Gateways 1329855 222465887 2008-06-29T14:07:35Z DRosenbach 343456 /* Biography */ date [[Image:Gateways.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Gateways banner]] '''Gateways''' is a [[501(c)|501(C)3]] [[non-profit organization]]<ref>http://www.taxexemptworld.com/organizations/monsey_ny_10952.asp?spg=2</ref> whose mission is it to "raise [[Jewish]] consciousness and help stem the rising tide of [[assimilation]] for [[American Jewry]]."<ref>Gateways [[Shavuos]] Retreat [[pamphlet]], page 1.</ref> ==Origins== Gateways was started in 1998 by Rabbi Mordechai Suchard with the goal of "providing opportunities for Jews to unlock the treasure of their heritage through dynamic educational and social programs."<ref>Gateways [[Shavuos]] Retreat [[pamphlet]], inside of front cover.</ref> It is an [[United States|American]] offshoot of [[Arachim]] ([[Hebrew]] for ''values''), an [[Israel|Israeli]] Jewish outreach organization started in 1979.<ref>http://www.neveh.org/price/pricerosh64.html </ref> ==Gateways today== Gateways touts itself as being "''Your key to Jewish continuity''." Dedicated to ensuring a vibrant Jewish future, Gateways has developed an immersive learning approach by which "Jews of all backgrounds can appreciate the richness of Jewish values and traditions while building and reinforcing their bond with the Jewish people and [[Israel]]."<ref>Gateways booklet, page 1.</ref> Through Gateways, literally thousands of Jews have been able to reconnect with the beauty and richness of their Jewish heritage.<ref>http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1105/becher1.php3</ref> Headquartered in [[Monsey]], [[New York]], Gateways is staffed by a team of 45 professionals working in seven different departments, all geared to exploring Jewish identity throughout the United States:<ref>http://www.kiruv.com/Community/index.php</ref> *''Classic Gateways'': Family education *''The Brownstone'': Learning programs for collegiates and young professionals *''RAJE'': Specialized service focused on the [[Russian_Jew#Jews_in_Russia_today|Russian American Jewish]] community *''Connections'': Singles networking and matchmaking *''E-Education'': Learning opportunities via the internet, including the popular, free<ref>http://www.jewishpress.com/displayContent_new.cfm?contentid=25427&mode=a&contentname=Excuse_Me%2E%2E%2E__%28Part_Two%29&recnum=0&sectionid=14</ref> [http://www.asktherabbi.org Ask the Rabbi] portal *''J-Prisms'': Life skills and professional development seminars *''Celebrations'': Jewish holiday programs In its quest to touch the lives of as many [[Jew]]s as possible, Gateways often joins with other organizations to co-sponsor events,<ref>http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c268_a2072/News/New_York/Queens.html</ref> including the Jewish Learning Exchange of [[Ohr Somayach]],<ref>http://www.jewishpress.com/displayContent_new.cfm?contentid=24638&mode=a&contentname=New_York_Visit%3A_Memories_Of_Scooter_And_More&recnum=1&sectionid=14</ref> [[The Jewish Awareness Movement]] and [http://www.thejewishexperience.com/About/about.htm The Jewish Experience]. Gateways also hosts events throughout the United States, including over 50 communities in the New York metropolitan area,<ref>http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c268_a2072/News/New_York/Queens.html</ref> [[California]], [[Florida]],<ref>http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PA&p_theme=pa&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=107499C4185C3BCF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM</ref> [[Colorado]]<ref>http://www.thejewishexperience.com/About/about.htm</ref> and [[Arizona]].<ref>http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/010608/kollel.shtml</ref> Funding for Gateways is entirely from individual donors. ==Gateways personalities== ===Rabbi Mordechai Suchard=== [[Image:RabbiSuchard.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Mordechai Suchard|Rabbi Mordechai Suchard]], left, with a guest at the Gateways [[Shavuos]] Retreat in 2008.]] Rabbi Mordechai Suchard is the founder<ref>http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a4653/News/New_York.html</ref> and executive director of Gateways.<ref>http://www.gatewaysonline.com/about.asp</ref> He is a professional Jewish educator, speaker and author.<ref>http://torahmedia.com/author/Rabbi_Mordechai~Suchard.html</ref> ====Biography==== Suchard was born in [[South Africa]].