Monday, June 30 to Wednesday, July 2, 2014 Westchester Renaissance 80 West Red Oak Lane West Harrison, New York Championing the Rabbi

Championing the Rabbi

hank you for participating in the 54th Annual Conference of the Rabbinical T Council of America. The theme of this conference is “Championing the Rabbi.” What does this mean? By working together as rabbis, through our rabbinic organization, we are able to bett er serve our communities and Am Yisrael. By developing meaningful collegial relationships, we are able to learn from one another and to develop a sense of joint mission. By gathering today’s Torah luminaries and studying Torah with them, we are able to rejuvenate and build the spiritual energy that we need to lead our communities. In creating forums to broadcast the message of Torah and Mitzvot, we reach a wider audience than any one of us can reach on our own. This is what it means to “Champion the Rabbi.”

There are three components to our program for this year. The fi rst is methodology. Each methodology session asks the question “how can we be bett er” at doing our work as rabbis. The second component is morality. We have chosen this “big issue” as a component for our convention because it is a perennial challenge that we as religious leaders face. How do we respond when members of our communities are found guilty of wrongdoing? How do we educate our communities to do what is right in the face of temptation? The third component is the rabbi and the rabbinate. This is a chance to gain chizzuk in our unique avoda and to think together about what challenges and opportunities we will face in the future.

Our goal is to provide an experience that will be valuable to you as a ben Torah and as a rav b’Yisrael. We hope that you leave the conference feeling more proud in your chosen profession with a sense of hope in what you can accomplish as a rabbi.

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Monday, June 30, 2014 10:00 am GPS Masefi eld 12:00 pm Registration Opens Outside Harrison 12-2:00 pm Buff et Lunch Harrison 1:00 pm RCA Executive Meeting Cooper A 2:00 pm Welcome-Session: “Championing the Rabbi” Irving Chair: Chaim Strauchler 2:15 pm Rabbinic Conversations - Cooper A & B A series of peer facilitated conversations on what matt ers to us as rabbis. This format will allow us to share (with one another and with our rabbinic organization) what we are seeing in the fi eld and allow us to brain storm on how we can bett er work together to meet the needs of Am Yisrael. These will be moderated discussions, not formal sessions. The moderators do not pretend to have any expertise on these subjects, only an interest in engaging these issues with their colleagues. Our hope is to conduct an interesting conversation and to share ideas that may help us bett er serve our communities and more clearly think about challenges and opportunities.

Moderators: R. Howard Zack: The Role of Women R. Ephraim Epstein: The Contemporary Jewish Family R. Mark Fishman: Our Young People R. Zev Goldberg: The Orthodox Community R. Akiva Males: The Challenge of Shrinking Jewish Communities R. Jonathan Morgenstern: Our Education System R. Benjamin Samuels: What aren’t we thinking about that we should be thinking about? R. Josh Strulowitz: The Position/Offi ce of the Rabbi 4:00 pm Methodology: How to teach a bett er Gemara shiur Irving Rav Saul Zucker Morality: What if “right and wrong” crumbles? Cooper A Moral Injury in the Military and Our Community Havah Schneider, Ph.D.

Moral injury describes what a person experiences when one’s actions (or non- actions) confl ict with one’s beliefs about what is moral and ethical. This talk will explore moral injury as it relates to soldiers in war, treatment considerations for spiritual leaders, and implications for cases of abuse within the Jewish community.

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4:00 pm Methodology: How to be a bett er manager of your Cooper B cont. shul and community R. Yechezkel Freundlicht and R. Efrem Goldberg

Most of us entered the rabbinate with high hopes and loft y dreams of inspiring our congregants with uplift ing shiurim and meaningful drashot. And then we discovered the reality of the position: It’s a lot about managing the emotions, confl icts and personalities of our offi ce staff , Board, and of course, baal habatim. When were we supposed to train for that?

