Mr. Michael Goldsmith Addresses Middle School at Tefilah Yom Iyun
Being able to daven three times a day is a privilege. To be able to give gratitude to HaShem is a gift. Two weeks ago, Mr. Michael Goldsmith (Yavneh ‘99) began a campaign to unite 12 yeshivot and 30 shuls to create a Yom Iyun on November 4th. The learning and davening of the day would be dedicated to the refuah shlema of a young man in the community. On Thursday, November 4th, Mr. Goldsmith addressed the Yavneh Academy Middle School faculty and students, sharing what the gift of davening means.
Mr. Goldsmith is a local community member and Yavneh graduate. His wife Elana is a beloved faculty member. Their children Joey, grade 5, and Sophie, grade 2, are Yavneh students. Mr. Goldsmith took ill with Covid in March 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic. After three days of home isolation, Mr. Goldsmith had to return to the hospital where he was intubated and placed into a coma. The coma lasted for 22 days and he was hospitalized for a total of 32 days. Our school community, Bergen County community and truly the global community began davening for Mr. Goldsmith’s refuah. From the doctors in hospitals, to children in schools, to shuls across the world, tefillot and shiurim were dedicated to Mr. Goldsmith. We were empowered by Mrs. Goldsmith’s emunah as well as her battle to receive the best medical attention for her husband.
Mr. Goldsmith shared the significance of Thursday's Yom Iyun. The Yom Iyun was not about a single person’s tefillah, or a single person’s refuah, but rather to daven for the ill of Bnei Yisrael. Tefillah b’tzibur is the most important part. Our individual tefillot are important; when we join as a community, we cry out as one to Hashem to ask for help.
Rabbi Knapp concluded the program with tehillim further uniting our Yavneh Middle School. May our tefillot bring good health to Bnei Yisrael.
