On Sunday, April 7, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Serebryanski, rabbi of Congregation Beth Tikvah of Canarsie, opened his synagogue and hosted the Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud Harabbonim’s rosh chodesh conference and seudah.
The Rosh Chodesh Nissan Conference and seudah was sponsored by Rabbi Yaakov Klass, a presidium member of the Igud Harabbonim and Torah editor of the Jewish Press and rav of Kahal Bnei Matisayhu of Flatbush, and by his highly respected brother Mr. Arthur Klass, director of development of the Jewish Press. The conference and seudah was sponsored l’ilui nishmas their grandfather, Rabbi Simcha Kirschner, whose 73rd yahrzeit will be observed on the 19th of Nissan. Rabbi Kirschner was a principled Shas Yid from the old school. In those days in America it was not uncommon that if you did not work on Shabbos you would be fired. Rabbi Kirschner got the pink slip weekly and went from job to job over his refusal to abandon shemiras Shabbos.
Rabbi Kirschner, zt’l, was from Galicia and is considered to be among the pioneers of Torah in America. Perhaps one of Rabbi Kirschner’s greatest enjoyments was witnessing the establishment of the State of Israel; sadly, Rabbi Kirschner was niftar shortly thereafter.
Rabbi Kirschner was a founder and a builder of Torah institutions such as the world-renowned Chevra Shomerei Shabbos Anshe Sfard Shul located on 13th Avenue and 53rd street in Boro Park. Rabbi Kirschner’s name is inscribed as the fourth name on the original memorial tablet in the shul. Rabbi Kirschner and his daughter’s brother-in-law, Rabbi Shulem Frances, zt’l, were among the early maggidei shiur in the shul before the shul engaged a rabbi.
Rabbi Kirschner was also a founder of the Rabbi Shlomo Kluger Yeshiva which later on incorporated into Yeshivas Chasan Sofer. The yeshiva originally was located in the Lower East Side and is currently located in Borough Park. Rabbi Kirschner was also a founder of Yeshivas Toras Emes which later merged with the Kamenetz Yeshiva.
Rabbi Gil Student, director of the Halacha Commission of the Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud Harabbonim, opened the conference and seudah with the recitation of Tehillim. Rabbi Student also gave an update on the Igud’s retirement plan as well as the other benefits for being a member of the Igud.
Rabbi Moshe Y. Weiner, the rav ha’machshir of the Kashrus Alliance, Aleph K of the Igud Harabbonim, delivered a special shiur on hilchos Pesach covering all aspects of preparation for Pesach, practice for Pesach, as well as post-Pesach transition.
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Serebryanski gave a scholarly discourse on hilchos Pesach which was immensely enjoyed by the rabbis in attendance.
Rabbi Yehuda Blank, director of chaplaincy and external affairs of the Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud Harrabonim, gave a chaplaincy update and discussed some upcoming events including a collaborative event which is being planned with the National Council of Young Israel.
Also participating in the Rosh Chodesh Nissan Conference and seudah was Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud; Rabbi Dovid Katz, menahel, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud; and Rabbi Moish Schmerler, director, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud.
