Ohr Torah Stone’s Straus-Amiel and Beren-Amiel programs train modern Orthodox, religious Zionist rabbis and educators and place them in communal and educational leadership positions in Jewish communities around the globe. While 2020 certainly was the worst in terms of what was lost, we were also provided with a chance for togetherness and unity that perhaps only became possible because of this virus.” Natan Sharansky Rabbi Yosef Garmon, a Straus-Amiel emissary in Guatemala, described how the past few months have been “a real case of the best of times and the worst of times. And as we emerge from the pandemic, they are now uniquely poised to continue developing innovative and proactive ways of ensuring healthy Jewish continuity across the globe.” They have harnessed technology to create virtual, values-based, vibrant communities.

Yet our emissaries have selflessly and heroically navigated challenging issues regarding life-and-death, mental health, domestic violence, halakha and spiritual crises. The massive loss of life has been deeply painful, and the closure of synagogues and schools has weakened the glue that binds our communities together. Kenneth Brander, President of Ohr Torah Stone, highlighted those difficulties, saying, “The past year has changed the very concept of Jewish community in a myriad of unprecedented ways. An underlying theme shared by all was how the very face of Jewish communal life has changed as a result of the coronavirus and that rebuilding the communal fabric will take time and patience. The online format allowed for the participation of emissaries from 36 countries, who welcomed the chance to share their experiences in recent months. Netanyahu addressed the emissaries saying, “Your important work strengthens Jewish education, fosters Jewish identity and inspires Jewish learning and bolsters pride in our common Jewish heritage.” In her comments, Yankelevich said that this ban is imposing a real threat to the ways of life for Jews in Europe. Ia sekarang menjabat sebagai anggota Knesset untuk Partai Ketahanan Israel dan sebagai Menteri Urusan Diaspora. The conference focused on practical challenges facing Jewish Diaspora communities, from threats of anti-Semitism and assimilation as well as very immediate issues like the recent ban on ritual slaughter in the EU. Omer Yankelevich adalah seorang jaksa, pengajar, aktivis sosial dan politikus asal Israel. Our emissaries and teachers, each in their own way, have become integral figures in their communities and their services have been all that much more important during this period of Corona and to prepare for what lies ahead.” Omer Yankelevich “The online forum provides us with the opportunity for conversation to address the real challenges facing our people as well as how we as rabbis can positively impact these communities.

Omer yankelevich