pal profiles
TRANSCRIPT
PaL PROFILESFeaturing a selection of Phone and Learn Partnerships
MESSAGE FOR PaL
FROM THE CHIEF RABBI LORD SACKS
One of the greatest challenges facing wider Jewish society today is the
preservation of a strong Jewish identity in a rapidly changing, overwhelmingly
open and secular world. One of the most effective ways, perhaps the only way,
to ensure the survival of Judaism in such a society, is to provide opportunities
for Jews, young and old, to experience, live, know and understand their Jewish
heritage.
The organisation PaL, Phone and Learn, is a hugely important weapon in this
battle for a vibrant, living, growing Judaism in the 21st century. PaL offers
Jews of all ages, in all locations, and all stages and walks of life, the chance to
explore their Jewish roots through an hour a week of learning, discussion and
mutual connection over the telephone.
In this booklet you will find some of the inspiring stories of those who have
been motivated to further their Jewish journey under the Phone and Learn
umbrella.
I hope you will be moved and encouraged, as I have been, by the profound
impact that just an hour a week of Jewish learning over the phone can have on
an individual's life.
I wish Phone and Learn success in all its future endeavours.
Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks
Ellul 5771/September 2011
Sarit Sharman and Judith Moss
JUDITH MOSS
25
November 2005
Sarit Sharman
Shir Hashirim
Judith is a physiotherapist by
profession and registered with
PaL soon after leaving high
school.
AGE
JOINED PaL
PaL TUTOR
CURRENTLY LEARNING
ABOUT ME
The Jewish upbringing that my parents gave me
meant that I was always taught to seek answers to
my questions. Towards the end of my school career
at JFS I began to realise that while I was planning on
going to university for my career development, I
was leaving behind the comfort of a structure for
my Jewish development. After finishing school, I
decided to spend a few weeks learning on the
Neve campus in Jerusalem, and on my return to the
UK a former madricha of mine told me about PaL,
which was a brand new organisation at the time.
I was so fortunate to be matched up with a truly
wonderful tutor, Sarit Sharman. Over the years, I
have been a frequent guest at her home for
Shabbos and I can honestly say that she is like an
older sister to me.
When we first started learning together I was at
university and as a typical student, the fact that I
didn't have to leave my house to learn was brilliant. I
was doing a full time, intensive course and to not
have the additional travel time meant that my
Torah learning was even more protected.
Now that I'm working full time, the flexibility of our
relationship still allows us to always have that
protected time. We progress from one sefer to the
other and fit other topics in as and when we feel it's
the right time.
For me, learning Torah in the totally private
environment of my own home without distraction,
allows me to be completely focused.
I cannot imagine what the past few years would
have been like without Sarit and her family!
...in her own words
Learning
in the totallyprivate environment of
without distraction,allows me to be
Torah
completely focused
my own home
Joel Sichel
JOEL SICHEL
20
November 2008
Joel registered as a partner in 2008 and
learnt Kitzur Shulachan Aruch on Kibud Av
V'Aim until June 2009, when he left to go
to Yeshivas Ohr Someyach in Israel. On
his return to London in February 2011 he
re-registered with PaL, this time as a tutor.
AGE
JOINED PaL
ABOUT ME
I first encountered PaL at the Yeshiva and Sem fair
organised by the UJIA when I was in the 6th form at
Hasmonean. I was brought up in a Modern
Orthodox home and gained most of my religious
outlook from movements such as Bnei Akiva.
I really learnt a lot from my tutor Shloime Aisenthal in
the few months we studied together – it was the first
time in my life that I had voluntarily decided to set
up a time to learn so it was hard and required a lot
of will power.
At the time learning Torah was of no real interest to
me and the only drive I had was one of curiosity.
However, the experience has never left me and
since it was so significant, I have remembered most
of what I learnt then. PaL allowed me to experience
learning at my own pace and at my own will –
Shloime was the catalyst to start me off on a hugely
beneficial journey.
When I returned to the UK I got in touch with PaL
again and they asked me if I would be willing to
tutor for them. Since then, I learnt for a few weeks
with an American guy, Jeff Shwartz, who spent one
semester of his degree in London. Our learning went
really well and was very enjoyable. Before he went
back to the States we met up and did a big sefarim
shop together, and he recently emailed me to say
that based on his experiences in London, he has
decided to leave his Conservative congregation
and find an Orthodox shul to join.
