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A Rabbinical Student's Vacation!
Thursday July 8th, 2010
(Adapted from a NY newspaper)
Adam Epstein, of Houston and Mechel Gancz, of Airmont were standing outside David Panitz's house in Montebello on Friday morning, holding a box of freshly baked rugelach."We're going to teach Torah, and do a big mitzvah called 'tefillin,' " said Epstein, who, along with Gancz, is a rabbinical student at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, N.J.
"They wanted to stop by so I said, 'Great,' " said Panitz, who is family friends with Gancz and his father.
The two rabbinical students were visiting Panitz's home as a part of a monthlong stay in Suffern, during which they will meet with local Jews, discuss religious practices and exchange ideas about Judaism .
Epstein and Gancz are only two of hundreds of rabbinical students who will make similar trips during the summer to meet with Jews in every part of the world. The trips are a vital part of their training to become Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis.
Panitz jokingly referred to them as the "roving rabbis."
"Chabad International sends 400 students all over the world, to all sorts of areas," Epstein said. "A rabbi has many different roles, so meeting different types of Jewish people helps give me the experience to lead a community."
He added, "The main thing we're doing is engaging in a dialogue with Jewish people."
Chabad Lubavitch is a Hasidic Jewish movement, but as Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis, Esptein and Gancz will serve Jews of every sect and denomination.
On Friday, at the Panitz house, that dialogue started with a discussion of the week's Torah portion.
Before Panitz and Panitz's wife, Shirley, Epstein described the Torah portion, which told the story of a zealous Jew who took matters into his own hands when others strayed into immoral behavior.
Epstein explained how the story pertained to the relationship between the individual and the community in Jewish moral teaching.
"This story actually means something in our daily life," Epstein said.
Shirley Panitz agreed and said discussing the stories of the Torah was an integral part of Judaism .
"The study of Torah is the study of the meaning of the stories," she said.
The discussion then went to the topic of how to practice Judaism in a fast-paced, modern world.
Epstein and Gancz said that even the smallest, most mundane things — like the meals that are taken for granted every day — can be made holy with a simple blessing.
Epstein and Gancz applied tefillin — a small box containing passages from the Torah — to David Panitz by wrapping ceremonial black straps around his arm. Gancz said a blessing while Esptein attached the box and straps to Pantiz.
Ultimately, the visit was about strengthening ties between Jews whose religious practices sometimes vary. The rabbinical students had come to learn and discuss, not preach.
"We're not here to push an agenda," Epstein said.
"We try to find things we have in common," Gancz said.
(Adapted from a NY newspaper)
Adam Epstein, of Houston and Mechel Gancz, of Airmont were standing outside David Panitz's house in Montebello on Friday morning, holding a box of freshly baked rugelach."We're going to teach Torah, and do a big mitzvah called 'tefillin,' " said Epstein, who, along with Gancz, is a rabbinical student at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, N.J.
"They wanted to stop by so I said, 'Great,' " said Panitz, who is family friends with Gancz and his father.
The two rabbinical students were visiting Panitz's home as a part of a monthlong stay in Suffern, during which they will meet with local Jews, discuss religious practices and exchange ideas about Judaism .
Epstein and Gancz are only two of hundreds of rabbinical students who will make similar trips during the summer to meet with Jews in every part of the world. The trips are a vital part of their training to become Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis.
Panitz jokingly referred to them as the "roving rabbis."
"Chabad International sends 400 students all over the world, to all sorts of areas," Epstein said. "A rabbi has many different roles, so meeting different types of Jewish people helps give me the experience to lead a community."
He added, "The main thing we're doing is engaging in a dialogue with Jewish people."
Chabad Lubavitch is a Hasidic Jewish movement, but as Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis, Esptein and Gancz will serve Jews of every sect and denomination.
On Friday, at the Panitz house, that dialogue started with a discussion of the week's Torah portion.
Before Panitz and Panitz's wife, Shirley, Epstein described the Torah portion, which told the story of a zealous Jew who took matters into his own hands when others strayed into immoral behavior.
Epstein explained how the story pertained to the relationship between the individual and the community in Jewish moral teaching.
"This story actually means something in our daily life," Epstein said.
