Birthday to 80-year-old Activist

By COLlive reporter

The National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE) has been active for over 70 years. Rabbi Shraga Faivel Rimler has been there for 56 of them.

So when the organization’s Director of Development turned 80 this week, the Executive Committee and staff threw him a party in the office.

Rabbi Rimler, born in Brownsville, NY, was recruited to the educational and humanitarian non-profit shortly after he returned from a unique Shlichus in Israel. He was one of the 12 bochurim sent there by the Rebbe.

He began as the Director of the Released Time Program, which reaches out to Jewish children in New York City public schools. He continued as an administrative assistant to NCFJE’s legendary Chairman Rabbi JJ Hecht OBM.

At the modest party, complete with a cream cake, Rabbi Rimler showered blessings on everyone present – which was not a surprise for his colleagues who know him as a goodhearted and devoted chossid.

“Rabbi Rimler’s staunch dedication to a moisod so close to the Rebbe’s heart is something truly to be admired,” commented NCFJE’s current Chairman Rabbi Shea Hecht.

“As an elter chossid, Rabbi Rimler has been a continuous source of inspiration and practical guide to the instructors of the Released Time Program,” he added.

In addition to his work at NCFJE, Rabbi Rimler is the rabbi of the New Brighton Jewish Center in Brooklyn, where he continues to lead his congregation and inspire people with his love for Torah study and his tireless commitment to Judaism.

A dvar torah from the newly published “Imrei Shefer,” a collection of Rabbi Rimler’s Torah thoughts and explanations printed by his children, was read by Rabbi Sholem B. Hecht, a colleague at NCFJE.

Rabbi Rimler and his wife Tziporah Rimler were honored at NCFJE’s 70 year anniversary celebration held at Chelsea Piers in New York City in 2012.

DOWNLOAD:
+ Kovetz Imrei Shefer (PDF)