Alumni Day at the Seforim Sale Features Panel of Accomplished Alumni Authors Visitors to this year’s Alumni Day at the Seforim Sale, North America’s largest annual three-week Jewish book sale, were provided with a unique opportunity to hear from Yeshiva University alumni who are also accomplished authors. A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ann Peters, assistant professor of English at Stern College for Women, elicited thought-provoking perspectives on the writing process as well as insights into the risks and rewards of writing about controversial issues. [caption id="attachment_9717" align="alignleft" width="410" caption="Alumni authors (L-R): Landa, Koffsky, Diament and Blech."][/caption] But, most of all, the writers—which included longtime Yeshiva College professor Rabbi Benjamin Blech ’54YC, ’56R; health education specialist Sara Diament ’96S, ’98BR; children’s writer and illustrator Ann D. Koffsky ’93S; and photographer/dentist Dr. Saul Landa ’65YUHS, ’69YC—relished being able to return to their roots at YU. “I remember being one of the girls [working] at the Seforim Sale,” said Diament.  “It’s a very warm feeling coming back.” Koffsky, who read aloud from her book Noah’s Swim-A-Thon at the sale, has been back to Stern several times as a guest speaker.  “I come back and relive my youth,” she said.  “It’s cool to be here at the Seforim Sale.” Although Landa has traveled the world, including climbing to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, he still found it hard to believe that he was a featured speaker at Yeshiva University. His book is A Timeless People: Photo Albums of American Jewish Life. “[Participating on this panel] is a tremendous honor,” he said. “I’ve been coming to the Seforim Sale for 25 years and never thought I’d have a book here.” As for controversy, Diament lamented that her book, Talking to Your Children about Intimacy: A Guide for Orthodox Jewish Parents wasn’t controversial enough. “My husband said if I’m really lucky I’ll get put in cherem [excommunicated] like Salmon Rushdie and then sell a million copies,” she joked. “I wasn’t that lucky. The overall response was very positive.” [flickrslideshow acct_name="yualumni" id="72157629330350511"] Blech’s book, Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican, however, has elicited much controversy. “Michelangelo hated the pope of his time and incorporated anti-Catholic, even Jewish themes into his Sistine Chapel,” said Blech. The Seforim Sale is always a prime opportunity for alumni to mingle and share memories of their time at YU, and this year was no different for many visitors. Mordechai Plotsker ’98YC, came with his wife, mother and six daughters. “It was great to show my daughters where I attended school and to reminisce that in this very same room I took my finals. It was also wonderful to see all the enhancements on campus.” Rabbi Pinky Shapiro ’01YC, a former student council president and editor-in-chief of the Commentator, looks forward to the event every year. “It is an amazing, student-run operation that benefits the entire community. This year's selections were fantastic and it was a pleasure seeing generations of YU family all in one place. Best of all, you never know which friends you’ll happen to see.” Kid-friendly activities allowed the littlest participants to get involved. An interactive a capella session with members of the Y-Studs was followed by an arts-and-crafts project led by educators from the Yeshiva University Museum.  The workshops concluded with a storytelling session by noted author Peninnah Schram, professor of speech and drama at Stern College. The author, Chana Mayefsky, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Stern College in 2001 and earned her master’s degree from YU's Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies in 2008. She currently freelances as a writer and editor and is a regular contributor to Publishers Weekly. Mayefsky lives in Hillside, NJ with her husband and two daughters. none

Casts of 1776 and Bye Bye Birdie Offer Backstage Preview of Upcoming Student Musicals This winter, the Yeshiva College and Stern College Dramatic Societies will be performing two uniquely American musicals. 1776, opening on the Wilf Campus December 3, offers a hilarious yet insightful take on the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Bye Bye Birdie, opening December 11 on the Beren Campus, tells a heartfelt story about small-town America at the peak of Elvis fever—and the Korean War. [caption id="attachment_9005" align="alignleft" width="317" caption="The cast of 1776 rehearses a musical number."][/caption] YUNews spoke to actors and members of both casts about key moments to look out for in their productions, as well as their favorite, funniest and most surprising experiences so far. What moment should we keep our eyes peeled for? Rafi Skier, actor, “Charles Thomson” (1776): I wouldn’t want to spoil any of the fun for the audience, but my suggestion is to keep your eye on Ben Franklin. He bounces off every other character in a hilarious way, but