YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

∞ SUMMER 2015

∞ VOLUME 19 • NO. 3YUTODAYCardozo Appoints New Dean

4Page 2

Congrats, Class of 2015!

4Page 6

YU Across the Globe

4Page 4–5

YC, RIETS Launch Advanced Joint Program

4Page 3

Hundreds of undergraduate stu-dents were presented with their degrees in front of thousands of

proud family and friends at Yeshiva Uni-versity’s 84th Commencement Exercises, held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on May 17.

President Richard M. Joel urged graduates to use their YU education and experiences to “matter and continue to matter” in the world. “Torah charts your direction to shape hearts and minds. There is a sacred mission to go forthwith,” he said. “Bring that to who you are wher-ever you go. Build whole communities of integrity based on Torah Umadda. The Jewish story is a story of being worthy, of being partners with God, of advancing creation and of sharing that notion with those around you. You can do that, and you must do that.”

Dr. Ruth Wisse, Yiddish scholar, author and literary and social critic, delivered the keynote address. “I’ve spent most of my life in universities, so I’d like to take the opportunity to tell you how very fortunate you are to be part of this academic com-munity,” said Wisse, who was awarded an honorary degree from Yeshiva in 2004. “You have been educated in the traditions of a people with an enviable record of moral and

intellectual achievement. Unlike many in North America, you have enough knowl-

edge both of your own traditions and of the world around you to see yourselves within a comparative framework.”

President Joel awarded the Presidential Medallion to Pearl Berger, dean of YU Libraries, and conferred honorary doctorates upon Peter Frates and Martin Greenfield.

Recently retired, Berger had served as dean of

The Yeshiva University Board of Trustees has elected Moshael J. Straus ’70YUHS, ’74YC as its chair-

man. Straus, an accomplished invest-ment executive and YU alumnus, began his term on July 1, succeeding Dr. Henry Kressel ’55YC, who joined the board in 2005 and served as its chairman since 2009.

“Moshael’s judgment and counsel on a variety of major issues over these past few years have proved invaluable to the board and to me personally,” said Kressel.

“I look forward to working with him as he helps lead Yeshiva University forward with excellence.”

“The chairmanship of the trust-ees of Yeshiva University is one of the premiere lay fiduciary Jewish posi-tions in the world,” said President Richard M. Joel. “Moshael has been, is and will be a fabulous partner in that endeavor. He has earned the respect of all his lay colleagues and the professional leadership of the University through his commitment, his analytic skills, his profound Jew-ish investment and his philanthropic leadership.”

Straus was elected to the YU Board of Trustees in 1998 and served as its vice chairman. He is the chair-

man of the Board of Overseers of Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration and is a member of the Board of Trustees of YU-affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). His wife, Zahava ’80C, is a mem-ber of the Board of Overseers at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

“I am extremely honored to succeed Dr. Henry Kressel, who has led the board with extraordinary vision, responsibility and dedication,” said Straus.

Thanks to a unique and expanded catalog of more than 40 summer courses, this year’s summer school

sessions at Yeshiva University enjoyed massive success: Well over 600 students chose to take advantage of opportunities on campus in New York City or join one of the program’s 10 online courses from as far away as Los Angeles and Israel, nearly doubling last year’s enrollment. For the first time, that number included stu-dents from other institutions who were attracted to YU’s summer program by its combination of access to outstanding fac-ulty, one-of-a-kind courses and flexible schedule.

“The dramatic increase in online course enrollment shows that YU stu-dents see these courses as very attractive options. And students who attend other colleges and universities have enrolled in YU courses in higher numbers than ever before, demonstrating confidence in the quality and rigor of our education,” said Dr. Selma Botman, provost and vice presi-dent of academic affairs at YU. “We were pleased that so many students wished to continue taking classes, making progress toward their degrees and availing them-selves of YU faculty and the rich selection of courses they offer.”

Including fully online as well as tra-

ditional and blended classes, the courses spanned majors and disciplines, includ-ing the hard and social sciences, business, history, English literature and Judaic studies. All were taught by experts in their field at Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women and Sy Syms School of Business. The summer program was augmented by the resources of YU Global, Yeshiva University’s online initiative.

The program’s highlights included Nachmanides on the Pentateuch, taught by renowned Nachmanides scholar Dr. Michelle Levine, associate professor of Bible at Stern, and Courts and Social Change a fully online political science course featuring lectures from major figures in the field and led by Dr. Akiva Covitz, executive director for strategy of YU Global.

“Online classes have significant ad-vantages in terms of flexibility, especially in the summer,” said Covitz. “Students can go through the material at their own pace and they have the ability to pause the professor while they take notes or rewind if they miss anything. There’s no travel time to get to class. You can go on vacation and not fall behind. And by taking classes like these in the summer, students free up more time during the year.”

