Kolenu - Torah Academy of Minneapolis

KOLENUNEWS AND VIEWS OF TORAH ACADEMYVolume VIII, Number 3 September 15, 2006Rav Hillel Shaul benRav Shabsai Roberts A’Hby Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg“Ki oloh moveas bachalonenu – for death has ascendedthrough our windows.” These were the opening words of theMora D’Aasrah of Kehilas Bais Yisroel of Minneapolis, RavMoshe Tuvia Lieff, as he explained what happened the daybefore. In a voice full of sorrow and grief, the Rov bemoanedhow the malach hamoves came through the window, beforethe kehila had a chance to summon their resources of Torahand Tefilah, to take away Rav Hillel Roberts a’h, ofMinneapolis, who passed away suddenly after a brief illness.To a standing room crowd of shocked friends and family,the maspidim all spoke from the heart and their wordspenetrated the hearts of all those gathered to show a kovodachron to a most beloved member of the community. Haskochohparotis allowed for so many family members and friends toattend from out of town as they were already here or in routeto attend the bar mitzvah of a great nephew.While Rav Hillel left us at such a young age, heaccomplished more than many people thirty years older. Hislife was full of Torah, Avodoh and Gemilas Chasodim. His simchasHachaim was outstanding and if his heart went out at such ayoung age, it was because it worked so hard for sixty-four years.Rav Hillel’s ahavas Yisroel, his pure love of another person,steadfast devotion to his family and his ability to make everyonefeel valued, was well known in Minneapolis and to all who camein contact with him.Early YearsRav Hillel Roberts was born on Shabbos, the 18 th of Av, 64years ago in Minneapolis as the first son after two daughters tohis parents, Reb. Shepsel and Tybie Roberts. His parents, alongwith several other key members of the community, wereresponsible for founding, sustaining and building TorahAcademy, the oldest Jewish day school in Minnesota.His father, born in Bialistok and arrived at these shores ata young age, was especially pleased at the birth of a boy, as hewas now able to perform a bris on his own son. The exactnumber is not known, but Reb. Shepsel Roberts performedmore than ten thousand brissin, at times with great sacrifice.Being raised by such parents, parents that sacrificed everythingand anything for Shamiras hamitzvaos and limud Hatorah; it isno wonder that Reb Hillel became the embodiment of anehrlicha yid.The Great ExperimentAt the lavaya, his brother Reb Yaakov shared that hisbrother was an experiment for the benefits of day schooleducation. He was in one of the founding classes of TorahAcademy, the school his parents founded. “The experimentproved to be a great success,” remarked Reb Yaakov, as we seethe results of a great product.3Much of Reb Hillel’s success was the direct result of thehashpoah of the great mechanchim that were send by their RosheiYeshiva to serve in various communities, as part of a programcalled Vaad LaHafotsas Torah. Some of those rabbeim wereRav Gedaliah Anemer, Rav Chaim Tzvi Hollander, Rav TuviaMoses, Rav Moshe Ackerman and Rav Yisroel Richter.In the early years, Torah Academy only had classes throughsixth grade. At the young age of twelve, even before his barmitzvah, Reb Hillel attended the Hebrew Academy ofCleveland, and lived with the family of Reb Mayer Zelig Manna’h.After attending Hebrew Academy for seventh and eighthgrades, Reb Hillel entered the Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland andthat became the lab that developed his brain and heart. Whilehe left the Yeshiva after many years of intense limud, theYeshiva never left him.After learning at Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland for severalyears, Reb Hillel transferred to the newly formed Telshe branchin Chicago. At the lavaya, the Telshe Rosh Yeshiva, RavAvrohom Chaim Levin shlit’a, spoke about Reb Hillel’s yearsat the Yeshiva and how it was that relationship that made theRoberts name so closely connected with Telshe Yeshiva. TheRosh Yeshiva expressed how Reb Hillel’s petirah