Jan 8, 2009 — This winter break, 30 students from Yeshiva University and other colleges across the US will visit Texas as participants in the Jewish Life Coast to Coast Service Corps run by YU’s Center for the Jewish Future (CJF). The goal of the program, sponsored by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, is to create a life-shaping experience for the students by immersing them in Jewish communal life, exposing them to leadership opportunities across the country and providing them with the hands-on opportunity to help rebuild hurricane-damaged areas.

“Through their involvement and research, the students will gain a better understanding of the needs of the greater Jewish community and broader world community and how they can be a positive factor,” said Aliza Abrams, director of the Coast to Coast program.

As part of the program, students will meet with local rabbinic and lay leaders in Houston and Dallas, provide hurricane relief as volunteers in Galveston, work in lower income communities, contribute as educators and learn the importance of community involvement.

“I hope to attain leadership skills along with an appreciation of how easy I have it in New York,” said Stephanie Gampel, a Queens College sophomore. “Hopefully, this trip will help me to facilitate the growth of more Jewish communities.”

Rabbi Ari Segal, YC ’98 and WSSW ’01, head of school at the Robert M. Beren Academy— Houston’s largest K-12 yeshiva day school—and founding rabbi of Congregation Ahavat Yisrael, is excited to have the Coast to Coast students visit the Beren Academy.

“This program connects us to the larger Jewish world and lets our community know that we are part of something special,” said Rabbi Segal. “We can tell our kids about the value of having a Torah Umadda education, but when they sit with a group of students who represent the notion, it can be a life-changing experience.”

Evan Zauder, a Yeshiva College senior and first year semicha [rabbinic ordination] student at YU’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), will be participating in the Coast to Coast program for the third time.

“It’s really a pleasure to visit these smaller Jewish communities,” says Zauder, who plans on eventually living in one of these cities. “I consider my Coast to Coast experiences ‘pilot trips.’”

To learn more about the Center for the Jewish Future, please visit www.yu.edu/cjf.

Touring Rome's Coliseum were (L-R) Dr. William Schwartz, RIETS Trustee, and his wife Debbie, and Yocheved and Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter, Senior Scholar at Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future and the cruise’s scholar-in-residence.

Aug 15, 2008 — This summer, 82 alumni and friends of Yeshiva University explored the Jewish roots of Spain and Italy aboard a cruise ship on YU’s first travel and study program. The world travelers learned about the Jewish history of the region in lectures by Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter, Senior Scholar at Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future and the cruise’s scholar-in-residence, and spent quality time with President Richard M. Joel. The group set sail for their week in the Mediterranean from Rome on the Costa Concordia. They stopped in Savona, Italy; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Tunis, Tunisia; La Valetta, Malta; and Palermo, Sicily, where they visited Jewish sites and landmarks.

To see an online gallery of photos from the cruise, click here.

For more information on future YU trips, contact Heidi Kuperman at 212-960-0193 or kuperman@yu.edu

Jan 22, 2008 — Approximately 500 yeshiva high school students from throughout the United States and Canada had an opportunity to promote international law, wrestle with world hunger, and address the crisis of weapons of mass destruction this February. At least in theory.

At the annual Yeshiva University National Model United Nations (YUNMUN), organized by the YU Office of Admissions and run by YU undergraduates, students from 44 high schools participated in a simulated United Nations conference. The annual event, held this year at the Sheraton Stamford, CT, February 3-5, provides students with a forum to learn about diplomacy and debate tough issues affecting the global community.

“Our goal was to engage the students in relevant issues,” said Josh Levy, a senior at Yeshiva College and this year’s secretary general of YUNMUN. “We instilled in them an understanding that there is a world so much larger that the one in which they live.”

Each participating school was represented by a delegation of five to eighteen students and a faculty advisor. They spent months of preparation learning to represent their assigned country knowledgeably and skillfully, and submitted “position papers” outlining their country’s stance on designated issues. At the conference, students responded to crises that arise, negotiated for their country’s best interests, and penned resolutions for passage in the General Assembly.

