2012 Scholar-in-Residence Personalities

Enjoy the most stimulating Shiurim, Daf Yomi, Sermons and Lectures

covering every aspect of Torah and Contemporary Jewish Life

Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm - Chancellor Yeshiva University

Dr. Norman Lamm—distinguished rabbi, philosopher, teacher and author—was elected president of Yeshiva University in August 1976, succeeding Dr. Samuel Belkin and Dr. Bernard Revel. He was the University's third president and the first native-born American to head the nation's oldest and most comprehensive Jewish institution of higher learning and now serves as chancellor of the University and rosh ha-Yeshiva of its affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.

Dr. Lamm has gained wide recognition for his writings and discourses on interpretation of Jewish philosophy and law, especially in relation to problems involving science, law, technology and philosophy in the modern world. He has authored 10 books, including The Religious Thought of Hasidism: Text and Commentary, which won the coveted 1999 Jewish Book Award in Jewish Thought. Rabbi Lamm has edited or co-edited more than 20 volumes, including The Library of Jewish Law and Ethics. He was the founder and first editor of Tradition and associate editor of Hadarom, a journal of Jewish law; founder of the Torah U-Madda Journal; and founder of the Orthodox Forum.

Rabbi Mark Dratch

Rabbi Mark Dratch, a graduate of Yeshiva University (Yeshiva College, 1979; RIETS (rabbinic ordination), 1982; Ferkauf Graduate School (Jewish Education), 1982), is the founder of Jsafe (The Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse-Free Environment). In 2010 he was named as one of Newsweek's Top 50 Rabbis in America.

Rabbi Dratch served as a congregational Rabbi for 22 years. He was a Vice President of the Rabbinical Council Of America, served as Chairman of its task force on rabbinic improprieties and was responsible for spearheading and formulating policy guidelines for responding to allegations against member rabbis. He is presently a member of the RCA Executive Board and a member of the Orthodox Caucus. He is currently an instructor of Jewish Studies and Philosophy at the Isaac Breuer College of Yeshiva University and the camp Rabbi of Camp Morasha.

Rabbi Dratch is a member of the Clergy Task Force on Abuse of Jewish Women International, a member of the Leadership Time of the FaithTrust Institute, a member of the Editorial Board of the (now defunct) Journal of Religion and Abuse. He also lectures on matters of domestic violence, child abuse, and professional abuse in the Jewish community.

Dr. Joshua Lamm - Board Certified Psychiatrist

Dr. Joshua Lamm is a Board Certified psychiatrist with private practices in Queens and in New York City. He treats adults, adolescents, and couples and has expertise in depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, OCD, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, PTSD, and dissociative disorders. Most of Dr. Lamm’s practice involves the evaluation, diagnosis and psychopharmacologic treatment of these disorders.

After graduating from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and attaining honors in the fields of pediatrics and psychiatry, Dr. Lamm did his residency in psychiatry in the Bronx. He was the Chief Resident of the Psychiatric Emergency Department and the Family Crisis Unit at The Bronx Municipal Hospital Center. While there he won the award for excellence in the teaching of medical students. Dr. Lamm is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology.

Dr. Lamm practiced psychiatry at The Holliswood Hospital for 15 years. He was the Unit Chief on the Eating Disorders Unit and on The Behavioral Disorders Units of the hospital.  Dr. Lamm was the founding Medical Director of the Yatzkan Center, an inpatient rehabilitation program for adolescents with drug and alcohol problems, where he served for 5 years until 2009.  Dr. Lamm has lectured widely at schools, community centers, conferences, and workshops throughout the United States and Israel, where he was a special consultant to the Israeli yeshiva system in their efforts at substance abuse prevention.

Rabbi Dr. Zvi Yehuda

Rabbi Dr. Zvi Yehuda, Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies, continues to be part of our wonderful Scholar-in-Residence Program.  He brings to our program his vast experience as a Rabbi, Professor and renowned lecturer; and his lectures and shiurim are always engaging and fascinating.  Rabbi Yehuda is a disciple of the late Rav Avraham Yeshayahu. Karelitz z”l (1878-1953), and writes and lectures on the personality and outlook of this prominent Sage. Ordained in Israel, Rabbi Yehuda received his doctorate in Rabbinic Studies from Yeshiva University in New York, and currently teaches daily adult education classes in Torah and Talmud at the Boca Raton Synagogue. This Passover, as previously, Rabbi Yehuda will teach the Daf Yomi class and deliver two exciting lectures on timely topics. He is truly a treasure to have with us.

Dr. Hannah E. Shonfield - Clinical Audiologist

Dr. Hannah Shonfield, clinical audiologist at Weil Cornel Medical College in New York City, received her Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree at the A.T. Still University Arizona School of Health Sciences. She obtained her B.A. degree summa cum laude from Yeshiva University Stern College for Women and her M.S. degree in Communication Science from CUNY-Hunter College School of Health Sciences.

Dr. Shonfield has been affiliated with Weill Cornell since 2002. Her expertise includes the diagnosis of adult and pediatric hearing loss, rehabilitation of adult hearing loss including hearing aid fittings, vestibular/balance assessment, electrophysiologic/electroacoustic testing, and cochlear implant mapping. She is currently on the faculty at NYU, as well as the Yeshiva University Stern College for Women.

Rivkie Lamm - Clinical Social Worker

Rivkie Lamm is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Queens N.Y. After finishing her BA at Stern College she attended the Wurzweiler School of Social Work of Yeshiva University and completed post-graduate work at the Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy.

Rivkie served as the Director of Guidance at the SKA High School for Girls for 10 years before going into private practice. She has extensive clinical experience treating adults, teenagers, couples and families.