was a loss tonot only his family and the Minneapolis Jewish community,but to the Telshe Yeshiva as well.During his years in the Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago, hestudied for and received his semicha from the Roshei Yeshivain Cleveland – Rav Boruch Sorotzkin z’l, Rav Mordechai Gifterz’l and yebodel l’chaim tovim, Rav Chaim Stein shlit’a. Afterleaving the Yeshiva he received his kaboloh in shechitah fromRav Shlomo Yitzchok Levin z’l of Minneapolis.Reb Hillel served as a shochet for many years, workingclosely together with his younger brother, Reb Yaakov.FamilyAlmost thirty-eight years ago, Rav Hillel married ChayaBrindel Shapiro, the daughter of Reb Shlomo and Clara Shapiro.The Shapiros, originally from Crown Heights and then fromFar Rockaway, were exemplary in their Ahavas Torah and theiracts of chesed.Reb Hillel and his aishes chayil built an outstanding Torahhome in Minneapolis. Their home was a palace of GemilasChasodim. He took great pleasure in welcoming and entertainingguests.While Reb Hillel had no sons, his sons-in-law had a uniquefather/son relationship with him, while at the same time, theywere his friends. The husband of his older daughter, YedidiaTabbouche , began his divrei hesped by crying that he lost afather.His love and devotion to his extended family was one-of-akind.Uncle Hillel was the one that all would go to for anysupport and guidance. He did it all with his warm, bright smile.Torah, Avodoh and Gemilas ChasodimAny summary of the life of Reb Hillel Roberts, a life thatended so suddenly and abruptly, would have to mention hisContinued on next pageTorah Umesorah ~2004~ School of the Year

KOLENUNEWS AND VIEWS OF TORAH ACADEMYVolume VIII, Number 3 September 15, 2006Continued from previous pagegadlus in Torah. Not only was Reb Hillel a true talmid chochom,at home in all areas of learning; but he lived for his daily shiurthat he maintained with such care. Less than twenty-four hoursbefore his petirah he was still learning with his chavrusah in hishome. Reb Hillel understood that Torah was the source of alllife. Rav Lieff described the high level of energy that Reb Hillelused when he learned. “His wife would interrupt their learningto inquire what they (Reb Hillel and his chavrusah) were fightingabout”, said Rav Lieff in his hesped.His chashivus for Tefilah B’Tzibur was a result of what hesaw from his father. If Reb Hillel wasn’t in shul you knew thathe was either out of town or something was amiss.Rav Lieff spoke about Rav Hillel’s acts of Gemilas Chasodim,all done privately and without the usual fanfare. He gave awaythousands of dollars to outfit bochurim with clothes before theyleft for yeshiva. He wanted them to fit right in and not bemissing anything.Lev TovAfter serving as a shochet for many years, Reb Hillel wentinto the kosher food industry and he conducted his businesswith the highest level of Kashruth. He wanted to be known asan honest businessman and everyone wanted to do businesswith him.A story was told at the lavaya of a meeting that was heldbetween Reb Hillel and his partners to discuss a delinquentaccount in the amount of more than $100,000. A decision wasmade to stop supplying that customer until the outstandingbalance was resolved. When one of the partners learned thatthe following day Reb Hillel processed an order for thatdelinquent customer, he approached Reb Hillel with wonderand surprise. “I thought we were not filling his orders anylonger”, came the question. “Yes, but what should I do – hiswife is sick and we have to supply him”, came the response.The Telshe Rosh Yeshiva spoke about the Mishnah in Avosthat speaks about the best route one should take in life. Hespoke about the different suggestions of the Tannaim and howReb Hillel chose them all. He had a good eye in everythingthat he chose. He was a one-of-a-kind good friend. He was agood neighbor. He saw the future by knowing to invest in theMinneapolis community. Above all, he had a good heart.It is rare to hear one brother boast that in all their yearsworking together as business partners, they