Emes Ve-Emunah: Travel Day

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Travel Day

I’m off to the holy land for Sukkos. I will be once again staying in Ramat Bet Shemesh (Aleph) until October 7.

Those readers that happen to live there or happen to be in town for any reason, come on over and say, ‘Hi’. I can be found daily at the early morning Shachris at Massas Mordechai (Mogen Avraham Minyan or in the alternative the Vasikin Minyan). The Shul is centrally located on Dolev. I will be staying in an apartment across the street. Regular posting will resume tomorrow.

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.