Ohr Torah Stone Update and Dinner Preview with Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander on JM in the AM

Tuesday morning broadcast here at JMN live in studio. One of our dear friends is visiting from Aritz from Israel. And as I predicted, he is um on his phone understandably checking to see what's going on after the news that we just spoke about a few minutes ago. Um the stabbing, the ramming, the uh injuries, those who've been taken to the hospital in this most recent terror attack in the Gush. Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander, it is a pleasure despite the news to welcome you to JM in the AM. >> It's always a pleasure to be with you, Nahim. You know, a little distracted this morning, but please God, uh we have five schools in, you know, in a 10-minute walk from the place where the terror attack happened. And so far, two of the schools have fully checked in. That means we've checked with the faculty and all the students. But it happened around 2:15 or so Israel time which means that some of the boys you know were just finishing morning uh Judeaic classes. So like you see in Tene then they can walk around and you know enjoy themselves for 45 minutes and >> with relative common peace >> with relative common peace. And uh our son thank God it was also a soldier in the gush and we have a family WhatsApp group called checking in when those these things happen. So he checked in to let us know that he was okay. >> Yeah. You know, we have a son in the IDF. I don't know if I shared that with you or not, but I like this idea because I can't always get him to respond to the watch. Maybe a checking in group, he would respond. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um and it's ironic because I said this a minutes ago before you walked in. has said that in light of this uh attack uh not only will you be distracted by the news of the day, but you will relive how many episodes in the last 2 years where where your own family and students have been involved in so much has been going on, so many difficult episodes. I mean, your schools have been hit very, very hard by this war. I saw someone the other day from a community in Israel, doesn't matter which one, and he's saying to me, you know, our community got hit the hardest. This is what he said. He said, "Yeah, everywhere you turn, you you can't imagine how many soldiers have been killed, how many are injured, but you can make the same claim. You're dealing with so many people and families that are in such difficult situations these days." >> Well, I think every community has been hit the hardest. So, I don't want to >> But when you think I don't want to be in that top 10 list. >> Agreed. Uh although there are people who have put out a top 10 list and unfortunately um we seem to find ourselves in that list. Uh we have uh 24 alumni who have fallen in this war. >> Wow. >> And another 39 firstderee relatives that means children of faculty or fathers of students have fallen. 20 I I can't add the number together. I mean, I have a degree in mathematics from YU, so at least I know how to add. But the bottom line is I'd rather say at 24 + 39. >> Yeah. >> This week we have a York site for four of our alumni. Um, so we're dealing with that. But even like for example, today the the horrible news. So, one of the schools, one of the women in one of the schools is being treated for anxiety for because of this terrorist attack. And I think it's important for your listeners and thanks to you, they're very well informed. Um, I actually think the mental health issues that we're all struggling with where whichever community, whichever school system are just beginning because I think people held their lives together when we were on under constant threat. >> Resilience. Yeah, there's a certain resilience. To quote my grandson, Saba, your uh your mama, your protective room is better than ours because you have Wi-Fi and snacks. Okay, so uh >> what a practical youngster. >> Listen, you know, okay, but the bottom line is that now that the Wi-Fi and snacks, thank God, are not necessary in the in the room, what else are our young people and our not so young people and our older people thinking about? I I'm concerned. Two months ago, I try to give a sh a shear to the coal. We had the Strauss coal. I tried to give a shear like once a month. And uh before Rashana, I gave a shar on the sanf a few weeks ago. They're learning to take for the bikina with the raanut. So I I did something on that. So before Rashana out of the, you know, 18 guys or so in the Kovale, there were four guys there because the rest were in Gaza. Last a month, you know, a few weeks ago, there were like 11 guys. And I'm hoping that next week or so when I get the sh cohort. Um, but you know there there's worry like when these when these amazing people come home and they're even studying the makor cuz I'm on the WhatsApp group of the coowell so I see the back and forth on on discussing issues um hikic issues like their wives are worried that when their husbands you know the father of their children come home what's their mental mindset you