YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

∞ WINTER 2011

∞ VOLUME 15 • NO. 1YUTODAYIn Glow of Candlelight, Media Spotlight Shines

Campus pride fills the air

Stern College for Women’s (SCW) Brookdale Resi-dence Hall lounge, on

34th street, was covered in alu-minum foil. The tables and floor shined with the reflection of hundreds of flickering candles, floating oil wicks and colorful wax sculptures, in menorahs of every size and description, from hand-carved wood to Is-raeli bronze. Every few minutes more young women entered the lounge and gathered together around a menorah, singing

blessings together. As one group finished singing, another one began. One woman brought an African drum from her dorm room and began to thump out a beat; another got her guitar. Seated in a cluster of nearby easy chairs, a student paged through biochemistry notes, glancing up from time to time at the glow of candles.

“The unity is palpable,” said Ilana Hostyk, a senior from Hol-lywood, FL. “All the students are congregated in the dorm lounges during candlelighting, singing and dancing. Chanukah at Yeshiva University is the ulti-

mate actualization of the YU ex-perience: 3,000 undergraduate students joined together to en-rich a Jewish tradition in their own ways, but together.”

Unity and community were Chanukah themes on both cam-puses. For a student body that hails from 23 countries, with myriad customs, the holiday was a time to celebrate the com-mon identity of young, obser-vant Jews leading Torah-infused lives in the modern world. That pride was only magnified by the success of the Maccabeats, a YU a cappella group, whose music video “Candlelight” has

been viewed on YouTube more than four million times. Since the video debuted, the Mac-cabeats have been featured on The Today Show on NBC, The Early Show on CBS, on CNN, in Time, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The New York Post, The Jerusalem Post, The Jew-ish Week, The Jewish Star, The Huffington Post, on the Yahoo homepage, on numerous local television and radio stations and many other media outlets.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to bring some semblance of

The Yeshiva Maccabeats performing on the Wilf Campus in December, days after their video “Candlelight” began a run of more than four million views on YouTube.

Continued on Page 6 ç

YU Takes Lead on Affordable Day-School TuitionAvi Chai grant will help today’s undergrads, tomorrow’s moms and dads

Yeshiva University is the recipient of a $1.6 mil-lion grant by the Avi Chai

Foundation. The grant to YU’s Institute of University-School Partnership will support cut-ting-edge financial analysis, long-term planning and operat-ing changes within 30 Jewish day schools in Baltimore, Cleve-land, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The YU-School Partnership, as it’s known, will also continue working with eight schools in Bergen County, NJ, where a pilot program took place beginning last year. The work represents a critical step toward affordable, quality Jewish education.

As rising tuition and opera-tional costs challenge the finan-cial viability of the day-school movement, the YU-School Part-nership, part of the Azrieli Grad-uate School of Jewish Education and Administration, has been at the vanguard of efforts to create a stable and sustainable school system. “There have been at-tempts to do analysis of day-school economics on some basis before, but never have they been approached this comprehen-sively or on a multi-community scale,” said Dr. Harry Bloom, the director of planning and per-formance improvement at the YU-School Partnership.

The YU program differs from previous efforts in its range and focus. It will study the communities in which day schools are located in addition

to the schools themselves, pro-viding local leadership with information for initiatives that will serve the larger community. It will also provide three years of consultation to participating communities in areas ranging from educational improvements and recruitment to fundraising and long-range financial plan-ning, allowing for a period of supported implementation to ensure that the schools’ strate-gies are successfully designed. The program’s goal is to achieve a 10 percent improvement in the schools’ finances, with a collec-tive target value of $30 million.

“It isn’t just about cutting the budget, or fundraising with-out a vision for what the school aspires to be,” said Dr. Scott J. Goldberg, director of the YU-School Partnership. “This initia-

tive is emanating from what is itself primarily an educational institution at YU, with a broader perspective and expertise than fundraising or auditing alone. Sustainability has to start with quality.”

According to Bloom, the program alleviates pressure from middle-class families who don’t qualify for as much finan-cial aid as needier parents, but still struggle with tuition costs that account for a huge propor-tion of their earnings. “Those people in the middle are still facing day school tuition that amounts to a third or more of their pre-tax income,” he said. “Those people need relief. With the kind of support we hope to provide, some of those gains will go to middle earners to make

Continued on Page 2 ç

For more interesting YU numbers visit

www.yu.edu/nowyouknow

170students on seven CJF

winter missions across the globe

PAGE 2

A record

$4.1 million

raised at Hanukkah dinner

PAGE 3

104,

age of Irving Kahn, participant in

Einstein’s Longevity Gene Project

PAGE 4

618dreidels spun

by YU students, alumni and friends—

a new Guinness World Record

PAGE 6

29books authored

by undergraduate YU faculty

in 2009–10

PAGE 7

More than

500attend student medical

ethics conference

PAGE 8

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YUTODAY ON THE WEB

www.yu.edu/news

WEB EXCLUSIVE:

2010 in PicturesA look back at a wonderful year at YU

k http://blogs.yu.edu/news/2010/12/20/the-year-in-pictures/

k Download mobile reader at scan.mobi and enjoy additional web content throughout YUToday

VIDEO PHOTO GALLERY

The Hanukkah dinner raised $4.1 million in 2010, the most successful one yetk blogs.yu.edu/news/dinnerpics

At Dreidel-Palooza students helped students with tuition, and set a world record (video)k blogs.yu.edu/news/dreidelpalooza

PLUS

Visit awww.yu.edu/news for up-to-the-minute University stories and information

YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

∞ WINTER 2011

∞ VOLUME 15 • NO. 1YUTODAYDR. HENRY KRESSEL

Chairman, YU Board of Trustees

RICHARD M. JOEL DR. NORMAN LAMM President Chancellor

GEORGIA B. POLLAK Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs

YUTODAY

MAYER FERTIG YAFFI SPODEK BORIS VOLUNUEV Editor in Chief Editor Art Director

Shulamith Berger, Avi Fertig, Rachael Fried, Karen Gardner, Norman Goldberg, Elie Klein, Zachary Levine, Stephen Nickson, Peter Robertson, Tova Ross, Perel Skier,

V. Jane Windsor, Matt YanivContributors

yutoday@yu.edu www.yu.edu/cpa

YUToday is published quarterly by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs and is distrib uted free to faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and friends. It keeps them informed of news from across Yeshiva University’s undergraduate and graduate divisions and affiliates. The quarterly newsletter covers academic and campus life, faculty and student research, community outreach and philanthropic support. It showcases the University’s mission of Torah Umadda, the combina-tion of Jewish study and values with secular learning, through stories about the diverse achieve-

ments of the University community.

© Yeshiva University 2011 • Office of Communications and Public Affairs Furst Hall Room 401 • 500 West 185th St. • New York, NY 10033-3201 • Tel.: 212.960.5285

Stanley I. Raskas, Chairman, Board of Overseers, Yeshiva College; Shira Yoshor, Chairman, Board of Overseers, Stern College for Women; Josh Weston, Chairman, Board of Overseers, Sy Syms School of Business; Ruth L. Gottesman, Chairperson, Board of Overseers, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Leslie E. Payson, Chair, Board of Overseers, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law; Robert Schwalbe, Chair, Board of Overseers, Wurzweiler School of Social Work; Mordecai D. Katz, Chairman, Board of Overseers, Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies; Carol Bravmann, Chair, Board of Overseers, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology; Moshael J. Straus, Chairman, Board of Overseers, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration; Julius Berman, Chair man, Board of Trustees, (affiliate) Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Sem i n ary; Miriam Goldberg, Chairman, Board of Trustees, YU High Schools; Theodore N. Mirvis and Michael Jesselson, Co-Chairs, Board of Directors, (affiliate) Yeshiva University Museum.

Board listings as of January 18, 2011 .

their burden more affordable, by leveling off tu-ition increases or allocating more scholarship dol-lars.”

The pilot program in Bergen County included a benchmark survey to identify school-specific op-portunities to streamline costs and increase rev-enue. “The survey helped our schools learn a great deal about themselves,” said Dror Futter, co-chair of the county’s Jewish Education for the Gen-erations’ Cost Reduction Committee. “It forced schools to look at their own information in new ways and different categories.”

Avi Chai’s three-year grant represents 50 percent of the program’s overall budget, which is being matched by funding from local foundations and federations. According to Bloom, the response from these donors is telling.

“We’re seeing huge enthusiasm about this program from the communities because it gives schools not just the ability to get data, but the wherewithal and capacity-building to help them act on the information,” he said. “Foundations and federations are matching the Avi Chai grant be-cause they see the power of increasing day schools’ capacities to help themselves.”

“We are delighted to be working together with Yeshiva University and the YU-School Partnership toward our shared goal of building a strong and sustainable day-school field,” said Yossi Prager, ex-ecutive director of Avi Chai North America.

If the project is successful in these 30 schools, Avi Chai and YU will expand the program to in-clude as many as 200 schools in 30 communities. n

k To learn more about what the Institute for University-School Partnership is doing to improve day schools around North America, see yu.edu/schoolpartnership.

CJF on the Road: YU Students Learn While Doing

The Nicaraguan village of Boca de la Montana ap-pears remote and deso-

late in an image captured from space by a satellite; hardly the place for a hard-earned vaca-tion. But more than a dozen Ye-shiva University (YU) students, accompanied by Rabbi Yosef Blau, mashgiach ruchani of the YU-affiliated Rabbi Isaac El-chanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), visited Nicaragua dur-ing their winter break to help lay the foundation for a new library there. YU students were intro-duced to the community two years ago when they worked on the construction of the road and bridge to the school complex.

“I think it’s an important part of our student’s education, that they interact with others and take responsibility,” Rabbi Blau said. “The intellectual experi-ence in school, while the essence of what we are, does not automat-

ically translate to life. This is a way of translating the values that we learn into actual experiences, and doing so while contributing and not just watching.”

Other YU students par-ticipated in Jewish Life Coast to Coast—a trip to Richmond, Charleston, Jacksonville and South Florida—during which they analyzed how individuals can become active and make a difference in North America’s diverse Jewish communities.

“Watching our students engage with the Jewish commu-nity of Richmond was exciting,” said Rabbi Kenneth Brander, the David Mitzner Dean of Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jew-ish Future (CJF). “They inter-acted with Jews of all ages and all backgrounds. In the process of inspiring the communities they encountered, our students were transformed.”

Coast-to-Coast and the Ni-caragua mission were among seven experiential learning trips organized this winter by the CJF. Others included a hu-manitarian mission to Mexico;

Project Kharkov, a two-week program aimed at gaining first-hand understanding of the wel-fare challenges and identity crises facing Ukrainian Jewry; QUEST II, a leadership pro-gram that helped former Gush Katif residents rebuild their lives in the desert community of Halutza; and “A Place Called Home,” during which students traveled across Israel for a week, exploring what it means to cre-ate a national home for the Jew-ish people. Throughout “A Place Called Home,” students engaged Israelis on kibbutzim, in develop-ment towns, immigrant villages, towns in Judea and Samaria, and religious and secular com-munities. These compelling ex-periences forced students to examine their shared existen-tial dilemma of loyalty to both a birthplace and a homeland.

The trip also introduced the students to “some of the complex social issues of the State of Is-rael,” said Rabbi Yaakov Neuber-ger, a rosh yeshiva at RIETS who is also a congregational rabbi at Beth Abraham in Bergenfield, NJ. “Specifically, this group was introduced to the issue of the disengagement from Gaza in a way that they were not aware of before. These programs are very valuable and should be attended by anyone planning to go into rabbanus [the rabbinate] or chi-nuch [Jewish education].”

The programming and in-stitutional partners that made these missions possible for hun-dreds of our students include: American Jewish Joint Distri-bution Committee, American Jewish World Service, the Eck-stein Family, Jim Joseph Foun-dation, Jewish National Fund, and Repair the World. n

Seeking Solutions: YU Takes Leadç Continued from Page 1

A Place Called Home participants visited a greenhouse in Kfar Maimon, Israel, learning about cutting- edge agricultural methods used in Gush Katif. From left: Atara Burian, Tova Schiff, Marnina Sherman, Orah Jooyandehnik and Malkie Krieger.

Missions Across Israel, Ukraine and North and South America

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Hanukkah Dinner Brightened by Student Points of Lights, Distinguished Honorees and Mayor Booker of Newark

Cory A. Booker, mayor of Newark, NJ, and the key-note speaker at Yeshiva University’s Eighty-Sixth Annual Hanukkah Dinner and Convocation at The

Waldorf=Astoria in New York City, implored members of the audience, and the Jewish community at large, to be true to themselves, to their faith and to their heritage.

“This world doesn’t need ‘Jews.’ This world needs Jews who are manifesting the truth of who they are, who recognize that yes, there is a ‘chosen-ness’ in Judaism but it necessitates in the individual making a choice,” Mayor Booker said.

In an address replete with references to Jewish his-tory and the Torah that brimmed with humor, warmth and wisdom, he sought to outline exactly what that choice means.

“We are in a world that cries out for redemption; there is pain and suffering all around us. Why am I so drawn to Judaism? Because this world needs people who will choose to live those values, instill them in their hearts and manifest them in their actions.”

Re-elected as Newark’s mayor with a clear mandate for change, Mayor Booker knows the impor-tance of working with and depend-ing on others. He noted that his bold vision for Newark could not have been set into motion without vital outside help and cooperation. And he sees in YU opportunities for cooperation, unity and restor-ative hope that must continue to be carried out.

“We are sitting here in homage not to individuals but to a tradition at a university that at its very core is that mission. Why I am so honored to be here, why I feel the gravity of the gift of kindness that you all have shown me, is because this university is answering that call.”

