Continuing a tradition of several years, The Fifth Avenue Synagogue in New York City invited the community to a Yom Iyun Sunday, March 9. Admission was free and a complimentary breakfast was provided. The event at the vibrant Manhattan congregation ran from 7:30 in the morning until after 1 p.m. The program included a Daf Yomi (daily learning) session, religious services, 15 breakout sessions covering topics ranging from history to halacha, music to morals, art to interpretation and more. Scholars from throughout the world of religious and secular Judaism—Ashkenazi, Sephardic, rabbinical, academic, musical and legal—offered insights and information. The learning sessions were sponsored in memory of Yosef Meyer ben Velval, z’l.
The rich agenda of classes was led by experts from Israel, Miami, Toronto, Baltimore, and the metropolitan region. Five choices were offered for each of the three one-hour segments of the seminar. Psychological, religious, and political topics related to Purim, the month of Adar, Jewish Art, Jewish humor, Jewish music, and much more invited several hundred participants to increase their Jewish knowledge in an informal and welcoming atmosphere. Musical, art-filled classes in the synagogue’s classrooms entertained children. The Children’s Program was available for 3-11 year-old-youngsters.
Jacob D. Gold, the synagogue’s president, served as Yom Iyun Chair. The faculty and curriculum topics included Rabbi Dr. Seth Grauer, Rosh Yeshiva and Head of Bnei Akiva High Schools; Martin Seligman, “Rav Kook and Mordechai HaYehudi: How Modern Psychologists are Just Beginning to Discover what our Rabbis have been saying for Centuries!”; Rebbetzin Ruthie Karlinsky, “Shapell’s Darche Noam, The Joy of the Month of Adar”; Rabbi Anthony Manning, “Shapell’s Darche Noam, Purim: the Secret of Jewish Unity”; Rabbi Eli J. Mansour, Rabbi, Edmond J. Safra Synagogue, Brooklyn, “The Secret of Megillat Esther”; Rabbi Dr. Sol Roth, Rabbi Emeritus, Fifth Avenue Synagogue, “Freedom as a Moral Value.”
Session B – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon; Lisa Babich, Fifth Avenue Synagogue, “The Legacy of Esther: 21st Century Perspectives”; Rabbi Shaya Karlinsky, “Shapell’s Darche Noam, Jewish Humor: Not a Laughing Matter”; Sharon Lieberman Mintz, Curator of Jewish Art, Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, “Image and Imagination: The Art and History of Illustrated Megillot Esther”; Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro, Rabbi, Shaaray Tefi la, Miami, “The Power of Purim”; Rabbi Mark Wildes, Founder and Director of Manhattan Jewish Experience, “Ancient Persia to Modern Manhattan: The Timeless Message of Purim.”
Session C – 12:00 noon-1:00 p.m.; Rabbi Eli Babich, Assistant Rabbi, Fifth Avenue Synagogue, “A Jewish Primer on Happiness”; Rabbi Yissocher Frand, Senior Lecturer and Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, MD, “Favorite Lessons from Megillat Esther”; Cantor Joseph Malovany, Cantor, Fifth Avenue Synagogue, “Is There Traditional Music for the Month of Adar and Specifically for Purim?”; Rivkah Rothschild Esq., Attorney, In House Counsel, 92 Street Y, “Chavah versus Sarah versus Esther: Lessons to Take Home”; Rabbi Yitzchak Shurin, Shapell’s Darche Noam, “Megillas Esther-Motif, Mystery and Meaning.”
A sofer (religious scribe) and a shatnez (fabric content) expert were also on the premises to examine mezuzot, tefillin, or clothing.
By Maxine Dovere