know can they leave their husband and the father of their children alone with their kids. This is uh this is a question and I'm very indebted to Cross River Bank cuz they actually gave us some funds to be able to work with these Colo families to allow us to make sure that the wives are okay and that we do what we need to do. Not to say that the army isn't uh trying to do their best, but you have a son in the army. So you know that the rate of suicides in the army has increased and you know that you know there are additional challenges which are expected I think that we will see more issues now now that we're just worried about terrorist attacks and so on >> now that this part of the war is over. >> Yeah. So, you know, it remains to be seen. And >> I met with someone last week from a community in Israel who was bringing this to my attention obviously looking for funds because therapy in Israel is not inexpensive. It it takes a financial commitment and he mentioned that in his own community among dati among religious families uh a third have already experienced separation or divorce. Uh you mentioned the children. And it's uh unfortunate that uh many of the he cited one specific example about somebody who had been raising buildings in Gaza for months and now can't deal with the the lack of noise or the lack of activity or the lack of action and it's it and it seeps this whole thing seeps into their personal lives with their children etc. When you mention that people wonder about leaving uh soldiers who are back home with their own children. this is what you mean that it's just they're not able to relate. They're not able to have a productive relationship with them. If anything, the opposite. >> So there's a lot of work that needs to be done. Someone said that in the Kipper war when someone was suffering from PTSD, they were given a bottle of scotch. And in this war, there has to be a much more responsible prof professional way of handling it. >> Right. So I think I think that we've you know the country of Israel, the state of Israel has grown up a little bit since the young Kipper war. Although I think this war because of the length of it is is in some ways, >> you know, more difficult. >> Yeah. More traumatic. >> But I do think, you know, what we've done at Ortorist Stone is that we made the decision thanks to the lay leadership and and supporters that we were not going to leave it to the government. That's the difference between an American running an Israeli institution, Israeli running an Israeli institution. Like I'm not used to the government taking care of all my stuff, >> you know? So what we did was we created a uh a full ma mate a full embrace and full uh yeah full embrace of making sure that our 5,000 students and 15600 faculty and coowwells and whatever and and alumni and the emissaries 300 plus emissaries of you know baron amas emissaries that we that we have mental health professionals that we hired. So when there is a a family in Toronto where the husband went back and is serving in Syria and the family's from Beerva and all of a sudden it's December and there's snow and this woman with her four kids in you know in Toronto she's from Beer Cheva you know if you have a good sandstorm she'll know how to clean off the car but this white stuff like what is it? and never saw a shovel >> right so all of a sudden so we have we've hired mental health professionals we're paying them not the HMO rate and we we've had like 350 faculty and students who've gone through four to six therapy sessions a lot of group therapy music therapy um and we're we're trying to make sure to the best of our ability that we're that we're helping them and I don't know if we're doing a good job or an adequate job or a great job. We'll we'll find out. But we're doing our histadas. We're doing what we need to do. >> And that's critical. >> And the government in addition to the funding, which is of course never enough, also limits the number of therapy sessions. And to say the least, whoever you're dealing with needs more, right, >> than they're offering, >> right? I'm not blame. There's no blame on the government. Agreed. >> Yeah. I'm just saying that this reality. >> Yeah. >> Uh we have a lot to talk about primarily tomorrow night. I don't know if the dinner is sold out or not, but you are going to It is. >> Is it sold out? >> It is sold out. >> Wow. >> Thank God. Well, you know, when you when you first of all when you recognize Riskin, he should have a Rafu Sha. >> Correct. >> And uh the first, you know, Rabish Lamar Riskin Legacy Award is given to two amazing people uh Robert M. Baron uh Zatal who helped the Jewish community not just or stone whether it's Neris whether it's other institutions uh universities day schools >> um as well as creating the really a hamlet on the hill a city on the hill in in the gush where you have uh hundreds of young men and colo families learning Torah and being trained. Uh Robert M. Aron uh is really an icon of the Jewish people and when you give him this award and you give the hero of our people Natan Sharansky and Rabbi Riskin chose these two first