YESHIVAT NETIV ARYEH, LOCATED 100 YARDS FROM THE WESTERN WALL,

HOLDS INNAGURAL DINNER WELCOMES OVER 700 FRIENDS, FAMILY AND ALUMNI: 

ANNOUNCES NEWLY ACCREDITED HESDER STATUS

April 4, 2005 (New York, New York):

Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh ("YNA"), The 38 year old program and newly accredited Yeshivat Hesder located a mere 100 yards from the Western Wall in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, celebrated its inaugural dinner last night.  Over 700 enthusiastic alumni, supporters and faculty packed the Grand Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Midtown Manhattan to write the final letters of a Torah Scroll donated by the alumni in honor of HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl.

Inspirational words from keynote speaker HaRav Aharon Bina followed.  Rosh HaYeshiva HaRav Aharon Bina, Shlita, YNA's founder and guiding force addressed his family, friends and alumni with both humor and memories of his father HaRav Aryeh Bina, z”l founder of Yeshivat Hakotel.  He spoke of how his father’s influence allowed him to become YNA’s founder and guiding force.

Notably present was Senior Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl, Shlita.  Rav Nebenzahl is a world-renowned Halachic authority who has served since the Six-Day War as Rav of the Old City of Jerusalem.  Widely published and revered, he was HaRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach’s chevruta for over thirty years. HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl's discourse on the weekly Torah portion is read by over 20,000 electronic subscribers worldwide 

The program featured videotaped addresses by YNA supporter Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Minister of Finance as well as Rebbe David Abuchazeira. Mr. Netanyahu, who held his son’s bar mitzvah at the yeshiva, stressed the importance and uniqueness of YNA’s location at the heart of the Jewish world.

The program's highlight, however, was the exuberant and spirited reception of the  new Torah Scroll that was specially commissioned in honor of YNA's inaugural dinner.  Reverently cradled by HaRav Nebenzahl, the Torah became the centerpiece of much singing and dancing, led by international singing sensation Avraham Fried, and lasting until nearly midnight.

Dinner Chairman and YNA alumnus Richard Grossman was thrilled.  “Although my expectations were high, even I couldn’t have imagined such an exhilarating event.  Such joyous and spontaneous outpouring of support for the Yeshiva and its charismatic leader, HaRav Aharon Bina - I have never seen anything like it in my life.”

About Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh

Over the past thirty plus years Rav Bina’s unique program, which was relocated to YNA in the fall of 2003, has established a reputation as the place where torah students from around the world join together to engage in intensive torah study and absorb the unparalleled passion and ruach of Jerusalem’s Old City.  In addition to its newly minted status as a Yeshivat Hesder and its illustrious role as host of the Rennert Kollel for pre and post-rabbinical seminarians under the tutelage of Rosh Kollel HaRav Yaakov Katz, Shlita, YNA is primarily known as one of Israel’s premier institutions for post-high school study. 

YNA boasts modern, well-appointed facilities and state-of-the-art security, matriculating more than 100 English-speaking students each year from countries including the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Named in memory of trail blazing Religious Zionist educator and yeshiva builder HaRav Aryeh Bina, z”l (father of Rosh HaYeshiva HaRav Aharon Bina), YNA remains true to its namesake's creed of building an institution one neshama at a time. 

For information about YNA, contact Ilana R. Scheiner at American Friends of Netiv Aryeh, Tel: 718-601-5826 or on the web at www.yna.edu