This session (based on Devora Zak’s best- selling book) includes a brief self-assessment to understand our natural management style. Armed with that knowledge and with the tools to identify the personalities of those around us, it turns out managing all of those crucial conversations isn’t all that bad. We might even be able to focus more on what we’re really excited to do! 5:00 pm Methodology: How to be a bett er modern Irving communicator Carmine Gallo

Tailored specifi cally to rabbis, Gallo will apply the lessons outlined in his latest book, “Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds.” Carmine interviewed dozens of popular TED speakers as well as top neuroscientists. In Talk Like TED, Carmine lays out techniques and the science behind each technique that teach anyone how to deliver the most impassioned and persuasive presentation of their lives. 6:00 pm Mincha Irving 6:15 pm Dinner Harrison Divrei Bracha: R. David Lau Executive VP: R. Mark Dratch

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8:00 pm R3CA TALKS Greeley A platform to showcase RCA members’ ideas and talent and to broadcast it to a wide audience: RCA rabbis will initiate dialogues around issues facing the North American Jewish community and the human condition more broadly from the unique perspective aff orded us as bearers of Torah tradition who also work through the day-to-day struggles of our people.

Emcee: Comedian Joel Chasnoff

R. Daniel Cohen: Leading a Life of Legacy: Discovering Your Elijah Moment R. Dovid Cohen: The Perfection of Imperfection R. Mark Fishman: Sex Traffi cking and the Synagogue: Raising the engagement of our young adults R. Kenny Hain: Why Humor Matt ers to Jews? R. Jacob Jaff e: Revealing the Author, Hidden Behind the Words R. Chaim Steinmetz: Holocaust survivors’ secret to happiness R. Steve Weil: In the Aft ermath of the Apocalypse R. Eli Weissman: Why I teach? R. Daniel Yolkut: The Torah of Brokenness

10:30 pm Ma’ariv Irving

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Tuesday, July 1, 2014 7:00 am Daf Yomi - R. Yehoshua Weber Irving 7:45 am Shacharit Irving 8:15 am Breakfast Harrison 9:20 am Torah: Ask the Posek Irving R. Gedalia Dov Schwartz Torah: The Life of a Rabbanit Cooper A Rabbanit Tzippora Lau 10:30 am Methodology: How to teach a bett er Jewish history Cooper A shiur R. Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel

Using his study in “Developing a Historical and Rabbinic Perspective on Shidduchim and Marital Choice in the Period of the Rishonim,” R. Kanarfogel will help rabbis develop skills for historical and halakhic research. Methodology: What Rabbis Need to Know about the Irving OU and Contemporary Kashrut R. Menachem Genack Methodology: The Rabbi as a Leader of a Yishuv, in Cooper B Tzahal, and in Your Community R. Avichai Rontzki (in Hebrew)

Speaking from his perspective as former Chief Military Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces (2006 -2010 ) as well as Rosh Yeshivah of Itamar Yeshivat Hesder, R. Rontzki will speak about the responsibility of a rabbi in dealing with challenging contemporary issues. 11:40 am “A Rabbanut of the People” Irving Rav Ha-Rashi R. David Lau 12:45 pm Lunch Chaplain Awards Harrison Health Care Chaplaincy: R. Gary Lavitt Military Chaplaincy: U.S. Army chaplain R. (LtCol) Avi Weiss Rabbi Jacob Rubenstein Memorial Award R. Daniel Korobkin

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2:30 pm Methodology: The Rabbi as Posek: Irving Emunat Chachamim R. Moshe Lichtenstein and R. Eli Shulman

The authority of Da’as Torah, Emunas Chachamim, and Masorah have changed and strengthened in the past decade or two. What is the place of “Emunat Chachamim” in our modern Orthodox context? What is the defi nition and weight of masorah in the contemporary Orthodox world? How do these ideas impact on the role of the community rabbi as mara d’atra and posek? How does the growing centralization of authority in poskim and rashei yeshiva impact on the authority and discretion of community rabbis? How much latitude do they/should they have in establishing policies and positions that may “push the envelope” in response to the needs of individual community members and their institutions 4:15 pm Methodology: Darkei Pesak Irving R. Hershel Schachter

A look at the approaches to pesak Halakhah of diff erent poskim from diff erent halakhic traditions 5:15 pm Mincha Irving Azkarah (R. Ira Ebbin) 6:00 pm Dinner Presidential Address: R. Lenny Matanky Harrison Greetings: Counsel General Ido Aharoni Comments: Allen Fagin, CEO, OU 8:00 pm Torah/ A View from Halakhah: “How are Irving Morality Rabbis to Respond To Dishonesty Within Our Community.” Mr. Benjamin Brafman, Esq. 9:00 pm A halakhah le-ma’aseh response to the issues raised by Irving Mr. Brafman R. Hershel Schachter 10:o0 pm Ma’ariv Irving

