JNet Grand Raffle Launched at Kinus Volunteer Appreciation Event

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — In honor of Chof Beis Shevat the Rebbetzin’s yahrzeit, JNet, The Jewish Learning Network, hosted their Volunteer Appreciation Event and Grand Raffle for women. The gathering, held on Motzei Shabbas at the Levi Yitzchak Library, honored current volunteers, as well as recruited new volunteers. As part of the recruitment process.

JNet launched a Grand Raffle (see flyer below) to inspire volunteers, shluchos, and Anash to sign up friends and family members as potential volunteers. JNet volunteers teach Torah on the telephone for ½ an hour to 1 hour a week on a variety of subjects ranging from Basic Parsha and Chassidus, to Halacha and Gemara. JNet chavrusas are selectively matched not only according to learning level and Torah topic, but general common life interests as well. This specialized matching process encourages friendships and support networks that develop and endure beyond just the scope of the actual learning, as was evidenced at the event…

Between chocolate fondue and Sherbet punch, volunteers and students were able to meet and mingle and learn of the ways JNet has personally affected each of their lives.

Mrs. Tova Hinda Siegel of Los Angeles, and Mrs. Esther Rosen of Crown Heights, shared their fulfilling experiences as JNet volunteers and the meaningful relationships that they have formed through their chavrusas. Mrs. Rosen expressed the excitement she feels when her chavrusa, a 25 year old girl a member of the Peace Corps in Bangladesh, is able to teach other Jewish students in her program the concepts she learned with her JNet chavrusa. Mrs. Siegel told of the deep satisfaction she receives from witnessing how her chavrusa, a mother of two year old twins in Texas, dedicates time out of her demanding schedule to learn Torah on the telephone in order to pass it on to her family.

JNet Women’s Coordinator and the evening’s organizer, Ms. Orlie Schuller, said the event was extremely gratifying. “It is phenomenal to personally witness how hours of effort in careful matchmaking results in great chavrusas, who are stimulated and sustained by their learning and their relationships.” Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Jnet’s Executive Director, added, “The dedication of our JNet volunteers is remarkable. We are very happy to offer this tremendous opportunity to all members of Anash to partake in touching so many people’s lives!”

Around the globe, the event brought in shluchas who are also JNet volunteers, including Mrs. Devorah Leah Sudak and Mrs. Emanuelle Potash, both from London, England. Other volunteers and students came from somewhat closer, including from Florida, Pennsylvania, and Los Angeles, while others were more local, coming in from Manhattan, Long Island, and of course Crown Heights. Several chavrusas met for the first time at the event including Sarede Switzer, Crown Heights volunteer, and Shira Berenson, Columbia University student excitedly embraced upon their first in-person meeting (pictured). Shira spoke during the event of how grateful she is to the Rohr foundation for making JNet a reality and to her shluchim, Rabbi Yona and Keren Blum for connecting her with JNet. JNet’s youngest student, 14 year old Hindy Banda from Boro Park, met her chavrusa Brochie Wayden, 20 years old from Philadelphia, for the first time after learning weekly for a number of months (pictured). And as one of the longest running JNet chavrusas, learning together for almost 3 years, Crown Heights volunteer, Mazal Zirkind, and Nagila Baradarian, from Great Neck, joyfully reunited for the second time at the event as well (pictured). Mrs. Baradarian brought her mother, Miriam, to the event where she decided to sign up for JNet too!

JNet expresses heartfelt appreciation and gratitude again to each of our volunteers.

Thank you to JNet benefactor, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky and Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch. Special thanks to the Lubavitch Youth Organization for its use of the Levi Yitzchak Library.

To sign up to learn or teach with JNet, The Jewish Learning Network, please visit www.JNet.org, or call 718-467-4400.