Rabbi Beni Krohn, of Young Israel of Teaneck, has been elected president of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County (RCBC), succeeding Rabbi Zev Goldberg, rabbi of Young Israel of Fort Lee, who is concluding a two-year term.
By Pearl Markovitz | January 07, 2021
The endless sea of Torah study can be navigated in myriad ways. Masechet Yevamot spans 122 pages. The current cycle of Daf Yomi completed Yevamot in 122 days. In contrast, Daf Hashavua began Masechet Yevamot in May of 2020 and anticipates its completion only in September 2022. Knowing full well the length of study of this masechet, the Mermelstein family sponsored the entire Daf Hashavua’s learning of Yevamot in memory of beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather Shelley Mermelstein, Yosef Shmuel Shmelke, z”l, who was an enthusiastic participant in the local Daf Hashavua Program at Congregation Beth Aaron.
By Elizabeth Kratz | December 10, 2020
No one could have predicted, least of all Rabbi Kenny Schiowitz himself, that he would be compelled to lead a 20-plus-rabbi-strong rabbinic council and kashrut agency during a worldwide pandemic, or that his group would have as much impact as it has had. While the Ramaz gemara teacher and rav of Teaneck’s Congregation Shaarei Tefillah spent two years as president of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County, he focused initially on leading the RCBC through a reorganization of its kashrut arm, focusing on creating a meaningful partnership with other local certifying agencies. However, eight months ago, just following Purim, as the threat of COVID-19 began to touch tri-state area Jewish communities, the decision of the RCBC to close all communal shuls before the government or any other entity moved to make recommendations, would later be heralded across the country as prescient, wise and life-saving.