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Wednesday, July 2, 2014 7:00 am Daf Yomi - R. Avraham Kelman Irving 7:45 am Shacharit Irving 8:15 am Breakfast Harrison 9:15 am Monopoly or Diversifi cation in Rabbinic Leadership- Irving In Your Shul and in the State of Israel R. David Stav

10:15 am Jewish Heroes in Combat: Jewish sites in Iraq & Cooper B Afghanistan Chaplain (Major, retired Army) Avrohom Horovitz Torah: The Personality of a Leader Cooper A R. Yaakov Medan: (in Hebrew) 11:15 am Methodology: How to bett er connect to your Cooper A collegiate R. Menachem Schraeder, Founding Director of JLIC R. Gideon Black, JLIC at NYU R. Shalom Baum Moderator: R. Ilan Haber Methodology: How to teach a bett er Tanach Shiur CooperB R. David Fohrman 12:15 pm Divrei Siyyum Irving “Challenges the Rabbi Faces.”

R. Ralph Pelcovits and Dr. David Pelcovits 1:15 pm Mincha/Lunch/Goodbye Harrison

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8 Championing the Rabbi Methodology: How to teach a bett er Gemara shiur R. Saul Zucker How to be a bett er manager of your shul and community R. Yechezkel Freundlicht and R. Efrem Goldberg How to be a bett er modern communicator Carmine Gallo How to teach a bett er Jewish history shiur R. Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel How to teach a bett er Tanach Shiur R. David Fohrman How to bett er connect to your collegiates R. Menachem Schraeder, R. Gideon Black and R. Shalom Baum

The Rabbinate and the Rabbi: A Rabbanut of the People Rav Ha-Rashi R. David Lau What Rabbis Need to Know about the OU and Contemporary Kashrut R. Menachem Genack The Rabbi as a Leader of a Yishuv, in Tzahal, and in Your Community (Hebrew) R. Avichai Rontzki The Rabbi as Posek: Emunat Chachamim R. Moshe Lichtenstein and R. Eli Shulman Monopoly or Diversifi cation in Rabbinic Leadership - In Your Shul and in the State of Israel R. David Stav Rabbinic Conversations R. Chaim Strauchler Challenges the Rabbi Faces R. Ralph Pelcovits and Dr. David Pelcovits

Morality: “How are Rabbis To Respond to Dishonesty Within Our Community” Benjamin Brafman A View from Halakhah: “How are Rabbis to Respond To Dishonesty Within Our Community.” R. Hershel Schachter What if “right and wrong” crumbles? Moral Injury in the Military and Our Community Havah Schneider, Ph.D.

Limud Torah: Ask the Posek R. Gedalia Dov Schwartz The Personality of a Leader (Hebrew) R. Yaakov Medan Darkei Pesak R. Hershel Schachter

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Lobby Level Plan

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Ballroom Level Plan

11 54th Annual Conference of the Rabbinical Council of America. Biographies of Presenters:

Ambassador Ido Aharoni Ambassador Ido Aharoni is the Consul General of Israel in New York. He has been a member of Israel’s Foreign Service since the summer of 1991. During his tenure in Israel’s diplomatic corps Aharoni held two overseas positions, in Los Angeles and New York. In 2006, he was appointed to serve as a Senior Advisor to Israel’s Foreign Minister and Vice Prime Minister, in charge of media and public aff airs. Between 2001-2005, Ido Aharoni served as Consul for Media and Public Aff airs at the Consulate General of Israel in New York. In 1993, upon completion of the Foreign Ministry’s cadet program, Aharoni was appointed to serve under then Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, as Policy Assistant to Israel’s Chief negotiator with the Palestinians. Ido Aharoni served in the Israel Defense Forces as a company commander in the infantry during the fi rst Lebanon war. He recently retired from military reserves, at the age of 48, as a Major (Ret).

Rav Gideon Black Rav Gideon Black works for the OU’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at NYU. He studied at the London School of Economics, received his law degree from University College London and received an MA in Jewish Philosophy from YU’s Bernard Revel Graduate School. He was a rabbinic intern at Manhatt an Jewish Experience and the Riverdale Jewish Center. He interned for Congressman Major Owens (D-NY), worked in Offi ce of Jerusalem Mayor, Uri Lupoliansky, and completed an internship at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Benjamin Brafman Benjamin Brafman is the principal of Brafman & Associates, P.C. in Manhatt an, which specializes in criminal law with an emphasis on white-collar criminal defense. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and in 1997 was selected by New York magazine as the “Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in New York.” He was also the recipient of the Outstanding Private Criminal Defense Practitioner Award for 2005 from the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Brafman is a frequent lecturer and panelist on criminal defense issues. He lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife; they have two children and several grandchildren and are active in a wide range of charitable organizations.

