RAV SHRAGA FEIVEL
MENDLOWITZ AWARD
R ABBI
Yankel
BERNFELD
Rabbi and Mrs. Yankel Bernfeld are a couple who personify dedication to
askanus and chashivus haTorah on the highest level.
For nine summers the Bernfelds served as group leaders of Torah Umesorah’s
SEED program in various locations. Torah Umersorah took note of Rabbi
Bernfeld’s skills and enrolled him in the Ner Le’elef leadership training
program; he credits this course for the inspiration and practical skills that
continue to enhance his avodas hakodesh.
Reb Yankel is a talmid of Bais Hatalmud and Passaic, where he forged a
lasting kesher with the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Meir Stern, shlita. He then learned
in Brisk and BMG in Lakewood, where he spent many years in the Kollel. His
passion for askonus drew him to become involved in many worthy causes,
eventually bringing him to his current position as Director of Adopt-A-Kollel,
which he has been leading since its inception two and a half years ago. The
movement has a growing membership of close to 250 shuls throughout
North America and Europe partnering to strengthen Torah learning in Eretz
Yisroel.
The Bernfeld home is built upon strong roots of askanus that go back many
generations. Reb Yankel’s parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Mordechai Binyomin
Bernfeld of Monsey, are renowned for their efforts in tzorchei tzibbur, most
notably in the field of chinuch habanim v’habanos. Mrs. Dina Bernfeld is
the daughter of Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim Yisroel Klagsbald of Antwerp, whose
home was saturated with feelings of achrayus for the Klal; her paternal
grandfather, Reb Shlomo Klagsbald, was a leader of the Agudath Yisroel in
Europe for almost fifty years. Following in the path of her forbearers, Mrs.
Bernfeld was involved in askanus and outreach in the former Soviet Union;
she presently teaches at Ateres Yisroel High School and is a devoted mother
to her family.
Torah Umesorah is honored to bestow the Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz
Award upon Rabbi and Mrs. Yankel Bernfeld and to partner with them in
their exemplary work on behalf of Klal Yisroel.
HOME HONOREES JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW WEBSITE BIRKAS HAMAZON