The Big Picture
Few things in life inspire more awe or hope than the miracle of a newborn child. When well nurtured and cared for in their earliest years, children are more likely to survive, to grow in a healthy way, to have less disease and fewer illnesses, and to fully develop thinking, language, emotional and social skills. In just one generation, these human gains can help break the cycles of poverty, disease and violence that affect so many countries.

Out of 100 children born in a year, 30 will most likely suffer from malnutrition in their first five years of life, 26 will not be immunized against the basic childhood diseases, 19 will lack access to safe drinking water and 40 to adequate sanitation, and 17 will never go to school. In developing countries, every fourth child lives in abject poverty, in families with an income of less than $1 a day.

The most egregious consequence is that nearly 11 million children each year – about 30,000 children a day – die before reaching their fifth birthday, mostly from preventable causes. Of these children, 4 million die in their first month of life.

Even when children do survive, they too often do not thrive, suffering from diminished learning capabilities and other disadvantages that limit their overall prospects for reaching their full potential.

The process of giving children the best start in life begins even before birth. Poor nutrition and ill health on the part of a mother can lead to low birth weight in her children, putting them at much greater risk of developmental delay, malnutrition and death.

With a vision that has been unfolding and mushrooming for twenty years, the Rebbe called for the establishment of Tzivos Hashem in the fall of 1980. Children were a top priority for the Rebbe. Rather, each Jewish child was a top priority for the Rebbe. From his vantage point as world leader and spiritual giant, he understood the intrinsic promise held by children, and he founded Tzivos Hashem to cultivate and nurture them so that they could grow to be strong and healthy in body, mind and soul.

The Rebbe himself would hold communal meetings, which he called rallies, with thousands of children at a time. And it was the Rebbe himself who spoke to the children directly and put great responsibilities on their shoulders. Not only did the Rebbe see children as the promise of a better tomorrow, the Rebbe saw children as the promise for a better today.

Judaism stresses that chinuch, Jewish education, should begin at an early age to prepare for adulthood. The Rebbe emphasized that not only are children’s mitzvos for the sake of practicing for the future, but that their mitzvos, now, while they are young, have significance in and of themselves. Through his confidence in them and his expectations, the Rebbe actually confirmed a child’s self esteem and challenged children to use their inborn strengths and talents for good.

The Tzivos Hashem relationship did not flow in just one direction, of commander to commandee. The soldiers of Tzivos Hashem gave nachas to the Rebbe as he watched them increase their mitzvos and perform them with greater care. And it was the children who were able to identify with and express the Rebbe’s passion to bring the world to peace and goodness, as they would sing for him their theme song:
We Want Moshiach Now.

Over the years, its attention has turned to more complex problems, including how to counter the missionary threat. Israel has attracted some 100 missionary congregations and cults because it offers a large concentration of Jews, many of whom are prime targets due to their economic distress and unawareness about Judaism. Fighting the missionaries, who have millions of dollars a year at their disposal, has long been one of Yad L’Achim’s top priorities.

Another focus of attention is assimilation. Though it was once thought that this could not be a problem in a Jewish country, not even for the secular, the tragic facts show an increasing number of Jewish girls getting involved with foreign workers and, even more so, with Arab men. Indeed, Yad L’Achim gets some1,000 calls a year reporting such cases.

Our Anti-Assimilation department responds to all such calls. In some cases, this means launching military-like rescues from hostile Arab villages and setting the women up in “safe” houses around the country, where they can build new lives for themselves.

Yad L’Achim has other departments as well, including one devoted to the spiritual absorption of immigrants from the CIS and one that helps register children in Torah schools.

Our mandate to provide interest-free loans to the Jewish community helps to promote self-sufficiency with dignity. By providing loans rather than charity, Toronto Jewish Free Loan Cassa (G’milath Chasodim) Association provides an important service to individuals and families in our community.

TJFLC has been providing interest-free loans to members of Toronto’s Jewish community for over eighty years, even prior to its incorporation on July 12, 1924.

