From the desk of Rabbi Leonard (Yehuda) Blank MS, BCC
Director of Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
First, being it is Elul on behalf of myself and the Chaplaincy Commission members, Rabbi Michoel Chazan, Rabbi Yochanan Ivry, Rabbi Tzephania Kreger and Rabbi Simcha Silverman want to wish everyone a Ksiva Vchasima Tova and a Shana Tova Umesuka. The Rabbinical Alliance is truly fortunate to have the members of the Chaplaincy Commission who are not only professional certified chaplains, but who are also erlicha and caring, bringing much chashivus to the Igud.
Torah, Avada, Gemilus Chasadim. The Torah is our blueprint of how we are to fulfill the mitzvos with proper avoda and the importance of doing gemilus chasidim/kind deeds. It is important to do so with a full, good and caring heart. It is also important to remember we are all ambassadors of the Aibershta .It is important to be an elicher and sincere person. Part of the Igud’s mission is to be good ambassadors of the Aibershta, to care for each other, our families, Klal Yisrael and help and care for men, women and children no matter what their backgrounds might be.
We recently had two very successful events, the symposium at Lenox Hill Hospital “Mchayil Lchayil Living a healthier life, physically, mentally and spiritually” on Tuesday May 28th, 2019
Many thanks to Rabbi Simcha Silverman Director of Chaplaincy Services at Lenox Hill Hospital who helped coordinate the distinguished doctors who gave presentations and also brought us to the Robotic Surgical rooms, and emergency rooms for a special informational tour and cutting edge technology. In addition to the Lenox Hill Hospital medical team, we also had a special presentation by the well known Rabbi Richard Weiss MD a dear friend to the RAA and the NCYI. We also had a presentation by NYPD Inspector Mark, Molinar Commanding Officer of the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force who came as a special guest of Executive Vice President Rabbi Mirocznik to share his expertise how his department and the NYPD as a whole is dealing with those concerns Also, how rabbis and others could be helpful in supporting the police department, security tips for their synagogues and security solutions. .
The other successful event was “The role of the rabbis and community leaders dealing with various types of abuse, addiction and mental health . How to properly and effectively support members of your community” presented by Rabbi Zvi Gluck Founder and Director of AMUDIM held on Tuesday August 6th, 19 at the Young Israel of Queens Valley whose Morah D’Asra is Rabbi Shmuel Marcus. It was also cosponsored by the Vaad HaRabbinim of Queens. What truly added so much to these two programs was the collaboration with the National Council of Young Israel and Rabbi Binyamin Hammer, Director of Rabbinics of the National Council of Young Israel. Rabbi Hammer is not only a compassionate and caring Rav, but one who has many years of experience through his position at the National Council of Young Israel and the hundreds of rabbinic interns who have participated in his rabbinic training programs through the years. He has been a wonderful source of encouragement and expertise.
New and exciting cutting edge programs and events are being planned to be announced in the near future.
However, I can share with you a new venture to enhance income opportunities for our RAA/Igud members, their wives, and adult children. The Rabbinical Alliance of America is proud to announce a new partnership with Testing and Training International (TTI), an educational consulting firm that over 17,000 Orthodox Jewish community members have already turned to for a college degree and/or professional training. Having a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree or Professional Certification can lead to additional sources of income. TTI’s flyer in this newsletter displays their variety of degree programs that lead to promising and rewarding careers. Each program has a plan that provides cutting-edge tools needed to be successful in the workplace and adheres to Torah values and standards in curriculum, environment, and service. While earning the degree, TTI’s academic advisors help plan each student’s degree plan with an exclusive array of Judaic and general studies proficiency exams. You can earn many undergraduate credits through Jewish Subject Exams on topics such as Chumash and Rashi, Shemiras Halashon, Moadim, Jewish History, and more. The exam for credit model includes study guides that have been carefully reviewed for our community. As you’ll recognize, TTI understands you and appreciates your background and lifestyle. If you are interested in pursuing a career and need a degree to succeed, the RAA encourages you to reach out to TTI’s admissions team. They will provide you with detailed information about any of TTI’s programs, how yeshiva or seminary credits fit into a degree plan, what financial aid opportunities are available, and most importantly, how to get started today! TTI is the right choice because of their commitment to finding the most time and cost efficient ways for students to earn their degrees and pursue their career goals without compromising halachic standards. TTI partners with many organizations like COPE, for a Junior Accounting and Accounting Degree, and leading colleges like Daemen College, NYIT, Excelsior College, and more. If you already have a degree, there might be a post graduate degree certification for you to consider. Or, if you are the creative type, TTI offers certifications through their career school, which offers graphic design, interior design, photography and video production. We at the RAA are fortunate to have TTI as a resource for guidance and direction for our members and their families. RAA members can rely on TTI for providing the right credentials and appropriate training in the pursuit of additional career opportunities. With TTI, you will receive personalized guidance and dedicated support. You can reach them at 877-RING-TTI or info@consulttti.com.
There is another undergraduate and graduate degree program for the Orthodox Jewish community and that is YEIP under the leadership of it’s director Rabbi Pesach Lerner D.Admin For more information about YEIP’s degree programs please contact Rabbi Duvid Katz at 212-810-6777 rabbidkatz@aol.com.
But wait, there is another special degree program I want to inform you about. The Master of Science and Jewish Law at Bar Ilan University (see attached flyer). This program has been operating for ten years granting advanced degrees (MA & PhD) With the exception of a final exam in Israel, all courses are taken on line. If you think this program is for you, contact Rabbi Tzvi Wilber MD, FAAP at 914-339-0565 Rabbi Dr. Wilber is also the Executive Director of the Beit Medrash Govoha for Medical Halacha in Israel.
Keep reading the RAA weekly newsletters for more updates and information, Please contact Rabbi Blank at 917-446-2126 or rablenblank@gmail.com if he could be of any assistance or for additional information. Please avail yourself to read previous articles by Rabbi Blank including “My personal recollections of 9/11 “or past programs and events in previous RAA weekly newsletters by going to Rabbinical Alliance.org
Click here for Flyer 1: Medical and Halacha Degree Bar Ilan
Click here for Flyer 2: Testing & Training International (TTI)