Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

1)         This week at Midreshet Moriah

2)         Alumnae News

2)         Faculty Dvar Torah – Mrs. Michal Porath-Zibman

3)         Mazal Tov

4)         Mi SheBerach

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This Week at Midreshet

This week Midreshet set out on their annual 'Yom Chessed' where we meet with different people in Yerushalayim who are actively involved in acts of chessed from their own homes, literally, right out of their living rooms. We boarded the buses in the morning and set out to meet Mrs. Yarmush in Har Nof and Rebbitzin Miller in Mea Shearim. They each told us stories of Shabbat in their homes, where they host between 30-50 people every single week!!!! People from all walks of life who need a place to eat are welcome into their homes, and they have helped thousands of people over the years celebrate Shabbat.

We then went to Rena Coren's home and met with Rachel Naidel. Rachel is in charge of the 'Anywhere in Israel' organization which works out of her home. 'Anywhere in Israel' is an organization that matches up Yeshiva and Seminary students who are here for the year, with families anywhere in the country, who want to host them. Anywhere in Israel has placed students everywhere from Eilat to the Golan, in well known places and in places people have never heard of! Through this, she has enabled so many Yeshiva and Seminary students to get to know different types of families throughout Israel and experience a wide range of customs and culture at Shabbat tables. Midreshet students over the past few years have benefited from this and it has truly enhanced their year in Eretz Yisrael!

We are grateful to all 3 women who took time out of their busy schedules to share their stories with us, and we walked away from their homes feeling both amazed and inspired.

Also this week, Midreshet students celebrated the first siyum of the year! After months of hard work and dedicated learning, Lauren Fuchs and Sharon Cohen finished learning all of Pirkei Avot and had a siyum in the Beit Midrash this week. We are very proud of their accomplishments and wish them continued hatzlacha in all of their learning.

Rav Eitan and Vicky met with Midreshet alumnae in Stern College this week. Rav Eitan gave a shiur and Vicky gave a 'shmooze' and it was a beautiful evening of catching up with our alumnae. We love planning and being part of Midreshet reunions!!!

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Alumnae News

Rav Eitan will be giving a shiur and….Vicky will be giving a 'shmooze' in…

Washington Heights!

When?  Sunday December 11^th at 6 pm

Where? At the home of Danielle Goldstein, 195 Bennett Ave. Apt 1f

Can't wait to see you!

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What's In a Name?

Michal Porath-Zibman

Parshat VaYishlach opens with the very dramatic encounter between Yaakov Avinu and the mysterious angel who confronts him in the dark of the night. After a battle that they wage with one another, Yaakov emerges victorious. As the angel prepares to leave, Yaakov delays his freedom by demanding a blessing. This enigmatic character then changes Yaakovs name to Yisrael, and by way of explanation tells him 'Because you have served with both G-d and man and have prevailed'(32:29). We, the children of Yaakov, carry that name of Bnei Yisrael till this very day.

What can we learn from this new name? 

In attempting to understand this comment, and why it is not just an observation but rather a blessing, the Chassidic Master Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (18th century, Ukraine) offers the following thought: There are those, who when they serve G-d, their hearts are directed towards Him in a complete manner. However, when they deal with their colleagues, their fellow man out in 'the real world', they sometimes forget that they are men of G-d and engage in behaviors that are less than holy. It's easy to be a man, a person of G-d when in the Beit Midrash, when in shul. But the challenge is, can we maintain that level, can we maintain that sense of purity, when leaving those walls as well? Reb Levi Yitzchak suggests that this is indeed the blessing that Yaakov receives. 'You have served both G-d and man' is not meant to be two separate goals or ideals, but rather one and the same. In other words, it's as if the angel said to him: "Not only will you be serving G-d in issues of Bein Adam LaMakom, but by carefully watching the way you deal with other people, you will also be serving G-d in issues of Bein Adam LeChaveiro'. This mysterious yet fascinating story of this encounter is meant to teach us, to inspire us.  Perhaps, according to the Chassidim, what we are meant to learn from this is that if one can truly maintain the sanctity and authenticity of being a true Eved Hashem, in the business world, in the marketplace, on the street corner and in one's own home, then that will make us truly worthy of carrying the name of Bnei Yisrael.

Shabbat Shalom!

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Mazel Tov!               

Weddings:

Julie Schneider ('03-'04) and Shalom Schwartzben

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

Please help us stay informed - http://midreshetmoriah.org/send-mazaltov.asp

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Mi SheBerach List

We have started a new list. Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add.  

Rachel Yehudit bat Mancha Zaisel (8/12)

Aron ben Reizel (1/12)

Yehudah ben Shoshanna (1/12)

Haddasah Leah bat Shoshana (24/11)

Baruch Yehudah ben Leah (17/11)

Charna Leah bat Shaindel (17/11)

Mazal bat Pircha (3/11/11)

Malka bat Tova (10/10/11)

Shimon Dovid Yehoshua bat Rena (6/10/11)

Rifaela Chana Rivka bat Shayna Dena (6/10/11)- diagnosed with Non-Hodgken's Lymphoma

Rachel bat Mindel (6/10/11) - Lymphoma

Tzuriya Kochevet bat Sara - mother of 4 with inoperable stomach cancer (25/9/11)

Chaya bat Zecil (22/9/11)

Perel bat Malka (21/9/11)

Rachaylle bat Turan (21/9/11)

Miriam Leah bat Reizel Dena (21/9/11)

Zechariya Kalman Hakohen ben Yael Margolit (18/9/11)
Refael Matityahu Yaakov ben Gittel Rivka (18/9/11)

Tzipora Sara bat Esther Leah (18/9/11)

David ben Miriam (18/9/11)

David ben Rachel (18/9/11)

Rachel bat Kochava (18/9/11)
Hilda bat Yaffa (18/9/11)

Chana Gitel bat Sarah Chana (18/9/11)
Sarah Sipora bat Shifra (18/9/11)

Moshe Eliezer ben Esther Miriam (18/9/11)
Hilda bat Yaffa (18/9/11)
Moshe Yitzchak ben Shoshana (18/9/11)

Aviva Miriam bat Esther ( 11/9/11)

Osnat bat Clara (11/9/11)

Avraham Yehuda ben Davida Yehudit (11/9/11)

Tziporah Faiga Bat Sima Shaindel (11/9/11)

Chava Deena Etya Bat Chaya Tziporah Sheva (11/9/11)