Yad Yisroel News Blog
01-May-2013 - Mazal tov to Alexander on his Bar-Mitzvah!
Today we had a very special Bar-mitzva celebration in Pinsk. Alexander is not a full-time student in our school, but he does attend Jewish Sunday school. His mother and grandmother regularly attend the weekly classes given by Rabbi and Rebbetzin Fhima. Alexander put on Tefilin for the first time, and the boys in school made him really feel part of the family. We hope BS"D that this special event will inspire Alexander to further his interest in our school and Yiddishkeit in general.
Best wishes to Alexander and his parents for many years of health, happiness, and Yiddish Nachas.
13-Aprile-2013 - Mazal Tov to Avrom Alimelech and Tali Gavrilovets on a birth of their baby boy - 3rd of Iyar 5773
Mazal tov to our dear Pinsk alumni, Avrom Alimelech and Tali Gavrilovets, now living in Beitar, on the birth of a baby boy!
The baby was named Boruch at the Bris which was in Givat Ze'ev and the Stoliner Rebbe was Sandek.
We wish them lots nachas for many healthy years to come!
03-Aprile-2013 - Pesach Report 5773
For over 13 years Pinsk has been the epicenter of Belarus to ensure that all Kosher l’Pesach products needed for any Jew in Belarus will be available for them. The logistics include 2 containers which were shipped from the USA with basic products such as matzos, grape juice, and gefilte fish. Clearing customs, a task
which can sometimes take 4‐6 months, needs to be done well in advance. Closer to Pesach, basic groceries such as sugar, salt, oil, potato starch, cakes etc., were generously donated in London and delivered to our warehouses for distribution. Hand Shmura matzohs for the Sedarim were sent by plane from he US. A week before Yom Tov a truck made the roundtrip 2500 km journey from Pinsk to Moscow to bring meat for Yom Tov. click here to read full Pesach Report
03-March-2013 - Wedding of Ovadia Visotski - 21st of Adar 5773 (3rd of march 2013).
Mazal Tov to Ovadia and Sorah Dvorah Visotski.
On Sunday, March 3rd, in Brooklyn, NY, the wedding of our dear alumnus Ovadia Visotski took place with Sorah Dvorah Tzisin.
Beginning in Pinsk at the age of 15, Ovadia is now learning at Yeshivas Chaim-Berlin.
May Hashem grant them many years of happiness together and build a Bayis Ne'eman b'Yisroel!
3-March-2013 - Yohrtzeit of Reb Elimelech of Lezhansk.
Sunday, 21st of Adar (3rd of march 2013) marked the Yohrtzeit of Rebe Elimelech of Lezhansk (Poland).
Our boys school joined a group of Yidden which spent Shabbos in Przemeshel (about an hours drive from Lezhansk). The achdus of Yidden from all walks of life spending Shabbos, davening, learning, eating seudos, and singing together was an inspiration to all!
After Shabbos all buses headed straight to Lezhansk to daven at the holy kever.
Afterward the boys visited Karkow, Aushwitz and Lublin.
24-February-2013 - Purim 5773.
Purim in Pinsk.
Purim was a special day in Pinsk, as in every Jewish community. Many friends from other cities came to celebrate this joyous Yom Tov with us in Pinsk.
Two of our devoted counselors, Shoshana and Perry, came from England to be with our girls, and brought presents and special treats which created an exciting atmosphere.
A major concert preformed by our Boys School in "Dom Culture" was attended bu hundreds who came to enjoy and to hear Megilas Esther read by Rav Moshe Fhima. Mishloach Manos and Matonos Loevyonim were given, and a few grand Seudos Purim were held at various locations in town.
A truly memorable and inspirational Yom Tov for all!
To see Purim pictures click here
20-January-2013 - Mazel Tov to Chana Nortman and Yossi Rosenberg.
Mazel Tov to Chana Nortman and Yossi Rosenberg from Los Angeles upon their engagement.
Chana is one of our long time special dedicated volunteers in Pinsk.
She and her family always ready to help the school, our community, and our girls in every possible way wether in Pinsk or even after our students move on to other communities.
