yureview spring 20091
TRANSCRIPT
YUReviewT H E M A G A Z I N E O F Y E S H I V A U N I V E R S I T Y
S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 / A V I V 5 7 6 9
Discovery
Spring ExhibitionsYESHIVA UNIVERSITY
MUSEUM
www.yumuseum.org or call 212.294.8330
2009FINAL MOURNER’S KADDISH:333 Days in Paintings
MAX MILLER Popper Gallery February 26 – August 16, 2009
TESTIMONY AND MEMORY:Contemporary Miniature Torah Mantles
CAROLE SMOLLAN LondonExhibition Arcade February 26 – July 26, 2009
PASSAGES: Sculpture by
L.T. SYMSSculpture Garden March 22 – August 16, 2009
I OF THE STORM
MICHAEL HAFFTKARecent WorkWinnick Gallery March 22 – August 30, 2009
JOSEPH, THE BULL AND THE ROSE
ANETTE PIER MexicoRosenberg Gallery February 26 – August 30, 2009
PASSAGESP : Sculptu
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9
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 14UNIVERSITY WIDE COMMENCEMENTBernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies Stern College for Women Sy Syms School of Business Yeshiva College WaMu �eater at Madison Square Garden
MONDAY, MAY 26Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall, Wilf Campus
MONDAY, JUNE 1Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
MONDAY, JUNE 1Yeshiva University High School for Boys/�e Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall, Wilf Campus
TUESDAY, JUNE 2 Albert Einstein College of Medicine Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall, Wilf Campus
FRIDAY, MAY 22Wurzweiler School of Social Work Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall, Wilf Campus
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration Weissberg Commons, Belfer Hall, Wilf Campus
Congratulations
For detailed information, please visit www.yu.edu/commencement
rich in innovation and progress, it is easy to become consumed with
staying updated. Often, in an attempt to maintain control in the mod-
ern world, we hunt for new landscapes to keep us in formed without
delving into the beauty of those of the past.
At Yeshiva University, we make it our mission to ensure that our
students not only seek new landscapes, but explore old ones with new
eyes. That is not to say that we neglect innovation. Our faculty and
students are constantly pushing the envelope, using all of our gifts as
human beings to make admirable discoveries, acknowledged and
celebrated by our colleagues and friends. However, it does not end there.
Our traditions inform us not to let discovery remain idle, but to harness science and the human-
ities for the greater good in an effort to uplift and improve our global community. Watch as our jour-
ney of discovery flourishes amid deeply rooted values and long-held beliefs. Applying both critical
analysis and classical Talmudic approaches, we are using lessons of the past as predictors of the
future. Tempered by the humility of our humanity, we extend our royal reach heavenward as we aspire
to the Transcendent. Moses asks for G-d to reveal the Divine splendor. He is told, that as a human,
he is incapable of perceiving G-d’s glory. But the story does not end there. G-d asks Moses to come
and join G-d on the rock. Perhaps the message is that as humans our job is not to see G-d, but to
see as G-d sees. Our challenge is not to perceive the Divine in this world, but to make our vision more
like the Divine vision.
In universities like ours, discovery is also applied inwardly. Our students step through our doors
and onto a never-ending road to self-discovery, challenging them to determine who they are and what
they can do to enrich humanity, whether they emerge as leaders in the community or re searchers in
the laboratory.
Our landscapes certainly enlighten us, but it is our eyes that define us. They define us as a com-
munity dedicated to advancing civilization and bettering the human condition, one discovery at a time.
RICHARD M. JOEL
� from the president
The French novelist Marcel Proust said,“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking
new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” In an ever-changing world,
Y E SH I VA UN I V E R S I T YB O A R D O F T R U S T E E S
Morry J. Weiss
CHA IRMAN
David S. GottesmanRobert M. BerenRonald P. Stanton
CHA IRMEN EMER IT I
Ira Kukin
V ICE CHA IRMAN
Sy Syms
V ICE CHA IRMAN
Ludwig Bravmann
V ICE CHA IRMAN
Mordecai D. Katz
V ICE CHA IRMAN
Alan E. Goldberg
TREASURER
Joseph Wilf
TRUSTEE EMER ITUS
David J. AzrieliJayne G. BekerJack A. BelzJulius BermanMarvin S. BienenfeldMarjorie Diener BlendenSender Z. CohenIsrael A. EnglanderDavid EshaghianJeffrey J. FeilFelix L. GlaubachRuth L. GottesmanKathryn O. GreenbergFanya Gottesfeld HellerLance L. HirtMichael JesselsonRichard M. JoelMarcos D. KatzHenry KresselNorman LammMatthew J. MarylesIra MitznerJoshua L. MussJack M. NagelVivian Glueck RosenbergDavid I. SchachneJay SchottensteinIrwin ShapiroMoshael J. StrausJosh S. WestonZygmunt Wilf
HONORARY TRUSTEES
S. Daniel AbrahamHal H. BeretzJ. Morton Davis Aaron FeuersteinGerald FurstJacob E. GoldmanEmanuel GrussJoseph Segal Elie WieselDavid YagodaJay H. Zises
Y E SH I VA UN I V E R S I T Y
Richard M. Joel
PRES IDENT
Daniel T. Forman
V ICE PRES IDENT FOR
INST ITUT IONAL ADVANCEMENT
Georgia B. Pollak
V ICE PRES IDENT FOR
COMMUNICAT IONS AND
PUBL IC AFFA IRS
YUR E V I EW
Valerie L. Peters
ED ITOR- IN -CH IEF
Kelly Berman
NEWS ED ITOR
Judy Tashji
CREAT IVE D IRECTOR
CONTR IBUT ING TO TH IS I SSUE :
Manny BeharPhilippe CassamajorJune GlazerCatherine FredmanLauren FreudmannRabbi Josh JosephElizabeth KratzHelen KuttnerClifford MethStephen NicksonCelia ReganHadassa RubinsteinBoris VolunuevYael Wolynetz
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jared BernsteinDan BretlEnrique CubilloNorman GoldbergMark KatzHolly KuperPeter RobertsonMatt SchwartzAnnie WassermanV. Jane WindsorEmily Zeng
YUReview is published bi-annually by Yeshiva
University’s Department of Communi ca tions and
Public Affairs. It is distributed by mail to alumni
and friends of the university and on campus to
faculty and administrators. Paid subscriptions
are available at $15 per year.
Editorial contributions and submissions to
“Classnotes” are welcome, but the publication
cannot accept responsibility for un solicited manu-
scripts or photographs. All submissions are subject
to editing. Opinions expressed in the Review are
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Send mail to: YUReview
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© YESH IVA UN IVERS ITY 2009
FROM THE PRESIDENT
YU DIGEST
DISCOVERY
College years—the time in a student’s life when their quest forenlightenment is realized through access to brilliant minds nurturingpersonal exploration; College—the safe haven for this inquiry andhome to supportive faculty and experts who understand this questfor knowledge.
In this issue, we discover the complex nature of Torah and Madda in criminal law; how the recovery of hidden treasures in Germanyidentified a lost community; what secrets lie within our ownUniversity archives; and how the life-changing experiences of threestudents are making a difference to many.
SPOTLIGHT
ALUMNI NEWS
• FACULTY BOOKSHELF • CLASSNOTES
A LOOK BACK
2416
32
YUReview11 31
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YUdigest
4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
A Strong University in Tough Economic Times
“It is essential that we deal properly and purpose fully
with the new economic realities that confront us all.
Part of our commitment is ensuring that students and their
families can afford a Yeshiva University education: We are
reframing our budget, not just to eliminate the structured
deficit, but to keep the cost of attending the undergraduate
schools as affordable as possible by freezing tuition
and increasing financial aid. We have always been mindful
of the costs of education, looking for ways to do more
with less, while building a great university; now we must
look harder,” said President Joel.
“… We have an operating plan for the coming year
that ensures our delivering on the promise we make to our
families: providing a superb education for every
Yeshiva University student, while keeping our institution
strong and helping us weather the economic climate.
… Yeshiva University’s mission has never been as vital as
it is today. Our values are invaluable and our education
is nonnegotiable.”
Steps YU Has Taken to Address Family Need• In a historic move, YU is freezing the cost of
undergraduate tuition for 2009 /10. Tuition will
remain at $31,594 for the year, with only
a modest increase for room and board of $250
per semester.
• A new scholarship drive—supported by the
Board of Trustees—will add up to $5 million to
the University’s undergraduate scholarship
budget. This will augment the approximately
$31 million in institutional aid that the
University annually budgets.
• New and currently enrolled students who start
their undergraduate studies with a year in
Israel, and plan to stay on the YU campus for
four years after they return, will be eligible for a
half-tuition scholarship for that fourth year.
This applies to students returning from Israel and
enrolling on campus in fall 2009 and is also
being extended to students who are currently in
their first or second year on campus.
To hear more from the president about these new
initiatives, go to www.yu.edu/president/tuition
As a result of the new economic realities confronting the entire nation,
Yeshiva University put in place a process to reframe its budget that began last fall.
President Richard M. Joel implemented a number of steps to reduce operating expenses
by close to $30 million, with the overall goal to minimize the impact of these financial issues
on the student and academic experience, both in and beyond the classroom.
here is much to celebrate about Yeshiva University and theaccomplishments of this community,” said PresidentRichard M. Joel at the annual Hanukkah Convocation andDinner held in December at the Waldorf-Astoria. Theevening’s emotional highlight focused the dinner presenta-
tion on the Points of Light—a group of students, faculty, alumni anddonors whose achievements represent the excellence of YU.“We present to you seven points of light; the number could just as
easily be 70,” said President Joel as he introduced these outstandingmembers of the YU community. “Our 17 schools and affiliatesbrought us a bumper crop of great stories, from which we couldchoose a few exemplars of excellence to share with you.”During the inspiring presentation, each person took a place on the
stage and lit a symbolic candle on a menorah depicting themes ofJewish learning. (See sidebar.)New York State Governor David A. Paterson, one of the event’s
honorees and its keynote speaker, paid tribute to the University’s val-ues and public service. “After 122 years and only four presidents, thisuniversity is thriving,” Governor Paterson said. “President Joel is pur-suing the opportunity to fulfill the true meaning of education: a high-er knowledge and a greater spirit.”This greater spirit was recognized as President Joel awarded hon-
orary degrees to five leaders whose lives embody the Univer sity’s val-ues: philanthropists David Feuerstein and Roslyn Goldstein; ElliotGibber, president and CEO of Deb-El Food Products; Rabbi HaskelLookstein, rabbi of Cong re gation Kehilath Jeshurun and head of theRamaz School; and Gov ernor Paterson.In his remarks recognizing these leaders, President Joel also noted
that, despite the difficult economy, the generosity of those attendingthe evening’s event raised $3.2 million, over $1 million more than theprevious year. To read in-depth biographies of the honorees, visitwww.yu.edu/ hanukkah2008
84th Hanukkah Dinner and Convocation Honors Governor, Students
T
Malka Bromberg, physics major and
Kressel Scholar, Stern College for Women
• Researches ways to make hydrogen a “green”
alternative for powering cars in the lab of
Dr. Anatoly Frenkel, professor of physics
Yofi Jacob, sophomore,
Yeshiva University High School for Boys
• He and his family play a crucial role
in supporting his native Mumbai
Jewish community
Professor Leon Wildes (right) ’54YC,director of the Immigration Law Externship,
and Professor Peter Markowitz (far right),director of the Immigration Justice Clinic,
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
• Respond to needs for quality legal
representation for indigent immigrants
Avi Amsalem, senior at Yeshiva College and co-president of student-run
Medical Ethics Society
• His experience as a donor led to a massive
on-campus bone marrow drive yielding eight
potential matches—see page 28 for full story
Rabbi Ari Zahtz YH, ’01YC, R, fellow of the Dr. Lamm Kollel L’horaah,
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
• Compiled tribute volumes to Rabbi Zevulun
Charlop on his transition from dean of RIETS to
President’s special advisor on yeshiva affairs
Dan Kelly ’08AE, graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Founded Global Action Foundation and
built free clinic for victims of violence
in Sierra Leone
Sofia Gordon, Wilf Scholar and senior, Stern College for Women
• Discovered true Jewish identity as a young
Russian immigrant in Germany and chose
to attend Stern to deepen her Jewish studies
education—see page 29 for full story
Shining Examples
This year’s Hanukkah Dinner Points of Light are models of excellence
representative of the entire YU community.
New York State Governor David Paterson received an honorary degree
from President Joel.
“
6 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
ne of the biggest issues in Jewish educa-tion to day is attracting, training andretaining high-quality teachers and lead-ers for day schools, yeshivot and commu-nity and synagogue-based schools. Rais ing
the level of professionalism is critical as schoolscompete with their secular counterparts for studentenrollment. Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Edu -cation and Administra tion is addressing this commu-nal challenge through its new initiative, the Institutefor University-School Partnership.The Institute, directed by Dr. Scott Goldberg, a
noted re searcher and educational consultant, offerseducators opportunities for en hanced professionaldevelopment through the use of new technologiesand applied research. The Institute can offer thissupport because of its access to experts and researchat Yeshiva University. For example, Azrieli faculty mem - bers, who serve as Institute senior fellows, collabo-rate with schools of all denominations across NorthAmerica to mentor educators and raise awareness ofschool issues among lay leadership and parents.Recent surveys among Jewish educators indicate
that ongoing supervision, mentorship and ac cess tothe latest research in secular and Jewish educationare some crucial elements in avoiding burn out andturnover. The Insti tute has already begun answeringthis call by offering many continuing educationprograms at no cost for day school administrators,educators, lay leaders and other professionals thataddress school leadership, teacher training and sup-port, student support and interactive media.Through live seminars, videoconferences (in
cooperation with the Global Learning Initiative atthe Center for the Jewish Future), online materialsand discussion boards, conference calls and fellow-ships for careers in Jewish education, opportunitiesfor quality training are timely and far reaching.Schools also benefit from teacher and administratorplacement services, mentorships and research-basedpublications. Addi tion ally, the Institute has initiatedoriginal research on Jewish day school issues such asbullying, differentiated instruction, the effects of theyear in Israel on post-high school students, religiouspurposefulness and school affordability.A unique aspect of the Institute is its commit-
ment to outreach and collaboration with educationaland nonprofit organizations to achieve common goalsin promoting Jewish education. For example, theInsti tute co-sponsored the Jewish Day SchoolEconomic Summit at the 2009 Annual LeadershipConfer ence run by RAVSAK: The Jewish Com -munity Day School Network and hosted other majorconferences on “The World Outside the School:Engaging Parents and Community” and “Topics inMod ern Orthodox Education.”
� digest
Azrieli InstituteAddresses Professionalismin Jewish Education
O
Jacob Wisse toLead YU Museum
Dr. Jacob Wisse, associate professor of art history at Stern
College for Women, has been
named the new director of the
Yeshiva University Museum follow-
ing Sylvia Herskowitz’s retirement
after 32 years as director.
Wisse, who received his PhD
from the Institute of Fine Arts of
New York University, also has a
background in museum education
and curatorial work. Through the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, he
earned a Curatorial Studies
Certificate and was twice awarded
the museum’s Theodore Rousseau
Curatorial Fellowship.
Since 2005/06, when he was
appointed to head the art history
program at Stern, Wisse has intro-
duced courses that use exhibitions
and museum collections to
complement the classroom experi-
ence, including a summer program
in Florence on the art and culture
of the Renaissance period. He
will continue to teach and guide
the program.
During her tenure, Herskowitz
gave the nascent YU Museum an
identity by shaping it as a teaching
museum that collected, interpreted
and exhibited the art, artifacts and
material culture of Jews the world
over through creative and evoca-
tive interdisciplinary exhibitions,
catalogues and programs for Jews
and non-Jews of all ages.
Goldberg provides teacher training via live videoconference.
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 7
Professor ReceivesCancer Society Honor
In recognition for her outstanding con-tributions to the fight against cancer,the American Cancer Society—thenation’s largest nongovernmental fund -er of cancer research—awarded theMedal of Honor to Susan BandHorwitz (left), PhD, distinguished pro-fessor and co-chair of the departmentof molecular pharmacology.
Her groundbreaking research on the cancer drug Taxol(paclitaxel), used around the world to treat cancers of the ovary,breast and lung, has helped more than one million patients.“It is so important to realize that basic scientists can make
significant contributions to clinical care,” said Horwitz. “I feelstrongly that this is not my personal award. It is for my entirelaboratory—for all the students, fellows, visiting scientists andcollaborators that have worked with me all these years.”Horwitz is more optimistic than ever about curing cancer.
“We’ve learned a tremendous amount in the 35 years since I gotmy first research grant, which was from the American CancerSociety,” she said. “I believe that, with enough financial supportand with the brightest and the best young people going into can-cer research, we should be able to overcome this disease.”
EINSTEIN’S BANNER YEAR OF RESULTSAND REWARDS
A study published by University
researchers in psychology and
health strongly suggests that regular
attendance at religious services of
any denomination, along with the
comfort and strength derived from
these services, reduces the risk of
death in post-menopausal women by
approximately 20 percent.
The study, conducted by Eliezer
Schnall, PhD, clinical assistant
professor of psychology at Yeshiva
College, and co-authored by Sylvia
Wassertheil-Smoller, PhD, professor
of epidemiology and population
health at Einstein, was designed to
see if religious observance played a
role in reducing heart disease.
Though the findings did not support
that, they showed a lower rate of
death from all causes. It was an
ancillary study of the Women’s
Health Initiative, the largest clinical
trial ever funded by the National
Institutes of Health to focus exclu-
sively on women’s health issues, and
evaluated the religious practices of
92,395 women for an average of
7.7 years.
“I don’t want to go beyond what
the facts are showing us, and I want
to be cautious,” said Schnall.
“Interestingly, the protection against
mortality provided by
religion cannot be entirely
explained by expected
factors that include enhanced social
support of friends or family, lifestyle
choices and reduced smoking and
alcohol consumption.”
The study has received significant
media attention and corroborates
prior studies that have shown up to
a 25 percent reduction in mortality.
Yeshiva College and Einstein Researchers Link Religion to Reduced Mortality
Schnall (left) and
Wassertheil-Smoller
(right).
…and in the Lab
• A study in Archives of Internal
Medicine reports that people with low
levels of Vitamin D may face an in -
creased risk of death from all causes.
Researchers including co-lead
Dr. Michal L. Melamed, assistant
professor of medicine and of epidemi-
ology and population health, and
colleagues from Johns Hopkins Uni -
ver sity School of Medicine analyzed
Vitamin D levels in participants in the
Third National Health and Nutritional
Examination Survey conducted by
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. The re searchers suggest
that Vitamin D be added to the
chemicals measured in routine blood
tests. Low Vitamin D levels may affect
blood pressure and the body’s ability
to respond to insulin as well as
increase rates of breast cancer and
depression in the elderly.
• A trend toward eliminating recess in
favor of increased math and reading
periods means that children are
getting less and less unstructured
playtime. A new study led by Dr.
Romina M. Barros, assistant clinical
professor of pediatrics, suggests that
a daily break of 15 minutes or more
in the school day may play a role in
improving learning, social develop-
ment and health in elementary school -
children. As reported in Pediatrics,
Barros, who looked at data on approx-
imately 11,000 third-graders enrolled
in the national Early Childhood Longi -
tudinal Study, said that recess has to
be considered a crucial element in
child development.
• Men with prostate cancer may have
an increased risk of having an aggres -
sive tumor if they carry a mutation for
either of two genes, BRCA1 and
BRCA2, according to Dr. Robert Burk,
professor of pediatrics (genetics) and
senior author of a study reported in
Clinical Cancer Research. The study
focused on men of Ashkenazi Jewish
descent because they are five times
likelier than people in the general
population to carry a mutation of any
kind in those genes. Women carrying
mutations in either gene face an
increased risk of developing breast
cancer, ovarian cancer or both.
Scientists believe that genetic discov-
eries among the Ashkenazi can have
significant benefits in preventing and
treating major diseases.
In a visionary gift, Laurie M. Tischhas established the Laurie M.Tisch Loan Repay ment AssistanceProgram (LRAP)—to benefit Car -dozo graduates who have chosen topursue careers in public interest/public service law by providing“forgivable loans” to assist them in
overcoming their debt. She hopesthe gift will relieve burdens of out-standing financial obligations asgraduates “work for the commongood.”“This is a transformative gift,”
said Dean David Rudenstine. “Itcompletely changes the face of our
current loan repayment assistanceprogram and ensures that our grad-uates can continue to work for thepublic good. Such work is a sterlingaffirmation of our commitment toequality, social justice, and human-istic and intellectual values.”Tisch believes that the public
sector—whether it be legal assis-tance services, the District Attor -ney’s office, government, humanrights groups, or not-for-profitorganizations—should not bedeprived of some of the best andbrightest legal minds coming out oflaw school. She noted she comesfrom a family in which “publicservice was immensely important;it was instilled in all of us from thetime we were children. This gift toCardozo builds on that family lega-cy.” Ms. Tisch’s daughter, EmilyTisch Sussman, is a 2008 alumnaof Cardozo.
Record Bar PassageRate at CardozoAccording to figures announced bythe New York State Board of LawExaminers in November, Cardozograduates achieved a 93.2 percentfirst-time passage rate on the July2008 New York State Bar Exam. Of the 310 Cardozo graduates whotook the exam for the first time,289 passed. This is the highestpass rate in the school’s history,
exceeding last year’s record of 92 percent. The statewide passrate for first-time takers from allABA-accredited law schools was90.5 percent; for all takers it was74.7 percent.
Alumni Honor DeanDean David Rudenstine wasselected by the Alumni Associa -tion’s 50-member executive com-mittee as honoree at its annual din-ner in November for the dramaticphysical renovation and for theremarkable growth Cardozo hasundergone during his tenure.Rudenstine will step down as
dean in June 2009 and rejoin thefaculty. Kathy Greenberg ’82C,who became chair of the Cardozoboard shortly after Rudenstine wasnamed dean in 2001, said, “I feelprivileged to know him, to havehad the opportunity to work withhim and to have witnessed theextraordinary growth of Cardozounder his watch.”
8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
CARDOZO HIGHLIGHTS
RIETS Annual Dinner of TributeHonors Rabbi CharlopClose to 700 people gathered at New York City’s Grand Hyatt in
September for the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS)
Annual Dinner honoring Rabbi Zevulun Charlop, dean emeritus of RIETS
and special advisor to the president on yeshiva affairs and vice chairman
of the RIETS Board of Trustees, Herbert Smilowitz, and his son, Rabbi
Mark Smilowitz ’92YC, ’98AZ, ’02R. RIETS dinner participants raised over
$1.1 million, that’s $500,000 more raised than the previous year.
Loan Repayment Assistance Gets $5M Boost at Cardozo
David Rudenstine
Laurie Tisch
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 9
digest �
Wurzweiler StudentsReach Out for RecoveryWhen 18 Wurzweiler School of Social Work
students visited New Orleans in November to
study the revitalization of its Jewish community
after Hurricane Katrina, they recognized the
opportunity to put into action the core Jewish
communal values of tzedakah [righteous giving]
and tikkun olam [repairing the world], which
they study in the school’s Jewish Communal
Service Certificate program.
The students, accompanied by Saul Andron,
PhD, program director, and Instructor Lynn
Levy, attended a four-day seminar to learn how
the community has responded in the aftermath
of Hurricane Katrina.
On the last full day of the trip, they toured
the Seventh Ward area, then split into three
groups to visit the homebound elderly, painted
the outside of the St. John’s Baptist Church
Social Ministry’s youth center and applied
Sheetrock to the home of its pastor, Bruce
Davenport.
“This experience not only informed me of
the immense help still needed in rebuilding
New Orleans, but it also taught me a personal
valuable lesson that there is so much to live for
even in such a devastating situation,” student
Gaby Abramson said.
