Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad (YOEC) in Los Angeles is preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, and we are planning a beautiful banquet for the occasion. We are thrilled to announce that the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Ezra Schochet will be the honoree for this momentous occasion. The date is Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at the Universal Hilton Hotel. For 40 years, Rabbi Schochet has dedicated himself completely to educate and guide close to two thousand students at the yeshiva, many of them who have gone on to become shluchim, Roshei Yeshivos, community leaders and businessman who are living constructive lives according to the Torah way. Rabbi Schochet has also been very active in helping many people personally from across the Los Angeles community and Lubavitch as a whole. The yeshiva, which started out with ten shluchim, has constantly been growing in numbers and quality and is now home to almost two hundred and fifty students yearly in the Mesivta and Beis Medrash. This was accomplished by keeping a high teacher to student ratio, and with a unique approach of personal relationships with the students. Rabbi Schochet, known affectionately as "the Rosh," takes a personal interest in the growth of the bochurim and many former students have expressed that their current success is due to this bond that made them feel cared for during their impressionable years when they were away from home. The yeshiva, which is situated on two acres of land in the heart of the Jewish community in Los Angeles, has continuously been updated and modernized with state of the art buildings, offering the students comfortable accommodations for studying and living. The beautiful dormitory built less than fifteen years ago is already filled to capacity, and the yeshiva is now beginning the planning of a new dormitory and recreational building, which will include close to a hundred new beds, an indoor gym and swimming pool for student health and fitness. The success of the yeshiva is evident in the quality of the alumni, and in what they have accomplished with their lives. Hundreds of shluchim and Rabbis around the world studied during their formative years at YOEC. VIDEO - Part II: Rabbi Chaim Hanoka of Pasadena, Rabbi Shmuel Marcus of Cypress-CA and singer Benny Friedman speak about their time in the yeshiva Many others have gone on to successful careers in business and other professions while living frum, Torah-inspired lives. As we look back at the past forty years and its tremendous accomplishments, we look even more to the future and the continued growth we hope to experience. We hope to honor Rabbi Schochet in a very dignified and befitting manner and give back to a leader who has given so much to his students and the community. We, therefore, ask you to take out an ad in the Dinner Journal. If you're around the Los Angeles area, please make reservations for the Banquet. Let's make this a tremendous success!

Rabbi Ezra Schochet, known as "The Rosh," and businessman and philanthropist Tulli Deutsch, recounted stories and experiences they had with the Rebbe to an enthralled crowd in Los Angeles. More than 300 people in Los Angeles, CA, came to watch a live interview of Rabbi Ezra Schochet, “The Rosh,” and Mr. Tulli Deutsch, a renowned philanthropist, conducted by JEM’s My Encounter project. My Encounter interviews are usually conducted on video, with edited stories released in JEM’s weekly Living Torah videos and Here’s My Story publications. This time locals were able to be a part of the interview process, and see and hear the stories live, in their raw, uncut, unpolished state. The crowd was fascinated by the recollections of Mr. Deutsch, a Holocaust survivor, who was encouraged by the Rebbe to personally record his memoirs, which are studied by military students at Westpoint to this day. Rabbi Schochet recounted numerous stories, including the blessing and guidance he received from the Rebbe which lead to the birth of his children. “Listening to the Rosh telling his stories brought them to life in a very real way,” said Dr. Simcha Pollard of Long Beach, CA. “Hearing them live made the stories that much more rich, and so much more personal.” Los Angeles is the third community to enjoy a live My Encounter interview. Previously, communities in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia sold out halls to hear members of their respective communities share their stories of the Rebbe. “Our purpose is not only to collect the most thorough oral history of the Rebbe on tape,” says Rabbi Yechiel Cagen, director of the My Encounter project, “Our goal is to help people connect with the Rebbe through the very personal advice, teachings and guidance the Rebbe gave so many individuals. The live setting gives us the opportunity to do so in a much deeper way than any recording can.” The program also featured highlights from previously recorded My Encounter interviews, as well as never before seen footage of the Rebbe, including advice on parenting. The sold-out My Story book was on hand for sale as well. “We look forward to doing similar live interviews in communities across the globe,” says Cagen. "The expenses and logistics are tremendous, but well worth it when we receive the overwhelming heartfelt feedback.” The event was a joint project of Cheder Menachem, Chabad of SoLA, Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad, Congregation Levi Yitzchok, Bais Chaya Mushka for Girls, Congregation Shaarei Tefila, Chabad of North Hollywood and Bais Betzalel. Special thanks to Yossi Lipsker and Mendel Goldman for arranging and hosting the event and to the sponsors: Milano Wigs & Alacrity Energy, Dr. Simcha Pollard, Yaakov Rosenblatt, Motti Slodowitz, and Yossi Mayberg.