Faculty

Classroom Meet the Cake Wars Featured in

Curators Musmachim for a Cause Prestigious
Series
4Page 3 4Page 5 4Page 7
4Page 8

YUTODAY
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

SPRING 2017

VOLUME 21 NO. 1

Chag HaSemikhah Celebrates Future Jewish Leaders

the world.
President-elect Rabbi Dr. Ari Ber-
man said, If you are to be rabbis, you
must impart chochmah [wisdom] and
exude anavah [humility]but you must
live with ahavah, with love. If you do so,
you will make Gods name more beloved
in this world.
The Chag HaSemikhah ceremony
took place in the Nathan Lamport Audito-
rium at Zysman Hall, with approximately
1,800 people on campus for the event and
close to 8,000 people viewing it online.
The musmachim currently living in Israel
will hold a ceremony at the Gruss Insti-
tute on June 8.
This class of rabbis represents an in-
ternationally diverse group, hailing from
five continents and more than 50 North
American cities. While most of the mus-
machim will remain engaged in either
full-time Torah study or in religious work
such as Jewish education, the pulpit, out-
reach or nonprofit management, many

M
ore than 130 new graduates of YUs Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Semi-
nary (RIETS) gathered to celebrate their ordination at the March 19 Chag
HaSemikhah. The graduates of the 20142017 classes joined more than 3,000
rabbinic alumni who have gone on to become distinguished Orthodox rabbis, scholars,
educators and leaders around the world.
In todays celebrants, Yeshiva embraces the continuity of our profound mission
of advancing Torah values, so as to guide, teach and lead our people and the world to a
better place, said YU President Richard M. Joel. As musmachim [ordained rabbis] of
Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, you have been trained in leadership, you have
been prepared to serve as our ambassadors of nobility, spreading the warmth of Torah by
constantly fanning its flames. Your commitment to Torah inspires people and elevates
will pursue careers in other professions, including medicine and law.
Elie Schwartz 13YC, 17R, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and now living
in Chicago, Illinois, spoke for many of the musmachim when he said that a primary
impulse in pursuing rabbinic ordination was the desire to professionalize my passion
for Torah by becoming a rabbi.
As they go on to build their careers, the new musmachim will benefit from the
unique education they received at RIETS. In addition to intense religious study with
renowned Torah scholars, the seminary offers an enhanced Rabbinic Professional Edu-
cation Program designed to meet the communal and spiritual needs of todays Jewish
communities.
Students receive extensive training in topics critical for public Continued on Page 4

New Associate Degree Program Opens Doors for Students

T
he Mordecai D. and Monique C.
Katz School of Graduate and Pro-
fessional Studies launched a new
associate degree program, directed by
Dr. Maria Blekher, to allow more stu-
dents to take advantage of the Univer-
sitys unique undergraduate educational
experience.
At YU, we believe it is our responsi-
bility to educate citizens and leaders for
the Jewish community and the world,
said Dr. Paul Russo, vice provost and
dean of the Katz School. While Stern
College for Women, Yeshiva College and
the Sy Syms School of Business do ex-
traordinary work transforming the lives
of their graduates, they meet the needs
of only part of our community. To carry
out our commitment to a broader popu-
lation, our admissions team is meeting
with students who seek to start college in
a two-year format and, at the same time,
immerse themselves in a Jewish experi-
ence with their peers on our campuses.
This innovative associate degree in
management is in keeping with our fun-
damental commitment to providing our
students with the skills and knowledge
needed to succeed in this information-
rich, fast-paced world, added Provost
Selma Botman. Its imaginative project-
based curriculum will bring ideas to life,
use New York City as a classroom and pre-
pare students to transfer into a bachelors
degree program or launch new graduates
into satisfying business careers.
As students in the cohort-based
program undertake the two-year associ-
ate degree program, they will enjoy full
access to the Universitys wide range of
Torah faculty and scholarship as well
as its expansive alumni network and vi-
brant life on campus. This includes par-
ticipation in a range of activities such as
athletic events, hackathons, theater pro-
ductions and service learning missions,
among many others.
Each step of the academic journey
will be fully supported both in and out
of the classroom by a dedicated adviser
and programming tailored to meet each
students needs. Students who success-
fully complete their associate coursework
and graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
will have the opportunity to enroll in the
Bachelor of Science program in business
and management at Sy Syms.
We at Yeshiva seek to advance and
inspire motivated young men and women
who will make meaningful contributions
to our community and beyond, said YU
President Richard M. Joel. We are com-
mitted to providing a world-class educa-
tion in the spirit of Torah Umadda and
believe that this associate degree program Dr. Maria Blekher, director of the associate
will offer a satisfying experience. n degree program

k For more information, visit yu.edu/katz/ug/associate-management

2 YUTODAY
Cardozo Law Clinic Secures YU|DIGITAL
Release of Five Detained in
Immigration Ban
VIDEO

Sharing Inspiration and Innovation

Luis Mancheno (right), of Cardozos Immigration Justice Clinic, celebrated at JFK airport with an Iranian immigrant
and his family
YU recently hosted its first TEDx talks at a sold-out event sponsored by
Neals Fund. The talks showcased the remarkable range and depth of
wisdom the YU community had to offer on topics as divergent as the
similarities between magic and therapy to the impact a childs name
can have on his or her development.
k Watch the talks at yu.edu/tedx

P
rofessors and students in the Kathryn O.
Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic at
Yeshiva Universitys Benjamin N. Cardozo
School of Law won the release of five immigrants
who had been detained and faced deportation at
JFK International Airport following an execu-
tive order in January that banned immigration
from certain countries. The order caused unprec-
edented upheaval as protestors began assembling
at the countrys airports. Professor Peter Mar-
kowitz, director of the clinic, mobilized a team of
students and teaching staff in the hours after the
ban was announced to begin working to repre-
sent those who were being stopped as they tried to
enter the country.
Cardozo students worked feverishly in teams
to assist those who initially had been cleared to
enter the country but were then turned away. The
students and faculty from the clinic played key
roles in gathering the facts of each individual case,
drafting petitions and winning the release of the
five clients. Their work was also critical in alerting
U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly to the urgency of
this matter and prompting her to issue a nation-
wide injunction in a Brooklyn court the following
night. VIDEO
Cardozo students were on the front line, rep-
resenting individuals whose futures hung in the
balance. In one case, the Cardozo legal team won
the release of a Syrian woman as she sat on an out-
bound flight preparing for takeoff.
Cardozo is committed to the rule of law
and the vigilant defense of the Constitution, said
Cardozo Dean Melanie Leslie. We are incredibly
proud of Professor Markowitz and the students
who used their legal training to ensure due process
of law for all people and to defend those in desper-
ate need of representation. Our faculty and stu-
dents responded with dedication, compassion and
professionalism, and I could not be more proud of Chag HaSemikhah 5777
the leadership they exhibited. n Experience the Chag HaSemikhah Convocation, where more than
130 musmachim celebrated their ordination.
k Watch the RIETS Chag HaSemikhah highlights at yu.edu/chag5777

YUTODAY
YESHIVA UNIVERSIT Y

Wurzweilers Stein Receives Career SPRING 2017

Achievement Award
VOLUME 21 NO. 1

MOSHAEL J. STRAUS
Chairman, YU Board of Trustees

D
r. Gary Stein, professor at the Wurzwei- RICHARD M. JOEL
President
ler School of Social Work, has been se-
PAUL OESTREICHER
lected for the 2017 Career Achievement Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Award from the Social Work Hospice and Pal- YUTODAY

liative Care Network. MATT YANIV

Director of Marketing and Communications,
Each year, the networks members honor Editor in Chief
their peers for outstanding achievements in YAFFI SPODEK
Editor
social work hospice and palliative care. Award-
MICHAEL BETTENCOURT PEREL SKIER HECHT GISEL PINEYRO
ees are among the top leaders in hospice and Associate Editor Associate Editor Art Director
palliative social work who have made a signifi- Daniel Abraham, Aliza Berenholz, Dina Burcat, Michael DiVito, Elliot Gabor, Caitlin Geiger,
Sari Goodfriend, Jeopardy Productions Inc., David Khabinsky, Rachel Lebwohl,
cant professional contribution to the field for Tonya Perme, Suzy Schwartz, Adena Stevens, Lauren Welles
15 years or more through a body of work, in- Contributors

cluding theory development, professional pre- yutoday@yu.edu www.yu.edu/cpa

sentations, teaching, research, publishing and
professional practice.
Not only is this award personally gratify-
Dr. Gary Stein ing, but it also recognizes the emerging growth
of hospice and palliative social work, an area
that will see significant expansion in the decade ahead, said Dr. Stein. Wurzweiler is addressing
YUToday is published by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs and is distributed
free to faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and friends. It keeps them informed of news
from across Yeshiva Universitys undergraduate and graduate divisions and affiliates. The
newsletter covers academic and campus life, faculty and student research, community
outreach and philanthropic support. It showcases the Universitys mission of Torah Umadda,
the combination of Jewish study and values with secular learning, through stories about the
diverse achievements of the University community.
Yeshiva University 2016 Office of Communications and Public Affairs
Furst Hall, Room 401 500 West 185th St. New York, NY 10033-3201 Tel.: 212.960.5285

these developments in its MSW curriculum through our gerontology and palliative care certificates.
We are so fortunate to have Dr. Steins contribution to Wurzweiler School of Social Work,
said Dr. Danielle Wozniak, the Dorothy and David Schachne Dean of Wurzweiler. Not only is Dr.
Steins work in the areas of palliative care and hospice social work recognized as significant, but he is
a fabulous teacher and curriculum developer who works tirelessly to prepare the next generation of
clinical social workers to be empathetic and effective professionals. Through his efforts, Wurzweiler
is becoming a thought- and practice-leader for social work education in these areas. n
Stanley I. Raskas, Chair, Board of Overseers, Yeshiva College; Murray Laulicht, Chair, Board of
Overseers, Stern College for Women; Avram R. Blumenthal, Chair, Board of Overseers, Sy Syms
School of Business; David P. Samson, Chair, Board of Overseers, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of
Law; Froma Benerofe, Chair, Board of Overseers, Wurzweiler School of Social Work; Mordecai
D. Katz, Chair, Board of Overseers, Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies; Dr. Carol
Bravmann, Chair, Board of Overseers, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology; David Rauch,
Chair, Board of Overseers, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration;
Rachel Laufer and Edward Stelzer, Co-chairs, Board of Overseers, Yeshiva University Museum;
Roger W. Einiger, Chair, Board of Trustees, (affiliate) Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Joel M.
Schreiber, Chair, Board of Trustees, (affiliate) Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary; and
Miriam P. Goldberg, Chair, Board of Trustees, (affiliate) YU High Schools.
Board listings as of March 20, 2017

s W W W.YU.EDU/NEWS SPRING 2017 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/YUNEWS


