RIETS roshei yeshiva praise selection.

The greater Elizabeth-Hillside community officially installed Rabbi Shimmy Steinmetz as the rabbi of the JEC’s Congregation Adath Israel this week. A distinguished talmid chacham and speaker, Rabbi Steinmetz was praised by RIETS roshei yeshiva for his knowledge, compassion and strong sense of communal responsibility.

In Rabbi Steinmetz, you have a Rabbi who “loves Torah, serves Hashem and follows a derech,” said Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, dean of RIETS and longtime rebbe of Rabbi Steinmetz, speaking at the installation. “He does what is right because it is right, leading by example.”

Stating that a true leader and rav is someone who takes responsibility for themselves, their family and others, Rabbi Lebowitz praised Rabbi Steinmetz as a leader who takes achrayus and will use his brilliance and skill to lead the community with a commitment to Torah and service.

“Grow with him. He’s young. He’s not yet world-famous. He will be. And this is where it’s going to happen. It will happen from a place of sincerely committed people who are interested in growing, interested in enhancing avodas Hashem, interested in following a mesorah.”

Rabbi Lebowitz, whose family connection to the Elizabeth community spans generations, thanked the city’s morah d’asrah, Rav Elazar M. Teitz, for the Teitz family’s longtime friendship, guidance and support. “This entire community is built on the concept of mesorah … there is only one morah d’asrah left in America; there is only one place with such a strong concept of mesorah.”

Rav Mayer Twersky, RIETS rosh yeshiva and Rabbi Steinmetz’s rebbe muvhak, said that when Moshe Rabbainu davened for a successor, he asked Hashem to provide a leader who would go out and come in before klal Yisrael, noting that a true leader needs to leave their daled amos to serve the people and, at the same time, withdraw from the fads and trends of general society to remain grounded in Torah values. “I wish a hearty mazal tov to the kehilla on having identified such an individual,” he said.

“The rav engages in many activities. His drashos are an important source of inspiration. His correct piskei halacha are an indispensable part of his job. But above all, it is the power of example. Above all, a rav has to serve as a role model. My bracha to my very dear friend, Rabbi Steinmetz, is that he should be blessed to continue in his quiet, understated, very beautiful way.”

For his part, Rabbi Steinmetz delivered a brilliant analysis of the role of a rabbi as being an embodiment of Torah, a spokesperson for Hashem and to serve as an eved Hashem, representing the timeless laws and values of the Torah and effectively translating and transmitting them in each generation to connect everyone to Torah.

Rabbi Steinmetz stated that the role of a rabbi is to serve as a connector, connecting with each person and connecting the community to the Ribbono shel Olam, Torah, yiras Shamayim, tefillah and chesed. He added that as an eved Hashem, the rabbi can also bring people together and elevate a community.

Rabbi Steinmetz was joined at the installation by his wife, Rebbitzen Eliana, their children and extended family.

Since Rabbi Steinmetz’s appointment was announced, the community has experienced a surge in new families, with membership increasing 10% in just a few months, and renewed participation in learning and communal activities.

Congregation Adath Israel, situated on the border between Elizabeth and Hillside, serves a warm, welcoming and dynamic
community committed to Torah and chesed. The community is home to the world-renowned Bruriah School for Girls, the JEC High School Mesivta, and the JEC Lower School Yeshiva of Elizabeth. The breadth of communal infrastructure includes multiple mikvaot, kosher restaurants, chesed organizations, daycare, day camp and an array of cultural, athletic and recreation facilities and programs.

“So many people are looking for an established community, with all of the amenities,” said Steven Rosen, chairman of the AI Board. “But they also want to be in a place where they are warmly welcomed and can be valued for who they are. That’s us.”

“Rabbi Steinmetz is a reflection of our greatest values and highest aspirations,” he said. “His Torah brilliance and clarity are matched by his warmth, approachability to personal connection to each individual.”

Rav Elazar M. Teitz, in officially appointing Rabbi Steinmetz to the pulpit once occupied by his illustrious father, the great goan Rav Pinchas Mordechai Teitz, gave a bracha that Rabbi Steinmetz “enter into this position with the full dedication” he has already shown and serve the community with the “same positive, dedicated enthusiasm that you have now and the same concern and care for every person with whom you come into contact.”

For a video of the divrei bracha and installation go to www.adathisraelshul.org/installation

For more information about the Hillside/Elizabeth community, please email [email protected].