I'm now about to start learning with someone in
South Africa. PaL has given me the opportunity to
try and give over to others what I have learnt to be
so important in my life – Torah – and I am glad to be
acquainted with such a profound organisation
whose goals and dreams I share.
...in his own words
PaL allowed me
to experience learning
at my
and at my
own paceown will
Michelle Belnikoff
MICHELLE BELNIKOFF
EARLY 30s
June 2009
Ruchie Cohen
Hilchos Shabbos
Michelle is married with 2 children and
lives in Hainault, Essex.
AGE
JOINED PaL
PaL TUTOR
CURRENTLY LEARNING
ABOUT ME
I grew up in Leicester – we were traditional rather
than religious but developed a strong Jewish identity
through our involvement in the community. When
my husband and I got engaged we started going to
shul regularly and began to take on more after we
got married.
As well as going to shul on Shabbos I used to go to
shiurim regularly and also learnt with one of the local
Rebbetzins in Essex. Once my first child was born, it
became much harder to maintain that
commitment, and Rebbetzin Edna Wilson of Clayhall
Synagogue recommended that I register with PaL.
My tutor, Ruchie Cohen from Stamford Hill, is
amazing – she is really busy with her family
commitments but still finds time to learn with me
every week. Over the last two years we've covered a
variety of topics including Shabbos cooking, the
parsha, davening, the book of Ruth and the festivals.
We have a really good relationship – Ruchie knows
my level and the sort of things I enjoy learning and
always makes our sessions relevant to me.
We've met in person twice – I went to her home for a
Chanukah lunch shortly after we started learning
and really enjoyed it. She made me feel so
welcome and it was great to put a face to the
voice! I also went to her daughter's wedding in
November last year, which was such a powerful
experience.
PaL has had a very positive impact my life and is so
practical. I try and implement what I've learnt
about Shabbos into my own observance of
Shabbos each week.
...in her own words
I try to implement
aboutinto my own
of Shabbos each week
what I’ve learnedShabbos
observance
My family was always quite involved in our local
Reform synagogue – at the time I had my
batmitzvah there at the age of 13, my father was
actually the Chairman. I didn't really feel very much
for Judaism though, and moved steadily away from
it until my mother passed away in 2005 and I started
thinking about the meaning of life. I actually looked
into Christianity but I knew I couldn't throw away all
my Jewish upbringing and felt that as a Jew, it was
not something I could ever believe in. I was directed
to PaL after asking a question to the Rabbi on
Aish.com and was soon matched with my tutor,
Rebbetzin Vicki Belovski.
Vicki is wonderful and has really made both myself
and my husband Rob a part of her family. We've
spent Shabbos there many times and been twice
for Pesach and Rosh Hashanah! Vicki was also the
catalyst in arranging mine and Rob's chuppah,
which took place in her lovely garden with her
husband Rabbi Belovski as the officiating Rabbi!
Vicki has never judged me for my lack of
knowledge or the speed at which I wanted to move
in my Yiddishkeit – though since we started learning
together we have started keeping shabbos and
kosher, bought completely new sets of pots, pans,
plates and cutlery and put mezuzos up in our home.
We've been welcomed into the Barnet synagogue
community where we live and made many new
friends – this is all due to the huge impact that PaL
has had on both of our lives. I have a busy life,
working different hours each week, and on top of
that I'm looking after my father who has Alzheimer's.
PaL has been – and still is – perfect for me, and I'm so
grateful.
...in her own words
Vicki has
me for my lack of knowledge
or the speed at whichI wanted to move in my
never judged
my Yiddishkeit
CAROLE LINDSAY
MID 40s
July 2008
Vicki Belovski
39 Melachos of Shabbos
Carole is a self-employed Nail Technician from
Barnet. She and husband Robert were married
civilly, 10 years ago, and were married by
Rabbi Harvey Belovski in March 2009.
AGE
JOINED PaL
PaL TUTOR
CURRENTLY LEARNING
ABOUT ME
Carole and Rob Lindsay
ROB LINDSAY
41
November 2010
Eli Sternlicht
Tefillah
Rob is a paralegal and although he only
'officially' registered with Phone and Learn last
year, he's been a member of the PaL family,
through his wife Carole, for quite some time!