President Richard M. Joel conferred the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on Mayor Booker. Honorary degrees were also awarded to Emanuel Gruss, a prominent investment executive and philanthropist, and Benefactor and honorary trustee of Yeshiva Univer-sity; business executive Arthur N. Hershaft, a Benefac-tor and member of the Board of Overseers of YU’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine; attorney and community leader Murray Laulicht, a YU alumnus and Benefactor and member of the Board of Overseers of the Univer-sity’s Stern College for Women; and philanthropist and civic leader Laurie M. Tisch, a Benefactor and significant supporter of YU’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

A RECORD FUNDRAISERThe Hanukkah Dinner, the University’s main annual fundraising event, raised a record $4.1 million.

The dinner portion of the evening opened with a

viewing of the hit video “Candlelight,” a song performed by a Yeshiva University a cappella group, the Maccabe-ats. Over Chanukah the group was featured on dozens of media outlets, including NBC, CBS and CNN. The video has been seen on YouTube well over four million times.

POINTS OF LIGHT HONOREDPresident Joel then honored the Points of Light, eight people who exemplify YU’s mission, one for each candle of the menorah. They included:

Chanan Reitblat, founder of the Yeshiva College chapter of the American Chemical Society, who is help-ing to develop a drug to prevent kidney stones and works with special needs individuals.

Leah Larson, a Stern College for Women student and founder, editor and publisher of YALDAH, a Jewish magazine for girls, which she started at age 13.

Michael Goon, a current student at YU affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) serving as

a Sanford Lurie Scholar at the Jewish Center and rabbinic in-tern at the Roslyn Synagogue. He founded “Shabbat Heights Link,” which organizes Shabbat dinners for singles and couples in Washington Heights; he also designed and produced “Peace-keeping: The Game,” a board game that teaches the chal-lenges of intrastate conflict.

Joey Small, who holds a master’s degree from YU’s Az-

rieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Adminis-tration, and launched a fellowship program at YU with two tracks—Give Back and the Legacy Heritage Teacher Training Fellowships—both of which focus on encourag-ing recent graduates to pursue careers in education.

Tova Fish-Rosenberg, chair of the Hebrew language department at Yeshiva University High School for Boys and creator of the acclaimed “Names, Not Numbers” In-tergenerational Holocaust Oral History Project.

Martin Leibovich, a student at YU’s Sy Syms School of Business, who grew up in Argentina and was heavily recruited by American college basketball programs be-fore eventually transferring to Yeshiva, where he shows a tremendous love of Torah learning and plays varsity basketball.

Dr. Arturo Casadevall, the chair of microbiology and immunology at YU’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a major force behind Einstein’s foray into biodefense following Sept. 11, 2001; he also helped de-velop a new therapy for metastatic melanoma.

Jaqueline Murekatete, a second-year student at YU’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law who, at the age of nine, during the Rwandan genocide of 1994, was the sole survivor of her Tutsi family. She founded Jacqueline’s

Mayor Cory A. Booker delivering the keynote address at 86th Annual Hanukkah dinner. Martin Leibovich lighting a candle after being recognized as a Point of Light.

Tradition Dates Back to University’s Early Years

Two ads in the Nov. 8, 1928 issue of The New York Times—one in English and one Hebrew—announced the chanukat ha-bayit, the dedication, of the new Ye-shiva College building, the first step in the creation of the Washington Heights campus. The dedication ceremonies on Dec. 9, 1928 were followed by a banquet four days later on Chanukah. Describing the building, the ads invoked the Beit Hamikdash, the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The choice of Cha-nukah for the dinner and dedication ceremonies was deliberate and symbolic.

The inauguration marked the move uptown from the impoverished, overcrowded, immigrant neighbor-hood of the Lower East Side to the then bucolic Washington Heights. It also launched a new era in the life of the institution—the addition of a college of liberal arts and sciences to the Yeshiva.

k To read the complete article online visit blogs.yu.edu/library/2010/11/ or scan the barcode with your smartphone.

First in Washington Heights: Yeshiva College building completed in 1928 is now home to Yeshiva University High School for Boys.

“ Nights like tonight are

so important for those of

us who dream about the

Jewish future. ”PRESIDENT RICHARD M. JOEL

Human Rights Corner and has raised $100,000 for a com-munity center in Rwanda for other genocide survivors.

Echoing the words of Mayor Booker, President Joel summed up the evening with these words: “Nights like tonight are so important for those of us who dream about the Jewish future. We must continue working with other people of goodwill to advance civilization; that’s our sa-cred mission, and that’s what we are celebrating tonight and what we will continue to celebrate in the days and months and years to come.” n

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Yeshiva University High School for Girls Teams Up with Einstein to Encourage Young Female Scientists

Yael Rahimzada of Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva Univer-sity High School for Girls

(YUHSG) spent the summer conducting research in a pedi-atric nephrology lab and testing kidney transplant patients for arterial stiffness at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Under the supervision of Dr. How-ard Trachtman, Rahimzada worked directly with patients, gained hands-on experience in research methodology and ul-timately had her research pub-lished in Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease Journal, a peer-reviewed medical publication.

Rahimzada’s internship was part of the high school’s Science Institute, a four-year program started by Ruth Fried, chair of the science depart-ment. The Institute includes a post-sophomore-year summer internship at Yeshiva Univer-sity’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a post-junior-year internship at the Garcia Insti-tute at Stony Brook University, interspersed with two years of advanced placement science courses. Students later submit research papers to the Siemens Science and Technology Com-petition and other contests.

Even before the Institute began nearly five years ago, YUHSG had partnered with Einstein to sponsor the Summer Research Internship, where stu-dents interned at the medical school and its affiliates for six to eight weeks.

Coordinated by Fried and Dr. Ruth Freeman, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at

Einstein’s Montefiore Medical Center, the Institute highlights YUHSG’s unmatched curricu-lum as the only all-girls Ortho-dox Jewish high school linked to a major university.

“More and more women are entering fields of scientific research,” Fried said, noting that last year’s graduating class at Einstein comprised a ma-jority of women. “It’s one that

doesn’t typically promise a lot of fame or money, but inspires altruistic goals such as helping people and changing the world for the better.”

Prestigious programs like this allow YUHSG students to pursue any career that sparks their interest.

“When I told people I wanted to be a doctor, they said ‘girls don’t really do that,’” said

Dr. Freeman, who was a mem-ber of one of the first graduating classes of “Central” (as YUHSG is commonly known) and who later graduated from Einstein. “It’s really gratifying to see YU’s high school tell its young women that they can be scien-tists or researchers or doctors if they want to—and giving them the tools to help them achieve their goals.”

Rahimzada, who lives in Great Neck, credits her men-tors, Fried and Dr. Trachtman, for inspiring her to study sci-ence. “The idea of using science to help people live better lives is one that is incredibly appeal-ing to me,” she said. “Thanks to this summer internship, and my high school’s science pro-gramming, I know I’ll be able to achieve my goal.” n

Einstein’s SuperAgers.com explains that ‘Fountain of Youth’ Secret is Found in Genes

Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine has launched SuperAgers.com, a new Web site highlighting the work of Dr.

Nir Barzilai, who has spent over a decade studying the elderly population.

SuperAgers.com features video profiles of several study participants, including 104-year-old Irving Kahn who is still managing assets at his $700 million investment firm, and 103-year-old Irma Daniel, who exercises and maintains an ac-tive social life.

In 1998, Dr. Barzilai, director of the Institute for Aging Research, began observing a group of healthy people between the ages of 95 and 112 who were en-rolled in a study called the Longevity Genes Project. His work grew into the LonGenity Research Study, which focuses on examining the genes of those in that age group. The team now comprises more than 500 centenarians and near-centenarians, plus close to 700 of their children.

“The goal of the Longevity Genes Project is to

understand how centenarians live so long,” said Dr. Barzilai. “What is it in their genetic makeup that allows them to get to this age and remain healthy?”

Dr. Barzilai’s research has identified at least three genes thought to promote longevity, uncov-ering evidence that it is likely to be inherited by later generations. His team also discovered that those with exceptional longevity are more likely to have elevated levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol. These factors are believed to play a key role in the ability of these “super agers” to avoid or delay developing Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

As the study continues, Einstein research-ers seek to further understand how protective or harmful genes are activated, gradually leading to drug therapies that regulate gene expression and help people live longer and healthier lives. n

k Learn more at www.superagers.com.

Yael Rahimzada with Ruth Fried, chair of science department at Yeshiva University High School for Girls.

Harold Laufman, 98, was professor of surgery at Einstein College of Medicine.

ALU

MN

INew

s

ALUMNI NEWS 1

YOUR NEWS IS OUR NEWS! Class Notes is where YU celebrates the milestones and accomplishments of its alumni. In this section, you can catch up on everything your classmates have been up to over the years, from marriages and births to professional and personal achievements.

Submit your class note by e-mailing alumni@yu.edu with the subject line “Class Notes,” or by visiting www.yu.edu/alumni to complete the online form. We hope that you enjoy reading about your fellow alumni and friends, and we look forward to hearing about your achievements.

The June 28 edition of Newsweek featured a selection of the 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America which included 11 YU alumni:

Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald ’63YUHS, ’67YC, ’70F, ’76RRabbi Abraham Cooper ’72YC, ’74R, ’75BRRabbi Mark Dratch ’79YC, ’82F, ’82RRabbi Yechiel Eckstein ’68YUHS, ’73YC, ’75BR, ’75RRabbi Menachem Genack ’65YUHS, ’69YC, ’73RRabbi Norman Lamm ’49YC, ’51R, ’66BRRabbi Haskel Lookstein ’58R, ’77BRRabbi Arthur Schneier ’51YC, ’56RRabbi Marc Schneier ’76YUHS, ’80YC, ’83A, ’83RRabbi Joseph Telushkin ’70YC, ’73R, ’74BRRabbi Avi Weiss ’73YC, ’76R, ’76F

1930s Bessie and Rabbi M. Aaron Kra ’37YUHS, ’41YC, ’43R, ’73F announce the birth of their great-granddaughter, Nava Ashira, born to Josh and Adeena Kra. Mazel tov to the grandparents, Madeline and Ethan Kra and Sarah and David Goldstein.

1940s Rabbi Dr. Manfred “Meir” Fulda ’48YUHS, ’52YC, ’59R, ’79BR was honored at the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center World of Heroes Awards Dinner with the Marbitz Torah Award.

Rabbi Macy Gordon ’49YUHS, ’53YC, ’56R, ’77F announces the birth of his great-grandson, Matanya Yisrael, born to Nitzana and Betzalel Friedman. Mazel tov to grandparents Etana (Gordon) ’80S and Dr. Alan Friedman ’80YC of Petach Tikva, Israel. Rabbi Gordon also announces the marriage of two granddaughters: Nava Devora, daughter of Etana and Dr. Alan Friedman, to Tzori Wieder, son of Yehuda and Osnat Wieder of Modiin, and Edna Friedman to Yanai Apelbaum.

Sylvia and Rabbi William Herskowitz ’48YC, ’50W, ’55R, ’74BR announce the birth of a great-granddaughter, Keira Charlotte Katz, born to Dr. Shari and Ari Katz ’05YC. Mazel tov to grandparents Amy ’72YUHS, ’76S, ’78W and Nathan Katz ’77YC.

Alizah and Rabbi Israel Poleyeff ’45YUHS, ’48YC, ’51R announce the engagement of their granddaughter, Shoshana Wolf to Asher Dworetsky. Mazel tov to Shoshana’s parents, Susan and Dr. Barry Wolf.

Regina and Rabbi Charles Spirn ’47YC, ’51R celebrated the bat mitzvah of their granddaughter, Shoshana Chaya.

1950s

YU Trustee Marvin S. Bienenfeld ’53YC, ’56R is one of Yeshiva University’s few distinguished leaders to be honored at the Chag HaSemikhah 5770 with

RIETS’s highest honor, the Eitz Chaim (Tree of Life) Award, for the advancement of Jewish scholarship.

Malke and Rabbi Yaakov Borow ’86YC, ’89BR, ’90R announce the engagement of their son, Moshe, to Reut Iluz of Nof Ayalon, Israel. Mazel tov to grandparents Pearl ’52YUHS and Rabbi Aaron Borow ’55YC, ’59BR, ’59R and Minna and Dr. Aaron Friedman ’57YC.

YU Vice President of University Affairs Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky ’50YUHS, ’54YC, ’57R, ’59F, ’80F received the Harav Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveichik Aluf Torah

Award at the RIETS Chag HaSemikhah Convocation in March. Herbert and his wife, Dina, also celebrated the birth of a great-granddaughter, Temimah Sara, born to Aliza (nee Kramer) and Elie Deutsch of Efrat, Israel. Mazel tov to Aliza’s parents Drs. Deborah and Michael Kramer ’73YUHS, ’77YC, ’10R.

Sarah (Lebowitz) ’55YUHS, ’58TI and Rabbi Hersh Moses Galinsky ’51YUHS, ’55YC, ’58R announce the births of their granddaughter, Tehilla Batya, born to Shaya and Chaya Galinsky of Netanya,

Israel, and their grandson, Assaf Mordechai, born to Chaya and Rabbi Aviad Sasson of Katzrin, Israel.

Zev Hymowitz ’50YUHS, ’54YC is currently spending four months in Israel as a volunteer for JDC-Israel’s Association for Planning and Development of Services for the Aged in Israel program (ESHEL). In the 80s, Zev was the former director of JDC-Israel and chairman of ESHEL.

Arlene and Dr. Sam Kaye ’58BZ celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Rabbi Dr. Norman Linzer ’51YUHS, ’55YC, ’58R, ’60W presented a paper, “Self and Other: Tension in Times of Trauma” at the sixth International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health in Dublin, Ireland. He also co-authored an article with Jay Sweifach and Heidi Heft Laporte “Sharing the Trauma: Guidelines for Therapist Self-Disclosure Following a Catastrophic Event” in Best Practices in Mental Health: An International Journal.

Chaya ’59S and Rabbi Elihu Marcus ’53YC, ’56R, ’99F celebrated the bat mitzvah of their granddaughter, Raut Breitbard, and the birth of a great-granddaughter.

Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff ’59YC, ’61R, ’67BR was interviewed on August 11 by The Jewish Press in the article, “From Lakewood to Yeshiva University: An Interview with Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff.”