never had adisagreement. This result is the sign of a unique person.Noam Jaffa, another son-in-law of Reb Hillel spoke atthe lavaya that in almost fifteen years of marriage, he neverhad a troubling interaction with his father-in-law. That is nosmall accomplishment as son-in-law and father-in-law sharedthe same office in business for all the years. Noam alsospoke about how his father-in-law had a most lovingrelationship with everyone who came in contact with him.He was a remarkably good man. He was a person ofdevotion and integrity, a man who understood a hard day’swork.4His lev tov caused him to not only avoid machlokes, butto also run after peace. He would do whatever he could tocreate peace between two people in conflict.The LavayaIncluding the Telshe Rosh Yeshiva, who flew in fromChicago and returned that same afternoon, many friends andfamily were able to make it on time for the lavaya, in spite ofsuch short notice.Hespedim were delivered by Rav Avrohom Chaim Levin,Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe Chicago; Rav Moshe Tuvia Lieff, theMoroh D’Aasrah of the Bais Yisroel Kehilas of Minneapolis,Rav Yankel Roberts, a brother of the niftar and a former Talmidof Telshe; Yedidia Tabbouche , a son-in-law; Noam Jaffa, a sonin-lawand several of his nephews. He was buried in the cemeteryin Minneapolis, Minnesota, near his grandparents, parents andsister.A group of Kohanim gathered together outside of the baishakevoros and joined Reb Tzvi Cohen during the lavaya. It ishard to describe the relationship between Reb Tzvi and RebHillel – a relationship that went back to their youth and grewpowerfully with time. They were not only business partners,but closer than the best of friends.Reb Hillel Roberts leaves behind his brother, Reb YaakovRoberts, his sister, Debbie Weinberg, his wife Helene, twodaughters, Tammy Tabbouche and Laurie Jaffa and manygrandchildren ka’h. In addition, he leaves behind a grievingbrother-in-law, Rabbi Yehudah Lumi Borenstein, the husbandof his sister Guita a’h and a devoted mother-in-law, ClaraShapiro.It would be fit to end with the following story that depictsthe chashivus that Reb Hillel gave for hakoras hatov and kovodHatorah and how the hashgochoh perotis arranged for Reb Hillelto have his Rov with him at his petirah.On Thursday afternoon, the 14 th of Elul, Rav Lieff wasscheduled to deliver a shiur to a large group in Minneapolis.This shiur was well publicized and promoted for weeks inadvance and a large audience was expected. That sameafternoon, because a member of that group was sitting shivah,the shiur was suddenly cancelled. When one reflects on thesituation, you would conclude that it made no sense for a shiurto be cancelled just because one person was sitting shivah.However, that was what was needed to happen by Hashem’swill to make it possible for Rav Lieff to be present at the timeof Reb Hillel’s petirah.Upon hearing of the cancellation, Rav Lieff decided to visitReb Hillel in the hospital. He had no clue that he was going tovisit him for the last time. While Rav Lieff was at the hospital,Reb Hillel’s situation took a turn for the worse and it becameclear that the end was near.Reb Hillel was coherent until his final moment. His lastwords were to his closest chovor ka’ochiv, Reb Tzvi Cohen,“thank the Rov for coming to visit.” It was then that HaKodoshBaruch Hu gave him his neshikah and the malach hamoves camethrough the window. .Yehi zichro boruch.Torah Umesorah ~2004~ School of the Year

