RIETS Installs Rabbi Ezra Schwartz as the Inaugural Harry Rabin Chair in Talmud and Jewish Law
May 3, 2023 By: yunews
Rabbi Ezra Schwartz, Rosh Yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), and Associate Director of the Semikha [ordination] Program, has been installed as the inaugural Harry Rabin Chair in Talmud and Jewish Law. The endowed position was made possible through a generous donation from the Bronka Weintraub Foundation.Rabbi Schwartz, a respected authority in Talmud and Halacha, brings to the position a wealth of knowledge and experience, having taught at RIETS for over a decade and has served in many community roles as a rabbinic leader, teacher, and halachic authority. In this role, he will continue to inspire and guide students pursuing Semikha as they deepen their understanding of the Talmud, expand their appreciation of the intricacies of Jewish Law, and refine their pulpit skills. The appointment of Rabbi Schwartz as the Harry Rabin Chair in Talmud and Jewish Law signifies an important milestone for RIETS, demonstrating the institution's continued commitment to providing students with a top-tier support structure and mentorship in their Semikha studies. Rabbi Ezra Schwartz, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, and Harry Rabin Chair in Talmud and Jewish Law at RIETS鈥淲e are grateful for the generous donation from the Bronka Weintraub Foundation, which has enabled us to establish the Harry Rabin Chair in Talmud and Jewish Law. Rabbi Schwartz is a highly regarded scholar, educator, and colleague who has demonstrated a deep passion and commitment to the teaching of Talmud and Halacha, and this appointment is a testament to his outstanding academic and pedagogical abilities,鈥 said Rabbi Menachem Penner, The Max and Marion Grill Dean of RIETS.The endowment was established in memory of the late Harry Rabin, a long-time benefactor of YU institutions and the great uncle of Rabbi Schwartz. Harry Rabin, along with his wife Bronka, shared a deep commitment to Jewish educational causes both in the U.S. and Israel including RIETS and its mission for higher learning. 鈥淚t is a great honor to be recognized in this way as holding an official professorship and I am deeply touched by the fact that the chair is named for my great uncle. It is a bit daunting to represent the name and legacy of Harry Rabin, but I am excited to continue to contribute to the missions of both my great uncle and RIETS and train the next generation of Modern Orthodox leaders, teachers, and rabbis,鈥 said Rabbi Schwartz.---Vital in its approach and vibrant in its tradition, the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) is the Western Hemisphere's leading center for Torah learning and training for the rabbinate. Since its inception in 1886, RIETS has graduated more than 3,300 rabbinical students, and in North America, 80% of all major Modern Orthodox congregations are led by RIETS graduates.
Rabbi Ezra Schwartz, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, and Harry Rabin Chair in Talmud and Jewish Law at RIETS