Ferkauf Conducts Cross-Cultural Asthma Study
Research has shown that asthma sufferers are more susceptible to psychological prob-lems, especially panic disorders, and these issues may be culturally based. While asthmais not a curable disease, proper symptom management can improve a patient’s quality oflife. However, other health and environmental factors can further compromise an indi-vidual’s condition.Natalia Pilipenko, a first-year clinical health psychology student at Ferkauf Graduate
School of Psychology, and a native of Cyprus, found that no psychosocial or cross-culturalstudies have ever been conducted with Cypriot asthma patients. Under the guidance ofMaria Karekla, PhD, assistant professor of the Department of Psychology at the Univer -sity of Nicosia, Cyprus, and Ferkauf Assistant Professor Jonathan Feldman, PhD,Pilipenko applied for and received funding for a 24-month cross-cultural research proj-ect comparing a group of Cypriot asthma patients with a group of asthma patients atJacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.In addition to examining cultural and medical similarities and differences between the
two groups, Pilipenko, Feldman and co-researchers at the Cyprus Academic ResearchInstitute hope to develop a behavior modification model that will address the psycholog-ical issues among asthma patients in Cyprus and the Bronx with the long-term goal ofcreating culturally sensitive, psychosocial asthma intervention programs.
CJF Trains Rabbis and Lay Leaders
With challenging economic issues facing synagogues and their communities nationwide,the rabbi’s role as an executive of his synagogue and his partnership with its lay leaderstakes on particular importance. This was the focus of the Executive Rabbinic Seminars,held by the Center for the Jewish Future (CJF) as part of its Legacy Heritage FundRabbinic Enrich ment Initiative (LHREI), supported by Legacy Heritage Fund Limited.The Executive Rabbinic Semi nars, now in their second year, bring rabbis together from
Jewish communities across North Amer ica to learn theory from management ex perts andgain insight from the business world on addressing challenging day-to-day issues.“The seminars increase avenues of communication between rabbis and lay leaders and
develop a more cohesive dynamic of governance in their congregations,” said RabbiKenneth Brander, dean of the CJF. “It is one of the important programs in the CJF reper-toire drawing on the academic energies of the University as a resource for our communi-ty. These programs are only possible due to support from Legacy Heritage Fund Limited.”The rabbi and lay leader work as a team to assess their synagogue’s particular situation
and how the material presented can best be applied to their needs; as a group, the rabbisand lay leaders reflect on common aspirations and challenges and share best practices.The program’s facilitators, who also ran the previous seminar, included Dr. Steven
Nissenfeld and Dr. Brian Maruffi, both clinical professors of management at Sy SymsSchool of Business, and Robert Leventhal, a senior consultant at the Alban Institute,which helps religious congregations ad dress their needs in a changing world.The 2008–09 seminars were held in Florida in November and Decem ber. They
focused on leading strategic synagogue transformation and the role of leadership in initi-ating and sustaining change in the synagogue. The 15 participating communities alsoattended the prior year’s programs on leadership and synagogue management dynamics.
Students helped repair the home of Pastor Bruce
Davenport (center, rear) and his wife (far right).
1 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
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member of the Shilluktribe in southernSudan, Simon Dengwas abducted when hewas nine-years-old and
given as a gift to an Arab family.His job was to draw water from theNile River and carry it back to thehousehold, work typically assistedby camels. After three and halfyears as a slave, Deng was liberat-ed by a man from his former villagewho recognized him and arrangedfor his escape.Deng is a former child slave
from Sudan who spoke last fall at apanel discussion on “Slavery Un -shackled: An Exploration of Mod -ern Day Slavery” sponsored by theSocial Justice Society, the Centerfor Ethics at Yeshiva Uni versity
and the Marcia Robbins-WilfScholar-in-Resi dence Pro gram.Gilah Kletenik ’09S, a member ofthe Social Justice Society, put therelevance in perspective: “Our col-lective experience as slaves longago, and as victims throughout his-tory, suggests that we have aunique opportunity to free thoseenslaved, to be the custodians ofjustice throughout the world.”Deng shared the podium with
Mary Temple, volunteer coordina-tor for Free the Slaves, which worksto eradicate slavery while liberatingslaves around the world, and RabbiShalom Carmy, assistant professorof Bible at Yeshiva University.Temple highlighted the differ-
ence between historical and mod-ern-day slaves. “A historical slave
was seen as a capital expenditureand was given clothing, shelter andfood in order to allow for the mostsubstantial return on investment,”Temple explained. “In the past 50years, the price has collapsed andthe average price of a slave is now$90. People have become dispos-able.”Rabbi Carmy’s comments on
slavery were based on his analysisof biblical and halachic [Jewishlegal] texts. He noted that since
slaves were dependent on the mas-ter’s will, being a slave was a mis-fortune, a curse.Now an American citizen and
anti-slavery activist, Deng sees hismain role as an advocate and ishopeful for the future, “knowing itwill take someone who is free tofree someone who is not.” He saidthat most people think slavery is athing of the past, but he is livingproof that it continues to existtoday.
YU IN ISRAEL
UK Chief Rabbi SharesThoughts on LeadershipLast November, nearly 800 students studying in
Israel on the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program
heard Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of
the United Kingdom, speak on the importance
of leadership. “In the presence of lay leaders
from the OU and rabbanim alike, Rabbi Sacks
charged these students with the responsibility of
becoming the next leaders of Klal Yisrael [the
people of Israel]. He also eloquently conveyed
the message that the path to meeting this
challenge runs through Yeshiva University,” said
Rabbi Ari Solomont, director of the S. Daniel
Abraham Israel Program.
General Assembly Touches on Diversity of North American JewryA delegation of 30 rabbinical students from
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
(RIETS) studying at YU’s Gruss Institute in
Jerusalem attended the United Jewish
Communities 2008 General Assembly (GA) to
gather with the “larger Jewish community”
through interactions with Jews from different
streams.
Rabbi Kenneth Brander, dean of the Center
for the Jewish Future (CJF), and Rabbi Yosef
Blau, mashgiach ruchani [spiritual guidance
counselor] at YU, headed the delegation,
introducing the students to leaders from across
the Jewish world and encouraging attendance
at sessions aimed at helping them understand
concepts and ideas that they may revisit as
teachers and spiritual leaders of North American
Jewish communities.
Blau contends that it is this understanding
that breeds stronger, better prepared Jewish
leaders. “While Orthodox rabbinical seminaries
could simply lecture about the viewpoints
of other streams of Judaism, firsthand discus-
sions with those who actually subscribe to these
views are an invaluable learning experience
that will help these young rabbis relate to their
students and congregations in the future,”
said Blau.
A Historical Perspective on Modern-Day Slavery
ASimon Deng
International SoccerTeam Has Common BondMen’s soccer can easily claim it’s the most diverseteam in the Athletics department. This year’sroster includes athletes from Panama, Venezuela,Brazil, France, Chile, Israel, England and Bel -gium who together bring a genuine sense of teamspirit.“I think what is remarkable about this team is
the degree of unity exhibited by a group of youngmen from very different places in the world,” saidCoach Tony Elmore, who himself is from Lon -don. “The most striking factor of the team is notits diversity, it’s the common cultural bond gener-ated by being Jewish and the desire on the part ofall the players to discuss, in detail, every tacticalchange I wanted to make in our system of play.”“While the Spanish speakers, French speak-
ers, and English speakers might, at least at first,have gravitated together at training, this be cameless and less true as the year went on. At a recentteam dinner, players talked about how each ofthem felt the team bonded and became friendsoff the field as well as on.”Under the guidance of Elmore, the team is
turning its performance around. “We went 2–12this season, but within the record was a level ofimprovement that was truly extraordinary,” saidDirector of Athletics Joe Bednarsh. “I think theimprovement from last season to this season wassimply uncanny, and I owe that to the hard workof our young men and the dedication of oursuperb coaching staff.”
Women’s Volleyball ScoresThe Women’s volleyball program made great strides this season, although the team had
club status (an abbreviated season without statistics) as late as 2007 and competed in
only five matches. But in 2008, women’s volleyball was
given varsity program status and began competition as an
NCAA Division III program, the Hudson Valley Women’s
Athletic Conference (HVWAC).
As a result of the team’s two conference wins during the
regular season, Yeshiva earned a berth in the HVWAC play-
offs where it lost 3–0 to the College of New Rochelle in the
quarterfinals. Though the team finished the season with a
2–14 record, senior Adira Katlowitz and junior Nili Block
were named to the HVWAC All-Conference team.
“More that just winning matches against two solid,
veteran programs, our team played with a level of skill and
consistency that you’d expect from a much more experi-
enced program,” said Director of Athletics Joe Bednarsh.
Basketball Super HooperMen’s basketball’s guard/forward Martin
Leibovich ’10SSSB earned four awards in Dec -
em ber after an outstanding week of play during
which he led the Maccabees to a 1–1 record.
For a competitive loss to CUNY powerhouse
Baruch College, 73–64, and a 74–71 overtime
win over Maritime College, Leibovich was named
the Skyline Conference Player of the Week
and ECAC-Metro Co-Player of the Week. He was
also named to the PrestoSports /Metropolitan
Basket ball Writers Association Honor Roll and
D3Hoops.com Team of the Week.
MACCABEE MINUTE
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 1 1
� digestYU’s Center for the JewishFuture ran three service-learn-ing missions in January toTexas, Nicaragua and Israel.The trips, all subsidized by a grant from the Charles andLynn Schusterman FamilyFounda tion, offered studentsa unique lesson in making a difference.
The Coast to Coast group
packed nearly 20,000 meals
at the North Texas Food
Bank in Dallas.
Students in the Jewish Life
Coast to Coast Service
Corps–Texas volunteered in
local communities hit by
Hurricane Ike. They cleaned
up and painted Houston’s
Martin Luther King Boule vard.
Rabbinical student Alec
Goldstein talked about how
Jewish high school students
can contribute to worthy
causes as part of a
presentation on “A Jew’s
Role in the World” at
Houston’s Beren Academy.
“My experience in Nicaragua
has taught me that … there
are many ways to battle
poverty. Education is one of
them—on our side and theirs,”
said Annie Wasserman ’09S
(above), with local children in
Boca de La Montanas.
Near the Nicaraguan village
of Boca de Las Montanas,
students on a mission co-
sponsored by the American
Jewish World Service cleared
ground for a bridge that will
lead to a new school.
Winter Missions Take ‘Tikkun Olam’on the Road
HOUSTON
DALLAS
NICARAGUA
ISRAEL
Students on the Project
Connect Winter Mission met
with seniors from the former
Soviet Union to learn about
their experience adapting to
life in Israel.
Another student group spent
time getting to know
Ethiopian immigrants. They
organized a day of fun
activities for children at an
absorption center affected by
the war in the south.Yaira Dubin got to know a
women at the Bridge, a
homeless assistance shelter
in Dallas. For many students,
it was their first exposure to
the homeless.
• Men’s and women’s tees, polos and hoodies
• Baby bibs, book bags and coffee mugs
• Plus other Yeshiva University items for men, women and children
You can also access the store via www.yu.edu
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DO NOT USE
Through the millennia, the primary purpose of education has been to produce well-rounded and
enlightened individuals. But during the last generation, universities have turned away from poetry
and become too much a place of plain prose, test scores and job placement. Fearful of the upheaval
of the 1960s, the academy has retreated from shaping our civilization, choosing safe, secure topics
rather than encouraging exploration and discovery.But our children long to matter, they yearn deeply for an informing vision of values that make
life work. They confront a madness of license on one hand and extremist hateful fundamentalism on
the other, which seeks to extinguish the light of ideas and the lyric melody of our heritage.
We need to help them, by re focusing on the true exploration of the value of values. We must expose the young to the freedom of commitment, to the nuances of ideals
firmly held, while protecting the rights of others. We must rebuild a spirit of free inquiry, an
academic environment embroiled in the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, while embracing the
immutability of life values that are nonnegotiable. We must teach the skills of navigating theterrain while reaching for the cosmos. Our challenge is not to defend Western civilization,
but to advance Western civilization.
We measure our success in the character and values of our students. Standardized tests
cannot serve as the sole assessment of our achievement. These tests can quantify information that
has been memorized, or skills in reasoning, but they tell us nothing about values instilled. They tell
us nothing of the integrity and ethics of our students. We are in danger of graduating a generation
of test takers rather than one of enlightened and informed citizens.
On a more practical scale, we face another crisis—the crisis of affordability. The cost of
providing a quality higher education has soared beyond the reach of all but the most affluent
families, rendering exploration for its own sake unaffordable. But in its purest form,
education should not be measured in dollars and cents. Any investment a parent makes for the sake
of their child’s learning and future must be rewarded by a university faculty committed to creating
the most wide-ranging and enlightening educational experience possible.
Our universities must meet the challenge of bringing ideals and discovery backinto the classroom. The challenge of nurturing the minds and souls of our students, while
addressing the crisis of affordability, is one that we can meet together. And in so doing, we can
brighten the future for us all.
—President Richard M. Joel
Advancing a Community of Thinkers
An excerpt of a book chapter by President Richard M. Joel, which was included in Letters to the Next President:
Strengthening America’s Foundation in Higher Education, published by Korn/Ferry International, 2008.
THE CATALYST FOR DISCOVERY can be happenstance.Yet it is often triggered by the exchange of ideas in an envi-ronment open to possibility. Enter Yeshiva University. “Theart of teaching is the art of assisting discovery,” wrote theAmerican Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mark van Doren. Ourfaculty practice their “art” in wide-ranging scientific, socialand spiritual studies. Applying both critical analysis and clas-sical Talmudic approaches, faculty and students work to effectsubstantial change and make discoveries in their worlds.
Take a few moments to see how discovery is flourishing inthe YU community. Learn how our scholars in the areas ofcriminal justice and Halacha [Jewish religious law] have wonrenown for their pioneering work in applying current DNAresearch to the pursuit of justice and to resolving one of themost painful halachic issues of our time.
Discover our recently unearthed past as we reveal thelast-known Jewish treasure hoard of medieval history, onceconcealed within the foundation of a 12th-century home inthe former Jewish quarter of a small German town.
Explore the archives and hidden treasures in the MendelGottesman Library of Hebraica/Judaica, which illuminateour deeply rooted traditions, our experiences and our cultur-al history.
Learn about the students whose journeys of self-discoveryprovide inspiration to others: A Ferkauf graduate student whodiscovered she could not stand by and do nothing while herneighbors home in China suffered with the aftereffects ofcatastrophic earthquakes; the student who discovered hispotential to save a life—and sparked fellow students to dothe same; and the student who discovered her identity as aJew and now regularly does outreach work with others.Theirs are discovery stories awakened and nurtured by thetools and resources of Yeshiva University.
Our faculty and students are pushing the envelope, usingtheir gifts to drive discoveries that uplift and elevate ourglobal community. See how the YU experience arms ourstudents with the tools they need to shape and improve ourcollective future.
Exploration in the natural world, from the subatomic to the cosmic,
or in the private world of self-knowledge, snaps existence into focus
and provides missing puzzle pieces to reveal a more complete picture of life.
You know it when it happens:
Discovery
1 8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
r. James Gill, deputy chief med-ical examiner of the Bronx for theNew York City Medical Ex am i -ner’s Office and visiting professorof pathology at the Albert Ein -
stein College of Medicine, explained that DNAconsists of the “genetic building blocks forhumans and all forms of life, down to the singlecell.” The implications for medicine are limitlesssince the study of DNA can help us determinewhich people are most at risk for certain dis-eases and may soon tell us why cells mutate tocause diseases and how the process can be pre-vented or reversed. At Einstein’s recently dedi-cated Michael F. Price Center for Genetic andTranslational Medicine/Harold and MurielBlock Research Pavilion, work in this area willbe applied directly to patient care.
Yeshiva University represents a commitment to the
moral values of Torah while also supporting whole-
heartedly the pursuit of the latest discoveries in
science. Using the science be hind DNA, the double
strand of deoxyribonu cleic acid unique to every person,
our scholars in the areas of criminal justice and
Halacha [Jewish religious law] have won inter national
renown for their pioneering work in applying current
research to the pursuit of justice and to resolving one
of the most painful halachic issues of our time.
D
discovery
The Double HelixinTorah andMadda
DNA Research in thePursuit of Justice
oday, the impact of DNA re searchis being felt in areas beyond med-icine and biology, revolutionizingthe field of criminal justice. Asrecently as the 1980s, judges and
juries in criminal cases have had to rely on oftencontradictory, incomplete or inaccurate eyewit-ness testimony, inconclusive forensic studiesand circumstantial evidence. As a result, manycriminals were either never apprehended oracquitted at trial for lack of evidence, whileinnocent people were wrongly convicted.Beginning in 1989 with the successful applica-tion of DNA evidence, samples from crimescenes as small as the tip of a pencil led to dra-matic changes.
Dr. Gill explained: “Except for identicaltwins, each individual has a unique sequence inhis or her DNA. By looking for repeatingsequences in 13 different loci [noncoding DNAregions], we can typically distinguish peoplefrom one another.” While hundreds of millionsof people may have the same blood type as thatfound in evidence, the chance of two peoplehaving the same DNA sequence in even a few ofthe 13 loci is less than one in a billion.
This makes DNA sequencing a powerful toolfor law enforcement professionals, prosecutorsand defense attorneys. By comparing DNA evi-dence to DNA data banks operated by the FBIand other agencies, suspects can be more easilyidentified. By matching the evidence with thesuspect’s DNA, guilt or innocence can beproven.
Once DNA evidence became available foridentifications, investigators were able to revisitold cases both to apprehend suspects in caseswhere the trail had long ago gone cold, and todetermine whether the people convicted ofcrimes were actually guilty.
One of the pioneers in the use of DNA evi-dence in the pursuit of justice is Barry Scheck,a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo Schoolof Law and the director of clinical education forthe Trial Advocacy Program and Cardozo’s JacobBurns Center for Ethics in the Practice of Law.He is a past president of the National Associ a -tion of Criminal Defense Lawyers and known
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9
Commemorative medallion marking the dedication of
the Mendel Gottesman Library on April 20, 1969.
Background: A papercut charity collection sign asking for donations
to support the work of the Hevra Kadisha in Piaseczna, Poland.
Created by Katriel Wolf of Krotoschin,1827.
THidden
of the gottesman library
Treasures
A library is the heart of a university, a
repository of the best of the past that can
serve as a springboard to discovery.
With 8,000 rare books, 1,200 manuscripts,
over 40 Hebrew and Latin incunabula
(books printed during the earliest period
of typo graphy, the 1450s to the end of
the 15th century) and collections of
memorabilia, the Mendel Gottesman
Library fulfills its role as a vital resource
for inspiration and accomplishment.
On the 40th anniversary year of the library’s
dedication, YUReview takes you to its
book stacks and boxes for an exploration
of some of the unseen treasures defining
our community.
for his role on the “dream team” of attorneyswho won an acquittal of O.J. Simpson. But, ar -guably, Professor Scheck’s most important con-tribution to the legal profession has been withthe Innocence Project, his pioneering work inusing DNA evidence to exonerate people whohave been wrongfully convicted of serious crimes.
Seeing the impact of DNA evidence, Scheckand his law partner and fellow Cardozo facultymember, Peter Neufeld, founded the InnocenceProject as a clinic at Cardozo Law School in1992. Since then, it has tracked 232 victims ofwrongful convictions, including 17 on deathrow. While the Innocence Project became anindependent nonprofit corporation in 2003, itmaintains a close relationship with Cardozo.Each year, 20 Cardozo students work thereassisting in drafting motions for DNA testing,fact development and investigations.
Madeline deLone, executive director of theIn nocence Project, explained that for theInnocence Project to take a case, there has to bea claim of innocence and the possibility thatDNA evidence will prove it.
The cooperation of prosecutors varies fromcase to case, according to deLone, with somereadily providing access to evidence andacknowledging their mistakes and others fight-ing every step of the way.
A look at just two among the many caseshandled by the Innocence Project can provide aglimpse into how past investigations have gonetragically wrong with a devastating impact onthe lives of innocent people, and how DNA evi-dence finally made it possible for justice to bedone and for the innocent to rebuild their lives.
On July 12, 1982, a 22-year-old Louisianawoman woke up to find a gun pointed at herhead. The man raped the woman twice andstayed at her house for four hours. He told herseveral things about his life including that hisname was Marcus Johnson. Police had no infor-mation about a Marcus Johnson, but told detec-tives about Rickey Johnson who was on proba-tion for a misdemeanor traffic violation andwhose life story matched some of the detailsthat the attacker told the victim. The victimidentified Rickey Johnson from an improperphoto lineup and testified at the trial that shewas “positive” that he was the perpetrator.Serological tests on sperm from the perpetrator
showed that it matched Rickey Johnson’s bloodtype. Rickey Johnson was convicted of aggravat-ed rape and sentenced to life in prison.
The Innocence Project took up Johnson’scase in 2006. The local district attorney, DonBurkett, joined the Innocence Project in seekingDNA testing for Johnson and, in 2007, results ofsperm samples from the perpetrator proved thatJohnson could not have been the attacker. InJanuary 2008, a check against the LouisianaDNA database implicated another man, JohnMcNeal, who was serving a life sentence for asimilar rape committed in the same apartmentcomplex three months after the crime Johnsonwas convicted of. Rickey Johnson was exonerat-ed and released from prison on January 14, 2008.
On June 23, 1984, a 25-year-old woman wasab ducted outside a convenience store in theBronx, raped twice, slashed and robbed. Whilestill in the hospital, the victim viewed more than200 photographs and identified Alan Newton asthe attacker. She later picked Newton out of alineup and identified him at the trial. He wasconvicted of rape, robbery and assault and wassentenced to 13.5–40 years in prison. Newtonfirst requested post-conviction DNA testing inAugust 1994, but was turned down because therape kit could not be located. In August 2005,the Innocence Project asked the Bronx Dis trictAttorney’s Office and the Property Clerk’s Officeto search for the rape kit. It was found in the
discovery
2 0
Except for identical twins, each individual has
a unique sequence in his or her DNA. By looking
for repeating sequences in 13 different loci
[noncoding DNA regions], we can typically
distinguish people from one another.”
“
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 2 1
same barrel indicated on the evidence voucher.Testing by the New York City Medical Exami -ner’s Office and an independent lab on spermrecovered from the victim shortly after the rapeproved that Newton could not have been theattacker. Alan Newton was re leased on July 6,2006, when the Innocence Project and theBronx District Attorney’s Office jointly filed amotion asking that his conviction be vacated.
The cases of Rickey Johnson and Alan New -ton are examples of eyewitness misidentifica-tion, which is by far the leading cause of wrong-ful convictions. It was a factor in 75 percent ofall cases of people exonerated by DNA testing.
All of us have an interest in seeing that jus-tice is done in criminal cases. Beyond the trav-esty of innocent people serving long prison sen-tences for crimes they did not commit, there isthe fact that for every wrongful conviction thereis a real perpetrator who has not been appre-hended and may be out in the community com-mitting other crimes. In 40 percent of all DNAexoneration cases, the same testing that exoner-ates the person who was serving time, the realperpetrator is implicated.
The result is a criminal justice system thatmore closely adheres to the Torah’s standardof tzedek, tzedek tirdof—to relentlessly pursuejustice—by exonerating the innocent and doinga better job of apprehending and incarceratingthe guilty.
The Innocence Project has developed a seriesof recommendations to make the criminal jus-tice system better serve victims, defendants, at tor -neys on both sides, as well as the public at large.
DNA Identificationand Halacha
he impact of DNA research onsecular law leads to an obviousquestion—what is the status ofDNA evidence in Halacha? Thequestion became particularly
urgent after the terrorist attacks of Sep tem ber11, 2001.