honores. >> Wow. >> Um and he actually called Natan on the phone and Reb Riskin is not well. It wasn't an easy phone call physically for him to make. Um you know it's hard to say no when Reyskin calls you. >> Will he be there tomorrow night? Natan Sherinsky. Natancherinsky will be there tomorrow night and uh the Baron family uh is coming to receive the award. >> Where are they from? They're not from the New York area, are they? >> No, one's from LA, one's from New York. One's from New York. Very involved in the New York community and as she has played a leadership role. One is from Los Angeles. Um and uh one is from um and and and one is not able uh to come, but three out of the four children are are gracing us with their presence and we're honored to have them. Um >> you'll also recognize tomorrow night at a soldout dinner. By the way, Lincoln Square is not a small ballroom. It's pretty very impressive that it's sold out, frankly. And you'll you'll recognize the first cohort of the international hala scholars program and that is explain to our audience. >> That's an amazing program. What happened was a group of women came to us from from what I would call the datumi the religious community and the more community and said we want to learn more Torah. We live all over the world. We'd like to learn more Torah. So we created an 8-hour a week program for 4 years where uh Rabraki who is Mabarim and is serious to Kam and Rabanit Kahashkus uh give Shir 2 hours a week and they have kavuses on Zoom um you know like for six hours a week at least and they take Bahinas they take tests on issues like shabas kashas um need a veos and they become pretty strong experts in those fields. It's a 4-year program and I told everybody listen there are 25 30 people uh young women professionals expect a drop off of 50%. Maybe maybe over four years we've lost like three or four students who said this is too much for me. But these are women who are mo for the most part running schools, deans of ac Jewish academic institutions like one is the dean of a Jews college in um in uh England >> and uh you know one is the vice principal I don't know what her formal title is at S. Oh wow >> and one and they're just amazing uh Dr. Julie Joseph is also on the program. Serious serious uh women. Um and this we now have three cohorts. So the first cohort which started four years ago has finished and they've taken Bahinas. I'm reminded a little bit about you know the uh at university before the this is not the same but there's all these guys who haven't finished their all some of the and there's like a team of people who are quoting everybody that's the same thing here we had a team of people calling uh these women who are getting a certificate that they are experts in these areas saying you know you you know you did five of the six bikinas whatever And you know at the last minute uh some of them finished up the bikinas and it's amazing. And so we have had 75 women come through this program and some are learning in very right-wing shivot. Some are part of the what I would consider the normal or our normal community crowd but we're learning Torah together and it's amazing. >> Is the woman whose book you brought me whose safer you brought me this morning is she part of this program? >> She's not. she could be teaching the program. I brought you the safe air from uh Rabanite Dina Rock. Um Dena is one of our you know Madressa Lindbound is like bursting at the seams. But to work on to to focus on the American program which has 65 students this year and really top top students you know when I want to know how we're doing with the students faculty always tells you oh we have the best year we have the best year like okay that they're I'm expecting that but when I call the principles of the schools in this in America who I all know like you know I have a relationship with them and they tell me you guys got great students then I know we're in a good space right >> so um >> so she is one of the Ramo she's one of the Judeaic studies teachers in the program she teaches Gumarra she just wrote a seafair on the top 50 sugos top 50 sugotas and it has a description the few pages for each >> we're talking about the entire Talmud >> entire Talmud >> there are 50 that she recognizes as the as the most >> I guess this most discussed most interesting >> I think it's more than most they're not all the most interesting but she considers them the most >> important to Yeah, essential >> Kazaka issues, MIGO issues, other issues. And then there's a there's a there's a scan code >> where you can a QR code, sorry, you know, on each year that um >> you can actually hear her share on this topic. So, you know, >> it's amazing. >> Pretty amazing. I'll tell you, I'd love to get her on the air and have other scholars challenge her on the 50. I'd like to know what people think she left out. I'd like to know which topics are on the bubble, so to speak. Listen, you know, she's her English is, you know, I've only, you know, heard her speak in Hebrew, but she gives class in English, so I'm sure she's her English is >> Well, I would need assistance