Fw: The Stories We Tell

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From: "Rabbi Reuven Brand, Rosh Kollel" <info@torahchicago.org>

To: "Chana Chroman" <mates57564@aol.com>

Cc:

Sent: Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 12:03 PM

Subject: The Stories We Tell

B'SD April 9, 2024   | א׳ ניסן תשפ״ד    Dear Friends,   Nissan is a time for stories. This month contains the origin story of our people – the story we tell each year at the Pesach Seder. This is our story of faith and strength.   Our YU Torah Mitzion Kollel is also filled with stories. It is the story of YU's first community Kollel. It is the story of a woman with a complicated health situation reaching out to our NILI Taharat Hamishpacha hotline. It is the story of delivering Romanian salami to IDF soldiers in Gaza. Recently, someone shared an exceptional and personal Kollel story with me.   A young educator at a post high school Yeshiva in Israel was recently in Chicago. I recognized this young man, who grew up in Skokie, and he told me that the Kollel played a pivotal role in his spiritual development. He warmly explained to me that as a high student school student, he struggled with faith and observance. At one point, he sat down at home and composed a written list of five points that would help him decide to choose a life of Torah and Mitzvot. One of these five crucial  points was a Kollel Rabbi – a role model.   While this story is so moving, what's even more amazing is that it's not the only one of which I am aware. Recently, our Kollel alum (and ICJA Rebbe) Rabbi Mayer Simcha Stromer was visiting Yeshiva University, meeting with Chicago boys studying at YU. One of them remarked to him that he – the student – was a Torah observant person because one of the Kollel Rabbis said good morning to him regularly in the hallway at ICJA.   As a Kollel partner, we hope  that you are proud of these stories and the countless other Kollel stories we tell that fill us with faith and strength, especially during this period.   Chodesh Tov and thank you for your ongoing participation. Rabbi Reuven Brand Rosh Kollel, YU Torah Mitzion Kollel of Chicago Bobins Family Chair in Community Jewish Scholarship Our Contact Information YU Torah Mitzion Kollel 8233 Central Park Ave Skokie, IL 60076 7739736557 http://www.torahchicago.org   Unsubscribe | Manage email preferences