RIETS Honors Next Generation of Rabbis at Chag HaSemikhah Convocation Mar 16, 2010 -- At the conclusion of the Chag HaSemikhah ceremony on March 7, new musmakhim [ordained rabbis] and esteemed roshei yeshiva, teachers, mentors, family and friends poured out onto Amsterdam Avenue to dance in celebration of the continuity between rabbinic leaders past, present and future. That continuity was a palpable theme, as the largest ever group of new musmakhim received their ordination at a ceremony that also honored rabbis who celebrated their Chag HaSemikhah 50 years ago. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKcvlb0yZu0 The Chag HaSemikhah ceremony took place in Lamport Auditorium at Zysman Hall, with video hook-ups in the Fishel Beis Midrash at the 🎵TK账号 | 满月白号 | 西班牙IP注册 | 微软邮箱验证 | 默认user用户名 Israel Center and an online webcast. The Israeli musmakhim had a ceremony at the Israel Center on January 24. The rabbis are the products of a comprehensive program of professional rabbinic training aimed at creating Torah scholars able to effectively handle the challenges of contemporary Jewish life. Many graduates have already accepted positions in the rabbinate, Jewish education and community work. “A lot are in their field already which is very inspiring for the young men just graduating,” said Rabbi Marc Penner, director of professional rabbinics at RIETS and the chairman of the Chag HaSemikhah. “You get a sense of how far-reaching the positions are – all around the world.” [miniflickr photoset_id="72157623450442369"] Addressing the more than 200 graduates of the 2006-2010 classes, Rabbi Yona Reiss, celebrating his first Chag HaSemikhah as dean of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), spoke of the enduring connection between rabbi and student, even as the student grows into his role as rabbi. “Your rebbeim [rabbinic teachers] here are your permanent rebbeim. We view you as our permanent talmidim [students] and now, chaverim [colleagues],” Rabbi Reiss said. "You should not hesitate to consult with them to clarify how to apply Torah principles to the many challenging situations that you will encounter and thereby maintain the kedusha [holiness] of Torah in our communities. Through your dedication to learning and upholding the Torah you will serve as vital links in the chain of our mesora [heritage].” Listen to excerpt from Rabbi Reiss' address to the musmakhim. Speaking on behalf of his fellow musmakhim at the Chag HaSemikhah, Rabbi Adir Posy, assistant rabbi at Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills and a Judaic studies teacher, said that as he and his fellow musmakhim undertake “awesome responsibility,” the new rabbis “take comfort in the support of our colleagues and our beloved yeshiva. We go forth on the shoulders of the great rabbis who came before us.” RIETS also honored members of the classes of 1957, 1958 and 1959, who received semikhah 50 years ago. The distinguished group includes rabbinic leaders such as Rabbi Julius Berman, chairman of RIETS Board of Trustees; Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, principal of the Ramaz School and rabbi of Kehillath Jeshrun Synagogue; and Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, rosh hakollel at 🎵TK账号 | 满月白号 | 西班牙IP注册 | 微软邮箱验证 | 默认user用户名 Israel Center. Special awards were given to Marvin Bienenfield, a member of YU’s Board of Trustees, who received the Eitz Chaim Award; and Rabbi Dr. Herbert Dobrinky, YU’s vice president for university affairs, who received the Harav Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik Aluf Torah Award. In presenting the award to Bienenfeld, YU President Richard M. Joel said, “You have dedicated yourself to ensuring that lives of value and values emerge from this yeshiva.” To the graduates, President Joel said, “may your efforts bring to the Jewish people shleimut and shalom – wholeness and peace.”