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Category Archives: Oorah
L’Chaim! (Brisman)
An impromptu celebration erupted in Oorah’s halls today upon the arrival of our newest chassan, Chaim Brisman. Chaim, who is beloved to anyone who ever spent time at TheZone, is engaged to Ora (not Oorah!) Thav of Baltimore, MD. Mazel tov!
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Oorah – An Open Purim Miracle!
Purim this year was incredible. The kids had a great time. mishloach manos deliveries, costumes, everything was perfect. I didn’t think things could get any better. Until we got to Oorah’s Purim seudah.
They say seeing is believing. I don’t think any one description can really describe the Purim wonderland that was Oorah’s Purim seudah. As we entered the parking lot of Lake Terrace hall we were met by the sight of children being driven around in a horse drawn wagon! What fun! Had that been all we would have left happy. But in the lobby of the hall we were greeted by . . .cotton candy . . . popcorn . . . scores of hamentashen in every flavor . . .enough wine to make any man happy . . .and joy . . . pure joy . . . of hundreds of beautiful jewish souls who had never experienced the beauty of Purim before yesterday.
The gourmet meal that we were treated to truly did rival the feast of king Achashverosh! And the entertainment! What can be better than getting to watch a magic show in between each course! Shlomo Hadarshan kept the adults laughing with his steady stream of jokes and impersonations. But the real treat was sitting with many of the families that we help and seeing the fruits of Oorah’s labor. This was Oorah’s own “nes Purim”. One that we are proud to proclaim is an open miracle that we want to share with everyone. Knowing as only we know what our families struggle with on a daily basis as they advance in their Yiddishkeit, made seeing them joyously celebrate the Yom Tov of Purim even more meaningful. I felt like I was really experience the triumph of Purim – because seeing so many tinokos shenishbiu come together under one roof, the roof of Oorah, and all for one reason – for if not for Oorah, there would never have been the uplifting seudah that there was. Rav Chaim Mintz, the reason that Oorah is, spoke poignantly and blessed all that was there with the ability to continue growing and striving to reach greater heights . a blessing that can be applied to all those attended. May our Oorah families continue coming closer to their roots . . . and may we have the strength to continue being there for them every step of the way.
Posted in Oorah, TorahMates
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New Fiveish Purim Stickers Arrive at Oorah!
You can feel it in the air…the tiny stirrings of Purim fever has finally begun!
Buzz about costumes, mishloach manos and family themes has begun.
We have met the demand head-on with our newest edition of Fiveish Purim stickers!
celebrating Purim’s imminent arrival in true Oorah style!
Look out for your own copy – arriving in the mail soon!
Posted in Fiveish, Oorah
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Shmorg 5 almost here
Oorah’s multimedia department has been running in overdrive for the past few weeks as the release date for Shmorg 5 draws closer. Unlike previous years, this year’s Shmorg comprises three separate CDs: Shmorg Tales, an exciting Fiveish audio drama; Shmorg Tunes, a soulful musical collection; and Shmorg Tube, an audiovisual DVD with over 4 hours of entertainment and inspiration.
Without giving away too much, we’ll just say that Fiveish himself has been a super-busy character recently with film shootings and recordings taking up much of his waking hours. He’s been hanging out with loads of Jewish celebrities (dare we mention that Lipa’s a fervent Fiveish fan?!)
Shmorg 5 is an exclusive free gift for donors to Oorah’s Auction. Check out the other awesome gifts and prizes at www.oorah.org/auction. And stay tuned for the latest and greatest in the popular Shmorg collection!
Posted in Fiveish, Oorah
Tagged Fiveish, Lipa, Oorah Auction, Oorah's shmorg, Shmorg, Shmorg DVD
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Girls Winter ShabbaZone
This past Shabbos, TheZone was full once again with hundreds of smiling, happy faces. The campus looked a bit different with snow in place of sunshine, but the energy and excitement that characterizes every TheZone event was the same.
Just check out all the pics and videos on TheZone’s Facebook page to see how much fun everyone had!
Posted in ChillZone, Oorah, TheZone Camp
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A belated thanks for the Chanukah package
Yes, we know Chanukah was already nearly a month ago, but the thank you messages and emails are still pouring in. Here’s one that a TorahMates coordinator just received:
I hope you are well and enjoying winter and the snow. I apologize for not sending this letter sooner.