12 Championing the Rabbi Rav Daniel Cohen Rav Daniel Cohen is rabbi of Congregation Agudath Sholom, Stamford, CT. Previously, he served at the Young Israel of West Hartford and BMH-BJ in Denver. He was an offi cer of the RCA, a Regional Board Member of the Anti-Defamation League, a member of AIPAC National Council, and a chairman of the Vaad of Fairfi eld County and the Stamford Rabbinical Council.

Rav Mark Dratch Rav Mark Dratch is Executive Vice President of the RCA. He is founder of JSafe: The Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse Free Environment and served as Instructor of Jewish Studies and Philosophy at the Isaac Breuer College of Yeshiva University.

Rav Ephraim Epstein Rav Ephraim Epstein is the rabbi at Sons of Israel, Cherry Hill, NJ. He served as an administrator and lecturer at the Center for Torah Studies in Jerusalem, a division of Ohr Somayach International and has writt en Tefi llah Tips, featured on the OU website.

Allen I. Fagin, Allen I. Fagin, att orney and former chairman of Proskauer Rose, LLP, is the newly appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Professional Offi cer of the OU. Mr. Fagin practiced law at Proskauer Rose, LLP, one of the leading international law fi rms, beginning in 1976, where he specialized in employment law, co-chairing Proskauer’s Labor and Employment Law Department for many years. He served as Proskauer’s chairman from 2005-2011. He has served as president of the Beth Din of America and as a lay leader at the OU.

Rav Mark Fishman Rav Mark Fishman is the rabbi of Congregation Beth Tikvah Ahavat Shalom Nusach Hoari in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec. He was the Director of the Women’s Beith Midrash of the Kollel Torah Mitzion in Côte St-Luc and was Director of Experiential Education at Bialik High School.

13 54th Annual Conference of the Rabbinical Council of America. Rav David Fohrman Rav David Fohrman is the dean of Aleph Beta Academy and lectures internationally on Biblical themes. He heads the Curriculum Initiative of the Areivim Philanthropic Group, and directs the Hoffb erger Institute for Text Study. Rabbi Fohrman’s fi rst book, “The Beast that Crouches at the Door,” was a fi nalist for the 2007 National Jewish Book Award. In earlier years, Rabbi Fohrman served as a senior editor and writer for ArtScroll’s Schott enstein Edition of the Talmud, and taught Biblical themes at the Johns Hopkins University. Rav Yechezkel Freundlich Rav Yechezkel Freundlich is the Associate Rabbi at Beth Jacob Atlanta. A Talmid of KBY and a Ner Yisrael Musmach, he holds a BA in Psychology (UMBC) and a Masters of Professional Counseling (Georgia State University). His on-line “3 Minute Parenting through the Parsha” videos have over 75,000 views, and he has presented his unique marriage workshop in Atlanta, Miami Beach, North Woodmere and Fairlawn, NJ. This fall, in addition to his position at Beth Jacob, Rabbi Freundlich will assume the position of Head of School of Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael of Atlanta. Carmine Gallo Carmine Gallo is an American author, columnist, keynote speaker, and former journalist and news anchor. Currently based in Pleasanton, California, he is President of Gallo Communications Group and works as a communications coach and speaker.

Rav Menachem Genack Rav Menachem Genack is the CEO of the Orthodox Union Kosher Division, rabbi of Congregation Shomrei Emunah, Englewood, NJ, and a rosh yeshiva at RIETS. He has published much of the Torah of the Rav. He was founding Chairman of NORPAC and serves on the executive committ ee of AIPAC . He is the author of many sefarim and articles, including the recently published “Lett ers to Clinton.”

Rav Efrem Goldberg Rav Efrem Goldberg is the Senior Rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue. He is a vice president of the RCA, a member of AIPAC’s National Council, serves as co-chair of the Orthodox Rabbinical Board’s Va’ad Ha’Kashrus and as menahel of the RCA’s South Florida Regional Beis Din for Conversion. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Hillel Day School, and Friends of the IDF.

