Drizins Donate Lag BaOmer Gift to 100,000 Children

By COLlive reporter

The family of the late Crown Heights realtor and Chassidic philanthropist R’ Mendel Drizin OBM is making a special dedication in his memory this Lag BaOmer.

100,000 copies of the fifth volume of “Hatorah Sheli,” an illustrative publication that brings to life the weekly Parsha, will be distributed to Jewish children around Israel in honor of R’ Mendel’s Shloshim on the night of Lag BaOmer.

It will be the first year that children are receiving this book published by Maaynotecha headed by Rabbi Moshe Shilat in cooperation with Lubavitch Youth Organization (Tzach) in Israel.

The author of the series is Rabbi Menachem Brod, who based the stories on Chabad teachings on the weekly Parsha. He was assisted by Rabbi Levi Shaikevich. Design was done by Eliezer Margaliyos and illustrations by Shimon Kotlovsky.

Since the publication of the first Breishis volume, the series has been excitedly received by children from all walks of life during the many Lag BaOmer parades in the Holy Land.

The new volume is the fifth and final one based on Chumash Devarim, and is available for purchase for Shluchim in Israel for a subsidized price thanks to the Drizin family in memory of R’ Mendel who passed away on Chol Hamoed Pesach.

The Drizin family gift is of great significance, as R’ Mendel was one of the first to be involved in the efforts of Tzach in Israel in the 1950’s, and it was a cause very dear to him, his family told COLlive.

“R’ Mendel also had a particular love of sharing the beauty of the Chumash and the various pirushim, especially Rashi, with people of all backgrounds,” they said. “Therefore this gift is surely bringing him great nachas.”

One example of the impact of the series was when a grade 2 teacher in Herzelia noticed that one boy was particularly knowledgable in Chumash and the teachings of Chazal. When she asked for the source of his information, he brought in a volume of “Hatorah Sheli.” She has since recommended that all parents buy a copy for their children.