Recent Highlights
Around the World
Istanbul
Scholar in residence, keynote speaker for weekend of Torah study, for entire Jewish community of Istanbul, May 2014.
Two of Rabbi Blech’s books have now been translated into Turkish and are presently being given as gifts to every newlywed Jewish couple by the chief rabbinate to enhance their understanding of Judaism and the Jewish way of life.
We would like to thank you once again for sharing your thoughts and time with us at the 70 Pencere event on May 4th.It has been a great pleasure for us and great inspiration for everybody to welcome you here in Istanbul.
We are very glad to let you know that your speeches of Shabbat on Shabbat appealed to various age groups and motivated them to come and see some more of Rabbi Blech on the event day. Your performance on May 4th speeches: “If God is Good, Why Is The World So Bad”, “Joy As The Key to Judaism”, “The Sistine Chapel: The Hidden Jewish Messages of Michelangelo” was great, as much as your wit, humour and quickness in the crossfire.
It was an amazing experience to know you, we thank God for this opportunity and we want you to know that your speeches opened new and meaningful doors for many of us.
On Behalf of the 70 Pencere organisation team,Murat Bildirici
Monterey
Keynote speaker, Worldwide Meeting on Human Values, together with two Nobel Prize winners, as representative of the Jewish people and Judaism, October 2013.
Sponsored by Mexican government, conference videotaped and used as part of the curriculum in all Mexican public schools. Open to all, attended by over 15,000 people.
On behalf of the Fifth Worldwide Meeting on Human Values team, we thank you for sharing your time, knowledge and love with Monterrey City as well as with the world by livestream. We are sure your message has been encouraging for thousands in their path to internal growth and in taking action to achieve a change in humanity. It has been an honor to meet you and have you as keynote speaker at the fifth edition of this event.
C.P. Javier Benítez Gómez
President of the Council for Human Values of the State of Nuevo Leon
My picture with other featured speakers on Billboard on a major boulevard in Monterey
England
Scholar in residence, Chabad of Belgravia, London, March, 2015
On behalf of Chabad of Belgravia we wanted to express our heartfelt appreciation and thanks for an incredibly uplifting weekend!
You enlightened, moved, and inspired our community and everyone had a wonderful time listening to your captivating talks. We have had some of the most famous and influential names in the Jewish world serving as scholars in our community and by all accounts you rank among the very top.
Your warmth, humility, wit, and wisdom are refreshing and you are both a living example of the great values we aspire to.We would be delighted to host you again, iy’h and in the meantime we wish you every best wish! Hatzlacha Rabah in your Avodas Hakodesh
Rabbi Mendel and Chana Kalmenson
Israel
Scholar in residence, Passover program, Dan panorama hotel, Tel Aviv, April 2015
From among the many dozens of emails received after Passover:
It was such a real pleasure to have met with you at this year’s Pesach in Tel Aviv. Your
Lectures were not only enlightening but a delight to hear and to listen to. They have opened a new dimension for me and for my husband too. If you have any events coming up in Israel in the future please let us know as we will be there in a flash. Thank you for making such a difference to our Pesach and making it so enriching.
Barbara & Geoff Keye, Netanya..
Around the United States
Los Angeles
Scholar in residence, Shvuot, June 2014
I wanted to send you this note letting you know how appreciative I and our shul is for your latest visit with us. Your presence at Kehilat Mogen David this past Yom Tov and Shabbos was inspirational, enlightening, informative and if I may say electrifying.
Rabbi Gabe Elias
Detroit
PowerPoint presentation program at the Jewish festival of the arts, Berman theater, JCC, August 2013
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join us here in Detroit during our Festival of the Arts. As you know, the turnout that we had both of your lectures was absolutely incredible. We’re officially on the books as having the largest crowd in the Berman Theater, ever. [We were overcapacity, in fact, but don’t tell the fire marshal!]
We were thrilled with the response that you and the topics of your talks received here in our community; we have received only positive feedback from those who attended. Both of your presentations were fascinating and thought-provoking and people really loved your engaging, humorous and polished delivery. We would have you and your lovely wife back in a heartbeat – and we’d probably sell out the Berman Theater again, too!
Adina Pergament Director, Seminars for Adult Jewish Enrichment, Jewish community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
Orlando, Miami, Memphis, San Antonio, Boca Raton, Las Vegas, Monsey and more
Rave reviews, “electrifying, inspiring, educational, entertaining, best we’ve ever had.”