Liza and Rabbi Ben Samson ’57YC, ’60BR, ’60R celebrated the bar mitzvah of their grandson, Yosef Mayer, son of Susan ’92S and Dr. Israel Samson ’87YC, ’91A. The Samsons also announce the birth of their granddaughter, Soroh Rivkah, born to Chanah and Victor Braverman.

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It’s been more than four years since Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was abducted by Hamas, and in an era when the attention span of much of the world is no longer than a day, the tragic case may already have been forgotten by some.

But for Jay “Yudi” Zuller ’89YUHS, ’93YC the memory of Shalit’s imprison-ment is invoked every time he looks upon his 4-year-old son, Gilad, whom he named in Shalit’s honor.

“They say that when a baby is born, a voice comes out from the sky and says the name,” said Zuller. “When the doctor who delivered him told my wife and I that we had a son and asked his name, I said we hadn’t decided. As soon as those words were out of my mouth, I knew what his name would be. I told the doctor ‘Actually, I haven’t discussed it with my wife yet, but if she agrees, we do have a name.’ I understand my wife—she thinks along the same lines as I do. When I said his name would be Gilad, she nodded and said ‘Yes.’ ”

The very next day, Zuller and his wife Aviva ’92S reached out to Noam Shalit, Gilad’s father, through a mutual friend to tell him how they had decided to pay tribute to his son. It was the beginning of what has become a close friendship between the families—and also the beginning of a tireless campaign of activism by Zuller to bring attention to Shalit’s plight and to raise the funds Gilad’s family needs so they can continue work-ing full time to bring about their son’s release.

Zuller, who made aliyah in 2009, has been a committed activist almost as long as he can remember. “My parents would take me to the Soviet Jewry rallies,” he said. “I still remember going as a kid down to Times Square and the U.N., being on my father’s shoulders and seeing the thousands of people and the outpouring of support.” He and Aviva operate a tzedaka foundation, the Israel Solidarity Fund of America. Launched in 2002, the foundation has raised more than $1 million for Israeli victims of terror through its Shirei

Shalom Concert Series and through barbecues and other events that the Zullers have hosted at their house in Staten Island.

“It’s overwhelming to know what’s right and wrong and want to do some-thing about it,” said Zuller. “Most people feel that there’s nothing they can do. I disagree. I feel that if every person did what was in their power to do, things would be different.”

Zuller is just one of the many people within the YU community who have become empowered to take up the Shalits’ cause. Fellow alumnus Avi Posner ’07YC helped arrange the Shalits’ participation in New York City’s Salute to Israel Parade in 2010, and the Wilf Campus has also hosted visits by Noam Shalit. To learn more about supporting Zuller’s efforts on behalf of the Shalit family, visit www.bringgiladhomenow.com n

Committed Activist Takes Up Gilad Shalit’s Cause

“ …if everyperson did what was in their power to do, things would be different. ”

Jay Zuller ’89YUHS, ’93YC

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Freida and Rabbi Elihu Schatz ’50YUHS, ’54YC, ’57R of the Yishuv Hashmonaim announce the birth of their 47th grandchild, Tamar, born to Pinchas and Tzippie Schatz of Yishuv Rimonim, and the birth of their sixth great-grandchild, Akiva, born to Ariel and Fraydel Gilor of the Yishuv Hashmonaim.

Judy ’59YUHS, ’84W and Rabbi Joel Schreiber ’57YC, ’60BR, ’60R were honored at the RIETS Annual Dinner of Tribute on October 20.

Rabbi Jack Shechter ’53YC published The Land of Israel: Its Theology Dimensions (University Press of America, 2010), a study of the promise and the land’s holiness. Rabbi Shechter served as associate professor of Bible and dean of continuing education at the University of Judaism (now the American Jewish University) in Los Angeles for two decades. He earned a PhD in biblical studies from the University of Pittsburgh and was ordained by the Jewish Theology Seminary in 1957.

1960s Pnina (Pam Forman) ’68S and Ya’akov Aronson celebrated the bar mitzvah of their grandson, Elisha, son of Chana (Aronson) and Eliezer Meir.

On May 26, Jerome A. Chanes ’60YUHS, ’64YC, ’74W delivered the annual Lehmann Memorial Lecture in New York on “Esav Sonei et Yaakov: What’s New About the New Antisemitism?” Jerome also lectured at Drisha on “We are the ’People of the Book’ but Which Book? Artscroll, Etz Chayim, Plaut, Hertz, and Our Religious Movements” and “American Jewish Denominations” and at The Jewish Center in New York on “Who Killed Mizrachi? Religious Zionism and Modern Orthodoxy in America and Israel.” His essays and articles continue to appear in The Forward, New York Jewish Week and other magazines.

2 ALUMNI NEWS

Coming Soon…Clip this calendar and place it on your fridge, dashboard or bathroom mirror so you don’t forget to attend these exciting alumni events. Visit www.yu.edu/alumnievents to learn more about these and other YU events. k 2011 ALUMNI EVENTS CALENDAR

FEBRUARY2/9/11 Meet the Authors at the Seforim Sale2/13/11 Alumni Family Day at the Seforim Sale2/17/11 Lunch Lecture with Professor Jerome Chanes2/20/11 Alumni Day at the Wittenberg Wrestling Tournament

MARCH3/1/11 Entrepreneur Networking Event3/4–5/11 Yeshiva University in Los Angeles Shabbaton3/16/11 Breakfast Lecture with Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky3/27/11 L’Dor V’Dor Event and Alumni Day at the Sarachek Tournament

APRIL4/3/11 YCDS Spring Comedy and Alumni Reception4/7/11 Breakfast Lecture with Rabbi Jeremy Wieder

MAY5/3/11 Yeshiva University High Schools Annual Dinner of Tribute5/5/11 Breakfast Lecture with Rabbi Steven Weil5/15/11 Yeshiva University High Schools 50th Reunion5/25/11 YU Undergraduate Reunion for the Classes of 1961, 1971 and 1986 and Golden Shield Event5/26/11 YU Undergraduate Commencement

JUNE6/2/11 Yeshiva University High Schools 60th Reunion6/13/11 Yeshiva University Inaugural Convocation and Dinner in Los Angeles

Alumni are invited to attend the Doris & Dr. Ira Kukin Entrepreneurial and Executive Lecture Series Friday mornings from February 4 through May 6. For more details about this lecture series and other alumni events, e-mail alumnievents@yu.edu or visit www.yu.edu/alumnievents

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Fredda (nee Hoenig) ’63YUHS, ’68TI and Rabbi George Finkelstein ’63YUHS, ’67YC, ’72R announce the birth of their granddaughter, born to Ariel and Abby Finkelstein of Riverdale, NY. Mazel tov to maternal grandmother Sharon Cabelly.

Sarah and RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yitzchok Cohen ’62YC, ’65R announce the birth of a granddaughter, Rochel, to Devorah and Ari Ziffer of Lakewood, NJ, and the marriage of their son, Dovid, to Chana Anemer, daughter of Esther and Rabbi Eli Meir Anemer.

Sonia ’62S and Rabbi Mallen Galinsky ’61F celebrate the bar mitzvahs of two grandsons: Yitzchak Yehuda Dov Gold, son of Adina and Rabbi Shaul Gold, and Yehuda Dov, son of Yonat and Rabbi Shimon Galinsky.

Leah and Rabbi David Glicksman ’61YUHS, ’65YC, ’68R, ’97A, ’99F celebrated the bar mitzvah of their grandson, Yaakov.

Cantor Sherwood Goffin ’63YC, ’66BZ, faculty member at the Belz School of Jewish Music and renowned cantor, has released new music (available in CD and mp3 format) entitled “Favorite

Nigunim,” which presents the nigunim for tefilla for the Shalosh Regalim and Hanukkah. This new release, along with Cantor Goffin’s other works, are available at select seforim stores or can be ordered online at www.davka.com.

In June, Rabbi Wallace Greene ’62YUHS, ’66YC, ’69R, ’79B was honored with the Community Service Award by Yeshiva Ohr Simcha of

Englewood, NJ. In August, he was awarded the 2010 Prize for Jewish Educator in the Diaspora in memory of Harav Shalom Messas, the former Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, by Lifshitz College of Education and the World Council for Torah Education. The August 16 presentation was in Jerusalem and included participation of the Rishon leTzion HaRav Shlomo Amar, Israeli Minister of Education Gidon Saar and Mayor Nir Barkat.

Aviva and YU Men’s Basketball Coach Dr. Jonathan Halpert ’62YUHS, ’66YC, ’78F announce the birth of two granddaughters: Leora, born to Shoshana and Rabbi Yehuda Halpert ’93YUHS, ’97YC, ’05R and Alyssa, born to Michelle and Rafi Halpert ’00YUHS.

Rabbi Professor Carmi Horowitz ’61YUHS, ’66YC, ’70BR,’71R begins his new position as president of Giv’at Washington Teachers College in D.N. Evtach, Israel. Sara and Rabbi

Horowitz also announce the birth of a granddaughter, Gefen, born to Elisha and Hodaya Horowitz of Mitzpeh Yeriho, Israel.

Lucy ’69S and Rabbi Eliezer Langer ’68YC, ’75BR, ’75R announce the birth of their granddaughter, Rivka Esther, born to Elisheva and Yossie Schulman in Jerusalem.

Ruth (Frank) ’69YUHS, ’73S, ’76F and Rabbi Elchanan (Charles) Lipshitz ’67YUHS, ’71YC, ’76F, ’77R announce the birth of two granddaughters: Tal Meitav, born to Batya and Yonatan Kolitz, and Renana Sarah, born to Eli and Kedma Lipshitz.

In July, Edith Lubetski ’68BR, head librarian of the Hedi Steinberg Library on the Beren Campus, presented a lecture, “The

Art and Science of a Biblical Bibliography,” at the Ninth Congress of the European Association for Jewish Studies (EAJS) in Ravenna, Italy. In June, Edith and her husband Meir Lubetski published an article entitled “Considerations in Preparing a Biblical Bibliography: Case Study—the Scroll of Esther,” in Theological Librarianship: an Online Journal of the American Theological Association, Vol. 3, No. 1.

Vivian ’69S and Dr. David Luchins ’68YC, ’71R received the Sarah Rivka and Bernard Lander Memorial Award at the Orthodox Union’s Fifteenth Annual Ben Zakkai Reception.

Felice ’62YUHS, ’64TI and Rabbi Efraim Mescheloff ’65R, ’65BR announce the birth of their 34th grandchild, a boy.

Jill Schutz Pinkwater ’68F recently illustrated her 50th book for children, Beautiful Yetta: The Yiddish Chicken (Feiwel & Friends,

2010). The book, told in English, Yiddish and Spanish, tells the story of a hen who gets lost in the magical city of Brooklyn and meets up with (and adopts!) a flock of wild parrots.

Barbara ’65S and Rabbi David Radinsky ’63YC, ’66BR, ’66R celebrated the marriage of their daughter, Chani to Daniel Friedman.

Chasida ’66YUHS and RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Herschel Reichman ’84C announce the birth of their granddaughter, Beekura Nechama, born to RIETS student Tani and Chana Prero.

Lenore (Wolfson) Richter ’67S, ’69F retired as a New York City public school teacher after 30 years of teaching.

Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg ’69YC, ’74R, ’74F, ’92A of Edison, NJ, was featured in New Jersey Jewish News for journeying back to Regensburg, the German town where he was born to Holocaust survivors in a displaced-persons camp in 1947. Bernhard and his wife, Charlene (formerly of Kansas City, MO), and Carol and Yitzchak Merl of Brooklyn, NY, announce the birth of a granddaughter, Ahuva Leba, born to Illana and Joshua Merl of Brooklyn, NY.

Anita ’63YUHS and Rabbi Stuart Tucker ’65YC, ’69F, ’69R announce the birth of their grandson, Eitan, born to Amihai and Naomi Tucker. Congratulations to Anita

who was awarded the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism this past Yom Yerushalayim.

Dr. Joel B. Wolowelsky ’69BS published The Mind of the Mourner: Individual and Community in Jewish Mourning (OU Press, 2010).

1970s

Sharon (Marks) ’72S and Rabbi Shimon Altshul ’72YC, ’76R, ’76F announce the marriage of their daughter, Eliana, to Adam Pomerantz.

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“A lot of alumni live in communities that literally wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for YU

…the whole infrastructure is there because of YU.”

As a third-generation alumnus, Benyamin Kaminetzky ’91YC has deep con-nections to Yeshiva University. Yet after his graduation, he drifted away. Like many alumni, Kaminetzky—a partner at the law firm Davis Polk &

Wardwell—was busy starting a family and building a successful career, and had little free time. Eventually, Kaminetzky decided that it was time to get involved with YU again and joined the Yeshiva College Board of Overseers, where he serves on the Academic Affairs Committee. Following are excerpts of a conversation he had with Barbara Birch, senior director of alumni affairs and annual giving, in which he shares what brought him back to YU, his impression of the University today and the importance of staying connected.

What prompted you to reconnect with Yeshiva University? KAMINETZKY: It was a call from New York University. I went to law school there, and their alumni department called to congratulate me when I became a partner at the firm. They asked me to consider making a gift. I have wonderfully warm feelings for NYU and I was about to say yes. Then, I had an epiphany; I asked myself, ‘Why am I who I am?’ I realized that the answer to that question had very little to do with NYU law school. The whole fiber of my being is inextricably linked to YU. So that same day, I called a friend of mine who’s on one of the YU boards and said, ‘I want to get involved.’

Is YU different today than it was when you were a student?KAMINETZKY: One of the things that I’ve noticed is that the administrative support for students is greatly improved. It’s become much more user-friendly for students in terms of the day-to-day experience.

BIRCH: I’m glad to hear you say that. I know there are many alumni who have mixed feelings about their student experience, so it’s gratifying to hear that we’ve made progress on that front. The Office of Alumni Affairs is also engaging students while they are on campus through initiatives that we hope will be the building blocks for a long-term relationship.

