Zvi Ryzman Receives Honorary Degree
Corporate CEO, Philanthropist, Torah Scholar and Touro Chairman Serves as Keynote Speaker at Commencement for Touro University’s Lander Colleges
Zvi Ryzman as as a respected Talmudic scholar and CEO of one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of beauty products in the world, you are a noted philanthropist and a highly successful businessman who has immeasurably enhanced Touro through your involvement. Upon joining the Touro board 20 years ago, you supported the vision of Touro founder Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander , Zacher Tzaddik LeBrocha.
More recently, since becoming Touro chairman, you have worked hand in hand to our president Dr. Alan Kadesh and to our chancellor and Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Doniel Lander to advance the institution's growth and expansion. You serve as a bridge between the last administration and the current one, so ably connecting our founding mission and values with the school's contemporary needs.
In addition to building your business, you spend the majority of your time studying and teaching Torah to audiences all over the world. This fusion of Torah secular education and contributing to society started at a very early age. You studied in the famed Chevron yeshiva and also served in the Israel Defense Forces. You received rabbinic ordination from HaRav Yechezkel Sarna, Zacher Tzaddik LeBrocha, of the Chevron Yeshiva and earned a degree in political science and economics at Tel Aviv University.
You are a role model for integrating a life of Torah study and stellar career achievements. You are truly a Renaissance man and an Eish Kolot, exemplifying the mission or Pirkei Avot: "Yafa Talmud Torah Im Derech Eretz." As an Eish Asakim, a businessman, who learns and teaches Torah every day, you have followed in the path of your saintly father, who was also both a maggid shuir and a businessman.
He never stopped teaching Torah while pursuing knowledge and earning a living. Your life today is a testament to his enduring values. Along with your Eishet Chayal Betty, you have supported myriad charitable organizations on the international scene. Shaare Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem, The Mesorah Heritage Foundation, Puah, an organization focused on fertility medicine and halacha, just to name a few. You created hebrewbooks.org to provide world Jewry with access to nearly 63,000 classical Hebrew seferim via free download.
At the heart and soul of your philanthropy is your mission to strengthen the cause of Harbitzit HaTorah and to guarantee the vibrant continuation of our Mesorah. Touro is going to be fortunate to have you as their leader, and we, all of us, are blessed with your friendship and wise counsel. President Kadish, for his exemplary leadership and service to the Jewish people, through steadfast support and active involvement in the study and teaching of Touro, as a paragon, leader, and Jewish educator, for his incisive scholarship and genuine care and concern for all people, and upon the recommendation of Touro's leadership, I respectfully ask that you confer upon Zvi Ryzman the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in honoris causa
Dr. Alan Kadish: I just want to add that for the last two years, it's been an absolute pleasure working with Zvi Ryzman as chairman of the board. I consider him a role model, a mentor, and a friend. And he's a rare individual who serves as a role model for all of us.
Zvi Ryzman: Rabbi Lander, Dr. Kadish, Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Sacks, Fellow members of the board, deans, faculty, and most of all, our dear graduates and their loved ones who have joined us today, thank you very much for the remarkable honor that you bestowed upon me this afternoon. As chairman of the board, it has always been a source of pride to witness the granting of degrees as a symbol of accomplishment and scholarship.
I wish all of our graduates would be receiving their degrees today a heartfelt mazel tov. I wish your parents, grandparents, spouses, children, and friends much nachas your accomplishments. I am gratefully elated to join your ranks as a Touro University degree recipient. I'm well aware that Touro University and its affiliates have a clear mission statement.
Nevertheless, I hope to hone in and underscore what I believe is the godly charge that each and every one of us is tasked with achieving. What is in a mission? Webster's dictionary defines mission as a specific task which a person or a group is charged.
While that is true, our sense of mission demands a slight difference, not a task with which a person or a group is charged-- rather, a task with which a person and a group is charged. There are two dimensions to our mission, two faces to our unique earthly assignment. Allow me to explain.
The Torah instructs ViAtem Tihuyu Lee Mamlachet Kohanim v'Goy Kadosh It is incumbent upon us as a tzibur, a nation, to be godly and saintly and thereby make a kiddush Hashem, to sanctify Hashem's name in this world. It is expected of us as people to demonstrate that the nation as a collective can be ambassador of Hashem in a material world.
This is the reason our sages, teach us, "Kol Bee Asara Shechina Sarai," namely that any tzibur or ayda of Jews contains the shechina within. In other words, our people as a whole serve as the perfect meeting point between heaven and earth. The other dimension is our Avodat Yechidim.
The Jew should not and cannot disappear into a sea of others and hide behind the communal accomplishment. No. Every single ben or bas Yisrael has a singular duty, one that cannot be realized by any other person. Touro's mission statement towards Hillel's dictum in Pirkei Avot : Im Ain Ani Li, Mili?
