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Yehoshua Fass
Born (1973-07-09) 9 July 1973 (age 51)
New York
EducationB.A., Yeshiva University
M.A., Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
Occupation(s)Rabbi, co-founder of Nefesh B'Nefesh

Yehoshua Fass (born July 9, 1973) is an American-Israeli rabbi and the co-founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh.

Education

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Fass was born in New York. He attended Yeshiva University for his undergraduate degrees in biology and education, and planned a career in medicine.[1] After completing his BA, he took a year off, taught in New York and New Jersey, and decided to pursue a future in education.[2] He earned an MA degree in education, and rabbinic ordination through the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University.[3]

Career

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Fass was a Judaic Studies Fellow of the Judaic Fellowship Program in Boca Raton, Florida.[2] 18 months after starting the Fellowship Program, Fass was appointed assistant and then associate rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue. He sat on the Orthodox Rabbinical Council Beit Din, and opened and served as director of the Helen Julius Reiter Institute of Judaic Studies.[4] He also worked as an educational director of March of the Living.[2]

Nefesh B’Nefesh

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In March 2001, Fass’s 13-year-old cousin, Naftali Lanzkron, was murdered in a terrorist bombing in Israel.[5] According to Fass, this event spurred his family to move to Israel.[2] He and Tony Gelbart,[6] a Florida businessman, researched the reasons why North Americans interested in moving to Israel do not follow through with this decision. The challenges Fass encountered while coordinating his move, as well as conversations that he had with members of his community who expressed a desire to move to Israel but were too overwhelmed by the process, compelled Fass to consider that the process could be streamlined. Together with Gelbart he co-founded Nefesh B’Nefesh,[7] an organization that facilitates the immigration of North American Jews to Israel.[2] [1]

Awards and Recognitions

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In 2000, Fass received the Rabbinic Leadership Award from the United Jewish Communities in Chicago.[2]

In 2011, Fass received the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism.[8]

Yeshiva University awarded Fass and Gelbart honorary doctorates in 2013.[9]

Personal life

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In 2002, Fass immigrated to Israel with the first Nefesh B’Nefesh charter flight.[1] [5] [7] Fass lives in Beit Shemesh with his wife and seven children.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Eisenberg, Malka (1 August 2013). "Nefesh B'Nefesh's Rabbi Fass facilitates geulah". thejewishstar.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Aliyah 'King' Fass has helped 23,000 To Israel". jewishtelegraph.com.
  3. ^ Hoffman, Yair (10 July 2022). "Interview with Nefesh B'Nefesh co-Founder Rabbi Yehoshua Fass". theyeshivaworld.com.
  4. ^ Warth, Gary (23 July 2006). "Israel bound: Despite conflict in region, U.S. Jews prepare to emigrate". sandiegouniontribune.com.
  5. ^ a b Lambert, Clay (17 June 2002). "Area man spearheads move to Israel". The Palm Beach Post. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Nefesh B'Nefesh Promotes Aliyah". jewishpost.com.
  7. ^ a b Collie, Tim (10 July 2002). "Israeli crowds welcome immigrants". South Florida Sun Sentinel. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Benari, Elad (31 May 2011). "Moskowitz Zionism Prizes Awarded". israelnationalnews.com.
  9. ^ "Nefesh B'Nefesh Founders Get YU Honorary Doctorates". jewishpress.com. 2 June 2013.