TABC Chanukat Habayit Preview with Rabbi Joshua Kahn on JM in the AM

[Music] JM in the AM on a Thursday. Ro Kodesh and our friends at TABC have a very big event going on this coming Sunday. TABC Torah Academy of Bergen County. I'm the proud father of four TABC graduates. Um if it makes the video, the final cut, then you'll see on Sunday my comments about uh what Rabbi Adler and everybody at TABC uh did for our sons. Anyway, this coming Sunday, October the 26, starting at 10:30 in the morning, join us as TABC officially inaugurates the brand new TABC Rabbi Yoseph Adler building. There'll be a short program. There'll be tours of the building if you wish. And it will be a celebratory day. I know everybody in this audience knows that Adler just passed away recently, but nonetheless, it will be a celebratory day at TABC. and Rabbi Josh Khan, our very close friend is of course Rash Shiva at TABC and was kind enough to stop by on a busy Ro Kodes morning or by Khan a pleasure to welcome you back to JM in the AM. >> Thank you. It's so always so nice to be here. >> I appreciate that. And uh it's undeniable and you alluded to it off the air uh in our short conversation. It's undeniable that as much as we miss our Adler and obviously the impact of his loss is still being felt. It was only a couple of weeks ago basically. Uh it is going to be a celebratory day Sunday. So there's a memorial piece to it. Obviously you can't avoid that. But this is a massive celebration for TABC. >> Yes. It's and it's a celebration really on two levels. It's celebration of TABC. What we just built and the future of TABC. But even the Rabbi Adler component which is very much a tribute and a memorial is also a celebration. Rabbi Adler built TABC and there's so much to celebrate about that. um we miss him and when I came back to TABC over two years ago um and came back to TABC where Adler unfortunately uh was unable physically and healthwise to be involved uh but his impact is felt in everything that happens in TABC and to feel like we're able to perpetuate that which he built is also a celebration >> and you obviously remember because of your uh initial stint there his impact on the school you were there when he was giving shear to the students which was always a big deal and a big highlight. Uh he gave ingenious shiim. I think everybody agrees with that. And um and then on top of that, of course, you saw him actually in the heyday of running the school um which was um an amazing accomplishment. I I don't know, you know, it's funny. I think about this very often. I don't know how one goes about founding a school like and I don't know at that point if someone had made the effort and he sort of took over or if he actually you know was there from day one I don't know the history of the school you know from that far back >> so it actually was a beforehand um which in certain ways >> a local Tina >> yes >> interesting I didn't even know that >> yes so it existed prior to him um but in certain ways actually kind of >> creating a school can be easier than transforming a school. Correct. >> And he came into a school um which a I think had about 50 students and b um >> you know was not recruiting the top students or at least the top students some were. I'm sure if you're an alum from that era listening you were excellent and wonderful um but perhaps the previous school you were in that asked you not to return didn't feel the same way. uh and Rabbi Adler was able to transform that and build um and those who know Rabbi Adler certainly on a hashkaf level Rabbi Adler was not exactly going to perpetuate a kafitim style yeshiva so it involved transforming the hashkafa of a yeshiva there was someone who's involved at the time I don't know this as a fact but I know what the person told me that when he came for his interview when he came uh to meet with I guess whoever it was who was uh you know giving him his his interview they told him just put a jacket on because as a you're going to have to wear a jacket for davening and who is very very principled said no I'm not going to do it that's not who I am and that's not what I'm going to do and they said to him after you get the job you can take the jacket off you're the boss you can do whatever you want and he wouldn't budge because that's who he was a very very principled person >> story I like that and and how do we describe his eshka like because there's so many labels around and categories these days I mean you know obviously Eric Israel and whatever we call Zionism was a major part of it. But but there was also a uniqueness to his Ashkafa just in terms of religious observance. Is there a way to categorize it? >> Yes. So so like many great people I think he kind of defies a label and hashkafa because he stood for so much. Um even in a speech alone you'd see like several dialects make its way in. I think you know he's the product of a more yeshivish upbringing and sometimes that yes havar would come up um that passionate Zionism would come up um where midinat is and Israel um doesn't always go with you know I guess the cabinet's upbringing that he had um but but in many ways that was that was I think one of the great contributions of Adler was that it wasn't about having to fit a specific box it was about a value system was his love and joy. You referenced his time in the classroom. It wasn't only in the classroom. Any student who he could engage in with a Torah discussion and he would go into other Shirim and it would come up at interviews as well. When he would sit down with an eighth grader, he would always send that eighth grader to their eighth grade rebi with a new idea that and he'd say, "Tell your rebi this idea." Because that was his passion was giving