Ohr Yisroel celebrated its first graduating class this past week marking the culmination of a remarkable inaugural year. The yeshiva congratulates Nadav Callen, Jacob Dahan, Shmuli Fisher, Liam Levy, Netanel Mammon, Moshe Papier, Yosef Reich, Ikey Rozehzadeh and Avigdor Vizel on reaching this important milestone and for leading the way as the first senior class of the newly established yeshiva. The graduation featured presentations by Rabbi Mordechai Shain, Dr. Joe Rozehzadeh, Rabbi Asher Yablok and members of the graduating class and culminated with Rabbi Scott Friedman’s keynote speech during which he highlighted each graduate before presenting them with their diplomas.
The graduation was equally a celebration of the boys accomplishments and their shared vision in bringing the yeshiva to fruition and creating the Ohr Yisroel community. As one graduate remarked, “Every school says that they are family but nobody knows what family is until they go to Ohr Yisroel.” Rabbi Yablok took the opportunity to appreciate how truly groundbreaking Ohr Yisroel is and encouraged each of the graduates to not only reflect on the genuine sense of happiness they all have experienced this year but carry it forward in the years ahead.
Dr. Rozehzadeh highlighted the uniqueness of Ohr Yisroel by acknowledging the selflessness of each and every one of the stellar rebbeim. He especially thanked Rabbi Friedman and Rabbi Yablok for going above and beyond in making sure every talmid got the attention and support they deserved from personalized learning schedules to picking them up and bringing them to yeshiva. In addition, he noted the selflessness of the rebbeim’s wives for being so generous with their family time to support the growth and success of the yeshiva.
Finally, while introducing each graduate, Rabbi Friedman took the opportunity to share notes, letters and messages he had received over the year from family and community members who were so impressed with Ohr Yisroel talmidim. In true Ohr Yisroel fashion, Rabbi Friedman expressed the unique and remarkable qualities of each talmid. Finally, and poignantly, he thanked all those who contributed to the success of the yeshiva, and acknowledged that the yeshiva started with a dream and a few commitments and has now grown to an enrollment of 60 boys this coming school year.
