Dear Friends and Family,

On November 4, I will be running the ING New York City Marathon. I caught the "running bug" a few years ago after running a local 5K race in Teaneck. Since then, I have participated in numerous races some as short as 5K (3.1 miles) to as long as 25K (15 miles).

To help keep me motivated I decided to raise money for Yeshivat Hesder Nahar-Deiah in Nahariya, Israel that, as you may know, suffered significant damage during last year's Lebanon war. Many individuals from the Yeshiva performed extraordinary acts of kindness to help the people of the region. While many residents understandably fled the city, the Yeshiva students decided to remain and provided spiritual and physical support to the families in the shelters. The city of Nahariya is the sister community of the UJA Federation of Northern Jersey. My mother, Barbara Gononsky, has been active in the UJA's partnership with Nahariya for many years. She has participated in educators’ missions and hosted members of the Nahariya community in her home. It was there that I have had the privilege to personally meet Rav Eliyahu Blum, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Hesder Nahar-Deiah.

About Yeshivat Hesder Nahar-Deiah

Under the leadership of Rav Eliyahu Blum, the Yeshiva has been able to help Nahariya’s mostly secular community to maintain a connection to Torah Judaism. The Yeshiva feels strongly that Jews living in Israel have a responsibility to defend their land. Therefore, all of the Yeshiva's students served, are currently serving, or will serve in the Israel Defense Forces. In fact, the Yeshiva’s entire rabbinical faculty has served in IDF combat units. The Yeshiva maintains a "Machsan Chesed," a thrift shop, where people can come and buy clothes at reduced prices, and is in the process of building a new kitchen to provide hot meals to families in need. To learn more about the Yeshiva, please visit their website, http://www.nahariya.co.il/eng.


I deeply appreciate your involvement. I would like extend my best wishes to you and your family for a happy, sweet, and healthy 5768.