Computer Science Takes Off at Stern
W
hen Riva Tropp first enrolled at
Yeshiva Universitys Stern Col-
lege for Women, she registered
for an introductory computer science
class, taught by Alan Broder, to fulfill a re-
quirement and because she was curious.
I loved it so much that I signed up
for another classand another one after
that, she said. Computer science is a
wonderful major and a great field. People
think its all about computers, but its re-
ally about learning languages, learning
logic and using those to do whatever you
want.
At Stern, the computer science
major is stronger than ever, according
to Broder, who chairs the department.
With expanded course offerings, record
enrollment, and budding extracurricular
programs, its a booming area of interest
for students. They are also hearing great
stories from their friends who have got-
ten robust attention and job offers even
just with a minor, because the market for
computer science is so strong and women
have typically been underrepresented,
said Broder.
Thats certainly been true for Tropp,
who graduated this winter with a dual
degree in computer science and creative
writing. Shes currently taking classes at
Columbia University towards her mas-
ters degree and will begin Googles En-
gineering Residency Program in July.
The teachers at Stern know you and
are genuinely invested in your success,
which is hard to find anywhere, said
Tropp.
The major has also been bolstered
by the addition of full-time faculty mem-
ber Rabbi Dr. Joshua Waxman 98YUHS,
00YC, 06R. The son of a computer sci-
ence professor, Rabbi Waxman fell in
love with programming early on, coding
Future Teachers Learn from Museum Education Course
F
or the past decade or so, Ilana Ben-
son, director of museum education
at the Yeshiva University Museum
(YU Museum), and Miriam Hirsch, asso-
ciate professor of education and co-chair
of the Department of Education at Stern
College for Women, have worked to-
gether to plan museum sessions for edu-
cation majors that link education course
content with YU Museum resources and
exhibitions.
Building on these visits and learning
experiences, Benson and Hirsch devel-
oped Introduction to Museum Educa-
tion, an undergraduate course whose
approach and content are more typical
of graduate-level study. The course is a
way for teacher candidates to learn about
other kinds of educators, and especially
how museums can advance critical think-
ing skills, deepen understanding of social
and historical context and promote learn-
ing outside a traditional classroom, said
Hirsch.
Dr. Jacob Wisse, director of the YU
Museum, is a strong supporter of the
course, and he credits both Benson and
Bonni-Dara Michaels, the YU Museums
collections curator, for its solid success.
We are thrilled to partner with the edu-
s FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YESHIVAUNIVERSITY
Expanded course offerings and new faculty have led to record enrollment in computer science
courses at Stern
computer games by the time he was 10
years old.
Since graduating from Yeshiva Col-
lege with a degree in computer science
(as well as obtaining semicha [rabbinic
ordination] from YUs Rabbi Isaac El-
chanan Theological Seminary and a
doctorate in computer science from the
Graduate Center of the City University of
New York), Rabbi Waxman has garnered
a wide range of experience in the pro-
gramming world. He has worked on ev-
erything from creating device drivers for
airplane network simulators in Israel to
developing bespoke systems for private
businesses. Most recently, he was part
of a rapid solutions team at UBS, quickly
writing software to meet the needs of
risk managers and traders.
Im a big believer in Torah
Umadda, said Rabbi Waxman. I think
we can leverage Computational Linguis-
tics to analyze and gain deeper insights
into Torah texts, an application of Torah
Umadda I would like to explore at Stern.
cation department to offer students a
window into museum-style education
and experiential learning, he said. The
class will provide a model for teaching
and learning that can inspire them in all
their future professional paths, and per-
haps it might even inspire a few toward
the vital and rewarding path of museum
education.
The course takes place at the YU
Museum, so the fascinating artifacts and
exhibitions can be incorporated into ses-
sions. At a recent meeting, studentswho
are mostly majoring in preschool and
elementary educationhad the oppor-
tunity to discuss the concept of connois-
seurship with Wisse and inspect items
selected by Michaels from the YU Muse-
ums collection. Connoisseurship, Wisse
pointed out, is the act of evaluating works
of art through both technical inquiry and
informed intuition to assess their value.
For the second half of the class, Mi-
chaels wheeled in a cart of objects from
the YU Museums extensive collection so
that the students could perform a close
inspection of Torah pointers, a wedding
headdress, a marriage goblet and other
Judaic artifacts. They slipped on gloves,
got a quick lesson from Michaels about
In addition to new faculty expertise,
the program is attracting exceptional stu-
dents, thanks to the introduction of the
Thomas Otway Memorial Scholarship,
awarded to top-tier students seeking to
pursue careers in computer science.
Senior Hannah Dubin decided to
major in computer science after taking an
intro class and discovering that the field
played to her strengths. She found the
final project in her Linux class especially
fulfilling. Ive always been a big sports
fan, so with the help of Professor Broder,
I decided to look at taxi data in New York
City to see if passengers tips are affected
by how well their team is doing, she said.
It was interesting to see that there was
a correlation, as expected, but it didnt
seem that the margin of victory or loss af-
fected the tip rate as much.
Being involved in a project like Du-
bins isnt just a great way to learnits
crucial hands-on experience for poten-
tial employers down the road. Computer
science is about more than just comput-
Hedva Tirschwell examines a wedding goblet in the Introduction to Museum Education class
the proper way to handle the pieces and
then passed them around as Michaels
asked them, based on the evidence in
their hands, to estimate the historical pe-
riod and the source country.
Benson sees the course as a natural
way for the two organizations to share
their richness and expertise. In this class,
advanced education students have their
own museum lab, where they can liter-
YUTODAY 3
ersits about understanding the data
surrounding real-world concepts to learn
interesting things, said Dr. Broder. An
employer or graduate school will be very
interested in a student who can take
apart big data sets and discover surpris-
ing phenomena.
At Stern, students also have options
beyond traditional classes to hone their
skills and create intriguing projects. The
program has been awarded two grants by
Google. The first, IgniteCS, supports stu-
dents efforts to mentor local high school
students in the field of robotics, while an
additional grant provides access to the
Google Cloud Platform to support cloud-
computing education at Stern.
Recent Stern graduate Miriam Her-
man 14S has also joined the computer
science team as an instructor with a focus
on extracurricular computing, coach-
ing current students to compete in hack-
athons and computing events around the
country. In addition, the Stern Computer
Science Club has been recognized as an
official chapter of the Association for
Computing MachineryWomen (AMC-
W), which advocates internationally for
the full engagement of women in all as-
pects of the computing field.
Were hoping to have computing
be more than just in the classroom
we want it to be competitive, said Dr.
Broder. Employers want to see candi-
dates who are fully committed to learn-
ing outside the classroom.
For students like Tropp, thats a
given.
The thing that I love is the ability
to give form to the ideas inside my head,
Tropp said. When youre able to learn
picturing the possibilities for what you
can do, its like a candy store. n
ally get their hands on objects to explore
museum curriculum options in-depth,
she explained. Both Hirsch and Benson
agree that, as Hirsch stated, it has been
very exciting to launch this course be-
cause it provides a clear example of how
collaboration, creativity and commit-
ment to the arts can improve teaching and
learning for all. n
SPRING 2017 W W W.YU.EDU/NEWS
4 YUTODAY
Chag HaSemikhah Continued from Page 1
leadership positions, such as pastoral psy-
chology, public speaking and community
building. Theyre also exposed to con-
temporary halachic issues in bioethics,
technology and business to prepare them
for real-world dilemmas they may face.
A new mental health emphasis also pro-
vides the musmachim with critical self-
care tools as they manage the stresses and
challenges of a life of public service.
During the ceremony, RIETS
honored Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Hershel
Schachter, Nathan and Vivian Fink Dis-
tinguished Professor of Talmud, with the
HaRav Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik
ztl Aluf Torah Award. RIETS also com-
missioned the writing of a Sefer Torah
in Rabbi Schachters honor, with events
in Los Angeles, New York City, Passaic,
President Richard M. Joel, President Emeritus Norman Lamm and President-elect Ari Berman
From Kabbalah to Conversos, Students Present Captivating Research
Tzvi Aryeh Benoff, Yakov Ellenbogen and Yehuda Fogel presented fascinating research at a
Judaic studies conference
T
hree Yeshiva College students re-
cently presented their research at
an Undergraduate Judaic Studies
Conference at Princeton University.
Our students have excellent skills,
and high interest, in Jewish thought and
texts, said Dr. Aaron Koller, associate
professor of Near Eastern and Jewish
studies and chair of the Robert M. Beren
Department of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva
College. The conference was an excel-
lent opportunity for them to meet other
students from top universities around the
s W W W.YU.EDU/NEWS SPRING 2017
country who are doing high-quality Jew-
ish studies work, and its also wonderful
that the broader academic community
had the chance to see some of the work
being produced in YU.
Yakov Ellenbogena senior from
Sharon, Massachusetts, majoring in
history and minoring in Jewish stud-
iesshared a paper about medieval Kab-
balistic views of people with physical
disabilities.
I became interested in this when
I was introduced to a very rich excerpt
Rabbi Hershel Schachter with the Torah scroll written in his honor
Teaneck and the Five Towns to enable
Rabbi Schachters students to participate
in the process.
RIETS Chairman Emeritus Rabbi
Julius Berman was honored with the
Eitz Chaim Award. In addition, spe-
cial acknowledgement was given to 14
grandfathers and RIETS alumni who
watched their grandsons receive semi-
cha at this years ceremony, as well as the
musmachim celebrating their 50th an-
niversary. Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Rav
from the Zohar, which discusses priests
with physical impairments that disqualify
them from service in Temple ritual, said
Ellenbogen, who also presented at the
conference last year. For my term paper
in a class on Kabbalah I took with Profes-
sor Jonathan Dauber, I delved further
into this passage as well as the writings
of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero regarding
people with disabilities.
Ellenbogen discovered that for Kab-
balists, Kabbalah was a method of un-
derstanding and processing the world
around them, including their encounters
with disabled people. But their approach
stood out in many ways from those of
their medieval Christian and Ashkenazic
counterparts. I think that this type of re-
search can further the dialogue surround-
ing disabilities in the Jewish community,
exposing biases and uncovering the lives
of their premodern Jewish predecessors,
he said.
Senior Tzvi Aryeh Benoff from Ber-
genfield, New Jersey, discussed how
various social, political and religious
institutions in the Spanish Portuguese
Jewish community in early 17th-century
Amsterdam facilitated the education and
integration of Jews who had recently im-
migrated from Spanish-controlled lands
and had been living outwardly as Chris-
tians while secretly remaining Jews.
Having lived this way their entire life,
they lacked a basic familiarity with Jew-
ish law and Jewish thought, and I wanted
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/YUNEWS
Shlomo Amar also shared divrei bracha
[words of blessing].
Following the ordination ceremony,
RIETS held a Gala Evening of Celebration
honoring Rabbi Schachter and Rabbi Ber-
man at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. In addi-
tion, philanthropist David Arbesfeld was
presented with the RIETS Service Award.
The dinner raised more than $1 million
for RIETS. n
k To support RIETS, visit yu.edu/riets
to learn how the Amsterdam community
helped them adjust, Benoff said.
Benoff, who is majoring in math-
ematical economics and double minoring
in history and American studies, initially
conducted the research as part of a course
on conversions to and from Judaism,
taught by Dr. Chaviva Levin, visiting as-
sistant professor of Jewish history. He
plans to explore a similar topic for his se-
nior thesis, focusing on the Young Israel
of Parkchester and how the rabbi and lay
leadership worked to inspire the con-
gregation during the postWorld War II
era. I see this project as part of a larger
question in understanding how religious
revival movements develop in the Jew-
ish community: What factors and dy-
namics inspire, catalyze and effectuate
a large-scale recommitment to Jewish
observance and tradition, and have those
factors changed throughout history?
Yehuda Fogela junior from Wood-
mere, New York, studying psychology and
Jewish philosophypresented a paper
titled, Ayzehu Gever: Haredi Draft Aver-
sion and the War for Jewish Masculinity.
His studies focus on gender descriptions
in Jewish philosophy, an idea he first dis-
covered in Professor Daniel Kimmels In-
terrogating Masculinities class.
The conference was a nice expo-
sure to the interests of others studying
Judaism with a variety of bright, driven
students from colleges across the world,
Fogel said. n
 ALUMNITODAY
Hyman and Ann Arbesfeld:
Funding a Commitment to Jewish Education
Hyman and Ann Arbesfeld, YU Guardians and Benefactors
H
yman Arbesfeld 49YUHS, 53YC, 56R and his wife, Ann, have a long
history of giving to Yeshiva University (YU). As YU Guardians and
Benefactors, they established the Benjamin and Rose Berger Kollel
Fellowship at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS)in
honor of Anns parentsand the Rabbi and Mrs. Hyman Arbesfeld Fellow-
ship, created when Ann was national president of the Yeshiva University
Womens Organization. They also fund two study programs: the Abraham
Arbesfeld Kollel Yom Rishon program for men and the Millie Arbesfeld
Midreshet Yom Rishon program for women. In addition, they are generous
supporters of YUs Torah To-Go series, to which they made a generous con-
tribution in 2013 in memory of Anns parents.
Last December, the Arbesfelds giving reached new heights when they
made a $1 million gift to the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy / Yeshiva
University High School for Boys (YUHSB) to establish the Abraham Arbes-
feld Scholarship Fund, named in honor of Hymans late father, to celebrate
the schools centennial.
The motivation for this generous contribution began in 1926 when Abra-
ham came to the United States and began a career as a house painter, which
he continued throughout his life. Arbesfeld attended a Jewish elementary
school, but when it was time to choose a high school, he and his father dis-
agreed; he wanted to go to the Bronx High School of Science, while his father
wanted him to attend Yeshiva University High School, or the Talmudical
Academy (TA) as it was called back then. My father said to me, I go to work
because I know youll go learn Torah. If you dont go learn Torah, how can I
go to work? So I went to TA, and that is why I wanted the scholarship fund
to be named after him, recalled Arbesfeld.
Arbesfeld received a full scholarship to TA and graduated summa cum
laude in 1949. He noted that for his 11 years at YUhigh school, Yeshiva Col-
lege and semicha [rabbinical ordination] at RIETShe paid no tuition at all,
and this instilled in him the importance of never taking his education for
granted. I never missed a day in four years at TA, he said. I would go to
school sick, but I couldnt miss a day because of my sense of obligation: They
had given me a scholarship.
s STAY CONNECTED AT WWW.YU.EDU/ALUMNI
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY
SPRING 2017
At Yeshiva College, Arbesfeld mastered advanced
mathematics, and upon graduation, received offers of
fellowships to prestigious schools. However, when he
broached the subject with his father, Abraham encouraged
him to pursue semicha instead. My father said to me: You
dont have to be a rabbi, but you have to study for semicha,
Arbesfeld said. This is my father, the housepainter, who
always had a sefer, a book, in his hands. I couldnt go against
his will.
Arbesfeld received semicha in 1956, which at that time,
meant that you were expected to learn a full day and to pass
the final oral examination given by the Rav, Rabbi Joseph B.
Soloveitchik, he said. I was one of the last students to do it
this way, and it was the experience of a lifetime.
Arbesfeld later became involved in the real estate and
hospitality industries, where he still works today. But his
father never let him forget what his true focus should be
every day of his life. I would visit my father in his retire-
ment, and he would always say to me, Its the obligation of
every Jewand in particular someone who has semicha
to set aside some time every day to study Jewish law. So,
what did you learn today? That was important to him, and
it became important to me too, he said.
In honor of his father, Arbesfeld still maintains a close
relationship with RIETS and many of its rabbis and admin-
istrators. In 1993, he was elected to the RIETS Board of
Trustees, where he currently serves as vice chairman.
Recently, he has taken the time to evaluate several
aspects of his life, especially his relationship with his father
and the fact that the enormous gift of his education was
paid for through scholarships. It opened my eyes to a need
at YUHSB, he said. When the announcement came of the
100th anniversary of YUHSB, I knew I had to do something
because obviously something has kept me alive to perform some mitzvahs.
Hyman and Anns love of YU has been passed down faithfully to their
four children, all of whom have attended the YU high schools and colleges,
as well as to their seven grandchildren, who are all YU alumni. Their son,
David Arbesfeld 77YUHS, 81YC, 86E, was honored with a service award
at the RIETS Gala Evening of Tribute dinner in March as part of this years
Chag HaSemikhah.
There is no person that is as totally
consumed with the welfare of RIETS
and, for that matter, all aspects of
Yeshiva, as Hy Arbesfeld.
RABBI JULIUS BERMAN 56YC, 59R
RIETS Chairman Emeritus and Board Member
Ultimately, the Arbesfelds want their gifts to inspire others who have
benefited from scholarships and from the dynamic Kollel and learning
programs to step up and do their part. When you pay back, you are going to
feel good, said Arbesfeld.
Their generous donations and tireless efforts to personally encour-
age others to give back are certainly making a difference. As Rabbi Julius
Berman 56YC, 59R, RIETS chairman emeritus and board member, put it:
There is no person that is as totally consumed with the welfare of RIETS
and, for that matter, all aspects of Yeshiva, as Hy Arbesfeld. n
ALUMNITODAY 1
 ALUMNITODAY
CLASSNOTES
YOUR NEWS IS OUR NEWS!
Class Notes is where Yeshiva
University celebrates the milestones
and accomplishments of its alumni.
In this section, you can catch up on
everything your classmates have been
up to over the years, from marriages
and births to professional and personal
achievements.
Submit your class note by emailing
alumni@yu.edu with the subject
line Class Notes or by visiting
www.yu.edu/alumni/notes to complete
the online form. We hope that you enjoy
reading about your fellow alumni and
friends, and we look forward to hearing
about your achievements.
STAY C NNECTED
Do you receive the weekly
events email and monthly
eNewsletter from the Office
of Alumni Affairs?
Dont miss out on exciting
programs as well as news and
updates for YU alumni.
Update your profile and your
email preferences to get our
news and information.
Visit www.yu.edu/
alumnidirectory today!
1940s
Max Frankels zl
49YC high holiday
sermons have been
edited by his son,
David, into a new
book: Ha-Meir
La-Aretz Ve-la-Darim
(IngramSpark).
Mindy and Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm
49YC, 51R, 66BR announce the birth of
a great-grandson, Yonatan Yosef, to their
grandchildren Tamar 05S, 08C and Yigal
Gross 06YC, 08BR. They also announce
the birth of twin great-grandchildren, Mayim
Sara and Ayal Moshe, born to their
grandchildren Ahuva (Warburg) 09S,
13C and Dr. Stu Halpern 10BR, 13A.
1950s
Judith (Grossman) 58YUHS, 62S
and Rabbi Yitzchak Rosenbaum 60YC,
62R, 63BR and Sonia (Intrator) Galinsky
59S announce the birth of their great-
granddaughter, Shalhevet Alma Rivka,
born to Leah and Adam Mali. Mazel tov to
grandparents Devorah (Galinsky) 95A
and Rabbi David Rosenbaum 88SB, 94R.
Professor Eliezer Jaffe 55YC received
the Distinguished Alumni award from the
School of Social Work of Case Western
Reserve University, as part of its 100th year
anniversary celebration.
Judah Klein 52YUHS, 56YC, 56TI, 72F
reviewed Fate and Destiny: From Holocaust
to the State of Israel by Rabbi Joseph B.
Soloveitchik at Congregation Torah Ohr
of Boca Raton, Florida.
2 ALUMNITODAY
Gloria 56YUHS, 60TI and Rabbi Bertram
Leff 59R announce the engagement of
their grandson, Shmuel Baruch Levine, to
Miriam Geiger.
Eta and Rabbi Dr. Joel Yosef Rosenshein
52YUHS, 56YC, 58R announce the bar
mitzvah of their grandson, Shneir Zalman
Wolk, and the marriage of their grand-
daughter, Esther Rosenshein, to Shlomo
Pollack. They also announce the birth of
twin great-granddaughters born to their
grandchildren, Hananya and Zahava
Mannis, and the birth of a great-grandson
born to their grandchildren, Tova and Duvie
Rosenshein, in Jerusalem.
Freida and Rabbi Dr. Elihu Schatz
50YUHS, 54YC, 57R announce the birth
of their 21st great-grandchild, a girl, to their
grandchildren, Fraydel and Ariel Gilor.
Rabbi Simeon Schreiber 58YC, 61R has
published his second book, From Mourning
to Morning: A Comprehensive Guide to
Mourning, Grieving, and Bereavement (Urim
Publications).
Leon Wildes 54YC published his new
book, John Lennon vs. The U.S.A.: The
Inside Story of the Most Bitterly Contested
and Influential Deportation Case in United
States History (American Bar Association).
Libby 55YUHS and Rabbi Aharon Ziegler
67F announce the birth of a great-grand-
daughter born to their grandchildren, Sarah
and Shmuel Teller.
1960s
Pam (Forman) 68S and Yaakov Aronson
announce the birth of a great-grandson,
born to Elhanan and Estie Weinman.
Ita 69YUHS and Larry Golzman announce
the bar mitzvah of their grandson, Pinchas,
son of Risa 97YUHS and Steve Berkowitz.
Amy and David Grauer 69YUHS, 73YC
announce the birth of a grandson, Simcha,
born to their children, Rachel and Ezra
Obstfeld.
Rabbi Moshe 68YUHS, 72YC, 75R and
Vivian Neiss 91F and announce the bat
mitzvah of their granddaughter, Bella Neiss.
Sara Gail 60YUHS and Nechemiah
Reiss 58YUHS announce the engagement
of their daughter, Fruma 95YUHS, to Dan
Remin, son of Robert Remin and the late
Julie Remin AH.
Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Hershel
Schachter 58YUHS, 62YC, 67BR,
67R, Nathan and Vivian Fink Distin-
guished Professor of Talmud, was
honored with the HaRav Yosef Dov
HaLevi Soloveitchik ztl Aluf Torah
Award at the Chag HaSemikhah on
March 19. To mark Rav Schachters
50 years of teaching at Rabbi Isaac
Elchanan Theological Seminary
(RIETS), a new Sefer Torah was
commissioned and written in his
honor. Former students, rabbis
and RIETS alumni from all around
the country came together to
contribute and write a letter in the
Torah, which will be housed in the
Jacob and Dreizel Glueck Center
for Jewish Study.
Marlene 69S and Sandy Schwartz
announce the birth of their grandson, Dvir,
to Tova and Yishai Meyer.
Dr. Chaim Waxman 63YC, 66R has
been named chair of the new department
of behavioral sciences at Jerusalems
Hadassah College.
1970s
Dr. Moshe Avital 70F, 77BR published his
new book, Hope, Faith and Resilience: What
the Germans Couldnt Take From Us (Mazo
Publishers).
Ann 72S and Rabbi Eliot Feldman 72YC,
75R announce the bat mitzvah of their
granddaughter, Talia, daughter of Leah
(Lubetski) 00S and Ari Feldman 00SB.
Sharon and Daniel Gottlieb 79YC, 84F
announce the engagement of their son,
Amichai, to Naama Grauer. They also
announce the birth of their grandson, Nadav
Zeev, born to Noam and Tali Gottlieb.
Dr. Rosa Perla Resnick Helfgot 76W,
Chair of the Subcommittee on
Intergenerational Relationships, NGO
Committee on Ageing at the United
Nations, has recently published an article,
Myths and Realities of Ageing Across
Generations, as a reflection of her research
and practice in that specialized area.
YUHS Board Member
Sheon Karol 79YC has
joined the DAK Group, a
boutique investment bank
for the Middle Market, as
Managing Director.
Carrie and Morrie Klians 76YC announce
the bat mitzvah of their granddaughter, Noa
Ayelet, daughter of Nachman and Sharona
Rosenberg. They also announce the birth of
a grandson, Ezra Simcha, to Daniella 07S
and Jeffrey Remin 07YC.
Rabbi Mark Kunis
74R published his
new book, Dancing
with God: How to
Connect with God
Every Time You
Pray (Menorah
Books), which
shows how Jews
today can develop
a relationship with God through prayer.
Rabbi Adir Posy 04YC, 06R and three of his sons, with Ronnie Sieger
(YU parent and sofer) and Rabbi Hershel Schachter in Los Angeles
SEARCH THE ALUMNI DIRECTORY FOR CLASSMATES AT WWW.YU.EDU/ALUMNIDIRECTORY
Dr. Marian (Stoltz) and Dr. John Loike
71YC, 76E, 76SG were honored at
NCSYs Ben Zakkai Honor Society National
Scholarship Dinner.
Shulamith 70YUHS, 78TI and Rabbi
Meyer H. May 78R announce the birth of
a granddaughter, Sima Chaya, born to Rabbi
Yehuda and Nechama May. They also
announce the birth of a grandson, Yehuda
Aryeh (Ari), born to Rachaeli and Shuey
Lobl.
Rifka (Richman) Monderer 72YUHS,
75TI announces the birth of her grandson,
David, born to Avi and Netanel Monderer.
Nava Rephun
76W spoke at
Congregation
Shomrei Torah in
Fair Lawn, New
Jersey, on the
topic We Are All
Maccabees. Nava
is a psychotherapist
and certified Imago therapist who works
with couples and individuals in her private
practice, and conducts workshops in the
United States and Israel.
Irene and Stephen Reinhard 73YC
announce the birth of a granddaughter, Ayla
Michal, to their children Andrea 01YUHS,
05S and Michael Frohmann 05SB.
Phil Rosen 74YUHS, 78YC has been
named Vice Chairman of the Board of the
Birthright Israel Foundation.
Gail and Barry Rosenbloom 71YUHS,
75YC announce the birth of a grandson,
born to their children Sara 05YUHS and
Yisroeli Cohn.
Roslyn 72S and Rabbi David Savitsky
65YUHS, 69YC, 71F, 71R announce the
birth of a granddaughter, Victoria Faye, born
to their children, Danielle and Josh Strauss.
Rabbi Evan Shore 79YC, 84R, Rav of
Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of
Syracuse, received the Esther and Joseph
Roth Award for community leadership by
the Jewish Federation.
Rabbi Pesach 71YC and Debbie
Wachsman 99TI announce the birth of
their grandson, Simcha Binyamin, born to
Zack and Chanie Klein.
Perel 70YUHS and Rabbi Rapahel
Wachsman announce the birth of their
granddaughter, Daniella, born to Yossie
and Mindy Wachsman.
 Joan and Dr. Alan Weinstock 71YC, 74E
were honored at NCSYs Ben Zakkai Honor
Society National Scholarship Dinner.
Marilyn and Rabbi Robert Zeiger 77YC,
81R announce the birth of a granddaughter,
Tamar Zisel, born to Eliezer Menachem and
Nadine Zeiger.
Rabbi Yamin Levy Cheryl and Adam Fishman 90YC, 93C
84YC, 88R published announce the marriage of their daughter,
his debut novel, Sababa Daphna, to Eran Refaeli.
(Berwick Court
Publishing). Marina and Boris Gelfand 99YC, 05C
announce the birth of a baby girl, Talia Rivka.
Drs. Batya 81F and Mark Ludman Yocheved 98W and Rabbi Efrem
announce the birth of their granddaughter, Goldberg 97YC, 01R announce the bat
Mia Esther Sally, born to Einat and Aaron mitzvah of their daughter, Tamar.

