Rabbi Dr. David Eliach and Professor Yaffa Eliach awarded
the Rabbi M.Z. Neriah Lifetime Educational Achievement Award
American Friends of Yeshivot Bnei Akiva held their 29th Annual Tribute Event on March 26th at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. The Guests of Honor were Rabbi Dr. David Eliach and Professor Yaffa Eliach, the premier couple in the field of Jewish education in America. AFYBA was privileged to bestow upon them the Rabbi Moshe Zvi Neriah Lifetime Educational Achievement Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions in their respective fields. Hundreds of the guests in attendance came to express their affection and respect for this very special couple.
Prof. Yaffa Eliach, Broeklundian Professor of Judaic Studies at Brooklyn College and Founder and Director of the Center for Holocaust Studies, is renowned for her scholarly work on the Holocaust. Rabbi Dr. David Eliach retired as Dean of the Yeshivah of Flatbush after 43 years of service. He has long been acknowledged as a “teacher’s teacher,” and has been the recipient of many prestigious awards. Rabbi Eliach never forgot his roots as one of the seven founding students of Yeshivot Bnei Akiva under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Zvi Neriah zt”l at Kfar Haroeh. Thus, the award in the name of Rabbi Neriah is so aptly appropriate.
President of AFYBA, Alan Wildes, served as Master of Ceremonies, efficiently guiding the evening’s program. AFYBA would like to express its deepest appreciation to the Honorary Chairmen, David Azrieli, Malcolm Hoenlein and Prof. Elie Wiesel, to the Vice Chairmen, Dr. Richard Joel, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, Rabbi Marc Schneier and Hon. Marty Markowitz, to Tribute Event Chairman, Alan Wildes, Honoree Chair, Steven Adelsberg, and to Tribute Event Co-Chairs, Marvin Bienenfeld, Esther Press and Arthur Alexander. Special kudos goes to AFYBA Executive Director Menachem Bar-Shalom, and to Associate Director Amalia Leubitz, for their outstanding efforts in organizing this evening. Yasher Koach!