19-January-2013 - Mazel Tov to Yitzchok Meir Soloveichik and Dina Meyer from London
Yitzchok Meir - a student in Yeshiva Pe'er Yisroel in Pinsk - is also a personal chavrusa of Reb Moishe Fhima. "Itche" has spent over 3 years in Pinsk learning and working in the Beis-Aharon school as a devoted madrich. We are all very excited and happy for our brother and friend. We wish them mazal and bracha, and to be zoche to build a Bayis Ne'eman b'Yisroel!
27-December-2012 - Baby Girl
Mazel Tov to Pinchas Eliyohu and Yafit Martzinkevich.
On 15th of tevet our Pinske community has grown by 1 girl. Pinchas Eliyohu and Yafit had a baby girl. There was a huge kidush on shabbos in Pinsk. All families came and precipitated. The girl was named Chana Brocha. Both Pinchas and Yafit are graduates of our school. We want to wish to Chany Brocha to grow with health and brocha and to her parents to have an easy chinuch.
2-january-2013 - Winter Camp
Almost 40 boys and girls, ages of 12-16, from throughout Belarus came to Pinsk for a "winter camp" during the first week of January.
They experienced our schools and way of life first hand, and at the same time had a wonderful time. A trip to Brest to visit "Belovezhskaya Pusha" (the largest museum of nature in Belarus), as well as skating and other activities in Pinsk.
The counselors worked hard to create a warm inspiring environment to make them feel at home. During this short time the kids gained an understanding of our programs and left with a positive feeling towards Yiddishkeit.
We hope BE"H that as a result some will join our schools.
9-December-2012 - Happy Chanukah
Chanukah was very exciting and inspiring.
Our school boys preformed a beautiful concert and performance. Hundreds of men and women of all ages filled the Dom Kultura Hall came to see and enjoy.
During the 8 days of Chanukah students of the Beis Aharon schools had a very packed schedule of various entertaining programs.
Special thanks to our madrichim and madrichot for their dedication and hard work which made these days so special.
Our devoted staff and their families had different groups of students over at their homes for meals during Chanukah, and everyne had their own menorah to light.
1-December-2012 - Bar Mitzva
Mazal Tov to Eliyohu Panasuk.
Moztei Shabbos 18th of Kislev in Pinsk, we celebrated the Bar-Mitzvah of our talmid Eliyohu Panasuk from Minsk.
Joining our school only 1 year ago, we have seen him make tremendous progress.
Friends composed a special song for the occasion, and presented Eliyohu with a special gift.
We all wish Eliyohu a life full of hatzlacha!
20-November-2012 - Mazal Tov Mazal Tov
Today the 6 Kislev - 20th of November two boys in school had Bris Milah in Pinsk. Its always an emotional celebration when boys from non-religious homes decide to do this Mitzvah!
Harav Moishe Fhima was Sandek for (Vova) now - Dovid Asher Poliyektov, age 16 from city of Vitebs and Yitzchak Meir Soleveitchik was Sandek for (Artyom) now - Ezriel Aryeh Panasuk, 16 years old, from Brest.
After the Bris there was a seuda in shul.
May Hashem grant Ezriel Aryeh and Dovid Osher the ability to continue their spiritual growth and perform many more Mitzvohs!
18-November-2012 - Mazal Tov Mazal Tov
Mazal Tov to Eliezer and Ester Ariella Finski!!!
On the 4th of Kislev (18th of November) Eliezer Finski originally from Zhodino, Belarus, and Ester Ariella originally from Dnepropetrovsk got married in Yerushalayim!!
Eliezer came to our school in Pinsk at age of 12, and at 17 went to Yeshiva Kol Yaakov in Monsey, NY. After 3 years he joined the Yeshiva in Kiev.
Ester Ariella was born in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine and when her family moved to Israel she went to Bat-Tzion in Yerushalaim.
Many friends and family participated in this exciting simcha.
May Hashem grant them many happy years together and build a Bayis Ne'eman b'Yisroel!
17-November-2012 - Mazal Tov to Bar Mitzvah Boy
Mazal Tov to Bar Mitzvah Boy!!! On motzei shabbes on 17th of november the Pinske family did not go to sleep early! We all gathered together in the shul to celebrate a Bar MIitzva of our very special pupil whose name is Alexander. Alexandr came to school only 2 month ago and everything is very new to him. Boys from the school tried very hard to make this day a very special to him. They prepared very entertaining program with many plays and funny competitions. Alexander received many presents from the school and Moishe Fhima. We all want to wish our dear Bar Mitzva boy many broches and hatzlochah in all his beginings.
