A dinner at Tel Aviv's Ocean hall honored a yeshiva for boys from frum families that don't fit in the educational system.
By COLlive reporter
10 years and 200 students later, a group of supporters and alumni gathered last week to celebrate the accomplishments of a unique Chabad yeshiva in northern Israel.
Chanoch Lanaar in Tzfas, headed by Rabbi Eliezer Wilschanskyand Rabbi Schneur Lipsker, caters to boys from frum families who don't fit in the educational system.
This alternative school offers a professional and caring staff who combine learning Torah and chassidus with general studies.
There's classes for drama, music, gardening, CPR, computer programming, and gym and tennis time. They also enjoy swimming, sports and computer games.
Supported by the World ORT Jewish organization that promotes education, the yeshiva boasts that many of its alumni have already entered the workforce in Israel.
"We are proud to be doing all that we can to support such institutions to train haredi youth for work, while keeping their values," said ORT Israel Director Zvi Peleg.
"We are ready to accept more students and there is so much more that need the humanitarian and emotional supports," said Rabbi Wilschansky.
He was joined by his father Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Wilschansky, Rosh Yeshiva Chassidei Chabad in Tzfas, Israel's Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger and Kfar Chabad Rabbi Mordechai Ashkenazi at the dinner.
Held in the Ocean event hall in Tel Aviv and produced by Michael Caplin Productions, the event also thanked the Toronto Foundation and governmental agencies for their backing.
The school's boys choir singing the touching Hebrew song Ale Katan with singer Yishai Lapidut was a moving moment for all.
