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Dovid Staples is an alumnus of the Rabbinical College of Australia & New Zealand, 5771 (2011). He is currently studying for Semicha (Rabbinical ordination) at Chovevei Torah, in Brooklyn, NY. In this letter, Dovid shares with us his current experiences, and the indelible impression that Yeshivah Gedolah has had on him.

Hello Rabbi! I must say it was really nice to receive a message from you. Sorry for not writing back until now. I have been meaning to, but I didn’t get around to it until now.

Boruch Hashem the learning is great, and I certainly have Yeshivah Gedolah to thank for that! Ah, how I miss it. You surely know that us former Bochurim get together and reminisce about the good ol' Yeshivah Gedolah days and how other yeshivahs just aren't the same. They aren't! Where's the enthusiasm, the noise, the awesome Shluchim, the great Hanholo, the occasional Mivtzah, the Friday night meals, the Melava Malkahs, the Fabrengens, the communal satisfaction, and the joy of learning that one naturally breathes in the Melbourne air? Aye, if there's one thing I still carry with me from Yeshivah Gedolah, it is, "keep on truckin’; don't drop till you stop," courtesy of Yakov Backman.

Perhaps I am beginning to rant, but I don't think I ever properly expressed my appreciation for everything that the Shluchim and Hanholo of Yeshivah Gedolah did for me. In fact, I didn't fully appreciate it until after I found myself outside of Yeshivah Gedolah’s environs, and I realized how much I progressed there. I could hardly open a Gemoro when I first arrived, and I certainly could not decipher even one paragraph of a Ma’amar. By the time I returned home, I started giving evening Shiurim on the Gemoro that I learned in Yeshivah Gedolah, accompanied of course with some of Rabbi Cohen’s signature intonations. I also wound up being a little ahead of my current Semicha program, thanks to Shliach Moshe Wolvovsky who took the time to learn the fundamentals with me every day. I also find myself learning Ma’amar after Ma’amar in the mornings. Being able to do all of this really makes me glad, and my success accurately reflects what I tell everyone; that going to Yeshivah Gedolah was the best decision I ever made in my life. Believe me when I say that I use every opportunity to boast about Yeshivah Gedolah! (And I sure miss the absolutely superior food, which is much better than what I have had at all my other Yeshivahs. Would you believe it? I have not had lamb chops even once since I left Melbourne.)

I am doing well in all other respects as well, thank G-d. I recently took up a job at HASC, which provides educational and clinical services for children with special needs. G-d willing, I am starting to work with a special-needs boy this week. I also took up a position as a fundraiser for a special-education program in Crown Heights. It's nice to be able to make a positive influence.

Send my best to all the other members of the Hanholo, and to all the Bochurim. I wish you a super successful year!

All the best,

Dovid Staples 

The Purim outreach activities of our students were not limited to Melbourne, and several Shluchim travelled to Brisbane and Cairns. Even when things seemed to be going wrong, they were really working out for the best, as seen in the following incident:

Shliach Moshe Backman travelled to Brisbane in order to help the local Shluchim spread the joy of Purim. After spending an action-packed Purim day in Brisbane, he set out for the airport bright and early the next morning, with enough time to catch his return flight to Melbourne. On his way to the airport, he tried to call his fellow Shluchim back in Melbourne to confirm that they would be picking him up from Melbourne airport. However, he was not able to get through to them.

After Moshe landed at Tullamarine Airport, he again tried to contact his fellow Shluchim, but was still unsuccessful. Without much of a choice, he made his way to the taxi rank. Suddenly, he heard a holler above the din of Melbourne airport, “Rabbi, where are you going?” Moshe turned around to face an elderly Russian Jew, who was only too happy to offer him a ride.

During the ride, Moshe learned a little about his new-found friend, who was returning from a business trip to Singapore. Moshe used some of the time to discuss Judaism, and Tefilin specifically. The Russian businessman was initially not that interested in laying Tefilin, but slowly warmed to the idea. By the time the car arrived at Rabbinical College, our Russian friend eagerly put on Tefilin. Now Moshe understood why he been unable to arrange a ride!

In a previous article, we described the experiences of Hirschel Gourarie and Shmuel Lipskier, who spent their mid-winter break reaching out to Jews in Campbelltown and Parramatta, New South Wales. In particular, the Shluchim spent several meaningful hours visiting a young family on the outskirts of Campbelltown. Over six months later, the connection still continues, with the following email recently received.

Hi Hirschel,

Just letting you know that we spent last night watching the DVD of Purim that you sent us. The whole family munched on the Purim treats from you and your friends, and watched the movie. It was such a great DVD for all ages. We couldn’t stop laughing at the humour of the jokes at Haman and his family. Even his wife looked evil. Some two hours later we all went to bed.

Then I gave the boys a quiz … what does the name Ester mean? What does the word Purim mean? And so on and so forth. It was so much fun, we even play acted some of the roles. I was the beautiful Queen Ester. Jakie, well he always plays the evil fellows… It was so much fun!”

Thank you again.

f

Purim 5772 (2012) was celebrated on Wednesday evening, March 7, and Thursday, March 8. The students of the Rabbinical College of Australia & New Zealand brought the joy of Purim to a wide variety of businesses, eateries, residencies, hospitals, old age homes, markets, schools, childcare centres and prisons. They also assisted and participated in various events conducted by local synagogues, Chabad Houses and community organizations. Aside from hearing Megillah, the commandments of Purim include Mishloach Manos (gifts of food), Matanos L'evyonim (giving charity), and participating in a joyous feast.

A tally of the students’ efforts yielded the following results:
Number of Mishloach Manos packages: 1,100
Number of Megillah readings: Approximately 85
Number of attendees at these Megillah readings: More than 1,000
Number of people who fulfilled Matanos L’evyonim: More than 50
Number of people who donned Tfillin: More than 200
Number of Purim parties: 40

Pictured below is a small sampling of their activities. [Please click here for pictures of the students packing Mishloach Manos.]

In the weeks prior to Purim 5772, the students of the Rabbinical College devoted much of their free time to preparing thousands of Mishloach Manos packages for distribution within the community. These Mishloach Manos packages help the recipients facilitate their observance of the Purim commandments. [See here for a full report of Purim 5772 activities.]

In honour of the recent Siyum HaRambam, two sets of Hebrew-English Mishneh Torah were donated to the Rabbinical College of Australia & New Zealand, by Marlene Gail Wolsh (of Vestal, NY), in memory of her mother, Krindyl bat Aaron Mordechai (Claire Feldman-Palnik).

The Rabbinical College of Australia & NZ also recently purchased three sets of Shas (Oz V’hodor), which will be well utilized by our students. We thank Rabbi Shmaya Glick for his generous grant, as well as the other donors who made this possible.