anyway because I would have to bring in some real Tumblr scholars. >> Okay. You know, >> to challenge the list. >> She's ready. She's ready >> to look at that list in advance. >> Although, I haven't spoken to her, but I'm telling you, she's ready. >> Maybe next time we visit that you got it. >> I I just have to figure out who to bring along. But, uh, but there are people there are people that have gone through shots many times. >> Yes. and they could weigh in on this issue to say the least. >> Um, so that's one thing and that program is pretty amazing and you'll detail that for those who are attending the dinner tomorrow night. Obviously, they'll hear plenty about it. >> And then here I have 32 institutions and programs in Israel and 300 global emissaries, right? All of whom I assume these days are dealing with defending Israel in their own communities, dealing likely with anti-semitism because we know what's going on in major cities around the world. uh and and they've they've really added to their repertoire. They've had to add to their resume because of the current situation, >> right? I mean, the the the team that trains these uh emissaries is just amazing. The um Baron Amiel, Strauss, Amiel under the leadership of Rabbi Bernbam, Rabanite Bernbam, um Rev Benji and others is just it's just an amazing group. I think the training is really twofold. One is we spend a year training them before they go out. So we have 28 families that we're training now, >> but it's the continuation of contact. Like for example, we have a mental health professional whose job is just to be in touch with these 300 emissaries because a lot of them are dealing with issues of anti-semitism and things of that nature. We had one family who just finished who was on the campus in Leeds and because he went back to serve in the north, she was threatened >> Wow. >> with rape and her children were threatened to be killed. >> Um and you know the police eventually after our intervention and the chief rabbi's intervention actually they had police um accompanying them wherever they went. Um each one had their own you know police person. Um, so you know you the we're dealing with these issues and I think the greatest piece about Amiel is not just the training they do beforehand but the fact that we have like spiritual retreats for them. At the last retreat we had the chief rabbi uh Rav Kman Bar uh came and for the first time in his life uh Rav Muhammad um actually left Israel. 63 years old. He left Israel. I didn't know that. >> Yeah. He actually had to get a passport and actually he's he was in Tene I believe last Shabas. That was the second time outside the country. >> But my point is that we continue to stay in touch with them. I think we have a Shabaton coming up sometime in 2026 um in North America with all of them and and it's a it's a mishbah. It's a family. And the list, by the way, includes places like Ecuador and Norway and Singapore, not not just Europe. No, but I'm saying you'd think that there, you know, you can make a list of the traditional places where you'd be sending these emissaries. Some of them are obscure and some, you know, they face difficult situations there, >> right? And we we started a new program thanks to uh um David Merman and his Samak David Foundation that we're bringing 25 uh North American high school students from all over the country. We had 100 applications >> to spend a year, >> 6 months from 10th grade, second half of starting January through what I call the yoms, you know, uh Nveh Khana was just rated one of the top 10 high schools in in in Israel for their academic prowess and um >> how does a kid here apply for that? So, first of all, that's out of my knowledge. >> But does it have to go through their principal? Like what? >> No, I think there were some schools who wanted it to go that way. Like we got phone calls from schools saying, you know, we deserve to have more kids than someone else. Like both like bokeh calling me. >> Well, they think they think they have an in. >> They do, but you know this the in goes, you know, we'd like all 25 spots. No, no, no, no, no. That's not the way it works. But the bottom line is they wanted it to go through the through the school but most places did it differently and obvious you know the social media advertising talking in at the summer camps. Um, so we have like students from like Phoenix and obviously students from places like Tene, but we'll have 13 young women, 12 young men >> and they will be uh part of the community of students and they will be separate from them because they need some, you know, their own things. But the bottom line is it's a new initiative and I believe that they will come back and and deal with what you were saying so correctly >> be able to talk about the notion of what's really going on in Israel. >> Yeah. >> Like imagine these students having to be in the schools on a day like today when every single kid is being counted. You you you get a different understanding of what it means to have a terrorist attack, you know, 5 minutes from your school. And because of the results, God knows how many