The Dee Pirkei Avot Project

This week’s idea on Mishna 2.15 is written by Jonathan Levene who has been inspired by the love and achdut (togetherness) that the Dees have taught and shown us. Having grown up in the UK, he is now in his second year of Yeshiva in Israel.

We continue to wholeheartedly daven and learn in the merit of all those in Israel. Our lists are based off names sent to us and may not be up to date with the hostages as they continue to be released iyH. Nevertheless, we daven for the welfare of them all.

עם ישראל חי ❤ 🇮🇱

This week’s idea on Mishna 2.14 was written by Gabe Levey to whom we are very grateful to for stepping in at the last minute. Gabe was in the same class in primary school as Keren Dee (when living in London). Gabe is currently studying Shana Bet in Israel, in Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush).

We continue to dedicate our learning to the Dees, for the safe return of all of our brothers and sisters who have been taken captive and for those fighting for our country. ❤🇮🇱

This week’s idea on Mishna 2.13 is written by Rabbi Judah Kerbel who is the Rabbi of Queens Jewish Center in New York with his wife Eliana. He earned semicha from Yeshiva University (RIETS) following his learning at Yeshivat Har Etzion and BA in psychology and Jewish Studies from the University of Maryland.

May all our tefillot, learning and acts of chesed be in the merit of all those in Israel as we continue to pray for safety and security of Am Yisrael. ❤🇮🇱

This week’s idea on Mishna 2.12 has been written by Rabbi Nick Kett. Rabbi Kett, along with his wife Shira, and four children, have just joined Radlett United Synagogue, and this will be their first Shabbat as the new Rabbinic couple. They hope to follow on from the incredible example set by the Dee family and are honoured to be able to mark this milestone by participating in this wonderful initiative לעלוי נשמות Rebbetzen Lucy, Maia and Rina. ❤

May this learning continue to be a Zechut for Lucy, Maia and Rina as well as for our other brothers and sisters who have been injured, murdered or taken captive by Hamas, as well as to our dedicated soldiers fighting for our country ❤🇮🇱

This weeks idea on Mishna 2.11 has been written by Gila Ross. Gila is a Rebbetzin, author and coach with a vibrant, positive and relatable style. She has a passion for sharing the joy and relevance of Judaism and for positive parenting. Her Power Up! podcast was named the Top Jewish Podcast Worldwide. She was inspired by the Dee family and this idea is an excerpt from her book Living Beautifully: How to bring meaning, joy, and love into your life bases on the timeless wisdom of Pirkei Avos.

May this learning continue to be a Zechut for Lucy, Maia and Rina as well as for our other brothers and sisters who have been injured, murdered or taken captive by Hamas, as well as to our dedicated soldiers fighting for our country ❤🇮🇱

This weeks idea on Mishna 2.10 has been written by Sara Susswein Tesler. Sara is an educator who teaches in Jerusalem and Gush Etzion, and lives in Efrat. She helps run the women’s weekly Shabbat Parsha shiur which was co-founded by Lucy Dee z”l.

May this learning continue to be a Zechut for Lucy, Maia and Rina as well as for our other brothers and sisters who have been injured, murdered or taken captive by Hamas, as well as to our dedicated soldiers fighting for our country ❤🇮🇱

We are now dedicating each Mishna of Pirkei Avot to all those in need of Tefillot in Eretz Yisrael as well as leilui nishmat Lucy, Maia and Rina Dee. The final two pages contain a list of names of soldiers in need of protection, names of those missing or held hostage and those injured submitted by those in our TDPAP community. It is also leilui nishmat for those tragically killed, as listed. May our learning of Mishna 2:9 storm the heavens and serve as a tremendous zechut to Am Yisrael. ❤🇮🇱

This week’s idea is written by Diana Rosenfelder who made Aliyah with her family in 2009. They never met the Dees when they lived in Hendon but became good friends when they all ended up in Efrat. The men were shul buddies, Diana and Lucy enjoyed long walks, discussing teaching techniques, and loved exchanging recipes. Diana’s daughter Daniela and Rina z”l were at school together and very close friends from day one. 

