rabbi Kenneth Brander: Helping Agunot and spreading the light of Purim Rabbi Kenneth Brander, President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone, comes to the Arutz Sheva studio to discuss two important initiatives Yoni Kempinski , Feb 25 , 2021 https://youtu.be/v-YZVpCDJ4Y On the occasion of Yom HaAguna, International Aguna Day, Arutz Sheva speaks with Rabbi Kenneth Brander. Rabbi …
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Operation “Social Vaccination” Twelfth grade students at Derech Avot High School in Efrat raised NIS 50,000 to prepare and distribute 1,000 food baskets to the elderly, Holocaust survivors and needy families in advance of Purim. Arutz 7, 19 February, 2021 From their very first day at a religious high school, all students dream of Purim …
Women’s Obligation in Megilla Reading By Rabbi David Brofsky, Ra”m at Midreshet Lindenbaum Do Women and Men Have the Same Obligation in Mikra Megilla? The Talmud explicitly establishes that women are included in the obligation of mikra Megilla,despite the general rule exempting women from time-bound commandments (“mitzvot asei she-hazman gerama”): R. Yehoshua b. Levi said: …
Virus outbreak disrupts joyous Purim fest but some improvise “Judaism celebrates the value of life before the ritual aspect,” said Rabbi Kenneth Brander, president of Ohr Torah Stone. By David Crary | March 10, 2020 NEW YORK (AP) — Purim is traditionally one of the most joyous Jewish holidays, but some celebrations in Israel and …
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Spreading the Joy of Adar Students from OTS’s Neveh Shmuel Yeshiva High School for Boys found innovative ways of raising funds to purchase tefillin and provide a Bar Mitzva celebration for a needy family. In honor of the upcoming Purim holiday, dozens of 9th and 10th grader students from OTS’s Neveh Shmuel Yeshiva High School …
How was this Pesach Different? For generations of Jewish children, one of the highlights of the Pesach Seder has been standing on a chair and reciting the Four Questions. And yet – in the Jewish state of Israel – the concept of the Ma Nishtana does not ring a bell with many young children from …
“Go, gather together all the Jews…” (Megillat Esther, 7:16) – Celebrating Purim Together Though gourmet Hamantaschen make their appearance in the trendiest Israeli bakeries and everyone dresses up for the holiday, Purim for many Israelis has little meaning beyond face-painting or getting intoxicated. How can we connect Israelis with no interest in the synagogue to the …
Read moreYachad Jewish Identity Coordinators: “Go, gather all the Jews…”
Midreshet Lindenbaum‘s Chana and Yaakov Tilles Campus in Jerusalem was transformed into the magical world of Harry Potter before Purim. Inspired by the students’ creativity, OTS President and Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Kenneth Brander surprised everyone by appearing in the Beit Midrash disguised as up as everyone’s favorite philosophical headmaster, the wise and worldly wizard Professor Albus …
Do We Love Our Daughters Less Than They Do Theirs? This week, we mark International Aguna Day, traditionally held on Ta’anit Esther, the fast on Purim eve. (An aguna is a Jewish woman who is “chained” to her marriage.) BY KENNETH BRANDER | MARCH 13, 2019 “All the books of the prophets and all the holy …
Taanit Esther- A Plea for Balance Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein, Director of Training and Placement for OTS’s Beren-Amiel and Straus-Amiel Emissary Programs[1] Introduction It is a well-established custom[2] to fast on the 13th of Adar[3], usually one day before Purim [which is celebrated in most places on the 14th of Adar[4],] from Dawn to Dusk[5]. While …