<ref>http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewarticle/c343_a2072/News/New_York/Neighborhoods.html</ref> His father is a judge on the [[Beth Din]] of [[Johannesburg]]. He studied at the Talmudical academy of [[Telshe]], in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]. Later, he attended [[Ponevezh yeshiva|Ponevezh]] in [[Bnei Brak]], [[Israel]], and received his rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Kulitz, the [[Chief Rabbi]] of [[Jerusalem]] and Dean of the Jerusalem Beth Din. Suchard founded Gateways to promote the continuity of [[Judaism]]. He has spent the last decade establishing and running a network of outreach organizations targeting college students, young professionals, singles and Russian immigrants in the United States. He is also active in Jewish education on the Internet.<ref>http://www.jprisms.com/whoweare.asp</ref> Suchard has served on the rabbinical board of [http://www.AskTheRabbi.org Ask The Rabbi], answering questions about Jewish law, philosophy and ethics.<ref>http://www.asktherabbi.org/bios.asp</ref> He speaks across America on Jewish issues such as [[prophecy]] and seeing [[God]] in one's life.<ref>http://torahmedia.com/author/Rabbi_Mordechai~Suchard.html</ref><ref>http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PA&p_theme=pa&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=107499C4185C3BCF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM</ref><ref>http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/010608/kollel.shtml</ref> Suchard was on the American delegation accompanying [[POTUS|United States President]] [[George W. Bush|George Bush]] when he visited Israel in May 2008 to mark the country's sixtieth birthday celebrations.<ref>http://www.nysun.com/foreign/bush-visit-may-boost-olmert/76303/</ref><ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080512.html</ref> ====Political views==== Rabbi Suchard is a supporter of [[United States Senator|Senator]] [[Joe Lieberman]]. He contributed to his political campaign from 2002 to 2006.<ref>http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/mordechai-suchard.asp?cycle=06</ref> ===Rabbi Mordechai Becher=== Rabbi Mordechai Becher is an author, as well as a prolific lecturer<ref>http://ohr.edu/tapes/speaker.php?id=11</ref>. He speaks throughout the world<ref>http://www.projectgenesis.org/?s=zt</ref> on topics of Jewish philosophy and ritual law and practice. ====Biography==== Born in [[Australia]], Becher received his rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of [[Israel]] and the [[Chief Rabbi]] of [[Jerusalem]]. Shortly thereafter, he started lecturing at [[Neve Yerushalayim]], Darchei Binah<ref>https://www.yiws.org/becher.php</ref> and [[Ohr Somayach]] College, remaining at the latter for 15 years. He also served as a [[rabbi|Senior lecturer at Ohr Somayach Thornhill]] for four years in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]].<ref>http://www.torahinmotion.org/spkrs_crnr/faculty/bioMordechaiBecher.htm</ref> Becher first moved to Israel in 1978, and served in the [[armoured infantry]] in the [[Israel Defense Force]],<ref>http://jewishworldreview.com/jwisdom/becher.php3</ref>. He was also an army [[chaplain]],<ref>http://www.canfeinesharim.org/who_we_are/boards.php?page=11841</ref> teaching in training programs for rabbis and educators. He has co-authored two books on contemporary issues in [[Jewish law]] and has responded to literally thousands of legal, ethical and philosophical questions on the Ohr Somayach "Ask the Rabbi" website. Becher lives with his wife, Chavy, and their six children in [[Passaic]], [[New Jersey]].<ref>http://www.torahinmotion.org/spkrs_crnr/faculty/bioMordechaiBecher.htm</ref> ====Gateways==== Becher is currently a Senior Lecturer for the Gateways,<ref>http://www.gatewaysonline.com/staff.asp</ref> Becher also lectures for Project Genesis<ref>http://www.projectgenesis.org/?s=zt</ref> and is one of the leading voices in American Jewish outreach.<ref>http://www.jewishpress.com/displayContent_new.cfm?contentid=15969&mode=a&contentname=Planning_The_Future_Of_Kiruv%3A_Hundreds_of_Outreach_Leaders_Meet_at_AJOP_Convention&recnum=0&sectionid=14</ref> He is particularly known for his quick wit and tremendously acute sense of humor, evidenced by some of the lectures he delivers, with titles including "[[bikkurim|First Fruits]], [[Cheeseburger]]s and [[Lord of the Flies]]" and "[[Shabbos]]: Who Invented the Weekend Anyway?"<ref>http://www.ajop.org/cs_store-tapes.php?pageNum_Recordset1=1&totalRows_Recordset1=503</ref> He possesses a unique talent, blending popular culture and religion to achieve penetrating analogies and examples that allow him to connect to his audience.