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MMY Mourns Aliza Esral A"H
Please click here to read a heartfelt and personal Hesped (eulogy), written by Aliza's close friend, Tali Schaum. Plans are currently underway for a Torah project to be undertaken by MMY talmidot in Aliza's memory. Please check back here shortly for details. We all join together to offer condolences to Aliza's family. May they be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim. Summer Programs Underway
MMY Runs Third Alumnae Yom Iyun
Following a two-year old tradition, MMY once again sponsored a full-morning Yom Iyun for our alumnae in the New York area. The event took place on Sunday, February 3, at Congregation Beth Abraham in Bergenfield, NJ. Rabbi Haber, Rabbi Katz and Mrs. Sarah Dena Katz all flew in for this event. Approximately 150 women and men of all ages attended. Click here to listen to some of the shiurim! Or here for pictures! Shmitah: A Practical Overview by Rabbi Alan Haber
The laws of Shmitah are confusing to many of us simply because they are unfamiliar. Yet once one has taken a bit of time to learn them, it is not difficult to observe Shmitah. Additionally, relating properly to the Shmitah year, learning about it and observing it can bring many spiritual benefits. Shmitah is based on the fundamental truth that we do not own the Land of Israel – Hashem Himself does. This point is made crystal-clear in the Torah at the end of the section dealing with Shmitah and Yovel: “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, because the land is Mine.” (Vayikra 25:23) Because of that, all agricultural land is considered ownerless during Shmitah, and yet Hashem allows us to eat from the fruits of the Shmitah year (Vayikra 25:6). For this reason, the fruits of Shmitah are considered to be holy, and must be treated with special sanctity, as will be explained. The opportunity to eat “holy fruits” that are, as it were, given to us as a special gift directly from Hashem is a rare one. Although this special sanctity imposes additional responsibilities on us, we should welcome these responsibilities – they are the result of the very special relationship we have with Hashem. The fact that this Mitzvah applies only in the Land of Israel also shows us that this unique relationship can only exist in its fullest sense in that land. As mentioned above, the laws of Shmitah are not difficult to observe, even with all of the differences of opinion reflected by different Hechsherim. We will now briefly discuss each of the relevant issues, and the various opinions about each one. Click here for the full article. Click here for a series of seven audio shiurim on the topic. Who Was Rabbi Najara? MMY is located at 25 Rabbi Najara Street in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Givat Shaul. Have you ever wondered who Rabbi Najara actually was? Click here to read a short biography, along with a humorous description of the street, written by Erin Cooper and Chanie Dinerman (MMY 5765). |
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The entire MMY family is in shock and mourning at the sudden loss of our talmida, Aliza Chaya bat Nachum Leib Esral (MMY 5764). As Rabbi Katz put it in an email to alumnae, Aliza was a very special young lady, who fought all odds in her life and accomplished great things in her short years. 
Beginning with Rosh Hashana 5768, Am Yisrael has the privilege of observing a Shmitah year. I say “privilege”, even though many people unfortunately look upon Shmitah as a burden.