Rabbi Mordechai Lebhar

In every aspect, the ascension of Rabbi Mordechai Lebhar to the helm of LINK as our new Rosh Kollel has made a profound impact. Rabbi Lebhar is a renowned Talmid Chacham who has spent the past ten years studying at the feet of some of Jerusalem’s most venerable sages, while authoring three books and several monographs of Talmudic and halachic analysis.

He has galvanized the morning and afternoon sedorim of the intra-kollel learning with his weekly shiurim, his daily delight in his own learning and his constant encouragement. Rabbi Lebhar has dramatically raised LINK’s profile in the broader Jewish community, with his myriad meetings with community leaders and Rabbinic figures, his classes and Rabbinic work in the Sephardic community and his high level shiurim. As an example of the latter, nearly 75 men attended his shiur at the Los Angeles Kollel (“Legal Holiday Series”) on January 1st on the complex topic of “Yichud in the Workplace”. Above all, his disarming personality coupled with his intense enthusiasm for Torah learning has won him plaudits from all who have encountered him.

Intra-kollel Learning

Augmented by the appointment of Rabbi Lebhar as our new Rosh Kollel, the “Kol Torah” in LINK’s Beis Medrash has ascended to new heights. We now have 14 men learning all or part of the morning seder (tractate Shabbos, with an emphasis on the practical halachic ramifications). Besides Rabbi Lebhar’s weekly shiurim, he has arranged a rotation for the participants to offer their own Talmudic novellae (through bi-weekly “chaburos”). Some of these are being printed in the Torah journal of the National Community Kollel Network. Rabbi Lebhar has arranged for the Kollel to host shiurim by several distinguished Torah scholars, including Rabbi Avraham Chaim Levine, Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe Chicago, Rabbi Nachum Sauer of YULA, Dayan Chanoch Ehrentrau of London, Rabbi Gidon Moshe (chief disciple of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef) of Jerusalem, Rabbi Chaim Fasman of Kollel Los Angeles and Rabbi Aryeh Hendler of Sha’alvim Yeshiva in Israel. Weekly, the Kollel hears words of inspiration from Rabbi Boruch Yehuda Gradon of Kollel LA or Rabbi Yehuda Mendelson (close disciple of Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, ZT”L), via phone from Jerusalem.

The afternoon learning (2 – 4:30pm) has 6 participants delving into the intricacies of Tractate Eruvin. The Kollel is privileged to hear a weekly shiur (via phone) from one of Jerusalem’s leading experts on community eruvim, Rabbi Yisrael Dimartrovsky.

High Holiday Outreach

The dynamic duo of LINK Director Rabbi Jonathan Samuels and leading Hollywood writer David N. Weiss teamed up to lead inspirational Beginner’s Services for LINK on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Some 250 people, almost all of them new to LINK and from minimal Jewish learning backgrounds, came to at least one service. They were treated to the melodious tunes of Rabbi Avi Pogrow, the penetrating insights of Rabbi Samuels and the hilarious yet poignant story of David Weiss’s transformation from Christian filmmaker to Torah-based family man and leading Hollywood writer. The combination of discussion groups, incisive explanations and communal prayer, along with Yom Tov meals at the LINK homes made an indelible imprint on the many unaffiliated Jews who were experiencing their first taste of Torah true Judaism.

Classes

LINK’s outreach classes this fall were spearheaded by Rabbi Samuel’s very popular 7 part series “Magical Mystical Tour”. This crash course in Jewish Spirituality (which touched upon free will, reincarnation, dreams and the immortality of the soul) attracted upwards of 50 people, most of them new to Torah Judaism. Other outreach classes included Rabbi Stern’s series on relationships “The Art of Jewish Communication”.

Our inreach classes retained their popular following. The early morning Talmud skills class (Gemara In Your Kup) still claims over 15 devoted students of Rabbi Weinstock’s exuberant pedagogy. They recently completed Perek “Ailu Metzius” (2nd chapter in Bava Metzia) and are now deep into the much more challenging 1st chapter. At night, Rabbi Abramczik’s Talmud skills class has integrated a few more beginners within his group of “veteran” students. All told, there are upwards of 30 men learning Gemara daily at LINK (not including the intra-kollel daytime learning).

