Dec 9, 2002 -- For the first time in its nearly 90 years as a university, Yeshiva University has named a president who is not a rabbi. Richard M. Joel, president of Hillel, an organization that provides services for Jewish students on college campuses worldwide, was named president of Yeshiva on Thursday, after a vote by the boards of both the university and its rabbinical school, the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Mr. Joel was widely credited with revitalizing Hillel, with many chapters experiencing significant growth in participation, fund raising, and the creation of facilities under Mr. Joel's leadership. But the students who participate in Hillel have a range of religious observance, while Yeshiva is considered an educational flagship of Orthodox Judaism. "People are thrilled to have someone who is a seasoned professional, communal leader, and respected Jewish thinker," said Peter L. Ferrara, a university spokesman. Mr. Ferrara added that Mr. Joel "received a pretty resounding mandate," citing the Yeshiva Board of Trustees vote of 35 to 1 in favor of Mr. Joel. Of the 28 members of the seminary's board, 26 voted for Mr. Joel, while 2 abstained. "He may not be a Torah educator or a rabbi, but he is a highly respected Jewish thinker," Mr. Ferrara said. "He's been largely responsible for a huge renaissance in Jewish life on campuses throughout America and the world." But according to an article in The Commentator, the undergraduate newspaper at Yeshiva, at least two rabbis at the seminary voiced opposition to the appointment of Mr. Joel at the last meeting of the rabbinical school board before its vote on Mr. Joel's appointment. Also, a petition started by a rabbinical student calling for a president who is a Torah scholar drew approximately 500 signatures, according to the newspaper. Yeshiva has been searching for a new president to run the university and the seminary for nearly two years. While Mr. Joel will assume both of those positions, he will not be the rosh yeshiva (chief scholar) of the seminary. All previous presidents of Yeshiva have had that position. Mr. Joel will succeed Rabbi Norman Lamm, who has served as president since 1976. Rabbi Lamm will be staying at the university in the newly created position of chancellor, and he will remain rosh yeshiva of the rabbinical school. According to Mr. Ferrara, the position of chancellor was created with Rabbi Lamm in mind. "I'm not sure there would be a chancellor position without him," he said. Before working with Hillel, Mr. Joel was an assistant dean of the Yeshiva University law school and director of alumni affairs at the university. Mr. Joel, who was not available for comment, released a statement on Thursday expressing gratitude to Hillel and anticipation of his move. "I am inspired by a vision of a Jewish renaissance," he wrote. "I believe Yeshiva University is central to that vision. Having a chance to foster the advancement of those ideals is an opportunity we could not resist."

©The Chronicle of Higher Education - Megan Rooney