In 1971 I studied in Yeshivas Torah Ore located in Kiryat Mattersdorf Yerushaliyim. On Shabbos the young boys of this developing community, wasted away their time. Flash backs, of the inspirational Shabbos Pirchei groups I enjoyed as a young boy, growing up in Boro Park, encouraged me to create the same here. After some quick arrangements, Bnei Simcha was founded.
This new youth group, would hopefully keep the young boys of this community entertained and inspired Shabbos afternoons. Boys of all ages under Bar Mitzvah would get together, in the community Shul classrooms. I would tell them stories, teach them new songs, talk about the Parshe, launch contests, hand out prizes and nash bags.
These were not easy times for the parents and children living in Yerushaliyim. People were still recuperating from the Six Day War with new threats on the rise. The amenities that abound today in Eretz Yisroel did not exist then.
The Shabbos programs brought meaning and simcha into the children’s lives, while bringing their parents some relief. Bnei Simcha grew rapidly with three different groups running simultaneously.
A membership card was issued to each child, giving them a sense of belonging, which also helped support the effort. Parents were happy to pay a small membership fee which enabled the funding of prizes and nash for all groups. Yeshiva friends of mine soon joined the effort, donating some of their Shabbos off time, to help keep the children fullfilled. Eventually our success enabled Bnei Simcha to secure some funding from the Jerusalem Municipality, which further helped support our efforts.
There was this one challenged special needs boy Moshele, whom I will never forget.
It happened during one of the groups, when I was explaining the Tefilloh of Ashrei to the boys. All of a sudden Moshele screamed out, that he had his own explanation he wanted to share. You can just imagine the surprise his outburst caused, since he was somewhat compromised and never participated much.
The room fell silent and Moshele went on to explain his own understanding of the words אשרי יושבי ביתך עוד יהללוך סלה
ASHREI:
“Min darf gebben ah shrei”.
We need to give a scream.
YOSHVEI VEYSEHCOH:
“Farvos zits de in hoiz?
Why do you sit at home?
OID YEHALELUCHO SELO
“Mer darfen noch loibin
Der Aibershter”
We need to praise Hashem even more.
Now more than 50 years have passed. What he said that Shabbos still remains engraved in my memory. Will never forget the powerful message, sent down from above, through this special boy.
A scream must go out to the Jewish world, not to waste precious time, sitting home, occupied with mundane things. Important to spend more time in the Beis Medrash, praising Hashem.
We never know what is going on in the minds of the special children in our midst. They undoubtedly are special holy נשמות. Their perspective on life may even be clearer then ours at times. When they speak up, they may be providing us with a special spiritual message that only they can share.
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