will be at a funeral tomorrow, right? You know, or even today, the way things work. >> Yeah. >> So, with that, between that and you know, we have a our our program for kids with special needs from LA. It's from the diaspora. >> That's called >> uh Darcenu. Lot of success. Yes. We hear about it all the time here. >> Yeah. So, we have 24 kids already this year who just came after >> great mad madim great leaders. Avigans, Elana Goldider. I mean, they they are the experts. And now there are Israelis knocking on the door saying, "Why are you just doing this for >> foreigners?" >> Foreigners. >> Wow. We'll see. We'll see. >> You can't I'll tell you there's no rest in this position, huh? >> Yeah. We'll see. We'll see. >> Now you're going to have to figure out. >> It's nice for the board to hear about it on a Noel show. >> I'll tell you. We'll see. >> But now we understand why there's so much funding needed. Yes. >> Because now you have to start a program for Israelis. >> Yeah. I mean it's it's uh Darcenu is a it's a privilege to be able to see kids. We have one kid actually from the Ukraine who was in a Kabad orphanage in the Ukraine and mother uh when she was born she was born with uh disabilities based on the fact that her mother was constantly in the state of being drunk. Um, and the Israeli government said, "We cannot take her into Israel because she doesn't speak Hebrew and we have no special needs program for her." >> So, Kabad calls us and says, "Listen, you're you're the only program that she speaks English, she speaks Ukrainian, she speaks Russian, no Hebrew. Israeli government will let her come in if they if she joins Darcano." and she came to the Darku program three years ago and she came just with a knapsack. And I was thinking about my father, he should live and be well, who came to America when he was 14 years old and basically just came with a knapsack. And you know, he would tell me that he would walk to school to RJJ with his father and that the rebby would put a dollar or whatever in his hand once a week. Um, and I just said, "Okay, so we'll take this young lady." And we didn't give her a dollar, but we gave her a computer and we gave her a cell phone and then, you know, all the >> 2025 amenities. the 20 25 amenities for what my father got in the you know in the 50s I guess or something like that. Anyways, but what a what's a privilege? >> Tomorrow night they recognize Natan Sharansky and the family of uh Robert Baron. He's being recognized postumously with the inaugural Robert Schlomma Riskin Legacy Award. Uh our best regards obviously to Robert Riskin. Um and that's happening tomorrow night at the soldout or Turrist Stone annual dinner. there's an opportunity to still support the cause and to be a donor. That's just go to their website ots um.org.il os.org.il and you can support the work of art stone. You can get involved as you hear there's plenty that needs to be done and there's a lot of program. We didn't even touch on everything because we can't do everything here, right? >> Uh but there's a lot happening and plenty of great educational opportunities in Israel that you are in charge of. and that are recognized among the top in the state and we encourage people here in the United States to support the work of art to stone ot.org.il ots.org.il Anything else? All right, Brandon, anything else you like to add to this conversation? Uh maybe one thing and that is that I think with uh please God the war coming to an end and please God the the remaining uh gfot the remaining uh deceased uh hostages please God be returned and buried but Israel >> and in the Jewish grave um we have to focus on the unity uh in the state of Israel and we have a program called Katy Yahad where we've uh We've changed it to be a grassroots program where our alumni that live in cities around Israel bring people together from reform to kared and they have we can't call a base medish because not everybody would like that word so we call it a bait mgash where they basically come together and they talk about issues and everybody feels safe. So imagine you have a reform, you know, woman leader and a karedi uh leader sitting together and and talking about issues and everyone in between. So to your listeners, you can you can Google um a um a restaurant site called Heet um Vav Tet. It's called The Sinners. the sinner's pizza shop because they only serve pizza with non-coosher toppings and it's in >> Davka >> Davka and it's in Modí and so literally there was a food fight about this place and of course because everybody brought more attention to it the place got more business >> more popular >> so all of a sudden the head of the Rosh moats the head of the Modian uh council >> local council calls us up and says listen there's this is crazy is tearing apart, you know, part of our city, but you're the only people that everybody's talking to. So, could you help me deal with this issue? So, we now have these little councils. We have one in Modí. We have one in more than one in Tel Aviv. We have one in Kyifa. We're opening one in Yakna. We're opening, you know, you know, another one in Lud. And