What does one envision when one thinks of a majestic palace? A breathtaking structure filled with priceless artwork, exquisite furniture, glittering jewels, glamorous marble, and blue blooded royals - are some of the things that come to mind.

It was in such a palace that Queen Esther lived. Yet although she was surrounded by all this materialistic glamour, she made sure her spiritual well-being would be intact. By hiring seven maidens with each one serving her one-day of the week, she knew which day was Shabbos, she knew when to light candles, thus spending the day in holiness.

There can be a different vision of a majestic palace…A simple structure, with plain wooden benches, bare tables, dim lighting, a few talmidim learning Torah with chayus, and a devoted Rebbe. "How is this a palace?" - one may ask? It is a palace for royalty - The Chosen People - make it so.

Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim started out over 100 years ago in the dark days of Russia. Its goal was not only to nourish the starved young neshomos, but also to transform these precious souls into neiros lehoir-lights that bring light to others. Despite the many challenges it faced, despite communism and poverty, it persevered, survived, and flourished. From a simple building to cellars, to scattered little villages, the devoted Rebbes and their dear talmidim strived to do one thing - learn Torah and Chassidus no matter what the cost.

Now on the North American continent the Yeshiva is still b"h growing. The sweet sounds of Torah reverberate down the hallways and its walls absorb the kedusha.

Yes, Queen Esther survived in her palace by adhering to the mitzvos. These customs and traditions were truly Esther's treasures. Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim also survived by teaching tens of thousands of talmidim - temimim- - to adhere to our holy Torah. By becoming neiros lehoir, and bringing light to all the corners of the world, thousands of our alumni are teaching others about our beautiful customs and traditions and helping others transform their homes into palaces, a place where Hashem dwells.

In the merit of Queen Esther who managed to keep Shabbos and light candles in her palace, in the merit of the temimim who kept Shabbos in their "palaces" in Russia, in the merit of the shluchim who manage to keep Shabbos no matter where they are, be in Thailand, Ireland, or New Zealand, and in the merit of all the yidden who keep Shabbos in their little palaces, may we be zoche to "yom shekulo shabbos umenucho lechaya olomim".

Thank you for helping us continue this noble job of educating yiddishe neshomos (neiros lehoir - temimim).