(Click on images to ENLARGE) It is an unusual way of spending an Israeli vacation. Rather than relax by the Mediterranean Sea, a group of forty-five US business executives are spending their vacation engrossed in the sea of Talmud at Yerushalayim’s Ohr Somayach Yeshiva. The group arrived in Yerushalayim on Tuesday. They are spending a week as mentors for baalei teshuva. The mentors have learned in yeshivas and kollels prior to launching successful careers in law, medicine, and finance. Many were visibly moved to tears as they spoke about their inspiring experiences teaching the bochurim.

Impressed by the idea of mentoring, Rav Shlomo Miller, shlita, Rosh Kollel of the Lakewood Kollel in Toronto, and Av Beis Din joined the Mentors Mission, and gave a shiur klali to advanced bochurim at Yeshivas Ohr Somayach. The Rav shared with Avrohom Neuhaus, Mentors Mission organizer, how impressed he was by the bochurims’ keen understanding of the sugya. Many continued discussing the shiur with Rav Miller long after the shiur’s conclusion. Rav Miller will join the Mentors Mission over Shabbos in Tzfas, where he will inspire beginners of Ohr Somayach’s Shoresh Introductory Program towards their first steps of Yiddishkeit.

The majority of the mission’s members have never been involved in kiruv rechokim before. They were initially reluctant to teach baalei teshuva, who grew up in a different culture. Maurice Stein, a sales manager at Lakewood’s Madison Title Corporation, has never previously taught baalei teshuva. He found that his encounter with baalei teshuva helped remove stereotypes of religious people’s supposed lack of sophistication. “Although I’m a chassidic Jew, many have been amazed at my worldliness,” Stein says.

Yosef Yitzchok “Itche” Rosenbaum, Madison Title CEO, feels that the mission has underpinned many positive aspects of Yiddishkeit which he, himself, takes for granted. “Seeing how thirsty they are [for Torah] is a tremendous mechayev, obligation for us. Things that we take for granted obligates us that much more.” Rosenblum brought sixteen senior members of his firm together with him. “It’s a special, unique position as a group of business professionals to mekadesh shem shamayim in the workplace,” Rosenblum stated. “We see this as an opportunity as a spiritual bonding to elevate the day-to-day relationship on a spiritual platform. It strengthens the roots of our business relationship, and internalizes kedushah and growing together.”

“It’s the eye of the hurricane. Lakewood is the bastion of the young Torah talent in America—in some ways—the world,” Danny Lemberg, Mentor Mission founder and president, passionately stated. “In reality, these businessmen have never left the beis medrash. They are showing that there’s a way to work, to take downtime and to elevate it for klal Yisrael,” Lemberg noted.

Dr. Daniel Roth, a successful Lakewood, New Jersey ophthalmologist, took a week off from his busy medical practice in order to teach Torah to young collegiates, who are thirsty for Yiddishkeit. “The butterfly has a struggle. Without struggling, wings will never develop. We go through struggles in life. Without struggles, there’s no growth,” Dr. Roth explains a deep lesson in human suffering to the students whom he is mentoring. In similar fashion, a new baal teshuva must struggle with new customs, mastering two languages, Hebrew and Aramaic, and juggle his new lifestyle with his parents, friends and business associates. “We’re looking forward to keep a connection with at least two of the boys each when we go back home,” Rosenbaum explained that the mentor’s follow-up with the newly religious is crucial in helping them adjust to observance of Torah and mitzvos, along with softening their internal struggle.

On Thursday afternoon, the Mentors Mission traveled to Bnei Brak, where they received brachos from Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita and from Rav Gershon Edelstein, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh. Rav Edelstein was impressed by the idea of businessmen taking their vacation by strengthening Torah. He mentioned that the reward for such an endeavor is invaluable. In addition, the Rosh Yeshiva encourages other religious businesses to follow in the footsteps of Madison Title by sponsoring mentoring trips for their staff and to get involved with strengthening Torah. “A person who teaches Torah will himself be changed,” the Rosh Yeshiva told the group.

(By Avraham Zuroff, Yerushalayim)