Every person is a victim of his environment, and learning environments are no exception. Often, life dictates what outcome a person is destined for, what yeshivot he will go to, and what colleges, if any, he will attend. These examples are primarily due to the circumstances of the environment in which surrounds the individual. I, too, am a victim of my learning environment.
My name is Gavriel Ari Shimunov. I was born in Boro Park to immigrant parents, and had the privilege of having a father who did attend yeshivot. My father studied first at Torat Yisrael and then at Ponovitz in Eretz Yisroel, after escaping the Iron Curtain. Later, my dad won tickets to study at the Mir in New York by answering questions at a contest. The questions were on topics he studied with his parents and grandparents in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. To the Rosh Yeshiva’s surprise, my father was able to answer questions that other students couldn’t. His rich heritage that he received from his parents, and the mesirat nefesh (self-sacrifice) by escaping the Iron Curtain, molded him and gave us the opportunity to continue a lifestyle engulfed in a Torah environment. They hopped all across Central Asia, Europe, and then to the Middle East, giving up all of their personal belongings, just to come closer to the environment of their ancestors. With only their shirts on their backs, they arrived in Israel filled with high hopes.
The Iron Curtain, a Communist Regime that was bent on atheism, decimated Russian and Central Asian Jewry. The Jews suffered greatly at the hands of the communists, losing almost everything they needed to survive as a nation. Most rabbonim were exiled, and the Torah was forgotten. Anyone who did try to engage in teaching, or even studying Torah, was quickly reported to the KGB, and the fear of being reported stopped Torah study dead in its tracks.
For the sake of their children, my grandparents decided to leave for Israel, a place where their children would have a proper Jewish learning environment. Once my grandparents were able to escape the Iron Curtain and reach Israel, they settled in Bnei Brak and placed their children in prestigious yeshivot.
Fortunately, my parents put me in Yeshiva Toras Emes Kamenitz of Boro Park until they felt comfortable enough for me to travel to the Mir of Flatbush. Finally, at the age of 11, my parents transferred me to the Mir, where I studied from the 6th grade all the way through Rabbinical College. I even had the opportunity to teach there, my way of giving back to the yeshiva.
When I got married, I joined Kollel Mateh Efrayim, under the leadership of Rabbi Stienwurzel. I also enrolled in Pirchei Shoshanim in pursuit of the semicha (Rabbinic ordination). I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my father, and one day serve as a community Rav, just as he serves as a Rav in Boro Park for the Bukharian Kehilla.
I am a product of the mainstream yeshiva system, realizing that this is a privilege, something those from the old country never had the merit, unfortunately. Learning the Hebrew alphabet, Chumash, etc., things we all take for granted, hasn’t always been available like that for everyone. In contrast, our seniors scramble for the transliterated Siddur (prayer book) and the transliterated Chumash (Hebrew Bible), locked out of the world of Jewish literacy. Rashi Deut. 11:19 (DH To speak to them) says, “a child whose parents didn’t teach Lashon Hakodesh (Biblical Hebrew) to their child, it’s as if the parents buried that child alive.” Their Jewish identity fell victim to the Soviet Union.
With my Jewish education, I experienced a great deal in values, moral, and social responsibility. My mashgiah (guidance counselor), Rabbi Erlanger Shlit”a, would have lengthy discussions in ethics every Monday. We engaged in a wide variety of topics, often about the state of current affairs. With lessons in Mesillat Yesharim, a Book on Ethics by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato, my mashgiah taught us new measures in ethics and social responsibility. The traditional people of yesteryear taught through example. The parents filled in where the schooling fell short. In a nuclear era, such as ours, parents often don’t have time to imbue ethics and social responsibility in their children and rely heavily on the school’s ability to inspire such essential social skills.
The physical environment plays a pivotal role in our family’s future. From the constant barrage of non-Jewish concepts being promoted by both the media and our local city officials, combined with the inevitable influences of our city streets, the very outdoors become a danger zone and pose a risk to our future. When discussing this topic with our previous menahel at Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion, Rabbi Label Lam, Shlita, I was told this is the precise reason he raised his family in Rockland County, a suburb of New York. I was inspired to move to Pomona, NY. Its tranquil environment enabled me to focus on what matters most, and not be distracting from my goals.
Coupling the physical environment, where there are fewer outside influences, with the learning environment, can play a significant role in shaping the future. Without proper education, a generation of uneducated youth can bring destruction to civilization. On the other hand, without a real heritage, the youth can bring destruction, but this time onto themselves. Therefore, the proper environment, both physical and learning, such as a yeshiva, where the rebbeim can give that rich Jewish heritage to the next generation, is the only salvation to today’s nuclear society. This ensures that our future does exist and that it sets the environment for future Jewish generations to come.
By Rabbi G. Shimonov
Rabbi Gavriel Shimonov is the 7th Grade Rebbi at Yeshiva Sha’arei Tzion of Queens, Hazzan in Monsey, currently founding the Sephardic Community of Pomona, NY and formerly rabbi of the youth minyan at Cong. Shemtov of Brooklyn. For any questions his email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. His wife Mazal Shimonov is a licensed Real Estate agent with Q Home Sales and can be reached at 917-774-5290
Rabbi Gavriel Shimonov is the 7th Grade Rebbi at Yeshiva Sha’arei Tzion of Queens, Hazzan in Monsey, NY, currently founding the Sephardic Community of Pomona, NY and formerly Rabbi of the youth minyan at Cong. Shemtov of Brooklyn, NY.
You and Your Environment
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