For observant Jewish families, the attacksimmediately raised significant and practicalhalachic questions: When do I sit shiva [mourn]and say Kaddish [the traditional mourningprayer]? What do we do about observing the rit-
Without doubt one of the most original thinkers of any era, Albert Einstein
propelled modern scientific thought through his discoveries. In 1958, Yeshiva
University acquired a 20-page handwritten manuscript donated by Dr. Leo
Perlman of Mt. Vernon, New York. This document, one of Einstein’s early
attempts to find a Unified Field Theory, written in 1929, contains many
revisions, corrections and preparatory calculations giving a rare insight into
Einstein’s working style. Dr. Peter Bergman, a noted Einstein scholar, said
these numerous changes “are indicative of Einstein’s search for the best
possible presentation of his ideas. In several instances there is evidence the
he rearranged materials…to make it easier for the reader to grasp the
argument.” The complete manuscript may be viewed at www.yu.edu/libraries/
digital_library/einstein/panel2.html
GENIUS AT WORK
Hidden Treasures
T
discovery
2 2 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
uals for preparing the body for burial, and thetiming of burial?
For the wives of the victims, the most far-reaching and painful question came a bit furtherdown the road: when, if ever, will I be able toremarry? Many feared that scores of womenwhose husbands were killed at the World TradeCenter might face the tragedy of a life of perma-nent widowhood known as agunot. This term,the plural of agunah [chained woman], is mostcommonly used today to refer to a woman whois unable to remarry because her husband refus-es to grant a get—a Jewish divorce. In the timeof the Talmudic sages, however, it was usedmore often to describe a wife whose husbandhad left and did not return and whose fate wasundetermined. The woman was forbidden toremarry be cause the husband might yet be alive.
Because of the great tragedy implicit in thissituation, the sages were lenient in many ways inaccepting testimony as evidence of the husband’sdeath. While Torah law generally requires thetestimony of two eyewitnesses to verify a deathin the case of a missing husband, hearsay evi-dence and the testimony of a single witness areacceptable. The sages also ruled that the testi - mony of witnesses who were other wise unquali-fied would be admissible in such cases. One ofthe latter day sages noted for his sensitive han-dling of such cases was Rabbi Yitzchak ElchananSpektor, for whom our yeshiva, the Rabbi IsaacElchananTheological Seminary (RIETS), is named.
Since many of the bodies of the victims ofthe September 11 terror attacks were neverrecovered intact, the widows were confrontedwith the possibility that they might becomeagunot unless it could be definitively proven thatthe fragmentary remains recovered were those
of their husbands. Eleven of these womenturned to the Beth Din of America for guidancein the days following the attacks.
Rabbi Yona Reiss, a graduate of Yeshiva Col -lege and Yale Law School with semicha [rabbinicordination] from RIETS (who was recently ap -pointed as its dean), was the director of the BethDin of America, the largest rabbinical court inthe United States, at the time. Rabbi Reiss andhis colleagues worked around the clock at theNew York City headquarters to as semble evi-dence, meeting with the wid ows and personalacquaintances and consulting with rab binical,scientific experts and civil authorities.
Initially, Rabbi Reiss and representatives ofother rabbinical courts met with the New YorkCity Med i cal Examiner’s Office, which wascharged with the task of identifying remains andissuing death certificates, to establish a workingrelationship and to determine whether the con-clusions of the medical examiner could beaccepted as definitive proof that the husbandshad died, thus allowing the widows to remarry.
As a result of advances in DNA research inthe years preceding the attack, DNA evidencewas now available for the first time as a tool forhalachic author ities as they sought definitiveproof that the missing men had in fact beenkilled in the World Trade Center. The work ofRabbi Reiss and his colleagues allowed the lead-ing dayanim [judges] of the Beth Din, RabbiGedalia Dov Schwartz and Rabbi MordechaiWillig, to rule that the husbands had died andthat every one of the widows was permitted toremarry.
It is important to note, however, that in nocase was DNA evidence the sole source for issu-ing a ruling. Other factors taken into considera-
tion were dental records, the retrieval of person-al items and eyewitness testimony or other evi-dence that the men were in the World TradeCenter at the time of the terrorist attacks.
Some Ethical Challenges
hile our knowledge ofDNA has opened newfrontiers of knowledge,some people have ex -pressed concern that it can
be misused in unethical ways.For example, a national DNA database used
to identify suspects in criminal cases couldbecome a tool for profiling people and to deter-mine decisions such as school admissions andjob hiring or even the roundup of potential crim-inals based on what our DNA says about ourfuture.
Dr. Gill emphasized that the loci used foridentification purposes contain no genes at all.They are like fingerprints—they can be used foridentification but tell us nothing about the indi-vidual. But there are less dramatic scenarios thatstill raise difficult ethical challenges.
The same genetic screening that is used toidentify people most susceptible to a diseasecould conceivably be used by insurance compa-nies to determine which patients are the highestrisk and to deny coverage to the people whoneed it most.
Should we forgo the benefits of DNA identi-fication out of concern that the negative conse-quences may be even greater? Dr. DavidWasserman, an attorney and director of research
There is nothing inherently ethical or
unethical in DNA typing or most other
technologies. They can be used for good or
bad purposes, to good or bad effect.”
“
W
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 2 3
This assortment of Yemenite, Persian and European Esther
scrolls are part of the Reverend Leon H. Elmaleh Memorial
Collection. The Book of Esther is read on the festival of
Purim and recounts the escape of the Jews of Persia
from annihilation during the reign of King Ahasuerus.
Leon H. Elmaleh was the Hazzan and lecturer of
Congregation Mikveh Israel, in Philadelphia. He found-
ed the Levantine Jews Society of Philadelphia dedicated
to aiding immigrants from Turkey. His library contained
more than 5,000 volumes dating from 1683.
at Yeshiva University’s Center for Ethics, said,“There is nothing inherently ethical or unethicalin DNA typing or most other technologies. Theycan be used for good or bad purposes, to good orbad effect. We must guard against the abuse ofgenetic technologies to infringe our privacy or todebase our understanding of human beings, butwe must also promote the use of those technolo-gies to serve our values. The work of theInnocence Project and the Beth Din of Americaare striking examples of how DNA identificationhas been used to further our ideals.”
What has been achieved to date has likelyonly scratched the surface of what lies ahead.Our knowledge of DNA has the potential tounlock the secrets of our world and to lead toaccomplishments beyond anything we can imag-ine. But there is one thing of which we can becertain—the scholars, students and alumni ofYeshiva University will be leading the way inmaking use of the latest discoveries of science toimprove the human condition based upon thetimeless values of Torah. �
Hidden Treasures
A DEED WELL DONEIn a document clearly dated January 29, 1664 (below), Peter Stuyvesant,
representing the New Netherlands West India Company, grants a lease to
Claus Clausen for lands in New Utrecht, now Brooklyn, New York. The deed
is written in Dutch and contains what is considered a superb example of
Stuyvesant’s rare autograph signature.
Medieval Discovery UnearthsTreasure ofAnswers
oncealed within the foundation ofa 12th-century home in the for-mer Jewish quarter of Erfurt, thecapital city of Thuringia in centralGermany, the worker discovered
two cups that locked together. He took themhome, opened and polished their contents, andthen, realizing that his find could be of historicimportance, turned the objects over to Germanauthorities.
The plans for a parking lot were abruptly can-celed. In its place, an archaeological investiga-tion was carried out in 1997 and 1998 near thesite of the medieval synagogue. The treasure hadbeen found buried under the western wall of astone building in what was most likely a privatehouse on the same side of the street as the syn-agogue and what was discovered later to be amikvah [ritual bath]. Conserva tion expertsworked for a full year to carefully restore theprecious artifacts.
Found within the cups, filled with medieval
coins as well as gold and silver jewelry, was effec-tively a 600-year-old time capsule, including 3,000silver coins, 14 silver ingots and over 600 piecesof jewelry weighing in at 62 pounds. Since theartifacts were buried in the 1340s (known by thedates on the coins), experts surmised that theywere probably hidden by a Jewish merchant justbefore the vicious massacre of Erfurt’s Jews in1349 at the time of the Black Death.
“From this treasure, we learned a great dealabout the Jewish community in Erfurt,” saidRhoda Seidenberg, an associate curator at theYeshiva Uni versity Museum. “The communitymight have been affluent, or, more likely, theperson who hid the treasure might have been arich merchant and/or a money lender. It mayhave been owned by him, or these were piecesof pawned merchandise,” she said.
Seidenberg said that Erfurt had been animportant center for Jews during this time peri-od. A kinah [elegy] was recited in manyAshkenazi communities to commemorate the
An ExceptionallyRare CollectionThe treasure is unique in its scope
and composition. Only a tiny frac-
tion of original Gothic goldsmiths’
work has survived since precious
objects in private hands were
frequently melted down. Almost all
surviving objects are religious in
character, sacred Christian objects
saved in the treasuries of churches.
But the Erfurt Treasure is primarily
secular tableware and jewelry, with
a few select objects associated
with Jewish ritual.
There are eight rings with the
largest and most elaborate ring
being the Jewish wedding ring, and
the most significant piece in the
entire treasure. It dates back to the
early 14th century when wedding
rings like this one were an impor-
tant part of the Jewish marriage
ceremony. The mid-15th century
Second Nuremberg Haggadah
features a scene from a Jewish
wedding, where the groom places
a large gold ring on the index finger
of the bride. Gold rings with a set
value, without jeweled adornments,
have long had a place in the Jewish
marriage ceremony and this elabo-
rate ring is thought to have been
the property of a family and passed
down over several generations.
There are three other such rings
discovered in different hoards
around Europe, but the Erfurt ring
surpasses them as the most elabo-
rate example of this type of treasure,
according to the experts.
Erfurt: Jewish Treasures from
Medieval Ashkenaz, featuring 167
pieces, was displayed at the Yeshiva
University Museum, the only North
American venue selected for this
exhibition. Next stop is the Wallace
Collection in London and the Beth
Hatefutsoth in Tel Aviv before the
objects return to their permanent
home at Erfurt’s new 11th-century
synagogue museum, set to open
in the fall of 2009.
discovery
C
2 4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
Above: Gold brooch with jewels and pearls from the Erfurt treasures. Photograph courtesy ofThüringisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und
Archäologie, Germany.
Ten years ago, a construction
worker in Erfurt, Germany,
was helping to dig the
foundation for a simple
parking lot in his growing city.
Little did he know that he
was shortly to discover the last
known Jewish treasure hoard
of medieval history.
Jewish weddingring from the Erfurt treasures.Photograph courtesy
of Thüringisches
Landesamt für
Denkmalpflege und
Archäologie, Germany.
massacre of Samuel ben Kalonymus and Jews inErfurt in 1221. The Erfurt synagogue wasburned to the ground during this massacre butwas rebuilt in the late 13th century.
Rabbi Asher ben Jehiel, the famed sageknown as the Rosh, was thought to have sur-vived this massacre and lived in Erfurt in thelate 1200s. During the Black Death in March1349, over 100 Jews were massacred and theothers expelled but al lowed to return to therebuilt synagogue in 1357. Again the Jewishcommunity flourished and members played animportant role in banking until their expulsionfrom Erfurt in 1458.
“In a curious paradox of history, we owe thefact that this treasure was concealed and sur-vived to the terrible persecutions of Erfurt’s Jewsin 1349 be cause of the plague that ravaged mostof Europe,” said Gabriel Goldstein, associatedirector for exhibitions at the Yeshiva UniversityMuseum.
The Black Death, also known as the bubonicplague, was an epidemic that killed betweenone-quarter and one-half of the general popula-tion in Europe during that time period. Despitea papal bull [decree] issued by Pope Clement VI(1291–1352) in defense of the Jews, manyChristians blamed Jews for the disease. Jewswere accused of poisoning wells and other watersources and were massacred throughout Europe.
“Ironically, Jewish rituals such as netilatyadayim [washing of the hands] before eating,mikvah [ritual bathing] and cleaning homes ofall chametz [bread products] before Passover arenow thought to have been reasons why Jewswere not as heavily affected by the plague,which was largely attributed to rats living inclose proximity to people in dirty conditions,”Goldstein said.
At the time of the Black Death, the Jewishcommunity in Erfurt contained about a thou-sand members, including several importantscholars, and was one of the most advanced ofits time along with other Jewish communities inGermany such as Speyer, Mainz and Worms.During the riots, the Jewish quarter was burneddown and the entire Jewish community waswiped out or expelled. In the face of this danger,it is probable that a merchant must have tried tosave his valuable goods by burying them in hiscellar, but didn’t survive to come back andretrieve them. �
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 2 5
Hidden Treasures
The Jewish custom of storing old books and manuscripts in a chamber of the
synagogue, the bet genazim or “house of storing,” may have developed from
a rabbinical rule stating that worn-out Torah Scrolls should be buried. This
12th–13th century genizah fragment is one of two in the library’s Lewin
Collection, which also includes rabbinical manuscripts and sermons,
circumcision records, seals and other documentary material from Poland and
Germany. The fragment is a piece of a piyyut, a liturgical poem for the Yom
Kippur service. Each strophe ends with the words Le-yoshev tehilot,
translated as “to the one enthroned upon praises.”
GENIZAH FRAGMENT
Discovering My Placein Another WorldBY EM I LY Z E N G ,
D O C T O R A L S T U D EN T, F E R K AU F
G R A DUAT E S CHOO L O F P S Y CHO L O G Y
was born in Sichuan, a southwestern pro -vince of China. I came to Ferkauf as adoctoral student in the clinical child psy-chology program four years ago. In May2008, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake hit
my hometown while I was here in the Bronx. Iwas distraught, so I re quested permission frommy professor, Louise Silverstein [Ferkauf profes-sor of school psychology], to be excused fromclasses for a few days. She asked if I had lostfamily in the disaster. They are all my family, Itold her.
I discovered that I could not stand by and donothing while my neighbors suffered back homein China. I discussed the issues in great detailwith my professors at Ferkauf. Over the course ofseveral weeks, the seedlings of a plan grew, and Iworked with Dr. Silverstein and Dr. CarlAurbach [Ferkauf associate professor of clinicalpsychology] to organize a summer trip to China.My aim was to do what I could with the skills Ihave to volunteer for the community.
My professors warned me of the risksinvolved in my plan. We discussed the chaos
discovery
AUniversity is,in its Essence, a Place for
Discovery
2 6 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
I
Zeng (left) and an earthquake survivor in Sichuan.
The college years are not only about reaching for excellence,
maturing and reflecting knowledge. They are also about
achieving the essential discovery of our roles in life,
as human beings and public citizens. Three current students
have journeyed to great heights of personal discovery.
We asked them to tell their stories.
THE MYSTERYOF THE BULLET BOOKFrom time to time, reports pop up
about how someone’s life was
saved by a strategically held
object. While we don’t have any
records recounting the story
behind this 18th-century volume,
we do know it came into the YU
collection with bullet fragments
lodged in its pages and so may
have shielded its reader from an
oncoming cartridge. It was part of
the 7,000-volume library gifted to
YU in 1969 by Moses Lutzki, who
had been a professor of biblio -
graphy at YU for 20 years.
This remarkable book, Binyan
Ari’el (Amsterdam, 1778), was
written by the Dutch Rabbi Saul
Loewen stamm and has sections on
the Pentateuch and the Five
Scrolls, and comments on various
Talmudic passages.
While we can read its pages,
the dramatic tale they tell may
never be learned.
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 2 7
that follows this kind of disaster, the frequentaftershocks associated with large earthquakesand the burn out and traumatization that reliefworkers can develop when faced with a disasterof this level. But the overall feeling from my pro-fessors was support and encouragement.
My professors helped me design a projectbased on a UNICEF model that would providestructure for my clinical work. Additionally, wearranged to have regular live chats over the sum-mer months so that they could provide me withongoing supervision and emotional support.
I spent several weeks traveling around theregion and found that my skills were in greatdemand because I am trained to work with chil-dren. There were many children in the tentcommunities that had sprung up in the country-side, and I was asked to provide counselingunder the auspices of several international aidorganizations. I also worked in hospitals, screen-ing earthquake victims for post-traumatic stressdisorder.
The discoveries I made while I was in Chinawere fraught with not just emotional but alsopolitical complexity. The blog I was writing whileI was in China was tampered with by govern-ment censors because I have been identified assomeone with “ties to the West.” At one point, Iwas interviewed by a policeman about my activ-ities and I feared for my safety. But even thoughI was traumatized, I knew I was in China to dogood, and I knew the support system I had frommy professors at Ferkauf, who consistentlyadvised me to follow the rules and take care ofmyself, would help guide me.
I returned home in September to find myselfcompletely altered. I discovered that I have thecapacity for this kind of relief work and that myconnection to China is palpably strong even as Ilive in my “other world” of Ferkauf and the Bronx.
“We are only human,” Dr. Silverstein cau-tioned me at one point, as she warned me of therisks of international aid work. I used to dismissmessages like these, thinking they were redun-dant or obvious. Now I see them in a new light,with respect.
As I discover my place in the world as aninternational relief worker, I am looking forwardto learning more and teaching others here aboutthe other world I came to know. �
These colorful buttons are part of
the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry
(SSSJ) Collection, which also
includes news letters, photographs,
audio cassettes, bumper stickers,
posters and other ephemera docu-
menting the organization’s public
activities on behalf of Soviet Jewry.
This national student organization
was founded by Jacob Birnbaum in
1964 to oppose the persecution of
Soviet Jews and promote their right
to emigrate freely from the Soviet
Union; buttons were distributed at
rallies and other public demonstra-
tions. In 2007, Birnbaum received
an honorary PhD from YU recogniz-
ing his commitment and service
to the Jewish community.
Hidden Treasures
Discovering MyPotential to Save a LifeBY AV I AMSA L EM ’ 0 9 Y C
t’s not every day that I get an opportunityto save someone’s life.
Four years ago, on my way out of thechadar ochel [dining hall] of Netiv Aryeh,the Old City Yeshiva where I studied for
a year and a half, I stopped by a folding table andparticipated in a quick swab test of the insides ofmy cheeks for a bone marrow registry program.
During my second year at YU, while I was
home in Boca Raton, FL, for Passover break, I re - ceived a call from the Gift of Life, the organiza-tion that sponsored the bone marrow drive in Jeru -salem, notifying me that I was a potential matchfor a person with a life-threatening illness.
I began to understand the magnitude ofthose swabs in Jerusalem. Typically, when stand-ing on the brink of our own life changing deci-sions, we spend time contemplating, seeking theadvice of everyone we know and lose endlesshours of sleep. My life, and the life of anotherperson, however, was changed by an act thatseemed relatively inconsequential at the time—just by participating in a student program inJerusalem.
I spoke to the Gift of Life representativeextensively, gathering information. She encour-aged me to take the time I needed before makingany decisions. While I was already convincedthat it was my duty to pursue this further, myparents sought to consult several doctors in ourcommunity to ease their worries.
A week after receiving the initial phone call,I agreed to the confirmatory tissue typing stageof the donor process. A month later, the resultsof the blood tests confirmed that I was a match.
During the moments leading up to my proce-dure, I sat in the waiting room along with cancerpatients awaiting their treatments. Later, as Iprocessed the ex perience, I couldn’t help butthink that those other people were sitting therebecause they had to be there, and I was therebecause I was healthy enough to be there. I wasoverwhelmed with a sense of privilege.
I didn’t cast myself as a lifesaver, especiallysince the procedure was done anonymously. Forme, those words are reserved for someone whoruns into a burning house and rescues someoneor some other grand, heroic gesture. It was notuntil I received a handwritten thank-you notefrom the recipient that I truly digested that thisperson was alive and well because of me.Receiving a letter meant that my bone marrow“match” was a real person; he is someone’s hus-band, father, brother, uncle, cousin and neighbor.Since then, we have continued to correspond,expanding our physical bond to the emotional.
The experience was, for me, a call for action.Through my involvement with the StudentMedical Ethics Society, I spearheaded two verysuccessful bone marrow drives on campus. Wesurpassed everyone’s wildest expectations, regis-tering over 880 people into the Gift of Life BoneMarrow Registry. I recently learned that, as aresult of our drive, two matches were found andI have been in contact with both donors. I nowalso serve as a speaker ambassador for Gift ofLife where I talk to potential donors, offeringthem advice and encouragement throughout theprocess.
Thinking about my journey over the last fouryears, I discovered that small acts can save lives.Where would I be now if I had not stopped forfive minutes to do those cheek swabs inJerusalem? �
discovery
2 8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
I
Avi Amsalem
This hand-bound, watercolor-illustrated special edition of Walt Whitman’s
1865 elegiac poem on the death of Abraham Lincoln, “When Lilacs Last in
the Dooryard Bloom’d,” is part of the University’s Charles E. Feinberg
Collection. The 70 volumes and folios of Whitman’s important work donated
by the Detroit businessman and Walt Whitman authority in 1959 include
some signed by the poet, and other rare and limited editions.
The poem, considered one of Whitman’s best, never mentions Lincoln
by name.
Discovering My Identityas a JewBY S O F I A G O R D ON ’ 1 0 S
hen I arrived in Germanyin 1995 by way of a refugeecamp for Russian Jews, I didnot know what the word“Jew” meant. All I knew was
that they were a hated people and I was amongthem. I was surrounded by negative buzz, and Icouldn’t help but ask: Why were we there? WasI Jewish? Hesitantly, my mother answered in theaffirmative, but she cautioned me that it wassomething I should keep to myself once we emi-grated to Germany.
Once settled in Würzburg, a small city in theGerman state of Bavaria, I did as I was told. Iadopted German culture as my own. My wishwas to as sim ilate myself completely. I started tospeak the language, and my blond hair and blueeyes were helpful. But I was lonely. I needed tofind a whole new community in Germany, a newway to identify myself.
In Bavaria, the schools require each studentto register as either Catholic or Protestant. Ichose Protestant because, for some reason, Ialways favored the minorities. I enjoyed myclasses as I began to discover a concept of G-d,a greater power from whom to draw strength andlove. I incorporated prayer into my daily routine,standing in front of the cross at school.
It was not until my grandmother came to visitand brought me to a shul that I discovered andinternalized my Jewish roots. I already knew Ihad a passion for religion, and I was particularlyinterested to know where I came from. I beganto attend weekly classes at the synagogue tolearn more. I did not tell my friends and espe-cially not my mother. She would not haveapproved. For me, these classes were like histo-ry lessons. I still wanted to be German, but Iknew that I was hiding some major part of myidentity and the impetus I had to explore thatwas very strong.
Because of my participation in the class, Iwas invited to attend a seminar in Munich runby Rabbi Benjamin Kraus about Pesach. But
W
Hidden Treasures
The photo at left is a life-sized image
of a Bible titled The Bible in Miniature
or A Concise History of the Old & New
Testaments. Its first page reveals that
the book was printed for John Dickens
living at No. 50, North Second Street
in Philadelphia (1796). Measuring
approximately 2¼ inches tall, this tiny
illustrated volume was published for
a juvenile audience.
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 2 9
discovery
when I arrived, I was called upon to teach thePassover Seder to the group, in Russian. But Ididn’t know anything myself. I had never heardabout the Jews being slaves in Egypt! I sat bymyself for hours preparing so that I did notembarrass myself in front of the 400 people inattendance. I made the presentation, but therewas so much that I didn’t know.
It was in Munich that I learned that therewould be a half-day seminary for women open-ing up in Frankfurt, funded by the Ronald S.Lauder Foun da tion, where I would have theopportunity to study my secular topics by dayand learn about Judaism in the evenings. I want-ed to incorporate what the Jewish people said atHar [Mount] Sinai—naaseh vnishma [abide andlearn the commandments]—but in re verse. Iwanted to learn and then I wanted to start prac-
ticing. My teachers at theLauder Yeshiva were SternCollege graduates, and I had awonderful experience there.
Once I reached collegeage, I enrolled at the Uni -versity of Potsdam and movedto Berlin, which has thelargest population of Jews inGermany. There, I could live aJewish life on my own. Buteven in Berlin, it is basically astruggle to be Jewish, a con-stant fight for survival. I gotinvolved in every possibleGerman Jewish organization,most of which are based inBerlin, because I realized if Iam not working to make thingshappen, they will not happen.I helped run seminars for 200people, Shabbat dinners for40, invited politicians to ourevents and started a women’sorganization called Maayan sothat we could have shiurim[lectures] for women.
