Colors: Blue Color

Ten months ago, in August, Queens said goodbye to eight kollel yungeleit from Chofetz Chaim as they embarked on a mission to build a Torah community, along with strengthening the Jewish core of the many unaffiliated Jews in Tampa. They started Tampa Torah Academy and Tampa Kollel, collectively known as Tampa Torah Center, to bring more Torah infrastructure to Tampa.

In this week’s Torah portion, Sh’lach, we learn the valuable lesson of embracing a positive perspective amidst challenges. Hashem commands Moshe to send spies to explore the promised Land of Israel, driven by the heartfelt desire of the Jewish people. As the spies embark on their mission, they encounter a breathtaking land teeming with the potential for abundant growth and prosperity.

It is a challenging undertaking to encapsulate the commitment and sacrifice of Rabbi Aryeh and Rebbetzin Sokoloff. For 26 years, they have given of themselves in every conceivable way. They have provided spiritual and religious guidance to the entire Queens community. The Rabbi’s halachic leadership is sought throughout the local neighborhood and throughout Queens, both as head of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens (VHQ) and as a superior talmid chacham. He and the Rebbetzin have personally been involved in the journey back to Torah for literally hundreds of people. Rabbi Sokoloff’s devotion to the students of Shevach High School is legendary, as he insists on infusing not only their minds, but their hearts, with the deep awareness that they are Hashem’s children and worthy of respect and individual accomplishment.