New York—Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) and the Yeshiva University community will celebrate the ordination of its largest class of musmakhim [ordained rabbis] at their Chag HaSemikhah Convocation on Sunday, March 23, 2014, in the Nathan Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall, 2540 Amsterdam Avenue, New York City.

This year more than 205 musmakhim from the classes of 2011-2014 will join the more than 3,000 young men who have passed through the batei midrashim [study halls] of RIETS and gone on to become distinguished Orthodox rabbis, scholars, educators, and leaders around the world.

RIETS will also honor philanthropist Jay Schottenstein with the Eitz Chaim Award, and Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz (’46YC, ’49R), Av Beit Din of the Beth Din of America and of the Chicago Rabbinical Council Beit Din, with the Harav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, zt”l, Aluf Torah Award. Special recognition will also be given to those who received semikhah 50 years ago, members of the RIETS classes of 1960-63.

The class of rabbis represents an internationally diverse group, hailing from five continents and more than 50 North American cities. While most of the musmakhim will remain engaged in either full-time post-semikhah Torah study or in religious work—Jewish education, the pulpit, outreach, or non-profit work—many will pursue careers in other professions, including medicine and law.

To learn more about the Chag HaSemikhah or to place an ad in the Scroll of Honor, please call 646-592-4027 or email [email protected]. The event will be presented as a live webcast to the public at www.yu.edu/chag.