The BJX Beis Midrash and Kiruv Centers were teeming with programs for each segment of the Brooklyn community. Rebbetzin Heller spoke Thursday morning in the BJX Beis Midrash to a room full of eager women. Rabbi Moshe Fingerer, executive director and co-founder of BJX, welcomed the women to BJX and shared three inspiring stories of how BJX lovingly educated adults with zero knowledge of Judaism and also patiently transformed the lives of adults who were previously frum. He related, “Imagine helping a secular Jew go from zero to one hundred. Now imagine helping a once-frum Jew, with so much opposition and frustration, move from negative one hundred to one hundred. Baruch Hashem, we witness these types of open miracles as we build Torah generations.” Later that evening, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer, the Rav of BJX, and Gila Manolson, the renowned author, spoke to a large group of Sephardic women at the Yad Yosef Torah Center on the topic of, “The Power of Women.” On Monday morning ladies flocked to the next BJX event at the Agudah of Avenue L ballroom to be inspired by the Rav  and Mrs. Manolson speak at the Agudah of Avenue L.  The women were given a breathtaking Hashkafic tour of the Torah’s perpspective on womanhood, modesty and positive self-image. Women left feeling invigorated and proud of  their roles as Jewish daughters, wives and mothers.

Students learning the Aleph Beis:

On Shabbos, BJX held another of their trademark weekly Shabbatons. However this Shabbaton was for a select group of college students who had completed a rigorous six-week BJX leadership course at the new BJX Kings Highway Center. Rabbis Fingerer exerted great effort to accommodate all of the students’ needs and placed them for lodging with various hosts from the community. The rabbis planned a beautiful Shabbaton that was both particularly memorable and extraordinarily meaningful. The graduates of the BJX Leadership Course experienced their first complete Shabbos and scrupulously tried to keep all the laws. While this was their first Shabbos experience–and for many first-timers it can be difficult–they loved every moment of Shabbos. These BJX leadership graduates had all graduated from local public Flatbush public schools, including  Abraham Lincoln Public High School, Brooklyn Tech Public High School, Midwood Public High School, and Madison Public High School. It is sobering and  frightening to realize that thousands of Jewish children are enrolled in public school in Flatbush, the home of the largest frum population in the Western Hemisphere!  As one BJX Beis Medrash baal habayis commented, “Our local brothers and sisters are our responsibility. All of Flatbush and anyone with Brooklyn roots is indebted to BJX for guaranteeing the Jewish future of those from within our very own community.”

Dr. Faygie Zakheim hosted the Friday night dinner along with her children Moshe and Chava and Rav Fingerer. She said that the thread of the entire meal was that the graduates loved the beauty of Shabbos. “They were a very bright crowd, real thinking people,” she said. “We had four generations at the meal. Bubby’s presence as a Holocaust survivor added a new dimension to the atmosphere. The highlight of the week for the BJX graduates was the realization that you can be the CEO of a large company; or an accomplished professor and still observe the Torah. They really enjoyed the Shabbos experience. You could see the glow on their faces. They were in my home till 1 a.m. Rabbi Fingerer explained to them about kiddush and washing for bread. They loved learning all the laws and wanted to know how to observe kosher.” One student, Josh, explained what he loved about praying at BJX -“Not being forced to pray but wanting to pray and understanding prayer is what motivates me to walk from Mill Basin each Shabbat,” he said. A young professional, Alice, told everyone that she “strongly felt the love of Shabbos.”The next day the BJX Leadership graduates came to BJX for a spectacular Shabbos davening. Zach, a Brooklyn College student, was called for his first Aliya. This was not just a graduation from the Leadership course but also his Bar Mitzvah! The shul joined the Rav in a spontaneous dance with Zach, celebrating his new connection to Torah and mitzvos. After a hot kiddush everyone joined Mr. and Mrs. Ralph and Yenny Herzka for a beautiful Shabbos lunch along with the Rav and the BJX Madrich, Hudi Kawolosky. Mr. Herzka shared with the BJX graduates advice on professional achievement as an illustrious CEO, words of Torah wisdom and inspiring stores about Emunah, faith. At the meal, they were joined by famous singer, Srulli Williger, and Avrumi (Abe) and Faygie Hirsch. Mr. Hirsch also shared moving stories and sang uplifting songs with all the graduates. The students thoroughly loved the meal and the ruach. The Shabbos seudah continued until late in the afternoon but concluded just in time for everyone to make their way back to the BJX center for the rest of the classes. Dr. Zakheim spoke about the four C’s in relationships and shared the Torah perspective on relationships. A lively back-and-forth discussion ensued. Everyone left smarter and more knowledgeable about what’s important and what’s less important in a relationship.

After the classes at the BJX, the students joined gracious hosts, Mordechai and Avigayil Jaffa, for a beautiful Shalosh Seudos. Mrs. Shainde Fuchs spoke about the Omer and setting goals in life. The Rav was the final speaker. He based his remakes on the Zohar and Midrash and spoke on the importance of seeing the good in everyone and everything. Finally Havdalla was beautifully sung by Rav Fingerer along with fellow mispallim from the BJX Beis Midrash. The Leadership certificates were handed out to each graduate by Mr. Moshe Caller, devoted Chairman of BJX. He said that everyone has different graduation certificates for different milestones but this certificate is not about a piece of paper; it’s about carrying with you forever all the ideas, concepts, and lessons that you learned. He then told everyone that he views it as the greatest privilege to learn and daven together with extraordinary students that are connecting to their heritage. Mr. Caller concluded that people travel far and wide to attend holy places but he personally views the BJX Shul as one of the holiest places on earth because of the love, warmth and growth that transpires there. He encouraged everyone to stay in touch. The graduates eagerly accepted their certificates. Their faces were aflame with joy upon achieving this milestone.

One leadership student, Mike, said that he believes that his feelings represent what everyone else had been saying. “I am speechless. I have no words. The rabbis were outstanding. The food was amazing. The speakers were unreal. The hosts were terrific. The Shabbat experience at BJX exceeded all of my expectations. Shabbat was awesome,” he said. Josh, a public school teacher, ecstatically said, “It was amazing–I would go again every opportunity I get.”

Many of the BJX Leadership graduates left the Jaffa home late Saturday night teary eyed. Each was excited to leave with his well deserved BJX certificate testifying to his hard work, but each graduate was also sad that the course that he had looked forward to each week was now over. As they walked down the steps, you could hear the voice of an animated young man beseeching Rabbi Fingerer, “Rabbi, please, this shouldn’t be the end. We want you to please keep teaching us.”

BJX community center and beis medrash is located at 2915 Avenue K. They may reached at 646-397-1544 or www.BrooklynKiruv.com.