1980s
Aviva (Pollak) and Ron Allswang 87YC
announce the birth of a grandson, to their
children Michaela and Fima Maltzev.
Dr. Marc Berger 80YUHS, 83YC, 83IBC,
87E and Dr. Alan Berger 82YUHS, 85YC,
85IBC received the Shomer Eretz Yisrael
Award from the American Friends of Bet El
Yeshiva Center at its 34th Annual Dinner.
Dr. Adena Berkowitzs
85C essays Tikkun
Olam as Text and
Context: Interpreting the
Jewish Mandate to Fix
the World Through Law,
Liturgy and Narrative
and An Enigma Wrapped in a Mystery
were published in the multi-volume series,
Tikkun Olam and Kaddish (New Paradigm
Matrix Publishing).
Joey Bodner 82YC was honored at
NCSYs Ben Zakkai Honor Society National
Scholarship Dinner.
Rabbi Daniel Cohen 86YC, 89R
published his new book, What Will They Say
About You When You Are Gone? Creating a
Life of Legacy (Health Communications).
Shifra 84S and Perry Garber 79YUHS
announce the birth of a grandson, born to
their children, Leora 07YUHS, 11S and
Ari Perl 07YC.
Ilana (Shapiro) 86S and Rabbi Dr. David
Hertzberg 85YC,89R announce the
marriage of their children: Devorah to
Tzvi Meltzer and Yehuda to Sarala Seitler.
Mazel tov to grandparents Claire and
Rabbi Joshua Hertzberg 51YC,55R
and Madeline and Rabbi Abraham
Shapiro 58YC.
Ludman.
Jacqueline (Klausner) 86S and Rabbi Dr.
Marc Mandel 79YUHS, 83YC, 88R, 88W
announce the birth of their grandson, Abie,
to Kayla and Rabbi Yaakov Lasson 13YC,
15A, 15R.
Tova 85S and Aharon Naiman 83YC
announce the engagement of their son,
Chanan, to Keshet Eklove. They also
announce the birth of their grandson, Amit
Eliyahu. Mazel tov to parents Tal and Uriel
Naiman and to great-grandparents Vivien
53YUHS and Rabbi Bernhard Auerbach
45YC, 50R and Tzivi and Dr. Robert Segal
56YUHS.
Debby 80YUHS, 11A and AZ Rapps
82YC announce the engagement of their
son, Ariel, to Ashley Ziskinder.
Susan 89C and Dr. Joel Rosh 86E
announce the engagement of their son,
Jeremy, to Ilana Shiff.
Elaine and Rabbi Michael Strasberg 82W
announce the birth of a granddaughter,
Esther Leah, born to their children Renana
and Itay Avtalyon.
Barbara Ungar-
Frish 83S, 84F is
Chair of the New
Jersey State Bar
Associations
Criminal Law
Section. She was
Nick Gould 92C was named president of
Cooper, a pioneering design and business
strategy consultancy with offices in New
York and San Francisco.
Sarah and Arik Hirschfeld 96YC
announce the birth of their daughter,
Ora (Alice Adele).
Melissa (Gabel) 94S and Dr. Jay Keehn
90YUHS announce the bar mitzvah of their
son, Benjamin.
Tzippy 90S and Dr. Yaron Lebovitz 88YC,
93E announce the engagement of their
son, Akiva, to Yehudit Goldstein.
Chanie and Rabbi Daniel Loew 95YC,
01A, 01R announce the bar mitzvah of their
son, Avi.
Racheli and Hillel Rapp 98YUHS, 05YC
announce the birth of their daughter, Keira
Malka.
Dr. Rebecca (Steiner)
Solomon 93S
announces her marriage
to Todd Pinchevsky.
JOIN US FOR
Chana Stiefel 90S launched her debut
picture book, Daddy Depot (Macmillan).
Jeremy B. Strauss
95YC, CEO of The Grand
Healthcare System,
received the Healthcare
Heroes Award.
Penny Finkelstein 94S, 96F and Rabbi
Baruch (Brian) Thau 86YC, 90R, 98A
and Devorah Altman announce the
marriage of their son, Avraham Zvi (AZ)
Thau, to Hadassah Weiss, daughter of
Dr. Herman and Mia Weiss.
Dr. Naama 98S and Rabbi Elie
Weinstock 01YC, 02R, 09BR announce
the bar mitzvah of their son, Yona.
Dr. Orit 95E and Jan Wimpfheimer
86YUHS, 89YC announce the engagement
of their son, Ariel, to Shachar Kaplan.
Ruthie 93S and Rabbi Gotch Yudin
83YUHS, 90YC, 92A, 92R announce
the engagement of their son, Alex, to Julia
Dachs.

