By Chani Vogel
It was a typically hectic evening in my household with my very cute, and full of personality, rambunctious 3 year olds. Well, one is going to be four next week, but I want credit where credit is due, and for now, as it has been for the past 6 weeks, I have two wonderful three year old boys.
They were finally in bed, supper was cleaned up, my husband went out for maariv, and I sat down to relax and catch up on the days’ news. I went on to my regular websites, and there was a write-up about our neighborhood yeshivos.
Oholei Torah had a fire in their Kindergarten building about 10 days before Pesach. The school was destroyed, and the menahalim had to search for alternative classroom solutions for the precious little boys in the school. It was not a simple job. There are rules and regulations as to what is acceptable for a classroom for a Kindergarten.
The solution came to me as an incredibly wonderful surprise. Oholei Torah would for now be using some empty classrooms in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva Ocean Parkway division. I marvelled at the beauty of that. Two competing schools. They should be rivals. In the time of Oholei Torah’s need, ULY Ocean Parkway came through beautifully.
I was not born yesterday. I am sure that it is a mutually beneficial relationship. I am amazed though, that both schools could work out such a great solution. Not only did ULY OP welcome the little Oholei Torah children in with the classrooms, the staff at Lubavitcher Yeshiva took their precious time, to go to the classrooms to see that everything was working out as well as could be hoped for.
Hashem, in this dark Golus, this should be a huge ray of sunshine. I felt good as I read the article and looked at the pictures. This is achdus. Achdus will bring Moshiach. Our Rebbe must be so proud.
The story does not end there.
This morning, I took my son down to the bus. We send our boys to Oholei Torah on Eastern Parkway, and were thus physically not affected by this story. I was waiting with him for Lazer’s bus to pull up. It was raining, and the raindrops were coming down quite heavily. My son was in his raincoat, and I walked down the stairs, got him to the bus, trying to shield my face from the downpour. I kissed him, and sent him on his way. It was then that I looked up at the bus as he was climbing up the stairs, and I saw the sign. Attached to both sides of the Oholei Torah bus, were signs that said ULYAUCTION.COM.
I did a double take. These are two competing schools. I am sure that ULY is being compensated financially, yet one hand washes the other. Oholei Torah put the signs of their competition school on to their private buses to help raise money for them! It blew my mind away! I dont know how familiar anyone out there is about fundraising for a yeshiva, but I do know that it is a cut throat business. Helping someone else, means that a person who gives to someone else has less to give to you. (I know there will be comments that you are not allowed to think this way… I already know that, thank you.)
The lesson that nothing happens for nothing is a strong one. I thought about this all day today. If two yeshivos that are competition to each other in any manner, can manage to come together in the interest of what is best for the future of yiddishkeit in Lubavitch, our precious neshamalach, what can that teach us? Achdus will bring Moshiach. We want Moshiach NOW!
We NEED Moshiach Now! We know what WE NEED to do…..
I would like to take this opportunity to actually thank my sons teacher wow what a dedicated teacher you are you love those yingalach so so much youi made the transition to ocean parkway so easy thank you morah leah lipsker yopu ropck
I heard about my son’s school brining OT kids to their classrooms after the fire and also saw the bus with the sign. ULYOP and Rabbi Dechter have been amazing and thoughtful for all my child’s needs, so why would their hand not help other in need. I loved the sign on the OT bus because it shows we can come together no matter what happens. Now if we can get people to donate to ULYOP during the auction that will help out the school and the boys.
Just for the record, I’be been working for Oholei Torah mossed 34 years. The reason that I’m there so long, is because the yeshiva knows how to treat their workers. Just for the record I graduated from Bedford and Dean elementary, and High School on Ocean Pkwy. even though I spent most of my life as an Oholei Toranik, I still know how to spell auction. unlike the sign, which was probably written not by an Oholei Toranik.
bestest relative!!
well written thanks for sharing positivity at a time when it is much needed.
thanks. what a lovely article
if one school is helping the other then they cant be competing each other
Thanks for sharing!
Wow thanks Mrs. Vogel for taking the time out and sharing this beautiful article, may you have much Nachas from your children. 1. it’s great to see with what pride and joy you write about your being a mom and loving your children unfortunately for those that don’t have time to sheer with the children. 2. You write about the sign on Lazer`s bus it’s just more to know of who this special individual by the name Reb Lazer Raksin is as a friend I can say that he next honoree that the both Mosdos look for they can honor… Read more »
Fabulous. I too had a huge smile on my face when I saw the Oholei Torah bus driving past sporting the ULY Auction banner. Kol Hakovod to both schools.
Thank you for taking your time to put down your thoughts and pointing out this beautiful act of Ahavas Yisroel!
They are definitely bringing Moshiach closer!
go lazer
Beautifully written Chani, as always!!