Manhattan Beach Leadership
[/text_block]
Steven Adelsberg is one of the pillars behind congregation Shaarey Torah in Manhattan Beach. Raised in East Meadow, NY, Steven graduated Yeshiva University High School in Manhattan.
Steven is a well-respected accountant working in his family-run accounting firm for the past five decades.
After meeting his wife Renee in 1974, Mr. Adelsberg settled in Brooklyn and is currently deeply involved in Congregation Shaarey Torah and the entire Manhattan Beach Jewish community.
Steven is a close friend and Talmid Chaver of Rabbi Meir Goldvicht and travels with him some twelve times per year to Israel, each time to a new community. The Adelsbergs have been staunch supporters of Bet El Institutions for many years, as well as other organizations in Judea and Samaria.
The Adelsbergs are parents to four children, all graduates of the Yeshivah of Flatbush and happily married.
[/text_block]
Rabbi Moshe Plutchok is spiritual leader of Congregation Shaarey Torah in Manhattan Beach.
Together with Steven Adelsberg, he has, since May 2000, turned the synagogue into a dynamic and vibrant Orthodox congregation, attracting a rare mix of old-world heimishe, American traditional, YU and Young Israel style modern orthodox all into one, embracing shul experience.
Born in Israel, Rabbi Plutchok moved to Brooklyn at a young age and learned at the Mir and other classic yeshivot. He has taught smicha for many years in Brooklyn.
Rabbi Plutchok has visited Israel countless times and frequently visits communities in Judea and Samaria to express solidarity and support.
Rabbi Plutchok resides in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn with his wife and family.
[/text_block]
Rabbi Yosef Bitton is spiritual leader of the Manhattan Beach Ohel David & Shlomo synagogue, where he has educated and assisted the growth of over 150 families.
He received his rabbinic ordination in 1985 from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate and his ordination for Dayanut in 1998 from Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
Rabbi Bitton studied at Yeshiva University in New York and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bar Ilan University in Israel (Talmud, Hebrew language and Biblical studies), studied for his Master of Arts degree in Judeo-Spanish literature at Ben Gurion University, and in 2003 began his studies for a Ph.D at the Graduate Department of Religion in Emory University, Atlanta.
As Chief Rabbi of the Republic of Uruguay, Rabbi Bitton headed the local Bet Din and oversaw the areas of Kashrut, Mikvaot, Cemetery and Jewish Education of the Uruguayan Jewish community (25,000 members).
In 2004, Rabbi Bitton moved to New York where he led the Mashadi Jewish Community of Great Neck, a Persian congregation of more than a thousand families. He directed the afternoon Hebrew school serving over 250 children. He also developed several community projects and created many workshops directed at audiences of various age groups and backgrounds.
Rabbi Bitton has authored a number of books on Creation, Halacha, Conversion, and Jewish Mourning. He is currently working on a two books: 1) Sephardic Rabbis and 2) The Female Brain vs. The Male Brain.
Bet El Institutions are proud to bestow its Keter Torah Award to these three outstanding Manhattan Beach Leaders.[/text_block]
William Langfan grew up in an orthodox home in New York City.
He graduated University of South Carolina in 1943, followed by Cornell Law School, and later attended the Sorbonne in the summer of 1945 while serving in the US Army.
He served in the US Army Anti-aircraft unit, 1943-1945. In recognition of his participation in the liberation of Buchenwald, he lit a candle at March of The Living in Auschwitz.
In 1960, he started the William K. Langfan real estate firm, which is now run by his children.
Mr. Langfan is a world renowned expert on how the Palestinians have failed to amend their Charter in accordance with the Oslo Agreement.
He has 3 children and 6 grandchildren, all of whom share his passion for Israel and Judaism.
Mark Langfan received his BA (Cum Laude) in Mathematics from Cornell University, and received his Law degree Magna Cum Laude from Boston University School of Law.
In the early 1990’s, Mark created the educational Three-Dimensional Topographic Map System of Israel. In AIPAC’s March 1992 Near East Report, Mark published his first article “Demilitarization Details” outlining the dangers of the Katyusha terrorist rocket threat from a “Demilitarized” West Bank Palestinian State.