The conference was divided into 15 committees, each of which was devoted to dealing with a specific UN sector. A team of Yeshiva University undergraduates chaired the committees, acting as passionate advocates of international involvement and as role models for YU’s mission of Torah Umadda [Torah learning combined with secular studies] .

Three new committees relevant to current affairs debuted this year: the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and a committee called 1540, focusing on weapons of mass destruction.

At YUNMUN’s close, an eagerly anticipated awards ceremony recognized outstanding individuals and schools.

Levy said, “Between a great staff, intriguing topics, and the power of competition, this was one of the best years yet.”

Dr. Steven Fine, professor of Jewish history and director of the Center for Israel Studies.

Jan 2, 2008 — The first issue of Images: A Journal of Jewish Art and Visual Culture—edited by Steven Fine, PhD, professor of Jewish history at Yeshiva University and director of the Center for Israel Studies, Vivian B. Mann, and Margaret Olin—is now available. Published by E. J. Brill, it is the first journal of Jewish art published in the United States.

Images features scholarly articles on Jewish art and visual culture, from Greco-Roman antiquity to the present day. The journal covers architecture, painting, sculpture, treasury arts, book arts, graphics, textiles, photography, and film.

“For the first time, the study of Jewish art and visual culture has entered the mainstream of the international Judaic studies community,” the editors write in the journal’s mission statement. “Contemporary scholarship on Jewish art and visual culture has been welcomed into the broader conversation within the wider academy, and a lively interchange among scholars has ensued.”

The journal is intended to be a forum for scholars across disciplines and continents whose focus is Jewish art and visual culture. “The broad and eclectic editorial board of Images reflects the diversity of thought and approaches that the editors hope to bring together and cultivate,” the editors say.

Every edition contains four to five articles, reviews of books and exhibitions, and notices of scholarly conferences or symposia on Jewish art.

The journal’s editorial office is located in Belfer Hall on Yeshiva University’s Wilf Campus. Stanley Mirvis, a master’s student at Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, is the managing editor.

Vivian B. Mann is the Morris and Eva Feld Professor of Judaica at the Jewish Museum and adviser to the master’s program in Jewish art and visual Cclture at the Graduate School of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Margaret Olin is professor of art history and visual critical studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

To download a free preview of the first edition of Images, click here.

May 30, 2007 — At a ceremony that was at once intimate and momentous, Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, held its first commencement exercises May 29.

Attended by degree recipients, family, friends, faculty, and administration, there was a palpable feeling that the participants were part of a large family celebration. The speakers addressed the pivotal role that Jewish education plays in the intricate fabric that is today’s Jewish community.

In an address to the enthusiastic gathering, YU President Richard M. Joel said, “The task of education is vast and we invest in it because our community will be led by nothing but the best.” President Joel went on to say, “I have many hopes for the world that my children and grandchildren will inhabit, and none of them can be fulfilled by me. They will be fulfilled by you.”

Of the degree recipients, six were awarded Doctor of Education degrees, six were awarded a Specialist’s Certificate in Education and 69 were awarded a Master of Science degree.

Dr. Scott J. Goldberg, director of the Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Division of Doctoral Studies at Azrieli, told the gathering that it was only a year ago that they were challenged to increase the numbers of doctoral students. Now, just a year later, those efforts have borne fruit that exceeds expectations not only in numbers, but in the quality of the applicants.

Azrieli Graduate School was established in 1983 in recognition of a major gift by the Montreal architect-builder and communal leader, David J. Azrieli. Since its founding, Azrieli has been a premier international center for the training of Jewish educators. Students come from every part of the United States, as well as Canada, Israel, and Europe Azrieli alumni serve at the helm of schools, educational agencies, universities, and communal institutions all over the world.

Dr. David Schnall, the school’s dean, spoke about the moral commitment and dedication that it takes to pursue a career in education in the face of more lucrative careers in such fields as medicine, law, and finance.

“All of you could have conquered any field of endeavor with ease,” he said, “and you chose another, more important path. Studies have shown overwhelmingly that the key to Jewish identity in the next generation is the Jewish day school.”