This week’s Pirkei Avot has an extra dimension. As well as continuing to learn leilui nishmat Lucy, Maia and Rina, it only made sense to dedicate this week’s learning to everybody who is in need of tefillot. As Rabbi Leo said, the Jewish people are one and we feel each others pain as if it is our own. It is true more than ever that the Jewish people are feeling each-others pain right now and that our hearts break for the hundreds of civilians and soldiers who have been injured, taken hostage and been murdered by Hamas. But unlike these terrorist who commit barbaric, unthinkable acts, the Jewish people unite in the darkest times to take the pain we feel and craft it into light. And so, we hope that families around the world will storm shamayim with their learning dedicated to our brothers and sisters.

This weeks idea on Mishna 2.8 has been written by Malka Hubscher, whom has been teaching in various seminaries and women’s learning programs in Israel for over 20 years. The Hubscher family are long time friends of the Dees and with their daughters growing up together they enjoyed many wonderful experiences together in shul, school and the Ezra youth movement. Lucy, Maia and Rina are deeply missed and always close to their hearts.

This week’s idea on Mishna 2.7 has been written by Leora Ashman. Leora lives with her family in Efrat and shares a community with the Dee family. Her daughter was Maia’s madricha and her husband was formerly Rabbi Leo’s chavruta. Together with her husband, she runs the the Koach Eitan Initiative that teaches and raises awareness about aphasia and stroke.

This week’s idea on Mishna 2.6 has been written by Rabbi Shlomo Kimche. Rabbi Kimche was born in London and made aliya with his parents in 1969. He is a graduate of Yeshivat Shaalvim, Yeshivat Hesder Hakotel, and Hebrew University with degrees in Education and Philosophy. He founded Yeshivat Orot Yehuda H.S. in Efrat where he was Rosh Yeshiva for 20 years. Today he is vice chairman of the Yeshivot V’Ulpanot Bnei Akiva network, and is the Rabbi of Orot Yehuda community. He became close to Rabbi Leo Dee and his family, as Lucy z”l was a teacher in his high school, and Leo davens regularly on Shabbat in Rabbi Kimche’s community, attending all his derashot and Shiurim. Rabbi Kimche was very involved in the Shiva and continues to be close to the family as they demonstrate immense reslience in the face of the tragedy.

This week’s idea on Mishna 2.5 has been written by Rabbi Anthony Knopf. Rabbi Knopf is the Rabbi of Congregation Beth Ora in Montreal and Founding Director of The Jewish Moral Education Forum. He is married to Carly, and has four children. His articles on Jewish ethics have been published in Tradition, Hakira, The Institute of Jewish Ideas and Ideals, Torah Musings, and Lehrhaus. He was a member of Federation CJA’s Passport to Jewish Life Fellowship run by M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education.

This week’s idea on Mishna 2.4 has been written by Rabbi Shaul Robinson. Rabbi Robinson has been the Senior Rabbi at Lincoln Square Synagogue in Manhattan, since 2005. Rabbi Robinson was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland before attending Yeshivat HaMivtar. He undertook one year of professional training in Practical Rabbinics at Yad AviHaYishuv (Rothschild Foundation) in Jerusalem. Rabbi Robinson was appointed the first ever full-time Rabbi for Jewish Students at Cambridge University, where he first met Rav Leo Dee, who was himself studying at university. He was the Rabbi at Barnet Synagogue in England for 8 years, before moving to his current role in New York.

This week’s idea on Mishna 2:3 has been written by Rabbi Jeremy Rosen. Rabbi Rosen was born in Manchester, England, and went to school at Carmel College, the school his father had founded. At school, Rabbi Rosen became friends with Anthony Dee, Rabbi Leo’s father and the two have remained friends ever since. In turn, their own grandchildren went to school together, becoming close friends. Rabbi Rosen went to Cambridge University, studied in Yeshiva in Mercaz HaRav Kook, and received Smicha from The Mir, Ponevezh and Be’er Ya’akov. During his career he has been a communal rabbi in Zimbabwe, Glasgow, London and New York. He was the headmaster and then Principal of Carmel College and acted as an educational and rabbinic consultant. Although now officially retired, he continues to write, lecture and teach from his base in Manhattan.