I applied for a transfer toStern College in 2007 after Ihad exhausted the Jewish edu-cational opportunities forwomen in Berlin. Stern was a
good choice for me because it has been intellec-tually elevating. It provides choices for me tolearn in so many different directions religiously.Combined with the secular knowledge I havegained through my classes as a psychology majorwith a minor in marketing at Sy Syms, it is thissynthesis that has helped me grow, not just inknowledge, but in practice.
At Stern College I have discovered in myselfa stronger, more secure identity as a Jew, whichis a foundation of who I want to become as aJewish adult. I was trying to build somethingthat wasn’t there in Germany, and perhaps I willgo back someday. But if I go, I will no longerhave to teach a subject that I don’t know, like atthe Passover Seder in Munich. Now, with afoundation in the Jewish world, I can makeplans to move forward to build my future. �
Sofia Gordon
3 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
More toDiscover
Enjoy other hiddentreasures of theGottesman Library by visitingwww.yu.edu/libraries
To learn how you cansee these materials in person, contact Shulamith Berger,curator of special collections at [email protected]
This beautifully illuminated manu-
script on vellum was completed by the
scribe Mattathias ben Jonah of Laun in
1489 during a period of relative calm
within a period of catastrophic attacks
against the Jews of Prague.
Presented as a gift to the Gottesman
Library by Ludwig and Erica Jesselson
in 1985, this three-volume treasure is
considered one of the finest examples
of a complete Hebrew manuscript
Bible in existence and is the oldest
written and dated in Prague. The text
is in square Ashkenazic script; the
commentary of Rashi surrounding the
text is in cursive script. There are
84 illuminated leaves; four of them
have full-page decoration. You can
view each page of The Prague Bible
online at www.yu.edu /libraries /
praguebible.asp
THE PRAGUE BIBLE
Hidden Treasures
abbi Yona Reiss is the first dean ofthe Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theo -logical Seminary (RIETS) to holdthe degree of Juris Doctor, whichhappens to be from Yale University.
While he is proud of his degree from “the otherYU,” Rabbi Reiss is quick to acknowledge thathis lifelong associations with Yeshiva Universityare most indicative of who he is, both as a juristand a scholar.
Rabbi Reiss accepted the deanship of theseminary this past summer, which necessitatedthat he give up the post he held for 10 years asdirector of the Beth Din of America, the largestrabbinical court in the United States. He hasindicated that, during his tenure here, YeshivaUniversity’s rabbinical students will continue toreap the benefits of the seminary’s previousstrong leadership, the same dedicated focus onexcellence in textual study, pastoral training andservice learning, with new mechanisms in placefor proper, dignified and professional ways ofresolving halachic [Jewish legal] disputes.
Rabbi Reiss has proposed a plan to provide
satellite space for beth din [rabbinic court] activ-ities at the planned Glueck Center on the WilfCampus so that current RIETS students mayhave the opportunity to observe firsthand theproceedings in action. This would help them tounderstand the sensitivity and expertise that isrequired by dayanim [judges], which alsoinforms the need for strong leadership in com-munities in relation to the halachic decision-making process.
“It is important for us to resolve disputes in amanner which is compatible with halachic tradi-tion as well as the contemporary needs of ourcommunity,” said Rabbi Reiss.
“Rabbi Reiss is a stellar choice for the dean-ship of RIETS,” said Rabbi Zevulun Charlop,dean emeritus and special advisor to the presi-dent on Yeshiva affairs, who was a mentor toRabbi Reiss during his days as a student in theseminary. “His most important character trait ishis integrity, which is known and respectedthroughout the Orthodox community. Moreover,while he lives in two worlds, the secular and thesacred, he is anchored in the yeshiva.”
Rabbi Charlop’s strong voice in support ofRabbi Reiss as his successor informs and echoesothers who have heralded his unique skills asan expert in practical Halacha and other secularlaw matters.
“Rabbi Reiss is one of the smartest people Ihave ever met. RIETS and YU will encounter inhim a powerful combination of erudite Torahscholarship, spectacular thinking and carefulattention to human dignity. The yeshiva will soarto unexpected heights under his direction,” saidRabbi Michael Broyde ’82YUHS, ’84YC, ’93R, acolleague who was the immediate past predeces -sor to Rabbi Reiss at the Beth Din of America.
President Richard M. Joel, who also serves aspresident of RIETS, shared how Rabbi Reissembodies the complex intermingling of Torahand Madda. Tempered with sensitivity andwarmth, the themes of Torah and secular knowl-edge are present in everything he says and does.“The yeshiva is the soul of Yeshiva University. InRabbi Reiss, we have a leader who will nurturethat soul and advance Torah study and protectTorah values,” said President Joel.
3 2 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
spotlight
A ‘Spectacular Thinker’ Focused on Human DignityRabbi Yona Reiss Becomes Dean of Seminary
R
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 3 3
YUReview: Before you became
dean, how were you involved with
Yeshiva University?
Rabbi Reiss: I grew up in Monsey[NY] at Community Synagoguewith Rabbi Dr. Moshe DovidTendler, a RIETS Rosh Yeshiva.My father taught at the MarshaStern Talmudical Academy formany years. I went to the highschool in 1980 and I started atYC in 1983. I spent a year inIsrael, which is also part of theYeshiva College experience,except in those days you firstspent a year in college then a yearin Israel. I graduated in ’87 andenrolled in the semicha [rabbinicordination] program. I overlappedat Yale Law School to somedegree, received semicha in ’91and my Yale Law degree in ’92.
I felt strongly and passionatelyabout YU during my college years,and I even wrote a Torah Umadda“manifesto” at some point. It was a three-page spread for thestudent newspaper. [Editor’s note:The article, “Torah U’Madda: What Does It All Mean?,” waspublished in The Commentator onDecember 10, 1986.]
Most particularly, RabbiCharlop has always been veryencouraging. He was one of theeydim [witnesses] at my weddingand every step along the waywhen I was still learning; when I went to law school; when I wasworking in my law firm; andwhen I was working at the BethDin of America—conversations
with Rabbi Charlop were amongthe highlights of my personalinter actions over the years.
YUR: You were a practicing lawyer
at a New York law firm before you
started working at the Beth Din
of America. How did you keep up
in studies of halachic matters at
the same time?
RR: To give a sense of perspective,I always tell people I’m fortunatethat I started out my career work-ing for a high-pressure WallStreet law firm, because it forcedme to learn how to handle stress.
While I was at Cleary Gottlieb[Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamil -ton LLP], I joined the Yadin YadinKollel for Advanced TalmudicStudies [yadin yadin is anadvanced semicha ordination forrabbis who administer judgmenton certain types of disputes andthis kollel trains decision makersto negotiate these disputes]. Aftersix years, I decided to take a leaveof absence from the law firm tostudy in the Kollel full-time.
During that year, a colleagueof mine, Rabbi Michael Broyde, alaw professor at Emory Universityin Atlanta (who also serves as thepulpit rabbi for the Young Israelof Toco Hills), was brought toNew York for a year to head theBeth Din. I was his chavrusa[learning partner] and did somevolunteer work for the Beth Din.I was asked to take over the jobwhen he went back to Atlanta.
A Conversation with Rabbi Yona Reiss
Rabbi Yona Reiss sat down with YUReviewto discuss his lifelong relationship with YU and his thoughts and ideas for the future.
Centralized leadership
is important to me because
I think it’s important to
create a holistic and cohesive
yeshiva environment…
where we all have a place.
“
”continued on next page
YUR: Like the directorship of the
Beth Din of America, one doesn’t
really “apply for the job” to be
dean of RIETS. How did you come
to be dean?
RR: A couple of years ago, Ientered into discussions withPresident Joel to strengthen theties between Yeshiva University;the Lamm Yadin Yadin Kollel,where many rabbeim train post-RIETS; and the Beth Din ofAmerica. I had a vision, which I still have, of a more formalrelationship in terms of the YadinYadin Kollel training for peopleto serve as dayanim under theauspices of the Beth Din ofAmerica.
We discussed our mutualvision, both in terms of learningJewish communal institutionsand our vision of Jewish commu-nities. The discussion then meta-morphosized into whether or notI’d be interested in taking overthe position as dean of RIETSbecause Rabbi Charlop was stepping down. After thinking
about my goals for the future, I came to the conclusion thatthis was an exciting opportunitythat I was truly passionate about.I’m glad that I accepted it. It is a daunting responsibility tofollow in the path of my prede-cessors, but I hope to be worthyof this task.
YUR: What are your plans for
RIETS in relation to working with
the larger Jewish community?
RR: In addition to being a centerfor learning and Torah leader-ship, it is a part of our responsi-bility to train students to reallybe the dayanim, the poskin[decision makers] and the ba’aleihora’ah [Jewish law experts] ofour communities, to define andidentify the issues, to find solu-tions and answers to halachicproblems and to answer ques-tions that arise in our contempo-rary community. It is also veryimportant to have the right vehi-cles and mechanisms in place forhalachic problem-solving.
For example, the prenuptialagreement has been a very effective tool, resolving potential agunah [chained woman] situa-tions. It was developed in concert
with major Jewish institutionsoutside of YU, such as theRabbinical Council of Americaand rabbinical caucuses at thetime, and widely endorsed byleading rabbinical authorities. It is now widely utilized.
YUR: You and your wife, Mindy,
are blessed with five boys under
the age of nine. Tell me about the
kind of relationship you want your
children to have with YU.
RR: My house is very lively[laughs]. I have brought my children into the office. It’s thetype of environment where I feelthat my whole family belongs.The yeshiva is an extension ofour home because the BeisMidrash is where we live.Recently we spent a Shabboshere, and I brought my babyaround the campus and I felt avery warm sense of all of usbelonging. I want everyone tofeel this way. I want YU to bethere not just for my children,but for everybody.
YUR: What matters most to you in
providing an education to the next
generation of rabbis?
RR: For me, it’s the opportunity
for them to reach their fullestpotential, to find their strengths.They should be able to developand learn; they should be able tofind the right rabbeim for themand the right courses of learning.I want them to have the neces-sary attention to develop ahealthy sense of self-esteem andaccomplishment. I want to makesure they have the tools to con-tinue to learn and to grow, tocontribute to building familiesand communities and continuallyseek to improve themselvesthroughout their life.
Centralized leadership isimportant to me because I thinkit’s important to create a holisticand cohesive yeshiva environ-ment, so everybody feels inter-connected and feels a sense ofbelonging, where we all have aplace. Regardless of what pro-gram students are in, they all area part of the yeshiva.
I think that we at YeshivaUniversity are one of a kind, andat the same time we are verymuch a part of everyone andeverything Jewish, and verymuch a vital component of theglobal yeshiva world. �
3 4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
A Conversation withRabbi Yona Reisscontinued
Yeshiva University New Board Members
ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINEBOARD OF OVERSEERS
Peter A. Gatof
FERKAUF GRADUATESCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYBOARD OF GOVERNORS
Dr. Carol Bravmann
RABBI ISAAC ELCHANANTHEOLOGICAL SEMINARYBOARD OF TRUSTEES
Ben I. AdlerLance L. Hirt
STERN COLLEGE FOR WOMENBOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pamela HirtJanet YagodaNewcorn
YESHIVA COLLEGEBOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lee WallachDavid RauchDavid IsaacLawrence AskowitzBernard Hasten
SY SYMS SCHOOL OF BUSINESSBOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alan Kestenbaum
Welcome
eshiva University has been, formany years, a global resource forthe study of Israel thanks to deepfaculty expertise, a dynamic cur-riculum, a highly motivated stu-
dent body, plus renowned research libraries anda preeminent museum. Now, the Center forIsrael Studies brings all of those resourcestogether under an interdisciplinary umbrellathat aims to develop scholars who will assumeacademic and communal leadership in all areasrelated to Israel. “Our goal is to train students tounderstand the complexities and strategic envi-ronment of Israel, and to then interpret thatunderstanding to the wider community,” saidSteven Fine, CIS director and chair of theDepartment of Jewish History.
Research, conferences, museum exhibitionsand academic courses and programming are allpart of the Center’s core mission. CIS celebrat-ed its inauguration this past May with a two-day
conference entitled “The Temple of Jerusalem:From Moses to the Messiah,” held in conjunc-tion with Yeshiva University Museum’s exhibi-tion of five architectural models of the Templebased on Leen Ritmeyer’s work. More than 600people par ticipated in the conference, includingscholars from institutions across North Americaand Israel.
Fine explained that CIS is about the broadstudy of Israel and forging University-wide part-nerships. CIS scholars will work with YU’sCenter for Ethics on, say, the ethics of the 1948partition, or work with YU’s Center for JewishLaw and Contemporary Civilization on contem-porary Israeli law or historical Jewish law.
“We’re also bringing the international com-munity together, institution by institution,human being by human being,” Fine explained.
“For example, we just joined a consortiumput together by the University of Southern Cali -for nia, which includes the University of Illinois
and Johns Hopkins, to use advanced technologyto read ancient inscriptions. Thanks to this con-sortium, this year we’ll make available 15 an -cient Jewish inscriptions in Aramaic and Hebrewthat have never been published,” Fine said.
Joining forces with other institutions willalso be key to the Center’s success. “We’re partof a [science] partnership with the JerusalemInsti tute of Technology and Bar-Ilan University.We’ll be talking about ways to bring the lessonsIsrael has learned about ecology to our campusmore deeply than before. I can imagine us doingscience missions and sending students asinterns to major medical institutions in Israel,”Fine added.
He also noted that CIS is working closelywith the Schusterman Center for Israel Studiesat Brandeis on several projects, and one of YU’spolitical scientists, Dr. Ruth A. Bevan, was ableto enhance her teaching thanks to training shereceived at the Schusterman Center.
Center for Israel StudiesEngaging Students and Facultyin a Broad and DeepUnderstanding of Israel
spotlight �
The Center for Israel Studies (CIS) encompasses Israel-related scholarship, teaching and programming of every variety. With a rich array of courses on Israel, classic area studyprojects and international cooperation initiatives, as well as providing enthusiasm for Israel-themed cultural events, CIS brings together a diverse group of academic disciplines to provide expertise and fresh perspectives to the study of all things Israel.
Y
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 3 5
YUReview: What is the purpose of
the Center for Israel Studies?
Steven Fine: The Center seeks totransform the academic study ofthe State of Israel by providingthe best expertise and new per-spectives on Israel; by educatingthe next generation of Israelscholars; and by offering relevantand exciting public programmingfor the broad New York communi-ty. We have taken an area studiesapproach, meaning we’re interest-ed in everything having to do withIsrael, from Abraham to Zionism.We bring people together fromdisciplines as distinct as politicalscience, biology, archaeology andmodern history to focus on thisplace in as broad and deep a wayas we possibly can. At YU, thatliterally means from the verybeginning of civilization to thepresent. Israel is deeply embed-ded in this institution, far morethan at any other major universityin North America. Our goal is tostrengthen and deepen that relationship.
YUR: What does CIS do that’s
different from existing Israel-
focused programs at YU?
SF: We’re deeply involved in the curriculum in a way that hasn’thappened before. CIS is develop-ing minors in Israel studies atYeshiva College and Stern
College. We want to affect howmuch Israel-related courses arebeing taught here. I’ve createdfaculty working groups in areas asdiverse as the history of Zionism;Israel, Science and Technology;Modern Israel and InternationalAffairs and Archaeology. Thecharge of these working groups isto act as a think tank to developprogramming and, more impor-tantly, to develop long-term projects that will transform ourcampus and the study of its subject areas. The truth is, ourscholars have been doing that forthree generations. But now is themoment where we can takesomething superb and show theworld how great it is.
YUR: CIS celebrated its inaugura-
tion with a conference on “The
Temple of Jerusalem: From Moses
to the Messiah.” How did that
represent CIS’s goals?
SF: Our Temple conference was areal high. We had top-flight scholars from all over NorthAmerica coming just to listen.There were Orthodox Jews andpious Christians and political scientists all in one room talkingto each other. We’re going to bebringing together people whohave never talked to each otherbefore, and they’re going to betalking on our turf.
YUR: The topic for the next confer-
ence is “Israel and India: A
Relationship Comes of Age.” What
is the significance of that topic?
SF: This is a relationship that isboth deeply rooted in history andis up and coming. We know Jewshave lived in India as long as Jews have been writing. We know ofelephants being waltzed throughPalestine to the Roman Empire.And we know of the military, economic and tourist relation-ships today. Twenty years ago, therelationship between Israel andIndia wasn’t on the front page ofinternational relations. Today it is.
There’s an obvious Indian connection through the medicalschool. Sonia Suchday [co-direc-tor of the Institute of PublicHealth Sciences, a joint programbetween Ferkauf Graduate Schoolof Psychology and Albert EinsteinCollege of Medicine] came to meand said, “This is a chance todeepen our relationship in a placewhere YU can make a real contri-bution. It’s real synergy.” So agroup of Stern students andFerkauf students went to Indiathis summer to study globalhealth initiatives, and a MarshaStern Talmudical Academy groupis going to India in the comingyear to do service work in theJewish community and, in theprocess, to learn about the Jewish
Promoting the Academic Study of Modern Israel
A conversation with Dr. Steven Fine, director of the Center for Israel Studies, chair of the Department of Jewish History at Yeshiva College and professor of Jewish history at Yeshiva University.
3 6 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
Steven Fine received his doctorate
in Jewish history from the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, holds an
MA in art history from the
University of Southern California
and a BA in religious studies
from the University of California,
Santa Barbara. Dr. Fine’s most
recent book is Art and Judaism
in the Greco-Roman World:
Toward a New Jewish Archaeology
(Cambridge University Press,
2005), and he is editor of
IMAGES: A Journal of Jewish Art
and Visual Culture (E. J. Brill).
culture of India. We’re looking forgovernment and university sponsorship from bothcountries to make this a trulylarge event. We’ll bring India ontocampus and bring the India/Israelrelationship onto the front page ofNew York culture for a year.
YUR: CIS is a huge umbrella.
Which particular areas would you
like to focus on first and why?
SF: What’s most important at thispoint is everything having to dowith modern Israel. We haveenough faculty resources to satisfy the requirements for ageneral university, but not enoughfor YU to excel in Modern Israelstudies. If we’re going to be thetop research institution in thisarea, we need real depth in everything from the Arab-Israeliconflict, to art and culture, tofolklore, to Sephardim in Israel.We have people who have taughtit extremely well, but it’s not theirresearch area.
We’ve begun the hiring processin a number of those areas andhave hired more than a dozenacademics from the junior to senior faculty level to complementthe people who were here before.They’re among the best in thecountry, but to be the best will
take time and money. One of theways we’re filling those gaps in themeantime is through distinguishedvisiting professorships. That willcontinue even after we’ve madethe right hires because it addsspice to the entire system.
YUR: CIS offers a perfect way to
practice YU’s core philosophy of
Torah Umadda. Which opportunities
excite you the most?
SF: The most important opportu-nity is the coming together of the different parts of our universityunder this banner.
This year, for example, theCenter co-sponsored the Univer -sity’s first Torah Umadda Week atStern College. We invited world-renowned physicist NathanAviezer of Bar-Ilan University,along with Rabbi Natan Slifkin, a noted author in Israel, and ourown Einstein professor andesteemed scholar Dr. Edward I. Reichman, to present a seriesof lectures on the intersections ofTorah and science.
YUR: Where did you draw your
inspiration for the Center?
SF: I was standing in the EretzIsrael Museum in Tel Aviv, tryingto imagine a Center for IsraelStudies at YU. The museum has
everything from a representativearchaeological dig to an olive oilplant to a planetarium. Each subject has its own pavilion. I thought, wouldn’t this be a won-derful model for a center at YU?We have a museum where youcan actually touch things, wehave students learning TorahUmadda, our medical and lawschools are world-class. Can youimagine finding a way to take allthose individual pavilions thatmake up YU and get them talkingacross a big quad about Israel?
YUR: What is the nature of the
relationship between CIS and the
Yeshiva University Museum (YUM)?
SF: YUM is one of our majordrawing cards. The Museum is
our window onto New York City.It’s hard for the general public toknow what exciting things aregoing on at the University, espe-cially in the humanities. TheMuseum allows people to seewhat we’re dreaming about. It isplanning an India-related exhibitfor this year’s conference. We’realready talking about an exhibiton early Zionism to enhance the2009/10 CIS conference on Zion -ism before the Balfour Declara -tion. The Museum often comesup with an idea for a project andthe Uni versity brings togetheracademic courses and programsaround that project. It’s almostlike symbiosis—the productivepartnership of our public spaceand our academic life. �
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 3 7
Our goal is to train students to
understand the complexities and
strategic environment of Israel,
and to then interpret that under-
standing to the wider community.
“
”
his fall, a group of handpickedstudents at Samuel H. WangYeshiva University High Schoolfor Girls (YUHSG) became thefirst to participate in an enriched
science curriculum initiative that is setting anew standard among Jewish high schools in andaround New York City.
The Science Institute at YUHSG was estab-lished to offer our brightest students an oppor-tunity to study and conduct research at a levelmore advanced than currently available in mostyeshiva high schools and, in some cases, under-
graduate colleges, according to Ruth Fried,teacher and science department chairpersonwho conceived and directs the new program.
The idea of an institute grew when she was in -spired by the state-of-the-art science lab facilitythat opened at YUHSG in fall 2007 and she sawhow technologically well-equipped the lab was;faculty member Dr. Edward Berliner had spear-headed the multiyear improvement efforts to up -grade both the boys and girls high schools withmodern laboratories. The institute crystallizedwhen a group of10 students emerged from amonglast year’s incoming freshmen class as particular-
ly talented and serious. Seven of them acceptedthe invitation to participate in the new venture.
Students in the Institute will remain enrolledthroughout their high school careers following acarefully designed guided sequence of coursesthat focuses on science literacy and researchmethodology. It includes summer researchinternships after grades 10 and 11 and anemphasis on preparing students for the mostprestigious national research competitions.
“The goal of the program is to expose stu-dents to research methodology skills, indepen -dent thinking and inquiry skills, the use of tech-
High School PreparesWomenin theAdvanced Sciences
� spotlight
T
3 8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
nology and different lab techniques and prac-tices that allow them to be placed in a seriouslab environment,” Fried said.
By their senior year, students will be expect-ed to conduct independent research and write apaper to defend in-house and, possibly, presentaround the country at the Siemens Westing -house or Intel competitions.
According to Fried, the Institute is structuredaround the scope of the SAT II exam (more com-prehensive and advanced than the New Yorkstate-mandated Regents curriculum), but employsa creative approach to all things scientific.
“I aim to produce thinkers first and scientistssecond,” said Jason Williams, who joinedYUHSG this year as the Institute’s researchmethodology instructor. It was the first courseoffering and the students met with Williams fortwo hours once a week; they meet twice a weekin the spring.
“To that end, my curriculum includes enrich-ment activities such as debates and discussionsin the history and philosophy of science that willintroduce the classical concepts of knowledge,skepticism and truth,” Williams said. Among theadditional courses the Institute requires are APEnglish, AP Calculus and a choice of electives.
A mentor to previous Intel winners at StonyBrook University and at his current position asan instructor at the Cold Spring HarborLaboratory in Long Island, NY, Williams openedthe Institute this past summer by hosting aweeklong course at the Laboratory’s Dolan DNALearning Center’s satellite in Harlem. YUHSGparticipants learned techniques in recombinantDNA technology and how to use the equipmentnecessary to do this type of research.
“The program at the Dolan DNA LearningCenter was a good launch to the Science Insti -tute because it helped to acquaint us with manyof the more complex apparatuses and proce-dures involved in the research we will be con-ducting later this year,” said sophomore BrachaRose, one of the seven students enrolled in theInstitute.