10-November-2012 - Mazal tov to Mishpachat Shofnas
On 10th of November on Motzei shabbes our week started from very Good News! Our very close brother shliach and pinchanin Boruch Shofnas with his wife Chani gave a birth to a very sweet boy! The bris took place on shabbes (on 17th of november) in Erushalaim. The boy was named Arye! We want to wish a little Arye health brocha and he should grow up to be a big talmid chocham! We all are very excited for mishpachat Shofnas to come back to Pinsk and are even more excited to see our new member of community Arye Shofnas! Mazal Tov!
29-October-2012 - mazel tov to rabbi a gewirzman and kobi baroukh!
Mazel tov to Rabbi A Gewirtzman and Kobi Baroukh on the completion of Maseches Makos. R' Avi and Kobi are an inspiring pair - they come to the Beis Medrash early morning before Shacharis and learn together. Their learning gives chizuk to the rest of the community and to the boys in the school of what people can achieve.
May they go mechayil el choyil!
29-OCTOBER-2012 - 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE hOLOCAUST
Today 200 people - Jews and non-Jews alike - came together to commemorate the tragic slaughter of six million Jews in Europe during WWII.
A memorial ceremony was held in Dom Kultura Hall on Lenin Square where the Deputy Mayor spoke, as well as many prominent Belarussian historical professors.
After the conference 3 buses took people to visit the mass graves in the city where many Jews were killed and buried. Rabbi Moshe Fhima and Mr.Yosef Lieberman, president of the Jewish community, spoke to mark the event.
There was a huge crowd in attendance, despite the freezing temperatures.
30-September-2012 - Sukkos in pinsk!
Sukkos is a joyous holiday around the world - but in Pinsk it has a unique atmosphere to it. In preparation for the chag the boys and girls of the Beis Aharon schools spent weeks making decorations, collecting schach, finding willow trees for arovos and other activities connected to the laws and halochos of the yom tov.
As always we were joined for Sukkos by many guests and visitors from around the world - some of our alumni, counselors from the summer camps and our school itself all joined together to make Sukkos the wonderful and inspiring festival that it was.
1-September 2012 - School year began
On the first of September the Beis Aharon schools opened their doors to welcome back our boys and girls after the summer vacation. Over the summer many ofth students had spent the majority of their vacation in the Yad Yisroel summer camps and programs - and they rejoined us for the school year after an invigorating and energy restoring break.
The student body has grown. Over the summer over 80 graduates left Belarus to return to their places of study abroad - in the USA, Israel and Ukraine. Recruitment for school was a focus of ours over the summer and the results can be seen.
Looking forward to a year of success, good health and a high class Torah education!
10-July-2012 - Mazel tov! eliezer Yisroel and Esther Ariella
Mazel tov to Eliezer Finski - a graduate of the Beis Aharon School in Pinsk - on his engagement to Esther from Orsha (northern Belarus).
Eliezer is currently learning in yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel and will continue his studies after the chasuna.
1-July-2012 - Camp yad Yisroel 2012
Welcome to Camp Yad Yisroel 2012! Camp is located in the Elektron Camp near the city of Brest-Brisk on the shores of the "Bela-Ozera" - White Lake.
Over 120 girls are in camp for the first half!
For pictures and videos click here
18-June-2012 - graduation 2012 - Hebrew Academy of Cleveland
Mazel Tov to Rephoel Mahilnitsky on his graduation from the Hebrew Academy in Cleveland. Rephoel - you made us proud!
A special thanks to Rabbi Dessler, Rabbi Fishman and Rabbi Kasnet of the HAC staff and to the Mandel and Goldman families for hosting Rephoel during his stay in Cleveland!
Click here to see pics and video!
14-June-2012 - Graduation 2012 - Machon Basia Rochel - machon beis yaakov seminaries - Beis Yaakov High
Mazel Tov to Leah Solonovitz and Rivka Dzemidovich on their graduation from Machon Basia Rochel seminary in Far Rockaway, NY and to Leah Konchitz and Nechama Chazanovihc on their graduation from Machon Beis Yaakov Seminary in Brooklyn.