KAMINETZKY: It’s a testimony to the fact that President Joel has made being more responsive to student needs and to the needs of the greater YU community a top priority.

BIRCH: I do think that, across the University, there’s been a strong emphasis on being more responsive to the needs of not only students, but alumni and Jewish communities more broadly. In alumni affairs, we’re eager to understand and meet the needs of graduates. We are approaching it from many directions, develop-ing programs that offer volunteer and leadership opportunities for graduates to become involved in the daily life of the University. We’re also planning events that target alumni in all stages of life offering professional networking, family-friendly events, social and educational programs for recent graduates, and special events for alumni who graduated more than 40 years ago. One of our most significant efforts has been to grow regional programming, thereby expanding our presence in local communities around the country.

KAMINETZKY: Those are all important initiatives that deserve alumni support, especially the things you’re doing on the local [regional] level. A lot of alumni live in communities that literally wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for YU. The whole infra-structure—the rabbis, communal leaders and educators—is there because of YU. As alumni we should be actively involved in maintaining that infrastructure by reinforcing its foundation, which is the University.

BIRCH: That’s a great point, and the alumni affairs team believes that alumni par-ticipation makes a significant difference in our success. To facilitate their involve-ment, we’ve launched the Ambassador Network, which provides alumni with many opportunities to give back by assisting with admissions, career services, or alumni relations. Mentoring is one of the volunteer activities in which alumni seem most interested.

KAMINETZKY: I’ve found that mentoring students and recent graduates has been one of the most fulfilling ways to reconnect to YU, and I get just as much out of it as the person I’m mentoring. Not only is it personally rewarding to cultivate a young person, but in mentoring, I know that I’m preparing the next generation of stan-dard bearers for Modern Orthodoxy. That’s of vital interest to me, as it should be to all alumni, because we are all representatives of a Yeshiva University education, and of Modern Orthodoxy, in our professions and in the world.

To learn more about the various initiatives and programs—including regional programming, the Ambassador Network and upcoming YU alumni events—mentioned in the Q&A with Benyamin, visit www.yu.edu/alumni, e-mail alumni@yu.edu or call 212.960.5373. To see more profiles of YU alumni, scan this code with your smart phone.n

Alumnus Eye View

“ I’ve found that mentoring students and recent graduates has been one of the most fulfilling ways to reconnect to YU. ”

Benyamin Kaminetzky ’91YC

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Jonathan Berent ’75W authored Work Makes Me Nervous: Overcome Anxiety and Build the Confidence to Succeed (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., September 2010), a 21-day self-help program for performance and social anxiety. His first

book was Beyond Shyness: How to Conquer Social Anxiety (Simon & Schuster 1992); more information on Jonathan can be found at www.socialanxiety.com.

Linda (Billauer) ’72S and Rabbi David Derovan ’83F announce the engagement of their daughter, Orit.

Tobi and Rabbi Zvi Friedman ’77YC, ’81W, ’81R of Ramat Beit Shemesh announce the birth of a grandson, Akiva Chaim, born to Daniella and Raphael Talelbaum of Kiryat HaYovel, Jerusalem.

Sharon and Dr. Daniel Gottlieb ’79YC, ’84F announce the birth of their grandson, Gilad Chaim, born to Eitan and Ilanit Gottlieb.

Dr. Pearl and Martin Herskovitz ’73YUHS, ’77YC announce the birth of their first grandchild, Ido, born to Yaakov Herskovitz and Yael Statman, and the marriage of their son Netanel

to Michal Ben-Adi.

Mark Hoenig ’74YUHS, ’78YC published Back to the Beginning (Xlibris Corporation, 2009), a compilation of 48 divrei Torah covering each sedra of the Torah. Written over a one year period in memory of his father, Harold Hoenig, the essays bring together teachings from our greatest Torah sages while exploring issues that confront a Modern Orthodox Jew in our contemporary world.

Dr. Bernie Kastner ’78YC released a new children’s book in Hebrew, Masa el Haor (ZmanMa Publishing).

Aileen Kirschenbaum ’79S published the pamphlet “Take Your Kids to Israel.” To preview the book and its contents, visit www.takeyourkidstoisrael.com.

Karen ’79S and Rabbi Stuart Lavenda ’78YC, ’80W, ’80R announce the birth of a granddaughter, Shayna Leora, born to Tova and Avi Rosenbloom.

Alan D. Litwack ’74YC received the Distinguished Alumnus Award at the Toronto Convocation celebrating Canadian Jewish Leadership and Yeshiva University’s many contributions to Canada.

Dr. Alan A. Manheim ’77F received special congressional recognition from Congressman Joseph Pitts

(R-PA) on July 27 for “outstanding service to the community both here and abroad.”

Rabbi Isaac Mann’78R, ’78BR announces the marriage of his son, Aryeh, to Nechama Reece.

Rabbi Gilbert “Gil” Marks ’74YC, ’79R, ’80W published The Encyclopedia of Jewish Foods (Wiley & Sons, 2010) and was included in the Forward 50, a listing of the 50 most influential American Jews of 2010.

Sarah Holstein Maslow ’71S recently retired as principal of Reservoir High School, a Howard County, MD, public school outside of Washington, DC, after years of dedicated

service first as a secondary science teacher and then an administrator. Sarah and Dr. David Maslow, who retired as assistant director of the National Cancer Institute, recently made aliyah and live in the Talbieh neighborhood of Jerusalem.

Shulamith Y. ’70YUHS and Rabbi Meyer H. May ’78R announce the marriage of their youngest daughter, Elisheva Tehila to Yoni Schwartz of Philadelphia, son of Malkie and Dr. Leon Schwartz. All seven of the Mays’ children are now married and to date have given them more than 20 grandchildren, including the newest granddaughter, Devorah, born to Rabbi Joshua and Rachaeli Lobl of Waterbury, CT.

Drawing from over 25 years of experience counseling hundreds of candidates through the process of conversion, Rabbi Aryeh Moshen ’72YC, ’75R, ’75BR published The Gerus Guide: The Step by Step Guide to Conversion to Orthodox Judaism (LULU, 2010). You can learn more by going to his Web site gerusguide.com.

Sarah Moskovitz ’71F has translated poetry written in Yiddish by Jews trapped in the Warsaw Ghetto into English. The poetry is available at www.poetryinhell.org.

Ruhama and Rabbi Elazar Muskin ’78YC, ’81BR, ’81R announce the marriage of their daughter, Gila, to David Block, son of Dr. Michael ’71YUHS and Debbie Block ’78S of West Hempstead, NY.

Avery E. Neumark ’70YUHS, ’74YC providedhis knowledge and expertise on employee benefits and executive compensation issues at various seminars and conferences in 2010 including “Looking Ahead: Retirement Planning in Uncertain Times” at Maimonides Medical Center, “How to Reduce the Tax Cost of Your Roth IRA Conversion” at the American Red Cross, and “Health Care Reform Briefing” at MBL Benefits.

Aviva and Joseph Offenbacher ’76YUHS, ’79YC announce the birth of their granddaughter, Esther Tsofiah Emunah, born to Esther and Rafi Offenbacher. Mazel tov to

great-grandparents Esther and Elmer Offenbacher and Judith ’57YUHS, ’61S and Rabbi Irwin Borvick ’53YUHS, ’57YC, ’60BR, ’60R.

Rabbi Dr. Natan (Offenbacher) Ophir ’74YC announce the birth of his grandson, Hod Shlomo Ophir.

Sandy and Steve Passer ’79YC celebrated the bar mitzvah (13th) year of Sasone, a Kansas City community-wide program they founded, which serves over 200 Jewish children with special needs.

Lea and Dr. David Polaner ’79YC announce the marriage of their daughter, Elise, to Jonathan Hay ’06YC. Additionally, David was promoted to professor of anesthesiology and pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and The Children’s Hospital in Denver, CO, and co-authored a new text on pediatric anesthesia entitled A Practical Approach to Pediatric Anesthesia (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008).

Karen and Rabbi Steven Pruzansky ’75YUHS, ’81C announce the marriage of their son, Ari ’12YC to Lauren Apfel ’11S, the birth of their granddaughter, Kayla Leah, born to Dina ’08S and Hillel Weingarten ’02YUHS, ’06SB, and a grandson to Tamar ’05S and Rabbi Ari Ginsberg.

Esther (nee Gutkin) ’70S, ’71F and David Schenker ’69YC announce the birth of their grandson, Doniel Tzvi, born to Gadi and Sara Moskovitz Schenker (formerly of Toronto) of Shilo, Israel.

Dr. Beverly ’75YUHS, ’80S, ’83F and Rabbi Chanan Simon ’78YC, ’82R, ’83F, ’85A announce the birth of their grandson, born to David and Mira Simon.

Suzan (Balk) ’77S and David Teman ’75YC made aliyah this past August to Modiin and are the proud parents of Ari—a standup comedian in New York, last year’s Jewish Community Hero of the Year and founder of JCorps, a volunteer organization for Jewish singles—and Alana, who taught for a year in Taiwan and currently works with teenage girls at Ohel in New York.

Brenda and Rabbi Dr. Elihu Turkel ’72YUHS, ’76YC, ’79R, ’84F announce the birth of their grandson, Yehuda Turkel, born to Sarala and Daniel Turkel ’05YUHS.

Phyllis and Dr. Dan Wiener ’71YC, ’74E announce the birth of their granddaughter.

Annette ’74S and Rabbi Howard Wolk ’70YUHS, ’74YC, ’77F, ’77R announce the birth of their grandson, Raphael Yosef.

Toby ’75YUHS and Jeffrey Woolf ’82R celebrated the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Moriah Rachel.

1980s

Aimee Taub and Jonathan Bandler ’88YC announce the birth of twin daughters, Esther Malka and Yeudit Yakira, sisters of Jacob

Avery Bandler. Mazel tov to Susan and Dr. Robert Taub ’53YUHS,’ 57YC.

Batya (nee Shulman) ’80TI and David Berlinger celebrated the bar mitzvah of their son, Ariel Meir.

Dr. Adena K. Berkowitz ’85C received the Westy (West Side Spirit Thanks You) award from West Side Spirit in recognition of her outreach work as co-founder, together with Cantor Ari and Lauren Klein, of Kol HaNeshamah on NYC’s Upper West Side. Kol HaNeshamah is dedicated to re-energiz-ing the spiritual life of both affiliated and non-affiliated Jews and sponsors Friday night services during the year as well as free High Holiday services, helps with life-cycle events, and holds classes.

Batyah and Rabbi Asher Brander ’89YC, ’92R, ’96AZ celebrated the marriage of their daughter, Esther Malka, to Eli Heller. Mazel tov to grandparents Ellen and Rabbi Aaron Brander ’59R who also celebrated the marriage of their granddaughter, Aliza Kranzler, to Shloimie Seffren.

Dean of the Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future Rabbi Kenneth Brander ’84YC, ’86R published an article, “Don’t Write off the Next Generation,” in the July 28 edition of the Jewish Week.

Dr. Erica Brown ’88S delivered the Annual Meeting address at the JCC of Saint Louis, MO, on “Taking Your Own Leadership from Good to Great.” Erica has authored

several books including Inspired Jewish Leadership (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2008), Spiritual Boredom: Rediscovering the Wonder of Judaism (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2009), The Case for Jewish Peoplehood: Can We Be One? (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2009) and Confronting Scandal: How Jews Can Respond When Jews Do Bad Things (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2010).

Rabbi Michael Broyde ’82YUHS, ’84YC, ’89R, ’93R, published his fifth book, Innovation in Jewish Law: A Case Study of Chiddush in

Havineinu (Urim Publications, 2010).Rabbi Broyde, a law professor at Emory University, was the founding rabbi of the Young Israel in Atlanta and is a member (chaver) and former director of the Beth Din of America, the largest rabbinical court in the United States. His son, Joshua YC ’11, is a fourth generation Broyde to attend YU, preceded by his father, grandfather Barret “Barry” Broyde ’55YC and great-grandfather Morris Broyde ’26YUHS.

Rabbi Daniel Cohen ’89YC, ’94R, ’96A, spiritual leader of Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, CT created www.40daystoabetteryou.com, a self-help weight loss Web site.

Rabbi Mordechai Z. Cohen ’87YC, ’90R, ’94BR is heading a 13-member international research group sponsored by the Jerusalem Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS). The members will study early Jewish, Christian and Muslim strategies of scriptural interpretation and their contemporary implications at the IAS center at the Hebrew University campus.

Lenore Suri Davis ’83YUHS, ’86S, ’89C, a lawyer whose practice focuses on trusts and estates and elder law, published an article in the July 1 edition of the New York Law Journal entitled, “Integration of the Mentally Ill a Decade After ’Olmstead’” and received a citation from the Village of Cedarhurst for her community service as owner and editor of TheFiveTowns.com. Also, Suri and her husband Doron Stern ’81YUHS celebrated the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Esther. Mazel tov to grandparents Susan ’59S and Rabbi Robert Davis ’56YC, ’60R of Lawrence, NY.

Mayer Fertig ’87YUHS, formerly publisher and editor-in-chief of the Jewish Star and managing editor of WCBS-AM, has joined Yeshiva University as senior director of media

relations and public affairs.

Dr. Eric Fier ’89YC, ’93E won the 2010 New York’s Funniest (Amateur) Jewish Comedian Competition at the Broadway Comedy Club. Eric is a child/adolescent

psychiatrist in Atlanta, GA and has won multiple stand-up comedy competitions in New York and across the southeast.

President of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati Arna Poupko Fisher ’83BR received Jewish Women International’s 2010 Women to Watch award for her inspiring leadership in the Jewish studies field as well as her strong ties to her Jewish roots.

Elana (Goldscheider) ’86S and Kenny Fisher ’84YC announce the birth of twins, Yakira Menucha and Zvi Aryeh.

Chava and Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer ’89YC, ’94R, ’96C celebrated the bar mitzvah of their son, Yaakov. Mazel tov to the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gordimer of Tampa, FL, Mr. and Mrs. Allan Arfa of Los Angeles, CA, and the great-grandmothers, Mrs. Hanna Arfa of Los Angeles, CA, Mrs. Irene Cabot of Atlanta, GA, and Mrs. Esther Dellal of Givatayim, Israel.

