Last of the candidates for BAYT'S top spot

The weeks have gone by and the time is quickly aproaching when the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation (BAYT) will have to choose their next Senior Rabbi. Before the votes are cast one candidate remains to be screened: Rabbi Josh Blass, Morah D'asra of Kehillas Bais Yehudah in Wesley Hills, New York. A position he has held since August 2005.

Blass, the youngest of the three candidates for Beth Avraham's top job, received his smicha from RIETS in 1998. Straight from high school Blass studied for a year and a half in Yeshivat Ohr Yerushalayim before commencing studies at Yeshiva University.

Aside from his shul obligation his time is given to Project Tikvah, a branch of the Rockland Women's Shelter (caring for battered and abused women) serving as the rabbinic advisor. He is an active member of the chevrah kadisha and has lectured extensively throughout the New York area.

In much the same way as those evaluated before him did, Blass will be speaking on Friday night and Shabbat morning as well as Shabbat afternoon at Seudah Shelishit (Third Meal). He will meet with the BAYT's young families group on Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. in the Simcha Suite and will also give the Daf Yomi shiur Sunday morning.

Up for review - BAYT's rabbinical candidate #2

Up next for review by the congregation of Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation, for the position of its next lead rabbi, is American Rabbi Rabbi Dovid Cohen. Since 2006 he has performed his rabbinical duties at the congregation of Young Israel of the West Side in New York City.

Cohen, ordained in 1997 by Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary, is a former lawyer who focused on white collar criminal defense, bankruptcy and restructurings. In 2004 he left the legal profession and moved to Israel to deepen his rabbinical knowledge. Cohen has taught popular courses at seminaries in Jerusalem, is a Mashgiach Ruchani at Stern College for Women in New York and advocates for the greater inclusion of special needs children in communities.

Similarly to when Rabbi Daniel Korobkin was screened at BAYT last week, Cohen will be speaking on Friday night and Shabbat morning as well as Shabbat afternoon at Seudah Shelishit (Third Meal). He will meet with the BAYT's young families group on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in the Simcha Suite and will also give the Daf Yomi shiur Sunday morning.

BAYT screens a new rabbinical candidate

In December, 2010 Rabbi Baruch Taub, founding rabbi of Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation (BAYT), now rabbi emeritus of the synagogue, retired and made aliyah.

Stepping up to the bimah this week at BAYT is Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Rosh Kahilla of Kehillat Yavneh in Los Angeles, where he writes on Jewish philosophy and a myriad of other Jewish topics. Korobkin is the first of three candidates for the vacated rabbi position. He will be speaking on Friday night and Shabbat morning, meeting with the BAYT's young families group on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in the Simcha Suite and will also give the Daf Yomi shiur Sunday morning.

In Los Angeles Korobkin also serves as spiritual leader of the Kehilla's minyan and Yeshivat Yavneh, a large yeshiva elementary school on Yavneh's campus. He is director of community and synagogue services for the Orthodox Union's West Coast Region and a doctoral candidate in the area of medieval Jewish thought at UCLA. (Full profile found on the RCA (Rabbinical Council of America) website.)

Makom makes the Slingshot cut

Courtesy of a posting found on ejewishphilanthropy.com the sixth annual edition of Slingshot: A Resource Guide for Jewish Innovation, has been released. The guide features 50 inspirational organizations in Jewish life found in North America. Some of the major highlights of the release focus on:

A cautiously optimistic Jewish innovation sector, a number of organizations have stabilized in today's economic environment via philanthropic support as well as mergers and strategic alliances; though many organizations that have been around for five years or more are struggling to find further support for growth.

In past editions, the guide focused on inspirational Jewish leaders, especially among the next generation of professionals. This year, the attention is given more to the organization’s missions and activities. Still believing in the importance of entrepreneurs, founders and leaders, recognition is being given collectively to the community within the organization in that all are responsible for ensuring its success.

Words from the post to live by: "Individualism may abound, in fact, may be the catalyst for change, but the community must share the responsibility for its own success."

According to Will Schneider, the director of Slingshot, in company with this year's most notable 50 was Makom. That's right Shmooze readers, Makom, the grassroots, downtown community, building traditional and progressive Jewish life in Toronto. Like its contemporaries JUMP, The House and the Annex Shul, Makom creates an inclusive and diverse space, committed to Jewish learning, arts and culture, spirited prayer and ritual, and social and environmental activism.

Members of Makom meet every-other week at The Kiever Shul (25 Bellevue Avenue, Toronto) to welcome Shabbat with soulful and song-filled Friday night services. Both men and women participate in leading services. All are invited and children are welcome. You can walk in as you are. That is to say, no need to dress up and jeans are acceptable. If you would like to check them out on a Friday night, a minyan of 10 women + 10 men to start the ma’ariv service is required, so they ask that you please come on time.

To see which other organizations made the list just click here.