over over Torah. uh simultaneously his his commitment which again at the time not every all boys yeshiva high school valued academic excellence and really really not just paying lip service to but but believing in believing in that the sciences can help us come closer to keshu was something that he believed in as you mentioned Israel was uh was primary as well it's not surprising you have a son in the army uh we're so proud and that's something that's prominently displayed at TABC our alumni who are in the army because again it wasn't >> is there is there a Grey picture up there >> I if there isn't now there will be >> if there isn't Stacy Seagull will make sure to rectify that very nice we appreciate that and yes there's tremendous pride in TABC for those who serve in the army and frankly I I can't even imagine how many TAC TABC graduates have actually moved to Israel over the years I mean it's Adler himself moved to Israel but I can only imagine how many of them over the decades have made that move Uh uh there is a um how do I put this? Uh not every event in the Jewish world are people um uh enthusiastic about attending. Am I alone in trying to clear my schedule to make make sure to be there Sunday? Like is there an enthusiasm about Sunday because of the brand new building and because it's all being done in memory of Adler? >> Yeah. And I think it's exactly those two components that are generating incredible enthusiasm. anyone who walks into our building and uh thank God it's a lot of people who walk into our building. Yesterday >> it's getting good reviews already. >> Uh fantastic reviews. We host 2025. Oh my god. >> Yeah, we host state of the art >> two uh two to two shave minyanim and they come in um and they're able to marvel at the building. We host a junior hockey league um also who come in throughout and and are able to appreciate the enhancements to the building. Uh yesterday we celebrated a haknasa for Torah. Stanley and Ellen Stone uh donated a Torah and it was a remarkable event and then two again we had a lot of guests coming through the building and so the feedback has been incredibly um positive of course uh but there's an enthusiasm there's an enthusiasm because this project was very very ambitious um and it's transforming to ABC >> cost in the millions I assume >> yes cost in about $9 million um our commitment has been to raise the entire amount so that we don't have to pass on any cost of construction any cost of building um onto our families and we're able to try to maintain tuition um to really go exclusively to the annual running of of our high school. Um so we're about 96% of the way there. Anyone listening who'd like to join the >> You may get the rest Sunday. Who knows? >> Correct. BuildtABC.org uh they could still tabc.org. >> Yes. Uh but that certainly uh ju just seeing each of the spaces, seeing an enhanced space manager, seeing a student center, which we never really had. If you've been in the old TABC and you could picture the lunchroom and you could probably still feel those, you know, little round seats at those at those tables. Um, >> for a guy my size, it was ter those Thursday night fatherson things were awful when they came to those seats. >> And that's exactly what we want to change. The fact that you remember it, you know, and Dyman came to TBC a few years ago. I know Gavrey graduated more recently, but uh, but that that has been transformed. The student center is beautiful. It's it's not just you use the word state-of-the-art. It's just really excellent. And when you think about the experience that you've had as a parent of TABC boys, you always reflect very fondly about the quality of their experience. We wanted to make sure that the facility matched that experience. Um, and we've enhanced uh and invested in our elective program. We have a music program, an art program. >> Oh, your music program is talk about state-of-the-art. >> So, so we actually were able to uh invest >> We actually have TABC songs in our playlist. >> Okay. So, >> I'm sure you're familiar with that >> for sure. And now, you know, >> are there more music projects coming out? >> There are. Every year they're putting out one to two albums. And now they have a bigger space, uh, you know, more enhanced space. Correct. Our science labs, we've upgraded two new state-of-the-art science labs. So, every aspect of the TABC experience has been upgraded through this project. And just that overall feeling of walking into a school that sends that message that we we strive for excellence and we care about what the students are going to experience. So that generates excitement and there my other component he he impacted so many people generations of people um and in so many different ways for some people it was that brilliance and and not just the brilliance the way he delivered a shear I mean it was an experience >> but but there's one another thing I have to mention um having grown up in a rabbitic home I don't know how a full-time rabbi of a massive synagogue and Reno's pretty massive when it comes to orthodox synagogues in this country right it's It's certainly in that wheelhouse how he would be able to go ahead and at the same time found and then direct a yeshiva high school and a successful yeshiva high school. It's pretty crazy when you think about it. >> It is I I don't know anyone could do it anymore, >> right? It's really amazing. A real trailblazer to say the least. Uh and I uh look I believe parents are responsible for the education of their children because a lot of I'm sure you get this all the time. parents who are anxious to deflect the I don't want to say blame let's say criticism or whatever situational situational situational discussions about their