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March 29, 2004
Torah Teachers Honored by ArtScroll/Mesorah in New Rochelle
The social hall of the Young Israel of New Rochelle was filled Sunday
morning, March 21, with members who had come to honor the unsung heroes
of their synagogue: the people who teach Talmud classes day in and day
out, no matter what the weather or season. Often meeting during the early
morning hours or late at night, the teachers and participants of these
voluntary learning groups choose to delve into the realms of Talmudic
thought instead of getting that extra hour of sleep. Rarely is their
contribution to the community publicly acknowledged.
The Sunday morning breakfast was held in honor of
the Young Israel’s
spiritual leader, Rabbi Reuven Fink, and eleven instructors. But this
was far from just a local event. The program featured three distinguished
guests: Rabbi Nosson Scherman, general editor of ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications,
Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, chairman of the Mesorah Heritage Foundation, which
funds the scholarship behind ArtScroll Judaica, and Rabbi Nesanel Kasnett,
a senior editor of the Schottenstein English Edition of the Talmud, popularly
known as “the ArtScroll Gemara.”
Rabbi Reuven Fink and eleven Talmud
teachers received awards from the Mesorah Heritage Foundation.
Left to right: Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, Rabbi
Abish Zelishovzky, Rabbi Reuven Fink, Rabbi Sol Steinmetz,
Rabbi Nosson Scherman, Dr. Dan Berman, Chaim Jaroslawicz, Irving Weisen,
Dr. Jack Bruder,
Andrew J. Neff, Dr. David Lent, Dr. Arthur Turetsky, Dr. Jay Gold. Not
shown: Tully Auerbach, Perry Garber.
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In New Rochelle, as in Jewish communities
worldwide, the Schottenstein English Edition of the Talmud is the backbone
of
grassroots Talmud classes:
Its translations and explanations of the Talmud are the keys to understanding
this classic work. Recognizing the role played by the Schottenstein Talmud
in the current renaissance in Jewish scholarship, the Mesorah Heritage
Foundation proclaimed a “Year of Learning and Celebration,” from
March 2004 to March 2005, to celebrate the projected March 2005 completion
of this historic 73-volume Talmud. The presence of the ArtScroll/Mesorah principals was due to the fact
that the New Rochelle synagogue had taken the lead in holding a Community
Event as part of the newly launched Year of Learning and Celebration
of the Foundation. The joint program underscored the fact that members
of the Young Israel deeply appreciate the innovative ArtScroll/Mesorah
publications and their impact on their lives.
Andrew J. Neff, Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns, and Moshe
Talansky of Great Neck (NY), co-chair the Year of Learning and Celebration
program. Its goal is to highlight the vitality of Torah study and foster
an awareness of its central role in Judaism. One way to get that message
across is through community events, such as the one in New Rochelle,
that publicly recognize the importance of those who teach Talmud, the
mainstay of Jewish study for thousands of years. Several of the breakfast
participants had brought their children — for the lesson is an
enduring one, intended for intergenerational sharing.
After accepting his award from the Foundation, Rabbi Reuven Fink spoke
of the primacy of Torah in the growth of a Jewish community, declaring
that there is no substitute for committed, daily Torah study in shaping
Jewish hearts and minds. Following his address, ten laymen of the congregation
and a rabbi from Lakewood, New Jersey who teaches every week at the Young
Israel, were called upon to accept their Mesorah awards for their dedication
to teaching Torah and Talmud. The awardees, all residents of New Rochelle,
were: Tully Auerbach, Dr. Dan Berman, Dr. Jack Bruder, Perry Garber,
Dr. Jay Gold, Chaim Jaroslawicz, Dr. David Lent, Rabbi Sol Steinmetz,
Dr. Arthur Turetsky, Irving Weisen, and (Lakewood resident) Rabbi Abish
Zelishovsky.
Rabbi Kasnett fascinated his audience by taking them “behind the
scenes” for a look at the complex editorial process of creating
the ArtScroll Talmud. His vibrant address demonstrated the language precision,
refinement and clear reasoning that go into every page of every volume.
Though many of his listeners regularly use this English elucidation of
the Talmud, few had imagined the vast scholarship behind it.
With his usual wit and anecdotal style, Rabbi Scherman
enlightened the gathering on the important work of the Mesorah Heritage
Foundation. In
a separate address, Rabbi Zlotowitz praised the dedication of the visionary
individuals who value the Foundation’s achievements and support
its efforts. In a surprise presentation, he awarded Andrew J. Neff, a
member of the Board of Governors, the Mesorah Heritage Foundation’s
Avodas Hakodesh Award for his leadership in the organization.
Largely due to Mr. Neff’s example and efforts, a dedication in
honor of Rabbi Fink and the Talmud teachers, the “Maggidei Shiur,” will
grace every future volume of the Schottenstein Talmud, through the generosity
of members of the Young Israel of New Rochelle. In addition to honoring
their rabbi, a group that studies the “Daf Yomi” daily folio
of the Talmud at a sunrise session honored their wives, who encourage
them to maintain the daily commitment of attending these classes, even
though the inconvenience is significant. Mr. Neff referred to community
support of Schottenstein Talmud as “the best investment we can
make for our children.”
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