YU in Israel serves as a cultural, educational and networking hub, benefiting YU students and Israelis alike. This role as an education leader was on full display this past month when YU in Israel hosted numerous exciting events in the country.  

Danny Danon Book Launch

On June 1, YU held a book launch event for Danny Danon, former Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations and current chairman of the World Likud. Danon’s new book, entitled In the Lion’s Den: Israel and the World, highlights his role as Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. from 2015-2020 as well as his decision to enter politics and serve in Israel’s Knesset from 2009-2015. Approximately 70 attendees gathered at YU’s Jerusalem campus for a Q&A with Danon about his new book and his time at the U.N., moderated by Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent and analyst at the Jerusalem Post. Danon is also currently serving as a visiting professor at Yeshiva University.  

(l-r): Gil Hoffman, Danny Danon

  “I was honored to speak with Gil Hoffman from the Jerusalem Post at the pre-Shavuot Yeshiva University launch event in Jerusalem,” said Danon. “We spoke in-depth about my new book, In the Lion‘s Den, about my time as Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. and the challenges and successes I faced there as Israel’s representative to the world, and about the current political situation in Israel. I was delighted to meet and engage with the YU students. Chag Shavuot Sameach to all.” Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, director of the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University, was among those in attendance as well as his student cohort, the Straus Scholars, as part of their Straus Center visit to Israel. These students got to experience what the U.N. was like from Israel’s own ambassador, demonstrating YU in Israel’s ability to enrich students’ education with powerful guest speakers and innovative programming. The discussion was preceded by opening comments from Stephanie Strauss, executive director at YU in Israel, and Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern, senior advisor to the provost and Straus Center senior program officer. The program concluded with Danon distributing and signing books for attendees. This is just one of the many great events that YU in Israel held this past month.  

Mental Health Expo

On May 16, YU’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work and YU in Israel sponsored the Mental Health Expo at The Nefesh B’Nefesh Aliyah Campus in Jerusalem. The event attracted 1,400 participants for a daylong series of events aimed at discussing, confronting and solving the challenges of mental health as well as de-stigmatizing the subject. Dr. David Pelcovitz, the Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Chair in Psychology and Jewish Education at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University and one of the foremost experts in psychological issues in the Orthodox world, delivered a keynote address focused on the mental health challenges in a post-COVID world. The event also featured workshops on navigating Israel’s mental health system and the impact of trauma on mental health as well as numerous other topics.  

Dr. David Pelcovitz (second from right) and Stephanie Straus (right) with two members of Wurzweiler

 

Donny Morris Memorial Lag BaOmer Kumzitz and Concert

The University also sponsored a Lag BaOmer Kumzitz and Concert on May 17 to honor the life of Donny Morris, a 19-year-old graduate of YU’s boys high school who perished at last year’s Mount Meron Lag BaOmer tragedy in Israel. The celebration of Morris’ life took place at Yeshivat Sha’alvim, a Hesder Yeshiva and Jewish Boys’ High School located in Ayalon Valley, Israel. Morris was a student at Yeshivat Sha’alvim when he died. In addition to sponsoring the event, Yeshiva University also helped to organize the Kumzitz and Concert that had nearly 1,000 people in attendance and featured acclaimed singer Simcha Leiner. For the event, Yeshiva University partnered with Yeshivat Shaalvim, NCSY, the Orthodox Union and World Mizrachi.

Simcha Leiner

 

Chag HaSemikhah

YU celebrated a Chag HaSemikhah [rabbinical ordination] on May 23 at its Jerusalem campus to celebrate the ordination of the latest classes of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). Seventeen rabbinical graduates will become the next generation of spiritual leaders for the Jewish community. Eighty percent of Modern Orthodox congregations in North America are led by RIETS rabbis, and this new class will greatly benefit Torah learning in Israel.  

Rabbi Menachem Penner, Max and Marion Grill Dean of RIETS

  “It has been such an honor to work with our dedicated Yeshiva University team to put these wonderful events together,” said Strauss. “We are excited to keep this momentum going and to organize more activities that bring our Jewish communities together and demonstrate the unbreakable bonds between YU and Israel.”