AGE
JOINED PaL
PaL TUTOR
CURRENTLY LEARNING
ABOUT ME
I grew up in a household that I would describe as
'traditional' – there was an awareness and a
certain level of observance at home (we kept
kosher), with occasional shul attendance. As I grew
older I did drift away from this though.
Once Carole had started learning with Vicki and
after the wonderful experience of our chuppah
however, I became infected with some of her
enthusiasm and decided to give it a go myself.
My tutor, Eli Sternlicht, is wonderful – we hit it off right
away! I consider him to be an inspiration – he draws
such tremendous strength from whatever it is that
we happen to be studying that it makes me want to
learn and find out more. We go through everything
in real depth, and at just the right pace for me.
Although we have not yet met up in person, I know
it's going to happen one day!
PaL has been fabulous for me as it gives me just the
right amount of information to inspire me to go on
and learn more. Since joining the programme I
have become more involved in Judaism and
Jewish life and definitely have a stronger
appreciation of our faith and religion.
...in his own words
Since
I have become more involved in
joining the programme
Judaism and Jewish life
David Drapkin
DAVID DRAPKIN
32
January 2011
Mark Silkoff
Mesillas Yesharim and Mishna
Rosh Hashanah
David grew up in Birmingham
and is currently living and
studying social work in Leicester.
AGE
JOINED PaL
PaL TUTOR
CURRENTLY LEARNING
ABOUT ME
There are not many observant Jews living in
Leicester so from the start, PaL has been a
wonderful option for me. Ever since I spent time in
yeshiva in Israel about three years ago and
became much more interested in Judaism, I've
wanted more contact with Torah Jews, and to do
more learning to ensure that my skills do not
decline.
PaL is particularly special in that the programme is
free, which is perfect for me as a student!
I had a connection to Judaism in my childhood; as
a family we lit candles and made Kiddush on Friday
nights and celebrated all the chagim in a jovial and
s incere way. But there was no deeper
understanding as to what or why we were doing
those things. And from the age of 16, I completely
turned away from Judaism both as a religion and as
a way of life.
Since registering with PaL I learn with my tutor Mark
Silkoff each week over Skype rather than on a
conventional phone; it's fantastic as we can also
see each other over the webcam which definitely
keeps me engaged and attentive! I have also met
Mark and his family in person, when they invited me
for a Shabbat meal last time I was in London. Since
that time, I feel as though we really learn as friends,
and have a very warm, personal connection. It was
great that PaL matched me with someone close to
me in age and with a similarly wacky sense of
humour!
Living in quite a lonely city where I don't venture out
much, PaL is really valuable to me. Having an hour
of Torah a week gives me some fire and reignites my
passion to learn more and to always want to keep
learning.
...in his own words
I feel as though we really
and have a very
learn as friends
personalconnection.
warm,
Yvonne Soraf
YVONNE SORAF
EARLY 50s
February 2011
Baila Royde
”A Lesson a Day”
When it comes to the Sorafs, PaL is something
of a family affair. Since Yvonne signed up
early in 2011, father-in-law Ron and son Adam
have also come on board as PaL partners!
AGE
JOINED PaL
PaL TUTOR
CURRENTLY LEARNING
ABOUT ME
My Jewish journey has developed gradually over
many years. I was brought up in a traditional family,
attending cheder three times a week as a child and
going onto JFS for secondary school. But as I got
older my affiliation slipped a little bit – my husband
Gary worked as a bookmaker and was always out
on the tracks on a Friday night and Saturday, so
creating any sort of real Shabbos experience for my
children was difficult. Things started to change
when my daughter became more religious through
Aish – she dragged me along to her Rabbi for a
Friday night, left lots of her reading material lying
around and began keeping kosher. Eventually I
decided to start keeping kosher as well, and after a
while my husband quit his job as a bookmaker and
our household became completely observant.
There is still so much I need to learn but as a busy
childminder who works a very full day looking after
small children, getting to a regular shiur is simply not
an option for me. So I was thrilled when a local
Rebbetzin, Nechama Davis, put me in touch with
PaL. My tutor Baila Royde is just wonderful – if I could
just listen to her voice for an hour a week it would be
enough for me, but we're learning so much
together as well! No matter how stressed I'm feeling,
after our learning sessions I am totally relaxed and
happy. I met her entire family at the chassidish
wedding of her son in Stamford Hill – it was a
wonderful occasion and such an experience for
me!
