“And for Your Nation Yisrael You Performed A Great Salvation:” End-of-the Year Conference

Pele Yoetz Center hosted its annual closing conference at the beginning of the month, with the theme being the numerous challenges induced by COVID-19 and their effects and ramifications on chinuch in Eretz Yisrael and worldwide. In the course of the evening, each department director presented a summary of his department’s respective activities and achievements throughout the year. The conference’s guest of honor was the Spinka Rebbe of America shlit”a, who is the founding father and patron of Pele Yoetz Center and riveted the participants with inspirational words regarding spiritual light that conquers darkness and “The way to correcting mistakes that we learn at Pele Yoetz Center.”

The evening was emceed by Rabbi Shimon Rechtshafer, association director, who presented an overview of the year and invited each department director to share a few words.

Pele Yoetz Nasi Hagaon Harav Dovid Levy shlit”a opened the conference with welcoming remarks and expressed the collective gratitude of the conference members to the Rebbe shlit”a for joining them. Rav Levy highlighted the many hardships caused by corona and the ingenuity and commitment of Pele Yoetz Center’s staff who transformed what might have been an insurmountable challenge into a stunning success and enabled many to benefit from vital counseling during this difficult period.

Executive Director Rabbi Menachem Sheinberger highlighted the miracles that Pele Yoetz Center witnessed day by day as they continued working full-force despite the restrictions and lockdowns.

Rabbi Avraham Vitman, director of Pele Yoetz Center’s flagship project Al Pi Darko, which pairs tutors with struggling children in dozens of chadarim throughout Yerushalayim, illustrated the comprehensive and broad efforts and response that Pele Yoetz Center provides to children struggling with academic, emotional and social issues.

Rabbi Yaakov Acker then described the Shalom Bayis department’s overburdened system and the widespread, vital and constantly swelling need for the services they provided. “Yet, despite it all, everyone still receives prompt and long-term support,” he explained.

Rabbi Yaakov Feldman from Pele Yoetz’s professional department highlighted “the patience required in this line of sacred work until we’re fortunate to see the fruits of our success.” Next was Rabbi Yechezkel Feldman, director of the Yeshivah Placement Department, who praised the Center’s listening ear and support that it provides to bachurim in yeshivos, following the coronavirus crisis.

Rabbi Menachem Kroizer, who manages Pele Yoetz’s publication department, described the significance of the role of publishing the organization’s materials to benefit the Klal. “The fundamental and methodical material produced by Pele Yoetz and Hagaon Harav Dovid Levy expands awareness and allays many problems in a very special way.”

Pele Yoetz’s secretary Rabbi Shalom Krishevsky then described the amazing system and “integration of strengths which double our capacity to help those in need.”

Rabbi Netanel Tfilinsky, board member of Pele Yoetz, expressed his deep gratitude to the Spinka Rebbe shlit”a For carrying Klal Yisrael’ s burden with utmost dedication. He likewise praised the staff for continuing to work full-time and often after hours, even in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, to help hundreds of individuals and families surmount the numerous challenges induced by the pandemic.

The Rebbe’s son Hagaon Harav Yisrael Yeshurun Weiss shlit”a delivered the final address which focused on “Maintaining our connection with Pele Yoetz and continuing to escort the Center, which offers the solutions to various problems, as I’ve witnessed on numerous occasions.”

The special event concluded with words of praise and gratitude to Hashem Yisborach for the gifts that He constantly bestows upon Klal Yisrael, and particularly for elevating the faculty members of Pele Yoetz with the exalted mission of supporting chinuch and imbuing them with desire to continue fanning the flame of Torah!.