child they like to directed to the principal the rashiva the rabbam the teachers etc primarily it's the parents responsibility however as Rabbi Adler told me back in 2006 or whenever it was as he told me uh if if you do a good job at home if If you're, you know, if you're do a relatively good and of course with the masle that you get from the one above, uh, then we as a school will be there to really enhance and complete the package and provide an education both religious and secular that we as parents will be proud of. And hey, he made good on that commitment, frankly. >> Yes, he did. He cared very much about just developing the entire person. Rabbi Adler, we've spoken about him as a teacher. He was a man of incredible compassion. He cared deeply about everyone >> within his orbit honestly not within his orbit right he just cared deeply um and he cared about our students caring deeply and so I know you've mentioned this that that notion of menite we've always had a requirement but it wasn't about requirement it was about graduating menches menches who were respectful menches who cared about the general world around them cared about their local Jewish community and cared about Israel but that idea of I care about other people I care about humanity was integral. >> Uh you get an opportunity and by the way I do want to mention that on Saturday night uh Reinat Israel is going to uh be presenting an Oscar for Rabbi Adler. That's really going to be a proper memorial service that's happening this coming Saturday night at 8:15 at the synagogue. But then you get an opportunity to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Rabbi Yoseph Adler's Zatsal as they name and officially they have already because it's up there on the building the brand new TABC building the Rabbi Yseph Adler building. On Sunday the ribbon cutting starts at 10:30. There'll be a short program. You can tour the building. I had the opportunity to do so. It's pretty amazing. And uh you'll see how this uh brand new building is going to enhance the uh education space of this neighborhood and of this community. and there are a lot of schools around here. So, it's great that uh you know, you're able to you and your colleagues are able to really make this an area where there's tremendous amounts of Jewish education going on. >> Yes, we went all went into the field of Jewish education, those of us who work in schools. Um and we're privileged, we're fortunate um to have so many wonderful schools and it should continue that way and it's best for our community that we have wonderful options. And thank God with those wonderful options, TEBC is thriving. Our growth has been remarkable and this project is just a reflection of it. >> Uh what do you hear from the students in Israel? Well, so this just the beginning of the semester. >> Yeah. Now's the time. Now they they better start getting into it over there in Israel. Do you get an opportunity during the year to see them? Like do you ever go over there to see them? >> Yeah, I go I always go in January. >> So you'll be there this year. >> Yeah. It's so nice. It's nice to get to see them. They're always so happy. But we get to really connect, you know, for us and and you know this for your boys. Um it's not just about high school. uh if we don't stay connected with them beyond high school, then you know we're not satisfied and and they shouldn't be satisfied. And so it's really really important. We come to them, we show them that we still care and we want to stay connected. It gives us an opportunity to see the Shivas in action as well, but those relationships are so important. >> Well, I can tell you from my experience with our family that post high school, they are gravitating to that building. They're always coming back. Whether it's a tila, whether it's a special program, whether it's a co-ell, whether it's Sunday morning, they always find a reason to get back to that building and experience. >> We like them to feel TABC is their home. It could be their second home. They could be home as well, but we love having them in the building. >> And you're satisfied with your AAM. They're doing a good job so far this year. >> Excellent. Excellent. >> You got a good roster. >> Fantastic. >> An allstar roster. >> Exactly. All stars. All stars. People on Sunday, you you'll get to spend time with them. They're just such great people and a fantastic rebella. We could expect the entire staff to be there Sunday. Please go. >> I don't know. The entire staff, many staff members will come. We have >> We have two consecutive weekends. We have our Kanuka Sabayas is this Sunday. Our open house is the following Mo Shabas >> already. >> Already >> Saturday night. Yeah. >> Is that unusual or is that >> We shifted last year to Mo Shabas open house? >> You would consider it a good move or not? >> Yes. >> Really? >> Yeah. You know what? You get your Sunday. So, uh No, I get that. >> There's usually less happening for you on a Moz Chabas. It happens to be the week that we turn back the clock. So, whatever that time is, we tell you, you know, just think about it as camp time. Set your clock's back an hour. You'll get home an hour earlier. At some point, you may get confused, as we all do with camp time, >> but it's it's it's great. >> I just feel bad. I'd like the new parents to see the building during the day in all its glory. You know what I'm saying? >> They they get to come back for their interviews. And you know what? The the building is pretty special at night as well. You know, we've been talking about the Rio Fadler building. If you drive by there at night, it's lit up. Is it? >> Um, it's beautiful and it really it it then it stands out and you can actually see it from probably