Brown’s winning essay, “Losing Self, Finding Self,” focuses on lessons he learned while volunteering, and eventually coordinating many services, at a Washington Heights shelter after Hurricane Sandy.

Brown, an English major from Silver Spring, MD, said, “Hurricane Sandy taught me that you don’t need to fly half-way around the world to do meaningful and urgent community service. Sometimes, the most pressing needs are right under our noses, in local schools, in shelters, in community centers.”

He continued, “Elie Wiesel has always stood out as a literary hero and a humanist par excellance. His works sit on my bookshelves and, growing up, he taught me that silence, neutrality and indifference, are the ‘epitome of evil.’ To receive an award from him is humbling, to say the least.”

Brown is the current news editor of The Commentator, the official student newspaper of YU, and was selected as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper for the upcoming 2013-14 academic year. His volunteer work at the shelter was recognized at Yeshiva University’s Annual Hannukah Dinner, where he was selected as a “Point of Light.”

YU’s Program for Jewish Genetic Health recently launched a new, online educational resource, GeneSights, to inform Jewish individuals about the many genetic health conditions that affect the Jewish community.

The website, www.genesights.com, was launched in cooperation with YU’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

GeneSights consists of individual “lessons” with topics selected based on their current relevance to the Jewish community, including specific diseases and medical conditions, genetic technologies and bioethical issues.  The site’s inaugural lesson focuses on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and, more specifically, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.  Mutations in these genes are responsible for the vast majority of hereditary forms of breast and ovarian cancer, and are found in approximately 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jewish men and women, regardless of cancer history.  In addition to the inaugural lesson, GeneSights also is pre-loaded with a two-part “Genetics 101” webinar to serve as a genetics overview for the typical viewer who may desire a baseline lesson. 

New lessons will appear on GeneSights approximately every two months.  One upcoming disease topic is Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two conditions more prevalent in the Ashkenazi Jewish population.  On the technology front, GeneSights will explore pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), a reproductive option for couples who are identified to be at increased risk for passing a genetic condition on to their offspring. 

“Advances in scientific research have identified many genetic diseases and conditions that are commonly found amongst Jews,” said Nicole Schreiber-Agus, PhD, scientific and programming director for the Program for Jewish Genetic Health.  “In addition, advances in technology, and in genetic testing in general, continue to impact routine healthcare.  GeneSights is designed to provide the Jewish community with easy access to user-friendly, actionable information, as well as a better general grasp of the field of genetics and its associated opportunities and limitations.”

Seed funding for the GeneSights series was provided in part by UJA-Federation of New York and by a generous grant in honor of Beatrice Milberg.  For more information, visit www.GeneSights.com.

Ari Rockoff, director at the Department of Community Partnership’s Center for Jewish Future (CJF) at Yeshiva University, said, “The gift is significant because it follows a new model that represents a three-way partnership involving the donor acting as bridge between a local high school and Yeshiva University.”

The Ecksteins, who live in Nassau County, have a longstanding relationship with both Yeshiva University and HANC. Beryl Eckstein, has served as an Executive Board member at HANC for many years and is currently on the CJF Advisory Board. Beryl and Doreen are both graduates of Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women and have three children who all attended HANC and Yeshiva University. Their oldest son, Dani, graduated Yeshiva College in 2007; their middle son, David, graduated Yeshiva College in 2009 and is now studying for ordination at YU’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS); and their daughter, Rebecca, is graduating YU’s Stern College this year. There are many other family connections to the university, dating back two generations.

“Doreen and I would like to take this opportunity to thank both HANC and Yeshiva University for all that they have done to educate our children and for inspiring and instilling in them a love of Torah Im Derech Eretz,” said Eckstein. “We can think of no better way to acknowledge our appreciation than to help afford other HANC graduates the opportunity to experience the formative world of Torah Umadda at YU.”

Yeshiva University President Richard M. Joel will present the award, an engraved Jerusalem stone charity box, to  Zuckerman. Marcy Syms, president of The Sy Syms Foundation, and Moses Pava, dean of the Sy Syms School of Business, will also give remarks.

Zuckerman is the co-founder and executive chairman of Boston Properties. He is also the owner and publisher of the New York Daily News and of U.S. News & World Report where he serves as editor-in-chief. He holds degrees from McGill University, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School.

Among various philanthropic endeavors, Zuckerman is an active supporter of Israeli and international Jewish causes. Between 2001 and 2003, Zuckerman was the chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. President George W. Bush appointed Zuckerman to serve on the Honorary Delegation to accompany him to Jerusalem for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel in May 2008.

“As we celebrate our 26th anniversary at the Sy Syms School of Business, we have renewed our focus on integrating ethics into every course, celebrating the spirit of Jewish entrepreneurship across the curriculum, and emphasizing experience-based learning in everything we do,” said Dean Pava. “Mort Zuckerman is a fine choice for this very important award and we are delighted to have him as our guest.”

Rabbi Michael Taubes, head of school at YUHSB, said, “We are all very proud of Yishai’s amazing accomplishment. We know how much time and effort he put into preparing for this and were all rooting for him. It’s unbelievable just to qualify for the competition, but to actually win is incredible.”

Until Eisenberg’s victory, no American had won the contest since 1988, when another YUHSB student, and current RIETS Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Jeremy Wieder took first place.

Saperstein, who was valedictorian of YU at the 2012 Commencement, told the Manhattan Times, “We ask in return that they give us ideas also, so that we can build this intellectual community—this community of thinkers, of innovators, of teachers.”

Saperstein is now a student at YU’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he recently started Project TEACH, an offshoot of the program., similar to Project START! but with a recreational aim. Project TEACH is offered at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.

