Dinner and awards recognize 30 years of New England Rabbinical College

Gathered at the NERC dinner are (left to right): Rabbi Yosef Lipson, associate dean; Rabbi Naftali Karp, Pillar of Torah awardee; Rabbi Berish Edelman, Alumni Achievement awardee; and Rabbi Eliezer Gibber, dean. /NERC

The New England Rabbinical College hosted its 30th Anniversary Dinner on March 1.  The local community and many out of town visitors turned out in support of the school and its honorees. Those attending were rewarded with an inspiring and entertaining evening.

The evening began with a performance by the Kol Neurayich Boys Choir directed by Yehoshua Shepherd, one of the students at NERC.

Rabbi Dovid Bielory, teacher at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael in Boston, acted as master of ceremonies. He began by introducing Rabbi Eliezer Gibber, dean, who gave the opening greetings and Divrei Torah. Rabbi Gibber presented the Pillars of Torah Award to Rabbi and Mrs. Naftali Karp. Rabbi Karp came to NERC as a student, then went on to become a member of the Kollel, and ultimately to serve as its executive director. Both Rabbi and Mrs. Karp are actively involved in every communal organization in the city.  Rabbi Karp is the director of a successful outreach program called Project Shoresh, which focuses on young professionals and families.

Rabbi Yosef Lipson, associate dean of the college, presented this year’s Alumni Achievement  Award to Rabbi and Mrs. Berish Edelman of Cincinnati, Ohio. Rabbi Edelman is a close alumnus of the college and has maintained strong ties with his Providence mentors. He and his wife began their family in Providence, where he studied in the NERC Kollel. Rabbi Edelman is a graphic designer by profession, but is first and foremost dedicated to studying Torah and performing acts of kindness. He is involved with many of the organizations in his community in a leadership capacity.  

The Marbitzei Torah Award was bestowed upon Rabbi and Mrs. Yitzi Weiner. Rabbi Nisson Dov Miller, Rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim in Sharon, Mass., presented the award. The Weiners moved to Sharon  eight years ago to begin the Sharon Community Kollel.  Since then, they have reached out and touched all segments of the Sharon Jewish community and are truly beloved by all.  Rabbi Weiner, and the other members of the Sharon Kollel, attended NERC’s morning program and lectures for many years. 

The evening concluded with a video presentation that highlighted the 30th anniversary of NERC. A number of alumni, parents and community members spoke on the video.  It portrayed the effect that the Yeshiva has on its students, the lifelong bond that they maintain with the rabbis and the influence that the NERC has had on the community.

The dinner was held in the Korn Auditorium of the Providence Hebrew Day School, and was catered by Divine Providence Catering. Approximately 170 people attended.

CHANA FAIGA TWERSKY is administrative director of New England Rabbinical College.