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Wilkes-Barre Youth Development Program Celebrates 10

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — This past Sunday evening, November 1st, Bais Menachem – Youth Development Program of Wilkes-Barre, PA celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a gala dinner at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The dinner was organized by a group of Bais Menachem alumni to mark this momentous occasion.

Bais Menachem is a yeshiva for young men who have struggled in the mainstream yeshiva system for a variety of reasons. Founded in 1999 with just 7 students, the yeshiva has served hundreds of young men during the past decade.

The theme of the dinner was “The Bais Menachem Family.” More than 150 members of the Bais Menachem family, including students, teachers, shluchim, parents, and supporters, gathered for an evening of delicious food, student-led musical entertainment, inspiring speeches, and a chance to reconnect with the wonderful students and shluchim who have contributed to the tremendous success of Bais Menachem.

Mr. Jeff Davidowitz, a staunch supporter and partner of Bais Menachem was in attendance. “I, too, am a student at Bais Menachem,” he told those gathered. Mr. Davidowitz thanked the students for all they have taught him over the years, and remarked about the numerous students in whom he observed a remarkable transformation over the course of their stay at Bais Menachem.

The dinner attendees were treated to delicious food as they renewed friendships and wished each other L’Chaim. Bais Menachem Alumn and dinner co-chair Shmully Litvin served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Rabbi Zvi Perlman, the Rebbe’s Shliach to Wilkes-Barre led the recitation of the Rebbe’s kapitel followed by a Dvar Torah delivered by the mashpia of Bais Menachem, Rabbi Pinny Levitin.

The highlight for many was the speech by Yanki Jacobs, a former student and shliach at Bais Menachem, and current director of Yeshiva Tiferes Shmuel in Lakewood, NJ, who spoke sincerely about his journey from what R’ Mendel Futerfas Z”L called a “corridor boy.”

Dovid and Becky Brownstein, in their unique entertaining fashion, took the crowd on a humorous look back at the last 10 years, followed by a beautiful slideshow highlighting the vital work of Bais Menachem. Rabbi Mendy Seewald lovingly shared his personal sentiments about the long lasting impression the students leave on the yeshiva their ongoing connection to the Yeshiva.

Rabbi Uri Perlman, founder and director of Bais Menachem spoke of the struggles of Bais Menachem’s early days and unprecedented hatzlochah of this unique organization. He presented awards for dedicated service to Rabbi Zvi and Suri Perlman, Rabbi Pinny and Frummie Levitin, Rabbi Mendy and Malka Seewald, and Mr. Jeff Davidowitz.

The evening concluded with music and dancing in a show of true achdus.

The dinner was made possible by the tireless work of the decennial dinner committee: co-chairs Eli and Chanie Spalter, co-chairs Shmully and Duby Litvin, and committee members Levi Finck and Shmuel Kazen.

Bais Menachem is also celebrating its 10th anniversary with a grand raffle, viewable at www.BMRAFFLE.com. For more information about the Bais Menachem, please visit www.BaisMenachem.com.

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