The support that PaL has offered me is perfect for
my situation in so many ways and I'm so grateful to
them for matching me up with Baila!
...in her own words
No matter how
after our learning sessions
I’m totally
stressed
relaxedand happy
I’m feeling
Charles Wunsh
CHARLES WUNSH
IN HIS 40s
October 2010
Michael Wiseman
Halacha and the meaning of Tefillah
Charles is a buyer for a well-known
restaurant chain and is married with two
teenage children.
AGE
JOINED PaL
PaL TUTOR
CURRENTLY LEARNING
ABOUT ME
I grew up in South Africa, and attended King David
Jewish Day School. I would describe my Jewish
upbringing as ‘traditional South African’, rather
than frum. My parents lit candles every Friday night,
and I went to shul three times a year. My
grandparents were considered very frum; my
grandfather put on tefillin every day and they kept
a strictly kosher home, although my grandmother
drove and went shopping on a Saturday morning.
My own interest was sparked after my son Aaron
became more religious during his time at JFS (he is
now in yeshiva). At that stage we were going to shul
in the morning on Shabbat, and going to Spurs in
the afternoon. I started to become more involved
at Belmont Shul where I served on the Executive
Committee as the Financial Representative for
three years. I was spending so much time in the
building that I became more interested in the
spiritual side of things than the accounts! I stopped
going to football on Shabbat and even spent a
month at the Ohr Someyach yeshiva in Jerusalem.
We have since moved to Edgware where we joined
Kehilas Netzach Yisrael. It was whilst discussing my
learning with Rabbi Malcolm Herman of seed that
he suggested I try PaL, due to my busy work
schedule.
My tutor Michael Wiseman, from Golders Green, is
truly fantastic – he is the most patient person I know,
so encouraging, even when I make basic errors for
the hundredth time. We learn together twice a
week, for half an hour at a time; he's great to talk to
and we often schmooze as well – he has such a
sense of humour! PaL has been great for me – so
convenient; because we've chosen a time to learn
that suits us both, we rarely miss a session. It's
working well and I always look forward to it!
...in his own words
He is the most
I know, so encouragingeven when I make
basic errors for thehundredth time
patient person
1000JEWS
15COUNTRIES
4CONTINENTS
1TORAH
Get connected with PaL, Phone and Learn
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JEREMY ROSE BATIA WARHAFTIG ANNA SHIELDS AVRAHAM ZVI GOODMAN RIVKA SMITH RUSSI DEUTSCH HERSHEL ECKSTEIN RUTI COHEN MENASCHE SCHARF BINYOMIN ECKSTEIN DOVID LEITNER BATSHEVA PARIENTE SARA WITTENBERG SHARON HARRIS RIVKY WAJSMAN OSHER BADDIEL DEBBIE ADLER ESTIE BERGIN TAVYA HARRIS GITTY ARTMANN LAWRENCE LITTLESTONE RACHELLE HOMBURGER PINCHOS BRANDEIS SHLOIMO MERLIN MIRIAM BERGER BORUCH KAHAN JUDY SILKOFF SARIT SHARMAN YONATAN FISHER DEBBIE ROSEN RUVY WEINIGER SIMON GRANT DOV PHILLIPS PHILIP LAWRENCE MORD MAMAN SHLOIME AISENTHAL DEBORAH PASCOE ELI AARON BAMBERGER DEBBIE MARKS ALEX CHAPPER TOVA WEISMANDEL