Jan 10, 2006 -- Yeshiva University students who will be in Israel during winter break will interact with former Gush Katif residents as part of “BeLevav Shalem,” a special program sponsored by The Center for the Jewish Future (CJF). On January 16, students will visit communities displaced from Gush Katif to learn about their situations following the Gaza disengagement. That evening, students are invited to a panel discussion at the Menachem Begin Conference Center that will focus on the social, religious, and emotional aspects of the disengagement. On January 18, students will volunteer in greenhouses with former residents of Gush Katif. In the evening, participants will have dinner with young Israelis to learn more about the realities of life in Israel. Students on both the Wilf and Beren campuses of Yeshiva University collected toys for the children of displaced families and will present them to the families during their visit. “This is a terrific opportunity for Yeshiva University students, no matter their political opinion, to help Jews in need,” said Rabbi Kenneth Brander, dean of The Center for the Jewish Future. “I am proud of the students who are leading this initiative. Their willingness to use their vacations for such an important event speaks volumes about their commitment to Medinat Yisrael (the state of Israel) and Am Yisrael (the people of Israel).” The Center for the Jewish Future works with YU’s colleges, schools, and affiliates to shape programs to train Jewish lay and professional leadership, develop initiatives and strengthen existing ones, and deliver services to its students and the broader Jewish communities.