And a big mazel tov to Ayelet Vainolovoich who graduted from Beis Yaakov Denver.
You should go from strength to strength!!
10-june-2012 - graduation 2012!
On the 10th of June the 9th and 11th grades of the Beis Aharon School received their School Certificates in the annual "Vipusknoi Vecher" graduation ceremony. The graduates were joined by their parents and grandparents from their hometowns across the country.
The graduates were addressed by Mr IA Karlinsky - the headmaster of the school, Rabbi Fhima and Mr YY Lieberman - the President of the Pinsk Jewish Community.
7-June-2012 - Hachnosas Sefer torah & chanukas habayis
On the 7th of June - 16th of Sivan - we were joined in Pinsk by the Karlin-Stolin Rebbe and a group of visitors from Israel, Europe and the USA who came to join us for the celebration of a new Sefer Torah and the Chanukas Habyis of the Confederatzia Shul.
The Sefer Torah was donated by R' Dovid Yochonon Shteierman of Brooklyn, NY. It was a beautiful Simcha - watching 200 yidden parade down the central streets of Pinsk while the local police force held up traffic as we walked past was a celebration of the eternal victory of good over evil - a sign that Am Yisroel Chai - the Jewish nation still lives on.
For pictures please click here
31-may-2012 upcoming visit of karlin-stolin rebbe
The Karlin-Stolin Rebbe will be coming to Pinsk on June 7th to celebrate the Chanukas Habayis and Hachnosas Sefer Torah of the Confederatzia Shul and Pinsk Boys School.
30-may-2012 "lineika" - the end of the 2012 academic year
Today was the last day of classes for the 9th and 11th grades - both of whom now have exams until the 14th of June.
The annual ceremony of "Posledni Zvanok" - ringing "the last bell" - was attended in the school by members of the Jewish community including it's President - Mr. YY Lieberman.
30-may-2012 Mazel tov to masha chaiken
A big Mazel Tov to Masha Chaiken - the madricha in the Beis Aharon Girls school on her marriage to Boruch Melamed. The Chasuna was in St. Petersberg and was attended by a group from Pinsk who made the 15 hour journey to join in the simcha.
We wish Boruch & Masha all the best - they should be zoiche to build together a bayis ne'eman b'yisrael - a binyan adei ad.
27-may-2012 shevuos in Pinsk
Of all the yomim tovim throughout the year - Shevuos is one of the most inspiring and special. We sat together in the Central Shul in Pinsk on Shevuos night along with over fifty local yidden including 30 teenage boys learning the Torah which we received over three thousand years ago by Har Sinai. The holiness was tangible - it was an experience not to be missed.
On the other side of town - 25 girls were gathered by the Fhima house - listening to a Shiur from Rebetzin Fhima and completing together the Sefer Tehilim. These girls are coming from homes totally unafiliated with any form of Judaism.
For the people of Belarus it is especially meaningful to see a younger generation joining in the celebration of Kabolas Hatorah and defining themselves as a part of Am Yisroel. In spite of the efforts of the fascists and communists - the Jewish nation is still alive and strong! Am yisroel chai!
10-May-2012 Lag b'omer in Pinsk
WOW! Lag B'Omer in Pinsk is always a festival to remember and this year no less than any other.
All the children in Pinsk enjoyed the day off from school while taking part in activities and programs to do with the chag.
The schools went on a trip to the "preroda" - the forests surrounding Pinsk and enjoyed a BBQ and kumzitz. During the evening of Lag B'Omer we danced around the fire remember the tzadik R' Shimon Bar Yochai and all that he did for Klal Yisroel.
01-May-2012 Clothing sale in beis aharon girls school
This weekend we ran a clothing sale for the children in the Beis Aharon Orphanage.
For the children in our orphanage - new clothing is a rare luxury. The vast majority come from backgrounds where there is barely enough money to pay for basic food supplies - and definitely not a new dress or suit!
The clothing was donated by the Jewish communities of Italy - many thanks to Mrs Mila Nortman for all her hard work!
The effort you put in was worth every minute!