This past fall, Chief Rabbi of Israel, The Rishon LeZion, Hakham Shlomo Amar, Shlita, spent an entire day on campus visiting and inspiring the Yeshiva University community. The daylong visit was organized by the Center for Jewish Future (CJF) in cooperation with YU’s Sephardic Community Program (SCP), and involved a day full of shiurim (classes), Torah lectures and meetings with important leaders within YU.
The Chief Rabbi was received at 10 am in Zysman Hall and greeted by President Richard Joel, Rabbi Kenneth Brander, Dr. Hillel Davis, Rabbi Zevulun Charlop, Rabbi Elie Abadie, Rabbi Moshe Tessone, Rabbi Eliyahu Ben-Haim and Rabbi Hershel Schachter.
A highlight of the day’s activities was a shiur (class) which lasted over an hour in the main beit midrash (study hall), where the entire student body was in attendance. The topic of the shiur was shemita (the agricultural laws of the Sabbatical year), and many of the relevant Talmudic and Halakhic issues that have to do with the shemita observance in Israel this shemita year.
Other activities of the day, included The Rishon LeZion addressing the student body of Yeshiva University’s High School for Boys and the students of Stern College for Women.
Another gathering that highlighted his visit was his participation for Minha with the Sephardic students in the Shenk Synagogue on the Wilf Campus. Later that evening, he attended a dinner reception held in his honor at Stern College. In attendance were the Sephardic Council of Overseers and select lay leaders of the Sephardic communities representing the Syrian, Moroccan, Persian, Spanish, Greek and Iraqi communities.
Upon entering the room the Chief Rabbi was greeted with the singing of a special Sephardic Pizmon, led by Rabbi Moshe Tessone. Rabbi Amar was introduced by SCO Chairman David Eshagian and then addressed the gathering in Hebrew (which was translated by Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie). Rabbi Amar commended all who attended for their dedication to Torah scholarship and their support for community growth for all Jewish and Sephardic communities.
Dr. Herbert Dobrinksy, Vice President for University Affairs, extended his appreciation and gratitude to the Rishon Le’Zion for gracing Yeshiva University with his presence and visiting the many schools within the University that day. Rav Amar was duly impressed with the impact of Torah within the Yeshiva and the University. Yeshiva University looks forward to hosting the Rishon Le Zion again in the near future.