TV appearances
Neil Cavuto
Presenting Israel’s perspective on the proposed nuclear deal with Iran on the Neil Cavuto show See link at Rabbi Blech on FOX News, February 2015
From a personal handwritten note from Neil Cavuto:
Rabbi Blech
Man, are you a phenomenal guest – fast on your feet – a man of your word and principle. Keep at it – judging from the emails you triggered there’s a nation thirsting for it. Thanks again, Neil Cavuto
Newsmax TV
Newsmax TV – another opportunity to present Israel and Bibi’s position re speaking before Congress. Watch it here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RRMsY3y6yE February 2015
Glenn Beck
An entire one hour program interview with Glenn Beck about the book The Sistine Secrets – February 2015
For more information and a short clip from the interview see http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/02/03/author-of-the-sistine-secrets-shares-something-you-may-not-know-about-michelangelos-famous-ceiling/
National Conferences
National Jewish Retreat, featured scholar, July 2013, August 2014
Founded in 2005, the six-day annual National Jewish Retreat includes more than 150 live lectures and interactive workshops on Jewish life, law, history, culture and tradition by over 30 scholars and experts from various fields of study. The Retreat is hosted each summer at a luxurious hotel, and and hosts over 1000 participants. Prominent lecturers in the past have included Israel’s former chief Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau, Dennis Prager, Nat Lewin and others.
AIPAC national rabbinic leadership conference, September 2014
Chosen as the one Rabbi from across the country to address rabbis from across the United States with suggestions for themes and sermonic ideas for the forthcoming high holy days
Books
Rabbi Blech’s last book, The Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages In The Heart Of The Vatican, is now in twenty-six countries, translated into sixteen other languages, and continues to maintain its bestseller status.
At present, Rabbi Blech has just come out with his newest work for which he served as editor, Sanctification – a collection of over thirty essays by some of the most prominent theologians, scholars and rabbis of our generation, including Lord Jonathan Sacks, former chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, on a significant and supremely important theme centered around the concept of holiness as understood in Jewish tradition and thought.
Internet
Rabbi Blech’s regular contributions to the aish website – the largest Jewish website in the world with over three quarters of a million regular readers – continue to be amongst the most popular articles read and commented upon by readers around the world.
El Al airlines
Rabbi Blech was invited to be among the first rabbinic scholars to record lectures and inspirational informative talks about the major Jewish holidays which were made accessible to travelers on El Al airline en route before important festivals.
Documentary Film
In light of the worldwide interest in Rabbi Blech’s discoveries of the Jewish influence on Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel (along with co-author Roy Doliner), a documentary film is now being prepared in conjunction with a major Hollywood scriptwriter and the production assistance of Glenn Beck.
September 6 – 14, 2013
Rosh Hashanah – Yom Kippur 5773
Scholar in residence and officiating Rabbi – Young Israel of North Beverly Hills California
August 28 – 29, 2013
Keynote Speaker, Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, Festival of the Arts
Dear Rabbi Blech,
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join us here in Detroit during our Festival of the Arts. As you know, the turnout that we had both of your lectures was absolutely incredible. We’re officially on the books as having the largest crowd in the Berman Theater, ever. [We were overcapacity, in fact, but don’t tell the fire marshal!]
We were thrilled with the response that you and the topics of your talks received here in our community; we have received only positive feedback from those who attended. Both of your presentations were fascinating and thought-provoking and people really loved your engaging, humorous and polished delivery. We would have you and your lovely wife back in a heartbeat – and we’d probably sell out the Berman Theater again, too!
Thank you again for joining us. I look forward to the opportunity to work together again in the future.
Sincerely,
Adina Pergament
Director, Seminars for Adult Jewish Enrichment
Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
August 6 -11, 2013
Lecturer, The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, National Jewish Retreat
L’Kvod HaRav Blech,
I’m writing to convey our thanks and appreciation for joining us as a faculty member at the National Jewish Retreat, and for sharing your wisdom and inspiration with our many participants.
Feedback continues to pour into our office by many Retreat participants, sharing praise and appreciation for a most uplifting and inspiring experience. Most noteworthy, many guests and Sinai Scholars have shared how the Retreat inspired life-altering steps in their Jewish journey.
Thank you for graciously sharing your time, scholarship and sensitivity with our fellow Jews from across the Jewish landscape. MANY of our participants commented on your very engaging and passionate teaching and told us you were a highlight of the Retreat!
On behalf of the entire JLI team, I wish you and your family a Shana Tova Umesuka – a year of increased blessings for health, nachas, simcha and continued success in all your personal and communal endeavors.
