KEHILLAH - Jewish Outreach Media Campaign -
is dedicated to the memory of
Rabbi Yoel Kenny

1^st February 1962 - 23^rd December 1999
27^th Shvat 5722 - 14^th Tevet 5760
[ Parsha Mishpatim - Parsha Vayechi ]

Rabbi Kenny - born into a family of intellectuals - became a baal tschuvah (returnee to traditional Judaism) and a Lubavitcher Rabbi and through amazing dedication, hard work and inspiration brought the bright light of Torah to a dark, deserted industrial corner of Manhattan. 

He was the rabbi of
the Fur Center Synagogue
on West 29th Street in New York City,
from 1989 to 1996. 

He held a wonderful Shabbos Torah Class each Saturday after services and kiddish.  It's difficult to describe but it was everything a Torah class should be - informative, stimulating, inspiring, challenging and FUN.  My friend Marsha and I agreed it was usually better than a tv sit com. (There were a number of truly funny characters in the class that added to the fun.)  It was delightful to be part of it. 

What wonderful memories we cherish of that time when a small group of odd-ball characters came to learn Torah every Shabbos with Rabbi Kenny. 

My favorite memory of him is at the big table which we sat around, discussing Torah with great seriousness, while one of his beautiful young children sat - wriggling - on his lap, playing with his beard or his ears or nose as he spoke.  You couldn't help but laugh.  I always wished I could take a photo of it, but of course I couldn't.  So the memory is within me - treasured.

His daughter Chava was bat mitzvah in April of 2003.  But Rabbi Kenny, who was taken from us at such a young age by a vicious form of leukemia,, was not there - except in spirit. 

This project is one of many ripples
sent forth by this wonderfully creative,
brilliant, witty, dear and delightful
rabbi, scholar & teacher
- tragically taken from us at a young age -
loved and missed by those
whose lives he touched in a profound way.

He still lives in our hearts and memories -
and in the Judaism that we practice to this day -
so many of us brought to the traditions as a
result of our engagement with Rabbi Kenny. 

How we miss him....

KEHILLAH is dedicated to his memory -
in gratitude for all that he taught us 
and for his lovely spirit, his intelligence, his talent
as a teacher and for his dry, dry wit that
so delighted those who understood it.

We shall not forget him...
His memory is truly for a blessing....

He cast a stone into the waters
and thereby made a difference...