Some 230 people from all over Eretz Yisroel who are expected
to have a major impact on the future of the country in the
coming months came together last week for a crucial meeting.
Their singular purpose: to bring yaldei Yisroel tachas
kanfei haShechina.
These people are "rashamim," or enrollment workers,
for Lev L'Achim which is about to launch its fifth annual
campaign to enroll children from secular homes into Torah
schools. In its previous campaigns, it more than 30,000
children, giving them and their families the opportunity to
lead a Torah way of life.
As the rashamim streamed into Bnei Brak where the
event was held, many were drawn to a large table that held
"business" cards that Lev L'Achim printed for each rasham.
The rashamim leave these cards, which include
their contact information, with families interested in
sending their children to Torah schools
"Every card is another Jewish neshamah," quipped Rabbi
Avraham Saada, Lev L'Achim's supervisor in Netanya.
Rabbi Uri Zohar, Lev L'Achim's kiruv director,
expressed confidence that this year's enrollment campaign
will be an unprecedented success.
"In spite of the political matzav -- as a direct
result of it, as a matter of fact -- this will be our best
year ever," said Rabbi Zohar as he waited for the proceedings
to begin, while putting the final touches on a sefer
of Torah chiddushim he is writing.
"Shinui, Poraz, Lapid -- it's all shtuyot bemitz
agvaniot -- absolute nonsense,'" continued Rabbi Zohar
with a dismissive wave. "The more the forces of tumah
come out in the open, the greater will be their downfall.
The more the anti-religious parties gain power, the more
Yidden will flock back to the sweetness of the Torah.
You wait and see. We're going to be forced to change our way
of thinking. We'll have to put up tents to fit all the
children in. Our reality is about to change completely."
Rabbi David Malka, a Lev L'Achim rasham from Afula,
then came up to Rabbi Zohar and asked him for a brochoh.
Rabbi Zohar closed his eyes in intense concentration and
intoned a passionate brochoh that took into account
not only Rabbi Malka, but also his children and his
children's children several generations down the line.
"Thank you, Rabbi Zohar," Rabbi Malka said after answering
amen. "But what about the rishum? I asked you
for a brochoh that I should have hatzlocho in
rishum this year."
"I already gave you a brochoh for your children,"
Rabbi Zohar succinctly replied. "Aren't all yaldei Yisroel
your children?"
We Have To Do Our Job
Rabbi Eliezer Sorotzkin, Lev L'Achim Director-General, opened
the event.
"People have asked me whether it will be possible to do
rishum this year, with Shinui in charge of so many key
ministries," he said. "Rabbosai, the answer is that we have
to do our job and leave the rest to Hakodosh Boruch
Hu. Because of the difficulties facing us this year, we
have a greater responsibility on our shoulders, that's all.
The harder it gets for us to be matzil yaldei Yisroel,
the harder we have to work."
An important new tool he said, "is our automated
telemarketing system, which we began using last year on an
experimental basis, and only recently incorporated into our
day-to-day routine. This system uses 120 telephone lines
simultaneously and can reach tens of thousands of homes in
the course of one evening."
Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman's Words Of Chizuk
The entire gathering rose to its feet when word was passed
down that HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, the visionary
godol who first urged Lev L'Achim to open the
rishum program, was about to walk in. In spite of his
weak physical condition, Rav Shteinman made the effort to
come and speak.
After giving everyone in the suddenly hushed room a
brochoh for much hatzlocho, HaRav Shteinman
said:
"You have the zchus to be osek in hatzolas
nefoshos mamesh, for Chazal teach that saving a fellow
Jew from spiritual dangers is greater than saving him from
physical danger." He went on to quote a gemora that
says that it is necessary for the existence of the world that
some people engage in the manufacture of perfume, while
others engage in bad-smelling industries such as the
manufacture of leather goods.
"You," Rav Shteinman said to the 230 rashamim, "do a
little of this and a little of that. You go out and meet
people who have an evil smell and turn them into people who
smell like perfume. You bring the unlearned to places of
Torah study, from the worst places in the world to the very
best. How great is your reward for engaging in this great
mitzvah! May HaKodosh Boruch Hu bless you with
success."
On The Threshold Of Geula
Following Rav Shteinman, Rabbi Uri Zohar gave a rousing
drosho in which he expounded on his earlier stated
belief that the meteoric rise of the anti-religious forces in
Eretz Yisroel is only a portent of their imminent downfall.
In fact, the current political climate in Eretz Yisroel, he
said, just means that the Geula is closer than
ever.
"May we be zoche to have the zchus to see the
coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, and be so busy with
rishum yeladim that we do not even have time to go out
and welcome him!"
We Can Make A Revolution
The discussion then turned to more down-to-earth subjects
such as remembering to fill out registration forms correctly
-- "Remember, these are not diamonds, they're Jewish
neshamos!" said Rabbi Moshe Zeivald, who presented
this part of the program. He reminded the rashamim of
the importance of handing in weekly reports in a timely
fashion, and in general, attending to details.
Indeed, the 230 rashamim left the event greatly
strengthened and well prepared to transform Rabbi Sorotzkin
and Rabbi Zohar's words -- that this rishum campaign
can be Lev L'Achim's greatest ever -- into reality.
