Rabbi Yosef Gavriel and Dr. Shani M. Bechhofer: Scholars in Residence General Information

בס"ד

Rabbi Yosef Gavriel

and Dr. Shani M.

Bechhofer

Scholar-in-residence and lecturing information

Links:

Other Shiurim on Video
My Recorded Shiurim Online
Reuven Meir Caplan's Repository of my Recorded Shiurim
Daf Yomi Yerushalmi Shiurim

We have a large and varied repertoire of topics and programs, and, Baruch Hashem, have been very well received in many venues, including shul and hotel scholar-in-residence events and programs. Below you will find:

Short bios.A sample program from a recent "joint" Scholar in Residence Shabbos.A selection of sample topics for lectures and/or shiurim.

Our contact information is below. Please contact us to discuss, plan and schedule programming.

Thank you.

ygbechhofer@gmail.com
shani.bechhofer@gmail.com
home: 845.425.6820
cell: 845.216.1617

Brief Bios:

Rabbi Bechhofer is a Rebbe and Maggid Shiur at the Mesivta of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan (MTA) and at Yeshivas Ohr Somayach in Monsey. He is also a writer and editor at Artscroll/Mesorah Publications. Rabbi Bechhofer has served as a Rav, Rosh Kollel and educator in the Chicago and New York areas. He is a sought after scholar in residence, and has lectured in many venues around the world. He is a prolific author, and has published several books and numerous essays in major Orthodox Jewish periodicals.

Dr. Shani Bechhofer is one of the foremost authorities on all aspects of the contemporary world of Chinuch. She has recently established her own consulting agency. Dr. Bechhofer has been involved in Jewish education for over two decades as limudei kodesh teacher, general studies director, menaheles and principal, consultant, professor and researcher. She has been featured in US News & World Report for her leadership as the Principal of the Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov High School in Chicago.

Sample of a joint program:

Kesher Israel’s July Scholar In Residence Team

KI is proud to welcome Rabbi Yoseph Gavriel & Dr. Shani Bechhofer – who will be joining us as team scholars in residence for the Shabbos of July 24th (Shabbos Nachamu).

All of us look forward to learning from the Bechhofers at the following venues:

Rabbi Bechhofer will deliver the Shabbos morning sermon at KI
Following Kiddush at KI, both Rabbi and Dr. Bechhofer will speak on “Public Scofflaws: The Orthodox Chilul Hashem”
From 6:20 -7:20 PM Rabbi Bechhofer will share his encyclopedic knowledge with the entire community at the home of (to be announced). He will speak on the little known Mitzvah of Shiluach HaKen (sending away the mother bird) in a talk entitled: “A Torah of Refinement”
At 7:50 PM, the women of the community are invited to join together for a women’s Shalosh Seudos at the home of Aviva & Dr. Jeff Kashuk (2945 Green St.) where Dr. Bechhofer will speak on: “Lessons in Relevance: Can the great women of our heritage really serve as role models for our complex, busy lives?”
Following the 7:50 PM Mincha at KI, Rabbi Bechhofer will offer his final presentation entitled: “The P’lishtim: They Weren't Just Philistines”

Some ideas for shiur and lecture topics:

Emuna & Hashkafa:	Contemporary & Practical Halachic Issues:
The Age of the Universe	Eruvin in Metropolitan Areas
Evidence and Emunah	The Definition of Death in Halacha
Does Reason Serve Faith or Faith Serve Reason	Organ Transplants
Tradition, History & Belief	Curtailing Treatment of the Terminally Ill
The Authenticity of the Torah	Cholov Yisroel
Bechira Chofshis: How Free are We?	Agunah Problems & Related Issues
Divine Providence	Buying Meat in Non-Jewish Owned Stores
The Unity of G-d	Banking in a Jewish Owned Bank
G-d's Incorporeality	When & What Mechitza is Required by Halacha
Creation Ex Nihilo	May Jews Return to Spain
Worshiping G-d — Nothing Else	Changing Neighborhoods
Prophecy	Halachic Attitudes Towards Secular Studies
The Prophecy of Moshe Rabbeinu	The Use of Microphones in Halacha
The Divine Origin of Torah	Women in Jewish Communal Life
The Torah will not be Abrogated	Gelatin
G-d's Omniscience	Organized Labor & Strikes
Reward & Punishment	Tzedaka & Ma'aser Kesafim
Moshiach: Are These Messianic Times?	Glatt Kosher
Resurrection of the Dead	Sheimos: What are They & How to Dispose of Them
These & Those are the Words of the Living G-d	Headcovering for Women
Our Relationship with Previous Generations	The Great International Dateline Controversy
The Impact of Kabbala on Machashava	Bishul Akum
Sophisticated Chesed	Teaching Torah to Non-Jews
Denominational Attitudes	Yeshivot Hesder in Halacha
Sinners Within & Ahavas Yisroel	AIDS
The Greater They Are, The Greater Their Fall	Cheating on Your Taxes
Chronologies of the 2^nd Beis HaMikdosh Period	Kol Isha
Brazenness & Bashfulness	Ashkenazic vs. Sepharadic Pronunciation
Exploring Chutzpa	Suing Your Rabbi for Malpractice
What is True Yiras Shomayim	Copyrights in Halacha
Tefilla & Avodas Hashem Workshops	Autopsies & Biopsies
Truth & Falsehood	Plastic Surgery & Diets
Malachim (Angels): What are They/What do they Do?	Communal Unity
Bein Yisroel L'Amim: Judaism & Christianity	Shabbos Cosmetics
What is Kedusha & How is it Achieved	Cigarette Smoking in Halacha
Torah she'be'al Peh as the Focus	May Women Wear Pants?
Analyzing Agadata	Music in Halacha
Time & Times in Judaism	Conversion
The Leviathan	Laws of Waiting on Line & Priorities in a Waiting Room
Bitachon: Trust in G-d	Teshuva & Kiruv
Para Aduma	Magic & Magicians in Halacha
Kilayim & Sha’atnez	Practical Hilchos Mezuza
Basar Ve'Chalav	Abortion
Kisui HaDam	Halachos of Shabbos Goyim
Pride & Humility	Electric Lights in Halacha
Friendship	Vegetarianism in Halacha
Simchas Chosson V'Kalla	Shabbos Elevators
Ta’amei ha’Mitzvos	Heter Iska
Zav & Zava	Entering Churches & Mosques
Mikveh	Rebuking Wrongdoers
Orlah	Cooking for & on Shabbos & Yom Tov
Aleynu	Entering the Temple Mount
Atah Kadosh	Restoring Avodas HaKorbonos
Atah Bechartanu	Techeles
Eating Jewishly	Extradition
Frankfurt vs. Volozhin	In Vitro Fertilization
G-d Diminished the Moon?	Surrogate Motherhood
Acher: Elisha ben Avuya	Dayanim & Batei Din in Modern Times
The Jewish Concept of Thanksgiving	Semicha & Psak Halacha
Shiluach HaKen	Corporal & Capitol Punishment in Our Times
Hallel	Opening Other People’s Mail
The Prophecy of Bilam	Havdala
Chopping Down Fruit Trees	The Use of Lie Detectors in Halacha
Of Donkeys & Cold	Disturbing the Peace: Exhuming & Relocating Graves
Prophecy: Dreams	From Soup to Nuts: Eating a Meal al pi Halacha
Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim	Behind Bars with Halacha: Imprisonment
Yomim Tovim	Sale of Weapons by Israel to Foreign Countries
Yomim Noro’im	Reversing Bal Tashchis: Recycling
Chana & Shmuel HaNavi	Close Shaves with Halacha: Electric Razors
Shaul HaMelech	Business Partnerships with a Goy
The Plishtim	Partnerships with Mechalelei Shabbos
Existence	May a Jew Own Stock in a Company that Trades in Treifos?
The Ba'alei Machashava on War	Medicines/Medical Procedures on Shabbos/Yom Tov
Kochi v'Otzem Yadi	Is a Promise Halachically Binding?
Courage & Cowardice	What & Why Rabbinic Ordinances are Binding
Sanctity & Profanity	Brokerage: Shadchanim & Real Estate Agents
Shimshon	What's a Bracha & How Does it Work?
Dovid HaMelech	Rise & Shine: Getting Up in with Halacha
Bar Kochba	Wars & Armies
Gid HaNasheh	May a Jew Become a Professional Football Player & Related Issues
Netzach & Hod	Oh No! You Have a She'eila & no Rabbi to Ask: What do you do?
Talmid Chochom	Is Pasteurized Wine Mevushal?
Din: Judgement	Fetal Reduction & Related Issues
Judaism & Freedom	Stitches on Shabbos
The Name of G-d & the Night of the Seder	Squeezing & Grinding on Shabbos
The Fifth Cup	Redistributing the Wealth: Yissaschar-Zevulun Relationships
Kabbolas Shabbos	Were the Chashmonaim Allowed to Assume the Kingship of Israel?
Rabbi Chanina & Rabbi Yannai	Chopping Pesukim
Shabbos: Six Tehillim & the Days of the Week	Sunrise, Sunset: Halachic Times of Day
Mizmor L'Dovid	Rising Before the Wise & Senior Citizens
Longevity & Immortality	Lifnei Iver
Astrology	Rib'is: Subscribing to Jewish Periodicals?
Male & Female	The First Year of Marriage
Challa	Halachos of Taking Challa from Dough
Tanya for Misnagdim	The Mitzvah of Ma'akeh
Ma'avir Rishon Rishon	Muktzeh
Beyond Seder	Shabbos Clocks
Chumros: Is the Way to Heaven Paved with Them?	Shabbos & Electricity
Judaism & Monarchy	Halacha at 35,000 Feet: Airplane Travel Issues
Netzach Yisroel	Child Abuse
Magen Dovid	Happy Endings: Halachos of Haftaros
Half Hallel	Constructive Justice? Bribing Public Officials
Yerushalayim	Microwave Ovens: Shabbos & Kashrus
Malchus & Shechina	Wills & Testaments: Issues & Resolutions
Havaya”h, Elokim, Tzevako"s, Adnu"s	Office Parties: Yoreh De'ah Issues
Tzimtzum	Social Gatherings: Moshav Leitzim
Beis HaMikdosh: A Neck	A Change of Place: Shinui Makom in Berachos
288 Nitzotzos	The Effects of Inflation on Halacha
The Eyes of G-d	Kedushas Bais HaKenesses
Too Great a Test?	Finders Keepers? Abandoned Objects in Public Places
Sorcery & Sin	Kavod & Kerias Sefer Torah
Amalek & Tomorrow	So What's New? Chodosh!
The Throne of Dovid and Shlomo	Is there a Halachic Basis for Yom HaSho'ah?
Intellect	Dishwashers: Kashrus, Shabbos & Yom Tov
Rosh and Crown	Forcing a Husband to Give a Get
Tzedaka vs. Chesed	Financial Assistance from non-Jews
Tanach vs. Chazal	Da'as Torah in Halachic & Non-Halachic Areas
Transitions & Chana's Song	Shabbos Babycare: Baby Wipes & Disposable Diapers
Kaf HaKela: The Catapult	Reuven or Robert? English Names for Jewish People
Gehinnom & Reward	Good Intentions: Kavana for the Beginning of Shma
Beards	Animal Experimentation & Tza'ar Ba'alei Chaim
Keruvim	Pop-Top Halacha: Opening Various Food Containers