he’s also got a serious opinion about everything deep down that will come out later in the play. Tani Isaac, dramaturge and actor, “Benjamin Franklin” (1776): I would say the end of the song “He Plays the Violin.” I don’t want to say anything more than that. Hannah Rozenblat, actress, “Edna” (Bye Bye Birdie): I recommend always watching the characters because you never know what they’ll do next. But you might want to particularly watch out for the moment when Conrad Birdie’s charm becomes a bit too much for my character, Edna, who is the mayor’s wife. What has been the biggest surprise so far in this semester’s production? [caption id="attachment_9009" align="alignright" width="348" caption="Hannah Dreyfus and Leah Gottfried prepare for the Stern College Dramatic Societies production of Bye Bye Birdie."][/caption] Aliza Slepian, director (Bye Bye Birdie): The biggest surprise for me was watching the auditions. Here were people I’d seen around school for years who came to auditions completely transformed. It was extremely entertaining—we laughed so hard we often ended up crying. Isaac: The talent of the new actors. We have a lot of new blood this semester and they are extremely talented. Ariel Meiri, actor, “John Adams” (1776): The amount of excitement this play has generated both on and off campus. While Yeshiva College Dramatic Society (YCDS) productions are always very popular, it is rare that tickets sell at such a fast rate. Lin Snider, director (1776): The members of the cast bring their own interpretations of the characters from their perspectives and imaginations, which together make this production unique. As young actors, they often actually take more risks than more seasoned actors and so we get a fresh view from their eyes of the risks our founding fathers took to create our country. What is your favorite moment? Meiri: My favorite moment of every YCDS production usually occurs during the two or three weeks prior to opening night. By that time, the cast members are already very familiar with the play and can focus on developing their characters. It’s also the time when we integrate all of the other aspects of production—props, costumes, music, lights, set, etc.—into our rehearsals. I look forward to the moment when all of the finishing touches have been made and I know that after all of our hard work, we are finally ready to perform in front of a live audience. [caption id="attachment_9011" align="alignleft" width="354" caption="Bye Bye Birdie cast members, Tova Lahasky and Ilana Himber, rehearse."][/caption] Ayala (Yali) Raichlin, choreographer, actress, “Margie” and “Gloria Rasputin” (Bye Bye Birdie): I love the character of Mrs. Peterson, played by Tova Lahasky. Although a smaller role, she is absolutely hysterical and the ultimate Jewish mother. What have you learned from being involved with drama? Slepian: Self-expression, communal accomplishment, and most of all, leadership. I’m still trying to find the right balance between being aware of individuals’ needs and simultaneously making the difficult decisions necessary for the show as a whole. Meiri: Including this semester, I have been involved in YCDS for the last seven semesters (six as an actor and one as a stage manager) and I can honestly say that I have treasured every moment of it. YCDS has given me a level of self-confidence and shown me just how much can be accomplished by a group of people collaborating towards a mutual goal. There is one person in particular who has been the impetus for most of the success I have enjoyed in YCDS, my wonderful director, Lin Snider. Lin has always encouraged me to be the best I can and has never failed to believe in my capabilities. Rozenblat: Being involved in drama is such a life-changing, eye-opening experience. It’s something I wouldn’t trade for the world. I have learned how important it is to sometimes just let go of your inhibitions and ignore your feelings of self-consciousness and just have fun. You feel like you’re on top of the world. What is the funniest thing that has happened during rehearsals? Skier: One time I called up the representative from Rhode Island (Stephen Hopkins) to sign the Declaration of Independence as Mr. Stephen Hawking. Another time, the courier brought me the wrong letter, and instead of reading it I had to run offstage and chase after him to get the right letter. The scene kept moving and the actors on stage laughed and improvised around it. These things occasionally happen during live performances and it’s good to see we’re up to the challenges this play may yet have in store for us! Slepian: There’s a scene where one character leaps into the arms of another, and one night, the second actress wasn’t paying much attention and kept dropping her. It may not have been that funny to her but we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Isaac: One of the funniest things that happens pretty much nightly is Lin, our director, writes short-hand notes on our performances as she watches us. No one can read her handwriting and sometimes even she forgets. One night, all we had to work with was, “Hopkins, go away.” Rozenblat: Laughter is said to be healthy for both the body and the mind. So rehearsals for Bye Bye Birdie are wonderful for us. I can recall a few instances where people couldn’t even stand straight because they were laughing too hard. Tickets for 1776, running December 3-8, are available for purchase in the Rubin Hall lounge and Stanton Hall from 12 p.m.-10 p.m. Tickets for Bye Bye Birdie, running December 11-13, will go on sale next week and can be reserved online by emailing sterndramatics@gmail.com. All tickets are $7 and 14% of proceeds will benefit Students Helping Students. To learn more about the productions, visit the Yeshiva College Dramatic Society and Stern College Dramatics Society on Facebook. one