14 Championing the Rabbi Rav Zev Goldberg Rav Zev Goldberg is the assistant rabbi at Young Israel of Century City, Los Angeles, CA. He served as rabbinic intern at the Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side of New York. Rabbi Goldberg also served as a rabbinic intern in Livingston, New Jersey and Riverdale, New York.

Rav Kenneth Hain Rav Kenneth Hain is the rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence, NY. He has taught Judaic Studies at Stern College and served as a director of YU’s Division of Communal Services. From 1999-2001, Rabbi Hain served as President of the Rabbinical Council of America and has also served as President of RIETS Rabbinical Alumni.

Chaplain Major Avrohom Horovitz Chaplain Major Avrohom Horovitz entered army active duty in July, 1998, and has served at Ft. Stewart, GA; Ft. Bragg, NC; South Korea; Ft. Benning, GA; Ft. Gordon, GA. He retired in August 2010 at Ft. McPherson, GA. Chaplain Horovitz is active in the Atlanta Kashrus Commission, Congregation Ariel in Dunwoody, Georgia and the Association of Jewish Outreach Professionals. He is currently the executive director of the American friends of Yeshivat Dvar Yerushalayim. Rav Yaakov Jaff e Rav Yaakov Jaff e serves as the Rabbi of the Maimonides Minyan, and as the Judaic Studies Principal at Maimonides School. Prior to moving to Boston, he was certifi ed as a New York State Mediator, and worked mediating household, business, and neighbor disputes at the Washington-Heights/Inwood Coalition. He is a dayan of the Boston Rabbinical Court, and an active member of the Vaad Harabanim.

Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel is the E. Billi Ivry University Professor of Jewish History, Literature and Law at Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and at Stern College for Women. He is one of the foremost scholars in medieval Jewish history and rabbinic literature. He has authored “Jewish Education and Society in the High Middle Ages” and “Peering Through the Latt ices: Mystical, Magical, and Pietistic Dimensions in the Tosafi st Period.”

15 54th Annual Conference of the Rabbinical Council of America. Rav Avraham Kelman Rav Avraham Kelman is the newly appointed rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel, Schenectady, NY. He previously served as rabbi in Trieste, Italy; Jacksonville, FL; and Lynn, MA. He was a shochet for Empire Kosher Poultry, and is a sofer and mohel.

Rav David Lau Rav David Lau is the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. He previously served as the Chief Rabbi of Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut, Israel and as the Chief Rabbi of Shoham. Lau was born January 13, 1966 in Tel Aviv to Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau. Rav Lau was the fi rst rabbi in Israel to teach responsa over the internet. Since the summer of 2006, he has appeared every Friday on the show “Ask the Rabbi” on HaArutz HaRishon, a show about halakhic questions and answers. Since 1999, he broadcast the daily program “Jewish Point” on the radio station Kol Chai. He has published articles in diff erent journals, such as Tehumin. Similarly, he edited a book of his father’s responsa titled Yichil Yisrael. He also edited and published a book in memory of his grandfather, Rabbi Yitzchak Yedidya Frankel. In 2008, he published his book Maskil LeDavid on issues of genealogy, conversion, military law, and other matt ers.

Rav Moshe Lichtenstein Rav Moshe Lichtenstein is Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivat Har Etzion. He served in the Armored Corps of Tzahal and as Rosh Kollel of the Kollel MiTzion in Cleveland. He published his fi rst sefer, “Tzir va- Tzon” in 2002.

Rav Akiva Males Rav Akiva Males is the rabbi of Kesher Israel Congregation, Harrisburg, PA. R. Males received his Jewish education at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, the Wisconsin Institute For Torah Studies (W.I.T.S.), and Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim (Rabbinical Seminary of America) in Queens, NY, where he received his semicha.

16 Championing the Rabbi Rav Leonard Matanky Rav Leonard Matanky is the rabbi of Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park, Chicago, IL, and the Dean of Ida Crown Jewish Academy, the largest modern Orthodox high school in the Midwest. Rabbi Matanky is president of the RCA, as well as a past president of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, and currently serves on the boards of the Religious Zionists of Chicago and Camp Moshava. He is also co-Chairman of the Rabbinic Action Committ ee of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

Rav Yaakov Medan Rav Yaakov Medan is Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion, and a lecturer in Tanakh, Gemara, and Jewish philosophy. He was a member of the fi rst class at Yeshivat Har Etzion, served in the Armored Corps of Tzahal and has lived in Gush Etzion since 1968.