This week’s idea on Mishna 2:2 is written by Richard Marks. He is a resident in Radlett (UK) where the Dees were the Senior Rabbinic Couple for a number of years. Rabbi Leo and Richard got to know each other well during their time in the community. At Radlett a new Sefer Torah has been dedicated in memory of Lucy, Maia and Rina.

This weeks idea on Mishna 2:1 is written by Rav Yaakov Klein. Rav Klein recently moved to London with his family, as the founding director of Eilecha; an organization focused on spiritual growth and experiential education in the local community. Rav Klein devotes his time to spreading the inner light of Torah through his books, articles, shiurim, and music. He’s written several books, including ‘The Story Of Our Lives’.

It is a tremendous privilege that Rabbi Leo Dee has authored the idea on this week’s Mishna.

Rabbi Dee was born in London, England. He studied at Yeshivat HaMivtar before becoming the Assistant Rabbi in Hendon United Synagogue, where he served until 2011. Rabbi Dee was then the Senior Rabbi in Radlett until he and his family moved back to their homeland of Israel to fulfill their dream of bringing their family up there. Rabbi Leo has the most admirable strength and Trust in HaShem. He has faced the most unimaginable challenges and used it to strengthen and uplift Am Yisrael. He is currently working in the field of Torah and Sustainable Development, inspiring 1000s of people around the world, from all different religions and walks of life.

This weeks idea is written by Rivki Silver. Rivki is co-host of the Deep Meaningful Conversations podcast, exploring topics relating to Jewish women. She is a regular contributor to Family First Magazine, and also plays music for all the local day schools in Cleveland where she lives with her husband and five children.

This week’s idea is written by Nicole Ashton. Nicole is a Primary School Teacher who was born and raised in Radlett, where the Rabbi Leo and Rebbetzin Lucy Dee were the Senior Rabbinic Couple. Nicole feels hugely privileged to know the Dee family and admires Lucy a”h as an amazing Rebbetzin as well as fondly remembering many Shabbatot in Shul together and meals in their homes with the whole family.

This week, we are so privileged that Rabbi Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth, has written the idea.

Formerly Chief Rabbi of Ireland, Rabbi Mirvis was Senior Rabbi of Kinloss Synagogue in Finchley (1996 – 2013) and has held various educational and community positions in Israel, Ireland and the UK. Rabbi Mirvis’ vision is of a Jewish people that places the principle of ‘Achrayut’ – ‘responsibility’ at the heart of everything we do; aspiring to meet our responsibility to God, family, community, Israel and wider society. His mission is to strengthen and invigorate Jewish communities to become powerhouses of religious commitment, educational excellence and social responsibility.

This week’s idea is written by Rena May. Rena has a PhD in Immunology and has been working in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years developing new Oncology drugs. She lives with her husband and 3 daughters in Efrat, where they have been family friends with the Dees since they made Aliya 8 years ago.

This week’s idea is written by Rabbi Ari Shishler. Rabbi Shishler opened Chabad of Strathavon in South Africa in 1999, with his wife. He is a speaker, writer, blogger (Times of Israel and Shainasbrocha) and weekly radio show host (ChaiFM in Johannesburg). Rav Shishler is also a father to a daughter with an ultra-rare disease, which has prompted him to become something of a disability activist.

This week’s idea is written by Tsofia Novick. Tsofia lives in Efrat with her family and was close friends with Rina Dee. A few weeks ago we shared a card that Lucy wrote at a Bat Mitzvah, sharing that Mishna Vav was her favourite Mishna from Pirkei Avot – Lucy had written this message for Tsofia’s Bat Mitzvah.

Thank you so much to Rebbentzen Chana Hughes for writing the idea this week. Rebbentzen Chana has recently left her position as Rebbetzin of Radlett United Synagogue (UK) where she and her husband Jonny followed Rabbi Leo and Rebbetzin Lucy Dee in their position as the Rabbinic Couple. Chana is a mother of five and also practices as a psychotherapist.

