DINNER PREVIEW
and derech eretz. As Yitzchok shares,
“When I walk into the yeshiva, there
is an exceptional, vibrant kol Torah.
At the same time, the boys are really
being taught the importance of re-
specting others.”
They gratefully acknowledge the
Rabbi Shimon and Mrs.
Tova Finkelman
HARBOTZAS TORAH AWARD
A
beloved
mechanech
at
Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Rav Shimon
Finkelman embodies the yeshiva’s
mandate with his love and geshmak
for Torah learning and the care and
concern he shows for everyone he en-
counters. He is a true role model for
the talmidim and the entire Yeshiva
Darchei Torah family.
As children, both of Rav
Finkelman’s parents escaped Europe
just before World War II. His father,
R’ Shmuel Avigdor (Mr. Samuel)
Finkelman, a”h, arrived from Poland
six months before the war and at-
tended Mesivta Torah Vodaath. His
mother, Mrs. Selma (Hilsenrath)
dedication of the outstanding reb-
beim, morahs and staff, whose efforts
have born extraordinary results. The
Stegs feel strongly that it is an amaz-
ing zechus for them to be a part of
this very special makom Torah.
Undoubtedly,
Yitzchok
and Shayna Steg have created a home that
is singularly focused upon the impor-
tance of Torah learning, coupled with
the value of caring for and respecting
others. We are proud to acknowledge
their sterling example as this year’s
Parents of the Year.
Finkelman, a”h, left Europe with
her parents and siblings the day that
World War II erupted.
Rav Finkelman attended Yeshiva
and Mesivta Torah Vodaath before
moving on to the beis medrash in
Adelphia Yeshiva, where he was a
talmid of Harav Nissan Goodman and
Harav Meir Hershkowitz, shlita. He
spent his kollel years at Lakewood’s
Beth Medrash Govoha. He is a talmid
of Harav Moshe Wolfson shlita,
Mashgiach Ruchani of Mesivta Torah
Vodaath, and also received hadrachah
from Harav Avraham Pam, zt”l.
Rav Finkelman’s devoted life part-
ner, Mrs. Tova Finkelman, hails from
Brookline, Massachusetts, where
her parents, Mr. Philip Shapiro, a”h,
and ybl”c, Mrs. Marilyn (Freeman)
Shapiro, were active members of the
Jewish community. Mrs. Finkelman
attended school in Brookline and then
went to the Rika Breuer Teachers
Seminary in Washington Heights,
where she became a talmidah for life
of the legendary mechanech Harav
Yosef Elias, zt”l. Mrs. Finkelman is
a mechaneches who has taught at a
number of seminaries in Brooklyn
and is a proofreader and editor for
Hamodia and Jewish book publishers.
Rav Finkelman began his career
in chinuch in 1982 and has been with
Yeshiva Darchei Torah since September 1989. He is also a longtime author for
ArtScroll, for whom he has written
several biographies; works on shmiras
halashon; and Living the Parashah,
much of which is based on the weekly
shmuessen of Rav Yaakov Bender.
Above all, he is a mechanech par
excellence who has left a lasting im-
pression upon hundreds of talmidim
during his 30 years at Yeshiva Darchei
Torah. Students, their parents, and
fellow rebbeim are drawn in by his
unique blend of enthusiasm, exper-
tise, devotion and understanding.
From his perspective, Rav
Finkelman views Darchei Torah as
representing the very best in Torah
chinuch. “Darchei provides its talmi-
dim with a wholesome chinuch so
that they learn to live lives of ahavas
Hashem, ahavas haTorah, ahavas
Yisrael and kiddush Hashem,” states
Rav Finkelman.
The Finkelmans feel a deep sense
of gratitude to Rav Bender and to the
yeshiva for the zechus of teaching at
Darchei and for all that he has done
for them. Furthermore, they are grati-
fied that one of their grandsons is now
a talmid of the yeshiva.
Rav Finkelman, along with his
aishes chayil, are treasured members
of the Darchei family and are most
befitting recipients of the Harbotzas
Torah Award.
F O R D I N N E R R E S E R VA T I O N S , A D S O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N
CALL 718.868.2300 ext. 301
8
BEDARCHEI HATORAH
WINTER 5780/2020
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