PhD Students Enrolled at Revel School of Jewish Studies at an All-Time High After successfully defending her dissertation on August 4, Shana Strauch Schick, a New Jersey native now living in Detroit, will be awarded a doctorate in Talmud from Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. [caption id="attachment_8094" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Shana Strauch Schick is the first woman to receive a doctorate in Talmud from Yeshiva University."][/caption] “Learning has always been very important to me,” said Schick, who will formally graduate in September and spend the coming academic year in Israel conducting postdoctoral studies at Bar-Ilan University. “I enjoy it and it is integral to my religious life.” Schick initially began studying Talmud after high school because she could not reconcile two conflicting messages: “Talmud is the pinnacle of learning Torah yet it's not important for women to do so—this is not in consonance with the culture of modern Orthodoxy,” said Schick. “I felt that the lack of Talmud study in my life was both an educational and spiritual deficit. By pursuing a doctorate I could both continue learning and contribute to the understanding of how Talmudic law developed.” From their first classes together, Yaakov Elman, a professor of Judaic studies at Revel, noticed right away that Schick “knew her stuff” and encouraged her to pursue a doctorate. “More important than just being a thinker, I saw that she was a mentch [honorable person],” said Elman, who served as Schick’s advisor. “When you’re a caring, thoughtful person you notice things that others tend to overlook and that really helps in scholarship.” Schick holds a bachelor's degree in Judaic studies from Stern College for Women and a master’s degree in Bible from Revel. She also spent five years studying in the Graduate Program for Women in Advanced Talmudic Studies at Yeshiva University. “The fact that she’s been able to do all this while raising a family is impressive,” added Elman. “She exemplifies the best that YU has to offer.” According to David Berger, dean and Ruth and I. Lewis Gordon Professor of Jewish History at Revel, the completion of Schick’s doctorate comes at a time when Revel has been expanding and strengthening its doctoral studies to complement and build upon its thriving masters program. “The number of students in the PhD program—40 percent of whom are women—has more than doubled in the last few years,” said Berger. “We have added faculty in fields including Bible, Sephardic studies, modern Jewish philosophy, Jewish mysticism, Second Temple history, medieval Jewry, the Jews of early modern Europe, and modern Central and Eastern European Jewry.  With these steps, Revel has enhanced its position as a premier center for advanced Jewish Studies.” Learn more about the offerings available at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. 5 com

Eleven Undergraduate Students Participate in Research Program at Einstein Designing a mini-gene, testing how cells communicate and developing a new line of therapies to fight fungal infections—it’s all part of the summer fun for 11 Yeshiva University undergraduates participating in an advanced biomedical research program at YU’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine. [caption id="attachment_7998" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Yeshiva College's Daniel Rosen hopes his research will help develop a novel line of therapies for people afflicted by infectious diseases."][/caption] Called the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) and directed by Dr. Victoria Freedman, assistant dean of biomedical studies, the program has drawn 53 students in total from a variety of colleges and universities to engage in cutting-edge scientific studies, mentored by Einstein’s faculty. Each student is placed in a research laboratory in his or her field of interest and works closely with graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Group seminars and workshops throughout the summer give participants a broad overview of the many types of research conducted at Einstein and provides them with techniques and strategies to become better scientists. In August, the students share their work as part of a poster session. “The aim of the SURP program is to provide each student