Shlomo Brukirer grew up in Suffern, NY, and descends from over 30 generations of Jewish educators. While learning in the Mir Yeshiva in Israel, he helped cofound ZAY, a program for young adults struggling with substance abuse. He spent two years learning Halacha in Yeshivas Torah Voda’as, before marrying his wife, Ruchie. After moving to Israel, they joined the Jerusalem Kollel Rabbinical Training Program where he received smicha from Rabbi Berkovits shlita. Shlomo is always ready and willing to have a conversation or debate on classical political philosophy, ethics, and morals. He appreciates good music, experimenting in the kitchen, and getting to know people.
Chaya Pollak was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Chaya attended Touro College where she majored in Speech Language Pathology, minored in Education and graduated with honors. She went to Israel for her gap year and returned in 2017 for another two and a half years to study at the renowned Neve Yerushalyim in order to expand her Torah knowledge and deepen her connection to Judaism. Chaya currently teaches Jewish History at Hadar Bet Yaakov, a Bucharian all-girls high school in Queens, as well a variety of introductory level Torah topics at Shalsheles, a Brooklyn based high school for girls who come from unaffiliated backgrounds. Her overall mission is to provide her students with an understanding of who G-d is and how they can develop a personal connection with Him. Chaya has... Read More
Rabbi Brukirer and Ruchie have been so helpful, anytime I need a Shabbat meal I know I can contact them if I'm having trouble with a friend or some other issue Rav Brukirer is always there to help advise or just to listen, and they organize great events that bring together all sorts of students.
Rav Brukirer is a great resource for asking all of the questions we have, for discussing complicated topics we might not have been able to talk about, and he almost always has a good answer or a helpful thought.
Rav Shlomo is a very positive role model as he is always available and makes everyone feel personal when speaking with/to him.
Rav and rebbetzin Brukirer are truly one of a kind, from them being great listeners and advisors or chatan/kallah madrichim, being in their company makes you feel heard and comfortable with who you are, and knowing you have someone to talk to in times of need.
Rabbi Brukirer is amazing. Always around, hanging out with students on the quad, available for conversations in the library, working hard to plan events. Just overall fantastic!
Rabbi Shlomo and Ruchie Brukirer are extremely important to Jewish campus life at Queens College! They are always available to talk to students, and they do their very best and are very successful at inspiring students to make their own events and encouraging students to learn more about what interests them.
In the time that I have known Rabbi and Rebbetzin Brukirer, I have felt incredibly welcomed and loved in their presence. Because of their great guidance, I have felt comfortable to go to their shabbos meals, daven within the Hillel space, and have felt encouraged to go to them with any questions I may have regarding Halacha. I consider the Brukirers a kind of family away from family on campus and am very grateful they continue to lead the JLIC on campus.
Rav Brukirer shows that you can be a great Jew and a completely normal person as well. He’s very approachable, incredibly kind, and he’s really cool. He has a… sort of aura if that makes sense? He’s a very calming presence, and embodies being a good Jew and a good person.
Rabbi Brukirer and Ruchie have been so helpful, anytime I need a Shabbat meal I know I can contact them if I'm having trouble with a friend or some other issue Rav Brukirer is always there to help advise or just to listen, and they organize great events that bring together all sorts of students.
Rav Brukirer is a great resource for asking all of the questions we have, for discussing complicated topics we might not have been able to talk about, and he almost always has a good answer or a helpful thought.
Rav Shlomo is a very positive role model as he is always available and makes everyone feel personal when speaking with/to him.
Rav and rebbetzin Brukirer are truly one of a kind, from them being great listeners and advisors or chatan/kallah madrichim, being in their company makes you feel heard and comfortable with who you are, and knowing you have someone to talk to in times of need.
Rabbi Brukirer is amazing. Always around, hanging out with students on the quad, available for conversations in the library, working hard to plan events. Just overall fantastic!
Rabbi Shlomo and Ruchie Brukirer are extremely important to Jewish campus life at Queens College! They are always available to talk to students, and they do their very best and are very successful at inspiring students to make their own events and encouraging students to learn more about what interests them.
In the time that I have known Rabbi and Rebbetzin Brukirer, I have felt incredibly welcomed and loved in their presence. Because of their great guidance, I have felt comfortable to go to their shabbos meals, daven within the Hillel space, and have felt encouraged to go to them with any questions I may have regarding Halacha. I consider the Brukirers a kind of family away from family on campus and am very grateful they continue to lead the JLIC on campus.
Rav Brukirer shows that you can be a great Jew and a completely normal person as well. He’s very approachable, incredibly kind, and he’s really cool. He has a… sort of aura if that makes sense? He’s a very calming presence, and embodies being a good Jew and a good person.