Rav Jonathan Morgenstern Rav Jonathan Morgenstern is the rabbi of the Young Israel of Scarsdale. He taught Judaic Studies at the Westchester Hebrew High School in Mamaroneck, NY and served as the school’s spiritual and mental health counselor, hockey coach, and soft ball coach, as well as Dean of Students for 2 years.

Dr. David Pelcovitz Dr. David Pelcovitz holds the Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Chair in Psychology and Jewish Education at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University and is an instructor in pastoral counseling at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Serving for more than two decades as director of psychology at North Shore University Hospital-NYU School of Medicine and clinical professor of psychology at NYU School of Medicine, Dr. Pelcovitz has consulted extensively with the Jewish community in the United States, Europe and Israel on a wide range of issues facing children and adolescents. His most recent publications are a co-edited book “Child Abuse in the Jewish Community” and peer reviewed publications on child physical abuse and emotional abuse.

17 54th Annual Conference of the Rabbinical Council of America. Rav Ralph Pelcovits Rav Ralph Pelcovits, a respected rabbi, scholar, and community leader, is Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Kneseth Israel of West Lawrence, NY. Rav Pelkovits served as president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, fi rst editor of its “Perspectives,” and was a member of the National Board of the OUJCA.

Rav Avichai Rontzki Rav Avichai Rontzki is the former Chief Military Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces (2006-2012) with a rank of Brigadier General. He is the rosh yeshiva of the Hesder Yeshiva in Itamar.

Rav Benjamin Samuels Rav Benjamin Samuels is the rabbi of Congregation Shaarei Tefi llah, Newton, MA. He is an offi cer of the Vaad Harabonim of Massachusett s and a member of its Beit Din. He represents the Vaad as a member of the Executive Board of the Synagogue Council of Massachusett s. He is a Master Teacher at Maayan: Torah Inititiatives for Jewish Women, a Genesis Scholar at Combined Jewish Philanthropies and a member of CJP’s Board of Governors. He is a member of the Maimonides School Board of Trustees. Rabbi Samuels is an instructor of Rabbinics and Medieval Jewish History for Meah, and a Curriculum Designer and Instructor for Ikkarim.

Rav Hershel Schachter Rav Hershel Schachter is a leading posek, talmid hakham, and rebbe to many RCA chaveirim. He has been a Rosh Yeshivah at RIETS for nearly 45 years. Since 1971, Rav Schachter has been Rosh Kollel at RIETS’ Marcos and Adina Katz Kollel. In addition, Rav Schachter serves as the OU’s Senior Halachic Consultant. His seforim include Eretz HaTzvi, B’ikvei HaTzon, Ginas Egoz and Nefesh HaRav, MiPninei HaRav, and Divreui HaRav. He also published shiurim of the Rav on Masektot Gitt in, Kiddushin, Shabbat, and on Megillah, Yom HaKippurim, Tzitzit, Tefi llin, and Kri’at haTorah.

18 Championing the Rabbi Dr. Havah Schneider Dr. Havah Schneider received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University in 2013. She completed a one year internship at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, treating veterans with combat exposure and veterans with comorbid psychological and medical conditions. Dr. Schneider is currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Health Psychology at the Memphis VA Medical Center. Rav Menachem Schrader Rav Menachem Schrader is the founding director of the Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (OU). He taught at Yeshivat Hamivtar from 1982 to 2008, directed the Alisa Flatow program at Nishmat from 2008 to 2011, was rabbi of Moshav Carmel from 1991 to 1995 and of Congregation Tiferet Avot in Efrat from 1998 to 2011.

Rav Gedalia Dov Schwartz Rav Gedalia Dov Schwartz is an eminent rabbi, scholar, and posek. Since 1991 he has been the Av Beis Din of both the Beth Din of America and the Chicago Rabbinical Council. He was editor of the RCA’s HaDarom and is the author of Divrei Regesh, Migdanos Eliezer, and Shaarei Gedulah. Rav Schwartz serves as a beloved advisor and confi dant of many RCA chaverim.