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Chabad.org profiled Israeli army member Rabbi Shalom Hammer ’84YUHS, ’88YC, ’91R, ’92C,’93A, for his leadership in promoting a message of Jewish unity by sharing stories of Israel’s military efforts and the resilience of Israel’s residents in the face of terrorism.

Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot ’81YUHS, ’85YC, ’89A, ’89R announces his appointment as rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Teaneck, NJ.

Esther and Rabbi Ari Jacobs ’81YC, ’84R of Alon Shvut, Israel, announce the marriage of their son Yehuda to Atara Piha of Neve Daniel.

The Huffingtonpost.com profiled Ron Jager’s ’80W leadership efforts to promote Jewish-Palestinian cooperation in the West Bank. Jager has evolved from a religious settler to a strategic advisor for the Shomron Liaison Office, an independent NGO whose mission is to put a human face on the settler movement.

Zvi Lando ’85YC co-founded the startup TableBrain.com that designs poker games. One of his games, Double Hold’em ™, just became available for

play on the world’s third-largest gaming site and is also an iPhone application.

Esther Lustig ’80W has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in business management in her capacity as executive director and chief executive officer of Human Care Services, a not-for-profit agency that provides a full range of services to individuals with disabilities.

Natanya (Bilus) ’87S and Rabbi Daniel Mann ’86YC, ’89R announce the engage-ment of their daughter, Aviva, to Yaakov Tropp, son of Amy (Goldstein) ’91S, ’91BR and Rabbi Mordechai Tropp ’80YC, ’84R. Mazel tov to grandparents Herta and Rabbi Israel Bilus, Marilyn (Wurtzel) ’57YUHS and Rabbi Sidney Goldstein ’52YUHS, ’56YC, ’60R, ’78BR, Tirtza and Professor Jonah Mann ’50YUHS, ’54YC, ’57R, ’64BS.

Adam Mintz ’84BR, ’84YC, ’85R edited The Relationship of Orthodox Jews with Believing Jews of Other Religious Ideologies and Non-Believing Jews: The American Situation in Historical Perspective (KTAV, 2010).

Judy (Klipper) ’86S and Rabbi Reuven Rosenstark ’88A, ’88YC, ’90R and Shari ’80YUHS and David Jablinowitz ’77YUHS announce the wedding of their daughter, Shifra, to Yair Jablinowitz.

Ricki (nee Tokayer) ’81S and Michael Roth ’82YC announce the marriage of their daughter, Ariella, to Juda Zurndorfer of Silver Spring, MD.

Amy ’86YUHS and Harry Rothenberg, Esq., announce the birth of twin sons, Avraham Shlomo and Yakov Matisyahu. Mazel tov to grandparents Sandy and Nat Geller, Esq. ’52YUHS, ’56YC.

Ziva ’81YUHS and David Schapiro ’84YC, ’87C announce the birth of a granddaughter, Moriya, born to Nati and Tamar Schapiro.

Miriam Maltz ’80S and Philip Schiffman ’79YC announce the marriage of their daughter, Leah, to Yaakov Kaufman, son of Elaine and Dr. Bradley Kaufman ’78YC. Mazel tov to grandparents Edith and Arnold Goldsmith and Sandra and Lawrence Kaufman.

Dr. Josephine Tsakok and Bernard Schneider ’87YC announce the birth of their daughter, Aviva Ruth Tsakok-Schneider. Mazel tov to the grand- parents Paul and Mary Tsakok and Dr. Samuel

Schneider ’79BR, associate professor of Hebrew at Yeshiva University. Additional congratulations to Bernard who recently published The Crown of Aleppo: The Mystery of the Oldest Hebrew Bible Codex (Jewish Publication Society, 2010).

Dr. Bashi (Schweitzer) ’84YUHS, ’87S, ’89F and Yoni Schwartz ’86YC celebrated the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Michal Hannah. Mazel tov to Ivy Schwartz and Rabbi Sonny Alvin Schwartz ’49YC, ’52R, ’52W, and his wife Mimi Teplow and Marylin and Herb (z”l) Schweitzer.

Avrum Shatzkes ’86YUHS, ’90YC, SVP of Leadership Development at Bank of America, spoke on a panel at the Columbia Business School on the benefits of leadership development training and executive coaching.

Ditza and Rabbi Avi Silverman ’85YC, ’94R of Ramat Beit Shemesh celebrated the marriage of their daughter, Yonina, to Netanel Rubenstein of Chispin and the bar mitzvah of their son, Elchanan Betzalel.

Shira Smiles ’86S, ’88A published Torah Tapestries: Words of Wisdom Woven from the Weekly Parashah (Feldheim 2010).

Naomi (Millen) ’86S and Rabbi Alan Yitzchak Talansky ’85YC announce the marriage of their daughter, Atara Malkah, to Shlomo Askotsky. Mazel tov to grandparents Marion ’64YUHS and Rabbi Moshe Talansky ’54YC, ’56R and Dr. Rochelle ’64S and Rabbi Dr. Henoch Millen ’60YC, ’61R, ’74BR.

1990s Rabbi Hayyim Angel ’93YC, ’93BR, ’95R, ’96AZ of Congregation Shearith Israel in Manhattan, NY, reminded religious Jews of the “obligation of cemetery upkeep” in an article “An Obligation to the Dead” of the July 16 The Jewish Week.

Betty and Jack Arjang ’97SB announce the birth of their son, Yonatan.

Joseph Bensmihen ’91YC, ’95W was elected president of Private Care Association, www.privatecare.org, a national association responsible for creating

and improving standards in home care for America’s seniors. Bensmihen is CEO of Boca Home Care Services, Inc., www.bocahomecareservices.com, a nurse registry, and Boca Home Care, Inc., a Medicare certified agency.

Miriam ’98S and Rabbi Gedalyah Berger ’94YC, ’98R announce the birth of their daughter, Shira Tiferet. Mazel tov to grandparents, YU

University Libraries Dean Pearl ’60YUHS and Rabbi Dr. David Berger ’64YC, ’68R, dean of Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies.

Rabbi Matthew Brenner ’98SB, ’02R married Dori Braude from South Africa.

Rabbi David Brofsky ’94YC, ’94BR published Hilchot Tefilla: A Comprehensive Guide to the Laws of Daily Prayer (OUPress, 2010).

Chevi and Rabbi Ira Ebbin ’92YUHS, ’01R announce the birth of their son, Yitzchok Roi.

Leah (Feuerstein) and Rabbi Daniel Feldman ’96YC, ’98R announce the birth of their daughter, Shaindel Tovah.

Mitchell First ’95BR published “The Origin of Taanit Esther” in the Fall 2010 edition of the AJS Review.

Tzippy ’99YUHS, ’03S and Rabbi Daniel Gelernter ’98YUHS, ’03SB, ’07A, ’07R announce the birth of their son.

Hadassa “Yaffa” and Andrew Goldsmith ’91YC announce the birth of their son, Achiezer Yohoshua.

Devorah (Newman) ’97S and Tzvi Harow ’94YUHS, ’98SB celebrated the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Tmima Chaya.

Penny (Finkelstein) ’92S, ’96W and Reuven Harow ’91SB celebrated the bar mitzvah of their twins, Amram Baruch and Shuki. Mazel tov to grandparents Yvette and Dr. Jacob Finkelstein ’59YC and Sheila and Dr. David Harow.

Shira ’98S, ’05A and Rabbi Mordechai Hochheimer ’96YC, ’05R announce the birth of their son.

Lisa Horowitz ’91S and Dr. Samuel Freedman announce the birth of their son, Shai. Lisa Horowitz formerly served as senior director of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving at YU.

Genene (Hartstein) Kaye ’92S, former project director for Bonim Builders at UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey, has joined YU as associate director of Institutional Advancement for RIETS and the Center for the Jewish Future.

Abby and Rabbi Benjamin Kelsen ’94YC, ’97C, ’00R announce the birth of their daughter, Adira Tova.

Stephanie (Rosenblatt) ’97C and Jeffrey Korenman announce the birth of a daughter, Sophia Gabrielle. Stephanie is currently Executive Director and Senior Attorney in the Executive Financial Services department of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, focused on diversification and liquidity strategies for corporate executives.

Elana and Ely Kronenberg ’91YUHS, ’96YC of Efrat, Israel, announce the birth of their son. Mazel tov to grandparents Faigie and Rabbi Ira Kronenberg ’65YUHS, ’69YC, ’72R, ’72BR, ’82W.

Devora (Cohen) ’97S and Rabbi Menachem Linzer ’95YC,’98A,’98R announce the birth of a daughter, Miriam. Mazel tov to grandparents Diane and Rabbi Dr. Norman Linzer ’51YUHS, ’55YC, ’58R, ’60W and Shulamith ’63YUHS and Rabbi Herschel Cohen ’61YC, ’66BR, ’66R.

Shani and Rabbi Uriel Lubetski ’91YUHS, ’96YC, ’01BR, ’01R announce the birth of their son.

Sharona Margolin ’95S, ’98A is dedicating Midreshet Devora’s library in memory of Rabbi Moshe Carmilly z”l who was a well loved

professor at Yeshiva University. Sharona is the founder and director of Torat Reva Jerusalem and Rosh HaMidrasha of Midreshet Devora, a Modern Orthodox Midrasha in Jerusalem with tracks for post-high school as well as post-college students. Sharona and her husband, Josh Halickman ’95SB, ’95YC, the co-founder of Israel Sports Radio, made aliya six years ago. For more information on the dedication visit www.toratreva.org and www.midreshetdevora.org.

Class Reunions & Commencement 2011Alumni from the Classes of 1961, 1971 and 1986 are invited to

celebrate their milestone reunions this spring. Please join us on

May 25–26 to commemorate your 50th, 40th and 25th reunions,

visit the YU campuses, and reconnect with classmates.

We welcome your participation on the Reunion Committee.

To learn more about YU’s exciting two-day class reunion events

or about how you can contribute to a class gift, please visit

www.yu.edu/reunion2011 or contact us at Reunions2011@yu.edu

or 212.960.5412.

CLASSNotes

SEARCH THE ALUMNI DIRECTORY FOR CLASSMATES AT WWW.YU.EDU/ALUMNIDIRECTORY ß6 ALUMNI NEWS

Chani (Koenigsberg) ’97S, ’00BR and Rabbi Shmuel Maybruch ’97YC, ’02R announce the birth of their son, Yochanan Yehuda.

Dr. Vivian ’91F and Rabbi Moshe Neiss ’68YUHS, ’72YC, ’75R, ’75BR announce the birth of a granddaughter, Aliza Alexandra, born to Mindy and Jonathan Neiss ’94YUHS, ’97YC. Mazel tov to great-grandfather Rabbi Dr. Edmund Neiss ’45YC, ’48R, ’67BR.

Deborah ’97S and Rabbi Aaron Rockoff ’99SB, ’01R announce the birth of their daughter, Leora Leeba.

Dr. Ayala Zoltan ’96YUHS and Rabbi Dani Rockoff ’01YC, ’03R, ’04A, ’08BR announce the birth of their son, David Aryeh.

Dr. Eli Rybak ’94YC, ’96BR, ’97R, recently joined East Coast Fertility (ECF). His clinical expertise includes minimally invasive surgery, IVF, ovulation induction,

polycystic ovarian syndrome, fibroids, recurrent pregnancy loss and reproductive endocrinology.

Adina Sacknovitz ’97S and Rabbi Dr. Baruch Hain announce the birth of their twin sons, Matan Yosef and Amitai Dov. Mazel tov to grandparents Esther ’66S and Rabbi Chaim Sacknovitz ’64YC, ’68R, ’68F and Lea and Dr. Danny Hain ’61YUHS, ’66YC of Jerusalem.

Ilana and Rabbi Jeffrey Saks ’91YC, ’93BR, ’95R celebrated the bar mitzvah of their son, Shalom Amitai.

Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Schnall ’95YUHS, ’00YC, ’02F, ’03R, ’06F, a faculty member of the Yeshiva College psychology department, lectured on “Psychological and Social

Characteristics Associated with Religion: The Women’s Health Initiative” at the annual conference of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion in Baltimore, MD. He also presented his team’s research findings regarding mental health in the Orthodox Jewish community at the American Psychological Association’s annual convention in San Diego. The study was reviewed in the August 17 edition of The Jewish Week.

Rena (Rosen) ’97S, ’97A and Rabbi Reuven Spolter ’94YC, ’97R, ’97A, coordinator of Israel Immersion Programming at RIETS Israel Kollel, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Moriyah Rachel, and the bar mitzvah of their son, Simcha.

The August 11 edition of the Wall Street Journal profiles author Jonathan Tropper ’91YC. Jonathan recently published his fifth novel, This is Where I Leave You. He is currently pitching a dark series to HBO with Alan Ball, a writer and director from the HBO drama “True Blood” as well as adapting a Steve Martin novel, The Pleasure of My Company, into a film script.

Dr. Orit ’95E and Jan Wimpfheimer ’86YUHS, ’89YC announce the birth of their son, Yoav Ilan. Mazel tov to grandparents, Michael ’61YUHS and Susanne Wimpfheimer and Moshe and Malka Schwartz.

Joelle (Tollinsky) ’97S and Yshai Yavin announce the birth of their son, Amiel Yaakov.

Donna and Rabbi Joel Zeff ’85BR, ’86R celebrated the bar mitzvah of their son, Benzi, the marriage of their daughter, Chana, to Uri Biran-Lichtenstein, son of Rabbi Mayer and Michal Lichtenstein, and the birth of a granddaughter, Matar, born to their

children Aharon and Nitzan Zeff. Mazel tov to grandparents, The Sarah D. and Rabbi Henoch Berman Professor of Talmud and Rosh Kollel and Director of the YU-RIETS Israel Kollel in Jerusalem, Rabbi Dr. Aharon ’53YC,’59R, and Dr. Tovah Soloveitchik Lichtenstein.

