Pesach is a time of rebirth and renewal. As we gather together, we are commanded to not only tell the story of our redemption, but to feel it deep within.   This newsletter gathered a few members together  from our alumni community to share their thoughts and insights with us. We hope you will take these ideas to your seder table as you sit down surrounded by friends and family. 

We thank this month’s contributors. We wish you and your family a Chag Kasher VeSameach!

Yaffa (Shalev) Setton (HS ‘05) is currently a fellow in Nishmat's Yoetzet Halacha program. She also holds a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology and is a certified lactation consultant. In addition to The Midrash, she currently teaches at JBHS and Congregation Magen David of West Deal, NJ.

 

Enjoy her piece, “Educating Ourselves by Educating Others”.

Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky (HS ‘73) lives in Phoenix, Arizona. He spent over 30 years serving as a pulpit rabbi, retiring in 2018. 

 

He is a past president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix. He is also very proud of his military service as a Navy Chaplain having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander before retiring.

 

Here is his piece, “Coming Out of Egypt”.

Dr. David Berger (ES ‘56, HS ‘60) is the Ruth and I. Lewis Gordon Distinguished Professor of Jewish History, Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, Yeshiva University. He has  taught at Brooklyn College, CUNY Graduate Center, The Annenberg Research Institute, Yale University and Harvard University. He serves on the Council of the World Union of Jewish Studies. He was the co-chair of the Academic Advisory Committee of the National Foundation for Jewish Culture and has served as a member of the Academic Committee of the Rothschild Foundation Europe. He is a Fellow at the American Academy of Jewish Research and served on the Executive Committee.

 

Dr. Berger has contributed a piece called, “Three Questions Regarding the Seder”. 

Vivian Cohen (ES ‘17, HS ‘21) spent her gap year at Midreshet Lindenbaum, developing her love and knowledge of Torah. She is currently getting a BA in Judaic Studies from Brooklyn College.

 

Vivian teaches senior girls in Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School’s Inquiry Bet Midrash program and is an Allegra Franco fellow. She is working towards her goal of becoming an expert Judaic Studies teacher.

 

Vivian has contributed a piece, “Not Only Our Ancestors, Us Too”.