TJFLC is the amalgamated organization that combines the loan services of Toronto Hebrew Re-Establishment Services, Loan Cassa and Educational Loan Program, offering personal, business and student loans to community members in need.

Our loans are helping a broad range of Toronto Jewry with a variety of needs including education, personal and business opportunities. There are approximately 550 active loans outstanding, with a total value of $1.5 million dollars.
Types of loan
Economic Opportunity Start-Up Business Loans of up to $15,000 are available to members of the Jewish community. These loans have a small administrative fee. Loan applicants must have a business plan leading to financial enhancement or independence.

Educational Loans of up to $7,500 are available to members of the Jewish community. These loans are granted to assist with the expenses of post-secondary education and are restricted to programs offered by institutions approved by the Ministry of Education. Since TJFLC educational loans are intended to supplement existing scholarship assistance programs, all educational loan applicants must show proof of application to the applicable government-supplied student financial aid program or programs.

Personal Loans of up to $5,000 are available to members of the Jewish community, to assist persons during temporary times of need. TJFLC will also assist needy and qualifying individuals with loans of up to $5,000 to assist with the expenses of Jewish Life Cycle events.

TJFLC gives loans for a multitude of purposes, but our focus is singular. We have a communal responsibility to the completion of Tikun Olam by assisting people to become independent and self-sufficient.

Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah is a dynamic, innovative and unique institution which has quickly established its reputation as the yeshiva for students who want to learn how to learn on their own. By merging the Torah ideals of a traditional yeshiva with the cutting-edge educational methodology, Yesodei HaTorah is proud to have become an exemplary yeshiva, acclaimed by students, parents, and educators alike.

Discover one of the finest yeshivot in Israel – a yeshiva where you learn how to learn, where you analyze the classics of Torah Judaism, where your individual talents and goals are respected and celebrated, where you study with top-notch educators who give unmatched personal attention. Discover Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah.

“Yesodei HaTorah” means “Foundations of the Torah.” Our carefully designed, systematic skills development curriculum builds the foundation of a life of independent Torah study. Without skills, independent learning is impossible.
We impart the Foundations of Torah – the skills and knowledge on which a Torah life is built.

Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah is the yeshiva in which you become an independently skillful ben Torah. In addition to Gemara, you become closely acquainted with the other foundational texts of Torah Judaism. Our outstanding faculty will teach you the classics of Jewish Philosophy, Chumash with Rashi and Ramban, Nach, Mishnayot, and the central works of Halacha, enabling you to become a knowledgeable, skillful, and well-rounded Jewish adult.

Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah is also well-known for its strong emphasis on your individuality. Every student at Yesodei HaTorah is treated as an individual who has his own unique Torah path, whose independent personality will be celebrated. The yeshiva’s goal is to help you become the finest, most educated Torah Jew you can be, while remaining true to your own individuality and personality.

Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah boasts an exceptionally talented faculty, which prides itself on giving personal attention to every student, and on establishing lasting relationships with each individual in the yeshiva. Our small shiurim and extraordinary faculty-to-student ratio ensure that you become an integral part of the Yesodei HaTorah community.

Organised Torah study was revolutionised by Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, a disciple of the Vilna Gaon (an influential 18th century leader of Judaism). In his view, the traditional arrangement did not cater for those who were looking for more intensive study.

With the support of his teacher, Rabbi Volozhin gathered a large number of interested students and started a yeshiva in the (now Belarusian) town of Volozhin. Although the Volozhin Yeshiva was closed some 60 years later by the Russian government, a number of yeshivot opened in other towns and cities, most notably Ponevezh, Mir, Brisk, and Telz. Many prominent contemporary yeshivot in the United States and Israel are continuations of these institutions and often bear the same name.

“Today their are many Yeshivas across the world” says Moishe Alexander “and the Jewish people need to support them.  Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel is one of many that I personally recommend.”

“A wonderfull place filled with the light of Torah” says Moishe Alexander” May they only have success with are
support.