with the opportunity to experience the many rewards and challenges of biomedical research,” said Dr. Barry Potvin, a professor at Yeshiva College and visiting professor in the cell biology department at Einstein who oversees the selection process. “It is hoped that some will decide to include research in their future career plans and that they will apply for admission to Einstein's MD, PhD, or MD/PhD degree programs.” [caption id="attachment_8000" align="aligncenter" width="368" caption="Eleven YU students are taking part in Einstein's Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)."][/caption] The 11 YU students are clustered into three programs. Eight students—Amishav Bresler, Ariel Caplan, Irving Levine, Ariel Peleg, Daniel Rosen and Menachem Spira of Yeshiva College and Elisa Karp and Miriam Steinberger of Stern College for Women—were awarded scholarships through the Roth Scholars Program, funded by the Ernst and Hedwig Roth Institute of Biomedical Science Education at YU. In addition, Faygel Beren and Jordana Schneider were chosen as part of the University Summer Research Scholars Program, which is supported through the Provost’s Office. Nancy Shilian is participating through the Stern Einstein Research Connection (SERC), a program created by Stern alumni to provide funding for a Stern freshman or sophomore to perform scientific research during the summer. Each program provides students with a stipend and on-campus housing. “I enjoy the responsibility of running my own experiments,” said Jordana Schneider, a biology and psychology major from West Hempstead, NY, who is working in Dr. Jeffrey Seagall’s lab in the department of anatomy and structural biology. “So far I’ve learned countless new techniques and procedures that have opened my eyes to the wonders of scientific discovery. Over the course of the summer I hope to broaden my horizons and fine-tune my skills so that I can add value to my lab’s research efforts.” Schneider hopes to attend medical school in the future. [caption id="attachment_8003" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Stern College's Elisa Karp works in Dr. Matthew Gamble's lab in the department of molecular pharmacology."][/caption] For Elisa Karp, a biochemistry and mathematics major from Fair Lawn, NJ, the program’s emphasis on individual responsibility and self-growth was equally important. “My favorite thing about this program is the opportunity to work in a graduate lab where I am trusted to conduct independent research as a colleague, not just a student,” she said. Karp is working in Dr. Matthew J. Gamble’s lab in the department of molecular pharmacology and plans to pursue an MD while continuing in research. “I really like this lab because it involves many techniques of basic science research,” explained Karp. “I have also been given a really interesting project to work on—creating a mini-gene.” Daniel Rosen, a biology major from Teaneck, NJ, was impressed by the potential implications of his research in Dr. Joshua Nosanchuk’s infectious diseases laboratory for people afflicted by dangerous fungal infections. “My work has given me the opportunity to learn about and develop a novel line of therapies,” said Rosen, who also plans to pursue an MD “I am interested by the practicality and applicability of my research—my work will eventually help patients suffering from potentially lethal fungal infections.” one

Hundreds attend Yeshiva University’s Sixth Annual ChampionsGate National Leadership Conference Presented by the Center for the Jewish Future In Orthodox shuls in more than 90 communities across North and South America, Israel, and the United Kingdom this past Shabbat, seats normally occupied by key people were empty. Rabbis, presidents, board members and others—many of those who do the heavy lifting of communal life in their towns and neighborhoods—gathered in Orlando, Florida at Yeshiva University’s National Leadership Conference at the ChampionsGate resort. [flickrslideshow acct_name="yeshivauniversity" id="72157627061502403"] The invitation-only event presented by YU’s Center for the Jewish Future (CJF) from July 7-10 gave hundreds of Orthodox lay leaders and communal professionals—or, “lay and klei kodesh” [volunteers and professionals engaged in holy work], in the words of YU President Richard M. Joel—a chance to meet, network, compare notes and to consult one another on the challenges they face in their towns and neighborhoods. “ChampionsGate for us is a recharging station, providing the ideas and fuel for us to return home energized to play the leadership roles our small town requires of us,” said Pace Cooper, a philanthropist from Memphis, Tennessee. “Memphis, a town with only 9,000 Jews, is a strong Orthodox community relative to its numbers. YU spending time strengthening these smaller communities around the country is of extreme value to us.” The theme of the sixth annual conference was “Community Re-Imagined: Building New Horizons.” At seminars and panel discussions on topics ranging from the financial sustainability of day schools, to fundraising