The recent annual Gala Dinner of Yeshivas Ezras Torah of
Manchester, was held at the Beis Yosef Hall in Prestwich, and
celebrated almost twelve years' achievement of a unique Torah
mosad. The impressive seudah was attended by
many of the chashuvei ho'ir, as well as guests who had
travelled from out of town to be present. Past members of the
yeshiva also attended the event in a show of gratitude to the
Yeshiva. The head table was graced by rabbonim and roshei
yeshivos from across the kehilloh.
The idea of a yeshiva that would treat each bochur as
an individual, and would bring out his full potential as a
valued member of Klal Yisroel, was originally
conceived by HaRav Osher Westheim, nosi hayeshiva, at
the Agudas Yisroel Conference in Bournemouth. Rav Westheim
has invested unlimited amounts of time and effort to bring
this dream to fruition, and was responsible for appointing
HaRav Michoel Emmanuel as the rosh hayeshiva.
The evening was very ably chaired by Rabbi Shimon Kaplin, who
outlined the importance of the yeshiva — which he
described as hatzolas nefoshos — and then called
on the Rosh Yeshiva to speak. Rav Emanuel expressed his
gratitude to the Yeshiva committee headed by R' Kovi Mozes
for their support of the Yeshiva, and to the invaluable part
played by the Dinner Committee, both in Manchester and in
London. The Rosh Yeshiva continued to describe the wonderful
siyata deShmaya that was given to the bochurim
in the Yeshiva who had, almost without exception,
achieved results far above expectations, and had gone on to
become valued yungerleit in botei midroshim and
yeshivos all over the world.
HaRav Osher Westheim praised the work of the dedicated
members of the hanholoh and the Committee. He
described Yeshivas Ezras Torah as a real pioneer in its field
of harbotzas haTorah. He also suggested that every
person should give some of his time to become involved in
some facet of klal work.
The guest speaker was HaRav Uren Reich, the rosh yeshiva of
Yeshiva Gedolah of Woodlake Village in New Jersey, who is
himself a native of Manchester. HaRav Reich eloquently
demonstrated the importance of encouraging each individual to
fulfill his own capabilities. In his very moving and often
emotional address, he suggested that just as in the future
all the seemingly barren trees will bear fruit, so too every
person has a hidden potential that is just waiting to be
revealed.
Rav Shloimo Angel, mashgiach in the Yeshiva, made a
presentation to Mr. G. Sher in appreciation for his and his
wife's help to the Yeshiva. R' Yehoshua Mannes and R'
Yehoshua Weiss were thanked for their dedicated help to the
Yeshiva throughout the year. The ambience of the evening was
enhanced with music played by R' Eli Heimann.