KOLENUNEWS AND VIEWS OF TORAH ACADEMYVolume VIII, Number 3 September 15, 2006Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Danieland Perri Kutoff on the engagement oftheir daughter Elisheva to Mr. LeviBotnick of Toronto. May the weddingtake place b’shaah tovah umutzlachas.Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Yarden and JillWolfe on the birth of their daughter, Eliana.5Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Alekseyand Irina Barannikov on their son Garybeginning to put on tefillin. May they seemuch nachas from their children.Send your announcements, simchas, & news tokolenu@torahacademymn.orgor call [952] 285-8603.sugu vkscvku aushek ihhKIDDUSH,HAVDALA & MORETorah Academy Gift ShopGift Shop HoursSunday morning 10:00 a.m.-NoonThursday evening 8:00-11:00 p.m.Monday 9/18 Back to School Night 8:15 - 9:30 P.M.Back to School SALESMetsudah Linear Neviim (Prophets)Reg. $20.95 Sale Price $15.95Rosh Hashana special Pocket Interlinear Machzor 25% off hardcover editionAll CIS Pub. 40% off except coloring books.Come See Us Soon • Use the 28 th Street Entrance • [952] 285-8618Our condolences to Mr. Herbert Hillman on the loss of his sister, Mrs. Idell Silberman.Our condolences to Mr. Mike Berezovsky on the loss of his grandmother, Bea Scheiner.Our condolences to Mrs. Helene Roberts on the loss of her husband, Rabbi Hillel Roberts.Our condolence to Mrs. Laurie Jaffa and Mrs. Tammy Tabbouche on the loss of their father andto Rabbi Yanky Roberts and Mrs. Debby Weinberg on the loss of their brother.May the Omnipresent console you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.Torah Umesorah ~2004~ School of the Year

Community Events Bulletin BoardOnly Two Opportunities LeftSunday September 17th&Tuesday September 26thTo try out for:The Minneapolis BoysChoirDon’t be left out!!!Call612-578-9937Today!We are stocked up with all the supplies you need!!!Beautiful, disposable plates, tableware & cutleryAluminum Pans in every shape and sizeSPECIAL PRE YOM TOV SALES WITH OURSIGNATURE BLOWOUT PRICESSATURDAY NIGHT SEPTEMBER 16THOPEN TILL 1 AMSATURDAY NIGHT SEPTEMBER 30THOPEN TILL 1 AMOPEN DAILY 8:30—5:00 SUNDAY 10:00—12:00952-836-1005 DELIVERY AVAILABLECONVIENIENTLY LOCATED AT HWY 100 & W36TH STREET ACROSS FROM BURLINGTONCOAT FACTORYPlease send in your clipped BoxTops by October 25 th in order tohave them counted, bundled andmailed by the October 31 stdeadline.Some points to remember as you’re collecting Box Tops:•Please trim your own Box Tops, so ourvolunteer doesn’t have to!•Watch for expiration dates. They must beintact, and not past the date.•Don’t wait to bring them in. They can beprocessed at any time!•If you would like the prestigious, yet simple task of BoxTops coordinator, please contact Mary at [952] 285-8609.•We all thank you for doing your part!Here is an easy way to earn cash for Torah Academy. Go towww.Boxtops4education.com/super now and sign up!With each new registration, Torah Academy will receivebonus box tops (redeemable for cash) and you can get greatbenefits. It’s free, it’s easy and schools need our help todaymore than ever. Box Tops makes it easy for you to do yourpart by offering you everyday ways to make a difference foryour school.If you shop at Cub Foods, please watch theSeptember ads for the special week when you can get100 Bonus Box Tops and $3 off your shopping order bybuying 12 select General Mills products.Roofers & PaintersExcel EnterprisesRoofers•Roof•Siding & PorchesPaint Pros•Exterior and interiorRemodeling•Additions•Windows & Doors•Basements, SheetrockWe Remodel America!Excel Enterprises(952) 994-0581

Community Events Bulletin BoardNCSY is once again offering Appleand Honey Baskets for Rosh Hashanah for$12 each. Please call Mrs. Bella Smith at[952] 927-9670 by this Sunday to placeyour order.Attention Women:Please join us on Sunday mornings at 10:00a.m. to say tehillim for Chaya Dalya Veredbas Yaffa Yehudis Berezovsky at the home ofMrs. Aliza Frank, 2834 Salem.Car for sale—97 Mazda Protege, 65,000 miles ingood running condition. Please call [952] 922-8058.YOU HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH THE KING-(ARE YOU PREPARED?)OUR TEFILLOS ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR ROSHHASHANA – YOM KIPPUR EXPERIENCE . . .ARE WE PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD?“THE WELL” IS PROUD TO PRESENT A TWO-PARTSERIES FOR WOMEN ON“THE MACHZOR” (ADVANCED LEVEL)AT THE HOME OF MRS.CHAIA WEINBERG,2835 SALEM AVE•SUNDAY, SEP.17 TH , 8:00 P.M. REBBETZIN SURI GIBBER•WEDNESDAY, SEP. 27 TH , 8:00 P.M. RABBI CHAIM GIBBER.MARK YOUR CALENDARS!ANY QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT:612.296.9634MKOVAL@MNKOLLEL.ORGWeekly classes for families and young adultsSocial events, Brit, Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparationEducational programs for children