blocks. You see these beautiful lights there by Yoshi Vadler building. >> That's cool. When do we start the Yeshiva League sports season? Do you know the official date for that yet? >> Yeah, we're going our varsity basketball team is going on a tournament this a week from now to Memphis. Our JV basketball tour uh team just won the NCSY uh preseason tip off. Um so sports season's looking strong, looking >> it's well underway. What? It feels like it's always underway. >> You can say that again. It's crazy. I'll tell you the in your in your career, you've seen the yeshiva league go from, you know, I don't want to say moderate, but I'll say, you know, what what seemed to have been a uh, you know, mainstream Yeshiva League of sports to something that's basically dominating the schools at this point. Would that be unfair to say that? >> Uh, it is growing and growing and growing. Uh, I think the one caveat I'd put into that is that's true about a lot of aspects. So, um, you know, we've always been blessed to have really, really strong athletic teams. We we take incredible pride in our our academic teams and we've seen a proliferation of that as well. So, you know, it used to just be YU's model UN, another model UN um competition started. So, we are seeing kind of an expansion of that. I think seeing our student bodies grow um and seeing our students more and more invested in their own personal growth has given us the opportunity to see each aspect grow. So, sports, academics, everything. >> And I got to let you go. You got to get to the roesh minion. But I I have to add that when it comes to the extracurricular and and the different things you're mentioning. Uh you've had a tremendous increase of optional Torah study. I mean, tremendous whether it's Thursday night or Sundays or Benazman or you know, guys have a day off, they don't know what to do. They come and they gravitate, as I said, to the building. They just find a reason to get together and sit in the base med. And that's something to be really proud of. >> Yeah, we're very, very proud. We actually started this year um a coll >> a formal one >> a formal coal. It's for third or fourth year Wu Smeika boys reit boys. >> Have you gotten anybody yet? >> We have eight boys. Eight boys in the colo. They spend their mornings at TABC. Uh three of them are alumni. They spend their mornings at TABC. Some of that time is spent teaching our students. So there are breakfast kaburas. Four of them teach kish at the beginning of the day. Four of them are shish the base mish. and then they learn. Um, and it's something that we've invested a lot of resources in. Once again, you know, I I need to make my fundraising pitch. Anyone would like to help support Nicole, uh, feel free to reach out to me. It is a separate entity, but it's transformative and and and when you're in the building and you know, our building, the base manage has that clear glass wall. So, it's so visual to see what's happening in the base vet at the center of our building. And when you walk throughout the morning, what you see is great, great guys sitting and learning. Um and that starts to really create uh you know an aspiration for our students when they come into the bass fed when Ashir brings their students into the base fish there is a cult tora it's alive it's vibrant it's beautiful >> is there an official ro ko >> uh rishua cats rua cats is the ro ko >> a tabc legend >> alum a legend >> a legend >> my boys would say don't short change him he's a legend >> let him know I said that he'll be so upset >> okay >> I'm sure he's probably listening right now >> I hope So um to be a Russash Shiva these days you have to be very creative. You have to constantly add programs. You have to include people who've already graduated. You have to bring back those as you said you know who are third and fourth year college to come and be involved in the Torah study. It's just you got to be really comp constantly active. >> You're recruiting all year and now you're basically creating all year. >> Yeah. I you know think about it as a parent when you care about your kids you always want to do more for them. Um and that's our goal. We always want programming. Exactly. We're we're we're thrilled with where we are today. But if we're not in even better place in 2 years, we haven't spent the time thinking and investing and how to continually make TABC a better place. >> And one of the people, if not the prime person who's responsible for where you are today is, of course, the person uh whose name now adorns your building. The Rabbi Yoseph Adler building is officially inaugurated this Sunday. Everyone be there at 10:30 if you want to pay tribute and be involved in a really, really nice program. As you said, it's not just going to be partial memorial in light of the fact that Adler just left us, but it's really going to be a celebration of an incredible accomplishment and really celebrating his the incredible career that he dedicated to building TABC. >> Yes. >> Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to seeing you Sunday. >> And good luck. And remember, this studio, especially because of its proximity to TBC, is open to you anytime. >> Thank you. I look forward to coming back to visit. Let me know you're coming over with big news and we'll put you right on the air. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Rabbi Khan. Uh, Rabbi Josh Khan is the Ro Hayashiva at TABC. Sunday's the event. Go for information to buildtabc.org. Again, that's buildtabc.org. My thanks Khan for joining us. Second day of Roesh. It's the very first day in the month of Maresh but all the traditional additions foresh today including yalobo half hal special Torah reading mus and bini [Music]