February 3, 2000

Rabbi Harvey Well of Congregation Or Torah, in Skokie, will be honored at the Orthodox Union's (OU) Rabbinic Centennial Medallion Awards Dinner on Tuesday, February 29, 2000, in New York City.

The OU will honor Rabbi Well, as well as 11 other outstanding rabbis and their congregations who have made unique contributions to Orthodox Jewish life in America. Rabbi Yosef Grunblatt, spiritual leader of the Queens Jewish Center in Forest Hills, NY – who will also be honored at the dinner – will be the keynote speaker.

"Rabbi Well is an impressive community and spiritual leader who has made an enormous contribution to Jewish life, " said Mandell I. Ganchrow, M.D., President of the OU.

Since 1978, Rabbi Well has been Superintendent of Schools for the Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago. In addition, he is a professor of education at the Jewish University of America – also in Skokie.

A noted scholar-educator, Rabbi Well has taught in both elementary and high school and continues to teach courses to high school seniors and adults. In his distinguished career, he has served as program director for Camp Moshava, principal of the Akiba Jewish Day School, acting principal of the Ida Crown Jewish Academy and coordinator of Israel Experience programs. He has also served as spiritual leader of Congregation Agudath Achim of South Shore and has authored numerous publications in the areas of Jewish Education and Jewish thought.

Rabbi Well received his B.H.L. (Bachelor of Hebrew Literature) from Hebrew Theological College in Skokie. He earned his B.A. – with honors – at Chicago’s Roosevelt University and both his M.A. and Ph.D. in Educational Administration and his General Administrative Certificate and Superintendent’s Certificate from Loyola University in Chicago.

"We cannot overemphasize the importance of rabbis, synagogues and communal institutions working in concert to insure a thriving Orthodoxy," said Rabbi Raphael B. Butler, Executive Vice President of the OU. "The Orthodox Union acknowledges the synagogue as the focus of Jewish communal life. Each community is built around a vibrant synagogue led by a dynamic rabbi. It is that leadership that we are proud to honor."

The honorees include: Rabbi Yosef Adler (Congregation Rinat Yisroel, Teaneck) Rabbi Moshe Bomzer (Congregation Beth Abraham Jacob, Albany); Rabbi Reuven Bulka (Congregation Machzikei Hadas, Ottawa); Rabbi Mark Dratch (Agudath Sholom, Stamford); Rabbi Joseph Grunblatt (Queens Jewish Center, Forest Hills); Rabbi Dr. Basil F. Herring (Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach); Rabbi Shaya Kilimnick (Beth Sholom, Rochester); Rabbi Zvulun (Sidney) Lieberman (Beth Torah Congregation, Brooklyn,; Rabbi Yisroel Miller (Poale Zedeck Congregation, Pittsburgh); Rabbi Adam Mintz (Lincoln Square Synagogue, New York); and Rabbi Arthur Schneier (Park East Synagogue, New York).

For dinner reservations, please contact Steven Karp at (212) 613-8134.

The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of America and beyond, is the world leader in youth work, advocacy for the disabled, synagogue services, adult education and political action. Its kosher supervision label, the OU, is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 220,000 products in 62 countries around the globe.

www.ou.org

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Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Department of Public Relations Sharyn Perlman, Director Main Office: 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Phone: 212-613-8321 Fax: 212-564-9058 E-mail: media@ou.org

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