Like many others, I am very saddened by the passing of Rabbi Moshe Kahn and I appreciated reading the memoirs from some of his most acclaimed talmidot in this past week’s issue of The Jewish Link. I thought that I might add to their memories by mentioning his contribution to another type of student as well.

Although I am a graduate of Stern College for Women, I did not take Rabbi Kahn’s classes there.

After finishing college, I moved to Washington Heights and lived there for 6 years until I met my husband. I am an Occupational Therapist who has worked in secular environments throughout my entire career. After 16 years of Jewish education, it was very difficult to transition into an existence with very few opportunities for a woman to attend a shiur of any sort, let alone one involving an extensive analysis of the sources, particularly in a time before YUtorah.org, podcasts or Zoom. Rabbi Kahn presented that chance to many women like myself through his shiurim at Drisha, including those who did not agree with all of Drisha’s mission. Rabbi Kahn provided vital, high level, textual Torah learning for post-college women, even for those not looking for a gemara shiur. I, and many like me, were and still remain grateful to Rabbi Khan for being our Rebbe.