On Motza’ei Shabbos, February 1, community members, shul members, and alumni of Yeshiva Kesser Torah gathered at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills for a beautiful melaveh malkah. Rabbi Avraham Dovid Garber, Rav of Yeshiva Kesser Torah, welcomed everyone and noted that the yeshivah has been in Kew Gardens Hills for 30 years. Today, it boasts 25 minyanim daily, 136 minyanim weekly, 619 minyanim monthly, and over 7,000 minyanim yearly. All of our t’filos should be answered!
He then shared a short d’var Torah about the parshah. There is an unusual mitzvah in Parshas Bo that a donkey, which is a non-kosher animal, has k’dushah. It’s the only non-kosher animal that’s considered holy and the question is why. Rashi explained that donkeys transported the silver and gold from Egypt when the Jews left, and this is special because it is teaching us about the mitzvah of hakaras ha’tov. The donkey provided a benefit to B’nei Yisrael, so we have an obligation to show gratitude for what the donkey did. Rabbi Garber then went on to express gratitude to the wonderful people who help make Yeshiva Kesser Torah what it is today. He first expressed deep gratitude to the Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Elyakim Getzel Rosenblatt zt”l, who brought so much Torah and Yiddishkeit to so many talmidim and their families. He also thanked Rebbetzin Rosenblatt, who continues the legacy of the Rosh Yeshivah, as well as the Rosenblatt children and their spouses: Batsheva, Moshe, and Yaakov. Also, special thanks to Chani Katz, secretary of the yeshivah, who worked tirelessly on this dinner, and the dinner chairman, Michael Poulard. He then listed many individuals who really make a difference by helping out daily at Yeshiva Kesser Torah.
Following this, Rav Noach Isaac Oelbaum shlita, Rav of Khal Nachlas Yitzchok, author, and world-renowned speaker, shared that Yeshiva Kesser Torah became a landmark in our community with so many minyanim. It’s the nonstop place for davening. The Rambam taught that when Moshe Rabbeinu asked Hashem to tell him His name, he was asking how he could prove to people that there is a Creator of the world. Hashem’s response was: “I will be what I will be.” Rav Oelbaum explained that this meant that Hashem is saying: I am there whenever Yidden are in trouble. They just have to call out to me. He pointed out the fact that the Jewish people are still here is a miracle. Rav Yaakov Emden wrote how mighty empires all toppled but we are still here.
Avraham Avinu endured ten tests. The thing that gave him strength to overcome those tests was the strength of t’filah. He asked Hashem to give him the will to overcome the difficult tests. The word adam, which is Hebrew for “man,” contains many hidden Hebrew letters. There is hidden meaning behind man and that meaning is that our power lies in our davening. Kesser Torah offers so many prayers daily, and this is the basis of our strength in Shamayim. In Sh’moneh Esrei, we recite Sh’ma Koleinu, which literally means “listen to our voice.” Why does it say voice and not words? Sometimes a person is so overcome that he can’t verbalize his pain, and he can only cry out. Hashem knows the meaning behind the sound. Hashem knows what we need. He knows the depth of our hearts.
The Beis HaMikdash is for anyone who wants to pour out his soul. The purpose of going to shul is to bring holiness from shul into our home. Prayer transforms your home. A shul is called a beis t’filah, which means “house of prayer.” Your homes should be a Beis HaMikdash. That is the purpose of a home.
Following this, Rabbi Garber introduced the honorees, Alexander Shlomo and Esther Isakov. He shared that Alex Isakov is the go-to person when something needs to be fixed in shul. Rebbetzin Rosenblatt always says, “Alex can fix it.” Alex shared that he was drawn to come to Yeshiva Kesser Torah when he saw Rabbi Rosenblatt’s beautiful smile and his sparkling eyes. The Rosh Yeshivah attracted people from all different backgrounds, and he was so accepting of everyone. We are all Jews. “He taught me by example to respect everyone equally.” He thanked Rebbetzin Rosenblatt and Rabbi Garber, and all the people who help out at Yeshiva Kesser Torah.
Next, Rabbi Garber presented the Kesser Shem Tov award to David and Renee Labovitz. He spoke about both of their exceptional character traits and their community service. David was a talmid of Rabbi Rosenblatt and he is an excellent sh’liach tzibur almost every Shabbos. He incorporates the Rosh Yeshivah’s original nigunim. Renee works behind the scenes and they both perform a tremendous amount of chesed. Renee also volunteers for Our Jewish Children, an organization started by Rabbi Garber that provides tuition assistance for students to be able to transfer from public school to yeshivah. David spoke about his journey to finding Yeshivah Kesser Torah.
People say about Yeshiva Kesser Torah that it feels like family. Michael Septimus and Michale Poulard provided continuous heartfelt music, and the evening climaxed with the grand rikud. At that moment, you really felt the Rosh Yeshivah was smiling down at his accomplishments. The beautiful melodies of the Rosh Yeshivah filled the air as the men danced. Everyone had an enjoyable, meaningful evening and left humming the beautiful nigunim of Rabbi Rosenblatt.
By Susie Garber