Community Events Bulletin Board

Community Events Bulletin BoardD E R E C H Update(Take the right “path” to Diet and Exercise to Reach and Enrich the Care of your Health)**Sponsored in part through a grant from the US Health & Human Services)YOGA/LATES EXERCISE CLASS for WOMEN(All levels, shapes and sizes welcome; Walk-in’s too!)Fall is a GREAT time to jumpstart a long forgotten exercise routine! YOGA moves, PILATES & STRENGTHTRAINING all rolled into one great class! You’ll feel and become stronger and stand taller!SPECIAL INSTRUCTOR: Jackie Broze· Certified Yoga Instructor, Corporate trainer and Instructor at Lifetime Fitness· Popular guest trainer at Jewish women’s organizationsWHEN: 8:15 A.M. Sunday mornings—this class is much more effective for energizing yourself thansleeping in will be!!WHAT TO BRING: Mat or towel, bottle of water, and wear comfortable clothing, not loose.COST: $6 per class/$32 for 6 week sessionFREE TRIAL OFFER! SEPT 17, the last class of this session.NEXT 6-class session begins OCTOBER 22HELD OVER ANOTHER YEAR!HEALTHFUL & HEIMISHE HOLIDAY HINTS7 th Class – Monday, September 18 – 8 pm, $8 donationTOPIC: ROSH HASHANA & YOM KIPPURCan Yom Tov and Shabbos derail our best efforts to eat well, exercise and lead healthful lives? Learn howthey can ENHANCE our efforts! Come and find out some helpful hints in this multi-session coursearound the holidays of the year to take charge of your well-being through DISCOVERING:* Torah sources and perspectives for healthy living; learn the art of eating and chewing!* Techniques to help plan for and manage temptations of the Yom Tovim* Recipe renovations and demonstrations of Yom Tov specialties and the food symbols of the holiday* Plus, a few quick anywhere, anytime exercises******************************************************************************D E R E C H-TIONS WEIGHT CONTROL PROGRAMTake charge of your weight and well-being, through this multi-dimensional weight control program/support group. This classwill include Torah sources for healthful living (Rambam, Rav Nachman of Bretslav, Rabbi Jonathan Rietti), components ofthe Torah-based 12-step program, as well as nutrition counseling, behavior change strategies, basic strength training, bodyweight and body fat tracking.MONDAY EVENINGS 8 P.M., NEXT 6 OR 12 WEEK SESSION BEGINS OCTOBER 23.$5/week, $25 for 6 weeks, $50/12 weeksTO REGISTER or for more information about the DERECH Program contactBJ Kremen Goldman, MS, RD, LD, at 952-922-8865 or 952-920-2183 or e-mailsgoldman@mn.rr.com Log onto www.kenessethisrael.org/special/derech.html

KOLENUNEWS AND VIEWS OF TORAH ACADEMYVolume VIII, Number 3 September 15, 2006A World in a JarStudents in science classes are observing howorganisms live in a closed ecosystem. Before we recievedthe minnows the students wrote hypotheses for theoutcome of this skills lab. Everyday they will recordobservations of the ecosystem. This is the beginning ofexperiencing the inquiry process that scientists use.Mrs. Patricia Gardner10Important DatesSeptember 18•Back-to-School Night, 6–8, 7 p.m.September 19•All-School Panoramic PhotoSeptember 22•Erev Rosh Hashanah•NO SCHOOL•NO TORAH TOTSSeptember 25•Fast of Gedalyah•Grades 7 and 8 dismissed at 2:45September 26-29•Standardized TestingOctober 2•Yom Kippur•NO SCHOOL•NO TORAH TOTSOctober 5-October 16• NO SCHOOL PreK-8 (Succos Break)October 5-6•NO TORAH TOTSOctober 9-12•Torah Tots in sessionAs the sixth grade boys were learning about archaeology, they came to realize what a tedious job these peopleencounter as they are discovering our past history. Each boy got a first hand try at being an archaeologist as he had topainstakingly remove artifacts (chocolate chips) from his plot of Earth (cookie) with a tool of a toothpick and apaintbrush. How many could you remove without breaking them?Ms. Allyson SchultesTorah Umesorah ~2004~ School of the Year