Highlights of the 1998 Orthodox Union National Convention Thanksgiving Weekend, Brunswick Hilton, East Brunswick, New Jersey Can a 100-year-old organization retain a vibrant outlook and a meaningful vision for the future? Clearly, the answer was “Yes!” from the first moment of the Orthodox Union’s Biennial National Convention. Tackling the problem of the lack of spirituality in synagogue life at the very first session, over the next four days the program moved on to cover every topic vital to today’s Jews – from agunot to Zionism. Participants in the Centennial Convention debated dilemmas of the future, but still found time to rejoice in the present. Pride in OU accomplishments, the inspiration of divrei Torah and moving prayer, and the sheer joy of being together with old and new friends contributed to the buoyant atmosphere. 1 Distinguished speakers discussed challenges to the Jewish people in the United States, Israel and worldwide. 1-Left to right: Rabbi Menachem Genack, Rabbinic Administrator of the OU Kashruth Department; Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom; Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel; Orthodox Union President Mandell I. Ganchrow, M.D.; Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler, RIETS (Yeshiva University) Rosh Yeshivah and Rabbi of Community Synagogue, Monsey, N.Y.; Rabbi Hershel Schachter, Rosh Kollel of RIETS Marcos and Adina Katz Kollel. 2-Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Rabbi Raphael B. Butler (right) greets Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, as Photos by Richard Lobell Photos by Richard Executive Board Chairman Marcel Weber looks on. 3-Chairman of the OU Board 2 of Governors Dr. Marcos Katz (left) greets Chief Rabbi of Haifa Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen and The Honorable Shmuel Sisso, New York Consul General of Israel. 3 JEWISH ACTION Spring 5759/1999 1- Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau 2-President of Yeshiva University, Dr. Norman Lamm, shares a light moment 1 with OU President Dr. Mandell I. Ganchrow. 3-At the banquet, OU 2 Executive Board member Rhoda Miller spoke movingly of slain Israeli soldier Alexei (Asher) Nikov, who gave his life to protect a school bus full 4 of children from suicide ter- rorists. Asher had learned of his heritage as a student in the yeshivah high school in Ukraine, a joint project of the OU Joseph K. Miller Torah Center and Kibbutz Sha’alvim. Her son, Board 3 member Alan Miller, sits at the dais beside her. 4-The future of Orthodoxy — our children. Pictured, Sheila Ganchrow and grandson. 5-Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler 6-Emanual Adler and Howard Rhine, convention co- chairmen, enjoy the kumsitz. 7-Cantor Sherwood Goffin led a spirited kumsitz following the sumptuous banquet on Motzei Shabbat. 6 8- Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks 9-Part of the large audience listening to one of the many interesting lectures. 10-Singing and dancing con- tinued into the wee hours of Sunday morning. 11- Like many other young parents, Mr. and Mrs. Avery E. Neumark (OU financial secretary) brought their family to meet th OU “family.” 5 JEWISH ACTION Spring 5759/1999 7 THANK YOU to the outstanding chairmen and speakers who made the Orthodox Union Centennial Convention a success! Rabbi Elchonon Adler Marilyn Klein Emanual Adler Dr. Elliot Kranzler Rabbi Yosef Adler Rabbi Moshe D. Krupka Terrence Augenbraun Rabbi Howard Kutner Rabbi Kenneth Auman Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm Moshe Bane Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Julius Berman Rabbi Yaakov Luban Dr. Rivkah Blau Dr. David Luchins Harvey Blitz Rabbi Elihu Marcus Avi Blumenfeld Matthew Maryles Larry Brown Alan Miller Donald B. Butler Aliza Miller Rabbi Raphael B. Butler Gary Miller Daniel Chill Rhoda Miller Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen Rabbi Yona Reiss Sheldon David Howard Rhine Nathan Diament Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks Avraham Duvdevani Lee Samson Betty Ehrenberg Stephen J. Savitsky 8 Martin Epstein Rabbi Hershel Schachter Rabbi Mordechai Feuerstein Rabbi Arnold Scheinberg Rabbi Joel Finkelstein Dr. David Schnall 9 Josh Frankel Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld Howard Tzvi Friedman Dr. William J. Schwartz 10 Mandell I. Ganchrow, M.D. Rabbi Mordekai Shapiro Jerry Gontownik Rabbi Avraham Shmidman Rabbi Menachem Genack Hon. Shmuel Sisso Rabbi Gershon Gewirtz Rabbi Yitzchok Sladowsky Paul Glasser Richard Stone Sherwood Goffin Sol Teichman Rabbi Meir Goldvicht Rabbi Dr. Moshe D. Tendler Andrew Groveman Marcel Weber Rabbi Yaacov Haber Paula Weber Rabbi Kenneth Hain Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb Marvin J. Herskowitz Michael Wimpfheimer Rabbi Emanuel Holzer Harvey Wolinetz 11 David Hurwitz Rabbi Moshe Yeres Rabbi Joseph Karasick Rabbi Aharon Ziegler Lawrence Ziffer 2 Thank you to all OU Convention sponsors, including: 1 1-David’s Village. Representative Itzik Levy shows floor plans to Convention guests. Head of International Business Stuart Hershkowitz, from Bank of Jerusalem, was on hand with special mortgage rates for OU members. 2-Royal Wines, for sponsoring wine for Friday night dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Benji Berg enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon with Jewish Action’s Marketing and Sales Director Carole Joy. 4 3-Abarbanel Wines, for enhancing Shabbat lunch with their wines and for sponsoring wine at the wine-tasting. 4-J.B. Jewelers, for donating two Chopard watches, each valued at $3,000, to the OU raffle. T.P.I. Marketing and Promotions, for creating gift baskets filled with gifts from Nabisco, H.J. Heinz, Hershey’s and Mama Rizzo’s. 3 JEWISH ACTION Spring 5759/1999.