Emes Ve-Emunah: Notice Regarding Yesterday's Post

Monday, March 09, 2015

Notice Regarding Yesterday's Post

I have taken down the post from yesterday until I have completed my research about the officer that sent it to me. As I have repeatedly said in the comments in response to challenges about its veracity - I tend to believe him. For reasons I can't get into I still believe that he is who he says he is. But I can' t prove it and there are just too many people I trust that comment here frequently questioning it.

I fully expect to restore it (and all the comments) once I am satisfied that he is legit. If that does not happen I will not restore it and I apologize.

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.