Jewish Scholar Coming to Temple Beth Sholom

Rabbi David Golinkin, president of the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem, will speak at Fair Lawn’s  as part of a special Scholar-in-Residence program for Slichot Shabbat on Sept. 23 and Sept. 24.

Golinkin, who has been Chair of Law Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel, which gives halakhic guidance to the Conservative Movement, will speak at Shabbat dinner Friday, Sept. 23 on “Challenges of Halakha in Israel,” during Shabbat morning services on “High Holiday Folklore: East and West” and at “Shabbat Lunch-and-Learn” on Saturday, Sept. 24. 

On Saturday evening, Sept. 24, Golinkin will deliver the keynote address “Halakha for our Time: A Conservative Approach to Jewish Law”, in which he will examine six characteristics of Conservative rulings and decisions related to Jewish Law.  This lecture will be followed by a dessert reception and Slichot services.

“It is amazing how many issues of modern times have been addressed by Rabbi Golinkin in the context of Halakha (Jewish Law) in a sensible, practical and brilliant manner,” Rabbi Alberto Baruch Zeilicovich of Temple Beth Sholom said, in a press release.

Rabbi Golinkin is the author or editor of over 40 books, including “Halakhah for Our Time, An Index of Conservative Responsa and Halakhic Studies 1917-1990,” “The Schechter Haggadah” and “The Student Struggle Against the Holocaust”; and has published over 190 articles, responsa and sermons.  He authored a monthly email column entitled “Insight Israel” at www.schechter.edu.  His current email column on that website is entitled “Responsa in a Moment”.

For twenty years Golinkin served as chair of the Va’ad Halakhah (Law Committee) of the Rabbinical Assembly, which writes responsa and gives halakhic guidance to the Masorti (Conservative) Movement in Israel. He is the founder and director of the Institute of Applied Halakhah at The Schechter Institute whose goal is to publish a library of halakhic literature for the Conservative and Masorti Movements. Golinkin is also the director of the Center for Women in Jewish Law at the Schechter Institute whose goal is to publish responsa and books by and about women in Jewish law.

Golinkin was born and raised in Arlington, Virginia. He made aliyah in 1972, earning a B.A. in Jewish History and two teaching certificates from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He received an M.A. in Rabbinics and a Ph.D. in Talmud from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America where he was also ordained as Rabbi.

Reservations are required for Shabbat Evening Dinner and for Shabbat “Lunch-and-Learn” before September 14.  There is no cost for the lecture Saturday evening, September 24 at 8:15pm, but reservations are required and voluntary donations will be appreciated.

Further information and reservations can be made by email to SCHOLAR@tbsfl.org or 201-797-9321 x 415 (TBS Adult Education).  Information is also available at tbsfl.org.