DayofGlory
UNBRIDLED JOY AND KAVOD HATORAH AS A NEW BEIS MEDRASH IS DEDICATED AT CAMP ORAYSA
WITH TREMENDOUS SIYATA DISHMAYA , the new beis medrash at Camp Oraysa was completed this July in time to accommodate the bachurim of Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid and over 200 mesivta talmidim to be able to learn comfortably for the month of Tammuz .
Camp Oraysa , a division of the Yeshiva , was opened in 2014 with 70 boys and has grown to 400 bachurim shteiging away . The beis medrash covers 7,200 square feet and is one of the largest of the Catskills batei medrash . The spacious air-conditioned hall is conducive to the best learning conditions that a bachur could want .
The Schron Family dedicated the Camp Oraysa campus last summer in memory of Mrs . Marta Schron , and Reb Rubin Schron , his son Reb Eli and other family members were present for the chanukas habayis . The aron kodesh was dedicated by the Yeshiva ’ s Board of Trustees co-chairman Mr . Motty Klein and his wife , Malka , l ’ iluy nishmas their beloved son Binyomin a ” h . Many rabbanim and supporters of the Yeshiva were in attendance for the inauguration of the new beis medrash .
Among the distinguished rabbinic guests were Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel , rosh hayeshiva of Zichron Moshe , South Fallsburg ; Rav Shlomo Halioua , rosh hayeshiva of Mesivta Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin ; Rav Leibel Wulliger , rosh kollel of Torah Vodaas ; Rav Noach Isaac Oelbaum , rav of Khal Nachalas Yitzchok , Queens ; Rav Elimelech Belsky , a rosh yeshiva in Eretz Yisrael and Rosh Masmidim at Camp Agudah ; Rav Moshe Davis , rosh kollel of Ohr Yehuda , Brooklyn ; Rav Judah Mischel , mashpia at OU / NCSY and executive director of Camp HASC ; and Rav Avrohom Chaim Fruchthandler , the president of Mesivta Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin .
Rabbi Dovid Bender , the Rosh Kollel of the Yeshiva ’ s Kollel Tirtza Devorah , was the master of ceremonies and Rav Moshe Bender , S ’ gan Rosh HaYeshiva , was the first speaker . Rav Moshe is the leader of Camp Oraysa and puts tremendous kochos into making the summer program possible . Rav Yaakov Bender , Rosh HaYeshiva ; Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky , Rosh Yeshiva ; also addressed the audience .
Rav Altusky explained that Machaneh Oraysa provides “ chilutz atzamos ” — a recharging of the talmidim ’ s batteries . Still , the essence of Camp Oraysa is Torah and the learning is already on a different level because of the new beis medrash .
Rav Yaakov Bender said that the map in Shamayim uses a different measuring stick than the one on earth and that the Torah camps in the Catskills are big dots on the heavenly map . Rav Bender took the opportunity to thank Rabbi Fruchthandler ( who was seated on the dais ), for changing the face of chinuch in America by championing the fair compensation of rabbeim — and leading by example .
Rav Bender then introduced Rav Halioua , and mentioned that his father , Rav Avrohom Halioua z ” l , was a mainstay in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn and greatly influenced Rav Bender ’ s own formative growth as a talmid there . Rav Halioua related that he heard from Rabbi Fruchthandler that when the original Camp Morris campus was located in Kiamesha Lake , a distinguished visitor , a talmid chacham , asked the Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt ” l , where he had found such a beautiful stone . He was referring to a Midrash which teaches that when the Beis Hamikdash was destroyed , the stones were dispersed around the world and are used in every beis medrash .
Chazzan Joel Kaplan , executive director of the Yeshiva , performed Mizmor Shir Chanukas Habayis , accompanied by the Yedidim Choir . The same choir members were joined by singer Shmaya Fisher and musician Avromi Berko during the leibedig dancing in the dining room .
The talmidim and hanhala celebrated with great simcha ; all who attended were greatly inspired by the kavod HaTorah in evidence at this auspicious occasion .
28 BEDARCHEI HATORAH WINTER 5784 / 2024