advice and practical tips for operating not-for-profit organizations, from the challenges of dating and early marriage in modern society, to how to keep families connected to schools and shuls in an increasingly stratified world, presenters sought to provide new strategies for building and strengthening communities. Experts from North Carolina’s world-renowned Center for Creative Leadership facilitated a number of breakout sessions, and YU experts in various disciplines provided confidential consultations to discuss challenges facing individual communities. University Trustee Ira Mitzner ’81Y, who also chairs the CJF advisory council, first thought to convene Jewish leaders from around the country together in one room in 2006. He and his wife, Mindy, offered YU the use of their new ChampionsGate resort. There were 40 attendees that year. Since then, the ChampionsGate leadership conference has grown into a highly anticipated annual event. With more than 400 participants, this year’s was the largest yet. “ChampionsGate is an opportunity for community leaders from around the world to discuss critical community issues, meet others with similar opportunities and challenges and come away inspired,” said Rabbi Kenneth Brander, The David Mitzner Dean of the CJF. “It represents one of the ways that Yeshiva University convenes its resources to foster and inspire community, as well as how community helps to calibrate Yeshiva's vision to empower its students.” Perspectives at the leadership conference were rich and varied. Featured speakers including University deans, faculty and administrators including Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schachter, University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought and Senior Scholar at the CJF; Dr. David Pelcovitz, Straus Professor of Psychology and Education at YU’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration; Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik of the new Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought; and Mrs. Shira Yoshor, partner at Baker Botts LLP, a University trustee and chair of the Stern College for Women Board. The conference also drew on the expertise and experience of its attendees, with discussions held by figures such as Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews; Rabbi David Stav, founder of the Israeli rabbinical group Tzohar, Rabbi Binny Freedman, director of Isralight; and Rabbi Steven Burg, national director of the NCSY. The gathering began Thursday afternoon with a brief comedic video by Uri Westrich, Yeshiva College graduate and director of the Maccabeats’ music videos, in which young children portrayed a “typical” shul board meeting. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYQ_Ub9LB2E During a live broadcast from the hotel on Friday morning, radio personality Nachum Segal ’84 YC introduced his international audience to the ChampionsGate Conference during his JM in the AM program. At Friday’s lunch, President Joel announced that an anonymous donor would make a $1 million gift to support YU’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) where rabbis are trained, tuition-free. “The overarching power of ChampionsGate is that it models and advances a hopeful vision of community based in Torah U’madda,” said President Joel. “Communities gather to celebrate their successes, share their challenges and resolve to continue their commitment to advancing the values and story of the Jewish people.” Shabbat was a highlight of the conference. Chazzan Shimon Craimer led the tefilot [prayers], Rabbi Kenneth Brander delivered a passionate sermon (to a congregation that included no fewer than 25-30 congregational rabbis) and conference participants were offered “A Taste of YU Torah,” the option to attend shiurim [lectures] on a breadth of subjects. They included community law of the Dead Sea Scroll sect with renowned expert and YU Vice-Provost of Undergraduate Education Dr. Lawrence Schiffman; or how rabbinic authorities are dealing with the agunah challenge ten years after September 11, presented by Rabbi Yonah Reiss, The Max and Marion Grill Dean of RIETS. Many conference participants were enthused to have their first chance to learn Torah at YU from Rabbi Soloveichik. His presentation on the halachic subject of levirate marriage was entitled, “The Talmudic Marriage of Henry the VIII.” “I didn’t realize how much I needed to reconnect with YU,” said Miriam Wallach ’96S of Woodmere, New York. She attended the conference with her husband Stephen ’92 SB, ’95C and found herself moved to tears during President Joel’s remarks at seudat shlishit [the third Sabbath meal]. “It was a wonderful weekend.” “Yeshiva University represents a broad tent of Orthodoxy,” said Rabbi Elliot Lasson of Baltimore, Maryland, who had been looking forward to ChampionsGate “because it offered the chance to learn from great personalities and network with leaders from other communities, celebrating successes and learning from challenges. “There is diversity and openness in the YU world, but at the core is commitment to Torah values and the future of the Orthodox world,” added Lasson. “ChampionsGate has had much thought and planning put into it—I know action items and initiatives will emanate from the conference.” none