Moshael Straus Elected Chairman Summer School Enrollment Soars

Yeshiva University Celebrates 84th Commencement

Continued on Page 7 ç

Continued on Page 7 ç

Continued on Page 7 ç

Dr. Ruth Wisse delivers keynote address

Ruth Wisse Delivers Keynote Address; Peter Frates, Martin Greenfield and Pearl Berger Honored

Moshael J. Straus

2 YUTODAY

s WWW.YU.EDU/NEWS SUMMER 2015 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/YUNEWS ß

Sharon (Zanger) ’80S and Avram Blumenthal have multiple ties to Yeshiva University, af-firming their passion to support the Univer-

sity and its Torah values. “We have a long-term connection,” said Avram. “Not only were Sharon and our children students at YU, but Sharon’s two brothers, her sister-in-law and my older brother were as well.”

“And all of our nieces and nephews,” added Sharon.

Sharon and Avram are active contributors to YU’s Center for the Jewish Future (CJF) and the Sy Syms School of Business, where Avram has served as a board member for two years. At the CJF, the Blumenthals focus their support on Counterpoint Israel, a program that trains and sends YU students to Israel to run summer camps for local underprivi-leged children, and YUConnects, an online initia-tive that promotes healthy meeting opportunities and relationships for singles.

Both Sharon and Avram bring their entrepre-neurial experience to their philanthropy. Avram is the managing partner of a family investment partnership. He has successfully identified and invested in early stage technology and health care companies, has been active in the real estate industry and, with Sharon, cofounded a home health therapy company that provides early in-tervention therapeutic services for children with developmental delays, where she now serves as coexecutive director.

“YU is the only institution in the world that combines Torah and worldly studies, training students to be leaders, professionals and entre-

preneurs. It’s rooted in the real world while incor-porating Jewish values and ethics,” said Avram.

“Sharon and Avram are committed to the Jewish community, both around the corner and throughout the Jewish world,” said Rabbi Kenneth

Brander, vice president for university and com-munity life at Yeshiva University. “At YU, they have been valued mentors and friends and important philanthropic supporters.”

“With God’s help, we’ll continue to support YU and encourage others too,” said Avram. “We benefited from Yeshiva and want others to ben-efit as well.” They are the proud parents of Chaim ’06SB, ’14R, married to Leora (Tennenberg) ’05S; Judah ’09YC; and Benjamin ’12SB, married to Tamar (Laifer). n

Leslie Named Cardozo Dean

Melanie Leslie has been appointed dean of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, becoming the school’s seventh dean,

the first woman and the first Cardozo graduate to serve in the position. She succeeds Matthew Diller, who stepped down after serving as Car-dozo’s dean for six years.

“When Cardozo Law was created, its unique mission was to enhance the legal world and beyond by producing leaders who embrace and perpetuate timeless values,” said President Richard M. Joel. “In appointing Dean Leslie from among its gradu-ates, we have exceeded our highest ambitions.”

Previously, Leslie served as the vice dean and a professor of law at Cardozo, where she has taught since 1995. As vice dean, she oversaw the introduc-tion of new professional concentrations to the cur-riculum, worked closely with Diller to expand Cardozo’s renowned intellectual property program to include initiatives on technology and data law and oversaw the launch of the Fashion, Arts, Media and Entertainment Law Center in the spring.

Leslie is a leading scholar in trusts and estates law, and is an expert in fiduciary duties in the trust,

and corporate and nonprofit governance. As a pro-fessor of law, she teaches Property, Trusts and Es-tates, Charity Governance and Evidence. She is the coauthor of a leading casebook, Estates and Trusts: Cases and Materials, as well as Concepts and In-sights: Trusts and Estates. A prolific scholar, Leslie has had articles published in the NYU Law Review, Boston College Law Review, Florida Law Review, William & Mary Law Review, Georgetown Law Journal and Indiana Law Journal. She is widely re-spected for her excellent teaching skills and en-gagement with the student body, and has been presented the “Best First-Year Professor” award by three Cardozo classes.

“There is an unmistakable energy at Cardozo, and I look forward to advancing the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of this remarkable law school,” said Leslie. “It is an honor to lead Cardo-zo’s world-class faculty and vibrant community of students and alumni and to serve the institution that has given me so much.”

She is a member of the New York State Bar As-sociation and New York City Bar Joint Committee on the Uniform Trust Code and a Legal Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

Leslie earned a BA with honors from the Uni-versity of Oregon and a JD magna cum laude from Cardozo in 1991, where she was executive editor of the Cardozo Law Review. She has been actively en-gaged with alumni, the Cardozo Board of Over-seers and the leadership of Yeshiva University.

