Courage To Lead – Annual National Founders’ Gala of the Rabbinical College of America
Hundreds of supporters, alumni, community leaders, and friends gathered recently for the annual National Founders’ Gala of the Rabbinical College of America, celebrating the yeshiva’s enduring impact on Jewish life across the globe and honoring individuals whose leadership has strengthened Jewish continuity, education, and communal service.
Held in support of the Morristown-based Lubavitch institution, the evening highlighted the college’s role as one of the leading centers of Chabad-Lubavitch education and outreach in the United States. Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Morristown since 1971, the Rabbinical College of America serves as a central hub for Lubavitch educational and outreach activities throughout New Jersey and beyond.
A centerpiece of the evening was the conferring of honorary doctorate degrees upon philanthropists and Jewish communal leaders Mark Wilf and Jane Wilf. The degrees were presented by Erwin Fisch alongside Rabbi Mendy Herson, recognizing the Wilfs’ decades of support for Jewish causes, education, Holocaust remembrance, and Israel.
Mark and Jane Wilf have long been recognized among the Jewish world’s leading philanthropists. Mark Wilf serves as owner and president of the Minnesota Vikings and chairs the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency for Israel. The Wilf family has also been deeply involved in Holocaust education and numerous Jewish educational initiatives worldwide.
The gala also spotlighted alumni and Jewish leaders making an impact on the frontlines of Jewish communal life.
Eli Beer flew in from Israel to participate in the program alongside Mark Wilf, presenting the Alumni Leadership Award to Yanky Super, a Hatzalah EMT member who survived being shot during the Bondi Beach terrorist attack in Australia. The emotional presentation underscored the courage and dedication of Jewish first responders who place themselves in harm’s way to save others.
Another Alumni Leadership Award was presented by Jane Wilf to Miriam Lipskier and Chabad of Emory for their outstanding contributions to Jewish life on campus. Through their work at Emory University, the Lipskiers have become widely known for fostering vibrant Jewish engagement, Torah learning, and community building for students navigating campus life.
The evening was chaired by Zev and Rachel Braun together with Larry and Caren Rothenberg, longtime supporters of the institution and its mission. A benediction was delivered by Rabbi Samuel Klibanoff.
Throughout the gala, attendees were shown videos and presentations highlighting the college’s far-reaching influence through its alumni network, educational programs, and Chabad emissaries serving communities around the world.
In remarks shared following the event, Rabbi Herson thanked attendees and supporters for helping sustain and expand the institution’s work.
“We truly hope you enjoyed the evening, and appreciated seeing some of your support’s impact,” Rabbi Herson wrote following the gala.
The annual gala once again demonstrated the Rabbinical College of America’s unique role in producing generations of rabbanim, educators, shluchim, and communal leaders who continue to shape Jewish life internationally.
