Yeshivas Ner Yisroel

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Yeshivas Ner Yisroel (Ner Israel Rabbinical College) (also known as NIRC) is an Orthodox yeshiva in Baltimore, Maryland founded in 1933 by Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman who was a key disciple of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, dean of the famous Slabodka yeshiva in Lithuania.

The yeshiva was named for Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin Salanter, the founder of the Mussar Movement and teacher of Rabbi Finkel (known as Der Alter - "the elder") who was in turn the teacher of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman - founder of Ner Yisrael.

It is an all-male Lithuanian-style Talmudic Charedi but non-Chasidic yeshiva. It presently consists of a high school numbering over 200 students, a post-high school beth midrash program numbering about 400 students, and a kollel post-graduate rabbinical division numbering about 200 students.

The yeshiva is on a self-contained campus, in a wooded Baltimore suburb, consisting of a central study hall (also doubling as the main prayer sanctuary), lecture halls, classrooms, libraries, dormitories, a dining hall and much outdoor recreational space. It is thought to be the largest Yeshiva campus in the world.

Apart from its prominence in religious studies, Ner Israel is also recognized as an accredited college by the state of Maryland, and has agreements with Johns Hopkins University, Towson University, Community College of Baltimore County, Loyola College in Maryland, University of Baltimore, and University of Maryland Baltimore County whereby the yeshiva's students can take courses at these colleges and universities in a variety of academic fields, and in turn gain academic credits for their religious studies. This is a feature which they feel appeals to many Orthodox young men who seek to have the basis for becoming future professionals. A large percentage of students choose to pursue law school after graduating from NIRC.

Some prominent rabbinical graduates include:

• Rabbi Shmuel Bloom
• Rabbi Moshe Brown, Far Rockaway, NY
• Rabbi Aharon Feldman,who currently serves as rosh yeshiva ("dean") of the school.
• Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, Atlanta, GA, Jerusalem, Israel
• Rabbi Ilan Feldman, Atlanta, GA
• Rabbi Yissocher Frand, Baltimore, MD
• Rabbi Mordechai Jofen, Brooklyn, NY
• Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Philadelphia, PA
• Rabbi Nota Schiller, Jerusalem, Israel
• The late Rabbi Moshe Sherer, Brooklyn, NY
• Rabbi Noah Weinberg, Jerusalem, Israel
• Rabbi Yochanan Zweig, Miami, FL

Contents 1 Past Leadership 2 Present Leadership 2.1 Senior Administration 2.2 Senior Faculty 2.3 Adjunct Faculty 2.4 Academic Staff 2.5 Administrative Staff

[edit] Past Leadership

Rabbi Naftoli Herman Neuberger is the brother-in-law of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman.

Rav Ruderman and Rav Neuberger were partners in creating Ner Israel. They shared a vision, to build a Yeshiva in the European style on American soil. Despite the Yeshiva’s facilitating students going to college in the evening, Rav Neuberger personally encouraged parents to let their children study without pursuing other things.

Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg served the Ner Israel community for over 50 years. From 1987 until 1999 Rabbi Weinberg served as Rosh Yeshiva. Rabbi Weinberg was married to Chana Ruderman (the only child of Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman).

After Rabbi Weinberg's passing in 1999, Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky, a leading professor in Ner Israel, took over the Rosh Yeshiva position, which he kept until his passing in late 2000.

Rabbi Weinberg's brother is Rabbi Noah Weinberg, founder and dean of Aish HaTorah.

Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg and Chana Ruderman-Weinberg are also the parents to both Rabbi Matis Weinberg and Rabbi Simcha Weinberg.

[edit] Present Leadership

The yeshiva is headed by Rabbi Aharon Feldman who serves as the rosh yeshiva, and Rabbi Beryl Weisbord who is the Mashgiach ("dean of students") and is the husband of Dr. Aviva Weisbord, daughter of the past Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Yaakov Weinberg. Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger is president of the yeshiva and succeeds his father Rabbi Herman N. Neuberger who held the same position. Rabbi Herman Neuberger was known as one of the leaders of Orthodox Jewry in the United States and served as international president of the yeshiva until his passing in 2005.

