2008 Woodie Awards
FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Boca...Brander...Bingo
Ari Fridman
Issue date: 3/29/05 Section: Editorials/Op-Ed
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When plans for the Center for Jewish Future were announced in October of last year, the typical reaction of students, faculty, and even administrators went something along the lines of a shoulder shrug and a puzzled facial expression. At the time, I grouped myself among those wondering exactly what President Richard M. Joel and Rabbi Kenneth Brander, the center's dean, had up their sleeves.
After spending some time with Rabbi Brander in Boca on a recent weekend, I'm happy to report that not only does the CJF have a meaningful vision, but from all outward appearances, it is a vision that the entire Yeshiva community can rally around. As I see it, the center aspires toward two goals: to build up smaller communities across the country, both from a physical standpoint, as well as from a values standpoint; and to better train Modern Orthodox rabbis that can facilitate education in the greater Jewish community.
The Boca Raton Community Kollel forms the heart of Jewish education in the Boca community, and based on my conversations with Rabbi Brander, I would submit that a major emphasis of the CJF will be to implement similar mediums in Modern Orthodox communities starving for like-minded educators. Rabbi Brander describes the kollel's mission as the "educational survival of the Jewish community," saying that "education awakens the love of God, the love of Israel, and the love of our people." These sentiments can only aid a movement that some have described as more interested in Dougie's than in religious values and observance.
Encouraging for Yeshiva, Rabbi Brander is primarily a "doer," although he talks a good game to be sure. He has spearheaded a decade-long effort to build the infrastructure of the Boca Raton community, from its schools to its shuls, from its adult living care facility to its restaurants. In other words, he has that indispensable sixth sense that only some rabbis possess: the ability to fundraise. Whether it's working with the UJA-Federation or soliciting private funds, Rabbi Brander has proven time and again that where there is a will for physical growth, there is a way to come up with the requisite monies.
After spending some time with Rabbi Brander in Boca on a recent weekend, I'm happy to report that not only does the CJF have a meaningful vision, but from all outward appearances, it is a vision that the entire Yeshiva community can rally around. As I see it, the center aspires toward two goals: to build up smaller communities across the country, both from a physical standpoint, as well as from a values standpoint; and to better train Modern Orthodox rabbis that can facilitate education in the greater Jewish community.
The Boca Raton Community Kollel forms the heart of Jewish education in the Boca community, and based on my conversations with Rabbi Brander, I would submit that a major emphasis of the CJF will be to implement similar mediums in Modern Orthodox communities starving for like-minded educators. Rabbi Brander describes the kollel's mission as the "educational survival of the Jewish community," saying that "education awakens the love of God, the love of Israel, and the love of our people." These sentiments can only aid a movement that some have described as more interested in Dougie's than in religious values and observance.
Encouraging for Yeshiva, Rabbi Brander is primarily a "doer," although he talks a good game to be sure. He has spearheaded a decade-long effort to build the infrastructure of the Boca Raton community, from its schools to its shuls, from its adult living care facility to its restaurants. In other words, he has that indispensable sixth sense that only some rabbis possess: the ability to fundraise. Whether it's working with the UJA-Federation or soliciting private funds, Rabbi Brander has proven time and again that where there is a will for physical growth, there is a way to come up with the requisite monies.