The Young Israel of Teaneck is pleased to announce that two noted lecturers will be coming to address the community as part of the Dr. Bertram J., z”l, and Ann Newman Adult Education Program.
On Sunday, December 8, at 8 p.m., Rabbi Dr. Alex Mondrow will discuss “Understanding Anxiety in Our Children and in Ourselves.”
“Mental health challenges are a part of the daily life of so many adults and children in our community, yet we don’t spend enough time discussing this important issue,” reflected Rabbi Beni Krohn, rabbi of the Young Israel of Teaneck. “We are excited to be hosting Rabbi Dr. Mondrow for what we hope will be the first of many events focused on the mental health of our community, both to educate about the specific topic at hand, but maybe even more importantly, to continue to bring the conversation out into the open. Some wonderful programs over the past year have brought the conversation about addiction and mental health to the fore, and I am proud that our community is doing our part to continue this important conversation.”
Rabbi Dr. Mondrow maintains a private psychology practice in Teaneck. He also serves as a mental health counselor for the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) at Yeshiva University and is the head mental health consultant for NCSY Summer. Rabbi Dr. Mondrow was the founding school psychologist of Yeshivat Noam Middle School and Heichal HaTorah High School. He formerly served as the rabbi of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Synagogue.
“Rabbi Dr. Mondrow is so well-respected both as a therapist and educator in our community. I am grateful for the opportunity to hear him share his perspectives on this vital issue,” said Rabbi Krohn.
On Shabbat Parshat Vayishlach, December 13-14, the Young Israel will host Rabbi Moshe Taragin as a scholar-in-residence. Rabbi Taragin will speak multiple times over the course of Shabbat. On Friday night between Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv he will speak on “Living in a World of Prophecy.” At 8 p.m., he will speak at a private home on “Esav Sonei l’Yaakov—Historical Roots of Anti-Semitism.”
On Shabbat morning at 8:30, Rabbi Taragin will deliver the parsha shiur on the topic “Reading Our Avos Reverentially; Reading Our Avos Realistically.” During the 9 a.m. minyan, he will deliver the drasha before Mussaf in the main sanctuary, when he will speak about “Fleeing for the Sidelines of History.” Finally, following Mincha at 3:40 p.m., he will discuss “Does [Greek] Culture Clash with Torah Identity?” at seudat shlishit.
Rabbi Moshe Taragin has been a Ram at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Gush Etzion for 24 years. He has semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Yeshiva College, and a master’s degree in English literature from City University.
Rabbi Taragin previously taught Talmud at Columbia University, lectured in Talmud and Bible at the IBC and JSS divisions of Yeshiva University, and served as assistant rabbi at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue. In addition, Rabbi Taragin currently teaches at the Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women of Yeshivat Har Etzion in Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion.
Rabbi Taragin is the author of Talmudic Methodology, an internet shiur with over 5,000 subscribers and a weekly shiur on Pirkei Avot with over 1,400 subscribers. He has also delivered hundreds of shiurim that can be found on the Yeshivat Har Etzion “Audio Beit Midrash” (KMTT) and YU Torah online. Rabbi Taragin has authored a Yom Ha’atzmaut Machzor for Koren Publishers.. He, his wife and their eight children reside in Gush Etzion.
“Through his sophisticated and insightful approach to so many areas of Torah, Rav Taragin has educated and inspired Am Yisrael for years,” said Rabbi Krohn. “We are honored to have the opportunity to host him in our community and are looking forward to a very special Shabbos together.”
The Young Israel of Teaneck is located at 868 Perry Lane in Teaneck. The entire community is invited to attend Rabbi Dr. Mondrow’s lecture and Rabbi Taragin’s talks over Shabbat. All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information and the address for Rabbi Taragin’s Friday night lecture, email [email protected].
By Sara Kosowsky Gross
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