Dr. Selma Botman, vice president for aca-demic affairs and provost, chaired the rigorous na-tionwide search for the new dean. “The committee was truly impressed with the candidates and the high level of interest from across the country,” said Botman. “At the end of the day, however, there was overwhelming faculty support for Dean Leslie, which was also shared by students who provided input to the committee.” n

Strengthening the Jewish Future

Sharon and Avram Blumenthal

YUTODAYYESHIVA UNIVERSITY

∞ SUMMER 2015

∞ VOLUME 19 • NO. 3

MOSHAEL J. STRAUS Chairman, YU Board of Trustees

RICHARD M. JOEL President

PAUL OESTREICHER Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs

YUTODAY

MATT YANIV Director of Marketing and Communications

Editor in Chief

MALKA EISENBERG PEREL SKIER HECHT GISEL PINEYRO Editor Associate Editor Art Director

Aliza Berenholz, Dina Burcat, Caitlin Geiger, David Khabinsky, Elina Mosheyeva, Tova Ross, Suzy Schwartz, Adena Stevens

Contributors

yutoday@yu.edu www.yu.edu/cpa

YUToday is published quarterly by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs and is distrib uted free to faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and friends. It keeps them informed of news from across Yeshiva University’s undergraduate and graduate divisions and affiliates. The quarterly newsletter covers academic and campus life, faculty and student research, com-munity outreach and philanthropic support. It showcases the University’s 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 2015 • Office of Communications and Public Affairs Furst Hall, Room 401 • 500 West 185th St. • New York, NY 10033-3201 • Tel.: 212.960.5285

Stanley I. Raskas, Chair, Board of Overseers, Yeshiva College; Shira Yoshor, Chair, Board of Overseers, Stern College for Women; Steve Uretsky, Chair, Board of Overseers, Sy Syms School of Business; Roger W. Einiger, Chair, Board of Overseers, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; 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; Moshael J. Straus, Chair, Board of Overseers, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration; Joel M. Schreiber, Chair, Board of Trustees, (affiliate) Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary; Miriam P. Goldberg, Chair, Board of Trustees, YU High Schools; Michael Jesselson and Theodore N. Mirvis, Co-chairs, Board of Directors, (affiliate) Yeshiva University Museum

Board listings as of July 1, 2015

YUTODAY WEB EXCLUSIVES

www.yu.edu/news

Watch the complete commencement ceremonyk yu.edu/gradvideo

View the 2015 commencement photo galleryk yu.edu/gradpics

Maccabees Take ManhattanFrom the Statue of Liberty to Times Square, check out this gallery of YU

student-athletes showcasing some of NYC’s most iconic landmarks.

k yu.edu/nycmacs

Commencement 2015

PHOTO

VIDEO

PHOTO

YUTODAY 3

SUMMER 2015 WWW.YU.EDU/NEWS ßs FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YESHIVAUNIVERSITY

Professor Michel Rosenfeld, the Justice Sydney L. Robins Professor of Human Rights and the director of the Program on Global Comparative Constitutional Theory at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, was recently appointed

University Professor of Law and Comparative Democracy.Rosenfeld is a world-renowned scholar in the fields of comparative constitu-

tional law and legal philosophy. He has lectured worldwide and has been a recur-ring visiting professor in many universities in France, Hungary, Italy and Spain and received many honors including France’s Legion of Honor in 2004. Rosenfeld is also a prolific writer and author of many books.

“Professor Rosenfeld is a fitting choice for the honor of University Professor,” said Cardozo Dean Melanie Leslie. “He has made significant and lasting contribu-tions to the fields of comparative constitutional law and legal philosophy as well as to the Cardozo and Yeshiva University communities.” n

Rosenfeld Named University Professor

Yeshiva University and its affiliate, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), have announced a new advanced track, six-year intensive joint pro-gram that will enable aspiring rabbis to earn a bachelor’s degree and semicha

[rabbinic ordination] while fully immersing themselves in Torah scholarship that will lay the foundations for their future.

“The result of a full year of discussions among our Roshei Yeshiva [professors of Talmud] on how to bring our semicha standards to ever-higher levels, this rigorous 6-year curriculum is designed for our strongest talmidim [students] who are interested in completing their Yeshiva College bachelor’s degree while maximizing their learn-ing time,” said Rabbi Menachem Penner, the Max and Marion Grill Dean of RIETS.

The initiative is highly selective, with admittance based on demonstrated com-mitment to learning, skill level and the recommendations of applicants’ rabbeim [teachers]. Participants take just one or two Yeshiva College courses in their first semester to allow themselves to remain immersed in full-time yeshiva learning as they begin their college studies. This enables them to experience the full range of

Yeshiva’s Torah offerings as they study for ordination under the guidance of RIETS’ world-class Roshei Yeshiva. By spreading coursework for their bachelor’s degree over eight semesters, participants ensure their education is firmly centered on learning throughout their undergraduate experience.

Participants will learn three daily sedarim [study sessions] in a vibrant beit midrash [study hall]. Combining in-depth study of many halachic [Jewish legal]disciplines with professional rabbinic coursework that includes training in oratory skills, pastoral coun-seling and more, the program prepares students for their future careers at the commu-nal helm through leadership seminars and teaching internships.

