User:Sampinkhasov/sandbox

BIOGRAPHY: Rabbi Dr. Asher Zellig Ehrenfeld Rabbi Dr. Asher Zelig Ehrenfeld (born July 4, 1947, in Tammuz 5769 in Urde, Romania) is an Israeli rabbi who serves as the head of the Jewish court in the city of Debrecen, Hungary. He was previously the Chief Rabbi of Romania and served as a rabbi in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF. Early Life Rabbi Asher Ehrenfeld was born in Romania to parents who had survived the Holocaust.  His father, Rabbi Shalom Ehrenfeld, was a descendant of Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld, known throughout the yeshiva world as ‘The Chatam Sofer.”  Rabbi Asher received a comprehensive secular education in the local high school.  He then pursued higher studies in a yeshiva (Jewish educational institution) under the tutelage of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Miller, in Arad, Israel. This school  was established primarily for children of European refugees.  Struggling under the oppression of Communist rule, the family was able to immigrate to Israel in Shvat 5724, corresponding with the Gregorian date of January, 1964.  The family settled in the northern village of Kfar Hasidim  where young Asher continued his religious studies. His father, Reb Shalom, supported his family as a ritual slaughter of kosher animals and by conducting circumcisions for newborn baby boys. Military Service As a proud citizen of the Jewish state, young Asher served as a fighter in the IDF from 1965-1968. He was in the Nahal unit which specialized in integrating new immigrants. It was during this period that Israel fought the famous Six Day War. When the Yom Kippur War erupted in the Autumn of 1973, Asher fought as a reserve soldier. Upon becoming ordained as a rabbi, Asher Ehrenfeld became a career soldier and served in the military rabbinate. He attained the rank of Major. Academic Studies Upon completing his military service in 1968, he began undergraduate studies in Political Science at the School of Political Science, Government & International Relations at Tel Aviv University. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree. In 1985 he received a master's degree from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His thesis centered upon religious conversions during the Second Temple period during the Roman reign. His doctoral dissertation was approved In 1988, also at Hebrew University. The PhD topic also centered on the subject of conversions during the Second Temple Period with an emphasis on Talmudic sources. Rabbinical Studies Concurrent to his academic studies, Asher learned at the Yigdal David Kollel, an advanced institution for Talmudic and rabbinic teachings. The Kollel operated under the aegis of the Rozin Hasidim in Tel Aviv. After his marriage in 1970, Asher Ehrenfeld relocated to Jerusalem. He continued studying at the Chesed L’Avraham yeshiva under the spiritual guidance of Rabbi Moshe Halberstam. The intense program of studies resulted in his receiving smicha	 (rabbinical certification) under the auspices of both Rabbi Halberstam and Rabbi Heichel Shlomo, then Chief Rabbi of Israel. From 1973-1978, the newly ordained Rabbi Asher Ehrenfeld began working as a rabbi at both the Youth Kiryat Yeshiva in Jerusalem and Toras Chaim Institute in Jerusalem’s Old City. In 1978, he re-enlisted in the army, serving in the IDF’S rabbinate. At the same time as serving as a military rabbi,Rabbi Ehrenfeld completed his studies in rabbinic litigation and received additional religious certification as a litigator from both the Chief Rabbinate and Rabbi Mashash Rabbah. The “Army Rabbi” In 1978 he re-enlisted in the IDF and served at the request of Rabbi Gad Navon. His first post was in the Sinai under the Southern Command. This pivotal period was marked by the evacuation from Sinal as per the peace agreement with Egypt. As a result of his successful activities in the previous division for the Deputy Military Rabbi of the Southern Command -where he had excelled for five years - he wa appointed Chief Rabbi of Haifa in the Military Rabbinate.He served in this capacity until 1988 when he began to work with various populations as an IDF representative. He liaised with myriad civilian populations, oversaw the production of meat products for the military and engaged with affiliated institutions including Shekem, the army’s agriculture providers and the State Mission of Argentina. Hungary Upon completion of his military service In 1989, he accepted an invitation to serve as a rabbi in Debrecen, Hungary. For the first time since before the Second World War, an Orthodox school was co-created by Rabbi Ehrenfeld, who also served as the school’s rabbi. Operating within the “Ancestral Tradition,” he united with those who remained in the Diaspora, educating youth about Israel, Jewish tradition and our sacred values. Many young people were saved from assimilation due to the perseverance and passion of Rabbi Ehrenfeld. Indeed, many of his students ultimately immigrated to Israel in order to live religiously observant lives, learn Torah and raise Jewish families. He remained in Debrecen until 1992. Romania Upon completing his term as rabbi in Debrecen, he joined a united delegation of rabbis that included leaders of Romanian Jewry. (Included in this group were Chief Rabbi Rosen) Rabbi Ehrenfeld served as the head of the religious court in Bucharest, serving a community of approximately 20,000 Jews whom, until that time, had been without religious guidance. Although hesitant at first to undertake such a daunting task, he accepted the responsibility in 1993. During his time in Bucharest, he worked tirelessly to strengthen traditional Judaism. He spent three years in this position and provided great assistance to the aging Rabbi Rosen. In 1996, Ehrenfeld returned to Debrecen at the behest of the community leaders of that city. In his absence there had been a deterioration of observance due to a massive emigration of the younger generation. It was truly challenging to be the only Orthodox rabbi in Hungary at that time. Still, with perseverance and faith, he elevated the community to a respectable standing which was eventually able to handle the details concerning provisions of kosher food, divorce and marriage issues, conversions and more. In many respects, Rabbi Ehrenfeld oversaw the Renaissance of Hungarian Jewry! Personal Life Rabbi Dr. Asher Zelig Ehrenfeld is married. His son, Ze’ev, was a major in the Israeli army’s Intelligence Corps, heading the logistics of his unit when, at the age of 38, he was killed in service. This tragedy befell the Ehrenfeld family on Monday, Cheshvan 5711 (October, 2018). He was laid to rest	 in the military cemetary of Mt. Herzl, Jerusalem, leaving behind a young son and daughter. His brother, Rabbi Avraham Ehrenfeld, serves as Rabbi of Urdu, South Asia. Additional Information ●	Member of the European Center since 1990 ●	Regular contributor to RevisRomanian newspaper. ●	Member of the Hungarian Community Association since 1990. ●	Founded in the DZ Datseren in 2007. ●	Served as chairman of the "Chesedi Shalom" Institutions, outreach and education for Jews from the former Soviet Union ●	Publisher of “The Sombot”	 (“The Sabbath”) newspaper in Budapest ●	Renowned lecturer in both academic and spiritual subjects ●	Former professor of rabbinical studies at the Jewish University of Budapest ●	Frequent guest lecturer at Debrecen University on Judaism.