Reunion
recognized for her
Benjamin Kaufman work as Amicus in State v. Denelsbeck in
81YUHS, 85YC, 88C the New Jersey Supreme Court.
was the Chair of this
years Jewish Lawyers Dr. Robin

2017
Guild Dinner, held at the Warshawsky 83E
Hilton Hotel in New York and Dr. Howard
City in March. Benjamin Guzik 81E
is a partner at Wolf announce the
Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP, engagement of their
specializing in shareholder class action son, Ben Guzik, to
and derivative litigation as well as general Lara Berns.
commercial litigation.
Ora (Goldberg) and Mark Watson 88SB Celebrating the 25, 40, 50, 60 Year Reunions
Dena 87S and Rabbi Shimon Kerner announce the engagement of their son, For Stern College, Sy Syms School of Business and Yeshiva College
81YC, 84R announce the marriage of their Aharon, to Meirav Silverstein.
daughter, Meira, to Yehoshua Dear.

Shari and Yaakov Kessler 82YC and Dr.

Claire 82S, 86E and Stuie Hershkowitz
announce the birth of their grandson. Mazel
tov to great-grandfather Marvin
Hershkowitz 52YC.
Laurie and Robert Koppel 76YUHS,
80YC announce the birth of a grand-
daughter, Avigayil Gnendel (Hannah Grace).
Mazel tov to parents Rebecca and Joshua
Rubin.
Jan 85C and Shelly Kiderman and Randie
and Dr. Sam Goldberger 86E announce
the engagement of their children, Erica
Kiderman and Eitan Goldberger.
1990s Classes of 1977, 1967 and 1957
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Marni (Balter) 92S and Dr. Mitch Benuck
92YC, 96SG, 00E announce the bat
mitzvah of their daughter, Shani. Class of 1992
Michelle and Rabbi Dovid Bistricer Thursday, May 18, 2017
92YUHS, 98SB, 01R announce the bar
mitzvah of their son, Yossi.
For more information, please visit
Rivka (Krantman) 92S and Judah David www.yu.edu/reunion or email reunion@yu.edu
announce the bat mitzvah of their daughter,
Naama Faige. Mazel tov to grandparents
Rochel (Ciment) 70S and Dr. Herb
Krantman 70YC.