On what was promoted as a “historic” evening at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, Dr. Spiegel revealed that a bequest of more than $160 million—the largest gift in the school’s 60-year history—had recently been received from a leading Einstein supporter. The college has raised more than $400 million in this campaign, and is poised to meet or exceed its goal. The funds raised are allowing the research-intensive medical school to experience remarkable growth, spearheaded by the leadership of Dr. Spiegel, who arrived at Einstein in 2006 following a distinguished 30-year career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Of particular note was the recent bequest by longtime supporter Muriel Block, who died in 2010, having generously provided for Einstein through her estate. The gift, given in the name of Mrs. Block and her late husband, real estate executive Harold Block, will significantly advance the College of Medicine’s goal of improving human health, and in recognition the school will name several significant entities for the Blocks, including:

• The Harold and Muriel Block Institute for Brain Research;
• The Harold and Muriel Block Building, which will house administrative offices and additional research space;
• The Harold and Muriel Block Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at Einstein and Montefiore (the University Hospital for Einstein); and
• A series of 10 new, fully endowed chairs, known as the Harold and Muriel Block Scholars

To read more about Einstein’s Capital Campaign, click here.

Mr. And Mrs. Fluss were born in Poland.  Mr. Fluss grew up in Rozwadow and Mrs. Fluss (nee Kinderman) in Oswiecim, later known as Auschwitz. Since Rozwadow was in the area of Poland under Russian control, Mr. Fluss and his family were exiled to Siberia. Mrs. Fluss survived a series of German work camps until she was liberated. They met at a Displaced Persons camp in Germany, were married in 1949, and immigrated to the United States in 1951. They settled in Brooklyn before moving to Inwood, right near the Washington Heights community. Mr. Fluss worked as a bookkeeper in the Garment Center and eventually as a nursing home administrator. Mrs. Fluss was a homemaker, and when her children were older, worked as the supervisor of housekeeping in the nursing home. “Our parents were very dedicated to one another and had a very solid, loving marriage,” said Dr. Fluss.

Dr. Fluss and Dr. Kaplowitz wanted to create an association between their alma mater and their parents a”h. Most importantly, they want to establish the awards for Jewish learning, particularly Nach and Hebrew Literature.

“Our father was a lifelong student of both subjects,” noted Dr. Fluss. “He learned when he was a young child in cheder, where the breadth of a Jewish education was more expansive than today. Children didn’t only learn gemarah, but also Nach, Hebrew literature and poetry, as Zionism was in the air at the time. After he immigrated to America, our father took every opportunity to learn and always had a sefer in his hands.”

Dr. Fluss continued, “These awards are a perfect way to honor our parents, who truly valued Jewish education, and our father’s love and scholarship of these subjects.”

“Our father was a scholar in all areas,” added Dr. Kaplowitz. “He and my mother came to America with little knowledge of the language and culture, but he mastered English quickly, reading The New York Times daily. Nevertheless, our parents retained the rich traditions of the ‘alta haim,’ the old world, and Jewish learning.”

As an example of Mr. Fluss’s Torah erudition, Dr. Kaplowitz related that when her father attended the shiurim of Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt of the Riverdale Jewish Center, the rabbi made sure he was seated at his side, as Mr. Fluss could be counted on to supply a quick citation or reference.

Despite such demonstration of Jewish knowledge, Mr. Fluss’s innate modesty was recalled by Dr. Kaplowitz. She said, “I’m sure he would be perplexed to learn that any kind of honor associated with Torah learning would bear his name. He was all passion with no conceit. I’m also sure my mother would have urged him to accept it. She was his strongest source of support and encouragement.”

Mrs. Fluss passed away in 2009, while Mr. Fluss passed away in 2012, after suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia for several years.

“I truly believe our father, at his core, was pure yiddishkeit,” said Dr. Kaplowitz. “When he was failing in the latter stages of the disease, he often sat at the table with his talis, tefillin, and siddur, and davened most of the day. Whenever we came to visit, he would greet us with ‘Gut Shabbos’ or ‘Gut Yom Tov,’ no matter the actual day. “

Dr. Fluss and Dr. Kaplowitz highlight their parents’ devotion to their grandchildren. Dr. Fluss and his wife Donna have two children, Josh YC ’13 and Gabriella (Gavi), a freshman at the University of Maryland. Dr. Kaplowitz and her husband, Michael AE ’89, are the parents of Elianna, a junior at Barnard College, and Zev, who is learning in Yeshivat Lev HaTorah in Israel this year.

Benjamin and Rose immigrated to America from Poland before World War II. After a few years on the Lower East Side, they settled in the Bronx. Although it was difficult for a Jew to find a job that didn’t require work on Shabbos, Benjamin refused to give up, determined to remain Shabbos observant. He and his younger brother worked as peddlers until they formed a real estate company together.

Benjamin and Rose were baalei chesed who always gave tzedaka and maintained an “open door” policy, welcoming guests every Shabbos and whenever anyone needed a place to stay or a meal to eat. Benjamin, who never missed a minyan, learned Torah every night and made sure to learn with his children, Ann, Sol, and Helen (Laufer). Rose dedicated her life to doing chesed and was very active in The Bikur Holim Hospital in Israel.

“My parents, who were wonderful people, are very much deserving of having their names associated with the spread of Torah and increased Torah learning,” said Ann. “The Torah To Go is a perfect fit.”

Previously, Hy and Ann established a Kollel Fellowship at YU’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) in memory of Ann’s parents. They have also endowed the Abraham Arbesfeld Kollel Yom Rishon and the Millie Arbesfeld Midreshet Yom Rishon in memory of Hy’s parents.