"[2] During Finkelstein's leadership, the seminary flourished, growing from a small rabbinical school and teacher training program to a major university of Judaism.

One of his signature programs was a radio and television show called The Eternal Light, which explored Judaism and Jewish holidays.

Finkelstein established the Institute for Religious and Social Studies, which brought together Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish scholars for theological discussions.

His efforts were considered so significant that an article about him was featured in Time Magazine including his picture on its cover on the edition of October 13, 1951.

He was intimate with leading political and judicial figures and, in 1957, enticed Chief Justice Earl Warren of the United States Supreme Court to spend a Sabbath at the seminary studying the Talmud.

He described the major influences upon his scholarship as Rabbi Professors Solomon Schechter, Louis Ginzburg, Alexander Marx and Saul Lieberman.

Even in his retirement he continued writing, working at the dining room table of his Riverside Drive apartment to complete several annotated volumes of the Sifra.