Sin-A-Gogue

by David Bashevkin

  Friends:

  “The asset I most value,” wrote Warren Buffet, “aside from health, is interesting, diverse, and long-standing friends.” On the scale of that billionaire, I am a wealthy man. I am so appreciative of all my friends who have helped refine and develop my sensitivities and sensibilities. In particular, thank you to Menachem Butler, who always promotes his friends. In a world of “self-promotion,” he is a true “friend-promoter.” From our times in the hallways of Toras Chaim in South Shore he is one of my longest standing friends and was an integral part in ensuring the publication of this volume. Deepest admiration to my friend and “sort of” cousin, Altie Karper, for providing much needed guidance. Thank you as well to Rabbi Jake Sasson for your sustained awesomeness, to Rabbi Aryeh Westreich for being a friend and mentor and a constant reminder of what true Torah scholarship is supposed to look like, Rabbi Simcha Willig for making sure I never quit, and Rabbi Mati Diamond for serving as liban shel yisrael, the heart of the people. Rabbi Baruch Dov Braun provided much of the substance and direction for my approach to Yonah; I treasure his intellectual generosity. Thank you as well to my friends who taught me about friendship, Rabbi Yoni Sonnenblick and Dr. Akiva Diamond. I am also indebted to the continued belief my friends have had in me, including Rabbi Beni Burstein; Shimon Steinmetz, a true academic rockstar who graciously agreed to read and comment on an early manuscript of this work; Zack and Aharon Schrieber; Alon Amar; Moshe Hager, who showed me the wealth contained in the machavas; The Benj Samuels who taught me what it means to be a grown-up; and Duvi Stahler, who taught me the creativity needed for authenticity and the authenticity of true creativity. Special thanks to Rabbi Judah Mischel for his “genuiosity,” a rare combination of generosity and genuineness; and to Rabbi Ari Segal, my friend who treats me like family; and to Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld, who showed me the gift of translation. I have many colleagues who have now become friends, all of whom I deeply admire and appreciate, but special thanks to Mr. David Cutler and Mrs. Rina Emerson for their mentorship and friendship navigating the world of professional imperfection. He may not know it, but the friend who first introduced me to the world of resilience and continues to serve as my template for self-acceptance is Mr. Eli Schulman. I am forever grateful for his guidance and insight in the narrow straits. I have also benefited so much from several virtual cohorts including the Twitter Chevra, Egregious, DM Nicorette, Gev-Alt, University of Purim, the Carpool, Taki Stock Chat, and the Bus.

  Finally, like the Hebrew volume I published in 2016, many of the ideas in this volume emerged from classes I had the privilege to give at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. I will never be able to adequately explain how much the 7:30 AM chevra means to me, but . Thank you especially to Mr. Joel Mael for first giving me the opportunity to share Torah to this group and to Dr. Reuben and Mandy Brecher for providing Kiddush on my walk home and opening their heart and home to me.

  Teachers:

  I am so grateful to the educational institutions in which I have had the privilege to study, including Yeshiva of South Shore, under the leadership of Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky zt”l and now his son Rav Mordechai, who in certain pages is really like family. The Menahel Rabbi Chanina Herzberg, zt”l, is still the model of educator I aspire to become. At DRS HALB High School for Boys under the leadership of my Rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, I first fell in love with Torah learning and learned the enduring value of having a Rebbe. In Yeshivat Sha’alvim in Israel, I am indebted to Rabbi Ari Waxman who introduced me to the works of Rabbi Yitzhak Hutner and, along with it, the joy of curiosity. I studied for several years at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel Rabbinical College in Baltimore; my rabbeim there still serve as the unaltered standard for committed Torah life. In particular, the Friday night presentations of Rabbi Ezra Neuberger still echo in the very foundations of my soul. At Yeshiva University I studied in Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, and I am so appreciative of the Roshei Yeshiva and particularly appreciate Rabbi Chaim Bronstein for his care and kindness. While there I completed my MA at the Bernard Revel Graduate School, where I was introduced to the academic study of Hasidut by Dr. Yaakov Elman, of blessed memory, a professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, where he held the Herbert S. and Naomi Denenberg Chair in Talmudic Studies. Together we explored the writings of Rav Zadok Ha-Kohen of Lublin. His guidance, encouragement, and brilliance will long be remembered. I am also indebted to my teachers Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, who had faith in me when I did not have faith in myself, and Rabbi Moshe Benovitz, who first introduced me to the majesty and sophistication of Torah wedded to experiential life. Over the years, I have become increasingly close with Rabbi Yossi “Joe” Kanofksy and his family, with whom I have spent the better half of a decade on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. He’s been a role model for me in what a contemporary chassidic life and a diverse book shelf should really look like. Finally, and I know he eschews such superlatives, but my Rebbe Dr. Ari Bergmann showed me the grandeur of interdisciplinary study and sophisticated academic analysis through the lens of an inspired soul. His ideas continue to inspire my love of ideas.

  Family:

  My in-laws present a dilemma and a blessing. They are both friends and teachers, so they could have rightfully been included within either of those thank yous. But above all, they are my family who is always there for me. My deepest gratitude to Dr. Louis and Safta Debbie Flancbaum for reviewing an earlier manuscript and making me a better person, to Phyllis Flancbaum for her boundless selflessness for our family, and to Shira, Jeremy (a.k.a. J-Bone), Meir, Atara, and their entire families for welcoming me as family and embracing me as a friend.

  On September 14, 1997, Fred Rogers, affectionately known as Mr. Rogers, received the lifetime achievement award at the 24th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He asked the audience to take a ten second moment of silence to think about the “special ones who have loved us into being.” I have always been struck by that phrase. “Loved us into being.” When I think about the people who loved me into being, I always think about my family. Nothing gives me more pride than being a part of the Bashevkin family along with my siblings Sarah, Elana, Rachel, and Elie, as well as their respective spouses, Ian, Shlomo, Dov, and Miriam, and all their children.

  My parents, of course, loved me into being. They created a home of learning and prayer. Memories of my parents davening and studying Torah continue to animate my values and ambitions. My gratitude to them is simply ineffable.

  Finally, my wife Tova, you brought sweetness into my life and I have so much admiration and appreciation for the home we are building together. We often jokingly say, “You’re perfect, even when you’re not perfect.” It’s a fitting phrase given the subject of the book, which I dedicate to you, our Mr. Baby, Zev Moshe, and Baby Kira, Yakira Leeba. For showing me the true meaning of perfection, with enduring love, thank you.