Jonah Kriger 85YUHS announces his Keren 99S and Josh Englard 96SB
engagement to Miechal Lefkowitz. announce the birth of a baby boy.

s FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YUALUMNI AND CONNECT WITH US ON LINKEDIN ALUMNITODAY 3

 ALUMNI IN ACTION
Celebrating Those
Who Celebrate YU
T
he enthusiasm and devotion of volunteers are often the ele-
ments that make the difference between a good institution
and a great institution. This year, the offices of Alumni Affairs,
Annual Giving, the Career Center and the President organized an
inaugural Volunteer Appreciation Reception to celebrate some of
the alumni volunteers who have made Yeshiva University an excep-
tional institution.
Four people were recognized for their outstanding service:
Dina Sterman 84YUHS, Community Leadership Award; Ben
Blumenthal 12SB, Relationship Builder of the Year; Adam Lauer
07SB, Alumni Partner Award; and Benjamin Kohane 15YC, Recent
Alumni Volunteer Award.
The awards were presented by Marc Goldman, executive direc- m President Richard M. Joel, Avram Blumenthal, Sharon Blumenthal 80S, Ben Blumenthal 12SB, Tamar Blumenthal,
tor of the Career Center; Susan Bauer, director of employee and Chani Laifer Barenholtz and Michael Barenholtz
alumni relations in the Career Center; and Alan Secter, executive
director for annual giving and major gifts.
The honorees articulated several common themes about why
they do their work: the dynamism of YU graduates, the importance
of YU to Modern Orthodoxy and the Jewish world and the positive
effects of a devoted lay leadership committed to giving back.
Lauer, a director at Credit Suisse, praised the alumni networks
natural cohesiveness. Sterman said she saw YU as central to the
Jewish world: Much of our world is made up of YU gradsevery
school has teachers from YU, many principals are from YU and peo-
ple want rabbis from YUand this makes it a privilege to do work on
behalf of the University.
Kohane, who works at BNY Mellon, drew upon the Torah to
explain his motivations for giving back. Like Joseph rising up
through the ranks and pulling others along, Im going to reach out to
those who need help and make sure they have the preparation they
need as a way of thanking everyone who helped me, said Kohane.
Blumenthal, managing director at Norman Bobrow & Com-
pany Inc., referenced the teaching that every resource a person has m Jennifer Prince, 99SB and Suzanne Grunstein 99SB m President Joel, Marc Goldman and Adam Lauer 07SB
been granted should be used to repay the help he or she has received.
President Richard M. Joel lauded the volunteers for the work
they do to promote the University to the wider world. Its always
hard to do lay leadership in a university, he noted. But tonight we
honor alumni who, in addition to being wonderful alumni, step for-
ward and say, I can matter in this institution.
Suzy Schwartz, assistant vice president for alumni affairs and
strategic development, echoed President Joels admiration. The
impetus for the event came from the fact that we have so many
wonderful people doing such wonderful work, she said. We all
dont know one another, and we felt it important to acknowledge
you because you are giving back so much and represent the very
best of YU. n

m Lolly Bak 71S, Hertzie Bak 71YC and Dina Sterman 84YUHS

m Susan Bauer, Benjamin Kohane 15YC and President Joel m Marc Goldman, Adam Lauer 07SB and Suzy Schwartz

4 ALUMNITODAY DOWNLOAD THE YU ALUMNI SMARTPHONE APP AT WWW.YU.EDU/ALUMNI/APP


m Meir Lewittes and Meir Lewis 94YUHS, 98YC
m Susan Schlussel Meyers and Judy Berman 84S
Wall Street Group
Event Examines
Success of Israeli
Startups
T
he Yeshiva University Wall Street Group presented a panel
discussion entitled Israeli Companies: Going from Start-Up
to Scale-Up on Monday, March 6, featuring Ariel Beery, CEO
of MobileODT; Michael Reitblat, CEO of Forter; and Eran Shir, CEO
of Nexar. Michael Eisenberg 89YUHS, 93YC, general partner of
the venture capital fund Aleph, moderated the panel. In his intro-
ductory remarks, Lawrence Askowitz 87YC, co-chair of the Wall
Street Group Committee, highlighted the success of YU Wall Street
members in helping students achieve promising careers in finance
through internships and full-time jobs. The networking event
which drew approximately 150 YU alumni and staff memberswas
organized by the Office of Alumni Affairs and hosted by McDer-
mott Will & Emery LLP. n

o Speakers Michael Reitblat, Ariel Beery, Eran Shir, Michael Eisenberg

89YUHS, 93YC and Lawrence Askowitz 87YC

m Alan Wildes 80YUHS, 84YC; Joel Strauss 82YUHS, 86YC, 92C; and Michael Eisenberg m Associate Dean Michael Strauss (center) with student volunteers Eram Zaghi (left) and
89YUHS, 93YC Dov Herzberg (right)

YU ALUMinate Reconnect

SIGN UP NOW Give Back

and take advantage of your
influential alumni network Expand
Exclusively available to YU undergraduate alumni

www.yualuminate.com Advance

s CHECK OUT WHAT ALUMNI EVENTS ARE HAPPENING ON CAMPUS AND AROUND THE WORLD AT WWW.YU.EDU/ALUMNIEVENTS ALUMNITODAY 5
 ALUMNI IN ACTION
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOLS ANNUAL DINNER OF TRIBUTE (FEBRUARY 28, 2017)

m Renowned attorney Nathan Lewin

53YUHS, 57YC, who has argued cases
before the United States Supreme Court,
received the Centennial Leadership Award.
m Alan Goldberg 72YUHS and his sons, David 06YUHS, 11YC and Alex 10YUHS, 14YC, received the first-ever Legacy Award at the
Annual Dinner of Tribute for the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy/Yeshiva University High School for Boys (YUHSB) and the Samuel w Silvia 87S and Abraham Borenstein
H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls (YUHSG). The Goldberg family has been a pillar at the YU high schools for generations. 85YC received the Parents of the Year
Alan is a member of the YU Board of Trustees, the RIETS Board of Trustees and the YUHS Board of Trustees. His wife, Miriam, is chair award for YUHSG. They are proud
of the YUHS Board of Trustees. The dinner, which also celebrated the high schools centennial anniversary, was held on February 28, 2017, parents to Miriam 05YUHS, 09S,
at Marina del Rey in the Bronx, New York. who has been teaching Judaic studies
at YUHSG for seven years; Yaakov
w Jacqueline and Dov Borgen 88YUHS were honored as Parents of the Year for YUHSB. w Rabbi Shimon Schenker 02SB, 03R, and Talia 13S; Sari 10YUHS, 14S
They are the proud parents of two current students, Aaron 20YUHS and Zachary 17YUHS, 06A, associate principal at YUHSB and Sam Dratch 12YUHS and current
and two graduates, Avi 13YUHS and Jeremy 15YUHS. and teacher since 2001, received the Yeshiva College student; Deena 13YUHS;
faculty award. and Sharoni 17YUHS.

m Alec Miller 93F received the second an-

nual Distinguished Alumni Award from
Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology
at a ceremony on March 30. To honor
his work, Dr. Miller will have a scholar-
ship created in his name and also deliver
a public lecture titled Self-Harm: The
Coping Strategy for Youth in the 21st
CenturyGuidelines for Families, Schools,
and Mental Health Professionals. Work-
ing with suicidal adolescents, Dr. Miller
has successfully adapted a therapeutic
approach, known as Dialectical Behavioral
Therapy (DBT), to provide teenagers and
their families with tools to help them lead
productive lives.
m On January 25, Jordan, Justin and Tyler Hod were the first trio of siblings ever to play in the same NCAA Division III college basketball game
when they played simultaneously during the Maccabees victorious 7343 game against Sarah Lawrence College on YUs home court in
Manhattan. It was only the fourth such occurrence in NCAA history. They continue a tradition established by their father, Lior Hod 88YC,
and uncle Ayal Hod 88SB, who broke YU scoring records in the 1980sLior first, with 1,541 career points, and then Ayal, with 1,807 points.
Ayals record stood until 2002. Later, their younger brother, Asaf Hod 05SB, also joined the Macs basketball squad.
w Three alumni of Yeshiva Universitys Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and AdministrationRabbi Yoni Fein 13YC, 14A,
Shira Greenspan 14A and Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky 04YC, 07R, 15Awere awarded the 2017 Kohelet Prize celebrating progression in
Jewish education. Three alumni also received Honorable Mention: Rabbi Yehuda Chanales 07A, Adina Blaustein 08S, 12A and
Rabbi Natan Kapustin 04A.

RIETS GALA EVENING OF TRIBUTE DINNER (MARCH 19, 2017)

o Rabbi Julius Berman 56YC, 59R,

RIETS chairman emeritus, received
the Eitz Chaim Award at the RIETS
Gala Evening of Tribute celebration after
the Chag HaSemikhah. Rabbi Berman
is a long-standing member of the RIETS
Board of Trustees and serves as the
president of the Conference on Jewish
Material Claims against Germany.

w David Arbesfeld 77YUHS, 81YC, 86E

received the RIETS Service Award.
A loyal supporter of RIETS, like his
parents Ann and Hyman Arbesfeld
49YUHS, 53YC, 56R (see page 1), he
most recently funded the installation of
new lights, outlets and carpeting in the
Glueck Beit Midrash.
m Former Yeshiva College Hebrew Professor Yair Shahak 11YC, 11BR, 15BZ and Yaelle
Frohlich 10S, 12BR were the first married couple to compete in the Chidon HaTanach,
the International Adult Bible Contest held in Jerusalem in December. Shahak won the
competition, tying for first place with an Israeli contestant and becoming the first
New Yorker to ever win the prestigious contest.

