The Kupferberg Center at Queens College was a scene for celebration on Sunday, March 2, as the Oorah organization held its Purim concert close to the homes of many families whose parents participate in the weekly Torah Mates learning on the phone, and children who attend Chill Zone events in the winter and Zone overnight camps in the summer. The event was headlined by renowned singer Avraham Fried with the New York Boys Choir as the opening act.
More than a half century ago, Rabbi Chaim Mintz was a mashgiach at the Yeshiva of Staten Island, looking beyond the walls of the school to connect secular Jews to religious observance. Since then, Oorah has grown into an enormous operation in which its statistics were asked on stage in a quiz for the audience. How many chavrusas learn with a Torah Mate? More than 6,300. How many children attend its camps in the Catskills? Nearly 1,500. Also, in the realm of numbers is the beloved Fiveish mascot, highlighting the auction fundraiser that makes Oorah’s programs possible, along with Kars for Kids and generous supporters.
“We were at the Shavuos program at the camp, 800 people in one room and since then we’ve been regular customers,” said Daniel Babayev, who attended the concert with his wife Nina Chaya and their children. “My daughter was afraid of the outdoors and now she’s returned to the camp twice. People misunderstand that different types of people go there.”
The Babayev children keep their ties to the camp throughout the year, with ShabbaZone retreats and calls from their counselors. The friendships and lessons imparted at the camp carry on throughout the year.
Many kiruv organizations appear to serve those who are not yet observant, which includes Oorah, but it also connects with baal t’shuvah families who were not raised in an observant setting, and are served by the learning and advice provided by Oorah staff. The Babayev family are Bukharian Jews who were not raised in an Orthodox setting and adjusted to it over the years. Torah Mates and Zone camps strengthen their learning and give their four children an experience that is authentic and stimulating.
Among the books that Oorah shares with its participants is Rabbi Zecharya Greenwald’s Life After Teshuvah, addressing individuals who became observant but know little about finding a rabbi, community, yeshivah, shidduchim, learning opportunities, maintaining relations with nonobservant family members, and keeping the faith.
“The Oorah staff are true Torah scholars. My wife learns with a Torah Mate. The rabbi answering questions is unbelievable,” Babayev said. Many of these scholars have phone numbers with a 732 area code of Lakewood, where Oorah is based.
On my most recent visit to Lakewood, my daughter’s favorite moment on Shabbos was meeting her Torah Mate, a Bais Yaakov teen who was also excited to see her, knowing little about my community in West Hempstead.
Over the years, questions and answers from Rabbi Mintz’s Tuesday evening program were published in two volumes of Ask The Rabbi, published by ArtScroll/Mesorah. Copies of this book are mailed to participants of the Torah Mates program. Echoing the program on stage, Rabbi Mintz answered a couple of timely questions from the audience.
When asked if Purim celebrations should be toned down because of the ongoing war against Hamas, Rabbi Mintz urged no compromises. “We must absolutely keep in mind those who are suffering under the terrible people who kidnapped them. We must not forget about them. We also must keep the holiday of Purim a joyous one. We have to realize that the Jewish people have so much to be thankful to Hashem and the miracles done for us. Even though we are concerned about our brethren in Israel we must remember that Hashem is with us. We are celebrating that we are the chosen people.”
The second question was asked by Chana Aronov, a Torah Mates participant since 2016. She spoke of her path towards observance and then asked if women are obligated in the mitzvos of Purim.
“Women are obligated in all the laws of Purim- Megillah, helping the poor, packages to people for friendliness, presents for the poor, and delicious food. Women are obligated as much as men,” Rabbi Mintz said. “Women were saved as men were saved. Another interpretation is that they were part of the neis itself. Esther, it was very dangerous what she did. She put her life on the line. Same with Chanukah, when Yehudis put her life on the line and killed a wicked general.”
Avraham Fried sang “Abba,” “Chazak,” and “Bring the House Down,” three well-known hits from his long career. A Chabad chasid, he regards his work on stage as an expression of shlichus, promoting joy in observance. Oorah’s choice to hold the concert at Queens College was deliberate, to be physically closer to the families that it serves, many of whom live in Queens. Seeing many Bukharian families at the event, Fried wore a Sephardic outfit in his second act.
On its Yom Tov retreats at its Catskills camp, Oorah families come from many states and walks of life, but for some participants at the Queens College concert, it was a short walk from home.
“We send our son to the camp, and through this camp I was given a Torah Mate chavrusa,” said Yaakov Fried, who lives in the nearby Electchester apartments. “It filled the gap. I had a chavrusa in a yeshivah and then he moved. My son loves the camp.”
By Sergey Kadinsky
