Torah Encounters

2011 Yeshiva Video

torah — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:01:53 +0000

Danny Bleiweiss

admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:00:23 +0000

The personal and spiritual growth that I’ve experienced since coming to Torah Encounters has far exceeded what I thought was possible. I have a graduate degree in finance from The Ohio State University and own and manage a real estate company that I started in 1999. In 6 short months my experiences at Torah Encounters has provided me with life changing teachings. My time learning at Torah Encounters has enhanced my relationship with my family, friends and has strengthened my business. You don’t get paid to study Torah but it is the most rewarding. Before one can see clarity in the world they must first see clarity within themselves. I have found that the tools necessary for the journey toward clarity and fulfilling ones mission in life can be acquired through learning Torah and its teachings. Yeshivah Tzama Nafshi has given me just that.

Jeff Kaplan

torah — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 20:50:51 +0000

I have been involved with the Torah Center for almost four years, starting when Rabbi Goldwasser came to Gainesville, Florida to host a Shabbaton for my fraternity, Tau Epsilon Phi. Since that time, we created an outreach center in Gainesville where we continue to have bi-semester Shabbatons and bi-monthly events ranging from building a Sukkah to studying Chassidut. What set our programming apart is the openness and welcoming philosophy behind the teaching, which resonates within all the individuals associated with the Torah Center. After graduating from the University of Florida and moving to South Florida to begin my teaching career, I continued my involvement by attending shabbatons in Danbury, Connecticut in and eventually spending the summer in Jerusalem at the newly established Tzema Nafshi. In Jerusalem, I had a real Yeshiva experience rooted in the same philosophy that inspired me to become involved in religion while in Gainesville. The routine of life was different than anything I had known before, but the teachers and other students gave me the mentorship I needed to succeed. The dynamic teachers, all experts in their own right, provide an educational experience that was extremely personal, making the learning experience tangible and relatable. I spent my summer studying Chumash and Pirkei Avot. Rabbi Goldwasser, the teachers, and the students created a personalized environment that enabled my growth. In turn, I was able to return such guidance to my peers and I continue to do so now at Indiana University where I am studying in a PhD. program in Education and Learning Sciences. The learning dating back to Gainesville and through Tzema Nafshi in Israel has been integral in forming me into the person I am today, in my religious, moral, and professional life.

Elli Gigi

torah — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 20:49:43 +0000

Growing up in a traditional Jewish home in San Francisco was a nice way for me to stay in touch with my heritage, but for some reason, it never seemed enough. Soon after graduating from college in San Francisco, a friend of mine told me about a retreat in Danbury, CT for Jewish students. Having wanted to connect more to my Jewish roots, this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Today I am learning in Torah Encounters Jerusalem Yeshiva, and loving every moment. Needless to say, my trip to Danbury is one I will never forget.

Yeshiva Video

torah — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 15:11:48 +0000

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Michael Kantor

admin — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 07:27:32 +0000

I grew up in South Florida with a strong sense of social values but little connection to Judaism. My earnest desire to seek justice eventually lead me to law school and I began to see the value of Torah Judaism in a world without much of a moral compass. In my third year of law school, I met Rabbi Goldwasser and attended a beautiful retreat in Danbury Connecticut. I explored many avenues of Jewish learning but quickly realized that Torah Encounters was the place for me. After graduating from law school and passing the Florida Bar Exam, I came to the Torah Encounters’ yeshiva in Jerusalem where I have experienced immense personal and intellectual growth. I truly look forward to continuing my growth in Judaism and incorporating it into my legal career.

Michael Kantor
mkantor715@gmail.com

Pesach 2011

torah — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 19:04:17 +0000

Rabbi Pinchas Rekant

torah — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:58:31 +0000

Lecturer

Weekly Parsha 2

admin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:12:31 +0000

Matthew Berkowitz

admin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:51:50 +0000

I grew up in Staten Island, New York and went to a Conservative temple in my neighborhood. My family wasn’t very religious and only went to temple on the high holidays. I graduated from New York University and spent 2 years in the work force. I had the opportunity to visit Tzama Nafshi on an organized trip to Israel and became interested in learning more about my heritage and traditions. I decided that I would come and learn what it means to be a Jew and the yeshivah gave me an environment that is both nurturing and comfortable. After being here for a couple of months, I am confident that I made the right decision and am excited to continue my Jewish education.

Matthew Berkowitz
msberkowitz@gmail.com