Shirley Panitz agreed and said discussing the stories of the Torah was an integral part of Judaism .
"The study of Torah is the study of the meaning of the stories," she said.
The discussion then went to the topic of how to practice Judaism in a fast-paced, modern world.
Epstein and Gancz said that even the smallest, most mundane things — like the meals that are taken for granted every day — can be made holy with a simple blessing.
Epstein and Gancz applied tefillin — a small box containing passages from the Torah — to David Panitz by wrapping ceremonial black straps around his arm. Gancz said a blessing while Esptein attached the box and straps to Pantiz.
Ultimately, the visit was about strengthening ties between Jews whose religious practices sometimes vary. The rabbinical students had come to learn and discuss, not preach.
"We're not here to push an agenda," Epstein said.
"We try to find things we have in common," Gancz said.
Talmud Class with Rabbi Yaakov Wagner
Wednesday June 30th, 2010
Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim is renown for their Rabbis whom each of which is a Torah giant in their own right. Featured here (for the very first time on a Gemarah video on our website) is Rabbi Yakov Wagner. The Wagner family is part of an illustrious tradition of Talmudic Scholars of past and present day. Including but not limited to Rabbi Dr. Emmanuel Schochet of Toronto who is an Uncle of Rabbi Wagenr. With a family of Roshei Yeshivos and prominent Rabbis around the world, we are proud of the fact that in Morristown one of these rare personalities is on our staff. Torah Cafe came to the Yeshiva for only one day and captured four classes including another of Rabbi Wagner and two from Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Dubinsky.
Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim is renown for their Rabbis whom each of which is a Torah giant in their own right. Featured here (for the very first time on a Gemarah video on our website) is Rabbi Yakov Wagner. The Wagner family is part of an illustrious tradition of Talmudic Scholars of past and present day. Including but not limited to Rabbi Dr. Emmanuel Schochet of Toronto who is an Uncle of Rabbi Wagenr. With a family of Roshei Yeshivos and prominent Rabbis around the world, we are proud of the fact that in Morristown one of these rare personalities is on our staff. Torah Cafe came to the Yeshiva for only one day and captured four classes including another of Rabbi Wagner and two from Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Dubinsky.
To watch more exciting and inspirational videos, check out: www.TorahCafé.com.
Taste of Yeshiva, Article, Pictures & Thank You letter!
Thursday June 10th, 2010
Pictures of the Shofar workshop, Circumcision workshop, address by Rabbi and US Army Kernel Goldstein, "Missionaries Exposed" by Yaakov Parisi and more!
Below is the article written by a reporter from lubavitch.com and carried by many other websites;
by Amihai Tzippor - Morristown, NJ
(lubavitch.com) In many ways Michael Friedman is no different than a lot of other college students who take a short break before in late spring, after college classes end and before the start of a summer job. This year, instead of going home or on vacation, Friedman decided he’d do something different: study in yeshiva.
Finding the right place wasn’t easy because most summer programs begin in late June or July. He also wanted to find a place that would meet his needs as a beginner.
An online search from his Charleston South Carolina campus led him to the month- long “Taste of Yeshiva Experience Summer Program” at Yeshivat Tiferes Bachurim in Morristown New Jersey, which began mid-May.
“It was perfect timing,” said Friedman who described the process of learning in yeshiva key to connecting to his heritage and understanding more about his faith and its traditions. Over the course of the last eighteen months, Friedman’s lifestyle began to gradually shift towards greater Jewish observance. One of his concerns was learning to access Jewish texts to study independently.
“When I started the program I had some basic skills. I could read Hebrew and had a little comprehension.” But by the end of his month at Tiferes, he says, “I came out with so much. I went in never having read Aramaic or the Talmud and now I can study significantly better, having advanced in just three and a half weeks.”
“It’s a reminder that when you are out in the world and working a full time job, it’s difficult to concentrate on spirituality and it’s great to go into this little world and see Torah learning is alive and blooming, and to watch yourself grow in such a short time. It definitely strengthened my inner flame, as the last semester was demanding,” said Friedman.
