March 29, 2004
Torah Teachers Honored by ArtScroll/Mesorah in New Rochelle
The social hall of the Young Israel of New Rochelle was filled Sunday morning, March 21, with members who had come to honor the unsung heroes of their synagogue: the people who teach Talmud classes day in and day out, no matter what the weather or season. Often meeting during the early morning hours or late at night, the teachers and participants of these voluntary learning groups choose to delve into the realms of Talmudic thought instead of getting that extra hour of sleep. Rarely is their contribution to the community publicly acknowledged.
The Sunday morning breakfast was held in honor of the Young Israel’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Reuven Fink, and eleven instructors. But this was far from just a local event. The program featured three distinguished guests: Rabbi Nosson Scherman, general editor of ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, chairman of the Mesorah Heritage Foundation, which funds the scholarship behind ArtScroll Judaica, and Rabbi Nesanel Kasnett, a senior editor of the Schottenstein English Edition of the Talmud, popularly known as “the ArtScroll Gemara.”
Rabbi Reuven Fink and eleven Talmud teachers received awards from the Mesorah Heritage Foundation. Left to right: Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, Rabbi
Abish Zelishovzky, Rabbi Reuven Fink, Rabbi Sol Steinmetz, |
In New Rochelle, as in Jewish communities worldwide, the Schottenstein English Edition of the Talmud is the backbone of grassroots Talmud classes: Its translations and explanations of the Talmud are the keys to understanding this classic work. Recognizing the role played by the Schottenstein Talmud in the current renaissance in Jewish scholarship, the Mesorah Heritage Foundation proclaimed a “Year of Learning and Celebration,” from March 2004 to March 2005, to celebrate the projected March 2005 completion of this historic 73-volume Talmud.
The presence of the ArtScroll/Mesorah principals was due to the fact that the New Rochelle synagogue had taken the lead in holding a Community Event as part of the newly launched Year of Learning and Celebration of the Foundation. The joint program underscored the fact that members of the Young Israel deeply appreciate the innovative ArtScroll/Mesorah publications and their impact on their lives.
Andrew J. Neff, Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns, and Moshe Talansky of Great Neck (NY), co-chair the Year of Learning and Celebration program. Its goal is to highlight the vitality of Torah study and foster an awareness of its central role in Judaism. One way to get that message across is through community events, such as the one in New Rochelle, that publicly recognize the importance of those who teach Talmud, the mainstay of Jewish study for thousands of years. Several of the breakfast participants had brought their children — for the lesson is an enduring one, intended for intergenerational sharing.
After accepting his award from the Foundation, Rabbi Reuven Fink spoke of the primacy of Torah in the growth of a Jewish community, declaring that there is no substitute for committed, daily Torah study in shaping Jewish hearts and minds. Following his address, ten laymen of the congregation and a rabbi from Lakewood, New Jersey who teaches every week at the Young Israel, were called upon to accept their Mesorah awards for their dedication to teaching Torah and Talmud. The awardees, all residents of New Rochelle, were: Tully Auerbach, Dr. Dan Berman, Dr. Jack Bruder, Perry Garber, Dr. Jay Gold, Chaim Jaroslawicz, Dr. David Lent, Rabbi Sol Steinmetz, Dr. Arthur Turetsky, Irving Weisen, and (Lakewood resident) Rabbi Abish Zelishovsky.
Rabbi Kasnett fascinated his audience by taking them “behind the scenes” for a look at the complex editorial process of creating the ArtScroll Talmud. His vibrant address demonstrated the language precision, refinement and clear reasoning that go into every page of every volume. Though many of his listeners regularly use this English elucidation of the Talmud, few had imagined the vast scholarship behind it.
With his usual wit and anecdotal style, Rabbi Scherman enlightened the gathering on the important work of the Mesorah Heritage Foundation. In a separate address, Rabbi Zlotowitz praised the dedication of the visionary individuals who value the Foundation’s achievements and support its efforts. In a surprise presentation, he awarded Andrew J. Neff, a member of the Board of Governors, the Mesorah Heritage Foundation’s Avodas Hakodesh Award for his leadership in the organization.
Largely due to Mr. Neff’s example and efforts, a dedication in honor of Rabbi Fink and the Talmud teachers, the “Maggidei Shiur,” will grace every future volume of the Schottenstein Talmud, through the generosity of members of the Young Israel of New Rochelle. In addition to honoring their rabbi, a group that studies the “Daf Yomi” daily folio of the Talmud at a sunrise session honored their wives, who encourage them to maintain the daily commitment of attending these classes, even though the inconvenience is significant. Mr. Neff referred to community support of Schottenstein Talmud as “the best investment we can make for our children.”