2000s Navah and Rabbi Moshe Adler ’06SB, ’10W announce the birth of their son.

Phil Bak ’01SB joined NYSE Euronext as senior director of Exchange-Traded Products where he will be working with ETF, ETN, and Listed Certificate Issuers to navigate through the regulatory and listing processes. Phil joins NYSE from Rydex-SGI where he was in charge of ETF Product Development.

Lori ’03SB, ’05 C and Shai Barnea ’03YC announce the birth of their son, Joseph.

Joshua Avraham Berman ’04YUHS, ’09YC married Elana (Lani) Lederer ’09S of Skokie, IL. Josh has spent the past year studying at the Caroline and Joseph S.

Gruss Institute of RIETS (YU) in Jerusalem, as well as at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush) and is currently serving in the Israeli Air Force. Lani is the head madrichah at Midreshet Moriah and is continuing her pursuit of a master’s degree in Holocaust studies at Hebrew University. Mazel tov to parents YU High School board member Judy ’84S and Yeshiva College board member Zev Berman ’82YC and to grandparents RIETS board chair Rabbi Dr. Julius ’56YC, ’59R and Stern College for Women board vice-chair Dorothy Berman ’59S, ’60F and former dean of Yeshiva College and YUHS Rabbi Dr. Michael ‘57YUHS, ’61YC, ’64BR, ’64R and Sara Hecht.

Amitai Y. Bin-Nun ’06YC was awarded the James B. Hartle Award from the International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation and

published two articles in Physical Review D, “Gravitational Lensing of Stars Orbiting Sgr A* as a Probe of the Black Hole Metric in the Galactic Center” and “Relativistic Images in Randall-Sundrum II Braneworld Lensing.” Additionally, an article “Black Hole as Peephole” in the Feb. 15 edition of Science News covered his research and contribution to astrophysics.

Leora (nee Tennenberg) ’05S and Chaim Blumenthal ’02YUHS,’09SB of Ramot Eshkol announce the birth of their daughter, Esther Tehila.

Sarah Bronstein ’09S married Jeremy Baran ’06YC,’10A. Mazel tov to parents Brenda and Rabbi Chaim Bronstein ’66YUHS, ’70YC, ’73R, ’73BR, RIETS administrator.

Tamar (Snyder) and Rabbi Avi-Gil Chaitovsky ’06YC, ’09BR, ’09R celebrate the birth of their daughter, Ahuva Bina. Mazel tov to the grandparents, Esther ’78S and Myron Chaitovsky ’73YC, ’79BR and Sherry and David Snyder ’76YUHS, and great-grand- parents, Tzivia (Lewko) ’52YUHS and Rabbi Samuel Bramson ’50YUHS, ’54YC, ’58R.

Sara Libby and Rabbi Shaul Epstein ’02YC, ’06BR, ’07R announce the birth of their son, Aaron Moshe.

Aliza and Rabbi Yaacov Feit ’01YC, ’05R, ’05A announce the birth of their son, Yitzchak.

Simcha ’07SB and Shoshana (Michaelson) Feldman ’07SB announce the birth of a daughter, Ahuva Ora. Mazel tov to grandparents Ann ’72S and Rabbi Eliot Feldman ’72YC, ’75R and Judy (Praw) ’82ST and Louis Michaelson.

Abby and Dov Friedman ’03SB announce the birth of a baby boy, Adir Shalev. Mazel tov to parents Enid and Abe ’70YC,’74W of Baltimore, MD.

Donniel Goldin ’10YC is engaged to Tamara Leben of Teaneck, NJ.

Shifra ’06S and Rabbi Yossi Goldin ’00YUHS, ’06YC, ’08A, ’09R announce the birth of their son, Chaim Yonah. Mazel tov to the grandparents, Barbara ’76S and Rabbi Shmuel Goldin ’69YUHS, ’ 73YC, ’76F, ’76R and Sari ’77TIW and Dr. Ira Cooper ’72YUHS, ’76YC.

Leora ’03S and Rabbi Eric Goldman ’02YC, ’07W, ’07R announce the birth of their son, Reuven Moshe.

Dr. Rachelle ’02S and Rabbi Joshua Goller ’01YC, ’08R announce the birth of a daughter, Penina Devora.

Daniel Gottesman ’04YC joins Ulmer & Bernes as a corporate finance associate. Daniel concentrates his Cleveland-based practice on mergers and acquisitions, finance, and real estate.

Miriam and Rabbi Jon Gross ’01YC, ’04R announce the birth of their daughter, Raya Liba “Rayali.”

Tamar ’02S and Philip Gross ’98YUHS, ’02YC announce the birth of their daughter, Rena Tiferet.

Lisa Grundman ’05SB married Rabbi Kenneth Birnbaum.

Stuart Halpern ’10BR and Rabbi Daniel Feldman ’96YC, ’98R co-edited Mitokh Ha-Ohel: Essays on the Weekly Parsha from the Rabbis and Professors of Yeshiva University

(Koren Publishers Jerusalem and Yeshiva University, 2010).

Lisa ’03S and Rabbi Alan Houben ’04YC, ’05A, ’10R announce the birth of their daughter.

Rabbi Josh Joseph ’00R, ’00BR has been appointed vice president in addition to his role as chief of staff of Yeshiva University, a position he has held since 2006.

Elana (Naider) ’01S and Yonatan Kohn announce the birth of their son. Elana serves as an advisor with YU’s S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program.

Devorah (nee Rubin) and Yosef Korn ’00SB announce the birth of their son, Shmuel Avraham.

Alexander Kushnir ’06YC published an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences entitled “Role of Camkii Phosphorylation of the Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor in the Force Frequency Relationship and Heart Failure.”

Yosefa Lerner ’04YUHS, ’08S, ’10BR married Jonathan Hefter ’08YC. Mazel tov to parents, YUHS teacher and Director of Admissions Abby ’70YUHS and Rabbi Yaacov Lerner ’71YC, ’73R, ’74F.

Adina ’04S and Rabbi David Lessin ’04YC, ’09R announce the birth of their son.

Rabbi Ian Lichter ’05YC, ’08A, ’10R joined the Great Neck Synagogue as the new assistant rabbi.

Estee ’06S and Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone ’05R announce the birth of their daughter, Shayna Hadassah.

Rabbi Uriel Lubetski ’91YUHS, ’96YC, ’00BR, ’01R lectured on Sefer Shemot as part of the series of Tanach B’Shantaim sponsored by Baron Hirsch Synagogue in Memphis, TN, on October 16 to over 100 participants. Rabbi Lubetski serves as the upper school principal of Margolin Hebrew Academy Feinstone Yeshiva of the South in Memphis.

Raizy and Director of University Housing and Residence Life Jonathan Mantell ’03SB, ’10W announce the birth of twins, Jacob Aaron and Max Nathaniel.

Lavie Margolin ’02SB runs a Web site (www.lioncubjobsearch.com) and blog (http://lioncubjobsearch.blogspot.com/) offering practical advice for job searches.

Jason Nehmad ’00YUHS, ’05YC married Shoshana Tutnauer of New Jersey. He also graduated from the American University of Antigua Medical School

and started an internal medicine residency at Jersey Shore Hospital in July.

Zemira ’00S, 04A and Rabbi Eli Ozarowski ’01YC, ’04R announce the birth of their son, Bentzion Baruch Asher Ozarowski.

The June 14 edition of the Jerusalem Blueprint covers Rabbi Ian Pear’s ’05R leadership of Israel’s first green synagogue, Shir Hadash, which was highlighted for pursuing

the most advanced environmentally friendly means of construction possible.

Shifra Chana (Rothstein) ’02S and Dr. Ariel Penkower ’00YC announce the birth of their second son, Isser Matan Nachaliel. Mazel tov to grandparents Yael and Professor Monty N. Penkower ’59YUHS, ’63YC of Jerusalem and Molly ’78S and Joe Rothstein ’77YC, ’82W of Elizabeth, NJ, and to great-grandparents Lea and Rabbi Irving H. Goodman ’52YC, ’55R, ’60F and Lily and David Rothstein. Additional congratulations to Ariel who recently received a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University.

Yehudit and David Polansky ’03YC of Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel, announce the birth of a son, Moshe Aharon. Mazel tov to grandparents Tobi and Rabbi Zvi Friedman ’77YC, ’81R, ’81W of Ramat Beit Shemesh and Rozanne and Joe Polansky ’51YUHS, ’55YC of Jerusalem and North Bellmore, NY.

Ilana and Rabbi Kenny Pollack ’06YC, ’10R, ’10A announce the birth of their son, Yonah Betzalel.

Leah Shifra and Rabbi Baruch Price ’01A,’01R announce the birth of their son, Moshe Nechemyah.

Lea ’01S and Rabbi Daniel Price ’02SB, ’04R, ’06A announce the birth of a daughter.

Rabbi Zev Reichman ’01YC, ’02R published Remove Anger from Your Heart (Judaica Press, 2010), a complement to his previous book, Flames of Faith: An Introduction to

Chassidic Thought (Judaica Press, 2005).

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The YU alumni network is growing! Attend YU events and programs in New York or in a city near you to be a part of the vibrant YU community where both scholarship and friendship abound.

From the Mets to Museums, Alumni Get Involved

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GUESTS AT A DONOR RECOGNITION RECEPTION TO THANK SUPPORTERS OF THE ANNUAL FUND

ALUMNI AND FRIENDS GATHER TO ENJOY A NIGHT OF FASHION AND GLAMOUR AND TO RAISE MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STERN COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

qPaula Weber ’60S and Marcel Weber ’56YC

qSCW Dean Karen Bacon ’64S, Rickie Freeman Platt and daughter Jordana

oA group of Stern College for Women alumnae and friends enjoy the festivities

qDina and Elliot Wiesen ’00YUHS, ’04SB

mGitta Nagel and family enjoying A Night of Fashion & Glamour. (L–R): Jessica Yunger, Esther Lerer ’79S, Gitta Nagel, Naamit Nagel, Careena Parker

mThe evening was chaired by Pamela Hirt ’90S and Doris Travis, both members of the Stern College for Women Board of Overseers. They are joined here by Rickie Freeman Platt, designer and owner of Teri Jon, and by Shira Yoshor ’89S, chair of the Stern College for Women Board of Overseers. L-R Pamela Hirt ’90S, Rickie Freeman Platt, Shira Yoshor ’89S, Doris Travis

mLoretta and Samuel Koslowsky ’72YC

mPamela Hirt ’90S, Esther Joel ’83F and Shira Yoshor ’89S

mLouis Tuchman ’81YC, Greta Hirmes, Eleazar Hirmes ’44YC, President Richard M. Joel

ALUMNI AT THE METS’ JEWISH HERITAGE DAY

YOUNG ALUMNI WINE & CHEESE RECEPTION AT THE YU MUSEUM

ALUMNI TOUR AND RECEPTION AT THE SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY IN DC

MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL—WASHINGTON, DC MEET UP

mYoni Rabb, Adira Katlowitz ’09SB, Avi Cohen ’09YC

mTova Jaffe ’92SB, Sarena Mayer ’81C and Jeremy Bandler ’93YC

mChani Radinsky ’07S, Daniel Friedman, Jonathan Martin ’05SB, Yael Schiller Martin ’07S, Esther Genuth Hamburger ’07S, Zevy Hamburger ’07YC

mYossi ’88SB and Laura Goldman ’90SB and Judy ’59YUHS and Rabbi Marvin Goldman ’55YUHS, ’59YC, ’65R, ’65BR

mStanding (L-R): Arlene Pianko Groner ’74S, Judah Kaplan ’92SB, Tova Jaffe ’92SB Sitting (L-R): Menucha Wolfe ’02S, Daniel Siesser ’03SB, Dave Weinberg ’05YC

qTova ’07S, Jason, and future alumna Zoe Appleson, 11 months

qLea and Paul Lieberman ’54YUHS, ’58YC

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ALUMNI NEWS 8s WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS FOR PROGRAMMING IN YOUR REGION. CONTACT ILLANA FEIGLIN AT FEIGLIN@YU.EDU OR 212.960.5247.

Presidential Fellows Travel to New Orleans for General Assembly and Service Learning

Rabbi Avi Robinson ’08YC, ’08R received the Loretta Smith Scholarship from Massachusetts Attorney General

Martha Coakley. The scholarship goes to a law student who demon-strates academic excellence and devotion to a career in public service.

Aliza (Brand) ’06S and Benjamin “Benji” Rubin ’08YC announce the birth of their daughter, Tovah.

Yael ’08S, ’09W and Michael Schertz ’10YC announce the birth of a new son, Judah Yehudah Azriel Schertz. Mazel tov to grandparents Jo Shapiro ’77S and Dr. Paul Koenigsberg ’77YC of Miami Beach, FL and Bonnie Miller ’82S and Heshie Schertz ’81YC of Lawrence, NY, and to great-grandparents Anita and Azrieli Graduate School board member Rabbi David E. Miller ’53YC, ’58R and Gloria and Eli Weis of Neponset, NY.

Rabbi Shmuel Segal ’03YC, ’08R of Newton, MA married Leah Kanner ’08S from Lawrence, NY.

Aura ’01SB and Pinchas “Pinky” Shapiro announce the birth of their son, Aryeh Refael.

Malka and Doron Simon ’00YC announce the birth of their daughter, Aliza.

Dana and Joey Small ’05YC, ’09BR announce the birth of their son, Noam Yehuda. Mazel tov to grandparents Ellen ’80S and Yeshiva

College board member Morris Bienenfeld ’74YUHS, ’78YC and great-grandparents Stern College board member Hadassah ’54TI and YU Trustee Rabbi Marvin Bienenfeld ’53YC, ’56R.

Nava Streit ’07SB and Amitai Bick-Raziel are engaged.

Simone Suttner ’04S married Chaim Landau of Jerusalem, Israel.

Illana and Rabbi Yehuda Turetsky ’08YC,’10R announce the birth of their daughter, Shira Miriam.