In addition, students interested in Jewish education can earn a simultaneous mas-ter’s degree at YU’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration.

Scholarships are available. n

k For more information email Rabbi Yosef Kalinsky at kalinsky@yu.edu

The National Institutes of Health awarded a five-year $10.5 million grant to Albert Einstein College of

Medicine and the Icahn School of Medi-cine at Mount Sinai to fund their Diabe-tes Research Center, now newly named the Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Re-search Center. The center also includes researchers and clinicians from seven other New York–based institutions. Dr. Jeffrey Pessin, the Judy R. and Alfred A. Rosenberg Professorial Chair in Dia-betes Research at Einstein and principal investigator on the grant, will direct the new multi-institution center. n

Joint Program to Integrate Advanced Semicha and Undergraduate Studies

Einstein Shares $10.5 Million NIH Grant

In Memoriam, Sheri Rosenberg

Yeshiva University mourns the pass-ing of Sheri Rosenberg ’94C, who died on May 22 after a brave bat-tle with cancer. She was a clinical professor of law as well as direc-tor of the Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights and director of the Human Rights and Atrocity Prevention Clinic, both of which she helped create.

Rosenberg was passionate in her teaching and her work, dedi-cating her career to international human rights and the use of the law in preventing genocide and mass atrocities. She represented asylum seekers from Haiti and Darfur, won a landmark case on nondiscrimi-nation in the European Court of Human Rights and brought high-profile speakers and conferences to Cardozo.

Rosenberg is survived by her husband, Gregg Kanter, and three children.

FOCUS | ON FACULTY

Dr. Lata K. McGinn, associate professor of psychology at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, coauthored the study-based article “Half of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Cases Misdiag-nosed: Vignette-Based Survey of Primary Care Physicians.” It was published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, a peer-re-viewed medical journal of the American Society for Clinical Psychopharmacology.

The United States Department of Energy renewed a grant to Dr. Anatoly Frenkel, professor of physics. He will receive $480,000 for three years to investigate the structure and properties of metal nanoparticles. Frenkel will collaborate with other principal investigators from the University of Illinois and the Univer-sity of Washington for a combined total of $1.5 million for this study and will in-clude postdoctoral and undergraduate students in his research.

Dr. Tamar Avnet, associate professor of marketing at Sy Syms School of Business, presented “The Ticking of the Clock‚ the Weight of the Tray‚ and the Apple a Day—the Secrets to a Healthier Food Consumption,” in May at the 27th Annual Association for Psychological Science Convention. The talk, held in New York City, focused on why consumers make unhealthy choices about the types of food and portions they consume.

Dr. Joshua D. Zimmerman, the Eli and Diana Zborowski Professorial Chair in Holo-caust Studies and East European Jewish History, published The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939–1945 (Cambridge University Press, June 2015). Using archival documents, testimonies and memoirs, it is the first book in any language to provide a thorough examination of the attitude and behavior of the Polish Underground toward the Jews during World War II.

Dr. Josefa Steinhauer, assistant professor of bi-ology, published an ar-ticle in Spermatogenesis. The article “Drosophila Spermatid Individualiza-tion Is Sensitive to Temperature and Fatty Acid Metab-olism” examines sperm production using the fruit fly model and found that temperature and lipid signals are important for fertility. Geulah Ben-David ’12S and Eli Miller ’13YC coauthored the article.

Dr. Jianfeng Jiang, associate professor of chemistry, recently published an article in the journal Chemi-cal Communications. Coauthored by Jiang’s students, Tyler Berenson ’13YC, Nathaniel Tracer ’15YC, Daniel Shlian ’17YC, Michael Khaloo ’16YC and Avraham Benhaim ’15YC, the article, “Oxidation of Carbon Mon-oxide in Basic Solution Catalyzed by Nickel Cyano Car-bonyls at Ambient Condition and the Prototype of a CO-Powered Alkaline Flow Battery Type Fuel Cell,” was part of a larger ongoing project funded by the National Science Foundation. The goal of the project has been to find inexpensive substances to serve as reactors or catalysts that activate carbon monoxide for use as highly efficient and affordable fuel sources. Using nickel-based compounds as catalysts for carbon monoxide oxidation, Jiang and his students built a prototype of a fuel cell that can be used as an economical and efficient energy source.

k Keep up with the latest faculty news at blogs.yu.edu/facultynews

4 YUTODAY

s WWW.YU.EDU/NEWS SUMMER 2015 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/YUNEWS ß

YU Abroad

When catastrophic floods slammed Houston in May, Yeshiva University students immediately began working with local community leaders to organize a relief mission to the devastated area. With generous support from the Orthodox Union, Neal’s Fund, Harry Ballan, Virginia Bayer and Rabbi Robert Hirt, and in partnership with NECHAMA, a group of 20 students flew to Houston to assist with the grueling clean-up process.

