Rabbi E. was flabbergasted. He hadn’t known this student wasn’t keeping Shabbos regularly

Living Higher

Several weeks ago, Rabbi Aaron Eisemann, a campus rabbi at NYU known to all as “Rabbi E,” invited 12 Jewish students down to Lakewood for a day of professional networking arranged by Rabbi Mendy Brukirer of Meor JX. The students met with industry leaders and successful businessmen who happily shared tips and contact information.

The day didn’t feature any overtly religious programming, focusing instead on the role of a frum Jew in the professional world. But the organizers would learn that even that limited focus would have an unforeseen impact. Four weeks later, Rabbi Eisemann met a student whose sole participation in Jewish life on campus had been this event. He asked the student about his weekend plans.

“Rabbi,” the student responded earnestly, “this is the fourth week I’m keeping Shabbos.”

Rabbi E was flabbergasted. He hadn’t known this student wasn’t keeping Shabbos regularly. He asked how the student had come to observe a foundational mitzvah. The student explained that he had joined the Meor JX business trip to Lakewood and kept hearing one common theme from attendees: Shabbos observance had kept them grounded and provided desperately needed balance.

“Here I am about to launch my own career,” the student confided, “and if Shabbos is a harbinger of success, I want to partake in it as well.”

Happening in... Lawrence

One year ago, as a zechus for Eretz Yisrael, the Beis Medrash of Lawrence, under the leadership of Rabbi Dovid Fordsham, initiated a hilchos Shabbos program with a unique format. The weekly program, geared toward children ages 9 to 16, would feature handouts called “Shabbos Protects” containing concise halachos relevant to Shabbos.

For 52 consecutive weeks, both boys and girls diligently studied the halachos. This last week, the shul hosted a test open to all program participants — the boys downstairs and the girls upstairs. The test followed a “gameshow” model; the questions were posted on a screen and the participants were given a chance to answer. The 45 test takers performed admirably and were a source of pride to all.

We are taught that Shabbos is the greatest protection. We are also taught that the world exists in the merit of the “hevel pihem shel tinokos shel beis rabban — the Torah learning of children.”

May the two combined elicit a most Divine protection and the ushering in of a yom shekulo Shabbos.

Houston Rockets

AT Yeshiva Toras Emes in Houston, Texas, the boys are greeted every day by large photos of famous gedolim, accompanied by short biographies. Alongside the well-known portraits are photos of those same personages as youngsters, when they were just beginning to enter the hallowed tents of Torah. The famous gedolim photos give YTE talmidim a glimpse of greatness, along with a reminder that each gadol started off just where they did — and that they too, can reach for the stars.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1036)