Stirring tribute held in memory of Rabbi Emanuel Rackman z”l  

It was a night of moving moments, great laughter and fond memories as over 150 people came to the Fifth Avenue Synagogue on November 16^th to pay tribute to the inspiring life of the late beloved Chancellor of Bar-Ilan University (BIU) Rabbi Emanuel Rackman and support BIU’s Ruth and Emanuel Rackman Center to Advance the Status of Women in Israel – the institution that embodies the Rabbi’s deep conviction that halakha, the Jewish legal system, is a central force to rectify injustice. 

Marking the first yahrtzeit of Rabbi Rackman, a leading voice in the Modern Orthodox community as spiritual leader and President of BIU, family, friends and admirers gathered to hear prominent leaders of the Jewish community speak about the powerful impact Rabbi Rackman made in the expansion of BIU, which had only 3,000 students when he started in that position 30 years ago and today has over 33,000 students. In addition, they honored his tireless advocacy for women’s rights and social justice. 

Among those who spoke at this event, which was sponsored by American Friends of Bar-Ilan University, were Professor Moshe Kaveh, President of Bar-Ilan University, Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Director of the Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women,  Jane Stern Lebell, Honorary President of American Friends of Bar-Ilan University (AFBIU),  Blu Greenberg, prominent writer on Judaism and women’s issues, Joseph Rackman, who spoke on behalf of the family, Gary Rosenblatt, Editor of the New York Jewish Week and event moderator; and Fifth Avenue Synagogue leaders - Rabbi Yaakov Kermaier, Rabbi Sol Roth and Cantor Joseph Malovany, who ended the program by singing two of Rabbi Rackman’s favorite songs.

Video and audio coverage of this event will be posted shortly. Click here to see photos of this event .