Rabbi Menachem Genack has been the spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Emunah since 1985. He has also served as the Rabbinic Administrator of the Orthodox Union’s Kashrut Division since 1980, overseeing the certification program of some 4,500 food production facilities in 68 countries around the world. In addition, he gives a Yoreh Deah shiur for ordination students at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Genack is a close disciple of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, zt”l, from whom he received semicha yoreh yoreh yadin yadin. In his semicha, the Rav, zt”l, wrote: “He dives to the depths of the halacha and emerges with pearls and jewels. Not every day does one encounter a scholar of his caliber.” Rabbi Genack aided the Rav in editing the Rav’s Shiurim l’Zecher Aba Mori. He is the author of three halachic works: Birkat Yitzchak, Gan Shoshanim, and Chazon Nachum, Rabbi Genack is the co-editor of the Mesorah Torah journal. He also edited Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, Man of Halacha, Man of Faith, has published over 180 articles on Jewish thought and law, and serves as a member of Tradition’s editorial board. Rabbi Genack is a member of the Board of Trustees and Professor of Talmud at Touro College, from which he received an Honorary Doctorate in 1998. He was founding Chairman of NORPAC, a pro-Israel political action committee that has grown to be the biggest pro-Israel PAC in the country. Rabbi Genack has also had the unofficial title for two decades —“Bill Clinton’s rabbi.” Since the rabbi and the then-presidential candidate met in 1992, they have engaged in what the former president calls “a written dialogue,” an exchange of thoughts on religious and ethical issues. The conversations are available in book form from OU Press.
In a year that has seen the loss of far too many gedolei Yisrael, we were again stunned last week with the passing of Rav Dovid Soloveitchik, zt”l. Rav Dovid was the last surviving son of the Brisker Rav, Rav Yitzchak Ze’ev Halevi Soloveitchik zt”l, who was also known as Reb Velvel. Rav Dovid represented
They used to say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach – today it’s everyone. And the UAE has morphed this to even greater heights to attracting Jewish travel and tourism to the Emirates. If other countries follow suit, it will unlock Jewish tourism throughout the entire Gulf. Since the announcement
This shiur is given in memory of Rabbi Genack’s mother, Rosa Shoshana bat Dov-Ber, z”l, on her 29th Yahrtzeit.
“There are no Jews in Morocco; there are only Moroccan citizens.” This was how King Mohammed V of Morocco responded to the Vichy government of France to the request to turn over Jewish citizens. “I do not approve of the new anti-Semitic laws, and I refuse to associate myself with a measure I disagree with,”
Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, as I knew him, was not merely a giant of Torah, but also a giant of a man. He was a child prodigy—Rav Hillel Zaks, a grandson of the Chafetz Chaim and friend of Rav Aharon from Yeshivas Chaim Berlin, recounted that Rav Aharon stood uniquely above his peers even as a
January 1, the day that President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, marks the anniversary of the greatest assertion of presidential power in U.S. history. Lincoln understood that the constitutional authority for his action was found in his war powers. Concerned that the effect of the proclamation wouldn’t outlive the war, Lincoln did
It is with a great sense of honor and also personal pleasure that I celebrate with you the inauguration of Rabbi Shalom Bahbout as Chief Rabbi of Venice. I have known Rabbi Bahbout for many years, and his ability and dedication, together with his sweet disposition and character, are the qualities that will make him
One of the world’s most revered and charismatic Jewish leaders, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, recounts his story of survival in one of the Nazis’ deadliest concentration camps, his life after the war and his ascension to chief rabbi in Israel.
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Orthodox Union