Emes Ve-Emunah: Chaim Mod’cha Brecher

Monday, October 09, 2006

Chaim Mod’cha Brecher

In honor of Yom Tov which is characterized by the term Simcha, I offer this link to perhaps the funniest piece of humor I have ever heard on the internet. I’m sure most people have heard it. Many times. But I dare anyone to listen to it again and not at least smile and probably laugh. It is realy funny. Just click on this link and then click where it says “Jewish Crank Call” on the right side of the screen. Then sit back and laugh your head off.

My outlook on Judaism is based mostly on the teachings of my primary Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik from whom I received my rabbinic ordination. It is also based on a search for spiritual truth. Among the various sources that put me on the right path, two great philosophic works stand out: “Halakhic Man” and “Lonely Man of Faith” authored by the pre-eminent Jewish philosopher and theologian, Rabbi, Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Of great significance is Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm's conceptualization and models of Torah U’Mada and Dr. Eliezer Berkovits who introduced me to the world of philosophic thought. Among my early influences were two pioneers of American Elementary Torah Chinuch, Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Yaakov Levi. The Yeshivos I attended were Yeshivas Telshe for early high school and more significantly, the Hebrew Theological College where for a period of ten years, my Rebbeim included such great Rabbinic figures as Rabbis Mordechai Rogov, Shmaryahu Meltzer, Yaakov Perlow, Herzl Kaplan, and Selig Starr. I also attended Roosevelt University where I received my Bachelor's Degree - majoring in Psychology.