Professor Cynthia Wachtell on Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation [caption id="attachment_2982" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Dr. Cynthia Wachtell"][/caption] Last week, I received an email message from the Ploughshares Fund, a nuclear disarmament advocacy foundation, asking, "What does Mother's Day Mean to You?" Suspecting that the correct answer was something other than a dozen roses and a box of chocolates, I read on: Over the years, we've lost the original meaning of Mother's Day to Hallmark-style commercialism. ...Mother's Day originally grew out of abolitionist Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation in the wake of the Civil War, calling for a day for women to promote peace and disarmament. As it happens, I was already familiar with Julia Ward Howe's "Mother's Day Proclamation." In 1870 Howe drafted the forceful pacifist manifesto—also known as her "Appeal to Womanhood throughout the World"—in which she called upon women worldwide to protest war and demand universal disarmament. "The sword of murder is not the balance of justice," she declared. Howe wanted women to join together for a day to advocate for peace. Read full article at The Huffington Post… Cynthia Wachtell is an assistant professor of American literature and director of the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program at Yeshiva University. She is the author of War No More: The Antiwar Impulse in American Literature, 1861-1914 (Louisiana State University Press, 2010). none

Apr 28, 2010 -- Inspired by the story of Ruth, some 200 young women assembled at Stern College for Women for an evening of Jewish scholarship and siyum [completion] presented by the Torah Leadership Network (TLN), a program coordinated by the Center for the Jewish Future (CJF). Representing high schools from across the tri-state area, the students divided into four chaburot [groups] to study and complete the entire Megillat Rut [Book of Ruth]. The evening also featured a lecture by Deena Rabinovich, an instructor in Bible at Stern and director of Stern’s Jewish Educators Project. “We wanted to do something special to mark the end of a year spent creating a community of Torah learning among the high school students and madrichot [advisors],” explained Sarah Emerson Helfand, director of women’s programming for the CJF. “By studying the story of Ruth—the epitome of strong Jewish female leadership—we were able to convey to our own undergraduates and the high school students, our firm commitment to teaching and developing strong Jewish women leaders.” Participating schools included Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central), SKA, Maayanot, Bruriah, Shalhevet, Yeshiva of Flatbush, HANC, Shulamith and Hillel. “I had a wonderful time seeing my friends from other schools,” said Devora Eisenberg, a sophomore at Shalhevet. “The food was great and the learning was awesome.” The program was organized and led by 40 undergraduate madrichot from Stern and women in the graduate-level Tanach Learning Program, who trained the madrichot and provided them with detailed source sheets. “As an alumna of Stern, it was both inspiring and heartwarming to witness the love of learning displayed by today’s generation of Stern students and wonderful madrichot,” said Mindy Sussman, a school administrator at Shalhevet. “I was equally impressed by the caliber of the Stern Torah studies faculty.” none

Feb 11, 2010 -- Eager for an opportunity to sample the Yeshiva University experience firsthand and spend an evening engaged in high-level learning, as well as reunite with friends and counselors from camp and enjoy delicious food, 225 high school students gathered at Stern College for Women’s Beren Campus on Thursday, February 4. The night of learning—part of the Torah Leadership Network (TLN), a program coordinated by the YU Center for the Jewish Future (CJF)—focused on women in Tanach. The students came from 11 participating tri-state area high schools, including Bruriah, HANC, Kushner, Ma’ayanot, Shalhevet, Shulamith, SKA and Yeshiva University High School for Girls. The girls broke up into small chaburot [groups], each being led by one of 60 Stern College student madrichot [advisors], and had a choice of attending two shiurim [lectures] given by Rebbetzin Smadar Rosensweig and Mrs. Yael Leibowitz, both renowned Judaic studies faculty at Stern. “One of the goals of this program was to provide Stern College students with the invaluable experience of both producing the program behind the scenes and acting as actual teachers and mentors to the girls,” said Sarah Emerson Helfand, director of women’s programming for the CJF. “In turn, the high school students are exposed to college-level Judaic studies.” Leah Moskovich, head madricha for TLN for Women, found it to be an inspiring overall experience. “It was wonderful seeing so many girls sitting together and studying Torah,” she said. “These high school students got a great taste of what Stern has to offer.” none

