[Video of last year’s Kumzitz] The place to be on Motzoei Shabbos, Nov. 19, is at the home of Mr. Yoni Mayer, 729 Ridge Ave., where the Annual Melave Malka to benefit Yeshiva Ateres Shmuel of Waterbury will be taking place. The full program will feature: Divrei Torah from the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Aharon Kaufman shlita, hot food, and a Kumzitz with Shua Kessin and Simcha Wenger’s S&S Music Productions.

The packed program will also include Guest Speaker, Rav Eliezer Hertzka shlita, Rov of Khal Meor Chaim. The Melave Malka will be hosted by proud Waterbury parents, Mr. and Mrs. Yoni Mayer and Mr. and Mrs. Ira Zlotowitz and co-hosted the Reception Committee of Dr. Jonathan Cohen, Mr Avrohom Tikotzky and Mr. Simcha Wenger.

The history of the Waterbury Yeshiva and community bears several notable similarities to the history of Lakewood. In Lakewood, the Rosh Hayeshiva Rav Aharon zt”l came to a spiritually desolate land and against all odds built a yeshiva that started a Torah revolution. The results, as we see them today, are the flourishing of the Lakewood Yeshiva, the Lakewood community and many yeshivos, Kollelim, and communities throughout the globe that have been influenced by Lakewood talmidim.

A little over a decade ago, history repeated itself, when the Waterbury Yeshiva was founded in a spiritually desolate city in Connecticut.

Over half a century ago, Waterbury had boasted a large Jewish population. To give an example of the size of the community there were 12 Kosher butchers in the city. Rav Mordechai Gifter zt”l had served as Rov of Waterbury for about three years in the 40’s. He would often comment that those were some of the sweetest years of his life. Although the community members were not learned, and in Rav Gifter’s words his only chavrusah was “a Pepsi can”, he was able to spend those years completely immersed in his learning and went through the difficult Masechtos of Zevachim and Menachos thoroughly. The seeds had been planted for the future rebirth of Torah in Waterbury.

By the time the yeshiva was founded, over ten years ago, there was no visible trace of Jewish life remaining in Waterbury. The original group consisted of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Aharon Kaufman shlita, nine families, 30 bais medrash bochurim and five children in the yeshiva ketana. Since its founding, the yeshiva has catered to bochurim from all backgrounds. Bochurim have arrived from Eretz Yisroel, France, and other countries, as well as from every community throughout the U.S. and Canada. Despite, or perhaps because of, the diverse backgrounds of the student body, the yeshiva has always been a wellspring of achdus. From the very beginning, the feeling amongst the talmidim has been one of a close knit family, joined together by a common mission of building Torah and yiddishkeit.

Since the yeshiva opened its doors for the first time not a day has gone by without seeing more growth in the yeshiva and in the community. Today, there are over 200 talmidim in the yeshiva, 275 children in the yeshiva ketana and a flourishing Kollel and 160 families who call the community home. The yeshiva now has over 600 alumni spread across the frum world. Many Waterbury alumni are now influencing Klal Yisroel in chinuch and askanus fields. As the city has grown, the cohesiveness and achdus have remained and the bond between the talmidim has strengthened. Additionally, the influence of the yeshiva has already spread to many other communities in Connecticut and beyond. Children from such cities as New Haven and West Hartford attend the yeshiva ketana and many members take advantage of the yiddishkeit in Waterbury-kashrus, mikve, shiurim etc, which may not be available in their small communities.

The Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Kaufman, is known as a master Mechanech and mentor. He forges a close personal connection with each talmid and literally fulfills the dictum of “chanoch l’naar al pi darko” by providing each talmid with exactly what he needs to grow and shteig. He has been described by talmidim as a “spiritual architect” building up each student to reach his potential. Rav Kaufman’s dedication to the yeshiva is awesome. His entire life is devoted to taking care of talmidim’s needs. His extremely full days consist of such issues as explaining p’shat in a sugya, dealing with student’s personal issues, speaking to donors and always doing everything that needs to be done for the good of the Klal and the spread of Torah. Many talmidim have been inspired by Rav Kaufman and have chosen to emulate him by passing on his mehalach of achdus, love and chinuch to others.

There is a strong kesher between Lakewood and Waterbury. Many Lakewood boys have learned in Waterbury over the years, and many Waterbury alumni are currently in Lakewood. The Melave Malka is a once-a-year opportunity for Lakewood alumni and residents of Lakewood to show their gratitude and support for the yeshiva and for the Rosh Yeshiva shlita and to keep the bond of achdus strong.

The yeshiva recently suffered an indescribable tragedy when two talmidim were nifter in a terrible car accident. Eli Schonbrun and Doniel King were both exceptional bochurim and tremendous bnei aliyah, who were beloved to all of their friends and Rabbeim in the yeshiva. Last week, the van which was taking them and nine other bochurim back to yeshiva from Brooklyn rolled down an embankment on Interstate 84 in Danbury, Connecticut, killing Eli and Doniel. Eli was 16 years old. Doniel was 15. They were both residents of Flatbush.

The tragedy was a tremendous blow to the Waterbury Yeshiva and community and to all of Klal Yisroel, who are still grieving this loss. The yeshiva could definitely use much chizuk at this trying time. Attending the Melave Malka Reception will certainly be a great source of chizuk and comfort for the Rosh Yeshiva, hanhallas hayeshiva, alumni and talmidim. Having everyone come together in a display of support for Yeshivas Ateres Shmuel of Waterbury will be an extremely appropriate gesture in this time of sadness. Lakewood Shopper.