Emes Ve-Emunah: Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah

My visit to the holy land is coming to a close. In three days I will be boarding a plane back to Chicago (at about 1:00 AM local time on Sunday (Motzoi Shabbos). Not looking forward to that for many reasons. Not the least of which is that I hate flying.

Yom Tov in Isrsael has thus far been all I expected it be and more. The weather has been great. It's truly a pleasure spending time with your children and grandchildren in a warm climate for Sukkos.

This will be my last post until Sunday. Until then I want to once again wish everyone a Chag Sameach.

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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.