With esteem and gratitude,
Rabbi Efraim Mintz, Executive Director
The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute
Dear Rabbi Blech,
We are grateful to you for making the Retreat 2012 the wonderful experience it was for nearly a thousand people. The outstanding success of the National Jewish Retreat is due to the quality of the presenters. Your presentation inspired and invigorated your students at the NJR and continues to inspire the virtual students online at TorahCafe.com.
We would like to express our deep gratitude to you for providing the quality lecture as you did and we would like to spread the word to your fans and followers the world over.
Please feel free to share this link with colleagues, friends, family and community.
Thank you for being part of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute’s TorahCafe.
Chaya Rosenfeld | TorahCafe
The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute \ 822 Eastern Parkway | Brooklyn, NY 11213
Phone: 718-221-6900 x134 | Fax: 718-221-6907
TorahCafe@myJLI.com | www.TorahCafe.com
June 8-9, 2012
Scholar in residence, Beth Tefillah of Paramus, New Jersey
“Our congregation was enthralled with your presentations. You had us mesmerized. Thank you for an outstanding weekend.”
Rabbi Daniel Wolff
June 12, 2012
Publication date of “The World from a Spiritual Perspective.”
“The World from a Spiritual Perspective” is a compilation of over 100 of Rabbi Blech’s best articles that have appeared on the Aish HaTorah website (the most popular Jewish website in the world) over the past few years.
This is Rabbi Blech’s 15th book now in mass circulation – works with combined sales of over half million copies worldwide.
June 22 – 23, 2012
Scholar in residence, Young Israel of Silver Springs, Maryland
“Our Congregation is still buzzing with enthusiasm over your Scholar-in-Residence program in June. We’ve had our lecture series for five years now, including appearances by some of the greats of the Jewish circuit, and none has evoked a more uniformly positive reaction than yours. It’s obvious that your personal participation in the Vatican discussions, your acquaintance with the late Vendyl Jones, and the research and thought which went into your book on Good G-d, Sometimes Bad World gave your talks an authenticity and appeal hard to match. Thank you again and best wishes always.
David Hornestay
Co-Chairman, Adult Ed. Committee
September 16 – 27, 2012
Rosh Hashanah – Yom Kippur 5773
Scholar in residence, officiating Rabbi – Young Israel of North Beverly Hills California
This is Jonathan Kellerman. I’ve just returned from a bit of travel and am writing to let you know how much I appreciated your “pastoring” of our congregation during the Yamim Nora’im. I’ve heard similar comments from many of my fellow congregants. I wish you well and Shabbat Shalom.
Jonathan Kellerman, internationally renowned best-selling and award-winning author
November 11, 2012
Keynote speaker, Annual Nationwide Conference
Bikur Cholim Federation
“Thank you so much for agreeing to be keynote speaker at the Bikur Cholim conference. You were wonderful and moving–. My father z”l would have been very pleased. … May Hashem grant you many more years of health to continue to teach as brilliantly and eloquently as you do.
Thank you so much for enriching the conference.”
Barbara Trainin Blank
“Firstly I must thank you from the bottom of my heart. What an outstanding keynote presentation! Thank you for grabbing and holding the audience, while exuding compassion, warmth, humor, and an ‘insiders’ understanding of what the day is all about. Thank you for sharing your personal story, your humanity, your vulnerability and courage. Everything flows from the beginning and you set the tone for a terrifically inspiring and educational day.
Rechel Schoenfeld, LMSW, Regional Coordinator for Partners in Caring, Program Director, Bikur Cholim Coordinating Council
November 16 – 17, 2012
Scholar in residence, Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem, Cote Saint Luc, QC
“I wanted to thank you for the outstanding Shabbaton you provided our
congregation. Your material and presentation were absolutely outstanding. I
have only heard rave reviews. (As I mentioned to you on Shabbat, people said
to me “Where did you find this guy?” in the positive sense!).” Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz
November 21, 2012
Keynote Speaker, Annual Lecture Series, Beth Tzedec Congregation, Max and Beatrice Wolfe Library, Toronto, Canada
On behalf of the Library, I would like to thank you for an outstanding lecture that was enjoyed by over 200 people. We are still receiving wonderful comments on your presentation. The audience found the lecture very interesting and educational, the delivery exciting and engaging and the atmosphere pleasant and gracious. Your book the Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican was totally sold out and many people placed a backup order. As a result of your lecture, a number of people have come to the Library telling me how much they enjoyed your book and asking for more information on the topic.