YEHUDA WITTENBERG DOV HARRIS DEBBIE COHEN ARI BLUM MALKY HEIMANN VICKI BELOVSKI ROSLYN TELLER SARA BENBASSAT SARAH WEINSTEIN SHLOIME ROYDE RUCHIE COHEN DAVID BOWDEN OSHER-YAAKOV MARKS CHAYA COWAN TOVA COHEN MICHAL EDER ESTHER ULLMANN KAREN BRODER DINI CUTLER SHMUEL HEIMANN HILLEL BRODER DANNY BINSTOCK CHANA DENDEROWITZ DEVORAH ECKSTEIN HANNAH KIRSCH YONNI KLAJN JJ ADLER NAOMI CEZANA BRUCHI FRIEDMAN NIKKI BELLOW ATARA FELD SHEVA HOFF CHAYA DEBLINGER TALI COWAN RICKY KLEIN AKIVA HACKENBROCH LEAH GELLEY ELI STERNLICHT DANIEL NISSEN JONNY LIPCZER DINI HELLER FAIGY SEGAL ALEXIE GEE JOEY JACOBSON SHIFRA HOPSTEIN MENACHEM RUSKIN PNINA KATZ ARI GLUCK CHANI WELTSCHER MARILYN SHARMAN RICKY RUMPLER ELI GITTELSON BAILA ROYDE MICHAEL BINSTOCK BORUCH KEDOURIE RUTHY COHEN NORMA JACOBS BINYOMIN HERSKOWITZ YOSSI ADAM MARK SILKOFF SAMANTHA HERSKINE EZRA ROYDE SHULAMIT BORDON RACHEL KLIEN OREN RECHT REBECCA BLOCH ZIPPY L E I G H S A R A F O R T A C H A N A N I S S I M Y A A K O V F R E I D M A NCHAIM EMANUEL LEAH HEIMANN EMILY COWAN JUDITH MOSS CHANTAL YOUNG JACOB MORRISON-WOOD DAVID DAVIS VALERIE BAUM SARA AMIN RICHARD LEWIS DARREN ABRAHAMS PHILIP EGBUNE ALEXANDER HOPPEN STEPHEN ROBERTSON LINDA ALLEN LAURA DOUEK GABRIEL WEISZ MIRIAM BLOOM ROBERT MITCHELL JEREMY ROBERTS ROSE RAFAELOFF BRACHA MARGOLIS STACEY NELKEN BETHANY CHINERY GINA OSEN STEPHANIE WOODROW CAROLE LINDSAY YSABELLA HAWKINGS ANOUSHKA LESTER SHOSHI HORESH ALAN SHORRICK LISA SAGER ADRIANNE REGAL JONATHAN BARON DALIAH STEMMER ROSE FRIEDLAND MICHELLE BELNIKOFF CARLY SANDFORD CHARLOTTE LEIGH ADAM HACKENBROCH NESSIM HULLI TANIA ARDEN LISA ELLENBOGEN OLIVER TENZER JESS HOD JANE VICTOR ADRIENNE LANGMAN PENINA BOWMAN ROCHELLE CHAKIMI EMMA FIELD NICOLA JACKSON CAROLINA SOCCIO AMELIA LEIGH JOSH NYMAN JACOB BERNSTEIN CHARLES WUNSH HELEN STIRLING DEVORAH BERNSTEIN RENA LIEBERMAN ROB LINDSAY ROBERT GREENSPAN ALEX WELKA DANIELLA MASSIAS SHULAMIS LEVY ELISHA HOPPEN DAPHNE TAYLOR JOSE FEIT DANIEL CHAKIMI DAVID DRAPKIN ELEANOR SPANJAR SOPHIE KING LOUISA MEYER GAVRIELLA GOLDBERG ELINA SHUKER RACHEL BARRY YVONNE SORAF NACHAMA RIFKA ORENSTEIN NICOLE SAYAGH MICHELLE SHIMANSKY JONATHAN ROBINSON STEPHANIE ABRAHAMS YEHOSHUA-CHAIM JOSHI GUNEL JANNATOVA JONATHAN WERTH JONATHAN ELLIS RIVKA SOBEL JEREMY CHOUISSA MIRIAM LANGLEBEN TALI BURNLEY JOHN WOODGER NOA GUENZEL RYAN PARKER CHANTELLE AROVO BENJAMIN BARUCH JEREMY KAUFMAN KAREN APPLEBY PENINA FORD NICOLE PAZ ELVIS SKENSBERG
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HOURS OF PaL CALLS BETWEEN THEM,
IT’S HARDLY SURPRISING.
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fostering unity among Jews of all backgrounds. PaL matches Jews who want to know more about their heritage with a friendly, knowledgeable tutor for an
hour a week of Jewish study and discussion, over the phone. *Partners in Torah is a project of Torah Umesorah. PARTNERS IN TORAH is a trademark of
Partners in Torah, a division of Torah Umesorah, the National Society for Hebrew Day Schools, and is being used under licence.
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