We here at MTC are still trying to get used to a quiet that we are not familiar with. For the past 10.5 months our incredible students have filled the rooms, hallways, dorms and lives of everyone at MTC and Bet Elazraki with indescribable joy.

With more than 12 weeks of lockdown, a global pandemic, rockets being launched from Azza; it most definitely feels like we’ve been through it all with our students. Our students’ resilience is unmatched. They faced everything that was thrown their way with such bravery, positivity and sometimes even excitement (yes, they were excited to have lockdown- it meant more time with their kids). So it is of no surprise that their absence is already felt so significantly.

After almost a year away, our students will be spending this Shabbat at home, with their families and their communities. They, along with thousands of other young men and women who have been away for a year of Torah learning and growth in Israel will be reunited once again. It is very fitting that the first Shabbat they will experience after their year in Israel, after a year of tremendous growth, is the Shabbat of Parshat Korach. Our students will sit in their communities and read about what happens when someone removes himself from his community. And they will be left with a very important message- you can leave a community and still be very much a part of home, however, you can also be a part of a community and be nothing but destructive.

In this week’s parsha, Korach and his followers exhibit the dangers of selfishness and ego. While living amongst their neighbors and as active members of their community, Korach and his followers were not able to understand the crucial concept of ואהבת לרעך כמוך. They were convinced that they were better, holier, more signifant than those around them and Hashem made it clear to Moshe; members like these in a community must be removed. There is nothing to learn from someone who refuses to learn from others.

Thousands of students spent countless hours in the Bait Midrash, learning, growing, delving deeper into their Judaism. They have become wiser, more knowledgeable of their history and more connected to their Jewish roots.  But the test of true growth comes now. When everyone is back home, amongst their neighbours and communities, if that growth manifests itself in a feeling of haughtiness, of superiority, well then, that growth is worth nothing at all.

BH our students have been blessed to combine their Torah learning with Chessed and their middot therefore have become chiselled and more refined. We know without a doubt that when reading this week’s parsha they will feel in their hearts the importance of being an active, contributing member of the Jewish community, and that the lesson of Korach will be one that they will know to store; because nothing is more important than ואהבת לרעך כמוך.

Welcome back to all those who studied in Israel this past year. You were missed in your communities. Take all that you’ve learnt and internalise the message of this week’s parsha. Our growth is measured not just by our knowledge, it is measured by our actions, our thoughts and our middot.

We’re so proud of you. We can’t wait to hear how far you will all go.

Shabbat Shalom.