26 April 2012 - Yeshiva College

MENAHEL’S MICHTAV
It has been a very busy build-up to Yom HaAtzma’ut. It is wonderful to have our Matrics and Grade 11’s
back in full academic capacity! After the first “zeman” (term) ended with a strong “mishmar” (late night
learning) thanks to YiD and all who participated, Pessach was a welcome break. We had our first holiday
“Yarchei Kallah” series of shiurim (long ago it was customary to devote the major holidays of Pessach time
and Sukkot time to extra learning) and we ran a series of in-depth shiurim on the Mitzvah of remembering
Yetzi’at Mitzrayim based on “sugyot” in our current school gemara “Massechet Brachot”. Shkoyach in
particular to Ari Chipkin for his participation. I hope we will grow this learning programme come Sukkot
time!
Daily Divrei Torah have dealt with aspects of Sefirat HaOmer and our calendar dates. The question arises
how we can suspend customs of mourning that are perhaps a thousand years old to make way for our
most recent of Chagim An interesting comment by Rav Avraham Ibn Ezra, one of our classic Rishonim
on Chumash, provides a source that there is a Biblical obligation to celebrate days “when we return from
the lands of our enemies or we beat them in battle” (Bemidbar 10:10)!!! Accordingly, comparatively recent
low levels of mourning would obviously give way to comprehensive celebration!
We have had to digest a number of serious but uplifting days in the build-up to the festive Yom
HaAtzma’ut. Last Thursday we had a shiur kelali on the concept of Yom Hazikaron Lashoah Veligvurah as
a separate date, in Nissan, which the whole school attended. The Grade 10s, 11s and 12s then went to
Westpark Cemetary for the communal event and represented the school in a way we can be proud of.
Shkoyach gentlemen!
As we ushered in the new month of Iyar, we had an Avot uvanim led by YiD.
On Tuesday we had a school assembly where we screened Sharit Krengel’s “Machal 804” documentary
on the amazing achievements of the South African volunteers who fought in Israel’s War of Independence.
Four of our school’s grandparents were counted among those heroes. How proud we were to recognise
26 April 2012 - 4 lyar 4