Jan 22, 2009 — When he heard about US Airways flight 1549 crash landing in the frigid Hudson River, Rabbi Gideon Shloush raced to the NY Waterways terminal to see how he could be of help. He met with survivors and offered them counseling and prayers as they arrived back on land.

“It was a surreal experience. The place was a fortress,” said the rabbi, the coordinator of professional rabbinic education, advisement and placement for the Center for the Jewish Future/Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Rabbi Shloush also leads Congregation Adereth El in the Gramercy section of Manhattan, where many Stern College students pray. “I went up to the barricades, showed them my ID and explained that I am a rabbi here in midtown and they took me right in.”

Rabbi Shloush was featured on FOX NEWS with Shepard Smith on the day of the incident.

He was surrounded by survivors wrapped in blankets, detectives, police officers, people from the Mayor’s Office, community relations officers and people handing out American Red Cross blankets and food and water.

He met with two scuba-divers who were still head-to-toe in their full gear. “I thanked them for their heroic work and told them that they were messengers of God in helping to save lives.”

“To look someone in the face who just survived a plane crash is remarkable. You see their level of appreciation to be alive,” Rabbi Shloush said. “Their lives are forever changed. As that plane was about to hit the river they knew well that there was a good chance that they were going to die.”

Jan 22, 2009 — Yeshiva University offers a leadership initiative which provides a unique opportunity for graduates of Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women and Sy Syms School of Business. Qualifying graduates of the class of 2009 will be selected to spend 11 months (August 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010) as Presidential Fellows in University and Community Leadership. Fellows will be challenged to get involved in and affect many aspects of campus life while engaged in an in-depth learning experience.

The fellows, who will be selected competitively, will be assigned to a University or college office, be mentored by a University administrator, and participate in a leadership seminar, for which they may earn up to three graduate credits per semester.

Fellows will be involved in many aspects of University operations, will be responsible for special projects and will have the opportunity to interact with University administrators, faculty, and invited academic and communal leaders. Students who are selected will receive a salary of $24,000 plus fringe benefits for the year.

During 2009-10, fellowship placements may be available in the following departments:
• Office of the President
• Office of Academic Affairs
• Office of the Vice President for University Life
• Department of Institutional Advancement
• Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer
• Office of the General Counsel
• Office of Communications and Public Affairs
• Office of Administrative Services
• Office of Admissions
• Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration
• Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
• Stern College for Women Dean’s Office
• Sy Syms School of Business Dean’s Office
• Wurzweiler School of Social Work Dean’s Office
• Yeshiva College Dean’s Office
• Office of the Dean of Libraries
• Center for the Jewish Future
• Center for Ethics
• Career Development Center
• Office of Student Affairs
• Office of Athletics and Physical Education
• Yeshiva University High School for Boys
• Yeshiva University High School for Girls
• Office of Energy Programs & Sustainability

In addition to adding energy, inspiration and commitment to Yeshiva University, it is our hope that the fellows will gain skills and perspectives that will serve them well in whatever graduate or professional enterprise they choose to pursue.

Students should consider this fellowship regardless of their career objectives if they think that a year of service to the community and exposure to university administration will be of value and interest to them.

The online application form for the Presidential Fellowship is available here.

Jan 22, 2009 — Yeshiva University will hold its annual SOY (Student Organization of Yeshiva)Seforim Sale from Feb. 1-22 on YU’s Wilf Campus in Manhattan. Last year the acclaimed Judaica book sale drew more than 15,000 people from the tri-state area.

Students, educators, and parents flock to the sale every year to take advantage of discounted prices on the latest of more than 10,000 titles in rabbinic and academic literature, as well as cookbooks, children’s books, musical recordings, and educational software.

The Seforim Sale has become a highlight for the Yeshiva University community, as students and alumni congregate to visit their alma mater, see old friends and add books to their personal libraries.

“We expect another big turnout this year,” said Ophir Eis, CEO of the SOY Seforim Sale. “Aside from all the discounts available, we have a number of great events planned.”

The sale, North America’s largest Jewish book sale, is managed exclusively by students who run the entire operation from ordering to setting up the premises, marketing, and all the technology the project entails. Proceeds support SOY’s myriad of initiatives, which include student activities on campus and outreach programs in the Jewish community.

Scheduled events at the sale include:
- An alumni night on Feb. 3, which will feature a performance by the Maccabeats, the YU men’s a cappella group
- Live acoustic performance by Six13 on Feb. 4
- A lecture by Dr. David Pelcovitz and Rabbi Steven Eisenberg on Feb. 5 entitled, “What happens when your child isn’t you: Understanding the religious change after year(s) of study in Israel”
- Musical performance by Aryeh Kuntsler on Feb. 12
- Family Storytelling with Peninnah Schram, Professor of Speech and Drama at YU’s Stern College for Women, on Feb. 15
- Emunah cooking demonstration and book signing on Feb. 16

The sale takes place at Belfer Hall, 2495 Amsterdam Avenue in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. For a complete listing of dates and times or to view the online catalog, visit www.soyseforim.org.

Jan 22, 2009 — Yeshiva University High School for Boys (YUHSB) senior, Eli Putterman won a $5,000 college scholarship as one of two National Winners of the Siemens Award for Advanced Placements (AP).

Of all high school males in the country, Eli had the highest number of perfect scores on the eight AP exams considered for the award which include biology, calculus, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, physics, electricity and magnetism, and statistics.

The Siemens Award for Advanced Placements provides $2,000 scholarships each year to students from each of the 50 states who have earned the greatest number of perfect scores on the eight eligible AP exams. Two additional national winners (one male, one female) are named and receive $5,000 scholarships.

Eli’s other achievements include National Merit Scholarship semifinalist in 2008; 2nd place in the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Physics Bowl 2008 Division II; Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award winner 2008; first author, “The Square Cat,” American Journal of Physics vol. 76 (2008); Research Science Institute participant, 2008; as well as National Honor Society officer 2008.

Putterman, a Bergenfield, NJ native who plans to study in Israel at Yeshivat Har Etzion next year and then pursue his bachelors degree in math and physics, is undecided which college he will attend.

He singled out his AP calculus and physics teacher, Dr. Edward Berliner, for his support and guidance. “Over my four years in high school, he has been the driving force behind my academic success. Dr. Berliner has encouraged my interest in science and opened many doors to enable me to pursue that interest.”

Dr. Berliner, who served as Eli’s teacher and faculty advisor had the utmost praise for his student. “Eli is truly a very special student who possesses the rare gift of imparting just as much to the instructor as he receives.”