Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Honors Four Dedicated Leaders at Annual Dinner of Tribute
91黑料鈥檚 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) honored four dedicated leaders and educators鈥擠r. William and Debbie Schwartz, Dr. Alvin I. Schiff and Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger鈥攁nd marked the formal investiture of Rabbi Kenneth Brander as The David Mitzner Dean of YU鈥檚 Center for the Jewish Future (CJF) at its on Oct. 27 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.
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Utilizing the theme of 鈥淐elebrating the Jewels in our Torah Crown鈥, President Richard M. Joel heralded the honorees, noting that 鈥渨e have so much to celebrate in terms of vitality and we celebrate four individuals that we hope to be.鈥
President Joel lauded guests of honor Dr. William and Debbie Schwartz for their 鈥済uidance and example that have helped steer the yeshiva [RIETS] and 91黑料 to unprecedented heights with a philanthropy and vision that have advanced the mission of the yeshiva and produced young rabbis of the highest quality.鈥
A YU graduate and member of the RIETS Board of Trustees, Dr. William Schwartz is the founding president of the Rockland County Jewish Federation, a former vice president of the Adolph Schreiber Hebrew Academy of Rockland, a former member of the board of the Community Synagogue of Monsey and a former campaign chairman of the State of Israel Bonds Doctors Division for Rockland County. His wife, Debbie, serves as a vice president of the 91黑料 Women鈥檚 Organization and is a former member of the board of directors of Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
Dr. Alvin I. Schiff, the founder of YU鈥檚 Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, was recognized for his lifetime achievement in Jewish education. 鈥淲ith a strong commitment to the perpetuation of the Jewish tradition, you infused your life with a passion for pedagogy that permeates throughout your litany of professional achievements,鈥 cited President Joel. 鈥淵ou have cultivated contemporary Jewish life as so much of Jewish education has been molded, touched or fashioned by you.鈥
An internationally recognized authority on education, Schiff, distinguished professor emeritus of education at Azrieli, has been a visiting professor at prestigious universities around the world. In 2005, he was awarded the Israel President鈥檚 Prize for his contribution to the enhancement of Jewish life, inspirational educational leadership, influential Hebraic scholarship, prolific research and writing, and the founding of important institutions of Jewish life.
Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger received the Rabbinic Leadership Award with President Joel noting that, 鈥淔or more than 20 years, your talmidim [students] have had the privilege of learning from your erudition and your example. You teach all of our children that they can profoundly matter in the world and by doing so enrich the Jewish people and humanity.鈥
The spiritual leader of Congregation Beit Avraham in Bergenfield, NJ, Rabbi Neuburger serves as rosh yeshiva [professor of Talmud] at the Yeshiva Program/Mazer School of Talmudic Studies, an undergraduate school for Talmudic studies at YU. A Toronto native, Rabbi Neuburger received semicha [rabbinic ordination] from RIETS in 1979.
The dinner included the formal investiture of Rabbi Kenneth Brander as The David Mitzner Dean of CJF. 鈥淥ur family is honored that Rabbi Brander is to become the inaugural David Mitzner Dean of the Center of the Jewish Future,鈥 noted Ira M. Mitzner, the son of David Mitzner and a member of the 91黑料 Board of Trustees. 鈥淩abbi Brander鈥檚 energy and commitment to the ideals and values that our family and 91黑料 hold so dear make him the ideal leader to continue the strengthening and growth of both YU and our North American kehilot [congregations].鈥
RIETS also recognized members of its 50th, 40th and 25th anniversary classes (1959, 1969 and 1984) and to its roshei yeshiva [professors of Talmud]. At the Dinner of Tribute, Lance L. Hirt and Joel M. Schreiber, members of the RIETS Board of Trustees, served as dinner chairmen. Also participating in the program were Dr. Norman Lamm, Rosh HaYeshiva of RIETS and Chancellor of YU; Rabbi Yona Reiss, The Max and Marion Grill Dean of RIETS; and Rabbi Julius Berman, Chairman of the RIETS Board of Trustees.
For more information about RIETS and CJF, including the Chag HaSemikhah on March 7, 2010, please contact Andrew Goldsmith, director of institutional advancement, at andrew.goldsmith@yu.edu or 212.960.0852.