“For me, this is an incredible experience be -cause I have always had a hope that I could oneday find a cure for cancer, HIV/AIDS or anoth-er disease,” Rose said.
“The Science Institute gives our students anopportunity to explore higher levels of thinkingand analysis, and to consider continuing on inthe sciences during their college careers,” Friedadded. “I look forward to watching these youngladies grow as they accept the challenges theInstitute has to offer.”
Science Enrollment andMed School Acceptance Up at Stern
A natural destination for many YUHSG science students is Stern College for Women,
where they find cutting-edge science programs in biology, chemistry and physics
combining strong instructional coursework with a myriad of research opportunities.
“More and more women are going into the research sciences now,” said Dr. Chaya
Rapp, assistant professor of chemistry, who observed that the number of students
taking general (introductory) chemistry at Stern this fall hovers near 90, up from 47 in
2005. “These are students who are premed and pre-
dental and interested in allied health fields or who
plan to go into research,” she said.
Enrollment is growing in the advanced courses as
well, including biochemistry, thermodynamics and
physical chemistry. Further indicators of the pro-
gram’s strength include: expanded course offerings
in the health and biological sciences; a distin-
guished and growing research faculty; state-of-the-
art lab facilities; opportunities for undergraduate
students to conduct research at the graduate level,
both independently and in collaboration with faculty;
and the numerous research publications Stern
women co-author.
Proof of Stern’s success in building its science
program can be measured in part by the consistently
high acceptance rates to medical schools: 19 of 22
graduates applying last year are now enrolled. MCAT
scores are another indicator. As of November 2008,
67 percent of Stern MCAT test takers scored 29 or
above, while during that same period, only 30 per-
cent of all national test takers scored 29 or above.
“Our results, which are above the national average, reflect our outstanding curricu-
lum in general, and our superior science curriculum specifically,” said Dr. Bracha
(Brenda) Loewy, clinical associate professor of biology and director of prehealth advise-
ment at the women’s undergraduate school.
“Not only does our program thoroughly prepare students for the MCATs, it gives
them an excellent foundation for the first-year curriculum of medical school,” she said,
adding that the numbers also reflect the high caliber of the students Stern College
attracts. “These are women who are extremely bright, highly motivated, very conscien-
tious and, in short, the cream of the crop,” she said.
Since 2002, a boost to the Stern program has been the attractive scholarship made
available by the Anne Scheiber Fund for students interested in medicine. This scholar-
ship offers up to full tuition to graduates entering YU’s Albert Einstein College of
Medicine and has made Stern an even more attractive choice for science-oriented high
school students.
Scheiber Scholars have gone on to establish the Stern-Einstein Research Connection
(SERC), a nonprofit program promoting research between the two campuses. The group
donates money each year to fund a freshman’s or a sophomore’s 10-week summer
research internship at Einstein.
“To watch our women rise to the intellectual challenge of scientific research, and to
see the exceptional camaraderie that emerges from teams of faculty and students
working together, is to see the best of science in action,” said Dr. Karen Bacon, the
Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of Stern College for Women. “The women in science at Stern
College are a formidably creative group and they are having a lot of fun in the process.”
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 3 9
r. Arthur Hyman may have re -cently stepped down as dean ofBernardRevelGraduate School ofJewish Studies, but that doesn’tmean he’s slowing down. In fact,
since resigning this past summer, Hyman divedback into “doing what I was trained to do: teach-ing and research. I wanted to go back to my ownwork,” the scholar of medieval Jewish andIslamic philosophy said recently from his newoffice in Belfer Hall.
Hyman’s successor at Revel is Dr. DavidBerger ’64YC, ’67R, an esteemed scholar inJewish history. Berger, whose many ties to YUinclude a visiting professorship at Revel since1975, was appointed to joint positions at Reveland Yeshiva College in fall 2007.
The integration of Jewish studies across thegraduate and undergraduate schools is part of aninitiative to transform the University into a cen-ter of excellence for this curriculum. It builds on
the foundation laid by Hyman who doubled thenumber of faculty at Revel and significantly ex -panded the student body during his tenure.
Dr. Morton Lowengrub, provost and seniorvice president for academic affairs, describedHyman as one of the preeminent scholars inJewish philosophy and said, “Arthur Hyman wasenormously successful as a teacher of both grad-uate and undergraduate students and his admin-istrative skills have resulted in building a first-class school of academic Jewish studies.”
He was appointed dean of Revel in 1991 byDr. Norman Lamm, then YU president, and setabout building a first-rate faculty to fill in theschool’s offerings in areas such as Kabbalah andmodern Jewish philosophy.
“Our faculty are all publishing scholars,”Hyman noted. “There’s virtually no national orinternational conference [in Jewish studies] towhich they are not invited and no jubilee volumeto which they do not contribute.”
When he became dean, Revel had approxi-mately 80 students—mostly graduates of YU. Byhis last semester, there were 140 students,roughly half of whom came from colleges suchas Columbia, Barnard, Brown and Penn.
As the school grew, it hewed to the model ofclassical Jewish studies with concentrations inBible, Talmudic studies, Jewish history and phi-losophy, but it was also sensitive to changes indisciplines. “In surveying Jewish history, we nowalso appreciate that the day-to-day life of theJewish people is important in understandingwho they were,” said Hyman, noting theappointment of Dr. Debra Kaplan, whoseresearch focuses on Jewish life in the early mod-ern period.
The highlight of his deanship came in 1999when a visiting committee of distinguishedscholars evaluated the school. “They gave us a veryhigh recommendation that ‘the University is solid -ly committed to Revel and sees it as a jewel in its
� spotlight
Revel Dean Revisits His RootsHyman Steps Down and Welcomes Berger
D
4 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
Hyman (left) passes the torch to Berger (right) but remains a valuable part of the successful program he built.
crown.’ That gave me great satisfaction,” he said.Based mainly at Revel, Hyman also teaches a
course on the philosophy of the 17th and 18thcenturies at Yeshiva College. He is particularlydrawn to the work of Maimonides, whose inter-est in finding common ground between phi -losophy and Jewish tradition he shares. “An areathat I want to work on next is the philosophiccomponents of Maimonides’ halachic writing,”he added.
Keeping his eyes fixed firmly on his goalsmay be the secret of this philosophy professor’sself-effacing charm. He is in the 2009 edition ofWho’s Who in America, a fact he noted wryly.“I’m not a person for all this recognition. I’mgoal-oriented and the accolades that come with
it are something else,” he said but conceded, “Iguess in the modern world one has to learnsomething about publicity.”
He holds visiting professorships at some ofthe nation’s top universities—including Colum -bia; Yale; the University of California, San Diego;and Hebrew University and Bar-Ilan Universityin Israel—and honorary doctorates from HebrewUnion College and the Jewish TheologicalSeminary. He received his PhD in philosophyfrom Harvard University, where he studied withDr. Harry Wolfson, the “scholar laureate” of Jew -ish studies who occupied one of the first full-time chairs in the field at any university in theU.S.
Now the distinguished service professor of
philosophy at YU, Dr. Hyman has taught atRevel for 47 years and has written or editedseven books. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, thescion of modern Orthodoxy who was rosh yeshi-va of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Sem -inary at the time, recruited him from the now-defunct Dropsie College in Philadelphia.
Over the course of his career, he has seenJewish studies grow from an isolated subjectstudied only at rabbinical schools and Hebrewteacher’s colleges to a place in the mainstreamof academic study.
“In the 1970s, we founded a General Associ -ation for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy.I was the first president,” he said. “Now it has300 members and the American PhilosophicalAssociation now has a session or two on Jewishstudies at every general meeting.”
He is by no means one to rest on the laurelsof his success. After almost 50 years of teachingthe same courses, year in and year out, he hasmastered the art of reinvention. “It is never thesame two years in a row. I rethink the materialevery year and I become interested in new prob-lems with each new year. If you want to stayalive as a teacher, you have to have new ideasand keep an open mind to students’ ideas. That’smy theory of teaching and being with people,”he said. �
Our Students Have Never Needed Us MoreWe know times are tough. That’s why Yeshiva University
has committed to raise an additional $5 million for
scholarships this year for our students. And, to help us
meet our goal, one benefactor has committed to match
up to $600,000 in gifts received before June 30.
We’re giving our students more financial support than
ever before−but they’re your students, too. Please
help us meet our scholarship goal. Take a moment
right now to use the business reply envelope in this
issue of YUReview.
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Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 4 1
In surveying Jewish history, we now
also appreciate that the day-to-day life
of the Jewish people is important in
understanding who they were.
“”—ARTHUR HYMAN
any adults may recall beingbullied or witnessing bully-ing during their school years,but research shows there arepositive steps that parents
and educators can take to combat this phenom-enon still occurring today.
That research is being conducted by Dr.Rona Novick, associate professor at AzrieliGrad uate School of Jewish Education andAdministration, director of its Fanya Gottesfeld
Heller Division of Doctoral Studies and alicensed clinical psychologist. She said bullyingand related problems such as taunting, name-calling and social exclusion are more seriousthan most adults acknowledge.
“It is common that children who are harassedand bullied suffer severe long-term effects,including depression and suicidal feelings,”Novick said.
Her classroom-based program, called BullyReduction/Anti-Violence Education and SocialLeadership Development (BRAVE), is part of acareer-long goal to bring psychological expertiseinto the classroom to help educators make bet-ter decisions. The application of the program issupported by the Institute for University–SchoolPartnership at Azrieli, which is dedicated tobringing the latest pedagogic research and tech-niques into Jewish day school environments.
“Bullying is a social issue that requires a social
context and an audience,” said Novick. “Oftenthat social context is the school peer group.”
Novick said preliminary results appear toindicate that the phenomenon of bullying is asprevalent among Jewish day schools as it is incomparable public schools. “Our schools are inno way immune,” she said. “We teach the notionof bein adam l’chaveiro [treating one’s fellowman properly] as part of Torah values, but we
still see children bullying and taunting their fel-low students.”
Novick has been conducting carefully con-trolled research on bullying, and the viability ofher program, at five Jewish middle schoolsacross the country that have committed toBRAVE over a period of years in order to changethe culture and social climate of their institu-tions. They are Yeshivat Rambam in Baltimore;the Greater Miami Hebrew Academy; Man hat -tan Day School; and the Yavneh and JosephKushner Hebrew Academies in New Jersey.
Select educators and administrators recentlytook part in intensive training at Yeshiva Uni -versity, which they will in turn model for col-leagues to adapt for their classrooms. PatriciaZahl of the Greater Miami Hebrew Academywho attended the training session at YU seesBRAVE as a way to “address the needs of middleschoolers in what Dr. Novick calls a ‘safer, gen-tler environment.’” It points to being “proactivein addressing the issue by getting the tools andgiving them to students.”
The BRAVE program begins with a mock trialof cartoon-character bullies and bystandersaccused of bullying, which “allows students toexplore the definition of bullying and come tounderstand the impact ‘innocent’ bystandershave when they do not become involved in help-ing those victimized,” said Novick, who is theauthor of Helping Your Child Make Friends andeditor of the series Kids Don’t Come With In -struction Manuals. The program also includesstudent workshops and monthly student ses-sions with trained BRAVE instructors. Novickvisits schools to offer support, collect data andaddress parents.
Novick has vast experience in the field ofeducation and child psychology (she is also asso-ciate professor of child and adolescent psychol-ogy at Albert Einstein College of Medicine), andhelping children deal with various forms of vio-lence is one of the hallmarks of her career. Herarticles on the effects of 9/11 on children haveappeared in such publications as Journal ofTraumatic Stress and she directed an antibully-ing program for the Alliance for School MentalHealth initiative at North Shore–Long IslandJewish Health System.
Novick’s next steps include piloting BRAVE inIsraeli schools, analyzing the program’s effectson single-gender versus mixed-gender environ-ments and investigating the most successful ap -proaches for both younger (i.e., elementary) andolder (i.e., high school) students. �
4 2 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
Novick (center) reviews the mock trial activity with educators and administrators at the BRAVE
training session. Azrieli student Eli Shapiro (rear), BRAVE program manager, served as court officer.
� spotlight
Azrieli Prof CombatsBullying in Schools
M
alumninews
orn in Tangier, Mor oc co,in 1941, Bentsi Cohenem i grated to Israel whenhe was six years old. Heserved in the Israel De -
fense Force, moved to America atage 24 and struggled to put himselfthrough school including Ye shivaCollege (1964–66). He earneddegrees from several academic in -stitutions, went out into the worldto make his fortune, made it, thenlost most of his money.
That’s when he really struck itrich.
Cohen’s life turned in a new di -rection after financial disasterstruck at age 61. Until then, hisrags-to-riches story included acareer as a respected economist,author and entrepreneur. His firstsignificant money came from in -vesting in gold; then he built aplastic bottle manufacturing com-pany that he sold; later he co-owned factories in Israel, Hungary,Ukraine, Romania and Tajikistan.But in 1992, when civil war brokeout in Tajikistan, his business part-ner, that nation’s sitting president,was assassinated. Warned that hemight be next, Cohen fled thecountry, abandoning the factory intowhich most of his savings had gone.
“I returned to America knowingthat the way money comes, that’s
the way it goes,” said Cohen, wholost more money when the marketsseized and he was forced to sell hisIsraeli plant and European distri-bution centers. With just a smallnest egg and his wife’s pension tolive on, Cohen decided that thetime was right to indulge his loveof learning. He reenrolled in YU’sBernard Revel Graduate School ofJewish Studies in 2001 and con-tinues to attend classes at Yale,Columbia University and NYU.
“There are so many things toknow, to learn and to do,” saidCohen. “I’ve begun to recognizethat when I’m involved with some-thing, I want to know everything
about it.” That was certainly thecase when he heard from a friendabout a manuscript in the BritishMu seum that was written by agrandson of the Rabbi Moshe benNach man (aka, the Ramban, con-sidered the foremost halachist ofthe 13th century). Publishedaround 1,300, the manuscript fromRabbi David had been virtually
ignored by scholars. Its existence,however, piqued Cohen’s interestand he dove right in.
“The author was a genius—soahead of his time,” he said. “I tooka course on nuclear physics fornonphysicists at Columbia just tomake sure I understood what he
was saying. His manuscript de -scribes what today we know asE=mc2. He called it the Laws ofEquality, meaning that the laws ofphysics that prevail here also pre-vail outside of this world. And hetalks about the movement of theconstellations around the sun—286 years before Copernicus!”
Cohen has already publishedtwo books on the manuscript andis working on publishing the entiretext. He also recently wrote a bookon Parshat Ha Shavua, a weeklyTorah portion that includes hisown poetic commentary. What’smore, he compiled a uniqueHaggadah to add to his ex tensivecollection wherein he presentssimultaneous translations of theHebrew text into Russian, French,Spanish and Eng lish for use bymultiethnic guests at the sameseder.
Now 67 years young, Cohenshows no signs of slowing down. “Ialways want to have projects inmind,” he said. “The more proj-ects, the more time I’ll need toaccomplish them. It’s the secret tolong life—living like the formula ofa spiral. The more we go around,the greater strength we’ll have.When we learn, we bring forthfrom our inner resources strengthswe were unaware of. That’s whatI’m doing.” �
B
Bentsi Cohen
The Secret to Long Lifeis Lifelong LearningEnduring financial devastation, Bentsi Cohen struck it rich.
ALUMNI PROFILE
I’ve begun to recognize that whenI’m involved with something, I want to know everything about it.”
“
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 4 3
Deconstructingthe Mideast’sCritical Moments Matthew Levitt’s business isthinking about conflict.
Matthew Levitt ’92YC, senior fel-low/director of the Wash ing tonIn stitute’s Stein Program on Coun -
terter ror ism andIntel li gence, hasmade a career ofstudying the ob -stacles to peacein the MiddleEast. In his newbook, Negoti a tingUn der Fire (Row -
man & Little field), published inOcto ber 2008, the author de con -structs the means by which violentgroups hostile to peace talks canundermine negotiations.
“Peace is in everyone’s best in -terest,” said Levitt, a recognizedex pert on Hamas and Hezbollah.“But just wanting that doesn’tmean it’s going to happen.”
Through a detailed analysis ofthree critical moments in the Oslopeace process—the Baruch Gold -stein Hebron massacre of 1994,the Nachshon Wachsman kidnap-ping and execution of 1994 andthe nine-day string of suicide busbombings carried out in Israel inMarch of 1996—Levitt demon-strates how violent, militantgroups can derail negotiations andoffers a crisis-management modelto address these vulnerabilities.
From 2005 to 2007, Levittserved as deputy assistant secre-tary for intelligence and analysis atthe Department of the Treasury.Previously, he served as an FBIcounterterrorism analyst. In all, hisresearch leads him to believe thatthe various leaders in the MiddleEast are the key to the puzzle. “Inthe 90s, you actually had leaderswho were capable of achieving apeace deal,” he said. “They wereable but not necessarily willing.Today we have a situation wherethe leaders are very willing butcompletely unable, lacking in polit-ical legitimacy at home.”
YESHIVA UNIVERSIT Y ’ S
Annual Cruise2ndBALTIC COAST AND RUSSIA
7 days from Copenhagen, DenmarkAugust 9 – 16, 2009
For more information, contact Heidi Kuperma at212.960.0193 or [email protected]
SPECIAL GUESTS
President Richard M. Joel and Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter
n
� alumni
4 4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
hen Elana Silber ’89S first enteredStern College for Women, she had noidea how perfectly her educationwould prepare her for her current roleas director of operations at
Sharsheret. The national, not-for-profit organization ofcancer survivors is dedicated to addressing the uniqueconcerns of young Jewish women facing breast cancer.
“When I completed high school, I was very inter-ested in continuing my Jewish education,” said Silber,“and growing up in a YU family, choosing Stern was anatural decision for me.” Know ing that their daughterwas interested in both businessand healthcare, Silber’s mother,the late Marcia Brickman Hirt’62S and father, Robert S. Hirt’55YUHS, ’59YC, ’62BRGS,’62RIETS and current senioradvisor to the president, en -couraged their daughter to takea shaped major that would effectively combine her var-ied interests. Following her business managementdegree with a concentration in healthcare, Silberreceived an MBA in healthcare administration. “Ialways wanted to be in business, but I wanted to applymy business skills in a way that could help people,” shesaid. “I saw the healthcare industry as a great way tocombine both. I also had a great interest in a careerthat would serve the Jewish community.”
In her director’s role at Sharsheret, Silber overseesall of the organization’s programming, planning andfundraising efforts. “I have an opportunity to really bepart of everything we do,” she said. “What I find mostrewarding is knowing that I’m a part of something thatis truly improving the lives of so many Jewish womenand their families across the country.”
Founded in 2001, Sharsheret’s efforts to supportyoung women and educate healthcare professionalshave been recognized with prestigious awards and sig-nificant media coverage. The organization has beenfeatured in more than 75 publications and media out-lets nationwide, including the Wall Street Journal, USAToday, Self Magazine and CBS News.
W
Helping Jewish Women Cope With CancerElana Silber brings business acumen to this sensitive subject.
Rabbi Edward Y. Abramson
’64YUHS, ’69YC, ’69JS, ’73BR,
’73RE
A Circle in the Square: Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Reinvents the SynagogueUrim Publications
Detailed account of Rabbi Shlomo Riskin’s influence onOrthodox Judaism
Rabbi Marc D. Angel ’67YC,
’70RE, ’75BR
The Search CommitteeUrim Fiction
Novel pitting the traditional Yeshi va world versus ModernOrthodox Torah institutions andrabbis
Rabbi Dr. Gersion Appel ’38YC,
’41RE, ’45BR,
YU Professor Emeritus
A Philosophy of Mitzvot: TheReligious and Ethical Principles ofJudaism, Their Roots in BiblicalLaw and the Judaic Oral TraditionYashar Books
A comprehensive view of thestructure and meaning of theTorah’s commandments
Adena K. Berkowitz ’85CSL
(co-authored with Rivka Hau)
Shaarei Simcha-Gates of PrayerUrim Publications
First liturgical work in themodern era written byOrthodox womenfor use in theOrthodox and general Jewishcommunities
Lynn (Edelman) Biederman
’89CSL (co-authored with
Michelle Baldini)
UnravelingRandom House
Novel for young adults featuringthe adventures of a precocious 15-year-old girl
Rabbi Benjamin Blech ’54YC,
’56RE (co-authored with
Roy Doliner)
Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’sForbidden Messages in the Heartof the VaticanHarperCollins Publishers
Tells the story of how Michel an -gelo embedded messages in hismost famous work
Rabbi Hillel Goldberg ’52YC
Hallel HakohenUrim Publications
An elucidation of the commentaryof the Vilna Gaon (1720–1797)on the laws of mikvehs
Penny (Finkelstein) Harow ’92SCW
Festival of LightsUrim Publications
A journey through a world ofchanukiot designs
Amy (Ginsberg) Hendel
’76YUHS
Fat Families, Thin FamiliesBenBella Books
Offers a “family team”approach to tack-ling obesity andother health chal-lenges
Libby Kahane
’55YUHS
Rabbi Meir Kahane:His Life and ThoughtUrim Publications
Volume 1 (1932–1975) coveringthe life of the author’s late husband
William D. Kaufman ’36YC
The Day My Mother Changed HerName and Other StoriesSyracuse University Press
Book of short stories featuring theimmigrant Jewish experience insmall-town America
Meyer Lubin ’58FG
Thrilling Torah DiscoveriesSelf-published
A personal story of Torah fulfillment
Jonathan Mishkin ’90YC, ’92RE
Think of It This Way: CreativeStrategies for Jewish EducationSelf-published
An innovative text for informalJewish education
Seymour Moskowitz ’54YC, ’56RE
Falcon of the QurayshUrim Publications
A historical novel depicting theeighth-century Muslim conquestof Spain
Seymour Moskowitz
’54YC, ’56RE
Inter-Religious PrayersUrim Publications
Provides help for anyoneunexpectedly called upon
to offer a prayer in public
Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg ’69YC,
’74RE, ’74FGS, ’92AGS
Public Speaking: A Guide for StudyBEHR Publishing House, Inc.
Everything you need to knowabout speaking in front of an audience
Rabbi Sol Steinmetz ’53YC, ’56RE
Semantic Antics: How and WhyWords Change MeaningsRandom House
Etymological study tracing thedevelopment of many everydaywords
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin ’70YC,
’73RE, ’74BR
A Code of Jewish Ethics: Love Your Neighbor as YourselfBell Tower
Second volume that elucidates the practical application of thebiblical commandment
Joel B. Wolowelsky ’69BR
(co-editor),
Abraham’s Journey: Reflections onthe Life of the Founding PatriarchKTAV Publishing
Latest book in the MeOtzar Ho Rav series, which covers thelife and work of Rabbi Joseph B.Soloveitchik
Alumni Bookmarks
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 4 5
A Philosophy of Mitzvot: TheReligious and Ethical Principles ofJudaism, Their Roots in BiblicalLaw and the Judaic Oral Tradition By Rabbi Dr. Gersion Appel,
University professor emeritus of
philosophy and Jewish Studies
Yashar Books, 2008
In this wide-ranging study, RabbiDr. Appel sets forth the objectivesof the Sefer ha-Hinnuch—one ofthe principal works in Jewish ethi-cal and halakhic literature and aprimary source for the reasons andpurpose of the divine command-ments in the Torah—and theHinnuch’s approach to revealingthe religious and ethical meaningof the mitzvot [commandments].The author presents a comprehen-sive view of Jewish philosophy asdeveloped by the Hinnuch and theclassical Jewish philosophers. The
Hinnuch emerges in this study as agreat educator and moral and reli-gious guide, and as a treasure troveof Jewish knowledge, religious in -spiration, and brilliant insight inthe molding of human character.