Rav Eli Baruch Shulman Rav Eli Baruch Shulman is a rosh yeshiva at RIETS. Rabbi Shulman received his rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Yaakov Joff en, head of the Beth Yosef Novardok yeshiva, and was a fellow in RIETS’ Kollel Elyon. He is the rabbi of the Young Israel of Midwood and has served as both author and editor of a number of volumes of the Artscroll Schott enstein edition of the Babylonian Talmud. He is also the author of three sefarim: Binyan Av, Yesamach Av, vol. 1, and Yesamach Av, vol. 2. Rav David Stav Rav David Stav, a graduate of Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav, is the rabbi of the town of Shoham. Rav Stav is a co-founder and the chairman of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization. In 1998, Rabbi Stav co-founded the Hesder Yeshiva in Petach Tikva. Rabbi Stav teaches in Metivta, a women’s seminary in Bar Ilan University. He is the spokesman for Rashei Yeshivot Hesder across Israel.

19 54th Annual Conference of the Rabbinical Council of America. Rav Chaim Steinmetz Rav Chaim Steinmetz is the rabbi of TBDJ, Montreal. Prior to that, he served congregations in Mount Vernon, New York, and Jersey City, New Jersey. He writes a regular column for the Canadian Jewish News. His articles have appeared in the Toronto Star, the Gazett e and La Presse, as well as the Jerusalem Post and the Forward. Rabbi Steinmetz is the past president of the Montreal Board of Rabbis, a past president of the Rabbinical Council of Canada, a past Vice President of the Quebec Region of the Canadian Jewish Congress, and has been a member of the executive of Quebec Israel Committ ee (QIC) and Hillel-Jewish Students Center of Montreal.

Rav Chaim Strauchler Rav Chaim Strauchler, chairman of the RCA Convention, serves as the rabbi of Shaarei Shomayim Congregation in Toronto. The fi rst YU graduate to receive Oxford University’s prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, he earned a Diploma in Theology and an MSt in Religious Studies while there. He received a master’s degree in Biblical studies from Bernard Revel Graduate School and is a Wexner Graduate Fellowship alumnus.

Rav Joshua Strulowitz Rav Joshua Strulowitz is the rabbi of the West Side Institutional Synagogue. Rabbi Strulowitz was the rabbi of Congregation Adath Israel in San Francisco. He has been profi led in the Wall Street Journal and in the book Straight Down the Middle, a book about golf and religion writt en by renowned author Joshua Karp.

Rav Yehoshua Weber Rav Yehoshua Weber is the rabbi of Clanton Park Synagogue, Toronto and is a member of the Rabbinical Vaad Hakashrus of the COR. He previously served as rabbi of The Young Israel of Hollis Hills-Windsor Park

20 Championing the Rabbi Rav Steven Weil Rav Steven Weil is the Senior Managing Director of the Orthodox Union.. He was rabbi of the Young Israel of Oak Park, MI, and Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills, CA. He has served internationally as scholar in residence while visiting congregations across the country and strongly advocating for Israel and Jewish education. He has worked closely with leaders in AIPAC.

Rav Elie Weissman Rav Elie Weissman is the rabbi of the Young Israel of Plainview, NY. He is on the faculty of Yeshiva University High Schools for Girls. Rabbi Weissman was a founder of Yeshiva University’s Eimatai Fellowship High School Leadership Program. Before coming to YUHSG, Rabbi Weissman taught Gemara for three years at the Yeshiva of Flatbush High School, where he was the recipient of an Avi Chai Foundation teacher-training grant. Rav Daniel Yolkut Rav Daniel Yolkut is the rabbi of Congregation Poale Zedeck, Pitt sburgh, PA. He served as rabbi of Keneseth Beth Israel in Richmond, VA, and taught Jewish history at Richmond’s Weinstein JCC and Yeshiva High School.

Rav Howard Zack Rav Howard Zack is the rabbi of Congregation Torat Emet since its inception in September 2001. He previously served as the rabbi of Beth Jacob Congregation of Oakland, CA. He serves as the Columbus Jewish Federation Chair of the JCRC, is on the executive board of the RCA, and chaired the 2011 RCA convention.

Rav Saul Zucker Rav Saul Zucker is the principal of the Magen David Yeshivah Celia Esses High School in Brooklyn, NY. He has served in the past as the principal of The Frisch School and as the Director of Day School & Educational Services of the Orthodox Union.

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