Teaneck—Yeshiva University, in partnership with Congregation Rinat Yisrael, proudly presents a summer semester of Community Beit Midrash in Bergen County. This three-week program will take place on Mondays, July 6, 13 and 20, from 9:30–11:45 a.m. and will feature shiurim by Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel, on the topic of “Mysterious Kinot: Historical and Spiritual Significance.” In addition, Rabbi Elchanan Adler will present on the topic of “Halachic Dynamics of Interpersonal Relationships.”
“The community Beit Midrash is an opportunity for YU to share the extraordinary Torah leaders and faculty who engage and teach our students with the broader Jewish community. The program provides a structured and substantive Torah learning experience within the convenient reach of the Teaneck community,” said Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, David Mitzner Dean, Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University.
Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel is the E. Billi Ivry University Professor of Jewish History, Literature and Law at Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and Chair of the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College for Women. He is one of the foremost scholars in medieval Jewish history and rabbinic literature. R’ Dr. Kanarfogel’s interests include medieval Jewish history, history of halacha, history of educational theory and practice, intellectual cross-currents between the Ashkenaz and Sefard, pietism and mysticism in rabbinic culture and medieval Jewish manuscripts. R’ Dr. Kanarfogel is a lifetime fellow of the American Academy for Jewish Research, winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Scholarship, two-time winner of the Samuel Belkin Literary Award and three-time fellow at the Center for Advanced Jewish Studies, University of Pennsylvania. R’ Dr. Kanarfogel has authored and edited five books and published more than 50 articles and reviews, primarily in the field of medieval Jewish history and rabbinic literature.
Rabbi Elchanan Adler is a Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, Yeshiva University, where he is an occupant of the Eva, Morris and Jack Rubin Chair in Rabbinics. His affiliation with YU began in 1988 as a fellow of the Gruss Kollel Elyon (RIETS). While there, he edited Beit Yosef Shaul, Volumes 3 and 4, and received the prestigious Imrei Shefer writing award. He later served as Shoel U’Meishiv/Sgan Mashgiach (mentor/counselor to students) prior to his 1998 appointment as a Rosh Yeshiva. An accomplished speaker and writer, R’ Adler has lectured in communities across the country and has published numerous Torah articles in both Hebrew and English on diverse topics of Jewish thought. He served as co-editor of the Torah journal, Or HaMizrach, from 2003–2006, and is the author of Sefer Mitzvat HaShabbat (dealing with the evolution of the mitzvah of Shabbat) and Yerach Tov (on Birkat HaChodesh). Rabbi Adler holds a BA summa cum laude in Psychology from CUNY and an MS in Secondary Jewish Education from Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School, where he received the Axelrod Scholarship Award for Academic Excellence. Before joining YU, Rabbi Adler studied at the Mirrer Yeshiva and Yeshivas Beis Yosef-Novordak, and received semicha (rabbinic ordination) from Rav Dovid Feinstein, Rosh Yeshiva, Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem.
YU’s Community Beit Midrash takes place during the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer semesters, and this summer will be the 10th semester. In the past, 70 people have attended the summer programs. To date, the program has reached over 700 participants. The Winter and Fall semesters are held at the Israel Henry Beren Campus in midtown Manhattan.
The program is open to the entire community, both men and women. Registration is available online at yu.edu/bergen-learn. For more information about the program, email [email protected] or call 212-960-5400 x6826.
By Aviva Jacobs