“We teach that the study of Torah and being observant Jews requires one to act when called upon,” said Rabbi Kenneth Brander, vice president of university and community life. “Our students’ immediate response to engage in the flood relief demonstrates how special and inspiring they really are.”

k Read more about their mission at yu.edu/houstonflood

TEXASYU STUDENTS MOBILIZE HOUSTON FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS

CANADADr. Eric Goldman, adjunct

professor of cinema, presented a paper at the 31st Annual Conference of the Association of Israel Studies at

Concordia University in Montreal in June.

Drs. Tadashi Hashimoto, Will Hawkins and Michael Richter, assistant professors

of economics, presented papers at the 11th World Congress of the

Econometric Society in Montreal in August.

UNITED STATES

MASSACHUSETTS

Miriam Renz, a student at Stern College, served as an education programs intern in Lincoln

at the Walden Woods Project, the educational branch of the Thoreau Institute, that focuses on preserving

Henry David Thoreau’s works.

WASHINGTON

Dr. S. Abraham Ravid, Sy Syms Professor of Finance, presented a paper at the Western Finance Association,

a general finance conference, modeling optimal contracts for intellectual property and testing

some of the predictions on screenplay data in Seattle in June.

FRANCEDr. Alessandro Citanna, professor of economics,

delivered a lecture at the Summer Workshop in Economic Theory at the University of Paris-Sorbonne in July.

Dr. S. Abraham Ravid and Dr. Shu Han, assistant professor of information systems at Sy Syms, presented a paper at the International Conference on Arts

and Cultural Management in Aix-en-Provence-Marseille in June.

NETHERLANDSAlexandrea Ravenelle, adjunct instructor in sociology, presented a paper at the

First International Workshop on the Sharing Economy in Utrecht in June.

Dr. Jeffrey Freedman, professor of history, delivered a paper at the 14th Congress of the International Society of Eighteenth-Century Studies in Rotterdam in July.

SPAINDr. Bruno Galantucci, associate professor of psychology, is serving as a visiting

scholar at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona.

SWITZERLANDDr. Neer Asherie, professor of physics and biology, organized an

international workshop on colloidal and protein physics, in Lausanne in June. The program was cosponsored by YU and four other

universities. Asherie was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for his role in

organizing the workshop.

PUERTO RICODr. Ralph Liebling, associate

professor of clinical surgery in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive

Surgery, and faculty colleagues led a group of Einstein students to the

University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and the Hospital de Trauma

de Puerto Rico for a week of intensive hands-on experience

in June.MEXICODr. Ronnie Perelis, the

Chief Rabbi Dr. Isaac Abraham and Jelena (Rachel) Alcalay Chair in

Sephardic Studies at Revel, gave a three-day mini-seminar on Jews in Colonial Latin America at the

Universidad Hebraica and presented research at the Forum for

Inquisitorial Studies at the Colegio de México, both in Mexico City

in May.

ITALYAs part of two courses

offered by the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein and S. Daniel Abraham Honors Programs, 14 students visited Rome to study the city’s impact on the

history of art and Judaism. The courses were taught by Dr. Joseph Angel, assistant

professor of Bible, Dr. Steven Fine, the Dean Pinkhos Churgin Chair in Jewish

History, and Dr. Marnin Young, associate professor of art

history.

From academic conferences and research programs to volunteer missions and internships, a glimpse into the worldly excursions of Yeshiva University students and faculty.

s STAY CONNECTED AT WWW.YU.EDU/ALUMNI

Early on in his Yeshiva College career, Simon Goldberg recognized the need for a grassroots initiative to revitalize conversation about the Holocaust. “We’ll soon be living in a world without any Holocaust sur-

vivors,” he said. “It’s going to mean major challenges in transmitting their history.” In 2009, as a sophomore, Goldberg founded the Student Holocaust Education Movement (SHEM). Its goals were to create interactive platforms for students to discuss some of the central questions related to the Holocaust and to inspire students to take greater ownership over its pedagogy and commemoration.

“If not at YU, where? And, to borrow from a famous sage, if not now, when?” said Goldberg of his thinking at the time.

Born in London, Goldberg grew up in Jerusalem before moving to the United States in 2003. While his family was secular, Goldberg’s interest in exploring more observant Judaism was piqued by a budding involvement with NCSY (formerly known as the National Conference of Synagogue Youth) toward the end of high school in New Jersey.

“I had been taken by my religious friends’ sense of dignity and purpose,” said Goldberg, “and this made me rethink my path and become involved with NCSY. I started learning and thinking critically about Jewish ideas. When I heard that YU also provided a competitive secular academic pro-gram in addition to its Jewish environment and high-level shiurim [lectures], I applied.” Goldberg was also greatly influenced by Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, who was then the director of New Jersey NCSY and is now the David Mitzner Dean of Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future.

