The community is invited to Congregation Sons of Israel's Dr. Murray Schechter Memorial Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Rabbi Akiva Ackerman December 20-21.  On Friday, Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat is at 5:00 p.m.  Rabbi Ackerman’s Dvar Torah is entitled “The Alarming and Illuminating Experience Leading to Chanukah”.  Rabbi Ackerman’s drasha Shabbos morning is on “International Jewish Pride Then and Now”, followed by a chulent kiddush.  Mincha on Shabbos is at 12:30 p.m., followed by a class on “Halacha’s Greatest Sports Fanatic”.  Everyone is invited to a Saturday night lecture at 7:00 p.m. when Rabbi Ackerman will speak on “Undertaking the Undertaker’s Responsibility from a Jewish Perspective:  Honoring and Dishonoring the Decedent’s Wishes.”  Light refreshments and dessert will be served.

Rabbi Akiva Ackerman is one of America’s rising Rabbinic stars and is currently a senior staff member on one of Israel’s premier summer programs, NCSY Kollel.  Previously, Rabbi Ackerman has held several prominent positions in the Jewish community including serving as the Director of Student Life at Yeshiva University High School for Boys as well as the Rabbinic Assistant at the Great Neck Synagogue.  Rabbi Ackerman has participated in numerous U.S.-Israel based fellowships including with AIPAC and the iCenter.  Rabbi Ackerman has earned a B.A. in Mortuary Science, a Masters in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School, and received Rabbinical Ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.  Most recently, Rabbi Ackerman has published his first Sefer called “Taharas Chaim”, an in-depth all-encompassing Sefer on Hilchos Mikvaos.  Follow him on Twitter @akivaackerman for great Torah content.

This program is sponsored by Marcia Schechter in loving memory of Dr. Murray Schechter, z’l.