OU Poskim in Great Neck for ASK OU Program, February 12

20 Jan 2012

A GREAT NIGHT IN GREAT NECK AS OU KOSHER PRESENTS POSKIM RAV SCHACHTER AND RAV BELSKY IN ASK OU PROGRAM AT TORAH OHR CONG., FREE FOR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 8:00 P.M.

From left: OU poskim Rav Belsky and Rav Schachter

In a great event in Great Neck, endorsed by 12 local synagogues, OU Kosher will present its two poskim (halachic decisors) — Rav Hershel Schachter and Rav Yisroel Belsky — as they bring their lifetime of Talmudic wisdom to the community in a wide-ranging presentation that will include an “ASK the OU Poskim” session. The ASK OU OUTREACH program, sponsored by the Harry H. Beren Foundation of Lakewood New Jersey, is open to the entire community, with free admission.

(Note to editors: poskim are the highest-level authorities on issues of Jewish religious law, in this case, the laws of kosher. The Hebrew word for kosher is “kashrut.”)

The program will be held on Sunday, February 12 beginning at 8:00 p.m. at Torah Ohr Congregation, 575 Middle Neck Road.

The coordinator of this special program is Rabbi Yosef Grossman who serves as OU Senior Educational Rabbinic Coordinator. Rabbi Grossman remarked, “I am extremely gratified to be able to bring the revered and world-renowned poskim Rav Belsky and Rav Schachter to the Great Neck community for an uplifting spiritual evening. Through their presentations and participation in the ASK the OU Poskim Q & A session, both the Iranian and Ashkenzi residents of Great Neck will be greatly assisted in kashrut knowledge as well as many other important areas of contemporary Jewish life.”

Rav Schachter, who will have just returned from an OU program in South Florida, following a similar program in Los Angeles, will stay closer to home for the Great Neck presentation. He will speak from 8-8:30 p.m. on “Contemporary Halachic and Philosophical Challenges Facing the Great Neck Community.” Rav Schachter is Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University.

Rav Belsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Mesivta Torah Vodaath, will speak on “Chinuch (Education) of Children in Kashrut and Other Mitzvot,” from 8:30-9:00 p.m.

The two poskim will then combine to answer questions on halacha (Jewish law) and OU policy. Priority will be given to questions sent by fax to 212-613-0621 or via email to {encode=”mailto:Grossman@ou.org” title=”Grossman@ou.org”}.

The endorsing Great Neck synagogues are: Torah Ohr (the site of the program), Shira Chadasha, Chabad of Great Neck, Midrash ben ish Chai, Kol Israel Achim, Ahavat Shalom, Ohel Menachem, Babylonian Jewish Center, Kollel Ohr Haemet, Great Neck Synagogue, Young Israel of Great Neck, and Cherry Lane Minyan.

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