A division of the Rabbinical College of America, the New Jersey headquarters for Chabad-Lubavitch and a US accredited institution of higher learning, Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim has an advanced year round study program for students relatively new to Judaism. The Taste of Yeshiva program developed informally three years ago after several visitors who came for the Shavuot holiday decided to stay for a few weeks to absorb more Torah before moving on to other summer activities.
Their enthusiasm led to the development of a new introductory beginner track for college age Jews and other Jewish professionals. Although a ten-day introductory winter session had already been running for ten years, the new early summer track was to be more in depth beginning late spring and ending early summer
Furthermore, the curriculum was to feature a full traditional Beit Midrash program with special weekly seminars on topics such as brit milah, how tzitzit—religious fringes are made. Since its inception over two years ago more than 150 students walked through its doors with more than ninety percent continuing formal learning in various ways.
“At a Chabad House a guy is exposed to Yiddishkeit but when he comes to yeshiva he gets exposed to the full deal. We can really take it to the next level,” Tiferes Bachurim’s admissions director Rabbi Shlomo Hecht said.
Explaining the Yeshiva’s approach he noted it provides students with the opportunity to delve into the depths of Chasidut and Halacha (Jewish law) and becoming comfortable with a wide range of primary sources..
“Our goal is to provide people, even young college students, with knowledge and inspiration,” he said emphasizing that although the Taste of Yeshiva program is only a month long, Tiferes Bachurim welcomes students all year.
For Chicago native Nesanel Berel, a Hofstra University student who also completed the recent summer program, knowing he has a yeshiva to call home is a special commodity he intends to enjoy.
“What I enjoyed most about the program was the Gemara (Talmud) class and discussing general principles of Hilchos Shabbos,” he said. Although he is preparing for the upcoming school year he hopes to return to the yeshiva soon.
Below is a letter we received from one of our satisfied participants;
Dear Rabbi,
I am writing to express my appreciation for the faculty, staff, and students of Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim, who made my time at “A Taste of Yeshiva” so memorable and enriching.
The classes were packed with insights. I greatly enjoyed Chassidus with Rabbi Wagner and Rabbi Taylor, Gemmarah and Tanya with Rabbi Dick, Halacha with Rabbi Brafman, and Chumash with Rabbi Taylor, as well as the numerous shiurim, seminars, and farbregen. The rabbis welcomed questions that dealt with the material at hand, as well as questions inspired by classroom discussions or by the students’ life experiences. Without exception, the rabbis were sensitive, insightful, and eager to help. They clearly love teaching and love their students.
As an academic, I have studied and taught at a number of institutions in America and abroad. I do not know if I have encountered another place that rivals the yeshiva’s intensity of learning and collegiality. The students showed true Ahavas Yisrael; they welcomed the more recent arrivals, generously helping them to acclimate. In the office Mrs. Solomon greeted each new arrival with genuine concern. Such warmth helps to make the yeshiva a special place.
For all these reasons and more, I greatly enjoyed my time at Tiferes Bachurim and hope to return when my schedule permits.
Thanks again for all your help.
Best,
David Caplan
--
David Caplan
Associate Professor of English
Associate Director of Creative Writing
Ohio Wesleyan University
61 South Sandusky Street
Delaware, Ohio 43105
Pictures of the Shofar workshop, Circumcision workshop, address by Rabbi and US Army Kernel Goldstein, "Missionaries Exposed" by Yaakov Parisi and more!
Below is the article written by a reporter from lubavitch.com and carried by many other websites;
by Amihai Tzippor - Morristown, NJ
(lubavitch.com) In many ways Michael Friedman is no different than a lot of other college students who take a short break before in late spring, after college classes end and before the start of a summer job. This year, instead of going home or on vacation, Friedman decided he’d do something different: study in yeshiva.
Finding the right place wasn’t easy because most summer programs begin in late June or July. He also wanted to find a place that would meet his needs as a beginner.
An online search from his Charleston South Carolina campus led him to the month- long “Taste of Yeshiva Experience Summer Program” at Yeshivat Tiferes Bachurim in Morristown New Jersey, which began mid-May.
