OTS Newsbrief • WINTER 2017 • 5778 Historic Change at OTS Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander, Vice President for University and Community Life at Yeshiva University, has been tapped to lead OTS as President and Rosh HaYeshiva. Rabbi Brander will take the reins from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, who will be stepping down in July 2018. – and as the inaugural dean of Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future, he cultivated rabbinic leadership in many far-flung corners of America,” Rabbi Riskin said. “He is the perfect choice to lead Ohr Torah Stone.” North American Board President David Eisner and Dr. Roy Stern, Chairman of the Israeli Board, reaffirmed that they view Rabbi Brander’s experience and skill sets as crucial for successfully heading OTS. “We are confident that Rabbi Brander will take OTS in groundbreaking directions and elevate it to even greater heights,” they stated. IMPACTING UPON SOCIETY OTS Co-Chancellor Rabbi David Stav also expressed his “THE PERFECT CHOICE”: RABBI KENNETH BRANDER confidence in the incoming president: “I have known Rabbi Brander for over a decade and I have tremendous hr Torah Stone is pleased to announce that Rabbi respect for him on both the professional and personal O Dr. Kenneth Brander is joining its leadership, having levels,” he remarked. been named President-elect and Rosh HaYeshiva of the OTS network. Rabbi Stav will continue to focus on Israeli public Rabbi Brander, 54, will take over from OTS Chancellor affairs and the vari- and Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, who will step ous ways in which OTS down in July 2018. Rabbi Riskin will continue to teach in can continue to impact the network’s schools and remain involved in developing upon Israeli society. the vision of OTS – the organization he founded in 1983 “OTS is already making and nurtured into the flourishing and influential network a big difference in Israel it is today. through the rabbis we “I have known Rabbi Brander for over three decades – have trained, our work since he was a young assistant rabbi at Lincoln Square unchaining agunot, and Synagogue,” said Rabbi Riskin. “As a pulpit rabbi and com- our efforts to make munity builder in Boca Raton and during his tenure at Judaism more acces- Yeshiva University, he has amassed critical experience in sible, meaningful and creating and developing religious institutions of learning, relevant to all Israeli as well as in taking financial responsibility to enable them Jews,” he said, adding, “I to function and grow.” am very much looking forward to working with Rabbi Riskin noted that much of Rabbi Brander’s work Rabbi Brander toward uniquely qualifies him for the position. “Rabbi Brander RABBI DAVID STAV – “SIMILAR GOALS” furthering these goals.” has been deeply involved in higher education for women – especially in terms of women learning gemara and halakha Continued on page 2 2 OTS NEWSBRIEF his sage wisdom accomplished – wondrous institutions and vision for Israe- that do so much in Israel and around li society. I know we the world,” Rabbi Brander said. have similar goals “Rabbi Riskin is one of the heroes about how to build of the Jewish people; OTS and the community and mission embedded in it represent his how we can nurture heroic vision and legacy. I plan to OTS’s thousands of engage with board members in Is- students to play a rael and the United States, students significant role in and alumni, rabbis and thought lead- that vision,” Rabbi ers throughout the world in order to Brander said. gather them around that vision and legacy as we chart the course and take STRONG the next steps towards achieving the FOUNDATIONS mission.” An alumnus of YU’s Although he is waiting to learn more Continued from page 1 Yeshiva College, about the inner workings of OTS Rabbi Brander received his ordina- Rabbi Brander called his longtime before formulating more concrete tion from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan next steps, one area he pointed to as connection with Rabbi Stav “a signifi- Theological Seminary (RIETS) in cant relationship and wonderful friend- an early priority is the need to increase 1986, during which time he served the synergy between the network’s ship based on a deep commitment as a student assistant to Rabbi Joseph to shared values,” and expressed various 24 institutions on 12 campuses, B. Soloveitchik. He also holds a PhD and harness that shared power to excitement about “working even more in general philosophy and compara- closely with him and benefitting from have an even stronger impact upon tive literature from Florida Atlantic world Jewry. “Even within the OTS University. community,” said Rabbi Brander, “many are unaware of the network’s Rabbi Brander comes to OTS from magnitude and the greater cumula- Yeshiva University in New York, tive effect it could potentially have.” where he has been Vice President for University and Community Life since 2013, in addition to teaching rabbinics A LEADERSHIP PARADIGM at RIETS. As the inaugural dean of Rabbi Brander believes that Orthodox the Center for the Jewish Future, Judaism must address important issues he focused on infusing