Dec 19, 2005 — Nearly 300 Yeshiva College students, and more than 60 rabbeim, faculty, and staff attended the first annual “YUnite Shabbaton”, on December 2-3, 2005 in Stamford, CT.

The Shabbaton was intended to promote educational, religious, and social growth in a relaxed environment. The Shabbaton was a joint effort of all the student councils at the Wilf Campus, the President’s Circle, and the Center for the Jewish Future (CJF).

Over the course of the weekend, students attended panel discussions by rabbis from each of the undergraduate men’s Jewish studies programs- Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies (IBC), James Striar School of General Jewish Studies (JSS), Yeshiva Program/Mazer School of Talmudic Studies (YP), and Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program (BMP). Topics discussed included ways of increasing achdus (unity) on campus and challenges students will encounter when they leave Yeshiva University.

Throughout the weekend, rabbis and staff were available for open discussion. Students shared divrei Torah and participated in a Friday night tisch led by the rabbeim.

“It’s great to see our months of planning work out so well,” said Shmulik Rosenberg, Yeshiva Student Union president. “Celebrating our commonalities rather than focusing on our differences is such a powerful message and one we hope can be kept at the forefront of our minds and hearts.”

“This is just the beginning of the journey,” said Menachem Butler, SOY
President. “We hope that as an institution, both individually and collectively, we will continue to move forward.”

Rabbi Moshe Bellows, Director of Social and Organizational Leadership Training at CJF, said, “The student body has proven, once again, that if it wants to effectuate change at the university, it has the power to do so.”

Chancellor Norman Lamm, rabbis from the various Jewish study programs–including Rabbi Yosef Blau, mashgiach ruchani (spiritual advisor); Rabbi Meir Goldwicht, the Joel and Maria Finkle Visiting Israeli Rosh Yeshiva; and Rabbi Hershel Schachter, Nathan and Vivian Fink Distinguished Professor in Talmud at RIETS; and Mr. Leon Wildes of the Yeshiva College board of directors were also in attendance.

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