I was working for the Young Magen David Congregation on 67th Street before the beginning of the Magen David Yeshivah. Mr. Joe Kassin and Mr. Joe Tawil A”H took me aside and convinced me that the most important work in the community was educating our children in Talmud Torah and not just working for the congregation. I took their advice, and joined them in running the Talmud Torah on 67th Street.
At the same time, Mr. Isaac Shalom A”H tried to persuade the community to start a yeshivah, which would be an all day Hebrew school. Unfortunately, many people of our community were against the idea. Mr. Shalom did not listen to the opposition. He did what he thought was right and started Magen David Yeshivah on 67th street in 1946.
Two years later, we built a community center on 75th street and Ave. P and we moved the yeshivah to this new building that housed the center. We had 35 students. That weekend we announced that we were going to take registration for the yeshivah in the new building. On Sunday morning we registered 70 new students. Now we had approximately 100 students ready to begin school in the new building.
Our struggle for finances had begun. The tuition never covered more than 45% to 50% of our budget. The other 50% had to be raised and we had very little experience in raising money. All of the struggling in the first 20 years brought me in contact with a few special men who were there throughout all the years.
Jack Abadi A”H purchased all the supplies needed in the yeshivah and took care of the food in the lunchroom. He was in the lunchroom almost everyday to see that lunch was properly prepared and that all of the children were well fed. I believe he spent more time in the yeshivah than at his business. Years later, he also began and ran bingo for the school. This was an extremely valuable project for the yeshivah, as it brought in much needed funds. His wife Miriam was a teacher in the school and his children devote a lot of time to the yeshivah.
Moe Catton A”H, brother of Sam Catton, was the unofficial substitute teacher, (whenever one was needed), bookkeeper, lawyer, general manager. He was at the yeshivah all the time.
Eddie Menaged, who is a CPA by profession, acted as Vice Chairman, official collector and bookkeeper. He also played an essential role as the chairman of the English department. He hired the English principals and ran the department daily.
Eddie Shabot walked in one day and watched us trying to collect tuition. At the time Meyer Safdieh was also helping us collect. We were dealing with people over the phone. He said to me, “If you want, I could do that job. Just give me that list and a telephone.” We granted his request and he was there for 20 years collecting tuition. He was the best collector we ever had.
These gentlemen were with me at all times. We also had help from many other members of the community. Ralph S. Tawil helped raise money. Ralph Shamah A"H held the office of president for one year. There were many other great people who worked with us in the school. They were all also members of the center committee, and therefore involved in the community in various important ways.
Isaac Shalom was always there in the background. He began yeshivahs in other countries like Algeria, Morocco and France, but his favorite project was the Magen David Yeshivah. He was an extraordinary individual with unique foresight. Everyone respected and listened to him. He did his best to raise money for us, which was not an easy task. He was in the yeshivah every Sunday overseeing what we did. It was through his persistence that the committee of Shaare Zion agreed to start giving us a yearly donation to help us grow. It was his distinct character that also got us more room in the center building. When the center went out of business we took over the entire building.
In the late 1950’s there was a movement in the community to close Magen David Yeshivah and transfer every student to Yeshivah of Flatbush. The committee strongly objected. We stood our ground and the movement quieted down. With G-d’s help, we prevailed.
In 1968, we lost our mentor, Mr. Isaac Shalom. At that time, we asked for help from others in the community. I asked Rabbi Jacob Kassin A”H to call a meeting of all the rabbis and leaders of the community to help form a new committee. He called a meeting on a Sunday afternoon. Everybody that he called showed up without exception. I spoke at this gathering and told them that they were the new committee. The next day we met at the yeshivah. This is how today’s committees were first formed. This is just one example of the influence that Rabbi Jacob Kassin had on the community.
Mr. Shalom’s sons Steven and Henry were responsible for building the second floor and renovating the basement, which we could not have afforded without their help. They were there to see their father’s dream become a reality.
All of our efforts were paying off. The quality of education was high. The Hebrew department was being taken care of very well. The first principal, Rabbi Binunes, came with us from 67th Street. Next came Rabbi David Bitton who started off as a teacher. He devoted his whole life to the yeshivah. But there were many other heroes in our school. Rabbi Baruch Ben Haim A”H was the greatest teacher that we ever had in the yeshivah. Most of the young men today, who are leaders of different communities, are most likely, products of his class. His outstanding classes are both remembered and appreciated. We had other terrific teachers as well. One of the most outstanding teachers that we had was Giveret Nissim A”H. Anyone who attended the school at that time still has fond memories of her.
I stayed with the new committee until 1978 when I moved to New Jersey. I received a plaque for my 30 years of service to the yeshivah. But that plaque is not nearly as gratifying as the many sources of pride that I feel when I meet a graduate of Magen David Yeshivah.
I urge the community to realize the importance of a Jewish education for every child, and to support the newest committee in continuing the legacy of Magen David Yeshivah.
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On November 12, 2007, our community lost a true pioneer and remarkable man in Isaac Gindi, A "H, the writer of this article. Although he was known for his unheralded contribution to the humble beginnings of Magen David, Isaac Gindi was also known for his unwavering belief in the divine power of the Almighty, and his always-positive outlook on life.
