Community Magazine April 2013

O ver 150 Sephardic rabbis, representing 30 countries on five continents, including numerous Shehebar Sephardic Center (SSC) alumni, came together for the Annual Rabbinical Conference of the Shehebar Sephardic Center to discuss 21 st century communication. The event took place at the new Bet Midrash of the Midrash Sephardi yeshiva, now located on Misgav Ladach St. in Jerusalem’s Old City. Rabbi Tuvia Kiel served as master of ceremonies at the conference, which was graced by the presence of two former Chief Rabbis of the State of Israel – Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron – as well as current Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi Yoni Metzger, and distinguished professors and dayanim (rabbinical judges). The speakers – who included Rabbi Yaacov Benezri, Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yaakov Peretz, Rabbi Ezra Kassin, and Rabbi Yehoshua Babayov – outlined the pros and cons of internet use, focusing their attention on how to maximize and benefit from modern communications in a safe way. This includes appropriate uses of smart phones, social problems, internet addiction, and halachic concerns. Some of the advantages of modern technology noted by the speakers were the way cell phones can save lives, and the unprecedented opportunities for Torah learning presented by the internet. Among the other issues discussed was the effect of modern communications on socialization. For example, while modern modes of communication allow people to connect from all over the world, emailing and texting also affects people’s ability to socialize and forge meaningful relationships, causing an interpersonal disconnect and hampering personality development. Many people suffer from an outright addiction to technology, and many of those who are not actually addicted nevertheless waste valuable time on the internet. Rabbi Etan Eckstein, Director of Retorno, an institution that specializes in addiction treatment, said, “Addiction is a disease that necessitates professional care. When we see a child addicted to iPhone, Internet, Facebook, etc., we must refer the child to an expert professional and not punish him, but instead embrace him and obtain the right diagnosis and medical intervention.” Rabbi Yona Metzger, Chief Rabbi of Israel, said, “The wisest thing to do is to use the internet with good judgment and wisdom.” Several Diaspora rabbis, including Chief Rabbi Kotel Dadon of Croatia, Rabbi Moshe Bendahan or Madrid, and Rabbi Moshe Kassin of Panama, spoke about how internet use is consuming youth in their communities. The evening concluded with an address by Rabbi Shlomo – “Sammy” – Kassin, who thanked all those who took part in bringing the conference to fruition, those who work tirelessly throughout the year to bring more Torah to the Jewish world, and also his wife, Rebbetzin Malka, who enables him to function effectively in the yeshiva on a daily basis and travel abroad, and encourages him to grow in Torah and to help others do the same. Rabbi Kassin then thanked everybody for coming and promised them that through education and professionalism we can find the answer to any problem; it is a matter of time and patience, and help from Gd. He wished them all well with their future endeavors, and expressed his hope to see them again next year in a groundbreaking conference on the topic of Jewish education and tuition. Named for the Chehebar family, the Shehebar Sephardic Center was founded by Rabbi Sam Kassin, Dean, and Rabbi Eliyahu Shamoula, Director, in 1980. Over the last 30 years, the center has trained scores of professional Sephardic rabbis and helped struggling Sephardic communities worldwide by providing an accredited rabbinical training program that addresses the everyday issues faced by Diaspora communities. During this time, the SSC has grown into a world renowned institution with an outstanding reputation for high quality programs, as well as a resource for Sephardic communities worldwide seeking professional rabbis, dayanim , teachers, mohalim , shohetim and other religious leaders. To date, the SSC has trained more than 170 rabbis, 15 dayanim , 60 teachers, 40 mohalim , and 25 shohetim . These spiritual leaders now serve Sephardic Jews in 70 cities on five continents around the world. The SSC expresses its gratitude to the sponsors of this year’s conference for ensuring it was a resounding success: the Century 21 Foundation, Salomon Bendayan, Bentex, Steve Russo and Family, Ricky Cohen, Ronny and Toby Hersh, David Gilinsky, Gerard Mizrahi, and the Hidary Family. SSC Rabbinical Conference Highlights Modern Communication and Internet Use SARINA ROFFÉ SSC 2013 Rabbinical Conference Gala Dinner – Sitting on the Dais (L-to R): Rabbi Tuvia Kiel, R Benezri, Rabbi Eliyahu Shamoula, Rabbi Shlomo “aka Sam” Kassin, Dayan Ezra Basri, Chief Rabbi Bakshi Doron, Rabbi Shushan, Ricky Cohen, Rabbi Ezra Kassin, R Elisha Salas (Belmonte, Portugal). 72 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE