Evening of Celebration
MOTZAEI SHABBOS PARASHAS BO / JANUARY 8 , 2022 • PARTNERS . DARCHEI . ORG
SPECIAL PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING
RABBI JOEL BERITZ
Over his long and impactful career as vice president of the Gruss Life Monument Funds and the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education , Rabbi Joel Beritz has played an integral role in the continued development and growth of Torah institutions throughout this country , including Yeshiva Darchei Torah . He has proven himself to be a dear friend of and champion for thousands of Jewish children .
Rabbi Beritz is a native of Malden , Massachusetts , a suburb of Boston , where his parents , Jack ( Yaakov Chaim ) and Blanche ( Baila ) a ” h were pillars of the community and of their shul , the Young Israel of Malden , under the leadership of Rabbi Hershel Brazil . Even after relocating to other cities on the East Coast , Joel would return to the Young Israel for many years to serve as the ba ’ al tokeah on Rosh Hashana .
Joel attended Boston University and received his graduate degree in Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania , after which he became a professor of Slavic Languages and Judaic Studies at the State University of New York at Stony Brook . Today , he resides in Brooklyn , where he is a longtime , valued member of Agudah of Avenue H , now led by Rav Dovid Gibber . Rabbi Beritz also maintains a close connection with the shul ’ s previous rav , Rav Aharon Zuckerman . He has a deep love for Eretz Yisrael , where he dedicated the Shuvu School in Rechovot in memory of his mother .
Rabbi Beritz began his career of dedicated service to the community in his role as director of education services for Russians at the Board of Jewish Education ( BJE ) in New York . He later became director of the
Division of School Services at the BJE and administrator of the Fund for Jewish Education .
One of his most valuable and far-reaching endeavors in his post at the BJE has been the kashrus program for kosher commodities in the National School Lunch Program . In conjunction with the “ 613 ” vaad hakashrus , kosher commodities are produced and made available to Jewish schools nationwide .
For over a quarter-century , Rabbi Beritz impacted the education of Jewish children through his work at the Gruss Life Monument Funds . Yeshiva Darchei Torah in particular has been a grateful beneficiary of the Funds ’ generosity many times over , and Rabbi Beritz has been one of the main catalysts behind our fruitful relationship . He has always taken a special interest in the Yeshiva ’ s success and that of our talmidim . Some of the developments made possible by the Funds include new state-of-the-art playgrounds ; enhanced science and technology labs ; and science and engineering curricula in the eighth grade and high school . Yeshiva Darchei Torah is continuously reaping the benefits of Rabbi Beritz ’ s sage counsel and efforts on its behalf .
Well beyond Yeshiva Darchei Torah , it is impossible to quantify the vast number of mosdos – and individuals – in Klal Yisrael who have benefited from Rabbi Beritz ’ s caring heart and untiring efforts . Although recently retired , he continues to serve and take an active interest in his beloved world of chinuch and will continue to do so for many years to come .
It is an honor for the Yeshiva to recognize Rabbi Beritz ’ s dedication and impact on decades of growth in Jewish education with the inaugural Builder of Torah award .
BEDARCHEI HATORAH WINTER 5782 / 2022 5