Goldberg was a member of the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva College, majored in history, minored in political sci-ence and took courses in English and philosophy as well. He felt especially at home in the classes taught by Dr. Douglas Burgess, assistant professor of history, who served as his thesis adviser. He was also close with Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter, University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought, and Dr. Ruth Bevan, David W. Petegorsky Chair of Political Science.

“Soon after graduating, someone asked me about YU’s greatest asset, and I immediately credited its faculty,” said Goldberg. “For example, I was once talking with Rabbi Schacter, and he asked me where my sights were after

graduating YU. I mentioned that I’d long admired Samantha Power, who today serves as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He suddenly stopped our conversation and began making phone calls to var-ious friends at institutions inside and outside the Jewish world to try and make an appointment for me. I sat there for 45 minutes while he adamantly persisted in this task, until he finally reached Power’s assistant. I ended up meeting her for another reason, but I’ve never forgotten that encounter. YU is truly blessed to have such dedicated faculty.”

By the time he founded SHEM, Goldberg had already demonstrated deep concern for populations devastated by genocide. As a high school soph-omore, Goldberg attended a huge rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about the Darfur atrocities. So moved by what he had learned, Goldberg brought a Florida-based student initiative, Triangles of Truth (ToT), to New York. Participants in the project sell paper triangles, each dedicated to a different Holocaust victim, for a dollar a piece to help present-day victims of genocide. Goldberg expanded the organization glob-ally, built its web presence and created domestic and international part-nerships, bringing the initiative to high schools and universities in Canada, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Scotland and Mexico. Proceeds went to help fund programs like the Firewood Program, which provided Darfuri women with firewood in the vicinity of their camps to prevent them from having to travel far for supplies and risk being raped or murdered by the Janjaweed militia, and Little Ripples, a project to construct classrooms in preschools for Darfuri refugee children.

Simon Goldberg ’12YC: Teaching Tolerance and Taking Action

Remembering Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein z”l

The Yeshiva University com-munity mourns the passing of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein

’53YC, ’59R, a renowned author and scholar, who was the senior Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion. He had served as the Rabbi Henoch and Sarah D. Ber-man Professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University and was the inaugural Rosh Kollel and direc-tor of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Institute in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Lichtenstein was born in France in 1933 and, along with his family, fled to the United States in 1940. He studied in Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin under Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner before earning a bachelor’s degree at Yeshiva College and semicha [rabbinic ordination] at RIETS, followed by a PhD in English literature at Harvard University.

In 1971, after serving as RIETS Rosh Yeshiva for several years, he immi-grated to Israel, joining Rabbi Yehuda Amital as co-Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shvut. In 2014, he was awarded the Israel Prize in Jewish religious literature for his contributions to rabbinic scholarship.

“Rav Lichtenstein served as Rosh Kollel, Rosh Yeshiva and professor of Talmud at RIETS, but that doesn’t begin to capture his essence or his influ-ence,” said YU President Richard M. Joel. “He was one in a generation and his unique Torah perspective and worldview has shaped us all, but his towering goodness stands first and foremost.”

Rabbi Michael Rosensweig, RIETS Rosh Yeshiva and a student of Rabbi Lichtenstein, called him “a giant in Torah scholarship, one of the first-tier Torah scholars of our generation.”

He added: “Rav Lichtenstein represented the best of the products of RIETS and identified with its mission all his life. He was a loyal student of Rav Soloveitchik, his father-in-law, and identified fully with his approach and furthered its applications by applying his knowledge and scope. Rav Lichtenstein expanded Brisker scholarship (analytical method of Talmud study) in a range of topics in Halacha [Jewish law] and hashkafa [Jewish philosophy] leaving a legacy for the broader Torah and yeshiva world.”

“Beyond Rav Aharon’s sophistication and intellectual prowess, what stands out is his humility and modesty,” said Rabbi Kenneth Brander, vice president for university and community life. “He was always there to help the community rabbi and educator, assisting us in coming to conclusions on community policy with halachic [Jewish legal] integrity, masterful sensitivity and great clarity of vision.”

Rabbi Lichtenstein is survived by his wife, Dr. Tovah, and his children Yitzchak, Moshe, Meir, Shai, Esti and Tonya as well as by two sisters Hadassah Kleiman and Shoshana Lichtenstein and thousands of talmidim [students] across the Jewish world. n

Continued on Page 7 ç

ALUMNITODAYYESHIVA UNIVERSITYSUMMER 2015

ALUMNITODAY 1

SEARCH THE ALUMNI DIRECTORY FOR CLASSMATES AT WWW.YU.EDU/ALUMNIDIRECTORY ß2 ALUMNITODAY

Judy and Dr. Seymour Schiff ’53YC, ’60BR announce the birth of a great-granddaughter in Israel. Mazal tov to grandparents Shoshanna (Schiff) ’83S and Josh Klipper ’78YUHS.

