Rabbinical Alliance of America Remembers Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, ZT’L, and Defends Jewish Cemeteries

On February 23, 2023, The Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim (RAA/Igud) held its Rosh Chodesh Adar Conference and Seudah in honor of the 7th yahrzeit observance of its highly respected and esteemed Menahel/Director, Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, ZT’L. Friends, family, and community leaders gathered at the Borough Park Y where they were treated to a gourmet dinner that was sponsored by Maimonides Medical Center in memory of Rabbi Tannenbaum. 

The special highlight of this Adar gathering was the presentation by RAA/Igud of Community Appreciation Citations to Kenneth D. Gibbs, president, and chief executive officer of Maimonides Medical Center, and to Douglas Jablon, executive vice-president, community relations and special assistant to the president of Maimonides Medical Center. Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, Rabbinical Alliance of America, stated, “it is not said enough and cannot be emphasized enough that Maimonides Medical Center truly is a house of healing and wellness for the entire community. This presentation of citations to the leadership of Maimonides Medical Center is just a small token of the Rabbinical Alliance of America’s appreciation to Mr. Gibbs and his great team who dare to care. We thank Maimonides Medical Center for all that you do and we at the Rabbinical Alliance of America look forward to our continued friendship and partnership in helping to make a better world for all people.”

Mirocznik concluded by thanking Mr. Gibbs directly by saying, “Mr. Gibbs is a true mensch. He has a genuine love for people which he uses to help those who need it most and to enable doctors to bring healing to the sick.” In accepting the citation, Mr. Gibbs remarked that, “this honor from the Rabbinical Alliance of America has special meaning to me. What we do at Maimonides Medical Center is the work of a team of seven thousand people who comprise the heart and soul of the hospital. 

“Over the pandemic, we learned the phrase ‘social distancing.’ We celebrate tonight that we are again able to be together. One of our last functions at the hospital prior to the pandemic was meeting with this very esteemed body and celebrating in February 2020, the 4th yahrzeit of Rabbi Tannenbaum. What I said then is true now, as well, and has even stronger meaning to us tonight. Maimonides is totally committed to the teachings and actions of Rabbi Tannenbaum, who was known to be present for everyone in the community. So, too, at Maimonides we are there for the community and are committed to helping in any way we can.”  

During the conference, RAA/Igud passed a resolution presented by Dr. Bernard Fryshman, Physics Professor, New York Institute of Technology, and executive vice-president, Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic School (AARTS). Dr. Fryshman was a friend of Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum. They interacted frequently on matters of public policy and, in particular, on the protection of Jewish cemeteries. In his remarks, Dr. Fryshman asked RAA/Igud to adopt a resolution asking the United States State Department to respond to threats to Jewish cemeteries in Europe and elsewhere. This action would be consistent with the provisions of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended to include cemetery desecration as an international crime.

Dr, Fryshman explained how important it is to fight for the preservation of Jewish cemeteries across the globe. In particular, he referenced the threat that is unique to Central and Eastern Europe. Dr. Fryshman explained how the Nazis disrespected Jewish cemeteries by digging up and destroying graves and tombstones. Today, these sacred resting spots have become the envy of developers who see them as clear land, ripe for profitable development. Since 2005, Dr. Fryshman has been involved with the fight to save the Vilna cemetery from the clutches of developers who desire to transform these sacred grounds. In Lemberg (now Lvov), the Jewish cemetery faces a similar threat from developers who desire to build a development over the cemetery. These cemeteries contain the remains of great rabbis of the past, including the Chayei Adam and the Taz. Just a few short weeks prior to the Ukrainian War, a developer was given permits to commence construction on a Jewish cemetery, which was only halted due to the conflict. 

Due to this imminent danger to Jewish cemeteries, the destruction of which violates the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, Dr. Fryshman sought RAA/Igud’s support in passing a resolution calling on the State Department to insist that foreign governments of these nations adhere to the law by preventing the desecration of Jewish cemeteries. Rabbi Yaakov Shulman, presidium member, RAA/Igud, proposed this resolution that RAA/Igud assist Dr. Fryshman in the fight to protect and preserve Jewish cemeteries at risk of destruction. The resolution was seconded by Rabbi Yaakov Klass, presidium chairman, and passed unanimously. 