the student such as gender roles, inclusion of Jews FOUNDER AND CHANCELLOR: in a way that reflects an understanding Rabbi Shlomo Riskin body with a spirit of leadership and commitment to the Jewish people of modern psychology and science, and PRESIDENT-ELECT AND ROSH HAYESHIVA: and society and worked to develop a tolerance and acceptance within the Rabbi Kenneth Brander a number of successful projects prism of halakha. He stressed that such CO-CHANCELLOR: Rabbi David Stav including YUTorah, the largest online a worldview needs to be passed on to DIRECTOR GENERAL: Yinon Ahiman resource of Torah content in the OTS students and beyond, and that “we INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR: David Katz world. must make sure that in training leaders for the Jewish community, we look not P.O. Box 1037 Efrat, Israel 90435 Tel: 972-2-548-8444 Rabbi Brander will be completing his only at best practices, but also at next Fax: 972-2-548-8455 work at Yeshiva University by January practices which are being developed [email protected] 31st; in February he will begin a tran- to inspire both millennials and the sition period at OTS which will cul- young at heart, to engage communities USA minate with his assuming the role of 49 West 45th Street, Suite 701 both online and off,” he said. “Not only New York, NY 10036 President and Rosh HaYeshiva in July the Jewish community, but society Tel: 212-935-8672 2018. Currently, he is in the getting- in general.” Fax: 212-935-8683 to-know-you phase at OTS, establish- [email protected] ing relationships with the institution “OTS has expanded the field of learn- heads and leaders who keep the orga- ing and leadership for so many; I hope UNITED KINGDOM to continue that narrative by ensuring Friends of Ohr Torah Stone nization on the cutting edge of educa- 22 Teapot Row, Clocktower Drive tional and social innovation and main- that our rabbis and educators receive Southsea, Hants PO4 9YA tain its impact upon world Jewry. training not only in the four sections www.ots.org.il of the Code of Jewish Law, but also www.facebook.com/ots.org.il “OTS and all of our future endeav- in what we term the ‘fifth book,’ that www.youtube.com/user/torahstone ors, growth and successes stand per- of pastoral counseling, psychology, www.twitter.com/ohrtorahstone manently on the strong foundations liberal arts, engaging through experi- of Rabbi Riskin and what he’s built and ential learning and learning to reach WINTER 2017 • 5778 3 out to people on various different I started receiving questions deal- The Branders’ daughter, Tehilla, journeys,” he related. ing with fertility,” he recounted; “I lives in New York and works as a realized I wasn’t fully equipped to prenatal genetic counselor. Their COMMUNITY CULTIVATORS answer their questions.” When he eldest son, Tuvia, his wife Miriam and was awarded a sabbatical, he decided the Branders’ first granddaughter, Like Rabbi Riskin, Rabbi Brander to study the issue in depth – learn- Amalya Hodaya, live in West Hartford, believes in educating and empower- ing about medical technology and Connecticut where Rabbi Tuvia leads ing women; among his initiatives at then how the halakha applies – ulti- the Young Israel of West Hartford YU is the GPATS (Graduate Program mately receiving a special ordination and Miriam works as a community in Advanced Talmudic Studies) at from Machon Puah, a medical ethics professional at Jewish Federation of Stern College, which provides a center in Israel, as well as from then- Greater Hartford. platform for women to play leader- Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu. At ship roles in the Jewish community. YU, he often teaches the topic at RI- “Making Aliya is, for us, the “You cannot abandon half of the Jewish ETS, GPATS, in the Yoetzet Halacha fulfillment of a lifetime dream,” community,” he maintained. “Both men Program, and served on the Ethics said Rabbi Brander. “Over the and women are richer when women Committee on Assisted Reproduc- years, we have consulted with vari- have the opportunity to be educated at tion at Montefiore and the Einstein ous poskim about the possibility of the highest level.” College of Medicine. moving to Israel, in light of our heavy involvement in the Diaspora Jewish Also like Rabbi Riskin, Rabbi Brand- In Boca Raton, Rabbi Brander also community,” he shared. “OTS is really er is a successful community cultiva- served as a member of the South Palm providing us with a launch pad for tor. His 14-year tenure at the Boca Beach County Jewish Federation’s ex- continuing our work on behalf of Raton Synagogue in Florida saw an ecutive board and the board of the world Jewry, while also enabling us explosive growth from 60 families Jewish Family Services of South Palm to help write the next chapters of our to 600, as well as his increased Beach County; today, he is a member people’s story in our homeland.” involvement in the local Orthodox of the Jewish Federations of North and extended Jewish community; America’s Rabbinic Cabinet Round from serving as the founding dean Table, which brings together Jewish of the Katz Yeshiva High School, community leaders from all denomi- founding dean of the Boca Raton nations.