Dancing at the inaugural dinner of the Horizons-Ohr Somayach branch in Phoenix.

An impressive crowd of more than 100 people attended an inaugural dinner on February 15 at the Young Israel of Phoenix to help launch a new branch of Ohr Somayach–Horizons. Under the direction of Rabbi Michoel Dubitsky, the charismatic educational director, the new initiative will expand the dynamic learning program he heads in more than 15 professional offices, including some in Tucson, Arizona.

Community leaders from across the spectrum of Orthodox Jewry expressed their enthusiasm for this latest initiative, which will help quench the desert community's thirst for Torah. In attendance were Rabbi David Rebibo, the veteran rabbi of Phoenix, Rabbi Moshe Levertov of Chabad, Rabbi Yonah Gross of the Young Israel of Phoenix and Rabbi Yeshaya Hollander, Rosh Kollel.

Mr. Farley Weiss, president of the Young Israel and a close friend of Horizons, opened the evening by expressing the community's gratitude to Horizons and Ohr Somayach for their efforts to strengthen the community. Rabbi Nota Schiller, dean of Ohr Somayach, applauded the event and pledged the full support of his organization. Rabbi Tropper, director of Horizons and dean of Yeshivas Kol Yaakov, hailed the initiative as "historic" and predicted that it would grant even more people in the Phoenix area the opportunity to explore Judaism. Entertainment was provided by music personality Yehuda Green.

Rabbi David Rebibo sees the Horizons– Ohr Somayach/Phoenix partnership as another solid step in ensuring that the city remains a vibrant Torah center. A pioneer Orthodox rabbi in the Phoenix 40 years ago, he was visibly moved to witness new Torah initiatives in his city.

Founded in 1995, Horizons provides comprehensive programming for people of all ages who may be searching for answers to life's most difficult questions. The programs offered through Horizons provide meaningful and rich ways of responding to these issues based on Torah values, enabling participants to lead more active Jewish lives.

Ohr Somayach was founded in 1970 and is considered one of the leading kiruv organizations in the world, with branches in the United States, Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ukraine, and Russia. It also sponsors a broad range of programs for Jews around the globe.