I would like to thank Oorah for the very kind care package that was sent for Chanukah. As always, it is lovely to receive this surprise package, then to open it up and find all the goodies inside. We used so many of the items, especially the guide book.
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Chanukah Concert in Brooklyn Smashing Success!!
What a concert! What a night!
The energy was palpable in Brooklyn College Tuesday night, the fourth night of Chanukah, at Oorah’s annual Chanukah concert, free for the Oorah family. Over 2,500 people- all affiliated with Oorah- filled the concert hall.
Big name entertainers like Lipa and Shloime Dachs gave popular performances (Lipa sang his new Chanukah release “Believe in a Miracle.”) Up-and-coming singer Yoni Z, who has performed in TheZone, was also on the program, as was Yitzi Bald’s New York Boys Choir.
But the real stars of the night were the children of Little Star Preschool, who put their all into their enthusiastic performance. Dressed in Chanukah-themed costumes, they sang “I Have a Little Dreidel” among other holiday classics.
TheZone shone on stage as well with an interactive trivia game show that drew participation from the crowd. Mrs. Shimrit Adar, beloved program director of the Girls Division, addressed the audience in her usual energetic and dynamic style. Boys Division campers Shalom Kaddosh and Mickey Aflalo wowed with a display of considerable parkour talent as Lipa did gangnam Oorah style!
Of course, Rabbi Chaim Mintz was a highlight of the night with his keynote address on the topic of Kiddush Hashem. He led the audience in a moving recitation of Shema Yisrael.
The concert was so much more than just a great show though. It was a grand Oorah family reunion. TorahMates met in person, Zoniacs rekindled old memories and everyone came away from the event uplifted and inspired.
Posted in Little Star Preschool, Oorah, TheZone Camp
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I got your Chanukah Party-in-a-Box
A pallet of Chanukah packages ready to ship
The emails and calls have started pouring in as families across the country receive their Chanukah packages from Oorah. Somehow, coming home to a beautiful box filled with all kinds of goodies for Chanukah seems to make everyone’s day so much happier.
The package really came just in time for one family in Queens:
“We received the package for Hanukkah from Oorah and I was so happy!! It couldn’t come at a better time for us. We lost our car in the storm [it was flooded and a tree fell on it during Hurricane Sandy] which is very hard. I was so concerned that I would not be able to buy a menorah and all the rest of the stuff for the holiday on time…”
Chanukah is in the air!
The ninth grade class of Ilan High School in Deal went on a very special trip yesterday…. to Oorah! The girls came full of energy and super excited to help us package our Chanukah “party-in-a-box” packages. With Chanukah music setting a festive mood, the girls got into two assembly lines and got to work. The 2,000 packages that we’re sending out have all the essentials to throw a Chanukah party, including lots of nosh!
Memories of a beautiful Shabbos
Today’s post comes to us courtesy of Mrs. Nechama Perlstein, tuition coordinator at Oorah.
The Perlstein and Feiner children, friends at first sight
This past Shabbos, my family had the pleasure of hosting the Feiner family. The Feiners first entered the Oorah family when they sent their 10-year-old daughter Lea to camp two summers ago. On Visiting Day, while enjoying TheZone’s many amenities, the Feiners chanced upon the TorahMates booth and allowed themselves to be persuaded to be set up with TorahMates. It’s been an Oorah shidduch ever since.
The Feiners have joined Oorah for various events and even took the big leap this September when they transferred both their children out of public school and put them in yeshiva. Both Jason and Sonia learn regularly and enjoy a beautiful relationship with their TorahMates. In fact, this is what brought the Feiners to Lakewood this past Shabbos.
One of Jason’s TorahMates was making a bar mitzvah and the Feiners, eager to join, did not want to leave their Long Island home on motzai Shabbos, afraid that the long drive would make them late. An email sent around at Oorah found the Feiners at my home a few minutes before Shabbos.
The connection was instantaneous. Over good conversation and even better food (if I do say so myself!) the adults really bonded and the kids hit it off! Lea fell in love with my girls; for Raizy, it was the big sister she is always wishing for. Samuel is right in between my two boys and we literally didn’t see them all Shabbos. They kept themselves entertained; we had to beg them to stop and come eat.
All in all, I have to say that Shabbos was a real success. Mr. Feiner’s thank you was enough to warm us all as we stood outside to load the car and send them off. My kids were in tears when it was time for the Feiners to leave but I promised them that I would make sure that we see them again!
Posted in Jewish Education, Oorah, TheZone Camp, TorahMates
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