[Yhe central] VBM meltdown

B'H


Last Night,  The Gush's Virtual Beit Midrash broke.  
Yeshivat Har Etzion greatly apologizes for The Email Storm or Gush Allpocalypse.
Officially, its called an Email Storm, or a Reply Allpocalypse but we prefer the name Gush Allpocalypse.  We are working through some networking and sever issues.  Subscribers received message from our VBM listserver that misdirected and had them replying  to the entire VBM email list, which caused other subscribers to respond, which caused a chain reaction of email messages.  



In the words of subscriber, Ari, 
"This was annoying at first but now it's kind of wonderful. 
And still annoying."


Here is what we learned.  
1. There is a wonderful, world-wide community of Torah learners who share reading shiurim from the Virtual Beit Midrash - so nice!

Subscriber Chaya Rivka from Dallas asked VBM listserve subscribers where they were from - Yishai responded from Singapore and Rafael invited Torah learners from Berlin for a beer!  Dorron objected to Barry's wishes of a "good vinter" on behalf of readers from South Africa and Australia going into the summer!  
Our favorite example  - Dina from Mizpe Netofa,
"Nice to hear from others who are studying Torah online. we are indeed linked. If you are ever passing by, feel free to stop in!  I will be happy to talk Torah with you and offer you a cup of tea".

2. The VBM serves a wide range of learners.  Wow.  Our Torah learners included people who work in Medical Education & Research in Gastroenterology, or serve as the CEO of a Travel Agency,  or The Chief Rabbi of Uruguay, Certified Public Accountants, Medical Doctors, Laboratory Managers, Event Planners, Lawyers, Property Investers & Developers, Computer Gurus, University Professors etc. etc. etc.  
This was a humble reminder to us about the real people who learn Torah with us.

 3. Gush alumni continue to learn Torah with us!  We are so proud of all of them!  
From Soupy who told us that: 
"I've discovered old friends here." to  David who wants to know, "How about a 1987 MTA reunion??". 

How can we possibly omit the comments of alumnus, Ezra, who had a bit of fun with the Storm of 2014!  
"Q. How many gush guys does it take to unsubsribe from a list serve?

A. Depends on your definition of gush guy and list serve. 

#woudn'thappeninshalavim"

4.  VBM Torah Learners are gracious, understanding and have lots of paitence! 

We thank you. We are sorry. However, we enjoyed comments like these:

"Please do not take me off the list, this is very entertaining." - Mark

"agreed....but not in my INBOX please.  although keep me on the VBM listserv...VBM rocks!" - Daniel

"I think this is viral marketing for the upcoming shiur series The Halakhot of Reply-All." - Sam

and Micha who encouraged us all to "Tir'u baTov!"

and yes, Noam, we will consider your idea...

"I think we should all get free YHE t-shirts." - Noam  

 Members of our wonderful, world wide Torah learning community  - we thank you for making our mistake a gracious reminder of our mission to provide you with a window into The Gush Beit Midrash and for reminding us of our shared joint endeavor Lehagdil Torah ULeadira.

The Gush Family

החל גיוס המילואים לפיקוד מרכז ופיקוד צפון: אלפי אזרחים קיבלו צווי 8

IDF actively begins calling up 40,000 reserves for Operation Protective Edge

sign on the main entrance of the Yeshiva reads:
reserve soldiers meeting point

Approximately 40 current talmidim and Kollel members were called up for reserve duty yesterday.  The Yeshiva is proud to be a meeting point for reserve soldiers who received call ups for active duty. 

same signs by the Yeshiva's Torah Libary

Our thoughts and prayers are with Am Yisral and all of our soldiers, 

and we know your are as well.

מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבותֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקב הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הֲגַנָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל

הָעומְדִים עַל מִשְׁמַר אַרְצֵנוּ וְעָרֵי אֱלהֵינוּ מִגְּבוּל הַלְּבָנון וְעַד מִדְבַּר מִצְרַיִם

 וּמִן הַיָּם הַגָּדול עַד לְבוא הָעֲרָבָה בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בָּאֲוִיר וּבַיָּם

 יִתֵּן ה’ אֶת אויְבֵינוּ הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ נִגָּפִים לִפְנֵיהֶם

הַקָּדושׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִשְׁמר וְיַצִּיל אֶת חַיָלֵינוּ מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה וּמִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחְלָה וְיִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם.‏

Yeshivat Har Etzion Ethiopian Leadership Program - "What Bracha Do You Make On Kolo?"

The Ethiopian Leadership Program at Yeshivat Har Etzion trains a select group of rabbis, educators and lay leaders to serve as a bridge between Orthodox Judaism and Ethiopian community practices.

As we near the end of the year, HaRav Mahbrato Solomon, Head of the Ethiopian Leadership Program (seated on the far right) observes a teacher giving a practice lesson.
In this class the teacher asked the following question,
"What Bracha Do You Make on Kolo?"

Kolo is the word for roasted barley. Dabo Kolo is eaten as a spicy crunchy snack made from wheat flour, but can also be made from tef flour (which is more commonly used to make Ethiopia's famous spongy flatbread, injera) or even chickpea flour.

The student teacher has brought in his mother's Kolo recipe with all of its listed ingredients to see if they figure out what bracha to make together!

Bein Kotlei HaYeshiva
Yeshivat Har Etzion
Gush Etzion

July 2014/Tamuz 5774