The Dee Pirkei Avot Project

This week’s idea on Mishna 4:16 is written by Rav Yoni Abrams. Rav Yoni embarked this week on shlichut to London where he and his wife, Rabbanit Hannah, will be directing the Chief Rabbi’s Shalem Fellowship, a new program for university students to learn Torah on a high level in London. Rav Yoni is a Mizrachi UK Rabbinic Fellow as well as working as a Data Scientist for an Israeli Startup. Rav Yoni is excited to come and learn from and grow with the London Jewish community over the next few years!

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This week’s idea on Mishna 4:15 was written by Hannah King. Hannah was in primary school with Keren Dee and vividly remembers going over to the Dee’s house and being welcomed so warmly by the whole family. Hannah spent a year in MMY seminary and is currently studying biomedical engineering at UCL.

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This week’s idea on Mishna 4:14 has been written by Rabbi Chananel Rosen. Rabbi Rosen is the community rabbi and director of Yakar Tel Aviv – a vibrant community and learning center in the heart of Tel Aviv. He studied at Yeshivat Hesder Yerucham, Siach, Mir and Tekoa. He received his rabbinical ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and has served in a combat unit in the IDF. He has a BA in psychology and English literature and a MA in Intellectual History from the Hebrew University.

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This week’s idea on Mishna 4:13 has been written by Amichai Taub. Amichai is a year and a half into his army service, serving in a combat unit. Since October 7th they have been involved in Gaza and have been training for war in the north. Amichai met Maia Dee when he joined IJDS primary school in 4th grade. He remembers her as being extremely welcoming and friendly. He also remembers them sharing a deep connection and love for Israel.

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This week’s idea on Mishna 4:12 has been written by Stewart & Karen Taylor. Stewart made Aliyah from Canada in 1984. He is an American citizen. Karen made Aliyah from the UK in 1987. They married in 1996 and lived in Petach Tikva until 2020 when they moved to the Katamon neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

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This week’s idea on Mishna 4:11 has been written by Rabbi Reuven Epstein. Rabbi Epstien, CPA, is a highly regarded dating and marriage expert. With a global reach, he has delivered impactful seminars and workshops and has provided one-on-one counseling to thousands of couples. Rabbi Epstein is deeply involved in community education, offering remarriage classes and ongoing support for mature couples. His insights are shared through various platforms including TorahAnytime.

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This week’s idea on Mishna 4:10 is written by Rabbi Rafi Stemmer who runs the Schools Department for Aish, UK. He received his Rabbinical Ordination from Rabbi Yitzchak Berkowitz at the Jerusalem Kollel, and completed an MBA at Bar Ilan University. Rabbi Rafi spends his time teaching, mentoring and sharing the beauty of Torah with people from all walks of life.

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This week’s idea on Mishna 4:9 is written by Aura Sutton. Aura taught at Magen David Yeshivah High School and as a kallah teacher in the Sephardic community of Brooklyn, NY for over 30 years. She is a doctoral student at Azrielli School for Jewish Education. She recently made aliyah and lives in Yerushalayim.

Aura says of her connection to the Dee family, “I had recently made aliyah before the attack and decided to visit during the shiva. I was inspired by Rabbi Dee, his children and his in-laws. In particular, Lucy’s hy”d parents made me feel a direct connection to the family and to Am Yisrael. They expressed how deeply touched they were that so many people visited during the shiva and I can only imagine even more so after this year where weekly learning continues to take place in Lucy, Maia and Rina hy”d memory.”

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This week’s idea on Mishna 4.8 is written by Zak Silverblatt. Zak is currently studying at LSE following two years at Yeshivat Hakotel. As a member of Hendon United Synagogue, he knew Rabbi Leo and Lucy Dee when they served as the Junior Rabbinic Couple there.

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This week’s idea on Mishna 4.7 has been written by Rabbi Mordechai Ginsbury. Rabbi Ginsbury has been the senior Rav of Hendon Untied Synagogue, Raleigh Close for just over 25 years. Prior to that he was Rav of the Prestwich Hebrew Congregation, Manchester, from 1985 – 1998. He is also Principal of Hasmonean Primary School, Hendon and Associate Director of the United Synagogue’s Centre for Rabbinic Excellence. In 2008, Rabbi Leo Dee was appointed as Associate Rabbi of the Hendon Synagogue where and he and Lucy worked closely and effectively with Rabbi Ginsbury and his wife, Judy, for the betterment of the Community. The enduring and mutually warm connection between the Ginsburys and the Dees is such that Rabbi Ginsbury and Rabbi Dee remain in regular contact. Rabbi Ginsbury flew out to Israel, with three other United Synagogue Colleagues, especially to be menachem avel to R’ Leo, Keren, Tali and Yehuda during the shiva for Lucy, Maia and Rina a”h Hy”d

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