Other popular classes include Rabbi Abramczik’s in-depth Hilchos Brochos class on Monday nights, Mrs. Huvi Abramczik’s Women’s Prayer series on Wednesday nights, and Rabbi Lebhar’s new Sephardic Halacha presentation on Wednesday nights. Mrs. Elisheva Samuels now teaches three informal women’s Torah classes, focusing on singles and young mothers.

An exciting new series has been inaugurated on Sunday morning, “Kollel Yom Rishon”. The Kollel scholars and Rabbi Brander rotate to offer in-depth, practical halachic classes on various topics. Each class is preceded by breakfast and a 45 minute learning seder, where the major sources to be discussed are studied with a chavrusa, under the tutelage of our LINK staff. (This program is offered in conjunction with the Orthodox Union.)

Trustees Dinner

LINK’s first annual trustees dinner was held on September 18th at the home of our dear friends, Daniel and Rachel Solomons in Hancock Park. Sixty-five dedicated trustees came together to offer tribute to LINK’s new Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Mordechai Lebhar. The warmth and camaraderie of spirit was quite palpable and moving to all who attended. We thank the Solomons for both their hospitality and their generosity.

Annual LINK Banquet

LINK is excited to announce that its first annual Banquet will be held on Tuesday evening January 31st at the Olympic Collection. Our honorees are Gene & Marilyn Greenberg on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. The Greenbergs have been the major pillar supporting LINK since its inception three and a half years ago. As LINK’s President, Marilyn is the glue that holds together our many disparate activities and distinctive personalities. Gene has been the Kollel’s all around designated volunteer, helping in all aspects of our operation. These activities cap a career of fifty years of extensive community involvement in addition to their respective careers and raising a beautiful family. This tribute journal is being published to be distributed at the Banquet. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time and effort to take out an ad in honor of the Greenberg’s special anniversary and in honor of the organization they are so committed to – LINK.

Shabbaton

LINK teamed up with Gateways and Ashreinu/ JAM for an exciting Shabbaton November 11-13th at the LAX Hilton. Two of the top outreach speakers in America – Rabbis Jonathan Rietti and Mordechai Becher – dazzled the crowd of more than 400 with their breathtaking presentations. Nearly 100 of the participants came as a result of their involvement with LINK – and for many it was their first taste of an authentic Shabbos experience. The speakers, augmented by Rabbis Shippel and Brander along with the JAM Rabbinic staff, touched upon many of the fundamental philosophical issues that form the foundation of Judaism. The uplifting spiritual ambience of Shabbos combined with the cogent presentations left the participants deeply inspired and craving more.

TLC

Under the masterful direction of Mrs. Sarah Gertel, LINK’s TLC division has climbed to new heights. Following the extremely successful TLC Shabbaton with Rabbi Leib Kelemen in August (over 100 girls were in attendance), TLC has attracted some of the top teachers in Los Angeles to its Tuesday night classes. Presenters have included Mrs. Shifra Revach, Mrs. Bella Gottesman, Mrs. Rivky Frank, Mrs. Batyah Brander and Rabbi Boruch Yehuda Gradon, Rabbi Brander, Rabbi Shlomo Goldberg, Rabbi Lebhar and Rabbi Daniel Grama. Special guest presentations were made by Rabbi Noach Orloweck of Jerusalem and Lady Amelie Jakobowitz of England. Each Tuesday night upwards of 50 girls attend these classes; monthly, TLC reaches over 75 different girls, ranging from a yeshiva background to newly-observant. TLC also coordinates social and chesed activities. In addition, Mrs. Gertel and her staff meet with dozens of girls each week for one-on-one learning and counseling. In the past six months, over twenty TLC girls have gone or returned to Israel to learn in various seminaries, some for over a year!