Perspectives on the Graduation (Semikha) Ceremony

Although the previous post was about the semikha ceremony, there are other posts around about it.
One non-blog article on the ceremony may be found in the NY Blueprint ("2007 Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbis"). The most notable part of that article is the following quote from Rabbi Avi Weiss:

“Where you fly and how you fly is up to you… students are often unable to make any decision without turning to their rabbi,” said Rabbi Weiss. “This is not the model of Chovevei Torah. To be sure, the rabbis and teachers here at YCT do the best to provide a process of learning critical to your success as a rabbi. But the goal of the master rabbi is to empower, not control. Not to hold on tight, but to let go… Real Torah is to reap from the master’s insight and then to find your own voice. As you celebrate your ordination, consider the imagery of walking out backwards with eyes on YCT, to forever draw from those you love and those that influence you.”

Steg had a little posting over at HOTGK, following it up with more discussion at then end of another posting.
R' Josh Yuter juxtaposed the YCT graduation with his own at RIETS, interestingly comparing and contrasting them in his "The Yeshiva and the Bazaar".

Fourth Semikhah Ceremony

On Sunday (10 June/24 Sivan), Yeshivat Chovevei Torah held its fourth annual graduation (Semikhah) ceremony. Nine students graduated, bringing up the number of total graduates of the school to 36.
MCed by graduate Rabbi Uri Topolosky (YCT '05) (and with a sign language interpreter all throughout the ceremony), the ceremony began with Rabbi Samuel Feinsmith (YCT '05) and Rami Strosberg leading off ,with some musical accompaniment, singing the American and Israeli national anthems.
Following this, Rabbi Menachem HaCohen, the Chief Rabbi of Romania gave the invocation. Following him, Dr. Michelle Friedman, the chair of YCT's Department of Pastoral Counseling gave the Devar Torah. Following her, Howard Jonas, the chair of the YCT Board of Trustees spoke some words of greetings.
Following them, graduating students Elliot Kaplowitz and David Kasher spoke. The former spoke on "The Yeshiva Experience", while the latter spoke on "Rabbinic Aspirations," mentioning in the course of his talk two darknesses against which we are to fight: the first of meaninglessness and the other being religious fundamentalism.
Prior to the conferral of Semikhah, there was a further musical interlude, with some dancing, as well.
Rabbi Dov Linzer, Rosh HaYeshiva, addressed those in attendance prior to moving into giving the young men their respective semikhas. First, Rabbi Linzer spoke individually to/about each of the first three young men before conferring upon them their semikhas, Rabbi Yaacov Love, Associate Chair of the YCT Department of Halakha, then did the same for the next three, with Rabbi Avi Weiss finishing up with the last three students.
Following this up was Rabbi Yamin Levy, the Vice-President of Yeshiva Affairs who made the gift presentation of shofars to the graduates. Finishing up for the ceremony was Rabbi Weiss with some final remarks.
-
Students graduating in YCT's class of 2007:
-Yonah Berman
-Avidan Freedman
-Akiva Herzfeld
-Elliot Kaplowitz
-David Kasher
-Jamie Pearlberg
-Sorin Rosen

-Akiva Silton

-Ari Weiss
Seven of these students have already been listed in the booklet as having secured jobs:
Berman "will serve as Assistant Rabbi of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal." Freedman will "assume the role of Limudei Kodesh instructor at SAR High School in Riverdale, NY." Kaplowitz "will serve as Rabbi and co-Director ... of the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus" at Brandeis. Kasher will "serve as a Judaic Studies Teacher and Parent Education Program Coordinator at Oakland Hebrew Day School." Pearlberg will be a "Talmud Instructor at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School." Rosen will return to Romania to serve as rabbi there. Silton will be "teaching at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem and working as a pediatrician in Bet Shemesh."

-

(last year's semikha ceremony)