A
ll of the talmidim at the Harriet Keilson Early
Childhood center are privileged to be taught by
distinguished and devoted morahs and rabbeim.
The boys of the kindergarten get an extra treat each
week when they are taught by the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav
Yaakov Bender.
Rav Bender’s demanding schedule in the Yeshiva
runs the gamut from high-level shiurim and vaadim in
the Mesivta and Kollel to a longstanding fixture on his
weekly calendar, when he teaches the second-youngest
group of students. Every Thursday, the kindergarten
boys gather in a large classroom where he teaches them
one letter of the Alef-Beis and a related middah or mitz-
vah. Each visit also includes a review of all the previous
weeks’ lessons:
“Alef is for emes –always tell the truth; never tell a lie!”
“Beis is for brachos – we make brachos on everything!”
“Gimmel is gemilus chasadim – be kind to everyone!”
“Reish is rodef shalom!”
“Shin is Shabbos!”
For the ultimate lesson at year’s end, “Tav is for
Torah,” the lesson becomes a grand celebration, moving
from the classroom to the Diamond Beis Medrash. With
the help of seventh grade talmidim and musical accompa-
niment, the kindergarten boys are able to dance with the
Rosh HaYeshiva as they mark their milestone achieve-
ment, a siyum on the Alef Beis. For a few moments, the
boys are able to hold genuine Sifrei Neviim, enwrapped
in velvet in the style of Sifrei Torah, giving the occasion
an added dimension – a miniature Simchas Torah.
“Our kindergarten boys are truly fortunate to
learn from Rabbi Bender each week,” says Dr. Wendy
Devorah Gerson, the director of the Harriet Keilson
Early Childhood Center. “The morahs teach them about
the shapes and sounds of the letters of the Alef-Beis, and
the Rosh HaYeshiva takes those lessons to a whole new
level. What he teaches are not just catchy rhymes; they
are fundamental yesodos of Yiddishkeit that will stay in
the boys’ hearts and minds for the rest of their lives.” !
16
BEDARCHEI HATORAH
FALL 5779/2018
The
Alef-Beis
of Life!
ROSH HAYESHIVA’S
WEEKLY INTERACTION
WITH PRESCHOOLERS
INCULCATES THE
FUNDAMENTALS