Message From Our President
Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Friends,
I am pleased to present to you this Guide to our plans for the upcoming fall semester and reopening of our campuses. In form and in content, this coming semester will be like no other. We will live differently, work differently and learn differently. But in its very difference rests its enormous power.
The mission of Yeshiva University is to enrich the moral, intellectual and spiritual development of each of our students, empowering them with the knowledge and abilities to become people of impact and leaders of tomorrow. Next year’s studies will be especially instrumental in shaping the course of our students’ lives. Character is formed and developed in times of deep adversity. This is the kind of teachable moment that Yeshiva University was made for. As such, we have developed an educational plan for next year that features a high-quality student experience and prioritizes personal growth during this Coronavirus era. Our students will be able to work through the difficulties, issues and opportunities posed by our COVID-19 era with our stellar rabbis and faculty, as well as their close friends and peers at Yeshiva.
To develop our plans for the fall, we have convened a Scenario Planning Task Force made up of representatives across the major areas of our campus. Their planning has been guided by the latest medical information, government directives, direct input from our rabbis, faculty and students, and best practices from industry and university leaders across the country. I am deeply thankful to our task force members and all who supported them for their tireless work in addressing the myriad details involved in bringing students back to campus and restarting our educational enterprise.
In concert with the recommendations from our task force, I am announcing today that our fall semester will reflect a hybrid model. It will allow many students to return in a careful way by incorporating online and virtual learning with on-campus classroom instruction. It also enables students who prefer to not be on campus to have a rich student experience by continuing their studies online and benefitting from a full range of online student services and extracurricular programs.
In bringing our students back to campus, safety is our first priority. Many aspects of campus life will change for this coming semester. Gatherings will be limited, larger courses will move completely online. Throughout campus everyone will need to adhere to our medical guidelines, including social distancing, wearing facemasks, and our testing and contact tracing policies. Due to our focus on minimizing risk, our undergraduate students will begin the first few weeks of the fall semester online and move onto the campus after the Jewish holidays. This schedule will limit the amount of back and forth travel for our students by concentrating the on-campus component of the fall semester to one consecutive segment.
Throughout our planning, we have used the analogy of a dimmer switch. Reopening our campuses will not be a simple binary, like an on/off light switch, but more like a dimmer in which we have the flexibility to scale backwards and forwards to properly respond as the health situation evolves. It is very possible that some plans could change, depending upon the progression of the virus and/or applicable state and local government guidance.
Before our semester begins, we will provide more updates reflecting our most current guidance. Please check our website, yu.edu/fall2020 for regular updates. We understand that even after reading through this guide, you might have many additional questions, so we will be posting an extensive FAQ section online as well. Additionally, we will also be holding community calls for faculty, students, staff and parents over the next couple of months.
Planning for the future during this moment has certainly been humbling. This Coronavirus has reminded us time and time again of the lessons from our Jewish tradition that we are not in full control of our circumstances. But our tradition also teaches us that we are in control of our response to our circumstances. Next semester will present significant challenges and changes. There will be some compromises and minor inconveniences--not every issue has a perfect solution. But faith and fortitude, mutual cooperation and resilience are essential life lessons that are accentuated during this period. And if we all commit to respond with graciousness, kindness, and love, we can transform new campus realities into profound life lessons for our future.
Deeply rooted in our Jewish values and forward focused in preparing for the careers and competencies of the future, we journey together with you, our Yeshiva University community, through these uncharted waters. Next year will be a formative year in the lives of our students, and together we will rise to the moment so that our students will emerge stronger and better prepared to be leaders of the world of tomorrow.