The July 28 edition of The Jewish Week profiled the recent Future for Jewish Nonprofit Summit held in New York City and developed and

organized by Dave Weinberg ’05YC and Eli Mandelbaum ’01SB. The conference was attended by about 100 people and many more through Twitter and Facebook.

With his background in technology and ability to organize others to share in best practices, “Dave Weinberg [should be on the radar of] Jewish organizations looking to learn more about social media.”

Rabbi Jay Weinstein ’04SB, ’09R became the full-time rabbi at Young Israel of East Brunswick, NJ.

Avital ’00S, ’03A and Rabbi Elie Weissman ’01YC, ’03BR, ’05R announce the birth of their son, Yehuda.

Presidential Fellows Daniella (Ginsburg) ’10S and Samuel Weprin ’10YC were married in August.

Rabbi Simcha Willig ’00YUHS, ’10A, ’10R married Sari Stein ’05S. Mazel tov to parents Faygie Willig ’72S and RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Mordechai Willig ’68YC, ’71R.

Rabbi Naftali ’04YC,’08R,’08BR and Navah Wolfe ’05S announce the birth of a daughter, Eliora Matanya. Mazel tov to grandparents Judah ’77YC, ’80C and Debbie Rosensweig ’77S, ’80C, Rabbi Shabsai and Debby Wolfe, great-grand-parents Rabbi Dr. Bernard Rosensweig ’47YC, ’50R, ’780BR and Ruth and Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld ’52R.

Lani ’02S and Yonatan Wolk ’02YC of Hillside, NJ, announce the birth of their son, Raphael Yosef. Mazel tov to grandparents Annette ’74S and Rabbi Howard Wolk ’70YUHS, ’74YC, ’77F, ’77R

Esther ’03S and Yosef Ziffer ’98YC announce the birth of their daughter, Chaviva Leah. Mazel tov to grandparents Florence ’74S and Rabbi Lawrence Ziffer ’74YC, ’80W, ’82R, ’82BR.

In Memorium Rabbi Jacob Adler ’42YUHS, ’46YC, ’48RRabbi Sidney Applebaum ’45RRabbi Ahron Batt ’56YC, ’58RMonica (Grabie) Cohn ’67YUHSWurzweiler School of Social Work board member Joel Philip Daner ’60YC, ’62WRuben Davidman ’52YCFormer YU Belfer Graduate School of Science Mathematics Professor Rabbi Eliezer (Leon) EhrenpreisLouis Henkin ’33YUHS, ’37YCRabbi Yehuda Hilewitz ’68YC, ’72BR, ’72RRabbi Jay D. Jacobs ’69YC, ’74R, ’75FRebecca “Ricki” Katz ’84WRabbi Milton E. Kramer, ’38YUHS, ’42YC, ’47RRabbi Allan Mirvis ’39YC, ’41RRabbi Robert Raab ’81WJack Satosky ’65YUHS, ’69YCBernard Schrenzel ’38YCRabbi Yaak Shalem ’58YC, ’61BR, ’61RRabbi Joshua Shapiro ’41YUHS, ’45YC, ’49RRabbi Louis “Eliezer” Simonson ’35YC, ’37RJudith Sokol ’61SRabbi Sol Steinmetz ’53YC,’56R

Legend for school abbreviations:

A: Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration • BR: Bernard Revel Graduate School • BS: Belfer Graduate School of Science • BZ: Philip and Sarah Belz School of Jewish Music • C: Cardozo School of Law • E : Albert Einstein College of Medicine • F: Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology • IBC: Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies • JS: James Striar School of Jewish Studies • MY: Yeshiva Program/Mazer School of Talmudic Studies • R: Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • S: Stern College for Women • SB: Sy Syms School of Business • SBM: Stone Beit Midrash Program • TI: Teacher’s Institute • W: Wurzweiler School of Social Work • YC: Yeshiva College • YUHS: Yeshiva University High Schools

Join fellow YU alumni who serve as Class Captains and engage your fellow classmates in programs and events to support Yeshiva University. Class Captains will serve as ‘connectors’ to ensure that their classmates remain in contact with each other and with the University. The Captain’s primary responsibility will be to reach out to classmates and fellow alumni to:

• Increase your class participation in the Annual Fund by lending your signature to letters and promoting online giving in honor or memory of loved ones or special occasions

• Add a personal touch to our Annual Fund efforts by thanking classmates for their contributions with a personal note, e-mail, or phone call

• Inspire classmates to stay in touch with each other and their alma mater by attending alumni events and participating in University initiatives

• Share information about classmates’ careers and professional interests for Class Notes

• Join with fellow class leaders to plan milestone reunions

If this role is right for you, then volunteer today to become a YU Class Captain. E-mail ClassCaptain@yu.edu to learn more or to sign up as a captain.

WANTEDk CLASS CAPTAINS

Yeshiva University’s Presi-dential Fellowship aims to foster the leadership skills of

“some of the best and brightest YU graduates,” said YU Vice President and Chief of Staff Josh Joseph, who directs the program. That’s why he and Allison Rubin, a past Presiden-tial Fellow herself, led a delegation of 16 fellows to New Orleans in early November to attend the General Assembly (GA) of the Jewish Fed-eration of North America. The GA is an annual gathering for leaders to discuss the future of the Jewish community, its challenges and what can be done to enhance Jewish well-being worldwide.

The GA was an ideal opportunity in which to “engage in conversation and expose the fellows to the broader Jewish community,” Joseph said. The group also learned about Jewish life in New Orleans, still suffering from the effects of 2005’s Hurricane Ka-trina, and physically helped with the ongoing rebuilding effort.

A group of students from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work’s Certificate in Jewish Communal Service program also stayed in New Orleans for a service learning mis-sion after the GA. The two groups joined for a visit to the New Orleans Jewish Community Center, where they learned how the Jewish com-munity strategically rebuilt itself after the hurricane.

The Presidential Fellows at-tended the conference’s plenary discussions, which covered topics

including the Jewish communal re-sponse to the recession, relations between the United States and Israel, and redesigning Jewish education for the 21st century. The fellows met with Barry Shrage, president of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, based in Boston, and had dinner with Presidential Fellowship alumni who are now lending their talents to dif-ferent facets of Jewish communal life.

The fellows’ service learning day began with davening at Con-gregation Beth Israel, a shul led by Rabbi Uri Topolosky that had been destroyed during Katrina. The after-noon was spent building a vegetable garden to grow produce for a bur-geoning vegan restaurant headed by a chef from Dimona, Israel. As the participants plowed and planted, they spoke with the residents whose land and homes were destroyed in the hurricane, and which, in many cases, have never been fully rebuilt.

“It was a real kiddush Hashem [sanctification of God’s name],” said Joseph. “Everyone knew that we were a group of Jews who had come to New Orleans to help rebuild.”

Eitan Novick YC ‘10, a fellow in the office of the provost, said that at-tending the GA was humbling and that seeing Jews of so many diver-gent backgrounds together “gave me hope that some unity can exist.”

Applications for next year’s Presidential Fellowship are due Feb. 9, 2011. For more information, please e-mail presidentialfellows@yu.edu or call 212.960.5400, ext. 5730. n

YUTODAY 5

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Beker Family Makes New Scholarship AvailableRequires volunteerism and a commitment to ‘pay it forward’

Yeshiva University’s newly established Harvey and Jayne Beker Student

Scholarship “is the first of its kind for YU,” said Daniel For-man, the vice president for insti-tutional advancement at Yeshiva University. The uniqueness of the Bekers’ gift relates to an eth-ical agreement each scholarship recipient agrees to sign in order to receive the scholarship.

The ethical agreement, ex-plained Forman, “is a moral con-tract between each student and Yeshiva University that consists of two stipulations.” The first is a commitment that the student will perform volunteer work of a social or academic nature for the duration of the scholarship.

Forman described the sec-ond stipulation as the “giveback provision.” The “giveback” is a pledge made by Beker Schol-arship recipients to provide scholarship support for future Yeshiva University students upon graduating and entering the work force.

Harvey Beker grew up in Malden, MA, graduated the Maimonides School in Brook-line, and received a BA and an MBA from New York University. Today he is the co-chairman and co-CEO of the Millburn Ridge-field Corporation, an investment management firm. Jayne Beker is a practicing psychologist with

a PsyD in clinical psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. She is the former chair of the Board of Overseers of the Ferkauf Gradu-ate School of Psychology, and sits on the Board of Trustees of Yeshiva University and on Fer-kauf’s board.

During a meeting between Beker Scholars and Harvey and Jayne Beker in November 2010, Beker shared his own college experience; how tuition was well beyond his family’s means, and his good fortune to qualify for a scholarship. “Without that scholarship, which was for both undergraduate and graduate studies,” he told the students, “there was no way I could have gone to NYU. It changed my life.”

“Harvey always felt that he had a moral obligation to give back to the institution and to the community, so that when NYU asked him to contribute a schol-arship, he did so willingly and be-lieved that others should do so as well,” said Jayne Beker. “Our new scholarship at Yeshiva University is the product of Harvey’s give-back philosophy. It reflects Har-vey’s strong belief that providing support for scholarships instills students with a sense of responsi-bility to help others, and, equally important, encourages students to teach this responsibility to fu-ture generations.”

During and after the meet-ing, the Bekers were visibly pleased with the students’ recep-tiveness to volunteerism. “When it comes to volunteer work,”

said Jayne Beker, “these boys and girls are clearly ahead of the game.” At least three volunteer at group homes for disabled chil-dren and adults; another tutors neighborhood children; and all reported regularly providing vol-unteer assistance in various com-munity organizations related to a variety of needs or causes.

The Bekers were further impressed with the students’ enthusiastic response to the fi-nancial “giveback” stipulation. “It’s just the right thing to do,” said one student. Mushky Pin-son, an aspiring Biology major in

her second year at Stern College for Women, agreed. “If someone gives you the most precious gift of education,” she said, “how can you not repay them by help-ing others?”

“We’re so happy for this op-portunity to meet students who are so committed to our values,” Jayne Beker said as the meet-ing ended. Rebecca Herskovits, an English literature major in her senior year at Stern, viewed the opportunity from another perspective. “Few students who receive scholarships can say they’ve had the opportunity to

meet and create a connection with their benefactors,” she said. “The Bekers’ interest in meet-ing us is a model of the type of responsibility and involvement they expect us to feel toward fu-ture generations of students.”

“These six young men and women are a wonderful repre-sentation of the student culture at Yeshiva University,” said Mr. Forman. “Harvey and Jayne know Yeshiva students are an outstanding group. Seeing the students’ commitment to their most cherished ideals rein-forced that perception.” n

Jayne and Harvey Beker with recipients of their new ‘pay it forward’ scholarship at YU and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Daniel Forman.

Stern women study advanced physics at Brookhaven National Laboratory.Cardozo students meet a legal star as law school hosts retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. A conversation with Justice O’Connor is at blogs.yu.edu/news/oconnor

Stern Students at Brookhaven National Lab Cardozo Supremely Honored

6 YUTODAY

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Chanukah into the homes of so many different types of Jews,” said Jeffrey Ritholtz, a singer in the group. “It makes me feel that our singing is more than just fun, but is also actually ac-complishing something very important.” Meir Shapiro, an-other singer, added: “It’s pure pirsumei nisa [publicizing the miracle of Chanukah].”

The group’s success led to this observation by Jonathan Mark, a columnist for The Jew-ish Week: “That the Maccabe-ats, without tattoos, without thug-like preening, without being crude, are as popular as they are is yet another reminder that these YU kids are, in many ways, the best of us.”

In the same publication, President Richard M. Joel re-flected on the significance of the Maccabeats’ message and its enthusiastic reception. “‘Candlelight’ reaffirms that we can assert a life that is both joy-

ous and illuminating, and that our collective story can still, in the darkness of winter sol-stice, bring light to civilization,” he wrote. “The outpouring of pride and celebration of whole-someness tells us that there is a resonance to our values that we should take pleasure in and re-sponsibility for.”

YU students demonstrated that pride and awareness in the wide array of events on cam-pus over the eight-day holiday. At Stern College on the Beren Campus, a student-led campaign called “Eight Crazy Nights” featured everything from a school-wide siyum celebration and a Neshama Carlebach con-cert sponsored by the Social Justice Society, to a joint poetry slam with Yeshiva College and a “Greek Night” where students ate Greek food and watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding. On the Wilf Campus, activities included an opportunity to hear Israel’s Sephardi Chief Rabbi; Dreidel-Palooza (a record-breaking event to spin the most dreidels simul-taneously that raised money for undergraduate scholarships and attracted its own wave of media coverage); and a Chanukah con-

cert featuring Matisyahu, the Moshav Band and the Macca-beats that drew an audience of more than 1,500 from all corners of the New York area.

“With all the events going on this Chanukah, the atmo-sphere was lively and entertain-ing,” said Jonathan Kushner, ‘YC 11 and president of the Yeshiva Student Union. His favorite mo-ment was at the concert, which raised money for Kids of Cour-age, a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives of children with deadly illnesses. “To see that many people, with similar ideals in life, together to celebrate one of our most cher-ished holidays was a very spe-cial and memorable moment,” he said. News of fatal wildfires in Israel only strengthened the emotional intensity, he added.

For Jina Davidovich, the treasurer of the SCW Student Council and a key organizer of “Eight Crazy Nights,” the

rich and explorative student life at YU played a large role in her decision to attend Stern in-stead of the New School, where she had planned to study cre-ative writing. “I wanted to be fully involved and immersed in the environment that I was in,” she explained. “I realized that at Stern I could still be that writer, but also develop myself in other ways, personally and religiously, in addition to intel-lectual growth. Here I’m with a group of women who are very passionate about their own growth and active members of the Jewish community.”