Mark has published numerous articles in newspapers and security journals including the Jerusalem Post, JINSA Security Affairs and PRAVDA. Today, Mark Langfan is a leading columnist for Arutz Sheva Israel National News, and holds credentials at the United Nations as the network’s official UN Correspondent.
Mark has received awards and been recognized by leading Jewish organizations for his Israel activism.
Since 1987, Mark has been a Managing Partner of the family real estate firm.
Bet El Institutions are proud to bestow the Shomer Bet El Award upon William and Mark Langfan. [/text_block]
Judith attended Shulamit High School and Central High School for Girls. She studied at both Brooklyn College and Teachers Institute of Yeshiva University. She was also very fortunate to study with Nechama Leibovitz of blessed memory in Israel. Judith is a teacher of Tanach and specializes in teaching children with special needs. She has taught for HAFTR and Yavneh Academy and for the PTACH programs at Central and MTA High Schools.
Stanley attended Crown Heights Yeshiva and BTA for High School. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University and received Semicha from Harav Joseph B. Soloveitchik, of blessed memory. He earned his law degree from NYU Law School. He is retired from Kaye Scholer, LLP where he was a partner for many years. He is a National Vice-President and a member of the Board of Directors of the ZOA, a member of the Board of Directors of the Israel Independence Fund and a Trustee of the One Israel Fund.
The Rosenbergs have been longtime staunch supporters of the Bet El Yeshiva and the State of Israel. They have established and maintain a Judaica Library at Yeshivat Hesder Kereen B’Yavneh in memory of Stanley’s son, Pesach of blessed memory, who was a student there.
Bet El Institutions are honored to bestow the Shomer Eretz Yisrael Award to Judith and Stanley Rosenberg. [/text_block]
They host events in their home for many organizations, including Misifteh Tefereth Jerusalem (MTJ). Marc is a board member of Yeshiva Har Torah, where their three older children attend. Davida is on several school committees and has co-chaired the annual dinner for the past three years.
Davida is on the Yoetzet Halacha Committee for their shul, the Great Neck Synagogue, and served as Treasurer for the North Shore Mikvah Association for 4 years.
Davida’s grandparents on both sides have lived and breathed Bet El for decades. Her maternal grandparents, Mr. Eugen and Jeanie Gluck, have served as Chairmen of the Board of American Friends of the Bet El Yeshiva Center since its inception in the early 1980’s. Her paternal grandparents, Rabbi Morris Friedman of Blessed Memory, alongside his wife, Adelaide Friedman, was a Founding Trustee of the organization.
Her parents Mark and Rosie Friedman have been intimately involved in Bet El’s activities since childhood.
Marc and Davida have visited Bet El countless times. “Bet El represents our connection to Israel. We throw our unequivocal support behind Bet El’s leadership in Torah Study, settlement, and the media battle, via their news network Arutz Sheva,” the couple says.
Marc was raised in Great Neck, graduated HAFTR High School and received his degree from Queens College. Today, he works in diamond manufacturing and mining in partnership with American Ariana Trading Corp.
Davida, from Manhattan and Forest Hills, graduated Ramaz and received her CPA license from Queens College. In recent years, she has worked at her grandfather’s office, E. Gluck Corp.
They are the proud parents of Shlomo, Leah, Shmuel, Charlotte and Nina.
It is a distinct honor for Bet El Institutions to grant the 2015 Young Leadership Award to Marc and Davida Yehaskel, who continue the tradition of their parents and grandparents in activism for Bet El.[/text_block]
The American Friends of the Bet El Yeshiva Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization which works to secure the safety and security of Israel’s citizens by raising awareness of Israel issues, promoting Israel activism and encouraging Aliyah through the activities of Bet El Institutions in Israel. Perhaps more than any other network, Bet El impacts the Jewish nation reaching literally millions of people via its broad educational network and IDF Prep Academy, its online Israel news site Arutz Sheva (IsraelNationalNews.com), its Hebrew hardcopy weekly newspaper BeSheva (circulation 120,000), and its online Gateway to Jewish Learning (link to http://www.yeshiva.org.il/Eindex.aspx) The US-based Young Leadership Division of Bet El hosts events in support of this vital work.
[/text_block]