Divine Footsteps: Chesed and the Jewish SoulBy Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman ’94YC,
’98RIETS
Instructor of Talmud and
Jewish studies,
Stone Beit Midrash Program;
Director of Rabbinic Research,
Center for the Jewish Future
Yeshiva University Press, 2008
This book, a follow-up to The Rightand the Good: Halakhah andHuman Relations (Jason Aronson,1999; expanded edition YasharBooks 2005), explores the qualityof chesed—kindness in all its man-
ifestations—from a halakhic, the-matic and structural perspective.Chapters include such topics as“Boundaries, Balances and Aspi ra -tions in the Realization ofChesed,” “The Best Medicine: TheMitzvah of Bikkur Cholim,” and“Bringing Merit to the Masses:The Gabbai Tzedakah and theCharity Professional.”
Group Work: A Humanistic andSkills Building ApproachBy Urania Glassman
field office director at the
Wurzweiler School of Social Work
SAGE Publications, 2008.
This second edition is designed aspart of advanced undergraduateand graduate courses in the fieldsof social work, psychology andcounseling, and identifies the hu -manistic values and democraticnorms that guide a group practi-tioner’s interventions. Seven stagethemes of group development arepresented. The book describesmember reactions and highlightsworker pitfalls, self awarenessissues and skills to maximizegrowth within each stage.
Esther: A Classified BibliographyBy Edith Lubetski, head librarian
at Stern College for Women’s
Hedi Steinberg Library,
with Meir Lubetski
Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2008
This comprehensive bibliography,by Edith Lubetski ’68BRGS, with
husband Meir Lubetski, a profes-sor of modern languages and com-parative literature at the City Uni -versity of New York, is a guide toscholarly works on the biblicalbook of Esther. It contains over1900 references. It includes titlesof books, collected works, Fest -schriften [collections of writingspresented to a scholar], theses,journal articles, essays in collec-tions, encyclopedia and dictionaryarticles and online material. It is aclassified bibliography, arranged inthree categories-commentaries,bib lical chapters and verses, andsubject headings in alphabeticalorder. The scope of the bibliogra-phy is international, and its focusis on research from the last hun-dred years.
A People’s History of Poverty in AmericaBy Stephen Pimpare, associate
professor at Yeshiva College and
Wurzweiler School of Social Work
The New Press, 2008
This social history of poverty inAmerica, from the 17th century tothe modern era, is told from theperspective and experiences of thepoor themselves. The focus is onhow the poor from cities and thecountryside have created commu-nity, secured shelter, found foodand struggled to find dignity and
4 6 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
facultybookshelf
Ceremonial Violence: A Psychological Explanation ofSchool ShootingsBy Jonathan Fast
professor at the Wurzweiler School
of Social Work
Overlook Hardback, 2008
Jonathan Fast observes in his newbook that school shootings are atype of terrorism. Ceremonial Vio -lence analyzes the Columbine highschool shooting and four othercases in an attempt to explain whyteenagers commit school rampageshootings. Fast acknowledges theimpossibility of predicting schoolrampage shooters, but outlinesclear and realistic goals for educa-tors, community leaders, parents
and students that seek to help pre-vent these violent attacks. Utilizingelements of abnormal psychology,developmental psychology, sociolo-gy and neurology that contribute tothe homicidal mindset, Fast alsoworks to offer a means of under-standing and coming to terms withthese tragedies.
Jonathan Fast
respect. Through historical testi-monies and anecdotes he has col-lected, Pimpare shows that thepoor are all too often aware thatcharity comes with a price. It isthat price that he questions in thisbook, reminding us that poverty isnot simply a moral failure.
Abraham’s JourneyBy David Shatz, professor at Stern
College for Women, with Joel B.
Wolowelsky and Reuven Ziegler
KTAV Publishing, 2008
Abraham’s Journey is the ninthbook in the MeOtzar HoRav series,edited by Stern College facultymember David Shatz, Joel B. Wol -o welsky and Reuven Ziegler. Thebook, which focuses on the writ-ings and teachings of the famedrabbi and Yeshiva University RoshYeshiva Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveit -chik (1903–1993), considers thelife of the founding patriarch of theJewish people, Avraham Avinu. In10 chapters, Abraham’s Journeyexplores the life and legacy of thepatriarch, with particular focus onthe story of Abraham in the contextof human advancement, the devel-opment of monotheism and theemergence of the ethical man.
The Hungry Clothes and OtherJewish Folktales By Peninnah Schram,
professor of speech and drama at
Stern College for Women
Sterling Publishing, 2008
A diverse selection of 22 Ashke -nazi and Sephardic folktales ispresented here, with equal parts ofwit and wisdom. They include The
Pots of Honey, which teaches theimportance of both justice andforgiveness; The Boy Who Prayedwith the Alphabet, about an un -learned boy who finds a uniqueway to express his love for G-d; andThe Wise Daughter Who SolvesRiddles, one of the most belovedstories in the Jewish tradition. Thischildren’s book is filled with evoca-tive artwork and a cast of colorfulcharacters.
Adoption in the United States: A Reference for Families,Professionals and StudentsBy Daniel Pollack, professor at
Wurzweiler School of Social Work,
and Martha J. Henry
Lyceum Books, 2008
A comprehensive guide to both themedical/health aspects of adoptionand the laws and procedures cov-ering adoption in each state, byDaniel Pollack and Martha J.Henry, director of the Center forAdoption Research at the Univer -sity of Massachusetts MedicalSchool. In addition to sections onresearch from many fields and be -havioral, developmental and men-tal health issues, this book coversregulations for intercountry adop-tions as well as for public fostercare and domestic infant adoption.
Hatzi Nehama: Studies in theWeekly Parsha Based on theLessons of Nehama LeibowitzBy Moshe Sokolow,
Fanya Gottesfeld-Heller Chair in
Jewish Education at Azrieli
Graduate School of Jewish
Education and Administration
Urim Publications, 2008
This volume contains studies onthe weekly Torah portion (parashah/sidrah) evoking the memorable andinfluential style of Nehama Leib -owitz. Using lesser-known pub-lished works by Nehama and notesof her private lessons, MosheSokolow elucidates the text and itsclassic commentaries in a mannerthat engages readers, making themactive participants in Torah study.
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 4 7
WHAT’SNew
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/presidentread and hear the latest from President Joel
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recent scores
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LOTS of stuffon the WEB
1950sMazal tov to Dr. Mel ’57YC and Debby’55YUHS Adler, and Arthur and Niki
Fuchs on the birth of twin grandsons,
Yaakov Yehoshua and Shmuel Reuven.
The proud parents are Zevi ’92YC and
Leslie (Fuchs) ’94SCW Adler.
Mazal tov to Rabbi Aaron ’55YC, IBC,
’59BRGS, RIETS and his wife Pearl’52YUHS Borow on the marriages of
their grandsons Chaim and Uri to
Tzivia Nudel and Dina Levy,
respectively.
The accomplishments of Dr. LeonChameides ’51YUHS, ’55YC, TI, IBC,
’59AECOM, in the field of pediatric
resuscitation were described recently
in a chapter of “Resuscitation Greats,”
a book published in Great Britain.
Dr. Chameides retired 11 years ago
after 30 years as director of pediatric
cardiology at Hartford Hospital and the
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center,
and as clinical professor at the
University of Connecticut’s School of
Medicine. He was very active in the
American Heart Association (AHA) and
served as chair of the Pediatric
Resuscitation Committee, which was
responsible for developing the Pedi -
atric Advanced Life Support course
(PALS), the Neonatal Resuscitation
program (NRP) and the AHA course
on first aid.
Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky ’50YUHS,
’54YC, ’57RIETS, ’80FGS, vice presi-
dent for university affairs, celebrated
the wedding in Jerusalem of his
granddaughter Aliza Kramer to Elie
Deutsch of Efrat, Israel. Aliza is the
daughter of Dr. Michael ’73YUHS,
’77YC and Dr. Deborah Kramer.
At the AECOM graduation in June, the
Alumni Association honored Dr. ArthurEidelman ’55YUHS, ’59YC, ’63AECOM,
’75BRGS, professor of pediatrics, with
its 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. Eidelman is a visiting professor of
pediatrics at Einstein. He is a past
director of newborn services at the
Weiler Hospital of the Albert Einstein
College of Medicine.
Mazal tov to Libby Kahane ’55YUHS,
who just completed “Rabbi Meir
Kahane: His Life and Thought,” a
book on the life of her late husband.
Mazal tov to Meyer Lubin, ’58FGS on
the publication of his collection of
essays, “Thrilling Torah Discoveries.”
Mazal tov to Seymour Moskowitz’54YC, ’56RIETS on the recent publi-
cation of two books: “Falcon of the
Quraysh,” a historical novel depicting
the eighth century Muslim conquest of
Spain, and “Inter-Religious Prayers,”
which is intended to help any person
unexpectedly called upon to offer a
prayer in public.
Mazal tov to Monty Noam Penkower’59YUHS, ’63YC and his wife Yael, of
Jerusalem, on the birth of their newest
grandson, Moshe Ro’i Ne’eman, born
to their children Avi and Rochelle Pen -
kower of Talmon, Israel. Mazal tov to
the Penkowers also on the Bar Mitzvah
of their grandsons Nachshon Yosef
Roth in Jerusalem, and Aharon Ohev-
Shalom Penkower in Talmon, Israel.
Mazal tov to Roz and Rabbi AlvinPoplack ’58BRGS on the marriage of
their granddaughter Sara Steinberg to
Barry Rubin.
Sheldon Rudoff’50YUHS, ’54YC,
’57RIETS recently
joined the New
York City office of
Phillips Nizer LLP
as a partner in the
corporate depart-
ment. Mr. Rudoff will continue to prac-
tice in corporate and commercial law,
representing privately owned business-
es, corporations, not-for-profits and
philanthropic organizations. Mr. Rudoff
serves as a member of the Board of
4 8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
Albert Einstein College of MedicineStern College for Women
Wurzweiler School classnotes
YUReview welcomes Classnotes submissions that are typewritten or neatly
printed. Relevant information (name, maiden name, school, year of graduation,
and a contact phone number) must be included. The magazine is not
responsible for incomplete or in correct information. Graduates of Cardozo,
Wurzweiler, Ferkauf, and Einstein may also direct notes to those schools’
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Classnotes may contain alumni family news, including information on births,
marriages, condolences, and bar/bat mitzvahs. Engagement announcements
are not accepted. We reserve the right to edit submitted items. We cannot be
respon sible for time-sensitive submissions that expire before publication.
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Join the alumni online community to be informed of upcoming events
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@
Directors of Yeshiva College and as the
honorary president of the Beth Din of
America and the Union of Orthodox
Jewish congregations of America. He
is chairman of the board of a UJA-
Federation agency, chairman of the
Audit Committee of the Conference on
Claims Against Germany and a
member of the audit committee of the
United Jewish Communities.
Mazal tov to Sol Steinmetz ’53YC,
’56RIETS, and his wife Tzipora, on the
birth of great-grandson Moshe
Menachem, in Israel. Mazal tov also to
the grandfather Steven Steinmetz’82YC and his wife Liba.
Dr. Joseph Sungolowsky ’55YC,
’58BRG, professor of French literature
and Jewish studies at Queens College,
City University of New York, and
adjunct professor of French at Stern
College for Women, wrote “La tentation
dans ‘Le Père Goriot’ de Balzac,”
which appeared on the Web site of the
Association Française des Enseignants
de Français (AFEF) on October 24,
2007, and “André Neher (1918–1988)
et Erets Israel,” which was published
in Delmaire, Danielle & Pollefeyt,
Didier, eds., “La pensée juive contem-
poraine,” Editions Parole & Silence,
2008. He also wrote “Hidden Children
in France (1940-1944): A Memoir,”
published in “The Hidden Child,” vol.
XVI, 2008.
Mazal tov to Dr. Gerald ’55YC and
Judith ’57TI Traub on the Bar Mitzvah
of their grandson Jake.
1960sCongratulations to Rabbi Edward Y.Abramson ’64YUHS, ’69YC, ’69JSS,
’73BRGS, ’73RIETS on the publication
of his book, “A Circle in the Square:
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Reinvents the
Synagogue.”
Mazal tov to Dr. Stanford Goldman’61YC, ’65AECOM, who was recently
honored with the Lifetime Achieve -
ment Award from the Society of
Uroradiology (SUR) at the annual
meeting in Rancho Mirage, California.
Mazel tov to Robert Philip Kaminsky’66AECOM who recently retired from
a successful career as a gynecologist
and has three granddaughters and
one great-granddaughter.
Mazal tov to Charlie and Susan
Rotsztajn and Robert J. ’64JSS, YC and
Judy Pransky on the recent marriage
of their children, Amanda and
Yehoshua.
Phyllis Maza Parker ’69SCW has been
named a shareholder at the Philadel -
phia law firm Berger & Montague,
P.C., where she specializes in securi-
ties class action litigation. She is
married to Charles B. Parker ’68YC.
Mazal tov to Joseph Pessah ’64YC,
’66IBC, ’68FGS on the birth of a
granddaughter, Hannah Grace. Mr.
Pessah recently lectured at the
Museum of Jewish Heritage on the
Jews of Greece during the Holocaust,
and the courage of his father in saving
many Jews during this period.
Benjamin Z. Richler ’60YC edited the
recently published “Hebrew Manu -
scripts in the Vatican Library.” His pre-
vious editorial work includes “Hebrew
Manuscripts in the Biblioteca Palatina
in Parma” and “Guide to Hebrew
Manuscript Collections.”
Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg ’69YC,
’74RIETS, FGS, ’92AG recently pub-
lished a revised and expanded version
of his educational text entitled, “Public
Speaking: A Guide for Study.” He and
his wife also celebrated the engage-
ment of their son Yaakov to Avital Kelin.
“Insights on the Haggadah and
Pesach” (1993), written by RabbiEliyahu Safran ’69YC, ’78RIETS,
’78FGS was reprinted (2003). Drawing
on the resources of Jewish thought
and extensive Jewish sources, Rabbi
Safran illuminates every aspect of the
Passover festival in 31 essays. Rabbi
Safran is vice president-communica-
tions & marketing /Orthodox Union
Kashruth division. He previously
served as principal of Yeshiva
University High School for Girls.
Dr. Edward Stim ’60AECOM lives in
Tokyo and works for the Japanese
medical assistance company
Emergency Assistance Japan (EAJ).
He speaks to physicians around the
globe, makes medical reports that
assist insurance companies in deciding
eligibility, and organizes medical
rescue missions. He is happy to be
a guide and offer a stayover to any YU
alumni who find their way to Japan.
1970sTamar S. Kramer Klein ’73SCW, ’79CSL
and her husband Yitzchok announce
the marriage of their daughter, Adina
Klein, to Ari Lerer. Mazal tov also to
the bride’s uncle, Rabbi Dr. Doniel Z.Kramer ’70YC, ’73RIETS, ’76BRGS,
and her grandfather, Rabbi MeyerKramer ’40YC, ’41RIETS.
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of LawFerkauf Graduate School of Psychology
Yeshiva College Bernard Revel Graduate School
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 4 9
of Social Work
Rabbi Shmuel Simenowitz ’75YUHS (second from left) recently
received a citation from the Hon. Uri Lapolianski, mayor of
Jerusalem, for his contribution to the journal, “The Environ -
ment in Jewish Thought and Law,” jointly sponsored by Sviva
Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection and the
municipality of Jerusalem. His article, entitled “Composting—
Torah Style,” traces the history of biomass use through
Talmudic times, using the laws of “hatmana” as a guide.
Simenowitz is the executive director of Project Ya’aleh V’Yavo,
Inc., a Torah-based environmental education program based
on his maple farm in Southern Vermont. His sugarhouse—
which is a functional synagogue—was built to resemble the
wooden synagogue from his family shtetl, Ivye, and is featured
prominently in the new book, “How Strange It Seems”
(Michael Hober man; University of Massachusetts Press, 2008)
about the resurgence of Jewish life in New England.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF JERUSALEM
Linda (Pattashnick) Klonsky ’71SCW
has been elected president of Kemp
Mill Synagogue and is a Ph.D. student
in organizational development at
Fielding Graduate University. In addi-
tion to teaching leadership at Hebrew
Union College in New York City, she
runs a firm that specializes in strategic
planning, leadership development,
organizational assessments and board
retreats. She and her husband Elliot
are pleased to announce that their son
David is an assistant professor in
clinical psychology at Stony Brook and
is married to Alexis Black.
Estelle I. (Faden) Krumholz ’73WSSW
recently received a certificate in
completion of a three-year program in
advanced study of psychoanalytic
psychotherapy from the Institute of
Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis of
New Jersey. She maintains a private
practice in Florham, New Jersey, and
her daughter Abigail recently received
her bachelor of arts degree from
Haverford College.
Mazal tov to RIETS Rosh Yeshiva
Rabbi Yaakov Neuberger ’77YC,’79RIETS
and his wife Peshi (Charlop) ’73YUHS,
’77SCW on the engagement of their
son, Motti, to Avigayil Schwerd. Motti is
the grandson of Rabbi Zevulun Charlop’47YUHS, ’51YC, ’54RIETS, dean
emeritus of RIETS and special advisor
to the president for yeshiva affairs.
Avery E. Neumark ’70YUHS, ’74YC has
been elected director-at-large of the
New York State Society of Certified
Public Accountants for the fiscal year
2008–2009. Mr. Neumark is the
partner-in-charge of employee benefits
and executive compensation with
Rosen Seymour Shapss Martin &
Company LLP (RSSM) and has more
than 25 years of experience in public
accounting and employee benefits
consulting. He also has served as
counsel to the law firm of Rosen &
Reade. Prior to joining RSSM, Mr.
Neumark served as a partner in Weber
Lipshie & Company and Ernst & Young.
Mazal tov to Dr. Abraham H. Pollack’73YC and Shelley Pollack ’72YUHS
on the birth of a grandson to parents
Sunni and Jonny Halpern.
Nava Rephun ’76WSSW participated in
a panel presentation at Stern College
sponsored by the SCW Psychology
Club and the YU Career Development
Center, on the topic “Careers in
Psychology.” She also gave a lecture
series at the Friar Tuck Inn in Catskill,
New York, on “Using the Imago
Approach to Develop Vibrant, Commit -
ted Relationships.” Nava is a licensed
clinical social worker and certified
Imago relationship therapist who works
with couples and individuals in her
New York City private practice, and
leads workshops in the U.S. and Israel.
Mazal tov to Rabbi Yitschak and Zhava’78SCW, ’82WSSW Rudomin upon the
marriage of their daughter Miriam to
Menachem Yifat and upon the birth of
their first grandchild, Yocheved, to
David and Sara Rudomin. Congratula -
tions to Zhava on obtaining her
licensed clinical social worker status
and her completion of the seminar in
field instruction at Touro College
Graduate School of Social Work in
order to supervise Touro College MSW
social work students.
Mazal tov to Philip Schiffman ’79YC,
IBC and his wife Miriam (Ryfka)’80SCW on the birth of granddaughter
Anna Michelle.
Mazal tov to Sheila and Larry Strulo witz’72YC on the birth of two granddaugh-
ters. Meira Tamar was born to their
son, Rabbi Joshua Strulowitz ’01YC,
’05RIETS and his wife Bethany ’01SCW,
’06AG, and Aliyah Serach was born to
their daughter Sari ’02SCW and her
husband Ari Kahn ’99YC.
Mazal tov to Deborah ’78SCW and
Heshy Wengrow, who serves on the
Orthodox Union Board of Directors,
upon the engagement of their son,
Yoni, to Tzippy Leidner.
Mazal tov to Samuel ’77YUHS, ’81YC,
’84RIETS, BRGS and Deena ’88AECOM
Zimmerman on the Bat Mitz vah of their
daughter Rivka Shafrira.
1980sNaomi (Bromberg) Bar-Yam ’81WSSW
is the founding executive director of
the newly formed Mother’s Milk Bank
of New England. A milk bank is a
service through which mothers who
have more milk than their babies need
pump and donate their milk to pre -
mature and sick babies.
Adena K. Berkowitz ’85CSL co-
authored, “Shaarei Simcha—Gates of
Prayer” the first liturgical work in the
modern era written by Orthodox
women for use in the Orthodox and
general Jewish communities. During
2007–2008, Adena served as scholar
in residence at Congregation Orach
Chayim and KRA in Manhattan and
the Great Neck Synagogue.
Mazal tov to RIETS Rosh Yeshiva
Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh ’89YUHS,
’97RIETS and wife Leora, on the birth
and brit milah of their son Yechiel
Yaakov.
Mark M. Goldberg ’84YC has been
appointed president of Carey Finan -
cial, LLC, the W.P. Carey & Co. broker-
dealer subsidiary responsible for
wholesaling its Corporate Property
Associates series of nontraded real
estate investment trusts. Prior to join-
ing W.P. Carey, Mr. Goldberg served as
CEO and president of independent
broker-dealer AIG-Royal Alliance, Inc.
He has also held senior management
positions at SunAmerica Financial
Network, AIG Securities–Tokyo, and
Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.
Mazal tov to Chanu ’88SSSB and David’87YC Goldis on the Bar Mitzvah of
their son Shmuel Elimelech in
November 2007 and the birth of their
triplets Gavriel Moshe, Arielle Charna
and Adielle Bracha in December 2007.
5 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
� classnotes
Wurzweiler School of Social Work
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of LawSy Syms School of Business
Yeshiva College
A, AECOM Albert Einstein College of Medicine • AG Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration • BG, BGSS Belfer Institute for Advanced Biomedical Sciences • B, BRGS Bernard Revel
Graduate School of Jewish Studies • BSJM Philip and Sarah Belz School of Jewish Music • CTI Cantorial Training Institute • C, CSL Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law • F, FGS Ferkauf Graduate School
of Psychology • I, IBC Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies • J, JSS James Striar School of General Jewish Studies • MSDCS Max Stern Division of Communal Services • Y, MYP Yeshiva Program/Mazer
School of Talmudic Studies • SBMP Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program • R, RIETS Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • S, SCW Stern College for Women • SG Sue Golding Graduate Division
of Medical Sciences • SB, SSSB Sy Syms School of Business • T, TI Teachers Institute • T, TIW Teachers Institute for Women • W, WSSW Wurzweiler School of Social Work • Y, YC Yeshiva College •
YH, YUHS Yeshiva University High Schools (MSTA The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy) (SWHSG Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls)
An Evening of Pop Art honoring
Suzanne and Miles BergerSTERN COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
Benjamin S. Chouake, MDYESHIVA COLLEGE
Philip FriedmanSY SYMS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
6 p.m. Reception
The
Ellie Kastel ’80WSSW has been named
executive director of the Boro Park Y
in Brooklyn. Ms. Kastel has worked at
the Boro Park Y since September
1980, first as its program director,
later as assistant director and, finally,
associate director. She brings with her
many years of experience and an
understanding and appreciation of the
needs of the community.
Mazal tov to Ephraim Kanarfogel’73YUHS, ’77YC, ’79RIETS, ’87BRGS,
the E. Billi Ivry Professor of Jewish
History at the Bernard Revel Graduate
School of Jewish Studies and at Stern
College for Women, who has been
elected to the American Academy for
Jewish Research, the oldest organiza-
tion of Judaic scholars in North
America. Members are nominated and
elected by their peers and thus
constitute the most distinguished and
senior scholars teaching Judaic
studies at American universities.
Professor Kanarfogel joins Yeshiva
colleagues professors David Berger,
Louis Feld man, Arthur Hyman, Haym
Soloveitchik and Richard Steiner as
a member of the academy.
Russell D. Mayer ’81CSL is a senior
partner in the Jerusalem-based law
firm Livnat, Mayer & Co. and recently
had an article published in “Law and
Financial Markets Review” entitled,
“Capital Adequacy Requirements for
Israeli Banks: The Impact of the Basel
II Accord.”
Hindy Najman ’88SCW has been
appointed director of the Center for
Jewish Studies at the University of
Toronto. Professor Najman received
her Ph.D. in Bible and post-biblical
literature from Harvard University in
1998 and subsequently taught at the
University of Notre Dame in South
Bend, Indiana. In 2003 Professor
Najman moved to the University of
Toronto, where she has been associate
professor of ancient Judaism in the
Department and Centre for the Study
of Religion at the University of Toronto.
