Overheard at iLearn Class

iLearn women’s summer learning program is in full swing! Running through August 14th, providing in-depth learning classes, stimulating lectures and exciting workshops, iLearn is drawing women and girls from all parts of the community to participate.

“iLearn is such a great opportunity to refresh and recharge spiritually,” says one participant, “I encourage everyone to take advantage of the program!”

Overheard in iLearn classes this week:
There is a story that R’ Shlomo Chaim Kesselman tells: When he was sent to the gulag, the Russian work camps, punished for practicing Torah and Mitzvos, he had a picture of his family with him. He would look at it and recall his family.

During his imprisonment there, his twin sons had an upshernish. His wife sent him a package with some of the hair from his sons hair-cutting. He said, “With the picture I can see my family. But the hair, that is my family. I cant see from it their faces or how they look. But it is them.

This is the difference between Or and Shefa. In the desert there was a lot of revelation. They were able to see Hashem. But in Eretz Yisrael which involved bringing Hashem down into the physical world, that’s where Hashem is.”

Overheard in the Sichos course taught by Mrs. Faigy Yusevitz on Mondays and Wednesdays at 11:00 am.

We say in Shma “Veshinantam Levanecha”. Veshinanatam – “You shall teach” your children “Levanecha.” Rashi explains that Levanecha means your students. In fact, in the entire Torah the word Levanecha is never taken literally to mean children; it always means students. Why does Rashi bring three proofs, one from Torah, Neviim, and Ksuvim, to prove that?

The Rebbe explains this beautifully. Rashi is written for the five-year-old student that learns Chumash. When gets to this Passuk, he may worry: “It says that is a Mitzva to teach your child Torah, but here I am in school and my teacher is teaching me, not my father! Perhaps he doesn’t know about this Mitzva… Or worse maybe he knows, but does not care?” So Rashi reassures him so that he doesn’t worry: The Torah gives a parent a full right to hire a teacher to teach his or her child! In fact, that is how it has been done by Jews for centuries.

Moreover, the Rebbe learns from this, that a teacher needs to look at his students like they are his children: It is not enough if he taught the subject matter and they understood it; a teacher needs to take responsibility for the students’ moral and spiritual development, to give his or her students the skills to fight all the spiritual and moral battles in his or her life.

From one of the quotes that Rashi brings, we learn that is our obligation as teachers to stay connected to the students as long as they need us. In Judaism we never give up on a student. More than that from the way Rashi quotes one of the Pesukim, we learn that we shouldn’t feel like that if we have taught our students, and they understand, and they have all the necessary skills, we have done our job. We must still go out of our way for them.

To take this even further, from the word “Vegomer” after the quote, the Rebbe learns that we shouldn’t think we are doing our students a favor when we go out of our way for them. The only person we are doing a favor for is ourselves. We seek our own completion – “Gomer” by going out of our way for our students. This helps us complete our mission to bring about the coming of Moshiach.

This teaches us that our main mission in this world is to be sensitive to another person. As the Baal Shem Tov taught us, “A soul can come down for 70 or 80 years just to do a spiritual or physical favor for another.” And all of this the Rebbe learns from one part of a Rashi!

Overheard in the Tefilla course taught by Mrs. Sara Lieberman on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:00 am.

If Malchus is not a Mekabel from Z”A, then Z”A just wants to revert to being a mekabel from Binah, his “mother”. But if we make ourselves into a Mekabel, then Z”A will be the Mashpia! There is only one Mashpia in the house. If you become the decision-maker, then you’ve made your husband into a Shmatte. The secular world has warped our perception… When you’re receiving from your husband you are also a Mashpia in that you have an ability to totally transform him for the good.

Hashem created everything in this world through speech, “Dibbur,” which is why it has the same root as “Dvarim,” objects, things. We were created in the image of Hashem. The human race is the only creations that have the ability to speak. Animals communicate on an instinctive level, but speech as an expression of a though process is unique to us. But Dibbur also has the same root as “Midbar,” which is desert, desolate and “Dever” which is a plague. Just like he created the world with words, so to we can create with words. he words we use create our reality.

Upcoming events:
Monday Night, July 15th– “Eicha by Candlelight” Join us for a reading of Megillas Eicha by Rabbi Green and a discussion about Tisha Beav afterward.

Tuesday, July 16th – Special Tisha Beav program: 1:00 pm “If I forget you, Jerusalem” by guest speaker Mrs. Malka Touger. 2:30 pm Special Video Presentation.

Wednesday night, July 17th – “The Mother/Daughter-in-law Relationship” with Mrs. Sara Labkowski. For both daughters in laws and mothers in law, this class will shed light on how to build and maintain a healthy, loving relationship. Learn how to avoid the pitfalls of the legendary feared “Shviger”.
Highlights of the week of July 22: A Friends learn FREE Day and a Sheitel Workshop by Mrs. Anat Chazan.

What brings people to iLearn?
For some it’s the atmosphere, “iLearn is an oasis in Crown Heights during the summer – no question about it!” Women are so uplifted and inspired by each class that they often stay on after to discuss and review the lessons. “It’s very warm and comfortable here; it has a real heimish feel.”
For others, it is the depth of the classes and the excellent teachers. “The teacher’s here are so wonderful, I feel like I’m back in seminary again with the amount of information I get from each lesson!” “There is such a unique staff of teachers at iLearn! I have never had the opportunity to hear many of them previously and I’m enjoying each and every one.”

Haven’t joined yet? Come by and see what it’s all about. Enjoy the warm atmoshphere, the excellent teachers, and in-depth learning available at Vacation CH!

To see our exciting schedule, or get more information about the program visit ilearnch.com or email [email protected], or call us at 718-735-0030 ext. 106

All classes take place at The Bayit, 556 Crown Street. The entrance is on Crown St. through the door that says ‘Welcome’ on it. (Rabbi Silberberg’s Tanya class which on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 am takes place inside the apartment building entrance to the left, in apartment A1.)

All classes are available for live viewing from wherever you are in the world or if you cannot make it for any reason! You can watch at a later time, too. All iLearn classes this year are archived in the iLearn library and are available for purchase. Visit iLearnCH.com for more information.

To purchase any past class for viewing, including Mrs. Labkowsky’s acclaimed workshop: “Navigating the Shidduch Maze: 5 Steps to finding a Shidduch for your Child” go to iLearnch.com and click on Courses > Take this course.

This time is an opportune time to increase in Tzedaka. Please make a donation to iLearn to help us provide scholarships to students that are eager to learn but cannot pay. Go to iLearn.com/donate.