they're just councils where our alumni and you know and one or two paid professionals are convening these groups and because the people convening these groups live in these communities it's not oneoff conversations they're ongoing things. So like forging relationships. >> Yeah. So, for example, Kaneka in all of these places, they're going to have uh nights where the entire apartment building is going to light Kaneka candles together and stuff like that. You know, those who are, you know, who light mahad minimadrin and those who don't even know what that word means. Um, but that's the way to, you know, >> is still in business or you don't know? I never bought pizza there, so I can't tell you. But you can Google the website and see if it's still uh you I I I I have no reason to believe that they're not in business. >> I just thought that uh people in Israel in general over the last two years started to stop doing things. Laakus, >> I think that it I think that um I think there are two things. The first thing is people are more spiritual there. people who are looking to to connect to God >> that we've experienced here as well. Obviously, not as much as in Israel, but >> you see, you know, you see people like, you know, there are television shows and the the television isn't pro pro- religion who say, you know, >> I've decided that I'm wearing Sneas clothing. I'm starting out with wearing SNAS clothing, modest clothing once a week, right? >> And then I'll move to twice a week. or people who were at the music festival on octo October 7th who are now putting on fillin >> or my son said to me that in his at sonhanim the head the officers are now putting on fillin every single day they're still not chabas but they're putting on fillin every single day and before shabas starts someone from the banish unit the benhiva unit the you know the heir units you know they make them give a diver for everybody you know god forbid bid that whatever or the mafade you know will lead Kdish. Now sometimes mafades a drews who's leaving Kdish. So you know I don't even know if that's considered a broccol or not but but the bottom line is they can't be kish that way. But the bottom line is there is this energy that is really found um that really pulsates I think through the public thoroughfare of Israel at this point in time. And I think it's our job as part of the religious Zionist community where we both hold the safa and the cipher, the text and the >> the sacred text and the sword. We can be the glue. Your son is glue because your son represents the ability to serve in the IDF and is committed to Torah mitzvah. So therefore, whether you celebrate Shabas on the beach of Tel Aiv or where you celebrate Shabbat, you know, in the B midrash, your son and my son and the thousands of others are really the glue between those two sides. >> The picture I show everybody is the one uh with his submachine gun in his right hand and his safer in his left hand. And that's that's everybody in that >> right >> in that group. Um, everybody out there, our Torah Stone, check them out. otss.org.ioel. OTS.org. Tomorrow night's their big dinner. It is sold out, but Hashem and Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander thanks everybody on this side of the world. Who does in fact pay attention to the work of our Torah Stone and supports the amazing cause. Good luck tomorrow night. And you're heading back to Israel for Shabbat or after Shabbat? >> No, I'm um Thursday I have meetings in Florida. >> Uh, you know, your old stopping ground. I have to be Ola Regel to Florida. And then >> you're a real New Yorker now. >> Yes. Yes. And Friday and Thursday night I uh go to Florida. I'm in uh Detroit uh speaking in two sh um and then flying back to first to Newark and then to Israel. Be back Monday morning. But yeah, I want to just uh thank you for uh you know, I learn about what's going on in Zero through your radio show also. >> Thank you. >> Not through your radio show and I listen to it on radio through your through the >> There are some topics they don't cover over there. Huh. >> Yeah. There are many topics. So when I want to know the truth, I listen to you guys. >> I appreciate that. >> To the network. But the bottom line is that you know I still call it a radio show because you know we're the same radio. Yeah. And and you know, I remember when you only were able to listen to it at a certain time. Now I I listen to it, you know, >> you know, 11 or 12:00 at night or when I'm trying to walk a few times a week, uh 5 kilometers and stuff like that. Uh my goal is to finish the 5 kilometers before you finish your uh >> that's the goal. That's my pacing goal. >> So, thank you. >> I appreciate that. Good to be your partner in that pursuit. Uh and I've heard that from many people. It's not just when they drive in the car. cards also as they're walking and jogging along uh uh the roads of both the US and Israel and other parts of the world I hope as well. My thanks are by Dr. Kenneth Brander Haraban. Thank you for joining us. >> Thank you. >> More coming up. If you're listening to a Tuesday morning broadcast of J&