I would like to share how the Chidushai HaRim understood this mission. And I quote. "Kol HaAdam Nivra LeTaken Dvar Miyuchad B'Olam Sheain Achar Yechol LeTaken" In other words, if people don't explore who they are and what particular contribution they must make to the world, then the world would be lacking. Mili is the cry of healing.
Who is a substitute? Who can substitute? No one can.
The Chidushai HaRim adds the following teaching: "L'Chain, B'chol Zman u'Zman Meyuchad Tikkun Achar." In addition to teaching about every person's task, Hillel is teaching that every time period, every generational era, ushers in a new and distinctive charge, one that could not be addressed in years past.
Considering our reality in this 21st century, one cannot help but think that previous generations couldn't even imagine a world that we live in. From the days of Briyat Ha'olam until just a few hundred years ago, people still plowed the fields with ox and plow similar to the way fields were plowed during the earliest era of civilization. People travelled in horse and carriage on dirt roads much like our forefathers did.
People warmed their homes with wood since oil was not yet discovered. People didn't understand the improvement electricity would bring. And certainly, no one could ever foresee the ability to send mail electronically from one end of the world to another in a split second.
Industry was generally manual in nature. Medicine and medical treatments were lacking. Without the advent of modern medicine and vaccines, millions of people died during epidemics and of a variety of diseases and ailments.
Who could have imagined a knee or hip replacement-- a heart, kidney, or liver transplant-- ultrasound, CTs, and MRI imaging-- functional bionic arms and legs-- genetic mapping and modification . IVF and other fertility treatments were but fantasies and dreams not even within that stage. And being on the brink of healing dreadful diseases such as Parkinson and Alzheimer were the very stuff of sci-fi literature. And yet our sages told us thousands of years ago that these would all become reality. In the Zohar HaKodesh, we learned that in the 600 years of Eleph Hashishi, the wellsprings of chochma, wisdom will be opened up and flowing.
One cannot help but surmise that chazal was referring to the technological advancements and scientific revelations that we are witnessing. These are the times for these chochmas to come to light. These are the words of the Chidushei HaRim that Tikkun Hamiyuchad for our zman, for our era.
How does this all relate to you, dear graduates? The new developments come with a responsibility to illustrate how this is all kedusha and alkut. The Rebbe of Lubavitch is quoted as having said that Hashem created gashemus for ruchneius, and we, you, are tasked to create ruchneius from gashmeus.
In the context of present day society, it is incumbent upon us to demonstrate how this all is an integral part of Hashem's infinite wisdom. If we don't do that, who will? Im Ain Ani Mili, then Mili?
What better way to accomplish this than by doing what you have done in your years at Touro? You have been delving into beloved Torah and finding the relationship between ruach and geshem, shamayim v'aretz. Our timeless Torah provides timely context and framework for every new dilemma posed by modern science and technology. In the words of Ben Bagbag, HaPhoch Bo, HaPhoch Bo, D'kala Bo.
I encourage you to delve deep enough, learn diligently enough, and I'm sure, and you can be sure to find it. In Parshat Veyechi, we learn that Yaakov, our forefather, commanded Semach Zevulin Btzascha V'Yissacher B'Ahelicha. The common interpretation assumes that Yaakov Avinu was speaking to two different people, two of his sons.
My father explained Yaakov's statement differently. His understanding is that Yaakov is speaking to one individual who embodies the traits of both, Yissachor and Zevulin. My father, Zichrono L'Vrocha, taught and lead by example that the Jew can and must be fully rooted in limmud HaTorah and other religious pursuits while being firmly present in the marketplace.
I also was privileged to witness the special fusion in the life of Touro's founder, Dr. Bernard Lander, Zichrono L'Vrocha. With a lofty dream and bold conviction, he set out to create the platform upon which all of you can merge Yissachor and Zevulin. I so admired and respected him and his mission that I couldn't refuse when he asked me to join the Touro board. It is his brocha that I bring to you today.
No matter the path one takes, our calling, your calling, is to shine a light on the oneness that is the Yissachor and Zevulin. You need to be M'Kadish Shem Shamayim by proving that Hashem is found not only in the Beis Meidrash and Beis Knesset but also in the offices of businesses, also of government and corridors of hospitals. Touro University has assisted you in lighting your own internal flame and allowed that flame to illuminate your track as you trek forward in life.
Allow that flame to eradicate the darkness in the world by shining a light of Torah ideals. Allow your personal flame to ignite the additional flame that can then generate more and more light, warmth, and positivity in the world. Only with each of us achieving our individual missions by combining Yissocher and Zevulin can we show the rest of the world as a collective unit that Hashem Hu Elokim
And finally, coupling Torah learning with the university courses in the number of subjects that you will synthesize that which may, in our world, unfortunately want to divide and separate. You know all too well that Les Atar Pnui Minah There is no place in the world void of God and godliness.
It is upon you to live it, share it, teach it, and be proud of it. And when you graduate, bring the beautiful, synthesized tapestry you have woven into the world. You today graduate, are tomorrow's leaders that with Hashem's help lead yourself to personal victory. And then you will be able to lead our nation.
