Emes Ve-Emunah: A Step in the Right Direction

Sunday, May 13, 2007

A Step in the Right Direction

Bright Beginnings is a new project that Rabbi Yakov Horowitz has initiated in his quest for improving the educational system for young Yeshiva students here in the US. He has come out with a workbook and asked if I would put up links to it. I do so happily. Here is a link to his website. It can be acessed there in PDF. As he writes: 'The purpose of this booklet is to assist educators and parents in their quest to help their children become independent learners by teaching them language and grammar skills in a thoughtful, educationally sound manner.' If you can, please read it and feel free to comment both here and on his website.

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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.