It was a pleasure to meet you and we are looking forward to having you visit us again in the future.
Zina Glassman, Beth Tzedec Congregation, Max and Beatrice Wolfe Library, Toronto, Ontario
November 30 – December 1, 2012
Scholar in residence, Congregation Shomrei Torah, Fairlawn, New Jersey
“I wanted to thank you for spending this past Shabbos with us as our Scholar in Residence. Your lectures were exciting, inspirational, and fascinating due to your dedication and care that you express and have for Klal Yisrael. We continue to receive lots of positive feedback from your talks which were very well attended.” Rabbi Andrew Markowitz
December 21 – 22, 2012
Scholar in residence, Congregation Beth Shalom, Lawrence, Long Island
“You were simply superb. The rave reviews keep coming in. The congregation just couldn’t get enough of you.” Rabbi Kenneth Hain
January 11 – 12, 2013
Scholar in residence, Palm Beach Synagogue, Florida
“You continue to remain one of our favorite guest speakers. Your presentations are always fascinating and much beloved by all of our congregants. Thank you again for gracing us with your presence”. Rabbi Moshe Scheiner
January 12, 2013
Featured on worldwide TV documentary, produced by Jewish Educational Media, highlighting Rabbi Blech’s personal meetings with the Lubavitcher Rebbe and his mission, at the Rebbe’s behest, to visit Jewish communities in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Bangkok and Tokyo during his sabbatical in 1989 in order to inspire them and bring them closer to Torah.
Rabbi Blech shared with viewers the remarkable blessing the Rebbe gave him for his successful endeavors as well as the Rebbe’s comment to him that in spite of his beardless face and non-Hasidic appearance, “You are a Chassid in camouflage.”
January 18 – 19, 2013
Scholar in residence, The Shul of Harbor Island, Florida
“Just to let you know that I am still receiving the most positive comments and thanks from all those who attended our Shabbaton and are asking when we can host you again.
Thank you.”
Rabbi Isser Dovid Silverman.
February 15 – 17, 2013
Member of the faculty at international conference of LIMMUD
“It was truly an honor and a privilege to have you join us at the ninth annual Limmud NY Conference last weekend. I heard nothing but rave reviews about your sessions – including unsolicited praise from two fellow presenters who were on the edge of their seats during your talk on the Jewish treasures of the Vatican (as was I).” Karen Radkowsky, Founding President, Limmud NY
“My name is Adina Pergament and I am the director of SAJE (Seminars for Adult Jewish Enrichment) here at the JCC of Metro Detroit. We run community-wide, Jewish learning and enrichment programming throughout the year here at the JCC – lectures, classes, seminars, etc.
Several of my planning committee members attended your presentations at the recent Limmud NY conference in New Jersey and came back absolutely raving about you! Your lectures sound absolutely fascinating and we’d love the opportunity to bring you here to Detroit to speak. What we are thinking is to have you come at the end of August during our “Festival of the Arts” – which is a week-long festival that highlights all of the cultural arts and Jewish educational programming here at the Center. I think you would be the perfect “SAJE” speaker to have during this festival.”
Adina B. Pergament, Director, SAJE (Seminars for Adult Jewish Enrichment) Arts, Culture & Education Department, Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
March 1, 2013
Guest lecturer, Manhattan Jewish Experience, New York City
“As always, Rabbi Blech, you hit it out of the ballpark. The attendees were simply mesmerized. No wonder you are one of our all-time favorite speakers at MJE.”
Rabbi Mark Wildes, founder and director of Manhattan Jewish Experience
March 2, 2013
Guest lecturer, CHABAD of Greenwich, Connecticut
“We wanted to thank you for the inspiring lecture on Motzei Shabbat. We got great feedback and many people were inspired. Wish to hear your insight soon. Bahazlacha raba,
Eli & Liwen Yaacoby, Guests of Honor
March 6, 2013
Guest lecturer, Central Yeshiva High School for Girls, Queens, New York
Thank you so much for teaching us at our Central Mishmar. Your words about the Aseret Hadibrot made a tremendous impact on our students and parents. It gave us completely new perspective on what the Aseret Hadibrot mean to us as a nation and what they teach us. Your delivery was captivating, passionate, and engaging. It was an honor having you in our series of after-school learning. We hope you will return and that we will continue to learn much Torah from you. Thank you again and we look forward to the next opportunity to learn with you.
