Belz Yeshiva’s Surprise for Tomchei Temimim Ocean Parkway

For the past 5 years, while their school building was in the process of being built, a portion of Yeshiva Machzikei Hadaas Belz moved into part of Tomchei Temimim of Ocean Parkway’s building.

For the entire duration of their stay, both Yeshivas existed in absolute harmony with each other.

This year, in the weeks following Pesach vacation, their new building was completed and they moved in.

A few weeks later, Rabbi Menachem Lifshitz entered the wing of the building that was formerly occupied by the Belz Yeshiva. To his surprise he noticed that the walls were covered with papers. Upon closer inspection he realized that the papers were ‘Thank You’ notes that students from the Belz Yeshiva left for the students of Tomchei Temimim Ocean Parkway, thanking them for allowing them to use their building.

“Thank you for the building, we learned so well, it was really nice. When we needed something you helped us in all ways,” read one letter. “There are no words to express my Hakaras Hatov,” wrote another student in Yiddish, “it was really nice watching you play” wrote a third. One white board was even found decorated with the words: Thank you Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch!

“The students rarely interacted with each other, so it was very touching to see the impression that our talmidim made on theirs simply by going about their days in the way they normally would,” Rabbi Lifshitz commented. “I also learned the importance of showing and teaching Hakaras Hatov. Many of the Melamdim also wrote letters, providing a living example for their students and, honestly, for me as well.”

Pictured Below: Photos of the Thank You letters that adorned the walls of the classrooms. Can you spot the letter with two hidden acronyms?