Paula ’60S, ’94A, ’06A and Marcel Weber ’52YUHS, ’56YC announce the birth of a great-grandson to their grandchildren, Rachel (Weber) ’13S and David Leshaw ’09YUHS, the children of Elka (Shmidman) ’89S and Eli Weber ’85YC.

1960s Cheryl ’64YUHS and Rabbi Moshe Abramowitz ’67YC, ’70R, ’70F announce the bat mitzvah of their granddaughter, Meira, daughter of Yael and Rav Doniel Abramowitz of Ramat Beit Shemesh.

Sara and Rabbi Aharon Angstreich ’65YUHS, ’70YC, ’72F, ’73R announce the marriages of two of their children: Yehudit to Yaacov Travits of Jerusalem, formerly from Melbourne, Australia, and Netanel to Shira Meirovitch from Avnei Chefetz in Shomron, Israel.

Meira ’69S and Rabbi Eddie Davis ’68YC, ’70R, ’71BR announce the birth of a granddaughter, Lia, born to Batsheva and Gilad Adamit.

Calvin Goldscheider ’61YC, professor emeritus of sociology, Ungerleider Professor Emeritus of Judaic Studies at Brown University and scholar-in-residence in history and Jewish studies at American University, recently published the book Israeli Society in the 21st Century: Immigration,

Inequality, and Religious Conflict (Brandeis University Press).

Rosy and Irvin Hirsch ’67YUHS announce the engagement of their daughter, Shani, to Eli Fenyes.

Vivian ’64S and Dr. David Luchins ’68YC, ’71R celebrated the bar mitzvah of their grandson, Aharon Chaim, son of Chana Leah and Meir Luchins.

Rabbi Jordan S. Penkower ’60YUHS, ’64YC, ’67BS, ’69R, ’69BR, professor of Bible at Bar-Ilan University, delivered the keynote lecture in Heidelberg at the opening of the

Abraham Berliner Center at the Hochschule für Jüdische Studien.

Ann ’62YUHS and Rabbi Gary Pollack ’60YUHS, ’64YC, ’67R celebrated the bar mitzvah of their grandson, Hillel Gedalia Neuman, son of Liba and Heshy Neuman ’94YUHS, ’99SB, and the bat mitzvah of their granddaughter, Zipora Rachel Balter, daughter of Dubby and Yekutiel Balter.

Charlene and Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg ’69YC, ’74F, ’74R, ’92A announce the birth of their granddaughter, Sarah Lily, to their children Ayelet ’06S and Ari Feder.

Dr. Haym Soloveitchik ’62R published his books, Collected Essays, Volume I and Collected Essays, Volume II (Littman Library of Jewish Civilization).

1970s Laurie and Stuart Cohen ’79YUHS announce the engagement of their daughter, Shuli, to Alex Barenbein.

Rock (Rachayl) ’75S and Rabbi Dr. Hillel Davis ’72YC, ’75R, ’75BR and Dr. Norman Blumenthal ’70YUHS, ’74YC, education director of the Bella and Harry Wexner Kollel Elyon and Semikhah Honors Program at RIETS, announce the birth of a grandson, Adir Zechariah, born to Leora ’05S and Ezra Blumenthal ’07YC, ’08BR. Mazal tov also to great-grandparents Belle and Rabbi Simon Eckstein ’44YC, ’44BR, ’46R.

Julie and Eli Halpern ’79YC announce the engagement of their daughter, Rebecca ’09SB, to Gidon Slomowitz.

Liora and Rabbi Avraham Kelman ’75YUHS, ’80YC, ’83R announce the birth of a granddaughter, Annaelle Haddasa, born to Tova and Moshe Lehrer.

Shulamith ’70YUHS, ’71TI and Rabbi Meyer May ’78R celebrated the bar mitzvah of their grandson, Yehuda Aryeh Leib, son of Faigi and Rabbi Shmuel Lurie, and the bat mitzvah of their granddaughter, Devorah, daughter of Chana and Rabbi Mendy Schiff.

Meta Goldmeier Miller ’70S and Chana Shapiro recently authored Fruitfly Rabbi, a novel about a budding scientist who becomes a congregational rabbi. The book is available on Amazon. The duo, both retired educators, are working on their next Fruitfly novel.

Navah and Rabbi Yoni Mozeson ’77YC, ’80R announce the birth of a granddaughter, born to Leeor Tsvi Leib and Avigayal Mozeson.

Ruhama and Rabbi Elazar Muskin ’78YC, ’81R, ’81BR announce the birth of a grandson, Moshe Tzvi Yosef, born to Dina ’12S and Daniel Goldberg ’13YC.

Peshi and Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger ’79R, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, were honored by their shul, Congregation Beth Abraham, at its 25-year celebration.

Rabbi Dr. Peter Rosenzweig ’71YC published his latest book, What Did the Prophets Say? Volume 2: Shmuel Bet, Melachim Aleph, Melachim Bet (Ktav/Targum Press).

