Throughout my life, since high school, I had almost idolized Rabbi Dr Twerski zt”l. Here was a man who had the appearance, “levush” (garb), and most importantly, the “heartzik warmth and emotion” of a Chassidic Rebbe, and yet was so fully accomplished, respected, and influential in the secular world. From what I had heard about
It wasn’t until I was in my late 20s that it dawned on me that most rabbis don’t start their sermons like this. As a kid I took it for granted – and as normal, usual – that Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld, zt”l, would start his sermon by saying “I was in Israel and decided to
Sunday, 21 MarCheshvan 5781, November 8, 2020, was a profoundly sad day for Orthodox Jewry worldwide, as it buried two great rabbinic leaders, Rabbi Dovid Feinstein and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Both were prominent and integral leaders within Orthodoxy, Rabbi Feinstein a preeminent Posek and Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Sacks an intellectual giant and master communicator and
The Orthodox Union joins the Jewish community and the world in mourning the loss of Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, zt”l. Rabbi Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom for 22 years, served as a profoundly eloquent teacher of Torah and spokesman for Torah values within the Jewish community and beyond. He was an intellectual
We mourn the passing of Rabbi Joseph Karasick, zt”l, a former president of the Orthodox Union from (1966-1972), Chairman of the Board of Directors (1972-1978) and one of the most significant lay leaders of twentieth century Orthodoxy. Rabbi Karasick was widely respected as a man of principle, a natural leader, eloquent speaker, erudite rabbinic scholar,
Rabbi Shaya Kilimnick, z”l, passed away this past Thursday, at the age of 73. I loved him and already miss him, despite the fact that my family and I moved from Rochester nearly three decades ago and we didn’t see one another often or speak particularly frequently. Rabbi Kilimnick’s impact on my life and the
With the passing of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm zt”l, the Jewish world has lost a giant. A towering intellect, profound thinker, exceptional talmid chacham, prolific author, consummate teacher, and inspiring rabbinic presence, he had an enduring impact on the Jewish community. Born in Brooklyn in 1927, Rabbi Lamm received his primary and high school education
Dr. Mendy Ganchrow knew fellow Vietnam veteran Senator John McCain, and shared his memories of the courageous public servant and staunch supporter of Israel. Dr. Ganchrow, former Chief of Surgery Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY and Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at NY Medical College, served as President (1994-2000) and Chairman of the Board
Our pleasant stay in Israel was interrupted earlier this week by the news of the demise of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis zt”l. I use the abbreviation for “zecher tzadekes livracha” advisedly, because she was indeed a “tzadekes.” She founded Hineni and stood at the forefront of the outreach movement long before it became popular and long
Rabbi Maurice Lamm, noted Torah scholar and author of “The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning” passed away Wednesday night at the age of 86. He was also the brother of former Yeshiva University Chancellor Rabbi Norman Lamm. The Jewish Way in Death in Mourning was a pioneering halachic work when it was released over