Rabbi Shlomo Amar Delivers Shiur to Students, Meets with Roshei Yeshiva

On May 1, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, paid a visit to Yeshiva University-affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS).

The chief rabbi, also known as the Rishon LeZion, was welcomed with a performance by YU’s Sephardi choir before delivering a shiur [lecture] to students in the Glueck Beit Midrash. He then offered divrei chizuk [words of encouragement] to students in the James Striar School of General Jewish Studies/Mechina Program upon their siyum [completion] of Masechet Tamid and participated in a luncheon with various roshei yeshiva, members of the YU faculty and administration and local Sephardi community leaders.

“It is truly a privilege to have Rav Amar in the Yeshiva,” said Rabbi Marc Penner, associate dean of RIETS. “So many things come together when he is here: Ashkenazim and Sephardim, Israel and the Diaspora. His visits not only enlighten us, but remind us of how close we are as a people.”

This was Rabbi Amar’s fourth visit to the YU campus in recent years. His wife, Rabbanit Mazal Amar, delivered a lecture titled “Women’s Leadership According to Chazal” to students on the Israel Henry Beren Campus.

“Hakham Amar’s visit, was particularly exciting this time, because he was here to visit the talmidim [students] of the Yeshiva as well as to attend the RIETS dinner,” said Rabbi Moshe Tessone, director of the Sephardic Community Program at YU. “His unique ability to connect in his presentations to people of all ages and to students of varied demographic and religious backgrounds is really remarkable.”