“It was perfect timing,” said Friedman who described the process of learning in yeshiva key to connecting to his heritage and understanding more about his faith and its traditions. Over the course of the last eighteen months, Friedman’s lifestyle began to gradually shift towards greater Jewish observance. One of his concerns was learning to access Jewish texts to study independently.
“When I started the program I had some basic skills. I could read Hebrew and had a little comprehension.” But by the end of his month at Tiferes, he says, “I came out with so much. I went in never having read Aramaic or the Talmud and now I can study significantly better, having advanced in just three and a half weeks.”
“It’s a reminder that when you are out in the world and working a full time job, it’s difficult to concentrate on spirituality and it’s great to go into this little world and see Torah learning is alive and blooming, and to watch yourself grow in such a short time. It definitely strengthened my inner flame, as the last semester was demanding,” said Friedman.
A division of the Rabbinical College of America, the New Jersey headquarters for Chabad-Lubavitch and a US accredited institution of higher learning, Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim has an advanced year round study program for students relatively new to Judaism. The Taste of Yeshiva program developed informally three years ago after several visitors who came for the Shavuot holiday decided to stay for a few weeks to absorb more Torah before moving on to other summer activities.
Their enthusiasm led to the development of a new introductory beginner track for college age Jews and other Jewish professionals. Although a ten-day introductory winter session had already been running for ten years, the new early summer track was to be more in depth beginning late spring and ending early summer
Furthermore, the curriculum was to feature a full traditional Beit Midrash program with special weekly seminars on topics such as brit milah, how tzitzit—religious fringes are made. Since its inception over two years ago more than 150 students walked through its doors with more than ninety percent continuing formal learning in various ways.
“At a Chabad House a guy is exposed to Yiddishkeit but when he comes to yeshiva he gets exposed to the full deal. We can really take it to the next level,” Tiferes Bachurim’s admissions director Rabbi Shlomo Hecht said.
Explaining the Yeshiva’s approach he noted it provides students with the opportunity to delve into the depths of Chasidut and Halacha (Jewish law) and becoming comfortable with a wide range of primary sources..
“Our goal is to provide people, even young college students, with knowledge and inspiration,” he said emphasizing that although the Taste of Yeshiva program is only a month long, Tiferes Bachurim welcomes students all year.
For Chicago native Nesanel Berel, a Hofstra University student who also completed the recent summer program, knowing he has a yeshiva to call home is a special commodity he intends to enjoy.
“What I enjoyed most about the program was the Gemara (Talmud) class and discussing general principles of Hilchos Shabbos,” he said. Although he is preparing for the upcoming school year he hopes to return to the yeshiva soon.
Below is a letter we received from one of our satisfied participants;
Dear Rabbi,
I am writing to express my appreciation for the faculty, staff, and students of Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim, who made my time at “A Taste of Yeshiva” so memorable and enriching.
The classes were packed with insights. I greatly enjoyed Chassidus with Rabbi Wagner and Rabbi Taylor, Gemmarah and Tanya with Rabbi Dick, Halacha with Rabbi Brafman, and Chumash with Rabbi Taylor, as well as the numerous shiurim, seminars, and farbregen. The rabbis welcomed questions that dealt with the material at hand, as well as questions inspired by classroom discussions or by the students’ life experiences. Without exception, the rabbis were sensitive, insightful, and eager to help. They clearly love teaching and love their students.
As an academic, I have studied and taught at a number of institutions in America and abroad. I do not know if I have encountered another place that rivals the yeshiva’s intensity of learning and collegiality. The students showed true Ahavas Yisrael; they welcomed the more recent arrivals, generously helping them to acclimate. In the office Mrs. Solomon greeted each new arrival with genuine concern. Such warmth helps to make the yeshiva a special place.
For all these reasons and more, I greatly enjoyed my time at Tiferes Bachurim and hope to return when my schedule permits.
Thanks again for all your help.
Best,
David Caplan
--
David Caplan
Associate Professor of English
Associate Director of Creative Writing
Ohio Wesleyan University
61 South Sandusky Street
Delaware, Ohio 43105
Harav HaGaon Reb Yoel Kahn Farbrangs!