Rabbi Yaakov Shulman then reported how he provided a statement to the Indiana Solicitor General in order to contest the claim that all Jews in Indiana, as a class, are harmed by the legislature’s passing of S.B. 1, which limits abortion rights. The lawsuit to which Rabbi Shulman responded designates non-Orthodox denominations as the representatives of the entire Jewish community, including the Orthodox community. To set the record straight, Rabbi Shulman offered testimony explaining how the Orthodox community speaks for itself and the views by these non-Orthodox denominations are not reflective or representative of the views of the Orthodox Jewish community. This important testimony by Rabbi Shulman is important, as it stresses the need to respect Orthodox Judaism and engage in dialogue with its leadership when discussing the position of the Jewish community. 

Also participating in the conference were Rabbi Yaakov Klass, presidium chairman, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, vice-president for professional development and external affairs; Rabbi Zvi Mandel, Khal Bnei Yisroel, who spoke in memory of Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum and his father Reb Pinchas Ben Reb Zeev Khos Moshe Mandel, ZT”L and father-in-law Rav Michoel Ben HaRav Dovid Dunnenberg, ZT”L, both of whose yahrzeits fall in Adar; Rabbi Moshe Mandel, Kahal Bais Mordechai, who delivered a special Dvar Halacha in memory of Rabbi Tannenbaum; and by Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Cohen, founder and director of the Institute of Noahide Code and rabbi at the United Nations. 

 

PICTURES AFTER VIDEO

Names in Pictures

Picture (1) Left to Right, Rabbi Dr. Hanania Elbaz, presidium member, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Yaakov Shulman, presidium member, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; Kenneth D. Gibbs, president and chief executive officer, Maimonides Medical Center;  Rabbi Yaakov Klass, presidium chairman, RAA/Igud; and Douglas Jablon, executive vice-president community relations, and special assistant to the president, Maimonides Medical Center 

Picture (2) Left to Right, Rabbi Akiva Homnick; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; Kenneth D. Gibbs, president and chief executive officer, Maimonides Medical Center;  Rabbi Yaakov Klass, presidium chairman, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Yoel Ehrenreich; and Douglas Jablon, executive vice-president community relations, and special assistant to the president, Maimonides Medical Center

Picture (3) Left to Right, Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Dr. Hanania Elbaz, presidium member, RAA/Igud; Kenneth D. Gibbs, president and chief executive officer, Maimonides Medical Center;  and Rabbi Tzvi Mandel, Khal Bnei Yisroel

Picture (4) Left to right, to Right, Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; shaking hands with Rabbi Chaim Zev Tannenbaum; in the center, Rabbi Yitzchok Dov Tannenbaum; the sons of Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, ZT’L

Picture (5) Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; and Yehuda Segal, American Director, Eretz HaKodesh

Picture (6) Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; and ; Kenneth D. Gibbs, president and chief executive officer, Maimonides Medical Center

Picture (7) Right to Left, Rabbi Chaim Zev Tannenbaum; Rabbi Dr. Hanania Elbaz, presidium member, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Yaakov Shulman, presidium member, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Yaakov Klass, presidium chairman, RAA/Igud; Douglas Jablon, executive vice-president community relations, and special assistant to the president, Maimonides Medical Center; Kenneth D. Gibbs, president and chief executive officer, Maimonides Medical Center; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Yitzchok Dov Tannenbaum

Picture (8) Left to Right, Rabbi Yaakov Klass, presidium chairman, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Yaakov Shulman, presidium member, RAA/Igud;  Dr. Bernard Fryshman,  Physics Professor, New York Institute of Technology, and executive vice-president of the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; and Rabbi Dr. Hanania Elbaz, presidium member, RAA/Igud

Picture (9) Left to right, Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, vice-president, professional development and external; affairs, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; and Dr. Bernard Fryshman,  Physics Professor, New York Institute of Technology, and executive vice-president of the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools

Picture (10) Left to right, Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; Dr. Bernard Fryshman,  Physics Professor, New York Institute of Technology, and executive vice-president of the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools; and Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Cohen, founder and director of the Institute of Noahide Code and rabbi at the United Nations