For over 50 years Rabbi Brovender has taught thousands of students from all around the world. This week we introduce you to Rabbi Aaron Frank, Upper School Principal at the Ramaz School in Manhattan.
Prior to coming to Ramaz, Rabbi Frank was the Head of School at Kinneret Day School and previously Associate Principal at SAR High School. Before moving to New York, he worked at the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School in Baltimore for twelve years, serving as Lower School and then High School Principal. He served as Associate Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale under the mentorship of Rabbi Avi Weiss from 1996 until 2000 and was a founding member of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Baltimore.
Rabbi Frank is married to Laura Shaw Frank. They have four children: Ateret, Yanniv, Elinadav, and Neri.
How did you meet Rabbi Brovender?
I met Rabbi Brovender in 1991 at a pivotal time in my life. I was post college and really in need of a place where I could learn seriously and be immersed in an environment of Torah and frumkeit, also while valuing my individuality and personal journey.
The yeshiva and Rabbi Brovender were the perfect place.
What do you find most important or striking about the “Brovender Method” -his unique way of teaching?
Although I had spent my whole life in Day School, my textual skills were very weak and I was in one of the lower level shiurim with Rabbi Brovender. He had a magical way of making you feel so valued and also being straightforward and honest about what it takes to be committed to Torah and mitzvot.
This balance struck us all, and of course with his signature sense of humor that would leave all the guys laughing daily!
What lesson or specific Torah that you learned from Rabbi Brovender, do you keep coming back to or carry with you wherever you go?
Rabbi Brovender is serious and passionate. He is someone who is not able to be put in a box. He lives the way he sees things as truth. He is not modern and he is not Haredi. He is simply who he is –a well educated, smart, serious and caring soul.
I was one of the more liberal guys in the yeshiva, and Rabbi Brovender was a true rebbe. He was always understanding of my world, while being kind and while giving me food for thought about the derekh of my life.
This showed most clearly in how he helped guide me through our wedding through the lenses of halakhah and also helped to find ways that it would be personally meaningful. I am blessed to have learned and been impacted by him.
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To share your personal story about learning with Rabbi Brovender please contact us