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NEWS
Yeshivas Mordechai HaTzaddik to Open 50 New Branches in
the United States
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
For the past seven years, Avos U'Banim has organized the
opening of Yeshivas Mordechai HaTzaddik on Purim in Israel
and around the Jewish world. This year, they launched a
campaign to promote the idea of learning on Purim day in
schools and communities throughout the US.
Avos U'Banim, which is a year-round weekly learning program
for fathers and sons, was launched in America in November
2004 and, in just four months, 125 Motzei Shabbos learning
centers have opened and affiliated with this growing
worldwide movement.
Yeshivas Mordechai HaTzaddik is a continuation of the group
of children brought together to learn and pray for the
salvation of the Jewish people, as described in Megillas
Esther. The idea of learning on Purim day was conceived by
HaRav Matisyahu Salomon, the Mashgiach of Lakewood, when he
was mashgiach of Gateshead Yeshiva in 1992. He felt
that Yidden should not waste such a precious day as
Purim but should use it for learning Torah.
Rabbi Shlomo Myers in Lakewood was already encouraging boys
to come and learn on Purim morning, but Rav Matisyahu's
chiddush was to invite them to bring their fathers and
so strengthen their connection by learning together
besimcha. From Gateshead and Lakewood, the idea of
learning for an hour in the beis hamedrash on Purim day
has spread throughout Israel. Now there are 940 branches
around the Jewish world: Australia, South Africa, France,
Belgium, England, America, Canada. This year, for the first
time, there will be four branches learning on Purim in
Russia!
Rabbi Naftali Meir Falk of Yeshivas Mordechai HaTzaddik
reports that Avos U'Banim is hoping to involve more than
70,000 boys this year worldwide, together with their fathers.
"The atmosphere in the beis hamedrash on Purim has to
be experienced to be believed. With many boys in costume, the
learning is geshmak. We sing and dance, we give out
prizes and nosh, and the davening at the end of
the session is charged with emotion. Yeshivas Mordechai
HaTzaddik is really the highlight of the learning year for
fathers and sons, who share something very special on this
most special day of the year."
For more information about opening a branch of Yeshivas
Mordechai HaTzaddik in your kehilla, or finding your
nearest branch, contact the U.S. Head Office at tel. 212 561
5877.
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