Azrieli’s mission is to train a cadre of Torah educators who will relay the rich knowledge and traditions of the Jewish heritage with warmth, joy, and intelligence. Its student body includes teachers and administrators, regardless of institutional or denominational affiliation, who seek to enhance their skills, and competencies while earning an advanced degree in Jewish education.

Jan 18, 2007 — Students from the Yeshiva University High School for Boys will leave on January 17, for Istanbul, Turkey, to spend their winter vacation learning about and strengthening the local Jewish community.

The 12 students, all from the New York/New Jersey area, will meet with local rabbis and Jewish communal leaders in an effort to learn more about the distinct challenges confronting the Turkish Jewish community. They will visit an old age home, interact with young people at a local Sunday school, run a program for youth groups, and visit local synagogues for daily prayers and learning programs.

“Turkey is a fascinating part of the world,” said Daniel Schuval, coordinator of special projects for the high school, who is accompanying the students on their trip. “The country has a formal relationship with the state of Israel and a rich Jewish history, but despite that the Jewish community is somewhat isolated. We are hoping that our students will interact with members of the Jewish community and learn from them.”

Local Jewish community members will show the students interesting sites in Istanbul. The school worked with the Office of the Chief Rabbi of Turkey to arrange for visits and touring opportunities. Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future also helped the high school plan the mission. A detailed itinerary of their trip is available.

The students were selected for the trip based on their ability to learn from the experience and share its lessons with others, which they will be expected to do when they return. “We also selected students who could bring their Torah Umadda (the view that religious studies and secular studies enhance and enrich each other) experience to life for others,” Mr. Schuval said.

On January 22, the students will travel to Northern Israel to help groups that were affected by the Lebanon war this summer. The time in Israel will be dedicated to providing hands-on-assistance to relief centers, facility renovation, and food distribution.

Yeshiva University High Schools teach and perpetuate the values of Torah Umadda. The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy /Yeshiva University High School for Boys and the Samuel H. Wang High School for Girls are dedicated to preparing our students for adulthood both as broadly educated and caring members of general society and as knowledgeable and committed Jews.

The YU High Schools provide a challenging academic program of general and Jewish studies in an atmosphere that grounded in adherence to the traditional ideals and practices of Modern Orthodox observance.

Jan 16, 2007 — Yeshiva University’s highly anticipated annual SOY (Student Organization of Yeshiva) Seforim Sale will take place from Sunday, Jan. 28 to Monday, Feb. 19 in Belfer Hall, 2495 Amsterdam Ave., on Yeshiva University’s Wilf Campus in Manhattan.

Last year the acclaimed Judaica book sale drew more than 15,000 people from the tri-state area and raised a record $1.2 million. Students, educators, and parents flock to the sale to take advantage of discounted prices on the latest of more than 15,000 titles in rabbinic and academic literature, as well as cookbooks, children’s books, musical recordings, and educational software. The sale is open to the general public. Books and CD’s can also be ordered online at www.soyseforim.org

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

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. A special event for Yeshiva University alumni will take place Wednesday, Feb. 14 featuring a book signing of My Yeshiva College by alumni authors, Menachem Butler and Zev Nagel.
A number of special events have been scheduled during the Seforim sale. On Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 pm “An Evening of Reflections on the Rav: Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, z”l will feature the New York premiere of “The Lonely Man of Faith,” a documentary by independent filmmaker Ethan Isenberg, followed by a panel discussion with some of the Rav’s renowned students in Nathan Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall on Amsterdam Ave. between 186th and 187th Streets.; on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 8 pm Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, will discuss her latest book, Life is a Test, in Lamport Auditorium.

Each Sunday morning the Kollel Yom Rishon program for men and Midreshet Yom Rishon program for women will take place as usual. Schedules are available at www.kollelyomrishon.org.
For a complete listing of dates and times and to view the catalog, visit www.soyseforim.org.
Founded in 1886, Yeshiva University brings together the heritage of Western civilization and the ancient traditions of Jewish law and life. More than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students study at YU’s four New York City campuses: theWilf Campus, Israel Henry Beren Campus, Brookdale Center, and Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus. YU’s three undergraduate schools –– Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women, and Sy Syms School of Business ––– offer a unique dual program comprised of Jewish studies and liberal arts courses.

