Singing, dancing, and learning, more than 300 Yeshiva students enlivened Simchas Torah festivities around the country this year. They participated in the Blanche Schreiber Torah Tours, a program whose "raison d'être," according to Rabbi David Israel, Director of the Max Stern Division of Communal Services "is to send Stern, Yeshiva College, and RIETS students out to different communities to share Torah and to encourage communities to really celebrate Simchas Torah by leading the dancing and the singing."

The Blanche Schreiber Torah Tours, run by Rabbi Ari Rockoff, coordinator of youth and outreach for MSDCS, in conjunction with intern Julie Pianko, a Stern College student, serves as a community outreach program. The Schreiber family supplies the funds necessary to cover both the salaries of the MSDCS professionals who contribute to the project, and to pay advertising costs, while the communities provide the transportation and housing for the students. On Shavuos, as well, the students spearhead the learning and give shiurim, creating an atmosphere of Torah and simcha not felt in these communities throughout the year.

The program, run under the auspices of MSDCS and staffed by MSDCS employees, brings the flavor of Yeshiva University out to the rest of North America, servicing over 45 communities throughout 14 states and Canada. Some of the communities, such as Fort Lee and the Catskills, older and unused to the level of learning, dancing, and celebration that Yeshiva can provide, enroll in the program to recapture a taste of the past, elevating the Simchas Torah experience to new heights. Other communities participate for the bragging rights of having brought in students from Yeshiva University to participate in the Yom Tov and to further enhance it. But whatever the reason for bringing in the students, the community and the students enjoy the Yom Tov of their lives.

"I really enjoyed myself and had a great time!" first year participant Erez David exclaimed. When asked if he will participate again next year, his immediate response: "Yes." Elli Farkas, a two-year veteran of the Torah Tours, echoing David's ardor, enthused that "it was amazing. I really enjoyed it, and can't wait to go again."

To enroll in the Torah Tours program, participants must show devotion to the Jewish people and prove their ability to share their Torah and ruchnius with others. After ascertaining that candidates meet these requirements, Rockoff and his interns then place applicants in communities. Satisfying the 300 applicants' requests requires a great deal of patience and logistical work, as MSDCS staff needed to accommodate specific destination and grouping requests.

In addition to the usual scheduling issues, a major problem developed after the September 11th attacks, when some students dropped out of the program. This problem quickly worsened once the United States began bombing Afghanistan, because many more students refused to travel at that point. Through the dedication and work of Rockoff and his group, however, all of the positions were not only filled, but in some locations, students even arrived early to visit day schools and yeshivas and to make presentations.