All the best,
The students and faculty of Yeshiva University High School for Girls
March 7, 2013
Featured speaker at a Passover Seminar Conference Call run by Yeshiva University Rabbinical Alumni for approximately 1000 rabbis:
“Thank you again so much for the amazing and inspiring chomer lidrush on Thursday. I have already heard from many, many of the rabbis on the call how much they appreciated and enjoyed it! Yasher ko’ach!
Rabbi Naphtali Lavenda, M.B.A. Director, Online Rabbinic Programming
Center For The Jewish Future, Yeshiva University
March 8 – 9, 2013
Scholar in residence, Congregation Machne Chodosh, Forest Hills, New York
“You were simply brilliant, amazing and inspiring. This is the second time you have graced our lecture series with your presence and we anxiously await another return visit.” Rabbi Manfred Gans
March 24 – April 3, 2013
Scholar in residence and Officiating Rabbi, Grand Getaways’ Passover program at the Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa, Phoenix Arizona
“From the mouths of our over 600 guests, I must tell you that you absolutely made our program. You had our people spellbound – and many of our guests said it was worth coming to our Passover program just to hear you alone. We can’t thank you enough.”
Alan Berger, coordinator of the Passover program.
Major events
Coming Soon
Keynote speaker at the Fifth Worldwide Meeting of Values
Monterey, Mexico
October 17 – 19, 2013
From the Letter of Invitation:
The Council for the Promotion of Human Values is honored to reach you through this letter of invitation to participate as a keynote speaker at the Fifth Worldwide Meeting of Values (EMV2013). The EMV2013 is a call from the universal consciousness that invites us to participate responsibly to transform a society that seeks to improve through the practice of values, personal development,… solidarity and sustainability.
The purpose of this event is to provide a space for dialogue and reflection in this emerging stage of humankind, to learn and share the ideas and experiences of great social agents that will allow us to create a new consciousness of solidarity in ONENESS. This event will take place on October 17-19th, 2013 where we will discuss issues related with peace building, spirituality, global ethics, compassion, sustainability, poverty eradication, wisdom and education. We expect more than 6,500 attendees, around 2,000 teachers and over 200,000 faculty students participating online. The event will feature a live webcast, which will include the participation of over twelve National Universities and Laureate International Universities.
During the fourth edition of the Worldwide Meeting on Human Values we were pleased to host the event that brought together over 25 international speakers among them, Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs and Nick Vujicic. Our expectations were highly exceeded since the venue was at its full capacity and more than 233,000 persons from 116 countries followed the event on live-stream.
Previous editions have included the participation of Dalai Lama, Shirin Ebadi, Bernardo Kliksberg and Forest Whitaker, as well as, Jody Williams, Marianne Williamson, Patch Adams, Leoluca Orlando and Sergio Fajardo, among others.
We would be delighted if this invitation could be possible for your agenda on Friday 18th.
Your experience and message could inspire thousands to become peacemakers and social change agents.
Javier Benitez Gomez
President Council for the Promotion of Human Values
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National Jewish Retreat
August 6 – 11, 2013
From the Letter of Invitation:
I am writing on behalf of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, one of the world’s foremost providers of adult Jewish education. One of our prized departments at the Rohr JLI is the National Jewish Retreat, a five-day event of learning, dining, discovery, and leisure. The Retreat draws over 1000 lay leaders from across North America of diverse Jewish backgrounds, all with a common interest of learning from some of the top Jewish scholars and academics. This year will be our eighth annual retreat and will take place August 6-11, 2013 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
We would like to invite you to join us this year to be one of our honored guest lecturers. Your presentations at the Retreat would add value to our program of scholars, teachers, writers, politicians, and public figures.
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Detroit Festival of the Arts
August 28 – 29, 2013
From the Letter of Invitation:
Several of my planning committee members attended your presentations at the recent Limmud NY conference in New Jersey and came back absolutely raving about you! Your lectures sound absolutely fascinating and we’d love the opportunity to bring you here to Detroit to speak. What we are thinking is to have you come at the end of August during our “Festival of the Arts” – which is a week-long festival that highlights all of the cultural arts and Jewish educational programming here at the Center. I think you would be the perfect “SAJE” speaker to have during this festival.”
Adina B. Pergament, Director, SAJE (Seminars for Adult Jewish Enrichment) Arts, Culture & Education Department, Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
_______________________________________________
Rabbi Blech is presently accepting bookings for the coming year.
For further information, please contact Rabbi Blech directly at bblech@gmail.com