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86 | FESTSCHRIFT
ceeded”, do not believe him. If, however, he tells you, “I have labored, and I have

succeeded”, you may believe him.
Talmud Bavli, Masechet Megillah 6b

Dani’s time learning in Kerem B’Yavneh was pivotal in his journey towards Torah
eminence. That is where Dani forged friendships with the top learners in the yeshiva
(one of whom would ultimately marry Dani’s sister), and built close relationships with
the Yeshiva’s inspiring rebbeim. Most crucially, KBY is where Dani, harnessing his G-d
given talents, was “amal b’Torah” – worked incredibly diligently (the only way one can
acquire Torah), and, I believe, became a Talmid Chacham.

Sharing with Dani, and cousins Chaim Meir and Sim Mermelstein, a decrepit dorm
room that had water seeping through the walls, cooking on a hot plate anything that
even remotely resembled food, trying to tune Dani’s boom-box to Voice of Peace

broadcasts so we can find out the Rangers scores (sorry, Avalanche fans), using a space
heater that tended to short-circuit the entire dorm, and even erecting a “Kotel Katan”
made from masking tape, were all part of the mosaic that was our time together in
KBY. What was most significant for me, however, was witnessing Dani’s meteoric rise
towards a life dedicated to Torah. Even as young children, I had a sense that Dani was
going far in life. It was in KBY that I understood that his destination would be Torah.
Yet despite Dani seeing great success with his Torah learning, his smiling, joking, and
fun personality never changed.

Continued studies and academic degrees at Yeshiva University and Columbia Law
School didn’t impede, but rather complimented, Dani’s growth towards ever higher
levels of Torah scholarship as he moved towards Yoreh Yoreh and Yadin Yadin semicha,
Dayanus with the RCA, positions teaching Torah at YU, and of course, his position as

Morah D’Asrah at EDOS.
ותוא ןיכילומ הב ךליל הצור םדאש ךרדב ... אנוה בר רמא
Rav Huna said … in the way that a man wishes to go, in that way (the angels) lead him.
Talmud Bavli, Masechet Makot 10b

Dani could have excelled in any number of professional roles: lawyer, accountant, actuary,
college professor, mathematician, and more. But, because he had a higher, if not the high-
est, calling in life, Dani chose Torah, Rabbanus, and Dayanus.