Emphasizing the diversity of the Chanukah events, which were designed to appeal to all types of students from all types of backgrounds, Davidovich found her favorite experience was Neshama Carlebach’s per-formance, which fused gospel influence with spirited Jewish music. “There’s this concept that you can have a strong, beautiful Jewish identity without shutting the rest of the world out,” she said. “You can bring your Jew-ish foundation to the world and learn from it. For me, that’s very connected to Chanukah.” n

Proud of YUç Continued from Page 1

Students in the Max Stern Athletic Center practiced spinning dreidels before setting a new world record.

Matisyahu onstage at YU Chanukah concert in December. See video at blogs.yu.edu/news/concert2010

An enthusiastic audience enjoyed Matisyahu, Moshav and YU’s own Maccabeats in Lamport Auditorium.Caption

“ I realized that at Stern I could

still be [a] writer, but also develop myself

in other ways, personally and religiously,

in addition to intellectual growth. ”JINA DAVIDOVICH,

Treasurer of the Stern College for Women Student Council

YUTODAY 7

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The history of piracy, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Walt Whitman and nonlinear

elliptic equations are a few of the fields explored in 29 books authored by 26 full-time mem-bers of the faculty of Yeshiva University’s undergraduate col-leges. All were published during 2009 and 2010.

“For a faculty of our size, it’s extraordinary,” said Dr. John Fousek, an academic advi-sor at Stern College for Women who, along with the three un-dergraduate deans, coordinated a faculty book celebration in honor of the publications. At a reception held in Stern’s Schot-tenstein Residence Hall on Nov. 15, authors mingled with col-leagues, students and alumni. Their books were on display and available for purchase.

“These books enhance the academic atmosphere of the col-leges and the intellectual level of the classroom experience,” said Dr. David Berger, Ruth & I. Lewis Gordon Professor of Jewish History and Dean of the Bernard Revel Graduate School for Judaic Studies. His recent book, Persecution, Polemic, and

Dialogue: Essays In Jewish-Christian Relations, includes essays about interfaith dia-logue throughout history, from Nachmanides’ 13th-century disputation with a Christian in Barcelona to a piece about Mel Gibson’s The Passion.

For Dr. Ellen Schrecker, a professor of history who has written extensively on the Cold War, her latest book, The Lost

Soul of Higher Education: Cor-poratization, the Assault on Ac-ademic Freedom, and the End of the American University, was a departure. “What makes YU distinctive is that our students have very close relationships with the faculty,” Schrecker said. “It’s the kind of relation-ship that faculty members at bigger schools have with their graduate students.”

Dr. Matthew Miller, as-sistant professor of English, described his book, Collage of Myself: Walt Whitman and the Making of the Leaves of Grass, as “a case study of the creative process, using one of America’s most famous and most creative poets.” He said he frequently weaves bits of his research into the classes he teaches. “Active scholars make better teachers,

and you have genuine authori-ties here,” he added.

That is certainly true of Dr. Peter Achinstein, the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein University Professor of Philosophy, who recently wrote Evidence, Ex-planation and Realism: Essays in Philosophy and Science, and Dr. Jeffrey Gurock, Libby M. Klaperman Professor of Jewish History, whose new book Or-thodox Jews in America was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award.

Other publications include War No More: The Antiwar Im-pulse in American Literature by Dr. Cynthia Wachtell, director of the S. Daniel Abraham Hon-ors Program at Stern, and Spies and Holy Wars: The Middle East in 20th-Century Crime Fiction by Dr. Reeva Spector Simon.

“Our faculty have devel-oped these profoundly creative skills, and they teach and inspire our students on a daily basis to do likewise,” said Dr. Karen Bacon, dean of Stern College. “With the intellectual commu-nity we are building together we can surely expect many more great things in the future.” n

Prolific Professors: More Than Two Dozen Faculty Authors Celebrated by Yeshiva College, Stern and Sy Syms

Mitokh Ha-Ohel, New Collection of Torah Essays, Showcases Diverse Range of YU Scholarship

Yeshiva University has published a collection of original essays on the weekly Torah reading authored by rabbis and professors from the University. The volume, Mitokh

Ha-Ohel, was sponsored by the Michael Scharf Publication Trust of Yeshiva University Press and was released by Maggid Books, an imprint of Koren Publishers Jerusalem.

Mitokh Ha-Ohel—literally translated as “within the tent”—brings together a diverse range of scholars and rabbinic think-ers to elucidate all of the parashot [weekly Torah portions] using a wide range of approaches, including textual analysis, halachic [Jewish legal] analysis and homiletic exposition.

“At Yeshiva University, we aspire to emulate the dwellings and philosophies of our forefathers by creating our own tent through our ideology of Torah Umadda, the marriage of Torah and secular knowledge,” said YU President Richard M. Joel. “This truly unique volume showcases the breadth and depth of the ‘tent’ of Yeshiva University, and serves as a physical em-

bodiment of Yeshiva University’s passion for seeking nuanced wisdom through Torah from multiple sources, and sharing that wisdom with the world.”

Mitokh Ha-Ohel—edited by Rabbi Daniel Feldman, an in-structor at YU’s Stone Beit Midrash Program and the director of rabbinic research at YU’s Center for the Jewish Future, and Stu-art Halpern, student life coordinator at YU’s Office of Student Affairs—is the first of many projects planned for the new part-nership between YU and Koren Publishers. A 20th anniversary edition of Torah Umadda, by YU Chancellor Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, is also now available. Koren also plans to release a multi-volume set on topics of contemporary Jewish law authored by the Roshei Yeshiva [professors of Talmud] of the YU-affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. n

k Alumni can visit korenpub.com through Feb. 28, 2011 to purchase the book at a discount. Find it in Shabbat and Holidays; enter promotion code YU5771 at checkout.

Michael Scharf Publication Trust

Yeshiva University Press

www.yutorah.org/yeshivapresswww.korenpub.com

USA $29.95CAN $ 33.959 7 8 1 5 9 2 6 4 3 2 4 0

ISBN 978-1-59264-324-052995

Religion / Jewish Thought / Bible Studies

Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman & Stuart W. Halpern, Editors

Essays on the Weekly Parashah from the Rabbis and Professors of Yeshiva University

Mitokh Ha-Ohel

מתוך האוהל

rabbi daniel z. feldman is an instructor of Talmud and Jewish Studies at the Stone Beit Midrash Program of Yeshiva Univer-sity, and serves as the Director of Rabbinic Re-search at YU’s Center for the Jewish Future. He is an alumnus of Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and received his ordination (Yoreh Yoreh and Yadin Yadin) from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theologi-cal Seminary, where he was a fellow of the Bella and Harry Wexner Kollel Elyon. Rabbi Feld-man is the co-editor of six volumes of Talmu-dic essays, and the author of The Right and The Good: Halakhah and Human Relations (Jason Aronson, 1999; expanded edition, Yashar Books, 2005) and Divine Footsteps: Chesed and the Jew-ish Soul (Yeshiva University Press, 2009), as well as three volumes of Talmudic essays entitled Bi-nah BaSefarim. Rabbi Feldman is the spiritual leader of Etz Chaim of Teaneck, NJ, where he resides with his wife, Leah, and their children.

stuart w. halpern serves as the Stu-dent Life Coordinator in the Office of Student Affairs of Yeshiva University, and is involved in program and event management in the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. He has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA in Psychology in Education from Teach-ers College at Columbia University, an MA in Bible from Revel, and is pursuing a doctorate in Jewish education at the Azrieli Graduate School. Currently working on a book of the collected essays of Dr. Hayim Tawil, Mr. Halpern also serves on the planning committee of the 2011 Orthodox Forum. He lives with his wife, Ahuva, in Washington Heights.

This volume endeavors to display the breadth and depth of the “tent” of Yeshiva University, by bringing together its multi-faceted voices, as represented by our rabbis and professors, in a collection of essays that address all of the parashiyyot of the Chamishah Chumshei Torah. These essays constitute contributions from the faculty and administration of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva Col-lege, Stern College for Women, the Mazer Ye-shiva Program, the Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program, the Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies, the James Striar School of General Jewish Studies, the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy, the Graduate Program for Women in Advanced Talmudic Studies, the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, the Benjamin N. Cardo-zo School of Law, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, the Center for the Jewish Future, and the Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Institute of RIETS in Jerusalem. These articles range from textual analysis to homiletic exposition to halakhic analysis to academic exploration and to all points in-between. What they share in common is the goal of bringing a wide range of approaches towards the honoring, elucidat-ing, and exploring of our Holy Torah.

(from the Editors’ Preface)

featuring essays by:Rabbi Elchanan adlER

Rabbi hayyim angEl dR. Shawn ZElig aStER Rabbi aSSaf bEdnaRSh

Rabbi yoSEf blau Rabbi bEnjamin blEch

Rabbi KEnnEth bRandER Rabbi Shalom caRmy

Rabbi ZEvulun chaRlop Rabbi yitZchoK cohEn

Rabbi dR. hillEl daviS Rabbi maRK dRatch

dR. baRRy l. EichlER dR. yaaKov Elman

Rabbi daniEl Z. fEldman Rabbi david fohRman

Rabbi mEnachEm gEnacK Rabbi oZER glicKman Rabbi ShmuEl goldin

Rabbi mEiR goldwicht Rabbi maRK gottliEb dR. naomi gRunhauS

Rabbi ShmuEl hain Rabbi joSh joSEph dR. aaRon KollER

Rabbi dR. noRman lamm pRofESSoR yaEl lEibowitZ

Rabbi mEnachEm lEibtag

Rabbi dR. aaRon lEvinE dR. michEllE lEvinE Rabbi dovid millER Rabbi yaaKov nEubuRgER pRofESSoR nEchama pRicE pRofESSoR dEEna Rabinovich Rabbi dR. EdwaRd REichman Rabbi hERShEl REichman Rabbi yona REiSS Rabbi dR. michaEl RoSEnSwEig pRofESSoR SmadaR RoSEnSwEig Rabbi yonaSon SacKS Rabbi hERShEl SchachtER Rabbi dR. jacob j. SchactER pRofESSoR ShoShana SchEchtER dR. yitZchaK SchEchtER Rabbi allEn SchwaRtZ Rabbi EZRa SchwaRtZ dR. david ShatZ Rabbi Zvi SobolofSKy dR. moShE SoKolow Rabbi daniEl StEin pRofESSoR SuZannE laSt StonE Rabbi michaEl taubES Rabbi dR. moShE dovid tEndlER dR. ShiRa wEiSS Rabbi nEtanEl wiEdERblanK Rabbi moRdEchai willig

jacket design by aviva shurThe Michael Scharf Publication Trust

of Yeshiva University Press New York, NY

Mitokh H

a-Ohel

מתוך האוהל

Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman &

Stuart W. Halpern, Editors

MAGGID

מגיד

מגידMAGGID

מגיד

מגידMAGGID

Authors, colleagues and guests at faculty book celebration on Beren Campus.

Alumni Disc

ount

YUTODAYYESHIVA UNIVERSITY • 500 WEST 185TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10033 • WINTER 2011 • VOLUME 15 NO. 1

Student medical ethics society hosts high-profile campus conference on mental health issues

Mental health was the focus of Yeshiva Univer-sity’s fifth annual Stu-

dent Medical Ethics Conference. It highlighted topics such as eat-ing disorders, substance abuse, bullying and teen suicide. Co-sponsored by the YU Medical Ethics Society and the Center for the Jewish Future, “A Beau-tiful Mind: Jewish Approaches to Mental Health” featured Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman, Dr. Esther Altmann, Dr. David Pelcovitz, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski and Dr. Rona Novick, among other experts discussing hot-button mental health issues and their ethical implications in secular and Jewish law.

Adiel Munk and Jennie Kraut, co-presidents of the Med-ical Ethics Society, spearheaded the Oct. 31 event.

“We both thought that this was a topic that has garnered little attention in the Jewish community but was infinitely im-portant,” Munk said. “We knew that it needed to be addressed.”

Though the idea was con-ceived months earlier, incidents of bullying and teen suicide that were covered extensively in the media before the conference lent an undercurrent of urgency. Tragic cases of child abuse in the Jewish community and an Orthodox Union panel on eating disorders also spurred the co-presidents to address the topic.

“Adiel and I hope that by educating our community as to some of the complexities that those grappling with these ill-nesses are facing, we will, at the

very least, spark some discus-sion in the Orthodox Jewish world,” Kraut explained. “And that is the first step in bringing about change in regards to how we view these issues.”

Dr. Reichman, an associate professor of clinical emergency medicine at Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein College of Medi-cine, was the opening speaker at the event, which drew hundreds of people from the tristate area and beyond.

“There’s a reason it says refu’at hanefesh [healing of the soul] before refu’at haguf [heal-ing of the body],” he noted. “In fact, studies have shown us that people with better mental and spiritual health tend to have better physical health.”

While in past years, most of the conference attendees were rabbis and laymen, this year’s event drew psychologists, social

workers and even a number of high school students for whom a specialized track was created to make the conference topics more relatable.

Each speaker conveyed the medical and psychological is-sues in easily understood terms. Breakaway sessions focused on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the Orthodox commu-nity; personal stories of strug-gles with mental illness; and the psychological, medical and social consequences of bully-ing. A range of halachic [Jewish legal] and ethical queries were

discussed, including whether one had to disclose knowledge of an eating disorder when ad-vising a friend about a potential spouse; whether it is permitted to drive to an Alcoholics Anony-mous meeting on Friday night; and whether religious Juda-ism—with its ritualized ways of behaving, eating and serving God—help foster OCD.

The conference a genu-inely significant contribution to a field that is often overlooked and undertreated in the Jewish community, Dr. Reichman said.

“We, as a community, now

have an obligation to recognize the existence of these conditions, make the proper referrals and, most important, provide the sup-port and encouragement which is essential for the well-being and success of both the individ-ual person and the entire com-munity, for the refu’at hanefesh and refu’at haguf of all klal Yis-rael [People of Israel],” he said. n

NONPROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE

PAID

LANCASTER , PA

PERMIT #299

A Beautiful Mind: Students Lead On-Campus Discussion on Mental Health

Adiel Munk and Jennie Kraut, co-presidents of student medical ethics society.

Rabbi Dovid Fuld and his wife Anita were sponsors of the conference.