We all know the actual geographic size of Mir, Radin, Brisk - not
more than a speck on the map, but in spiritual Torah value, they were
definitely gigantic.
We'd like to get you acquainted with another speck town, this one
in North Ukraine: Korestin. It is also small in gashmiyus but
huge in ruchniyus -- and still growing.
First Steps: Rejuvenation
Six years ago, a dedicated couple, Rabbi and Mrs. Aron Berger, left
Israel and settled in Korestin to reach out to the Jews there. The
old timers who still had hazy recollections of what a rich Jewish
life was all about and the youth who yearned to rediscover their real
identity, were very eager to absorb what Rabbi and Mrs. Berger had
to offer them.
Soon there were three devoted couples who reestablished regular 3-times-a-day
minyonim and opened up Yeshivas Shearis Yisroel, named after
the famous tzaddik of nearby Vilednik, where over 25 bochurim
benefit from a well planned curriculum of Jewish and general subjects.
The yeshiva also has a well stocked library that enables each student
to explore our rich heritage at his own pace.
The next achievement was adding a Sunday school, a success story of
its own. Dozens of children who still attend public school during
the week meet regularly on Sundays and during their free time to daven
together, sing together and experience their first steps in Yiddishkeit.
From there it is a natural step to visit the annual summer camp, where
children of all ages spend a fun<196>filled summer. The program includes
trips and activities, which enable them to heighten their commitment
to Judaism.
For the benefit of the growing community as well as the neighboring
town, they established a mikveh with all the hiddurim.
For the elderly and destitute, the kosher kitchen serves 150 warm
meals every day, for some very old needy souls, the dedicated staff
even delivers the meager meal home to them, thus serving as the only
lifeline connecting them to their Jewish brethren.
Torah-true Jews
There's the boy who told his story: "Four months ago, I didn't
even know what Torah or Judaism was." Now he proudly shows us
his strands of tzitzis and whispers that he has bravely undergone
circumcision and was even given a pair of tefillin and a siddur
with a festive meal to commemorate the important occasion.
It often happens that at these festive gatherings, the opportunity
arises to give chuppah vekiddushin to these boys' parents,
bringing back the entire family into the fold, all through the never
ending tremendous effort of the shelichim of "Shearis Yisroel
- Korestin."