This week’s idea is written by Rabbanit Dena (Freundlich) Rock who teaches at Midreshet Lindenbaum in Jerusalem. Rabbanit Dena lives in Efrat with her family and became friends with Lucy Dee when Lucy volunteered to partner together in organizing a weekly women’s shiur Shabbat afternoons.

This week’s idea is written by Rabbi Daniel Rose. Rabbi Rose is a friend and colleague of Rabbis Leo’s. He is originally from London, but now lives with his family in Modi’in. He is the Director of Education at Koren Publishers in Jerusalem and the Director of Education at The Rabbi Sacks Legacy.

This week’s idea on Mishna 8 is written by Dr Shulamit Kopeliovich. When Lucy made Aliya to Israel, she studied for the Israeli Teaching License in Herzog Academic College. Shulamit taught Linguistics, and remembers Lucy’s great influence on her classmates: “she was a real leader always ready to help and encourage. We all learned from her.” Now she is the Head of the English Department in Herzog and an educator in the Russian-speaking trips of “Momentum”, an international organization empowering Jewish mothers all over the world. She is also responsible for the Russian translation of Dee Pirkei Avot project.

This week’s idea is written by Shiri Kleinberg. Shiri was a close friend of Maia Dee since the Dee Family lived in London.

This Week’s idea is written by Rabbanit Naama Frankel, Rosh Beit Midrash of Lindenbaum Lod, where Maia studied last year. Rabbanit Naama had a close relationship with Maia and gave a heartfelt eulogy for her at the funeral of Maia and Rina. This week’s mishna is also particularly meaningful because it resonated so much with Lucy. Please see attached a card written by Lucy about this mishna.

This week’s idea is written by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, Senior Rabbi of Boca Raton Synagogue in Florida. His shiurim have an enormous global reach and Family Dee are avid listeners. Rabbi Leo Dee has been listening to Rabbi Goldberg’s shiurim for the last decade and quoted the ‘Living with Emunah’ shiur in the eulogy he gave for his wife, Lucy, and in public speeches since. Rabbi Goldberg flew from Miami to Efrat for the Dee’s Shiva and the two now share a very close bond.

This week’s idea has been written by Lucy’s friend and neighbour, Bracha Krohn. Bracha grew up in the US and now lives in Efrat with her family. She is Menahelet of Midreshet Moriah in Jerusalem and spends her summers running the beit Midrash at Camp Stone, USA.

This week we are privileged to have the idea contributed by Rabbi Cobi Ebrahimoff. He is the former principal of the Independent Jewish Day School, the primary school that Maia and Rina, alongside their siblings Keren. Tali and Yehuda, attended in London. He is currently Executive Head of King Solomon School in Ramat Hasharon, Israel and is Rabbi of Tribe UK.

This week’s idea is written by Dalia Bornstein, cofounder of The Dee Pirkei Avot Project. Dalia and Maia were childhood friends when Maia lived in London. Dalia has so many cherished memories of sleepovers with Maia and all her sisters at their house in Radeltt. During their year in sem, Dalia and Libby were welcomed to the Dee’s home in Efrat. The family explained that they learn Pirkei Avot together each week. They discussed ways to incorporate the principles into their daily lives and use them to make themselves better people. This moment is what inspired Dalia and Libby to start the Pirkei Avot Project, in light of the tragedy that happened.

This week’s idea is written by Libby Levey, cofounder of The Dee Pirkei Avot Project. Libby and Maia were childhood friends when Maia lived in London. Libby has so many cherished memories of sleepovers with Maia and all her sisters at their house in Radeltt. During their year in sem, Libby and Dalia were welcomed to the Dee’s home in Efrat. The family explained that they learn Pirkei Avot together each week. They discussed ways to incorporate the principles into their daily lives and use them to make themselves better people. This moment is what inspired Libby and Dalia to start the Pirkei Avot Project, in light of the tragedy that happened.

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