Alan Steven Ronkin ’89YC, IBC was
honored by the Jewish Community
Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater
Boston with the Warren B. Kohn
Award for dedicated service to the
Jewish community. The Kohn Award is
presented to an outstanding Jewish
community relations professional each
year. Since January 2000, Ronkin has
served the Boston Jewish community
as JCRC’s deputy director. His passion
for the Jewish community is reflected
in his 20 years of Jewish communal
service, having worked at Jewish fed-
erations in Los Angeles, Cleveland and
Seattle. Since being in Boston, his
work has focused on Israel advocacy,
community and interfaith relations,
Holocaust programming and the devel-
opment of media and public relations
strategies. Ronkin led highly success-
ful efforts to defeat what the JCRC
considered anti-Israel resolutions in
the city of Somerville, developed a new
focus for the Israel Action Center, and
implemented JCRC’s rebranding.
For service and commitment to his
synagogue and his community, MarkS. Ross ’82CSL received the Distin -
guished Alumnus Award by the United
Synagogue of Conservative Judaism,
New Jersey region. Ross is the co-
owner of the Menorah Chapels at
Millburn funeral home as well as a
practicing attorney and the owner of
M. Ross Advertising, all located in
Union, New Jersey.
Evelyn (Sarota) Rutstein ’80SCW,
’82WSSW is a life coach specializing
in women going through transitions in
their lives. She and her husband
Dr. Stan Joel Rutstein ’80YC, JSS live in
West Hartford, and their son Yaakov(“Jay”) ’07YC recently married Tzirel
Cook. They are also grandparents
of a granddaughter, Channa, who was
born to Rochel (Rutstein) and Avi
Rosenholtz.
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 5 1
Bernard Revel Graduate SchoolFerkauf Graduate School of Psychology
Yeshiva University High Schools
Albert Einstein College of Medicine Stern College
Dr. Michael (Mike) Cohen ’93YC, ’93JSS, founder of The Galilee
Institute for Practical Zionism, and former YU sports information
director, women’s basketball coach and special assistant to the
director of public relations, was awarded the second annual
Defender of the Reserves award by Israel’s minister of defense,
chief of staff and chief of all reserve forces. The award was pre-
sented to 10 companies that exemplify the spirit of national serv-
ice and Zionism in uniform. Five major corporations, including the
Strauss-Elite conglomerate, Bank Mizrachi-Tefachot and Bezeq
Telecom, three midsize corporations and two community initiatives
were presented with the award this year.
Mark Sommer ’80YC is a visiting
professor at West Point Military
Academy in the Social Science Depart -
ment and has recently published
numerous articles in many different
U.S. Intelligence and Department of
Defense publications.
Mazal tov to Rabbi Brian Thau ’86YC,
’90RIETS, ’94AG and his son Avraham
Zvi Thau on the completion of the
entire shas Mishnayos.
Linda (Vlosky) Zack ’84SCW recently
graduated from Capital University Law
School and passed the Ohio state bar
exam. Linda is married to RabbiHoward Zack ’80YC, ’85BRGS, RIETS
and is the mother of Etana ’09SCW,
Shifra ’10SCW and Meira ’11SCW.
1990sOtto M. Berk ’90WSSW is now in pri-
vate practice in Forest Hills, New York.
Mazal tov to Dina Bogner ’97SCW and
Daniel Heiss, who were married in
April 2008. Dina’s parents are Gail and
William Bogner ’71YC, ’73WSSW.
Mazal Tov to Ariel Davis ’98YUHS,
’05YC and his wife Yael who had a
baby, Avishai Azriel. Avishai’s grand-
parents are Dr. Hillel ’72YC, ’75BRGS,
RIETS, vice president for university
life, and Rachayl Davis ’75SCW.
Mazal tov to Talia and Yitzi Flynn’93YUHS, ’00CSL on the birth of their
baby boy.
Isaac Geld, ’97WSSW was promoted to
director of community education
outreach at Citywide Adult Protective
Services.
Dr. Isaac Halickman ’98YC has com-
pleted his fellowship in cardiology at
Cooper University Hospital in New
Jersey. He is currently a staff cardiolo-
gist in southern New Jersey.
Mazal tov to Margy (Berkowitz)Horowitz ’94SCW and her husband
Jeremy on the birth of their son Natan
Zev (Nathan), brother to Julia.
Margy founded the Jewish Women’s
Repertory Company, a nonprofit
musical theater group for religious
women in Los Angeles.
Mazal tov to Shoshana (Scheide)Hurwitz ’99SCW on her aliyah to Maale
Adumim with her family in July 2008.
Sarah Klayn ’98SCW, SSSB and Gary
Klayn announce the birth of their
daughter Meirah Leeba.
Mazal tov to Shelley Klein ’93SSSB
and Judah Fierstein on the birth of a
baby boy.
Mazal tov to Amir and Necli Kohan’91SSSB, who had a baby daughter,
Natalie Sarah, in February 2008.
Mazel tov to Jeremy Kurz ’92YUHS,
’96YC, ’00AECOM and his wife,
Rebecca (Breslau) who are happy to
announce the arrival of a new son
Daniel Yisrael (Israel), brother to
Yonatan (8), Ayelet (5) and Aviva (2).
Mazal tov to Shira (Lieberman)Goldress ’96SCW, SSSB and her
husband, Gadi, who announce the
birth of a son, Eitan Pesach. Mazal tov
to grandparents Andrea (Kaplan)Lieberman ’69SCW and Dr. MichaelLieberman ’70YC and Leslie and Irwin
Goldress, and great-grandmothers
Esther Kaplan and Roslyn Novack.
Great-grandfathers were Rabbi MurrayH. Lieberman ’35YUHS, ’39YC, IBC
and Rabbi Philip (Pesach) Kaplan’36YUHS, ’39YC, ’42RIETS.
Mazal tov to Chana E. (Schiffmiller)Meyers ’96SCW and Tsachi Meyers on
the birth of their son Akiva Yonatan.
He joins siblings Atara Tzipporah and
Ariana Tamara. Mazal tov also to the
grandparents Shari (Spilky) ’72TI and
Rabbi Dr. Richard Schiffmiller’68YUHS, ’72YC, ’76RIETS, ’77BRGS;
and Josie (Kaplan) ’71SCW and JoelMeyers ’69YC, JSS.
5 2 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
� classnotes
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education
Sy Syms School of Business
ALUMNA PICKS YU BLUE
Shanna Blaustein Winters ’90YUHS, ’93SCW, ’96CSL, recently
left Yeshiva University’s “trademark” color blue on America’s
eminent publication relating to copyright law.
Working as an attorney for the U.S. House of Representatives
Judiciary Committee, Winters is chief counsel for the
Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property.
Winters has been with the Judiciary Committee since March
2006, and previously worked in the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office. She spent part of that time as a fellow for U.S. Rep.
Howard Berman (D-Calif.), chairman of the intellectual property
subcommittee where she now works.
Winters gets one interesting perk through her job. “As chief
counsel of the subcommittee, you get to pick the color of the
cover of the copyright book when it comes out. It’s basically an
unofficial tradition,” she explained.
So this past year, the Circular 92
Copyright Laws of the United States
and Related Laws Contained in Title 17
of the United States Code, October
2007 Version, was outfitted in YU blue.
“The previous counsel went to
Duke, so his choice color was blue, and
before him, the color was purple for
Northwestern,” she said.
“I debated about whether the color
should be hot pink, but then I decided
to pick Yeshiva, as I am a triple alum.”
Winters is not just a high school,
undergraduate and law school alumna of three Yeshiva schools;
she also represents the third generation of YU graduates in her
family. Her mother, Joette Milians Blaustein, graduated from
Cardozo in 1986, and her grandfather, Bernard Milians, graduat-
ed from both the Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies and
Yeshiva College in 1933.
This past summer, Winters presented Yeshiva University
President Richard Joel with a copy of the book in Washington,
when he joined the community for a shabbaton at Kesher Israel
Synagogue, in Georgetown.
Winters lives in Washington with her husband, Gary, a former
president of Kesher Israel, and their three children.
Jonathan Mishkin ’90YC, ’92RIETS
published “Think of It This Way,” a
book on informal Jewish education.
Rachelle Hannah Nash ’99CSL litigated
in the area of commercial real estate
and corporate law in supreme, appel-
late, housing and civil courts before
recently becoming one of the youngest
administrative law judges hired by the
City of New York.
Mazal tov to Jeremy S. Neiss ’99YUHS,
’03YC on his recent marriage to Alison
Leventhal. Mazal tov also to brother
Jonathon ’93YUHS, ’97YC and Mindy
Neiss on the birth of their son Yishai
Gavriel. Proud parents are RabbiMoshe S. Neiss ’68YUHS, ’72YC,
’74RIETS, ’75BRGS and Dr. Vivian J.Neiss ’91FGS.
Rabbi Eliezer Schnall, Ph.D., ’95YUHS,
’00YC, ’03RIETS, ’07FGS recently ran
a study assessing the efficacy of a
psychosocial intervention for use by
family medicine physicians. His results
were published in the June 2008 issue
of the journal “Family Medicine.”
Zvi Shapiro ’99SSSB and his wife Leah
announce the birth of their first child,
Adina Yaffa.
Avi Shmidman ’96YC delivered a
lecture entitled, “Cibarious Motifs in
the Festival Poetry for the Grace after
Meals,” at the Fifth Medieval Hebrew
Poetry Colloquium, held at the Univer -
sity of Groningen, in the Netherlands,
during July 2008.
Mazal tov to Miriam (Bluth) ’90YUHS,
’93SCW and Daniel Wallach ’93SSSB
on the birth of their fourth child,
Shlomo Yonatan (Yoni).
Mazal tov to Deborah Michelle Waltuch’94YUHS, ’98SCW, ’98SSSB, daughter
of Rabbi Marvin ’66YC, ’69RIETS,
’99FGS and Rosalie Waltuch, on her
marriage to Uri Frenkel.
Effy Zinkin ’93SSSB, ’96CSL chaired a
$1.5 million fundraiser for Tikva, a
charity dedicated to saving the lives of
orphaned, abandoned and abused
Jewish children in Odessa, Ukraine.
2000sDaniel Abramoff ’01YC has joined the
firm Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott
LLP. He earned his J.D. from Fordham
University, and his practice focuses
on real estate law.
Mazal tov to Zachariah ’07YC and
Penina (Oberstein) Abramowitz ’03SCW
on the birth of their son Naftali Yaakov.
Mazal tov to Alex Altberg, ’02YC and
Jennifer Feldman ’05SCW on their
recent marriage.
Mazal tov on the marriage of TamarEstreicher ’08SSSB to Yoni Braun.
Dr. Rachel Leah Farkas ’00SCW,
daughter of Zelda Farkas and Israel
Farkas of Willowbrook, Staten Island,
married Dr. Jacob Moalem, the son of
Rowena Moalem and Sasson Moalem
of Plainview, New York. Dr. Farkas is a
third-year surgical resident at Strong
Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New
York, and received her medical degree
from New York Medical College in
Valhalla, New York. Dr. Moalem is an
assistant professor of endocrine
surgical oncology at the University of
Rochester.
Lisa (Helprin) Feldman ’02SCW recently
completed her MPA in nonprofit man-
agement from the School of Public
Affairs at CUNY and was honored at
graduation for having the highest
academic record in the school. She
recently accepted a position with
Nishmat as its director of development
and alumnae relations in its New York
office. Her husband, Dr. Jonah Feldman’03YC, recently graduated from Stony
Brook Medical School and will soon
begin his residency at Winthrop
University Hospital on Long Island,
New York.
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 5 3
Theological Seminary and Administration
Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies
Stern College for Women
Albert EinsteinYeshiva University High Schools
‘Conventional’ AlumJeff Stier, ’93YC, ’96CSL was an attendee at both the Democratic
and Republican Conventions this year, on behalf of his non-profit
independent think tank, the American Council on Science and
Health, which works to debunk health scares and put public health
issues into perspective. His organization gets involved in public
debates when “junk science” finds its way into federal regulations,
often involving issues like alleged health implications of plastics, the
safety of nuclear energy
and food safety. He said
his time at Cardozo, and
especially as editor of
the Cardozo Law Forum,
prepared him well for
his role in public affairs
advocacy.
As an orthodox Jew,
Jeff said he enjoyed the
diversity of comments
and sideways glances he
gets when he wore his yarmulke at the national con-
ventions. “Last night [outside the Democratic National
Convention] someone tapped me on the shoulder to
say ‘shalom.’ “He said, ‘I am from South Lebanon, and
I’m on your side.’ ”
Jeff took the opportunity to attend and participate in a
myriad of Jewish events at the conventions, some of which were
sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, the National Jewish
Democratic Council, the Republican Jewish Coalition, AIPAC and
JPAC, a new left-leaning public affairs committee.
Because Jeff often appears on television and radio to debunk the
latest health scares in the media, he especially enjoyed the “Radio
Row,” areas at the national conventions, where many radio shows
broadcasted live on location in the unending hallways that run
around the perimeters of the convention centers. During the course
of one afternoon, Jeff’s voice was heard in over 100 cities, where he
spoke about a variety of issues in the public health arena.
He had a variety of unique Jewish experiences in the two cities,
both of which have smaller Jewish populations than cities in the
tri-state areas. He ordered in kosher sandwiches from the East Side
Kosher Deli with an Orthodox Union staffer and davened mincha with
a minyan in Denver. He visited the Chabad House in Minneapolis,
tempering an afternoon of schmoozing with lobbyists with an evening
shiur with Rabbi Manis Friedman. Jeff said he appreciated the
fellowship with other Jews to help process an exciting and sometimes
exhausting convention experience.
Mazal tov to Aaron Friedman ’08 SSSB
and Ariella Beth (Deyong) ’08SCW, who
recently had a baby boy, Dovid Gershon.
Mazal tov to Dassie and Ari Fuchs’07SSSB upon the birth of their
daughter.
Mazal tov to Rachel Hyman ’03SCW,
daughter of Dr. Dale and Ruth Hyman’69SCW, on her marriage to Steven
Schwartzberg.
Mazal tov to Scott Garber ’03SSSB and
Tova Lieberman ’07SCW on their
engagement.
Rabbi Ryan S. Girnun ’01YC, ’05RIETS,
husband of Bari (Rothstein) Girnun’01SSSB, AG, has just graduated from
the University of Miami Law School
with the distinction of summa cum
laude.
Judith Eve Gorelick-Feldman ’07SCW
married Joshua Rosenbloom. They
met as first-year graduate students at
Harvard, where she was in dental
school and he was in medical school.
Mazal tov to Sandy and Rabbi AlanKalinsky ’69YUHS, ’73YC, ’76RIETS,
’77FGS, director of the Orthodox
Union West Coast, upon the recent
marriage of their daughter Michelle(Michal) Ilana ’08SSSB to Jonathan(Yoni) Frankel ’07YC. Mazal tov also to
the grandparents, Harriet and Isador
Kalinsky, and to Yoni’s parents, Rabbi
Sam and Sharon Frankel.
Mazal tov to Joseph B. Korn ’00SSSB
and his wife Devorah (Rubin) ’01SCW
on the birth of their daughter Avigail
Bracha.
Mazal tov to Chaim Kozlovsky ’01YC on
his marriage to Randi Adelman.
Jeremy Kupferman ’06SSSB and his
wife Danielle joyfully announced the
birth of Noah Aaron. Mazal tov to
grandparents Alan ’82YC and Mindy
Peyser and Carole and Max Kupferman’65YUHS.
Sara Menchel ’07SCW, daughter of
Rabbi Gary Menchel ’74YUHS, ’78YC,
’81RIETS and Beatrice Menchel’74BGSS, ’77TI, was recently married
to Eric Pollak ’08YC.
Mazal tov to Isralight Avraham HaLevi
Rabbinic Enrichment Fellow Rabbi
Seth Nadel, his wife Na’ama (Fogel)Nadel ’03SCW, and their entire family
on the birth of a baby girl.
Mazal tov to David and Leora (Fein)Neuman ’08SCW on the birth of their
son Dov Gavriel. Leora is the daughter
of Renee (Edelman) ’83SCW and AlanFein ’83YC, ’87CSL. The baby was
named for his great grandfather DavidEdelman ’49YUHS, who is survived by
his wife, Hannah Edelman ’59SCW.
Mazal tov to Yair Oppenheim ’00SSSB
on his marriage to Aviva Bieler, daugh-
ter of Rabbi Richard C. Bieler ’74YC,
JSS, ’78RIETS, ’79BRG, senior execu-
tive director for community affairs.
Mazal tov to Sara ’08SCW, daughter
of Mindy ’80SCW and Steven (Shmully)Rosengarten ’76YUHS, who recently
married Saul Haimoff, son of Ellen
and Manny.
Mazal tov to Evan Rosenhouse ’05YC,
’06SSSB and Susanne Goldstone’02SCW on their marriage.
Mazal tov to Aliza ’06SCW, SSSB and
Dov Sassoon on the birth of their son
Charles Isaac.
Mazal tov to Amy ’02SCW, SSSB and
Shalom ’01YC Schwartz on the birth of
twin sons, Yehuda Bavriel and Shuvel
Aron. Mazal tov to the proud grand-
parents Janet and Berni Schwarz’77YC and Mona and David Schwartz.
Jonathan (Yoni) Shenkman ’07SSSB
recently joined Secemski & Associates,
a wealth advisory and financial
planning group within Merrill Lynch.
� classnotes
Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology
Yeshiva CollegeBenjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Yeshiva University High Schools
5 4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
Calling allPast Presidents and
Vice Presidents
who served on any of Yeshiva University’s undergraduate
student governments
WE WANT TO STAY IN TOUCH!
Please let us know which student body government you served on and the year
that you graduated.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Contact Melissa Klein atthe Office of Alumni Affairs
Email [email protected] call 212.960.5412
Mazal Tov to Drs. Joshua ’01YC,
’05AECOM and Rachel ’05AECOM
Sisser on the birth of their daughter
Rebecca Elizabeth.
Mazal tov to Ari Spodek ’05SSSB and
his wife Ariella on the birth of their
son Gaby.
Mazal tov to Marc and Elysia Stein’04SCW on the birth of a baby girl,
Abigail Paige.
Mazal tov to Victoria Stone ’08 SCW,
the Fredda Leff Presidential Fellow for
Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School
of Social Work, daughter of Natalie
and Ken Stone, on her recent mar-
riage to Ezra Sutton ’09YC (expected),
son of Nancy and Sam Sutton ’71YC.
Jenny and Samuel Sultan ’05YC
sponsored an Eruv in September in
honor of the marriage of Sammy’s
brother, Rabbi Raymond Sultan ’01YC,
’06RIETS to Chana Leora (Ora) Klein’06SCW. Sammy and Ray’s parents are
Dr. Ronald and Andrea Sultan ’78SCW.
Mati Sved ’08YC and his sister Amber,
children of Ira ’79YUHS and Naomi
Sved, were both recently engaged.
Mati will be marrying Jenny Steinberg’07SCW, and Amber will marry JosephDavid (Joey) Schwarz ’08SSSB.
Josh Vogel ’07YC, past SOY president,
and Tamar Grun ’07SCW were married
in Baltimore. Josh’s parents are Alan
and Cheryl ’80SCW Vogel.
Sharon Weiss ’03SCW, ’06AG was
recently married to Ben Greenberg,
who went to Lander’s College and is
currently completing his studies at
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.
Mazal tov to YaelWolynetz ’08SCW,
the Robert M.
Beren Presidential
Fellow for the
Yeshiva University
office of commu-
nications and
public affairs, daughter of Lori and
Larry Wolynetz, on her recent marriage
to Baruch Jakubovic ’09YC, son of
Holly (Yudkowitz) ’76SCW and Henry
Jakubovic, in Toronto, Canada.
Mazal tov on the marriage of SethZahner ’08SSSB to Ariella Noveck.
BOARD / FR I ENDSCALLOUTS
Mazal tov to Elie and Sara Weiss on
the birth of their son Jonah Zvi. Mazal
tov to Elie’s father, YU Board ChairmanMorry Weiss and his wife, Judith, as
well as brothers Jeffrey ’85YC and Zev’88YC Weiss.
Dr. Michael A. Stocker, secretary of the
Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s
Board of Overseers, has been appoint-
ed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as
chairman of the board of the New York
City Health and Hospitals Corporation,
the largest municipal hospital and
health-care system in the country,
serving 1.3 million New Yorkers annu-
ally. Since his election to the board in
1999, Michael has provided invaluable
service to the college. A member of
the executive committee and an
Einstein benefactor, he has also served
as chairperson of the hospital affilia-
tion committee, and as a member of
our ad hoc governance and nominat-
ing committees. Although the wisdom,
guidance and personal warmth he
brought to AECOM will be missed,
AECOM wishes him all the best in his
new position and thanks him for his
many years of dedicated service.
Mazal tov to Jack Zencheck, YU’s chief
procurement officer, and wife, Robin,
on the marriage of their daughter
Wendy to Tom Cavuoto.
Bernard Revel Graduate SchoolWurzweiler School of Social Work
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Stern College for Women Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 5 5
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� IN YUREVIEW � ONLINE � BOTH
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WE MOURN
Condolences to the family of Dr.Yehudah Assouline ’95YC, ’01AECOM,who died in July 2008.
Rabbi Eli Baum ’54RIETS, ’99FGS is
mourned by his wife Margot and by
their son Rabbi Shalom Baum ’88YC,
’92CSL, ’94RIETS.
Condolences to the family of Nisson A.Berlin ’64YUHS, who passed away inApril 2008. His family includes sister
Sarah Fishman ’55TI, brothers MosheBerlin ’54YUHS, ’58YC and the lateJoseph I Berlin ’62YUHS, ’66YC, andsons Elie and Avi.
Rabbi Jerome H. Blass ’44YC,’48RIETS, ’60BRGS, who died in April
2008. Condolences to his wife Rita
and children Dr. David M. Blass, Dr.
Robert A. Blass and Dr. Joel M. Blass.
Condolences to the family of CharlesBernstein ’74YC, who died in October2007.
Condolences to the family of DanielAlan Epstein ’82YC, ’82JS, who passedaway in September 2008.
Condolences to the family of AlizaEsral ’08SCW, who passed away inJuly 2008.
Hyman Fleishman ’59IBC, ’59YC,beloved husband of Elinor and father
of Ovadaya Elchanan.
Sol Kalish ’48YUHS, father of JayKalish ’79YC, ’82CSL, president ofYeshiva University Israel Alumni and
father-in-law of Judy ’76YUHS, ’80SCW.
Henry Kamioner ’74YUHS, ’78YC, ’81Cpassed away suddenly. Condolences to
Henry’s wife Debbie ’78SCW, hisdaughter Chava Weisstuch ’05YUHSand his son Michael ’04YUHS.
Condolences to the family of Dr. BennyKraut ’68YC, who is survived by hiswife, Penina L. Kraut ’67BRGS, ’71TIand his daughter Yosefa Kraut ’04SCW.
Condolences to Harvey Lieber ’59YCon the loss of his wife, Vera ’60SCW.
Our condolences to the family of YoelLipschitz ’62YC, ’65BRGS, RIETS whodied in February 2008. He resided in
Petach Tikva for more than 35 years
and was the Baal Koreh and Baal
Tokeah in the Great Synagogue of
Petach Tikva for 22 years.
Condolences on the passing of RabbiDr. Levi Meier ’64YUHS, ’70RIETS,’71BRG, who was the chaplain of
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He is
survived by his wife Marcie; his broth-
er Rabbi Menachem Meier ’60YUHS,’66BRGS, RIETS and his wife Dr.Tzipora Meier ’63BG, ’67SCW; hisdaughter Chana Gelb ’94SCW and herhusband Rabbi Pinchas Gelb; and his
daughter Malka Grebenau ’04SCW andher husband Rabbi Maurice Grebenau’01YC, ’04RIETS, ’07AG.