Best Wishes,
Ari Berman
On Sunday morning, Central opened its doors to families from all over the New York area for an informative and exciting Open House. The entire administration, staff, and faculty were in attendance, as were seventy-five current Central students who were motivated to come to Open House out of love for their school. As the eager eighth-graders arrived with friends and families, they were warmly welcomed by members of our student body and faculty, who directed them into our cafe for registration. At a sumptuous breakfast buffet in the gym, visitors mingled with faculty and students, noting the beautiful displays around the room that encapsulate the range of opportunities available to Central students. The room filled quickly, and the audience for the formal portion of the morning was brimming in quantity and brimming with excitement. Associate Principal Ms. Beverly Segal began the program of our Open House by introducing one of the newest members of the Central family, freshman Shayna Orlow. Shayna sympathized with the eighth-graders during this pivotal period of decision-making, and she shared her own decision-making process, which ultimately led to her fantastic choice to become a member of the Central Class of 2020. Shayna recalled the immediate warmth she experienced as a new student: “Here at Central, every teacher and faculty member’s goal is to make sure you strive to become the best you can possibly be. Whether it be your principal, your science teacher, or even your basketball coach, they each want to see you reach your potential. The teachers here make an effort to connect with all of their students, and they constantly remind us to come to them for any help we may need.” Mrs. Miriam Goldberg, chair of the YUHS Board of Trustees, glowingly introduced Head of School Mrs. CB Neugroschl, who drew on the experiences of some of our exceptional seniors to illustrate the ways that our students learn to live a life of Torah U’Maddah. An inspiring video, incorporating testimonies of numerous students, demonstrated Central’s commitment to excellence and our mission to education the whole student, addressing her academic, social, emotional, extracurricular, and spiritual needs. Senior Ronit Landsman spoke to the success of that mission as she recounted her own experiences at Central and “its commitment to Torah learning and general learning for the sake of growth and knowledge. Our teachers at Central care about our academic performance, but care even more about providing us with the tools to see and approach life with a new understanding!” Director of Admissions Mrs. Aliza Gewirtz introduced herself and welcomed our guests to embark on the admissions process. Says Mrs. Gewirtz, “It was so exciting to have over 550 guests in attendance on Sunday, and I can’t wait to meet the incoming Class of 2021!” Our visitors then explored our school from an academic perspective as they sat in classrooms for four faculty presentations. In each room, our visitors experienced a microcosm of a day in the life of a Central student, learning two Judaic Studies lessons, and one each from the Humanities and STEM fields. As teachers rotated classrooms, their enthusiasm for their respective disciplines was palpable, as were their warmth and approachability. 
Eighth-graders then joined current Central students in the cafe for our Student Life presentation, which highlighted the countless opportunities available to students outside of the classroom. A media presentation introduced students to various facets of student life at Central, as did student representatives Ellie Berger (‘18), Shlomit Ebbin (‘18), Tamar Pollock (‘17), and Dodie Lee Weinberg (‘18), who shared their experiences and communicated the ways Central students can get involved. Shlomit spoke about our Performing Arts clubs, giving the audience a taste of her “slamming” poetry skills. The award-winning Central Choir, led by Leora Ciment (‘17) and Gabi Friedman (‘18), then performed a beautiful rendition of “Stand in the Light.” Tamar discussed the chesed and activism opportunities at Central, and Ellie recounted her experiences on the Ulpana Exchange Program, during which Central students spend six wonderful weeks in an Israeli high school, learning and living with their Israeli peers. After a media piece about athletics at Central, Dodie capped off the student presentations by talking about the life of a student athlete. An athletics-themed performance from our Dance Team, led Shana Neuhauser (’17) and Bruria Rabin (’17), brought down the house! After Student Activities Coordinator Ms. Leah Moskovich closed the Student Life Presentation, eighth-graders joined their parents, who were finishing up a session led by Mrs. Neugroschl about what to expect as a Central parent. The Curriculum Fair in our gym provided our visitors with designated time to speak with teachers by department, allowing them to pursue information about curricular goals and content, and to ask follow-up questions to those teachers who delivered mini-lessons. Teachers, administrators, prospective parents, and students past and present schmoozed over a delicious buffet lunch, wrapping up the morning feeling accomplished and excited. Said Ms. Segal, “Our dedicated student ambassadors, our faculty non-pareil, and our supportive parent representatives spread the warmth and kind welcome for which Central is known.”