Its graduate and affiliate schools include Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. YU is ranked among the nation’s leading academic research institutions.

Jan 9, 2007 — Yeshiva University’s highly anticipated annual SOY (Student Organization of Yeshiva) Seforim Sale will take place from Sunday, Jan. 28 to Monday, Feb. 19 in Belfer Hall, 2495 Amsterdam Ave., on Yeshiva University’s Wilf Campus in Manhattan.

Last year the acclaimed Judaica book sale drew more than 15,000 people from the tri-state area and raised a record $1.2 million. Students, educators, and parents flock to the sale to take advantage of discounted prices on the latest of more than 15,000 titles in rabbinic and academic literature, as well as cookbooks, children’s books, musical recordings, and educational software. The sale is open to the general public. Books and educational CD’s can also be ordered online at www.soyseforim.org.

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

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. A special event for Yeshiva University alumni will take place Wednesday, Feb. 14 featuring a book signing of My Yeshiva College by alumni authors, Menachem Butler and Zev Nagel.

A number of special events have been scheduled during the Seforim sale. On Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 pm “An Evening of Reflections on the Rav: Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, z”l will feature the New York premiere of “The Lonely Man of Faith,” a documentary by independent filmmaker Ethan Isenberg, followed by a panel discussion with some of the Rav’s renowned students in Nathan Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall on Amsterdam Ave. between 186th and 187th Streets; on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 8 pm Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, will discuss her latest book, Life is a Test, in Lamport Auditorium. Each Sunday morning the Kollel Yom Rishon program for men and Midreshet Yom Rishon program for women will take place as usual. Schedules are available at www.kollelyomrishon.org.
For a complete listing of dates and times and to view the catalog, visit www.soyseforim.org.

Jul 6, 2006 — To view the complete article, click on the link below (must be a registered user at www.nytimes.com):
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/01/us/01religion.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

May 12, 2006 — Four Yeshiva University students have been awarded Wexner Graduate Fellowships for Fall 2006. The prestigious fellowship provides $20,000 a year for up to three years of graduate training.

Yeshiva College graduating senior Efrayim Unterman of Bergenfield, N.J., will pursue rabbinic ordination at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), an affiliate of Yeshiva University (YU), in the fall, as will Jordan Rosenberg, a Pittsburgh native, graduate of University of Pennsylvania, and a teacher at Yeshiva University High School for Boys in Manhattan.

Stern alumna Hindy Poupko, a 2005-2006 Presidential Fellow at YU’s Center for the Jewish Future, will attend the dual program in Nonprofit Management and Judaic Studies at New York University. Ms. Poupko has roots in Cincinnati and Montreal. Roanoke, Virginia native Adena Kaplan, an NYU graduate and a program specialist at the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, will attend YU’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work.

The Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program was established by Leslie and Abigail Wexner to encourage promising candidates to meet the challenges of professional Jewish leadership in the North American Jewish community. Wexner Graduate Fellowships are awarded to 20 outstanding individuals to allow them to seek graduate training for careers in Jewish education, Jewish communal leadership, the rabbinate, the cantorate and Jewish studies.

“At Wurzweiler, I felt the sense that everyone I spoke to was saying ‘We think you could really contribute and be an important part of our community.’” Ms. Kaplan said about her decision to attend YU’s graduate school of social work.

“The fellowship and RIETS are a natural way to deepen my own knowledge and help me become a better Jewish educator,” said Mr. Rosenberg, who hopes to focus on curriculum development for both formal and informal Jewish education, such as outdoor programming.

All four students have also been designated as Davidson Scholars. William and Karen Davidson established an annual cohort of 10 Davidson Scholars in the career areas of Jewish education and Jewish communal leadership as part of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship.