The Judaic studies faculty of TABC will present a series of seven shiurim over Shavuot this year. These adult-education lectures are presented in cooperation with local synagogues in Teaneck and Bergenfield. The talks will be hosted by four centrally located congregations—Beth Abraham, Keter Torah, Beth Aaron and Bnai Yeshurun—to allow as many people as possible to participate. Each presentation will be a variation on the theme of “Vehalachta Bederachav—Walk in His Ways: A Message for all of Humanity.” Topics will include: The Multi-layered Charge of Charity; Ani Hashem Rofecha: The Practice of Medicine as Imitatio Dei; Ki Kadosh Ani: Cultivating Personal Sacredness; Chesed in Chinuch: Balancing the Growth of the Student and the Mechanech.
“TABC is our community’s boys’ yeshiva high school,” said Rabbi Ezra Wiener, TABC’s newly appointed principal of Judaic studies, “and we look at this as an opportunity to, in some measure, give back to the community that helps support the great Torah institution we have become. We want the community to experience the talent, scholarship and diversity of our masterful rebbeim. Why keep this secret with our students in the TABC building when we can share it with the entire community?”
This is the fourth consecutive year that most of the community’s shuls will officially include the Torah Academy of Bergen County lecture series within their other extensive holiday programming. TABC is proud that participating shuls include Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, Congregation Beth Aaron, Congregation Beth Abraham and Congregation Keter Torah. More than 250 people attended one or more of the lectures last year.
“We are excited to provide a full complement of shiurim to fill the long Shavuot afternoons with limud Torah,” said Naomi Knoller, TABC alumni parent who created the series. “While many people find it difficult to remain attentive all night long due to their family obligations, this is a great opportunity for adults to learn with some of the many beloved TABC rebbeim who live in our community.”
The faculty members who will be sharing TABC’s Torah will need to remain awake, however. On the first night of the chag, they will hold an all-night Tikkun Leil Shavuot program for TABC students, culminating in an early-morning minyan. Over 100 students participated last year, enjoying shiurim on a variety of topics and an opportunity to learn with their friends and rebbeim in the beautiful beit midrash.
This community-wide program is open to men and women, and is made possible by the generous sponsorship of The Judaica House and The Leben Family in memory of Benjamin Leben, z”l, as well as individual shiur dedications. For additional program sponsorship and shiur dedication opportunities, please contact Sharon Rifkind at TABC at [email protected], or visit tabc.org/shavuot for the full schedule and to dedicate a shiur in commemoration of Yizkor, in honor of an individual or an upcoming event, or for a refuah sheleima for a loved one. Sponsorship deadline is May 22.
