VICTOR COHEN
MORESHET, THE WORD IS LOOSELY TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH AS HERITAGE. ON JULY 6TH, AFTER SIX YEARS OF BUILDING, YESHIVAT MORESHET YERUSHALAYIM LIVED UP TO ITS NAME, CELEBRATING ITS OWN MORESHET WITH A SHOW-STOPPING ALUMNI DINNER.
Yeshivat Moreshet Yerushalayim recently turned six. Since it opened, each year has built upon the last in terms of quality and attendance, and now Moreshet has skyrocketed to over 120 alumni. For a new Yeshiva, exclusive to the Sephardic communities of Brooklyn and Deal, 120 alumni over six years is a momentous achievement.
Like any achievement, it needed to be celebrated. And it was, last month. All the alumni of Moreshet gathered together to celebrate how far they had come as a Yeshiva and to orient themselves towards the future in a more unified, proactive manner.
The air was electrifying, as the current of Moreshet coursed through all the alumni present. People with no connection at all, welded together through the glue of Moreshet, coming out of the night as a family.
Moreshet, to these young men of our community, is a family. Everyone could feel the unity connecting them all, a unification exemplified through an alum from the most recent year, Jacob Mosseri. Jacob was the host of the night; the alumni dinner took place in his backyard. He felt comfortable inviting people to his home, who he did not know, all because they went to the same Yeshiva a few years before he did.
Jacob and his family made the alumni dinner as elegant and celebratory as possible, with spectacular food and poignant decorations. Themes of blue and white, reminiscent of their time in Israel, permeated the scenery through the tables, chairs, and even the napkins. It was a high-quality event. the purpose to why they were all there weaving its way through each and every attendee.
Several speakers, some alumni, some rabbis, others community leaders, highlighted just how impactful the past six years have been. Moreshet anchored itself to every level of our community. The speeches by the alumni focused on both looking back and looking forward. They looked back, praising those who built up Moreshet Yerushalayim over the years. Then they looked forward, placing emphasis on their newest mission—positively impacting the community they all grew up in.
Jacob Mosseri put it best, “I believe that as the alumni of Moreshet, we have a mission. Our mission is to guide our community in the direction Moreshet has guided us—living a life of Torah, while also providing for our families.”
He later reiterated this point, “I think it’s time for us to apply the values that were instilled in us when we were in Israel and take action.” Action seemed to be the second theme of the night, the other purpose as to why the alumni gathered together.
The rabbis gave brilliant speeches as well. Hacham Shimon Alouf eloquently laid out the challenges and contradictions of today’s society, insisting that these young men have the tools to truly right some of the wrongs of today.
Rabbi Harold Sutton heartfeltly expressed how Moreshet Yerushalayim exceeded all of his expectations, and how he was so proud of each and every one of the alumni who graduated from his Yeshiva.
Rabbi Shaul Kassin touched on the bigger picture. He had this to say about how Moreshet changed people’s perceptions of what it means to go to Israel, “When they hear it from young men who are accomplishing, from beautiful young men, it has an impact.”
Finally, larger-than-life leaders of the community spoke, including Ezra Ashkenazi and Harry Adjmi. Mr. Ashkenazi spoke of the Yeshiva’s beginnings and how Rabbi Harold Sutton, against all odds, persuaded everyone to join his vision. The message was clear—if you have a dream, if you have a vision—go for it.
Mr. Adjmi’s thoughts about defining a leader in this community was particularly inspiring. He stressed that the greatest leaders should actually be called ‘doers,’ and praised the rabbis of Moreshet for doing what they set out to do, even exceeding their own expectations.
The Moreshet Yerushalayim Alumni Dinner was filled to the brim with inspiration, excitement, and moving words of unity, as a group of community boys connected through a budding Yeshiva in Israel are currently blossoming into something more, something greater. I for one am grateful to watch that metamorphosis, and cannot wait to see how Yeshivat Moreshet Yerushalayim evolves in the years to come.
Victor Cohen is a graduate of Hillel Yeshiva Class of 2021, Moreshet Yerushalayim 2022, and he is currently enrolled in Baruch College.
