Woodmere welcomes Rabbi Riskin

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, founding chief rabbi of the Israeli city of Efrat, and founding rabbi of Lincoln Square Synagogue on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, spent last Shabbos in Woodmere where he spoke at both Irving Place Minyan and Young Israel of Woodmere. Rabbi Riskin is also Chancellor of Ohr Torah Stone institutions, a network of high schools, colleges, and graduate programs in Israel.

Hosted by Helene and Robbie Rothenberg of Woodmere, Rabbi Riskin spoke Motzei Shabbos at a Melave Malka at the home of Michelle and Jeff Klahr. Klahr’s eldest daughter Rebecca spent a post high school year at Riskin’s Midreshet Lindenbaum, one of the most prominent colleges for Orthodox Women.

“Rabbi Riskin represents Achdut of Israel and Achdut of the world,” noted Robbie Rothenberg in his introductory remarks to those in attendance.

“I had two Rebbes in my life that I learned from, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and my maternal grandmother,” said Riskin. “My first Rebbe was my grandmother. I watched my grandmother daven; she spoke to G-d like he was her friend. I learned Gemara with my grandmother. My model of a grandmother was someone who can teach Chumash and Gemara,” added Riskin. “I learned from her that Judaism is a religion that had to encompass everything.”

Ohr Torah Stone, under Rabbi Riskin’s direction, has literally lived up to its name, “Torah is light,” as its work has illuminated and enlightened the world through its commitment and dedication to tikkun olam. Riskin has charted new educational, legal and social paths to ground-breaking change in the realms of women’s rights within Judaism. Specifically, Rabbi Riskin challenged Israel’s High Court on the laws which prevented women from serving as Toanot - advocates in the Rabbinic Courts. Riskin won the case and established the first program for the training of women advocates in the religious courts. Graduates of the program now defend the rights of Agunot in the religious courts, helping them to secure a Get.