6 ALUMNITODAY SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND AT WWW.YU.EDU/ONLINEGIVING

ALUMNITODAY
Ariel Mintz 11YC: Healing the Body and Spirit
T
hough tremendous progress has recently been made in diagnosing and treat- had never before met or even heard of a Jew with serious mental illness, he said.
ing mental illness, the condition still carries a great stigma, leading many These people had nobody to speak to and their suffering was worse because of
people to hide their afflictions and not seek the help they need. Ariel Mintz the stigma that we in the Jewish community created. I decided then that I had to
11YC wants to change that attitude. Last August, he and work not only to decrease the stigma, but also to create
a group of Yeshiva University (YU) alumni founded a place where people could seek support anonymously
Refuat Hanefesh, an organization whose mission is to without fear of being judged.
reduce the stigmas associated with mental illness in The original staff consisted of Mintz and Avital.
the Jewish community. The group provides a safe place There is nothing more fulfilling than being part of an
for those affected to seek support and advice through organization that is helping people in a way that has
conversation and education. never been done before, she said.
Mintz, who grew up in Minneapolis, Minne- Shanee Markovitz, who has personal experience
sota, believes that members of the Orthodox Jewish with mental illness, soon joined the team. The time
community face unique challenges in this area: It is has come for the stigma to come to an end, for lives to
particularly difficult to confront the stigma and find stop being lost due to lack of support and acceptance
confidants or professionals who understand their and for the educational gap to be filled permanently,
unique values and way of life, he said. said Markovitz, who will attend Stern College in the
In many ways, the origin of Refuat Hanefesh is fall. For me, working on Refuat Hanefesh has been
rooted in his childhood. I grew up as a middle child part of my healing journey and a tremendous honor.
and never had much of an opportunity to speak, he Aryeh Goldberg 12YC, who knew Mintz from
explained. I quickly learned to embrace the role of their pre-med days at Yeshiva College, joined after
being a listener and not having to input my own com- sharing in the distress of a Jewish family where the
ments into every conversation. These skills and the son, suffering from acute psychosis, was being treated
satisfaction of helping people work through problems by a physician unable to understand the cultural and
motivated me to pursue a career where I could practice Ariel Mintz 11YC founded Refuat Hanefesh to religious nuances of the patients upbringing. As I
this daily. reduce the sitgma associated with mental illness advanced through my training, I knew that I would be
He chose to attend YU, as his father Marshall in the Jewish community looking for meaningful ways to address the stigma of
Mintz 71YC had done. I realized that if I wanted mental illness within the Orthodox community, so I
the opportunity to excel in both my Judaic and secular studies, there really was was very excited to reconnect with Ariel after learning about his incredible work,
nowhere but here. YU gave me access to some of the greatest Torah and general Goldberg said.
studies scholars. He added: My time at YU was truly the greatest years of my life. Rabbi Dani Bauer 13R, 13A, a marriage advisor for Refuat Hanefesh, hopes to
Mintz certainly used that time well. He was the first person to be a teaching eliminate the fear of going to therapy. If we can do that, then we have the oppor-
assistant for both a shiur at the Mazer School of Talmudic Studies and in the biol- tunity to stem the tide of divorce and unhappy marriages with better use of couples
ogy department, bringing Torah and madda [science] together. He was also chair of and family counseling, he said.
the Student Life Committee and held board positions in several clubs. While there, Other YU alumni connected with the organization are Stephen Glicksman
he met his wife, Avital (Abir) 12S, who was also pursuing a BA in psychology, at 91YC (Intellectual Disabilities Advisor), Zahava Rothschild 15S, 15A (Content
Stern College for Women; they now have two children, Yaakov and Nava. Editor), Rabbi Dovid Zirkind 09YC, 12R (Head of Jewish Content) and Chaim
Mintz later earned his medical degree from Oakland University William Ancier 12W (Child Mental Health Advisor).
Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, Michigan and is now working to com- As with any new enterprise, it takes times to build up the organization, but
plete his training in general psychiatry at Hennepin County Medical Center in Refuat Hanefesh is already having an impact. Every small change a person makes
Minneapolis, with plans to subspecialize in child and adolescent psychiatry. increases the chances of saving someones life who may be contemplating suicide
The motivation to create Refuat Hanefesh began in 2013, during his third while also increasing life satisfaction for that person, Mintz said. We want people
year of medical school, when he observed many Jews in the psychiatric ward. I to educate themselves and develop a greater understanding for mental illness. n

Join the
Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought of Yeshiva University
and its Director,

Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik,

on an unforgettable intellectual adventure

Rembrandt and the Rabbis

A TRIP TO AMSTERDAM, ANTWERP AND THE HAGUE
JUNE 28 JULY 5, 2017
For information and registration, please visit yu.edu/amsterdam

s WE WANT TO HE AR YOUR IDE AS FOR PROGR AMMING IN YOUR REGION. CONTACT SUZY SCHWARTZ AT SUZY. SCHWARTZ @YU.EDU OR 212 .960.0848 ALUMNITODAY 7
 ALUMNITODAY
2000s
Ephie Reinhard 98YUHS, 02SB
announces his engagement to Erica

Melissa and Adam Caplan 07SB

announce the birth of a baby girl.
Tannenbaum. Mazel tov to parents Irene
and Stephen Reinhard 73YC. SAVE THE DATE
Dr. Naomi 07S, 12E and Adam Cohen
PLEASE JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE
02YC announce the birth of a baby boy.
The inaugural inductees of the
Rabbi Zev Eleffs 09YC, 11R book, Yeshiva University Athletics Hall of Fame
Who Rules the Synagogue? Religious

MONDAY
Authority and the Formation of American
Judaism (Oxford University Press), was

MAY 8
named a National Jewish Book Award
Finalist.

Azadeh and Rabbi Ezra Frazer 01YC,

04A, 06R, 06BR announce the birth of
Jackie (Fast) 08S, 10R and Rabbi
Ariel Rosensweig 07YC, 10R, 10A
announce the birth of a baby boy, Yonah
6 P.M.
their daughter, Michal Elisheva. Betzalel. Mazel tov to grandparents
Professor Smadar Rosensweig and Yeshiva University
Julia Frankston- Rabbi Michael Rosensweig 80YC, Wilf Campus, Weissberg Commons
Morris 07S, 10C 80R, 86W, 96BR and to great- 2495 Amsterdam Avenue
and Shmarya grandfather Rabbi Dr. Bernard New York, NY 10033
Gasner Rosensweig 47YC, 50R, 70BR.
01YUHS, 06SB,
10A announce Yael 02S and Elliot Schwarzenberger
the birth of Saul 98YUHS, 02YC announce the birth of a
Irving (Yisroel baby girl, Avigail Masuda (Sadie Avigail).
Chaim).
Rachel and Josh Teitcher 11YC
Dr. Talya and Dr. Effie Gluck 04YC announce the birth of a baby girl, Miriam
announce the bar mitzvah of their son, Claire.
Benny.
Lauren (Stein) www.yuhalloffame.com
Leora 03S and Rabbi 98YUHS, 02S and
Eric Goldman 02YC, Rabbi Dr. Shmuly
07W, 08R announce Yanklowitz 09BR
the birth of their son, announce the birth of
Aron Kalman. their daughter, Maya

Daniel Gottesman 04YC was named

Neshama. Mazel tov
to grandparents Helene and Rabbi
Kenneth Stein 67YUHS, 71YC,
partner at Ulmer & Berne LLP. 75R, 76BR.
Rabbi Jonathan
Sarah 10S and Dani
Kolat 10YC announce
the birth of a baby girl.
In Memoriam
Yeshiva University mourns the loss of long-
time faculty members and renowned schol-
Jeremy Kugelman 16YC announces his

2010s
ars Arthur Hyman and Louis Feldman.
Gross 01YC, engagement to Zahava Last.
04R published Hyman, an expert in the field of medieval
his fourth book, Jewish philosophy, taught at YU for four de-
cades and served as dean of the Bernard
Ai Vey: Jewish
Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies.
Thoughts on Leah 16SB and
He is survived by his wife, Batya Hyman
Thinking Yiriel Liss 15SB Kahane, and his sons, Jeremy, Michael and
Machines (ACSV announce the Joseph and their families.
Publications). birth of a baby
boy. Feldman taught at the University for more
than 60 years and served as the Abraham
Wouk Professor of Classics and Literature.
A scholar of Hellenistic civilization, his re-
Joe Hirsch Aviva and Yitzchak Matanky 10SB search and writings on the works of Jose-
04YC, 06R, Daniella Baratz 10YUHS and Elie Hirt announce the birth of their son, Lior phus were especially influential. Feldman is
06A published 14YC announce their marriage. David. survived by his wife, Miriam, and their chil-
dren, Moshe Feldman, Sara Reichman and
The Feedback
Leah Schachter.
Fix (Rowman & Sarit and Moshe Blackstein 12YC Estie 11S and Jonah Mermelstein
Littlefield). announce the birth of a baby girl. 13YC announce the birth of a baby boy.
Rabbi Mayer Abramowitz 40YC
Tamar 10S and Rabbi Etan Ehrenfeld Lillian Amcis 73S
08YC, 11A, 11R announce the birth of Sarah 08YUHS Joan Apple, Department of Institutional
Mike Legatt 05F has a baby girl, Meira Hallel. and Marc Merrill Advancement
completed a second 05YUHS, 11YC Steven Billauer 72YC
PhD in Energy Systems Aliza and Zach Goldstein 12YC announce the Rabbi Shmuel Borenstein 60YUHS,
Engineering, and announce the birth of their daughter, birth of a baby 64YC, 70R, 70BR
founded a company, Cara Rose. girl, Naomi Philip Caplan 44YUHS, 48YC
ResilientGrid, building Rachel. Rabbi Nasan (Norman) Friedman
software and services 46IBC, 68F
to improve the human Rabbi Michell D. Geller 46YC, 50R
side of critical infrastructure Sivya 11SB and Ari Rockoff 11SB Giselle Goldschmidt 64YUHS
management. announce the birth of a baby girl, Yael Rabbi David Halpern 49YC, 52R
Temima. Eli Klein 61YC
Shoshana 04SB and Rabbi Chanan Batya Ladell 99TI
Liss 04YC, 07R announce the birth of Elana 12S and Judah Rosenbaum Linda Landau 62S
a daughter, Kayla Talia. 11SB announce the birth of a baby girl. Robert Schwell 62YC, 99BR
Jerri Turkel 67S
Estie 13S, 15W and Evan Rabbi Joseph Urivetsky 54YC, 58R
Abigail 10S and Sarah 14S and Netanel Goldstein Rottenstreich 09YUHS, 14SB Stanley Weinberg 76YUHS, 83C
Shuki Merlis 08SB 13YC announce the birth of a baby boy. announce the birth of a baby girl. Joseph Yoshor 45YUHS, 49YC
announce the birth of a Mazel tov to grandparents Naomi 87S,
son, Emanuel Mitchell. 90C and David Kaszovitz 80YUHS
Legend for school abbreviations:
and Chana 86S and Shmuel Goldstein
86YC, 90E. Liz Rubin 16S A: Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education
and Jonathan and Administration BR: Bernard Revel Graduate
Zemira 00S, 05A and Rabbi Eli Gardner 16YC School BS: Belfer Graduate School of Science
BZ: Philip and Sarah Belz School of Jewish
Ozarowski 01YC, 05R, 05A announce Naomi (Levin) 12S announce their Music C: Cardozo School of Law E: Albert
the birth of a daughter, Shalva Renana, and Vigi Katlowitz engagement. Einstein College of Medicine F: Ferkauf
and announce the bar mitzvah of their announce the birth of Graduate School of Psychology R: Rabbi Isaac
son, Menachem Shlomo. their daughter, Ella. Elchanan Theological Seminary S: Stern College
for Women SB: Sy Syms School of Business TI:
Teachers Institute W: Wurzweiler School of
Shana 02S and Betzalel Posy Social Work YC: Yeshiva College YUHS:
announce the bar mitzvah of their son, Cara Kirschner 10YUHS, 14S Zev Stomel 15E announces his Yeshiva University High Schools
Moshe. announces her marriage to Jared Weisel. engagement to Arielle Salkin.

s FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YUALUMNI AND CONNECT WITH US ON LINKEDIN ALUMNITODAY 8


Meet the Musmachim
Learn more about a few of our newly ordained rabbis from YUs Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). Whether theyre serving as
Jewish educators, pulpit rabbis, doctors or lawyers, these young rabbis are making a difference and inspiring others to do so as well.
MOSHEH AZIZ: ILLUMINATING
SEPHARDIC TRADITION
For as long as he can remember, learn-
ing and teaching Torah has been a pas-
sion for Mosheh Aziz. As a Mashadi Jew
growing up in Great Neck, New York, he
volunteered in his shuls youth minyan
and was already developing Torah pro-
gramming for other children while still in
high school himself. So when Rabbi Eli-
yahu Ben Haim, Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva
and Maxwell R. Maybaum Professor of
Talmud and Sephardic Halakhic Codes,
encouraged Aziz to pursue semicha [rab-
binic ordination] at RIETS in addition to
his studies in the Sephardic Community
Program at Yeshiva College, the decision
felt like the natural next step.
I understood that having the solid
background and training of semicha
would enable me to transmit Torah more
SAM AND ALVIN REINSTEIN:
FATHER AND SON RECEIVE
SEMICHA TOGETHER
Its not uncommon for sons to follow in
their fathers footsteps, but relatively
few fathers have walked in those of their
sons. Yet for Alvin Reinstein of Teaneck,
New Jersey, and his son, Sam, thats ex-
actly what happened. The two received
semicha together at RIETS after Alvin
was moved by his sons experience to un-
dertake his own rabbinical studies.
Those studies had been a lifelong
dream of Alvins. The son of Holocaust
survivors who emigrated to the United
States with nothing but their determina-
tion to create a Jewish home, religious
education was an important value for
Alvin, who attended Yeshiva Salanter,
the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy/
Yeshiva University High School for Boys
and Yeshiva College, from which he
graduated in 1972.
GERSHON ALBERT: INVESTED IN
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Gershon Alberts journey to the pulpit
of Beth Jacob Congregation of Oakland,
California, began in a somewhat unusual
setting: the French public high school he
and his twin brother, Laizer, attended in
Montreal, Quebec.
I had incredibly positive experi-
ences with the community rabbi, who
served as a role model for me, Albert
said. My brother and I decided to switch
to a Jewish school, where we started
to grow spirituallywe began keeping
Shabbos and learning Torah together.
To further their connection to Juda-
ism, the pair opted to study for two years
in Israel at Netiv Aryeh and continue
their education at YU, with the help of
generous scholarships. But the rabbinate
was still a long way from Alberts mind.
He considered a career in architecture
but decided instead to study accounting
at the Sy Syms School of Business. It was
actually a personality test he took at the
YU Career Center that prompted him to
s FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YESHIVAUNIVERSITY
effectively and skillfully, said Aziz.
The personal connection he went
on to develop with Rabbi Ben Haim has
become one of Azizs most cherished ex-
Though Alvin went on to earn an
MBA from Baruch College and work for
the New York City Housing Authority for
32 years, Torah study continued to play a
central role in his identity. I believe that
it is a primary duty for each one of us to
achieve spiritual growth by spending
our time learning Torah and performing
mitzvot, said Alvin. He studied on his
own and with partners and attended lec-
tures, but he was frustrated by the many
interruptions of daily life.
When Alvin retired in 2010, his son,
Sam, had recently begun studying for the
life of a pulpit rabbi at RIETS after earn-
ing a mathematics degree at Yeshiva Col-
lege as his father had done three decades
before.
Then his wife, Esther Lauber, had
an idea. She suggested I register for the
RIETS semicha program, which would
give me an opportunity for concentrated
Torah learning, said Alvin.
consider semicha. I realized I needed to
be in a career that would put me in direct
conversation with people and enable me
to really help themand I started to find
that experience by engaging others using
my own love of Torah.
As an undergraduate, Albert im-
mersed himself in extracurricular ac-
periences and plays a crucial role in in-
forming his own journey as a Sephardic
rabbi. It has been the greatest privilege
to learn and do shimush [rabbinical ap-
prenticeship] under my mentor, said
Aziz. Having received his tradition from
great Sephardic luminaries of the previ-
ous generation, his sheer mastery of Tal-
mud and halacha [Jewish law] continues
to be awe-inspiring.
Aziz also appreciated the compre-
hensive training that has prepared him
for the role he now serves as rabbinic
assistant at the United Mashadi Jewish
Community of America (UMJCA) under
Rabbi Ben Haim.
At UMJCA, Aziz manages a Shabbat
minyan of nearly 250 people in addition
to teaching chatan [groom] and kallah
[bride] classes with his wife, Gabby, for
engaged couples and Judaic studies at
Since Sam had a bit of a head start,
he found himself in an unusual position:
guiding his father through the challenges
of intense rabbinic studies. Ive been
able to mentor my father throughout the
process, said Sam, who currently serves
tivities that gave him an opportunity to
do just that, helping run a student-led
initiative, Yismechu, which brought YU
students to smaller Jewish communities
to enrich Shabbat celebrations. The ex-
posure to teaching in shul settings and
engaging others with the idea of Torah
Umadda that YU represents was foun-
dational for me, he said. I realized be-
coming a rabbi would be a way to further
that conversation.
Today, Albert feels that the close
mentorship and holistic approach to rab-
binic training he received at RIETS were
critical to his formation as a communal
leader. As a pulpit rabbi, however, he is
especially grateful for the ways RIETS
equipped him to serve at the helm of a
congregationnot only in terms of hala-
chic expertise and Torah learning but
also as a confidant, policy-maker and the
many other roles and responsibilities the
modern rabbinate comprises.
Rabbi Yona Reiss gave a class on
contemporary rabbinic issues that, at the
time, seemed so abstract, but now looking
YUTODAY 5
the Long Island Hebrew Academy in
Great Neck; the couple have two daugh-
ters, Rivqa and Avigayil. Aziz also earned
a masters degree through Wurzweiler
School of Social Works clergy program
and completed a certificate in Jewish
communal service there as well. In addi-
tion, he has been certified by the PUAH
Institute and is training to become a
shochet [ritual slaughterer].
I believe its important to learn
practical halacha, he said.
As a communal rabbi, Aziz is most
passionate about conveying Sephardic
tradition to future generations. The Sep-
hardic community has a rich heritage
diverse communities always remained
together, he said. I hope to continue
educating Sephardic communities and
help maintain unity and respect between
all Jews. n
as an assistant rabbi at Congregation Kol
Israel in Brooklyns Crown Heights and
also works as an actuary at Prudential. It
has been an interesting inversion of me-
sorah [tradition], but one where we have
been able to work together to achieve
higher proficiency in our Jewish texts.
Both father and son consider the in-
struction theyve received at RIETSin
textual learning and in developing a tool
kit to combat the challenges of the rab-
binic lifeunparalleled. For Alvin, re-
ceiving semicha with his son is especially
meaningful.
Watching Sam perform his rab-
binical duties at his shul in Brooklyn
makes me proud, said Alvin. When we
discuss halachic issues, this inspires me
to deepen my own Torah learning. I be-
lieve that our semichot are a tribute to
Sams ancestors, who died al Kiddush
Hashem [sanctifying Gods name] in the
Holocaust. n
back, I have encountered two-thirds of
those issues already, and his tremendous
knowledge of Torah and real-life sensi-
tivity serve as a guiding light for me, said
Albert. Rabbi Menachem Penner had
a homiletics class that really helped me
with my ability to give drashot [sermons].
One of the lessons that really motivated
me was when he explained why prepara-
tion was so important: If you give a bor-
ing speech, your congregation isnt going
to think, This is a boring rabbi. Theyll
think, God forbid, This is a boring Torah.
We have a huge opportunityand re-
sponsibilityto represent Him every
time we speak.
With his congregation in Oakland,
Albert is enjoying the opportunity to
completely immerse himself in build-
ing the Jewish community. My goal is
to be an access point for the incredible
mesorah that we have as Orthodox Jews,
show people how deeply relevant and
meaningful a Jewish life can be and help
them take the next step in their Jewish
journey, he said. n
SPRING 2017 W W W.YU.EDU/NEWS
6 YUTODAY
Sy Syms Offers New Masters Degree Azrieli Unveils
in Taxation Rolling
Admissions
tise to place graduates on the degree from Sy Syms will significantly

cutting edge of todays evolv-
ing tax world and help them to
succeed in any work or market
environment.
In a competitive job mar-
ket, the technical skills and ex-
pertise in taxation, along with
enhanced communication pro-
ficiency, become increasingly
valuable, said Dr. Selma Bot-
man, provost and vice president
for academic affairs at YU.
The introduction of the
graduate tax degree reflects the
resourceful thinking that the Sy
Syms school personifies, as well
as its consistency in responding
to the demands in the market-
place and the interests of our
students, said Professor Leon-
ard Fuld, the programs director
and a widely respected expert
in tax law with nearly 40 years
Professor Leonard Fuld of practical experience as a se-
nior tax professional at several
enhance each of our students knowledge
base and prove to be a most valuable cre-
dential.
The Master of Science in taxation is
taught by CPAs, tax attorneys and former
IRS agentswho each possess in-depth
knowledge and real-world experience.
Students will hone the skills needed to
apply tax principles and planning tech-
niques in the operations of various types
and styles of business enterprises. Es-
pecially crucial in the modern business
environment, the masters program will
imbue students with the skills they need
to adapt to a continuously evolving regu-
latory landscape while managing their
professional responsibilities concerning
public interest, objectivity, integrity, inde-
pendence and due care.
Courses will be offered in the spring,
fall and summer semesters to allow stu-
dents to complete all requirements.
Located on YUs Beren Campus in mid-
town Manhattan, the affordable program
enables students to attend classes, while
I
n an effort to make its programs more
accessible to educators worldwide,
Yeshiva Universitys Azrieli Graduate
School of Jewish Education and Admin-
istration announced that students will
be able to enroll in its programs during
any semester.
We are aiming to meet the needs of
all Jewish educators, from seasoned pro-
fessionals to novice teacherswherever
they work, for whatever model of learning
they need and whether they are seeking a
degree or simply looking to advance their
practice, said Azrieli Dean Rona Novick.
We offer fully online degrees, evening
courses for working educators and joint
programs with the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Theological Seminary, the Bernard Revel
Graduate School of Jewish Studies and
the YU undergraduate programs.
Azrieli also opens courses to non-
matriculated students each semester, pro-
viding educators in the field with
opportunities to advance their learning
and access talented Azrieli faculty with-

Y
eshiva Universitys Sy Syms
School of Business announced
that it will offer a new masters de-
gree in taxation. The one-year, 30-credit
program will draw on the schools exper-
firms, including PricewaterhouseCoo-
pers, Schlumberger Limited, Citigroup
and Griffon Corporation. I am certain
that we are in for interesting times in the
world of taxation, and an advanced tax
pursuing current or new employment out committing to a degree program. n
opportunities. n
k For more information about Azrielis masters pro-
k For more information or to apply, visit yu.edu/ grams and admissions requirements, visit yu.edu/
syms/grad/taxation azrieli/prospective-students/masters-programs