<ref>http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/jewishsociety/Harrys_Magic.asp </ref> Along with [[Rabbi Jonathan Rietti]], he is considered to be one of the top Jewish outreach speakers in [[United States|America]].<ref>http://www.linkla.org/update.php3</ref> ====Other endeavors==== Becher is the author of a number of books, including ''Avodat Ahavah'' (''Labor of Love'', currently available only in [[Hebrew]]) covering the Jewish laws related to ''[[kiruv]]''. He also co-authored ''After the Return: A Guide for the Newly Observant'' with Moshe Newman. His latest text, touted as an instant classic,<ref>http://www.projectgenesis.org/?s=zt</ref> is ''Gateway to Judaism: The What, How and Why of Jewish Life'' and was recently published by [[Artscroll|Artscroll-Mesorah Press]].<ref>http://books.google.com/books?as_auth=Mordechai+Becher&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title&cad=author-navigational&hl=en</ref> Becher has also contributed to the development of computer software programs related to Israeli [[geography]]. Becher serves as host of his own radio show on [[Orthodox Union|OU]]-Radio, which exists in a question and answer format. He generates a welcoming atmosphere while analyzing, debating and answering callers' questions.<ref>http://www.ouradio.org/ouradio/channel/C292/</ref> Becher is also the host of three [[cable television]] shows that air on [[Shalom TV]], carried on [[Time Warner Cable]]'s Channel 1 On Demand:<ref>http://www.texasjewishpost.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=2877&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1128&hn=texasjewishpost&he=.com</ref> "From the [[Hebrew alphabet|Aleph-Bet]]," "[[Kabbalah]] Revealed" and "Dimensions of the Daf," the latter a reference to the [[Talmud]], a page of which is referred to as a ''daf''. Becher has given lectures for many organizations, including the [[UJA]] and the [[Zionist Organization of America]].<ref>http://jewishworldreview.com/jwisdom/becher.php3</ref> ===Rabbi Jonathan Rietti=== [[Image:Jonathan Rietti PHOTO2.jpg|thumb|200px|Rabbi Jonathan Rietti]] Rabbi Jonathan Rietti is an English-born [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[rabbi]], educator<ref>http://www.jprisms.com/whoweare.asp</ref><ref>http://www.bukharianjews.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=37004&sid=e03b9747236e4f0a1c8a1b45572e21d9&POSTNUKESID=104ac1f8895a1618a64682c079b96512</ref> and prominent speaker.<ref>http://www.bikkurim.org/v3/bikkurimbriefingzoom.php?nbid=3</ref> ====Biography==== Rietti was born in [[England]]. He is a descendent of the [[Ben Ish Chai]], a noted [[Sephardic]] leader and son of [[United Kingdom|British]] actor and voice master, [[Robert Rietti]]. He attended school with the children of [[Ringo Starr]],<ref>Rietti, Rabbi Jonathan. ''In Search of Everlasting Love'' - audio format</ref>. He draws upon his familiarity with the film and advertising industries to entertain his audiences and criticize social flaws.<ref>http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video/Religion-and-Spirituality/Judaism/Jewish-Inspiration-with-Rabbi-Jonathan-Rietti/18153</ref> Rietti received his [[ordination]] from the Gateshead Rabbinical College, after which he was involved in establishing a growing [[kollel]] in [[Gibralter]].<ref>[http://www.jewishinspiration.com/about_rabbi_rietti.php Jewish Inspiration with Rabbi Rietti<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He is also the director of the publication society for the [[Breslov]] Research Institute<ref>http://www.breslov.com/en/index.php/The_Breslov_Directory</ref> and served as a senior lecturer for the Jewish Renaissance Center in the early 2000's.<ref>http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED81EBB56199F41&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM</ref> He is a much sought after lecturer on Jewish philosophy and theology, having been invited to speak throughout the United States.<ref>http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PA&p_theme=pa&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=107499C4185C3BCF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM</ref><ref>http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FDA57E944FA55D7&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM</ref><ref>http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BURB&p_multi=LBCB&p_theme=burb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=116EB494DAF1D7A8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM</ref> Rietti is the author of ''The One Minute Masmid'', an instruction manual on the proper way to study [[Torah]], written in the form of a third-person narrative. He has also written a book entitled ''The Art of Healthy Living'', based on [[Maimonidies]] teachings of healthy eating, and has been brought in on occasion to speak to audiences about his work in the field.