Rabbi Dr. Moses Mescheloff ’32RIETS,rabbi emeritus, Congregation K.I.N.S.
(Knesset Israel Nusach Sfard),
Chicago, recently passed away. He is
mourned by his daughter Renah M.Bell ’58SCW, sons Rabbi DavidMescheloff and Rabbi EfraimMescheloff ’62YUHS, ’65RIETS anddaughter-in-law Felice Mescheloff’62YUHS, ’64TI.
Rabbi Leon Mozeson ’40YUHS, ’44YC,’47RIETS was the husband of Bernice
Mozeson, father of Rabbi Yoni Mozeson’77YC, ’80RIETS and father-in-law of
Navah Mozeson.
Rabbi Philip H. Reiss, ’48RIETS wasthe beloved husband of Gladys and
father of Gedalia.
Condolences to the family of RabbiIsaac B. Rose ’38YC, ’42RIETS, whopassed away in August 2008.
Yeshiva University
mourns the loss
of Yeshiva College
student DavidRottenstreich whopassed away on
Tuesday April 7,
2009 after a brief
but serious illness. Over 60 of his
friends and fellow classmates joined
together after night seder and maariv
on April 20 in the spirit of camaraderie
and love to remember David.
Condolences to Suzie (Schapiro)Steinberg ’84SCW, ’86WSSW upon thedeath of her mother Rosalee(Jacobson) Schapiro ’59SCW.
Jacob Silvera ’71YC, beloved husbandof Marlene.
We mourn the passing of Rabbi Dr.Victor M. Solomon, Col. Ret., USAF’50YC, ’55RIETS in June 2008. A
renaissance scholar, author, rabbi,
psychologist and psychotherapist, who
served as a pulpit rabbi in Philadel -
phia, Pennsylvania, and Fairfield,
� classnotes
Wurzweiler School of Social Work
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of LawSy Syms School of Business
Yeshiva College
5 6 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
Rabbi Dr. Leon A. Feldman ’48RIETS, ’57BRGS, renowned scholar,prolific author and master teacher, passed away on July 23, 2008,
at the age of 87 after a brief battle with cancer. He had served as
professor of Jewish history at the Touro College Graduate School of
Jewish Studies since September 2004. Dr. Feldman was born in
Berlin, and found refuge in England and Canada during World War
II, eventually settling in New York. In addition to semikhah, he
earned a D.H.L. from Yeshiva University and a Ph.D. from Columbia
University. He also received a doctorate from the University of
Amsterdam, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Oxford Uni -
versity, as well as an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University.
Dr. Feldman founded the department of Hebraic studies at Rutgers
University and taught there from 1962 to 1992, serving as distin-
guished professor of Hebraic studies. He also held visiting faculty
appointments at universities in Canada, England, Germany, Israel,
Spain and Switzerland, and was the founding rector of the College of
Jewish Studies in Heidelberg, Germany. Dr. Feldman’s many schol-
arly volumes and articles focus primarily upon medieval rabbinic
literature and, in particular, on responsa as a source for the study of
Jewish history. His critical edition of the sermons of Rabbi Nissim
ben Reuben Gerondi was awarded the Jerusalem Prize for Literature
and Jewish Thought in 1975. In 1988, he received the Rabbi Judah
Leib Maimon Prize for Rabbinic Literature and Jewish History. Dr.
Feldman was the recipient of numerous prestigious academic fellow-
ships, and served as consultant to a wide variety of Jewish commu-
nal and educational organizations. He had been a fellow of the
American Academy for Jewish Research since 1982. He is survived
by his wife, Elizabeth Small Feldman, his brother Emmanuel
Feldman, his sons Howard R. Feldman ’62YUHS and Peter B. Telem,his granddaughters Debra Belowich, Adee and Michal Telem,
grandsons Brian Feldman, Elan Telem, and great-grandchildren
Alexa and Talia Belowich.
Connecticut, then as the highest-rank-
ing Jewish chaplain in the United
States Air Force, he also was chief of
the Jewish chaplains in the Far East
and associate director of the Jewish
Welfare Board in NYC. His distin-
guished career was recognized by
Yeshiva College several years ago. A
graduate of YU’s High School for Boys
and Yeshiva College, he was ordained
by RIETS and earned three doctorates
from other universities. Heartfelt con-
dolences are extended to his beloved
wife, Marcia R. Solomon, to his sister
Rhoda Fefferman, to his children,
Yeshiva College and Yeshiva University
Museum Board member Rabbi Samuel(and Meryl, M.D.) Solomon ’81RIETS,BRGS, who are also YU guardians,
Shimon (and Lisa) Solomon, YitzchakSolomon ’84YC and wife Yosepha’87SCW, Avraham Solomon ’94YC andhis wife Rebecca ‘94SCW, and also tohis many grandchildren.
We mourn Leon Sutton ’43YUHS, ’47YC,brother of David Sutton ’50YUHS, whopassed away in September 2008.
Our condolences to the family of HarrySteinberg ’32YUHS, who passed awayin May 2008. He was one of the last
surviving alumni of Yeshiva College’s
first graduating class.
CONDOLENCES TO :
The family of Roland Arnall, whostrengthened the Jewish community as
a generous supporter of Jewish causes
around the world. With his beloved
wife Dawn as benefactors to YU, they
helped establish The Center for the
Jewish Future and supported educa-
tion and research at the Albert
Einstein College of Medicine. They
also established the Roland Arnall
Presidential Fellowship at YU. We
send our heartfelt condolences to his
wife and children, Daniel and Michelle;
his brother Claude; his nephew Adam
Bass; and to all members of the family.
Shirley Auslander, member of theJewish Studies Office, on the death of
her husband Heshy Auslander in May 2008.
Rachel Balsam ’62SCW, whose mother
Ann Steinberg passed away.
Rabbi Howard Seth Balter ’83YC,’85RIETS, devoted member of the
RIETS board of trustees, on the death
of his father David Balter in July 2008.
Rabbi Aharon ’56YC, ’58RIETS andLolet Batt ’59SCW, who mourn the lossof their grandson Yonadav HaimHirshfeld, age 19, of Kochav Hashahar,in the Yeshiva Mercaz Harav terrorist
attack on March 6, 2008.
Carl Bennett, husband of DorothyBennett, Yeshiva University benefactor,who passed away in May 2008. The
couple established the Carl and
Dorothy Bennett chair in pastoral
counseling at the Wurtzweiler School
of Social Work in tribute to Rabbi
Joseph H. Ehrenkranz, as well as a
major scholarship fund at the Sy Syms
School of Business. Condolences also
to their children, Marc and his wife
Katy, Bruce and his wife Jennifer, and
Robin and her husband Joseph
Kanarek, as well as to Dorothy’s sister
Florence Caplan.
Rabbi J. David Bleich, a RIETS RoshYeshiva and “Tradition” columnist, on
the passing of his daughter ChayaGurwitz.
Rabbi Jon Bloomberg ’69YC, ’74RIETSon the loss of his beloved father AllanBloomberg.
Jan Blumenfeld, senior director of oper-ations for institutional advancement,
on the death of her grandmother RuthBlumenfeld in April 2008.
Rabbi Aaron Chomsky ’42 YUHS,’46IBC, YC, ’51RIETS on the death of
his wife Lillian Chomsky.
Olga Cohen, on the death of herbeloved husband Ezra Cohen, in April2008. Symphathies also to their
daughter Chella and her husband
Moise Safra, a YU benefactor who
established the Women’s Health
Program at AECOM. The Cohens are
Yeshiva University benefactors who
have established and supported many
scholarships at Yeshiva University
and AECOM.
Dr. Jay ’81YC, ’85AECOM and MindyCinnamon and Dr. (Yussie) Robert andCarol L. Lesser ’72 SCW on the pass-ing of their mother Ethel Cinnamon.
Joseph Cukier ’00YC and Robert PhilipCukier ’02YC, whose beloved motherpassed away in September 2008.
Rabbi Eliot Feldman ’72 YC, JSS,’75RIETS, his wife Ann ’72SCW, andtheir sons, Joshua ’97SSSB, Jay Nathan’07SSSB and Jeremy ’02SSSB, on thedeath of mother and grandmother
Blanche Feldman.
Jeffrey Fiedler, member and pastchairman at Einstein, on the death of
his mother Caroline Fiedler in August 2008.
Jutta Freudenstein, whose husbandErich Freudenstein died in June 2008.Condolences to their children George’71YUHS, Deborah Fink ’73YUHS,Shoshana Silver and Michael.
Rabbi Joel Grossman ’83BRGS on theloss of his mother, Ruth Grossman.
Rabbi Yeshaya “Arnold” Heisler’40YUHS, ’44YC, ’46BRGS, RIETS,
Reuven “Ruby” Heisler ’51YC, TobyGoldberg and Yitta Weiss on the loss
of their sister, Dorothy Ciment.
Yeshiva University Benefactor
Geraldine Schottenstein Hoffman andher husband, Martin Hoffman, on thepassing of Martin’s brother, PhillipHoffman, in May 2008.
Rabbi Chaim Ilson ’68YUHS, ’72YC,’76RIETS, on the death of his wife,
Rebbetzin Esther Chana Ilson in June2008.
Professor Eliezer Jaffe ’55YC, TI, onthe passing of his wife Rivka Jaffe inSeptember 2008.
Bernard Revel Graduate SchoolFerkauf Graduate School of Psychology
Yeshiva University High Schools
Albert Einstein College of Medicine Stern College
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 5 7
L I L L I AN ZACH ’ 64F
Everyone in the Yeshiva University and Ferkauf
community mourns the loss of Lillian Zach,
a beloved alumna, founding faculty member
and mentor who taught every student in the
school’s psychology and school-clinical child
psychology programs during her 45-year
tenure. She chaired Ferkauf’s department of
educational psychology and guidance, served
as associate dean and was first director of its
school psychology program. She created the Ph.D. program in
school psychology and developed Ferkauf’s National Institute of
Mental Health fellowship training program. An early giant in the field
of school psychology in New York, she worked with the New York
City board of education and other school systems. Heartfelt
condolences are extended to her son, Dr. Jonathan Zach; her
brother Leon Feingold; and all members of her extended family.
� classnotes
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education
Sy Syms School of Business
5 8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
Rabbi Lowell Kronick ’63YUHS, ’67YC,
’70BRGS on the loss of his father
Julius Kronick.
Doris Kukin, a member of the Stern
College for Women Board of Directors,
who with her husband, Dr. Ira Kukin,a YU benefactor, mourn the loss of
Doris’ sister Evelyn Nadler.
The family of Hy Koblinsky, an
employee of Yeshiva University from
1985 through 1997, who died in
March 2008.
The family of Susanne Kornreich, with
profound sorrow, on the passing of this
dear friend and longtime, passionate
supporter of the Albert Einstein
College of Medicine. Susanne was the
beloved wife of former overseer
Matthew Kornreich, mother of Kathy
Weinberg—honorary president of the
division’s Westchester/Fairfield chapter
and a vice president of its national
board—and mother-in-law of Einstein
Overseer Samuel Weinberg. Susanne
was an honorary vice president of the
Westchester/Fairfield Chapter of
Einstein’s Women’s Division and
served on its national board. Deepest
sympathies are extended to all her
family.
Yonina Langer ’71SCW and MeiraDavis ’69SCW, on the passing of their
mother Lotte Katz of Brookline,
Massachusetts. Mrs. Katz is also
mourned by Yonina’s husband Dr.
Sidney Langer and their daughters
Talia and Naomi, as well as Meira’s
husband Rabbi Edward Davis ’68YC,
’70RIETS, ’71BRGS.
Rabbi Pinchas Stolper ’49YUHS, a
long-serving executive vice president
of the Orthodox Union, on the passing
of his sister Frayda Labovitz.
Meyer Lubin, ’58FGS and his son
Lazan, on the loss of Malka, a beloved
wife and mother.
Geri Mansdorf ’96AG, associate direc-
tor of admissions at Yeshiva University,
on the death of her father, SamuelSpiegel, in June 2008.
Susan Meyers ’92SCW on the death of
her grandmother Adela Engel.
Melekheh Nassimi and children Albert,
Morris, Mike and Edward, on the
death of their beloved husband and
father Aghajan Nassimi in May 2008.
He served as a member of YU’s
Sephardic Council of Overseers and
established the Aghajan Nassimi
Endowed Scholarship Fund for
Sephardic Students.
The family of Mortimer Propp, a distin-
guished Jewish communal leader who,
with his beloved wife, Eugenie, and his
brothers, Ephraim (and Gail) and the
late Seymour Propp, and his wife
Gabrielle, served as a YU guardian,
having jointly established the Propp
Brothers Scholarship Fund at the affili-
ated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological
Seminary in memory of their parents,
Morris and Anna Propp. Morris and
Anna were also founders of the Albert
Einstein College of Medicine and
supported many other projects within
Yeshiva University and the Yeshiva
University Women’s Organization
(YUWO), where all three sisters-in-law
—Eugenie, Gabrielle and Gail—are
members of the executive council.
Norma Rodriguez, administrative
assistant for campus events communi-
cations, on the loss of her mother,
Guillermina Rodriguez.
The kehillah of New Rochelle and
Scarsdale, NY, on the tragic loss of
Rabbi Jacob and Devorah Rubenstein,rabbi and rebbetzin of the Young Israel
of Scarsdale, who passed away in a
house fire in 2008. They are survived
by four children: daughters Shira’97SCW and Yocheved ’04YUHS,
’09SCW and sons Daniel and
Jonathan. Rabbi Rubenstein was a
past president of the Rabbinical
Council of America and a past chair of
the Rabbinic Cabinet of the United
Jewish Communities. Rabbi Ruben -
stein’s many awards over his lifetime
included the Yeshiva University Mrs.
Abraham Stern Service Award.
Before coming to the Young Israel of
Scarsdale, New York, where he was for
the past 20 years, Rabbi Rubenstein
served in pulpits in Milford, Massachu -
setts, and Providence, Rhode Island.
The Sy Syms School of Business on
the loss of Dr. Peter Lencsis, an
adjunct assistant professor of finance
and coordinator of insurance programs
since 2000. He taught insurance,
finance, estate benefits and employee
programs. He was also a beloved
student advisor and special projects
coordinator. Lencsis was the author of
many articles and several books on
business insurance, liability and work-
ers’ compensation law. Heralded as a
favorite of many students, he took
great pride in having been selected
adjunct professor of the year at Sy
Syms in 2007.
The family of Samuel J. Sable, who
with his late wife, Jean, and their
friends named the Samuel J. and Jean
Sable Chair in Jewish Family Social
Work at the Wurzweiler School of
Social Work. He was a devoted leader
on behalf of the university and many
other institutions. Heartfelt condo-
lences are extended to his children,
Marlene Weller, Heather Sable, Martin
(and Gayle) Sable, as well as his
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Rabbi Nachum Sauer ’69YC on the
passing of his mother Chana Bas AkivaSauer.
Jack L. Scharf, Esq., on the passing of
his beloved wife, Anita Scharf, who
together have been longtime support-
ers of Yeshiva University and its Rabbi
Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary,
personally and through associated
foundations. Anita was a kind, gentle
and caring friend, whose commitment
to Jewish education and to her family
was well known. Condolences are also
sent to their children Kenneth Scharf,
Donna Hoenig and their entire family.
Arnold Skolnick, husband of Beverly,
who was a past president of Young
Israel of Oceanside, New York. Our
thoughts go to his son Zev Skolnick’80YUHS, ’85YC and his wife Erica,
and to his daughter Naomi Kaszovitz’87SCW and ’90CSL and her husband
David ’80YUHS.
Dvorah Telsner ’63YUHS on the death
of her mother Edith in March 2007.
To the family of Anne Tanenbaum, who
passed away in April 2008. She was a
guardian of Yeshiva University and
generous provider of scholarships for
students at Yeshiva University and
AECOM. Condolences are sent to her
children, Joey and wife Toby Tannen -
baum, Minda and husband Les
Feldman, Tuaba and husband Sol
Spiro, Howard and wife Carole
Tanenbaum, Lawrence and wife Judy
Tanenbaum, Carol Tanenbaum, and
Jeannie Tanenbaum; to her brother
Bill and wife Noah Wolf; and to her
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Anne and her husband Max, who
predeceased her, were among the
most generous supporters of Jewish
causes in Toronto.
Wilfredo Toledo, lead mechanic in
facilities management, on the loss of
his brother.
Stanley Waintraub, a YUHS parent and
former member of the YUHS board,
on the death of his beloved father IzakWaintraub in July 2008.
Dafna Zwickler, on the death of her
beloved husband Rabbi Joel Zwickler’77YC, ’82RIETS, ’82FGS. We also
send condolences to his mother, Ruth
Zwickler, his sons Donald ’79YC and
Zvi, and his daughter Chavi Tilson’83SCW.
Theological Seminary and Administration
Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies
Stern College for Women
Albert EinsteinYeshiva University High Schools
Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 5 9
I N MEMOR IAM
E. Billie Ivry,Benefactor and First Female Trustee,Dies at 102
Yeshiva University deeply mourns the loss of E. Billi Ivry, a Universitytrustee, YU’s longest continual donor and a celebrated philanthropist ofJewish causes. Ms. Ivry died on October 18, 2008at her Manhattan home. She was 102 years old.“Billi Ivry taught us how to use all our being to
serve God,” said YU President Richard Joel in hiseulogy. “Her heart was large and pure, her spineupright with dignity and integrity, her eyes undi-minished in their foresight and love, and her lipsfilled with encouragement and humility.”Even as her eyesight faded, President Joel
noted, “her vision remained clear. That vision wasfocused on the children, on the Jewish story, onlearning and on knowledge. That vision focuseduntil the last on serving as a link between her parents, Rebecca and Israel Ivry, and our children,Jewish history and Jewish destiny.”In 1987, Ms. Ivry became the first woman ever
elected to the University’s Board of Trustees. Shewas also the first person to serve on the boards offive different YU schools: Stern College for Women(1987), Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law(1985), Bernard Revel Graduate School for Jewish Studies (1992) andAzrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration (2002).A YU Benefactor, Ms. Ivry memorialized her mother by endowing
the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College, thelargest and most diversified university program of Jewish studies inNorth America.Ms. Ivry also endowed scholarship funds, research fellowships, a
professorial chair, a free loan fund, a Beit Midrash [study hall], and a student center at various schools under the Yeshiva University banner,from Stern College and Cardozo to Rabbi Isaac Elchanan TheologicalSeminary.In 1987, Ms. Ivry was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane
Letters degree, the highest honor YU bestows upon an individual. In
conferring the degree, then University President and now ChancellorRabbi Norman Lamm said of her: “Throughout your life—in work and inleisure, in family and in community—you have unabashedly proclaimed,‘Ivry Anokhi’—I am proudly Jewish, a member of the Hebrew people.”Ms. Ivry served since 1992 on the Board of the Jewish Theological
Seminary, where she endowed the Rebecca and Israel Ivry Prozdor HighSchool and the E. Billi Ivry Professorship of Talmud and Rabbinics. She was served on boards of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity,the State of Israel Bonds, the Friends of the Bezalel Academy of Arts
and Design in Israel, and the Brookdale Center onAging at Hunter College. She also supportedJerusalem College of Technology (Machon Lev),David Yellin College of Education, and Boys Town,Jerusalem.E. Billi Ivry was born on August 27, 1906 in
Grajevo, Lithuania/Poland, one of seven childrenof Israel and Rebecca Ivry. Her father was in thelumber business in Europe and a paper box manufacturer in New York City, while her mother became very active in philanthropic workwith women’s organizations in Manhattan.After graduating from NYC public schools Ms.
Ivry accepted a summer secretarial job at UnitedCigars and was soon selected to work for variousexecutives. She so enjoyed her work that shedecided to forego her acceptance at HunterCollege to take a position as secretary to the CEOof that company.From there, she went to work as personal
secretary to the top executive of McCrory Department Stores; he fueledher interest in investing when he loaned Ms. Ivry a small amount ofmoney to invest on her own behalf.When Ms. Ivry was in her 50s she became a licensed stockbroker,
enjoying a successful second career at Bache, McKennon, E.F. Hutton,Prudential and Prudential Bache. This success propelled her third—andfavorite—career, as a philanthropist, following in her parents’ footsteps.Ms. Ivry is survived by her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces,
grandnephews and cousins, many of whom attended the special birthdaycelebrations sponsored by Yeshiva University over the years, includingher centennial. It was at that event that Richard Joel, the YU President,played the accordion. “I hope she forgave me for that,” he said in hiseulogy. �
A Look Back
CURIOSITY IS TIMELESS (and apparently much more formal in the ’40s). This student life
photograph, shot in one of our laboratories, was taken sometime during or after 1947 by
Herbert S. Sonnenfeld. We have identified the young man with the glasses as Theodore “Ted”
Kallner ’44YUHS, ’48YC. If you recognize the other two gentlemen pictured, let us know who
they might be at [email protected] and we will publish their names in the next issue.
6 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W
Jerry and I always valued what the school stood for, especially its mission of Torah Umadda. I think of it as a modern Orthodoxy—you can be Jewish, lead a religious life and also beengaged in the world.”
—MARY SWARTZ
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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ESTABLISHING A SCHOLARSHIP OR ENDOWMENT AT YESHIVA UNIVERSITY TO HONOR A LOVED
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InspiringFor one intensive and inspiring month—filled with lectures, tours andtraditional beit midrash [study hall] and chavruta [partner-style]study—20 Yeshiva University students traveled this past summer toIsrael as part of a program called July in Jerusalem. Now in its secondyear, the program is designed to provide those from secular back-grounds with focused learning about Torah and Jewish values.
During part of their month, students also had an honored guest intheir midst: Mary Swartz ’88C, the donor who has made this programpossible.
“It was wonderful,” Swartz said of her time with the program.“Young people have to have a real interest to make this type of com-mitment to their religious lives. They were able to build a tremendousidentification with Israelis, both on a spiritual and religious basis.”
Swartz’s own life experience has been marked by a deep commit-ment to her faith. A native of Cincinnati, she converted to Judaismwhen she and her late husband, Jerry, an advertising executive, wereliving in Tokyo. Years later, in 2004, the couple provided seed moneyfor YU’s then-new Mechinah Program, now the Gerald and MarySwartz Introductory Learning Program. The program takes studentswith limited foundations of Judaism and offers them unique experi-ences in Jewish life and scholarship. It was a perfect fit for theSwartzes’ interests in raising consciousness of the Jewish faith, espe-cially amongst unaffiliated Jews. Jerry, in particular, was passionate
about the concept of pintele yid, fostering the spark of Judaism thatexists in all young people of Jewish descent—a spark that can be easi-ly lost in the din of mainstream culture.
Swartz, who is currently working part-time as a lawyer for the cityof New York focusing on the issue of eminent domain, decided to spon-sor July in Jerusalem as part of her continuing involvement with theMechinah Program. “Jerry and I always valued what the school stoodfor, especially its mission of Torah Umadda. I think of it as a modernOrthodoxy—you can be Jewish, lead a religious life and also be en -gaged in the world.”
The Swartzes’ values are inextricably linked to the program.Shoshana Schechter, coordinator of the Basic Jewish Studies Programat Stern College for Women, noted that the Swartzes “had an incredi-ble amount of insight to understand that education is the key tostrengthening Jewish identity—we have a tremendous amount of grat-itude for how profoundly their gifts have enhanced our program andtouched our students.”
One student touched by the couple’s generosity is Cheryl Noll’10SCW, who had the opportunity to attend the recent session of Julyin Jerusalem. Noll, whose parents are both Israeli, had attended pub-lic schools her whole life and found the classes in Israel deeply affect-ing. “July in Jerusalem was a life-changing experience,” said Noll. “NowI know that this is where I’m supposed to be.”
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