By Rochelle Maruch Miller

Bring them the forgotten masses, the seemingly apathetic possessed with a pinteleh Yid, who yearn to�reignite a hidden candle. There�s a spiritual revolution taking place within our community, as the�Brooklyn Jewish Xperience (BJX) inspires, empowers and enthralls the next generation with the beauty�and meaning of Torah Judaism, history and Ahavas Yisroel.

�What we accomplish every Shabbos is unbelievable,� said Rabbi Moshe Fingerer, who co-founded BJX�six years ago with his brother Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer, Mora D�Asra of BJX. I spoke with Rabbi Moshe,�who serves as Executive Director, on a recent Motzei Shabbos, while he was �still on a spiritual high�from the Shabbos experience.�

A BJX Shabbos is a magical experience, positively impacting the life of every participant. According to�Rabbi Moshe Fingerer, the aura permeating throughout the shul�s environs is not unlike that felt at the�Kosel.

� We have a Shabbaton every week. Each Shabbos, we have a davening that is extraordinary. We use the�metaphor of the Kosel because we have Jews of every persuasion and from every background davening�together in a show of achdus. Everyone is davening together � college students from secular�backgrounds, former Chassidim that are returning to observance,, ballabatim from the community,�every type of Jew from every stripe. And no matter where they are from, there is a tremendous sense of�camaraderie that is palpable. Their arms are around each other, they are singing and celebrating the�sanctity of Shabbos and the beauty of Yiddishkeit. We infuse our program and all the participants with�the joy of Yiddishkeit. That�s the reason for the success of our program, Baruch Hashem � we imbue�them with a sense of joy for Shabbos and for Yiddishkeit. It changes their perspective about Judaism�from negative to positive. Once they have participated in one Shabbaton, they keep coming back for�more!�Among the many community lay leaders who take an active interest in BJX are Mr. Moshe Caller,�who serves as Chairman of the Board, and Dr. Faygie Zakheim, who graciously hosts almosts every�Shabbos meal and is a caring �Mom� to the college students and young professionals.

At BJX, participants savor the joy of Shabbos amid much festivity. Almost every Shabbos morning, an�Aliyah is given to someone who never had a Bar Mitzvah. An aura of great festivity ensues as everyone�wishes the celebrant a heartfelt �Mazel tov!�

BJX makes Judaism and Jewish life accessible to Jews of all backgrounds and affiliations. It is a home�away from home for the less affiliated college students and professionals. They offer classes,�stimulating social programs, and networking events. Each of their centers, located at King Highway and�on Avenue K, is a hub of spiritual and personal growth, servicing an ever expanding student base. The�BJX centers provide a chic, yet warm and congenial environment that makes everyone feel that they are�an integral part of the experience � which they are! Their dynamic faculty offer a range of innovative�classes such as the Crash Course in Conversational Hebrew, Jewish Philosophy, and one-on-one tutorials�to appeal to everyone�s interest. Since its inception, BJX has serviced thousands of Jews in the�community. BJX�s multi faceted programs are a lifeline and provide �spiritual oxygen� the world over.

Under the guidance of Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer, whose passion, dynamism and Ahavas Yisroel is creating�a revolution for the Jewish people, BJX draws a diverse student body. One of their students has been�nominated for an Emmy award for filmmaking, while other students include physicians, lawyers,�podiatrists, an FBI agent, members of the Marines, Air Force, IDF, government employees, and varied�professional fields.

Boruch Hashem, every BJX student is a success story, a true nachas for Klal Yisroel.

�Dear Rabbi,� wrote a grateful student, about to embark upon building a bayis neeman b�Yisroel. �It�would be impossible for me to have been getting married to a Jew and building a Jewish home without�you and BJX. You’ve carried me all the way through the various steps of growth and I am forever�grateful. Thanks to BJX, I have a community of like individuals who strive to become more affiliated to�Judaism and who really care about me.�

�Because of BJX I am now able to observe Shabbos,� says a recent graduate of the Beginner�s Judaism�Course. �My family has no knowledge of what Shabbos is about. I have amazing families who host me�every Shabbos. I finally know what Shabbos should really be like. It�s to your credit that so many of us�have begun observing Shabbos properly.�

�I got to grow as a Jew more than I anticipated,� says a recent graduate of the Leadership Course, which�is the Beginners� Course offered at BJX. �The material was very applicable and I loved listening to the�lectures (given by) the CEOs. They are very accessible and presented the material in a clear and lucid�manner. They showed us that you can observe everything in the Torah and be successful in your career.�

Like many of his fellow classmates at BJX, Alex grew up in a secular home in which Judaism had never�been a priority. Initially, he had viewed Judaism with skepticism. Since attending Shabbatons and classes�at BJX, Alex�s perspective has changed. �I�ve come to appreciate the beauty, the traditions, and the�history of Judaism,� he says. �Coming from a secular background, I feel that BJX reignited an old candle�in me, that I have experienced a spiritual transformation.�

�The best part of the Leadership Course were Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer�s lectures,� said Jeff, another�recent graduate, �He is very inspiring; a great Rabbi, very well-spoken, and very relatable to everyone.

It�s a golden opportunity � I never wanted the door to close. I would love to take the Leadership Courses�2, 3, and 4. I am definitely coming back!�

So transformed have their lives been by their respective BJX experiences, that recent graduates of the�Beginners Judaism course will be spending their Midwinter break learning in Israel or Lakewood,�immersed in Torah study.

�We feel that all of these students are our children and I�m so very proud of them,� says Rabbi Moshe�Fingerer. �It makes all our work worthwhile. We have a student who is now a Madrich in Eretz Yisroel�who is mentoring talmidim from other Yeshivos. By supporting BJX, you are saving the next generation.�You are giving them a lifeline and giving them oxygen.�

�There�s nothing more thrilling than nurturing a seedling that, minus your intervention would have�withered, instead blossom and grow into a Jew,� said Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer, Mora D�Asra of BJX. �The�transformations we witness are astounding � students who had biases against Judaism and were anti-Israel, now love every facet of Judaism and want to go learn in Israel.�

�The Talmud says the Torah began in the year 2000 from creation. This is odd as the Torah was given in�2448, and not 2000�, explained Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer. �The Meforshim explain that Avraham Avinu�was 52 years old in the year 2000 (he was born in 1948), and it is in this year that he began spreading�Judaism to the masses. It�s amazing that this is the definition and epoch that ultimately defines Torah.�Not a mass revelation at Sinai, but one person � Avrohom � working valiantly and sincerely to bring�others under G-d�s wings.

If you want a chelek in Torah, I urge you to get involved and support BJX, which is following in the�footsteps of Avraham Avinu and bringing Torah to the forgotten masses.�

Rabbi Fingerer adds, �The world is at a precipice now, fighting Jihadist and terror. Chazal tell us that�achdus, unity, is the antidote to evil against all Jews. At BJX, the unity is palpable; all types of Jews�coming together in brotherly love. BJX offers warmth and tolerance to all. The Talmud says that whoever�teaches Torah to someone who otherwise would never have learned, this teacher can nullify the worst�gezeros, decrees, and has the ability to bless. When you contribute to BJX, you have a portion in�teaching Torah and Judaism to those who would never have learned, and can be the recipient of untold�blessings and protection.�

For further information please email: [email protected] , go to www.bjxcenter.com or call the BJX�helpline: 646.397.1544 or office: 718.513.1093. Tizku l�mitzvos!