<ref>http://www.thesoydailyclub.com/DisplayArchive.cfm?ArchiveID=2377</ref> In mid-[[2008]], Rietti was invited to be the [[keynote speaker]] at a program called "Caring For Loved Ones While Caring For Ourselves", where he addressed the issues relating to Maimonidies' guide for healthy living that form the basis for his new book.<ref>http://www.5tjt.com/news/read.asp?Id=2605</ref> He lives with his wife, Devorah, and their children in [[Monsey]], [[New York]]. ====Jewish education==== Rietti possesses a [[Master of Science|Master's degree]] in education<ref>Jewish Inspiration, Inc. - reverse side of audio albums</ref> and has been an educational consultant since 1986, offering guidance to parents of gifted and [[ADD]] children. He was the first to create a full curriculum for [[Montessori]]-style Jewish education at elementary level.<ref>Jewish Inspiration, Inc. - reverse side of audio albums</ref> and hosts teachers from around the world for guidance and training.<ref>http://www.jprisms.com/whoweare.asp</ref> He stresses the importance of [[emotional intelligence]],<ref>http://www.torahlifecenter.org/lectures.htm</ref> which he believes is understressed in the modern educational system. Rietti was principal of Yeshivas Sha'arei Simcha in [[Passaic]], [[New Jersey]] in the early to mid-2000s and is on staff at the Mesorah Center for Continuing Jewish Education, where his focus is on Jewish children.<ref>http://www.mesorahcenter.com/about.html</ref> Rietti is helping to found a new type of [[yeshiva]] in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]], where which all secular learning will be based on Jewish sources.<ref>http://knowideainc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=340&sid=c6425afa0b03ab47ad66e7d98baa966c</ref> ====Gateways==== Rietti is a senior lecturer for Gateways,<ref>http://www.asktherabbi.org/bios.asp</ref> and lectures across the [[United States]].<ref>http://www.jle.org.uk/showperson.php?id=216</ref> He is known for his educational seminars and lectures,<ref>http://www.torahmedia.com/search/results.php</ref> focusing on [[mussar]] and support for the [[authenticity]] of [[Torah]] [[Judaism]], as well as inspirational lectures on love and marriage, positive parenting and inner growth. He has recorded nearly 200 lectures <ref>http://www.linkla.org/update.php3</ref> and is a sought-after speaker on love, marriage and the Jewish approach to interpersonal relationships.<ref>http://www.jprisms.com/whoweare.asp</ref> Rietti is on the response team of ''Ask the Rabbi'', a website dedicated to answering questions about [[Judaism]], usually within 24 hours.<ref>http://www.asktherabbi.org/index.asp</ref> He has appeared numerous times as a guest speaker on the ''[[Gavriel Sanders]] Show'', addressing the Jewish perspective on love, happiness and anger management.<ref>http://www.gavrielsanders.com/LatestInternetRadioPrograms.htm</ref> Rietti is involved with numerous outreach organizations and educational institutions, including [[Ohr Somayach]] and [[The Jewish Awareness Movement]].<ref>http://www.jamoncampus.com/retsch.htm</ref> ==References== <references/> ==External links== *Gateways **[http://www.gatewaysonline.com Gateways Online] **[http://www.themetrotrip.com The Brownstone] **[http://www.rajeusa.com RAJE] **[http://www.jprisms.com J-Prisms] **[http://www.asktherabbi.org E-Education: Ask the Rabbi] *Lectures **[http://torahmedia.com/search/results.php?directspeaker=Suchard%2C+Rabbi+Mordechai TorahMedia.com: Inspirational lectures - Rabbi Mordechai Suchard] **[http://torahmedia.com/author/Rabbi_Mordechai~Becher.html TorahMedia.com: Free Inspirational lectures - Rabbi Mordechai Becher] **[http://www.jewishinspiration.com/index.php Jewish Inspiration, Inc.] **[http://www.torahanytime.com/Rabbi/Jonathan_Rietti/index.html Torah Any Time: Free Inspirational Lectures - Rabbi Jonathan Rietti] **[http://torahmedia.com/author/Rabbi_Jonathan~Rietti.html TorahMedia: Free Inspirational Lectures - Rabbi Jonathan Rietti] [[Category:Baalei teshuva institutions]] [[Category:Jewish organizations based in the United States]]