Sep 16, 2009 -- A new fellowship offered by Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women this fall, with the partnership and support of the Jewish Foundation for Education of Women (JFEW), will enable high-achieving, incoming sophomores to excel in the sciences. “Stern College is home to a record number of women enrolled in science programs in preparation for careers in both clinical areas and research,” said Dr. Karen Bacon, The Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of Stern. “With the support and encouragement of the Jewish Foundation for Education of Women, a select group will now have the benefit of enhanced scholarships, individual mentoring and stipends to conduct research—a combination that will inevitably lead to the highest levels of achievement.” The 10 recipients of the Jewish Foundation for Education of Women Science Fellowship will receive $10,000 annually in scholarship support for three years. An additional 10 will be awarded the fellowship next year. Each JFEW Fellow will have the opportunity to participate in summer research internships for which they will be offered a work stipend of $2,500. The fellows will be offered leadership opportunities over the course of their academic career, including attending and presenting research at national and international science conferences. In addition, they will receive one-on-one mentoring by a member of the Stern science faculty to foster and encourage academic achievement. The mentors will advise the students on course selection, research experience and preparation for graduate school applications. The students will also participate in lectures and workshops on topics addressing leadership training, career development and academic success. The first year will focus on getting the most from an undergraduate education; the second year will feature workshops on developing research; and the final year will concentrate on transitioning to post-graduate life. “Since 1880, JFEW has helped women to achieve their educational aspirations and to contribute to society,” said Jill Smith, vice president and chair of the foundation’s Jewish Community Program. “Stern is similarly committed to women’s educational achievement. We are proud to collaborate with Stern on the creation of this exciting and innovative program.” none

[caption id="attachment_3786" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Evelyn Havasi-Stavsky, a graduate of Stern College, is one of a group of alumnae setting up the SCW Future Fund."][/caption] Sep 3, 2008 -- The alumnae of Stern College for Women and Sy Syms School of Business (SCW) are carefully planting a seed that they will nurture as it grows into maturity over the next 10 - 25 years. A group of alumnae—Evelyn Havasi-Stavsky ’82S, Cali Orenbuch ’85S, Shira Yoshor ’89S, and Aviva Weilgus ’01SB—as well as Stern Board member Doris Travis, have spearheaded the creation of a long-term investment fund, the SCW Future Fund, that will bear fruit over the next two decades. “Alumnae have the opportunity to inspire first class women’s leadership and to perpetuate an enduring commitment to excellence in women’s education,” said Havasi-Stavsky, who is using her financial expertise as global head of the asset finance group at Citigroup Global Markets to help the fund get started. The fund, similar in concept to the YC100 Fund, has an initial target of $180,000 in seed money for Stern College, which the founders hope to reach with contributions from alumnae and friends. The funds raised will be invested and managed by the Investment Committee of YU’s Board of Trustees. “We want Stern alumnae to share in this unique opportunity to secure their alma mater for the future,” said Travis, a former banker herself for 25 years. “We hope to show the next generation what we have accomplished.” Initially, 1,000 shares are available at different levels, from half shares at $90 to 120 shares (at over $21,600), which entitles the shareholder to sit on the fund’s executive board. Board members will collectively decide how to spend the money once the fund matures. “We want to encourage alumnae to think of these shares as gifts to celebrate the birth of grandchildren, anniversaries, bat mitzvahs, and weddings,” said Travis. The SCW Future Fund is a unique way to give to the school as it presents the opportunity for alumnae to drive the school’s future growth, said Havasi-Stavsky, who recently joined Stern’s Board. With a daughter entering Stern in the fall and another daughter planning to follow in a few years, she said it was time for her to begin giving back to her alma mater. “I think that if any Stern graduate thinks about her college years—what Stern’s education did for her as an individual and how it helped her embrace her current community life—she’ll see the value of a commitment to philanthropy, which includes making Stern’s future education even better,” said Havasi-Stavsky. none