Pardes News
Sacks Torah Awards Foundation Honors Pardes Faculty Member Rabbi Meir Schweiger
June 21, 2004 (2 Tammuz) Rabbi Meir Schweiger, Senior Faculty member at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, has been awarded a prize for outstanding achievement. The prize, from the Sacks Torah Awards Foundation in memory of the late Rabbi Menachem and Rabbanit Hannah Sacks, recognizes "Outstanding achievements in bringing Jews of all walks closer together through Torah study." "We are proud of this significant achievement of Meir's, and appreciate outside recognition of the excellence of Pardes faculty. Meir's official title at Pardes, Mashgiach Ruhani (spiritual mentor), reflects the tremendous impact Meir has had on the personal and spiritual growth of many of our students," stated Rabbi Daniel Landes, Director of Pardes, who presented the award as a Trustee of the Foundation.The longest-serving staff member at Pardes, Rabbi Schweiger has worked more than full-time for the past 26 years. In addition to teaching a range of subjects including Chumash, Mishna, Talmud, Halacha, Siddur, and Ethics, Meir is responsible for the "affective" side of Pardes: coordinating and supervising Tefilot (prayer services), Tiyulim (hikes), Shabbatonim, and pre-holiday Y'mei Iyun (day-long study programs). Originally from the Bronx, Rabbi Schweiger made Aliyah 32 years ago with his wife Malkah. They have nine children and three grandchildren, and have lived in the town of Efrat in Gush Etzion for the past ten years. Speaking on behalf of the other four prize winners at the ceremony, Rabbi Schweiger gave a warmly received keynote address on the topic: "It is a time to act for God." He stressed that, in an age of rampant assimilation and alienation from traditional values, it is critical to bring Torah to people "where they are at," to explore creative ways of making Torah accessible and meaningful, and above all, to embrace, love, welcome and accept all Jews, regardless of their beliefs and practices.
The Sacks Torah Awards Foundation
For 33 years the Sacks Torah Awards Foundation has awarded prizes to the finest scholars and community leaders as part of its mission to encourage excellence in scholarship and outstanding achievement in communal service.
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem offers men and women of all backgrounds the authentic study of classic Jewish texts in the rigorous, challenging and open environment of dynamic Beit Midrash Havruta partner learning. Pardes, founded in 1973, offers a Year Program for university graduates as well as Educators, Summer, Spiritual Education, and Kollel Advanced Learning programs.
Rabbi Daniel Landes, Director
David I. Bernstein, Ph.D, Dean