Founded in 2005, the CJF– among other activities–now educates hundreds of ordained rabbis through its Rabbinic Training Placement and Continuing Education program; sends 1,000 students every year to help communities around the world through its Experiential Education and Service Learning program; makes 60,000 shiurim of YU rabbis and others available online through YUTorah.org; helps YU students and alumni find their intended through YUConnects.org; and sets up kollelim around the country through its Community Initiatives program.
This summer, the CJF ran day camps in five Israeli development towns: Dimona, Arad, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malachi, and Beersheba. Staffed by 60 YU students, the camps serviced over 350 Israeli children.
The Jewish Press recently spoke with Rabbi Kenneth Brander, David Mitzner Dean of the CJF, about the summer camps.Read the rest of this entry…
New Program from YU School Partnership to Develop and Advance Emerging Leaders in the Field of Jewish Education
Yeshiva University’s Institute for University-School Partnership (YU School Partnership) is pleased to announce the launch of YU Lead, a unique and highly experiential leadership development program for aspiring leaders in Jewish education.
Twenty-four participants were selected from a competitive applicant pool of teachers, division principals, student support faculty, curriculum coordinators and student activity directors. They will spend nine months immersing themselves in the study of leadership as they learn with experts in the field of education and a cohort of their peers. The learning will take place online—synchronously and asynchronously—and at two in-person conferences. Sessions will address topics on leadership, mission, vision, philosophy, budgeting and finance, instructional supervision, development, governance, distributive leadership, 21st-century education, parents and communication, and enrollment management. YU Lead will challenge participants to think deeply about their practice and to exercise their reflective, interpersonal and educational skills to maximize their leadership potential. Read the rest of this entry…
Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik Delivers Opening Invocation at Republican National Convention
Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, director of Yeshiva University’s Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, delivered the invocation at the opening session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, August 28.
“It is extraordinary privilege to deliver an invocation at a cherished ritual of American democracy,” said Soloveichik. “The fact that I have been teaching courses about the connection between Jewish ideas and American democracy makes this moment all the more meaningful for me.”
An associate rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan, Soloveichik graduated summa cum laude from Yeshiva College, received his semikha [rabbinic ordination] from RIETS and was a member of its Beren Kollel Elyon. In 2010, he received his doctorate in religion from Princeton University. Rabbi Soloveichik has lectured throughout the United States, in Europe and in Israel to both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences on topics relating to Jewish theology, bioethics, wartime ethics and Jewish-Christian relations. His essays on these subjects have appeared in Commentary, First Things, Azure, Tradition and the Torah U-Madda Journal.
“Yeshiva University celebrates its faculty and the opportunities they have to share their knowledge and wisdom beyond the walls of the University,” said President Richard M. Joel. “We also respect faculty’s right to their own political and policy views. Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik is a true son of Yeshiva and we are proud that he has the wonderful opportunity to address the Republican National Convention and to spread the Torah’s sacred values to the world.”
Helpful Advice for New Students from Dr. Chaim Nissel
With hundreds of new undergraduate students arriving on Yeshiva University’s campuses this week for Orientation, YUNewssat down with Dr. Chaim Nissel, YU’s recently-appointed University Dean of Students, to talk about his new role on campus and how incoming students can get off to the best start as they embark on their academic journey at YU.
Q: What is the role of the Dean of Students?
The dean of students oversees student life that occurs outside of the classroom—everything from the dormitories and student health to support services. I’m also happy to meet with any student to find out about their Yeshiva University experience and discuss ways to improve it. How are you adjusting to YU? How are you adjusting to life in New York? I want to hear how you’re doing.
Q: What’s your advice for new students beginning their college careers?
Make thoughtful decisions about how you spend your time to ensure your life is well balanced. Read the rest of this entry…
Students Arrive on Campus for Undergraduate Orientation
They come from Morocco, Panama, Austria, Switzerland and countries across the globe.
They dream of becoming first-rate biochemists, artists, teachers, business leaders and Jewish thinkers.
In all, more than 650 new students will arrive at Yeshiva University’s Wilf and Israel Henry Beren Campuses this week to begin their academic journeys at the only institution where high-level Judaic studies and cutting-edge academics go hand in hand.
Fall 2012 Orientation kicked off on Wednesday, August 22 with exciting and informative activities to help students feel at home. Newcomers learned their way around YU’s uptown and downtown campuses on interactive tours led by student guides, who introduced them to key faculty, staff and resources dedicated to their academic and personal success. Read the rest of this entry…
Nissel came to Yeshiva University 16 years ago and has held several positions in both clinical and supervisory roles, including serving as director of the Counseling Centers-Manhattan Campuses and as associate dean of students for health affairs for the past six years. He also introduced the YU community to the YU-SOS (YU Supports Our Students) program where Counseling Center staff train University employees to better respond to students in distress. Read the rest of this entry…
This fall, Yeshiva University students will find their academic experience enhanced by new faculty hires in fields spanning economics, chemistry, political science, history and Torah studies.
“Our new faculty members are dedicated to teaching our students and to a life of research—focuses that help build a great university,” said Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, YU’s vice provost of undergraduate education. “We hope that we’ll have very long associations with them as they continue to contribute to our students and to their fields.”
In particular, the department of economics, under the direction of Henry and Bertha Kressel Professor of Economics Dr. James Kahn, will be expanding with the addition of three new shared faculty members at Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women. Read the rest of this entry…
The new dual track program will draw from the best of both graduate schools to provide aspiring Jewish educators with high-level professional preparation by combining the pedagogical teaching in Jewish graduate education offered by Azrieli with the expertise in academic Jewish studies offered by Revel.
Prof. Jeffrey Glanz, Silverstein Chair in Professional Ethics & Values and director of the Azrieli master’s program, and Stuart Halpern, Revel’s assistant director of student programming and community outreach, will jointly coordinate the program.
“The goal of the program is to give the Jewish teacher of the future a well-rounded and complete education in both what to teach and how to teach it,” said Glanz. Read the rest of this entry…
Ariella Hellman Offers Nine Tips for Students Considering Law School
Yeshiva University students have traditionally done well at getting into the law school of their choice.
Ariella Hellman, pre-law adviser at YU
According to Ariella Hellman, pre-law adviser on YU’s Wilf Campus, 93 percent of law school applicants in 2011-12 reported being admitted to at least one law school—well above the national average of 71 percent. Those schools included top programs such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Cornell and YU’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
“Our students perform exceedingly well on their LSAT exams,” said Hellman. With an average score of 160.9, YU students score seven points higher than the national average.
Hellman attributes much of this success to “the many resources and pre-law programs available to students, YU’s strong connection to Cardozo and the University’s powerful alumni network.”
She added, “Students who take advantage of all that YU has to offer are in a great position to succeed.”
For students considering law school, Hellman suggests scheduling an appointment with the Office of Pre-Law Advisement as soon as possible for one-on-one guidance. Below, she offers nine tips for students interested in a career in law. Read the rest of this entry…