Einstein Student Awarded New NCI Grant for Cancer Research

S
amer Hanna, a PhD candidate in
the Department of Anatomy and
Structural Biology at the Albert
Einstein College of Medicine, has been
awarded the National Cancer Institute
(NCI) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fel-
low Transition Fellowship. Its a new
kind of grant that is being offered to en-
courage and retain outstanding graduate
students who have demonstrated poten-
tial and interest in careers as indepen-
dent cancer researchers. The aim of the
fellowship is to ease recipients transition
to successful cancer research postdoc-
toral appointments. The $220,000 grant
will provide funding for the remainder
of Hannas PhD thesis research and four
years of his postdoctoral work.
Hanna was one of only 30 students
nationwide to be awarded the prestigious
fellowship, and each institution was per-
mitted just one applicant. Samer is a
talented scientist who is inquisitive and
hardworking, and his research proposal
was quite novel, said mentor Dianne Cox,
professor of anatomy and structural biol-
ogy and of developmental and molecular
biology, who encouraged him to apply.
A native of Lebanon, Hanna is a fifth-
year PhD student in Dr. Coxs laboratory.
His postgraduate work centers on breast
cancer, furthering studies of the mecha-
nisms through which cancer cells become
invasive and metastatic, spreading to
other organs. n
Professor Dianne Cox and Samer Hanna

YU Receives $1M Gift for Program on Israel and the Rule of Law

Yeshiva University received a bequest of $1 million from the Dr. Joseph and Faye Glatt
Estate to create the Joseph and Faye Glatt Program on Israel and the Rule of Law, a
new initiative housed in the Center for Israel Studies (CIS).
The new program will present and explore Israel in all of its complexity, said CIS
Director Steven Fine, the Dean Pinkhos Churgin Professor of Jewish History. It will
influence both the next generation and people far beyond YU through a broad and
deep range of scholarship, programs and events.
Tentative programming this year will include lectures from both YU faculty and visit-
ing speakers, courses, book discussions, conferences (such as a recent gathering to
honor the work of Nobel Laureate S.Y. Agnon), museum exhibitions and artistic presen-
tations, such as Fines digital restoration of the Arch of Titus.
Throughout their lives, the Glatts ardently supported the survival of Jewish commu-
nities around the world. Joseph wrote his doctorate at Columbia University on the His-
tadrut, the Israel federation of labor organizations founded in 1920, and Faye, who
trained as a speech therapist, worked with Torah Umesorah in the establishment of
Jewish day schools. They took great pride in what they saw as the convergence of
Israel and the rule of law, committing their professional lives to promoting this principle.
Joseph and Faye Glatt committed their lives to the State of Israel as a Jewish State,
grounded in ethics and the rule of law, said President Richard M. Joel. This new pro-
gram will focus on the relationship between Medinat Yisrael [the State of Israel] and
Jewish values. With this bequest, Yeshiva University looks forward to sharing those
values with the world through the Center for Israel Studies.

k Learn more about YUs Center for Israel Studies at yu.edu/cis

s W W W.YU.EDU/NEWS SPRING 2017 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/YUNEWS

 SNAP | SHOTS YUTODAY 7

YU Student Competes on Jeopardy!

p Whether they were dancing at chagigot or delivering mishloach manot in costume at

q local nursing homes and hospitals, Yeshiva University students marked the Purim
holiday with a mix of fun, vibrant campus celebrations and acts of kindness that embod-
ied the spirit of the day. n

What is school pride? Yeshiva College senior Netanel Paley of Teaneck, New Jersey,
participated in the Jeopardy! College Championship tournament, which aired on
national television in February. Paley, a trivia buff and geography whiz, had always
dreamed of competing on the famous answer-and-question quiz show, hosted by
Alex Trebek (pictured, left). A biology major and a music minor, Paley proudly repre-
sented YU in the annual tournament, where he joined 14 college students from
across the country and advanced to the semifinals stage of the competition. n

p YUs Rabbi Arthur Schneier Program for International Affairs hosted a symposium
in March to discuss the future of United States-Israel relations. Panelists included
former U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, Joseph Lieberman Professor of Public Service
and Public Policy; former Israeli Ambassador Danny Ayalon, the Rennert Visiting Profes-
sor of Foreign Policy Studies; former U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer 71YC; and former p During the Sharsheret Cake Wars competition in February, hundreds of students
Israeli Ambassador Dan Arbell. Dr. Bernard Firestone 70YC, a Hofstra University dean put their cake-decorating skills to the test to raise awareness and funds for patients
and specialist in international affairs, moderated the discussion. n battling breast cancer. n

p More than 100 students participated in a pro-Israel lobbying mission to Washington, D.C., in February, led by the Yeshiva University Political Awareness Club. Students lobbied
members of Congress on issues relating to Israel and enjoyed meeting with Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch and New York Senator Chuck Schumer. n

s FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YESHIVAUNIVERSITY SPRING 2017 W W W.YU.EDU/NEWS

 YUTODAY
YESH IVA U N IVE RSITY 500 WEST 185TH STR E ET, N EW YOR K, NY 10033 SPR I NG 2017 VOLU M E 21 NO. 1

Jewish Philosophy Scholars Profiled in Series

After receiving semicha [rabbinical ordination] from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Theological Seminary and a masters degree from YUs Bernard Revel Graduate School
of Jewish Studies, Shatz pursued graduate work in general philosophy, earning a mas-
ters from New York University and his doctorate with distinction from Columbia Uni-
versity. The interview with Shatz encompasses not only biography but also discussions
about the nature of philosophy, reason and religious commitment, science and religion,
transhumanism, Modern Orthodoxy and more.
The book presents four of Shatzs previously published essays, covering the topics
of free will, virtue and altruism, religious epistemology and Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveit-
chiks views of science. Both Sztudens essay and the interview highlight the diversity
in Shatzs works, as well as Shatzs efforts to facilitate a rich dialogue between Jewish
and Western traditions and perspectives. Some of his books and articles deal with gen-
eral philosophy, others with Jewish philosophy, and still others with the interaction be-
tween the two.
I feel myself part of a historic mission, and truly embrace YUs ideals, Shatz says
Rabbi Dr. David Shatz Rabbi Dr. J. David Bleich in the books interview. I love what I do.
J. David Bleich: Where Halakhah and Philosphy Meet features an introduction by

T
wo distinguished Yeshiva University faculty membersRabbi Dr. David Shatz,
the Ronald P. Stanton University Professor of Philosophy, Ethics and Religious
Thought, and Rabbi Dr. J. David Bleich, the Herbert and Florence Tenzer Profes-
sor of Jewish Law and Ethicshave been featured in Brill Presss Library of Contem-
porary Jewish Philosophers series which, as described by the publisher, showcases
outstanding Jewish thinkers who have made lasting contributions to constructive Jew-
ish philosophy in the second half of the 20th century.
The series, which features 20 scholars from 16 different institutions, devotes each
volume to developing a thorough understanding of the individual philosophers intel-
lectual journey and seeks to situate each perspective and work in the larger frame of the
Jewish philosophical past and contemporary Jewish existence. Every volume features a
personal and intellectual biography of the thinker, a collection of his or her critical pub-
lications, a select bibliography and an extensive interview or series of reflections. The
series is edited by Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, Irving and Miriam Lowe Professor of Mod-
ern Judaism and director of the Center for Jewish Studies at Arizona State University,
and Aaron W. Hughes, Philip S. Bernstein Chair of Jewish Studies in the Department of
Religion and Classics at the University of Rochester.
Drs. Shatz and Bleich, giants in their fields, have influenced generations of stu-
dents and scholars, said Dr. Selma Botman, provost and vice president of academic af-
fairs at YU. Brill Press recognizes that their scholarship has not only had a profound
impact on knowledge but has also affirmatively enriched our world.
David Shatz: Torah, Philosophy, and Culture opens with an intellectual portrait by
Alex Sztuden, a Templeton Fellow at the Herzl Institute and Yeshiva College graduate.
While devoted primarily to Shatzs philosophical oeuvre and outlook, Sztudens essay
and the interview also explore Shatzs career and his journey from early education to
Yeshiva College valedictorian to his teaching at YU, where he has been chair of the phi-
losophy department at Stern College for Women for almost 35 years.
Dr. Steven Resnicoff, director of the Center for Jewish Law and Judaic Studies at DePaul
University College of Law. The book includes Rabbi Bleichs essays on a number of criti-
cal topics, such as the halachic process, the intrinsic value of life and the relationship
between Judaism and natural law, as well as his reflections on issues facing the Jewish
community. At YU, in addition to serving as rosh yeshiva at RIETS since 1969, he is direc-
tor of the Postgraduate Institute for the Study of Talmudic Jurisprudence and Family
Law and professor of law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He also serves as
the spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai Jehuda in Manhattan, a position he has held
for more than 50 years.
The book tackles Rabbi Bleichs perspective as a renowned authority on Jewish
law and ethics, especially his contributions to the fields of medical ethics, Jewish law
and contemporary social issues, and the interface of Jewish law and the American legal
system. It also discusses his roots in the rabbinical schools of Yeshivas Torah Vadoth
and Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim of Radun as well as his intellectual journey as he earned
his bachelors degree from Brooklyn College, his masters in philosophy from Columbia
University and his doctorate from New York University.
Since beginning his academic career as an educator at Hunter College in 1962 and
later at Stern College in 1965, Rabbi Bleich has helped to shape the genre of Jewish law
literature written in English. He continues to author his column Survey of Recent Hal-
akhic Periodical Literature in the rabbinic journal Tradition. Rabbi Bleichs greatest
impact has been in the field of bioethics; in his writings and international presentations,
he shares Jewish law perspectives with a worldwide audience.
The need of the hour is availability of a broad spectrum of information addressed
to any and all, the highly educated and the less educated, Jew and non-Jew, presented in
language and form comprehensible to the individual reader, Rabbi Bleich notes in the
books reflections. Most important, the information and values must be unadulterated
and uncompromised. We are duty-bound to do no less. n

New Book Examines Stories of Crypto-Jewish Explorers in the Age of Columbus

In an age of rampant religious persecution, expand- Dr. Perelis incorporates these stories into the
ing global trade and tantalizing new horizons, how classes he teaches at YU. I think they are espe-
did crypto-Jews navigate the complex mazes of cially relevant for Modern Orthodox university stu-
faith, opportunity and discovery? This question is at dents as theyre trying to navigate their own Jewish
the heart of a new book by Ronnie Perelis, the identities, he said. These were Jews in medieval
Chief Rabbi Dr. Isaac Abraham and Jelena (Rachel) Spain who were both fully integrated and fully Jew-
Alcalay Professor of Sephardic Studies at Yeshiva ish, speaking the language of their countries and
University. Titled Narratives from the Sephardic involved in the sciences but, at the same time, cre-
Atlantic: Blood and Faith (Indiana University Press, ating this super-rich culture of Torah for them-
2016), the book weaves together three autobio- selves. A clear inspiration for Torah Umadda. Thats
graphical texts written by crypto-Jews in 16th- and why this isnt just a history for the Sephardimthis
17th-century Spanish- and Portuguese-controlled is a history for all Jews and all people who are
lands, following each narrator on a remarkable involved in that struggle of trying to cultivate and
journey of religious evolution at the raw edge of the maintain their own identities while belonging to a
known world. larger community.
Dr. Ronnie Perelis

CONNECT WITH YU ON THE WEB

| www.yu.edu | | www.facebook.com/yeshivauniversity | | www.youtube.com/yeshivauniversity | | www.twitter.com/yunews |

| www.linkedin.com/company/yeshiva-university | | www.instagram.com/yeshiva_university |
| www.flickr.com/yeshivauniversity | | YeshivaUSnaps |