Tuesday June 8th, 2010
Last night, was one week before the 3rd of Tamuz the Lubavitcher Rebbe's 16th Yartziet. In this Honor the Rabbinical College of America, hosted the world renown scholar Reb Yoel Kahn to lead a Farbrangen. Reb Yoel,is arguably the most respected Chassid alive today. Reb Yoel has served as Mashpia,(spiritual leader) choizer (see below) and community leader for nearly six decades! He is the son of Refoel Nachman (Folle) Kahn, an ardent Chassid of 3 of the Lubavitcher Rebbes and author of Shemu'os VeSippurim, a compilation of Chasidic stories (translated into "Extraordinary Chassidic Tales" by SIE). He serves as the main Mashpia in the the yeshiva of 770 Eastern Parkway, Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters.
For decades Kahn served as the Rebbe's main choizer, repeater. He would listen to the talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, which often took between 5-7 consecutive hours, and then repeat the talks to the Chasidim, verbatim. This was especially helpful on a Shabbos or Holiday which using recording devices are forbidden by Jewish Law.
He also served as transcriber. This involved preparing these talks and discourses to be submitted to The Rebbe for editing; the final version was then released for public study. In this way Reb Yoel prepared the first nine volumes of Likkutei Sichos, and the entire Sefer HaMa'amorim Melukat (the Lubavitcher Rebbe's main works).
An important message Reb Yoel spoke about was the necessity for a Jewish person to be more involved in the sublime ("Bechlal darf men ligen in hecher"). Taking part in this special occasion were also; Roshei Yeshivos, Mashpim from Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim and from Tomchei Tmimim and Shlucim from throughout the state of New Jersey. In addition a group of college students together with their Rabbi, Akiva Greenbaum ,Director of Chabad of The College of New Jersey came for the experience. It was truly an uplifting event which is typical of the Rabbinical College's staunch commitment to provide the ultimate in Jewish and Chassidic Experiences!
Last night, was one week before the 3rd of Tamuz the Lubavitcher Rebbe's 16th Yartziet. In this Honor the Rabbinical College of America, hosted the world renown scholar Reb Yoel Kahn to lead a Farbrangen. Reb Yoel,is arguably the most respected Chassid alive today. Reb Yoel has served as Mashpia,(spiritual leader) choizer (see below) and community leader for nearly six decades! He is the son of Refoel Nachman (Folle) Kahn, an ardent Chassid of 3 of the Lubavitcher Rebbes and author of Shemu'os VeSippurim, a compilation of Chasidic stories (translated into "Extraordinary Chassidic Tales" by SIE). He serves as the main Mashpia in the the yeshiva of 770 Eastern Parkway, Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters.
For decades Kahn served as the Rebbe's main choizer, repeater. He would listen to the talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, which often took between 5-7 consecutive hours, and then repeat the talks to the Chasidim, verbatim. This was especially helpful on a Shabbos or Holiday which using recording devices are forbidden by Jewish Law.
He also served as transcriber. This involved preparing these talks and discourses to be submitted to The Rebbe for editing; the final version was then released for public study. In this way Reb Yoel prepared the first nine volumes of Likkutei Sichos, and the entire Sefer HaMa'amorim Melukat (the Lubavitcher Rebbe's main works).
An important message Reb Yoel spoke about was the necessity for a Jewish person to be more involved in the sublime ("Bechlal darf men ligen in hecher"). Taking part in this special occasion were also; Roshei Yeshivos, Mashpim from Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim and from Tomchei Tmimim and Shlucim from throughout the state of New Jersey. In addition a group of college students together with their Rabbi, Akiva Greenbaum ,Director of Chabad of The College of New Jersey came for the experience. It was truly an uplifting event which is typical of the Rabbinical College's staunch commitment to provide the ultimate in Jewish and Chassidic Experiences!
Shavuos In Yeshiva
Tuesday May 18th, 2010
Wow! With some 80 people for Shavuos, the Taste of Yeshiva event really started off with a Bang!!! Here are some photos taken right after the Holiday! Courtesy of Eliyahu Shmuel
Wow! With some 80 people for Shavuos, the Taste of Yeshiva event really started off with a Bang!!! Here are some photos taken right after the Holiday! Courtesy of Eliyahu Shmuel
