Moshe Gottesman
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Moshe Gottesman was born in Canada. He held the position of dean
for the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County
for close to 20 years. Rabbi Gottesman has was also the director of tours for Camp Sdei Chemed International for over 35 years. Rabbi Gottesman has been the recipient of many awards, including, most recently, the Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Yeshiva University
. The award was presented to him at the University's commencement exercises in May 2010. Rabbi Gottesman continues to be an influential member of the Modern Orthodox and Religious Zionist Jewish community.
) and Judaic studies at the Hebrew Theological College
. While studying at the HTC his main rabbinic influences included Rabbis Yisrael Mendel Kaplan
and Chaim Kreiswirth
. Many of Rabbi Gottesman's peers from the HTC are now famous rabbis, including, most notably, Rabbi Berel Wein
.
he began work as as rabbi for the original campus in West Hempstead. Rabbi Gottesman went on to become a teacher, principal of the Junior and Senior High School and Dean in 1985.
Rabbi Gottesman's teaching philosophy is that every Jewish child deserves a Jewish education. In all of his years teaching, Rabbi Gottesman never expelled any students unless he could find an appropriate, alternate replacement.
and Nassau Community College
Every year Rabbi Gottesman leads HANC in their march at the annual Salute to Israel Day Parade in New York City
The program currently accommodates children with everything from basic learning disabilities to Downs Syndrome and various types of autism
. The program meets each Sunday morning and provides a Jewish education with davening, the aleph-bet, laws and customs, song, dance, art, parashah, and crafts to children who, because of their special requirements, would have no other opportunity to be in a Jewish school environment.
did not have a mikvah
. In 1984 Rabbi Gottesman was determined. Neighbors took the religious community to a court zoning board over the building permit. Rabbi Gottesman and twenty five 12th grade HANC students attended the hearing. Rabbi Gottesman used his students as a visual to show the judge how many people would use the mikva if granted a permit. The judge granted permission and dismissed the case.
Over 200 families currently use the Oceanside mikva. Rabbi Gottesmans wife, Sondra, is the vice president of the Oceanside Mikvah Association. The mikva was renovated in 2009 and was rededicated in memory of long time member Mrs. Judy Williams.
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
for the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County
Hebrew Academy of Nassau County
Hebrew Academy of Nassau County is a four-year, comprehensive, modern-orthodox, Jewish high school, located in Nassau County, New York.-History:...
for close to 20 years. Rabbi Gottesman has was also the director of tours for Camp Sdei Chemed International for over 35 years. Rabbi Gottesman has been the recipient of many awards, including, most recently, the Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
. The award was presented to him at the University's commencement exercises in May 2010. Rabbi Gottesman continues to be an influential member of the Modern Orthodox and Religious Zionist Jewish community.
Education
Rabbi Gottesman received his formal education and semicha in Chicago, Illinois, where he studied secular studies at the Chicago Jewish Academy (which is now known as Ida Crown Jewish AcademyIda Crown Jewish Academy
Ida Crown Jewish Academy is a Modern Orthodox Jewish high school in West Ridge, Chicago, Illinois,Ida Crown Jewish Academy is a Modern Orthodox Jewish high school in West Ridge, Chicago, Illinois,...
) and Judaic studies at the Hebrew Theological College
Hebrew Theological College
The Hebrew Theological College, known as "Skokie Yeshiva," is a Yeshiva in Skokie, Illinois which also functions as a private university on campus. The primary focus of the Yeshiva is to teach Torah and Jewish traditions...
. While studying at the HTC his main rabbinic influences included Rabbis Yisrael Mendel Kaplan
Yisrael Mendel Kaplan
Rabbi Israel Mendel Kaplan or Yisrael Mendel Kaplan , known as "Reb Mendel" served as a teacher in the Hebrew Theological College in Chicago and in the Philadelphia Yeshiva to many of the men who were to become the leaders of Orthodox American Jewry.-Early life:Yisrael Mendel Kaplan was born in...
and Chaim Kreiswirth
Chaim Kreiswirth
Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth was an Orthodox rabbi who served as the longtime Chief Rabbi of Congregation Machzikei Hadass Antwerp, Belgium...
. Many of Rabbi Gottesman's peers from the HTC are now famous rabbis, including, most notably, Rabbi Berel Wein
Berel Wein
Berel Wein is an American-born Orthodox rabbi, scholar, lecturer, and writer. He is regarded as an expert on Jewish history and has popularized the subject through more than 1,000 audio tapes, a four-volume book series, newspaper articles and international lectures...
.
Dean
Rabbi Gottesman's tenure at HANC began in 1960. After a year of teaching in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
he began work as as rabbi for the original campus in West Hempstead. Rabbi Gottesman went on to become a teacher, principal of the Junior and Senior High School and Dean in 1985.
Rabbi Gottesman's teaching philosophy is that every Jewish child deserves a Jewish education. In all of his years teaching, Rabbi Gottesman never expelled any students unless he could find an appropriate, alternate replacement.
Post Retirement
Although he is officially retired, Rabbi Gottesman still devotes much of his time to HANC. In December 2010 HANC dedicated its new Beit Midrash in his honor. The goal of the Rabbi Moshe Gottesman Beit Midrash is to be a center of learning for students and alumni from HANC as well people who either work or study in nearby communities and schools like Hofstra UniversityHofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
and Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College is a two-year college. It is located in East Garden City, New York, USA. The school is in Nassau County on Long Island. NCC maintains a nationwide reputation for academic excellence and ease of transferability to four-year institutions.- History :Created as part of the...
Every year Rabbi Gottesman leads HANC in their march at the annual Salute to Israel Day Parade in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Gottesman Learning Center
While dean at HANC, Rabbi Gottesman established the Gottesman Learning Center for children with special needs.The program currently accommodates children with everything from basic learning disabilities to Downs Syndrome and various types of autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
. The program meets each Sunday morning and provides a Jewish education with davening, the aleph-bet, laws and customs, song, dance, art, parashah, and crafts to children who, because of their special requirements, would have no other opportunity to be in a Jewish school environment.
Young Israel of Oceanside Mikva
For over 25 years the community of Oceanside, New YorkOceanside, New York
Oceanside is a hamlet located in the south part of the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. The population was 32,109 at the 2010 census.-History:...
did not have a mikvah
Mikvah
Mikveh is a bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism...
. In 1984 Rabbi Gottesman was determined. Neighbors took the religious community to a court zoning board over the building permit. Rabbi Gottesman and twenty five 12th grade HANC students attended the hearing. Rabbi Gottesman used his students as a visual to show the judge how many people would use the mikva if granted a permit. The judge granted permission and dismissed the case.
Over 200 families currently use the Oceanside mikva. Rabbi Gottesmans wife, Sondra, is the vice president of the Oceanside Mikvah Association. The mikva was renovated in 2009 and was rededicated in memory of long time member Mrs. Judy Williams.