[edit] Senior Administration

• • Rabbi Aaron Feldman, Dean - Rosh HaYeshiva
  • Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger, President and Professor of Talmud - Menahel
  • Rabbi Beryl Weisbord, Dean of Student Affairs - Mashgiach

[edit] Senior Faculty

• • Rabbi Tzvi Berkowitz, Professor of Talmud - Rosh Yeshiva
  • Rabbi Tzvi Einstater, Associate Professor of Talmud - R”M
  • Rabbi Moshe M. Eisemann, Professor Emeritus of Talmud and Ethics - Mashgiach Emeritus
  • Rabbi Yissocher Frand, Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics - Rosh Yeshiva
  • Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Professor of Halacha and Rabbinics – R”M
  • Rabbi Chaim Kosman, Associate Professor of Talmud - R”M
  • Rabbi Nochum Lansky, Professor of Talmud - Rosh Yeshiva
  • Rabbi Moshe Mintz, Professor of Talmudic Research - Rosh Yeshiva
  • Rabbi Ezra Neuberger, Professor of Talmud - Rosh Yeshiva
  • Rabbi Shraga Neuberger, Professor of Talmud - Rosh Yeshiva
  • Rabbi Nosson Nusbaum, Professor of Talmud - Rosh Yeshiva
  • Rabbi Eliyahu Steinhart, Associate Professor of Talmud - R”M
  • Rabbi Tzvi Willner, Professor of Talmudic Research - Rosh Yeshiva

[edit] Adjunct Faculty

• • Rabbi Yosef Berger, Senior Lecturer in Halacha - Bochen
  • Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz, Senior Lecturer in Halacha - Rosh Chabura
  • Rabbi Tzvi Krakauer, Lecturer in Talmud - Rosh Chabura
  • Rabbi Boruch Neuberger, Lecturer in Talmud and Counseling - Rosh Chabura
  • Rabbi Yosef Neuberger, Lecturer in Talmud and Language - Rosh Chabura
  • Rabbi Leonard Oberstein, Senior Lecturer of Rabbinics, Homiletics and Education – Rosh Machon
  • Rabbi Mordecai Shuchatowitz, Senior Lecturer in Din and Halacha - Rosh Chabura

[edit] Academic Staff

• • Rabbi Mordechai Feigenbaum, Guidance Counselor – S’gan Mashgiach
  • Rabbi Emanuel Goldfeiz, Director of Residence Services – S’gan Mashgiach
  • Rabbi Ezra Neuberger, Post-Graduate Dean - Rosh Kollel
  • Rabbi Leonard Oberstein, Director, Machon Instiute for Teaching and Rabbinics
  • Rabbi Avrohom S. Shnidman, Director of Library Services – Otzar HaSeforim
  • Rabbi Yosef Tendler, Dean, Beren High School - Rosh Mechina
  • Rabbi Aharon Tendler, Dorm counselor for Mechina, Senior Lecturer in Halacha and Counseling - Rosh Chabura

[edit] Administrative Staff

• • Mr. David Friedman, Director of Campus Services
  • Mr. William Goldberg, Director of Food Services
  • Rabbi Louis Hoffman, Vice President of Endowments
  • Mr. Jerome H. Kadden, Vice President of Administrative Services
  • Rabbi C.D. Lapidus, Registrar
  • Mr. Yitzchak Markowitz, Director of IT
  • Rabbi Boruch Neuberger, Director of Alumni Relations – Asst. to the President
  • Rabbi Leonard Oberstein, Vice President for Community Services
  • Rabbi Abraham Pelberg, National Field Coordinator
  • Rabbi Moshe Pelberg, Director, Office of Financial Aid
  • Mr. Larry Ribakow, Director, Administrative Services
  • Rabbi Joseph Schecter, Director of Public Relations
  • Rabbi Jonathan Seidemann, Director, Office of Community Affairs