And so until Yakiru Viyadui Kol Yisraei Tavel, Hashem Echad o'Shmo Echad. Mazel tov and congratulations. Thank you.
Zvi Ryzman received an honorary degree and served as commencement speaker for Touro University’s Lander Colleges Commencement Ceremony on June 4 in Lincoln Center in Manhattan.
Ryzman joined the board of Touro University 20 years ago and, since 2020, served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Touro University, supporting the vision of Touro Founder Dr. Bernard Lander and the university’s growth and expansion under current President, Dr. Alan Kadish.
Introducing him as a speaker, Dr. Kadish called Ryzman, a “role model for integrating a life of Torah study and stellar achievements in the business world, a true Renaissance man.”
In a stirring address, Ryzman exhorted graduates about their mission as Jews and as alumni of Touro.
“It is incumbent upon us as a tzibur, a nation, to be godly and saintly and thereby make a kiddush Hashem, to sanctify Hashem's name in this world,” said Ryzman. “It is expected of us as people to demonstrate that the nation as a collective can be an ambassador of Hashem in a material world.”
Weaving erudite Talmudic passages and later commentaries, Ryzman spoke about the responsibilities of maintaining one’s integrity while venturing out into the business world.
“Hashem is found not only in the Beis Meidrash and Beis Knesset but also in the offices of businesses, also of government and corridors of hospitals,” said Ryzman. “Touro University has assisted you in lighting your own internal flame, allow that flame to illuminate your track as you trek forward in life.”
A Life of Accomplishment
Ryzman is passionate about promoting the value of higher education, both as a means of earning a livelihood and becoming citizens of the world. He is President and CEO of American International Industries, one of the largest manufacturers and importers of cosmetics and beauty products in the world. Ryzman’s company sells wholesale to beauty suppliers and retailers in the U.S. and around the world.
Winner of the Jerusalem Prize for Torah Literature, Ryzman is the author of numerous Hebrew seforim and English language Jewish titles, including a series called Exploring Modern Halachic Dilemmas and one entitled The Wisdom in the Hebrew Months, both published by Artscroll. One of his seminal works is an in-depth exploration of the halachos pertaining to fertility treatments and organ transplantation. This and a myriad of other topics are at the core of Ratz KaTzvi, a 21-volume series on Jewish law and thought.
A highly successful businessman and noted philanthropist, Ryzman spends much of his time studying and teaching Torah to audiences all over the world.
Success Begins at Home
Ryzman spent his early years in Europe and moved to Israel as a school-age child, growing up in Tel Aviv. He studied in the famed Chevron Yeshiva and also served in the Israel Defense Forces. Ryzman earned a degree in political science and economics at Tel Aviv University, as well as rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna of the Chevron Yeshiva.
He says he owes his success to his father, Rav Yehoshua Heshel Ryzman, who exemplified the values Ryzman has adopted throughout his life and career. Ryzman’s father learned in various Yeshivos in Poland, ultimately becoming a long-standing talmid in the Chabad Lubavitch Yeshiva in Otzvozk. He was subsequently appointed Rosh Yeshiva at the Yeshiva’s branch in Warsaw.
After suffering the brutality of the Nazis in labor and concentration camps, he ultimately arrived in Israel, pursued a secular education at Tel Aviv University and entered the business world, buying a flour mill that the family still owns and operates today.
“My father never stopped teaching Torah while pursuing knowledge and earning a living. That was his legacy to me,” says Ryzman. “I learned from him that if you want to stay grounded in Torah, you need to give a shiur and teach others so you yourself can learn in depth. I never call myself a rabbi, I am an ish asakim, a businessman who learns and teaches Torah every day. The Torah teaches everything, including the right way to conduct business. My Torah study has sharpened my mind and contributed to my ability to think strategically in business.”
Advice for Today’s Graduates
Ryzman believes the key to success in both life and business is to focus and concentrate on the task at hand. “When you’re learning Torah, your mind shouldn’t be racing and thinking about your to-do list at work, and when you’re involved in business, concentrate on what’s in front of you. People who accomplish a lot have a plan, so be sure to design a plan for what you want to do each day. You don’t have to give up on Torah or business success, just plan when you are going to focus on each. If you need to start working at 5 am, then plan to learn at 4 am and stick to it. I recommend learning something in depth that really speaks to you, so you recapture the joy of learning that you had in yeshiva, and sustain it as you move into professional life,” explains Ryzman.
“When it comes to succeeding in the business world, slow and steady is the way to build. Learn everything you can about the space you’re working in, conduct as much research as possible and don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and do menial tasks. Respect everyone in the organization. I don’t call people employees, everyone in my company is a colleague because I have something to learn from each of them,” shares Ryzman.
Ryzman urges today’s young people to remember their past and their roots. “Take your values and your parents’ teachings with you as you enter the professional world, and you’ll succeed in the present and into the future.”