Esther ’77S and Dov Sherizen announce the birth of their grandson.

Benjamin Weinstock ’71YUHS, ’75YC has been elected mayor of Cedarhurst, NY. He taught at the Sy Syms School of Business in Fall 2004, Spring 2005 and Fall 2005; is a member of the Council of Counsels; and has

completed several pro bono projects for Yeshiva University.

1980sBarbara and Rabbi Hanan Balk ’84R announce the marriage of their daughter, Eliana ’07S, to Spencer Moore.

Melanie ’95YUHS, ’99S and Rabbi Baruch Simon ’81YUHS, ’85YC, ’89R, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, announce the birth of a son, Avraham Simcha.

Batyah and Rabbi Asher Brander ’89YC, ’92R, ’96A announce the birth of their grandson, Yakov, born to their daughter and son-in-law, Esther Malka and Eliyahu Heller, and the wedding of their son, Avraham Tuvia, to Elisheva Yardley. Mazal tov also to grandparents Ellen and Rabbi Aaron Brander ’59R.

Meryl and Yerachmiel Bratt ’89YC, ’92C announce the engagement of their son, Yitzhak, to Leah Nadler, daughter of Shua and Brindy Nadler of Brooklyn, NY.

Channah and Rabbi Michael Broyde ’82YUHS, ’85YC, ’93R announce the birth of a grandson, Joseph Levi, to Suzanne and Joshua Broyde.

Aish HaTorah announced that Rabbi Steven Burg ’89YUHS, ’93YC, ’96R, ’96BR has been appointed director general of Aish HaTorah Jerusalem and Aish HaTorah globally. Rachel and Rabbi Burg were the guests of honor at the Yeshiva University High Schools Annual Dinner.

Andrew Chenofsky Chase ’82YC has joined Development Corporation for Israel/Israel Bonds in New York as executive director for the Greater New York region.

Dr. Tova ’89S, ’93E and Rabbi Eliakim Koenigsberg ’88YC, ’92R, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, announce the birth of a grand-daughter, born to their children Devorah and Chaim Zev Feder.

Rabbi Yamin Levy ’87YC, ’90R published his book, The Sephardic Family Haggadah (Kodesh Press).

Rabbi Yitzchok Lichtenstein ’82R announces the birth of a grandson, Baruch Dov, born to Nechama and Moishe Kaiman.

Gail and Terry Novetsky ’80YC announce the marriage of their son, Yosef ’11YC, to Rebecca Lewin.

Freida (Habbaz) Ollech ’84S announces the engagement of her son, David Sarfati, to Shira Burcat.

Shira and Rabbi Chaim Packer ’88YUHS, ’93YC, ’98R announce the birth of a grandson.

Dr. Smadar and Rabbi Michael Rosensweig ’80YC, ’80R, ’86W, ’96BR, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, announce the marriage of their son, Avigdor ’14YC, to Devora Schreiber, daughter of Aviva and Rabbi Doniel Schreiber ’88YUHS, ’91YC, ’91BR, ’94R (Har Etzion) in Israel, and the birth of a granddaughter, born to Moriah ’09S, ’11A, ’12BR and David Weiss ’12YC. Mazal tov to Rabbi Dr. Bernard Rosensweig ’47YC, ’50R, ’70BR.

Evelyn (Sarota) ’80S, ’82W and Stan Rutstein ’80YC announce the birth of their grandson, Yisroel Chaim, born to Rochel (Rutstein) and Avi Rosenholtz.

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.

1940s Rabbi Zevulun Charlop ’47YUHS, ’51YC, ’54R, dean emeritus of RIETS and current special adviser to the president on Yeshiva affairs, announces the birth of a grandson, Yaakov Dovid, born to Esther Charlop and Rabbi Alexander Ziskind.

Rabbi Dr. Mordecai Schnaidman ’48YC, ’52R, ’52BR announces the birth of a great-granddaughter, Yael Chava, to his grandchildren Rivka and Ephraim Schnaidman.

1950s Tzivia and Rabbi Samuel Bramson ’50YUHS, ’54YC, ’58R announce the engagement of their grandson, Binyomin Moshe Weinstein, son of Renee and Mayer Weinstein of Passaic, NJ, to Shoshana Raizel Plotkin, daughter of Tova and Moshe Plotkin.

Joanne ’58S and Judah Klein ’52YUHS, ’56YC, ’72F were honored by Congregation Torah Ohr of Boca Raton as 10 Palm Beach synagogues joined together at a unity reception for Israel sponsored by Israel Bonds. Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Israeli Consul General in New York, was a guest speaker. Joanne and Judah were also honored at Congregation Torah Ohr’s Israel Bond Breakfast.

The original manuscripts of Rabbi Eliyahu Mordechai Finkelstein z”l were made available by his granddaughter, Bracha Lieberman (Joyce Friedman) ’52YUHS, ’55TI on Hebrewbooks.org’s Ryzman Edition.

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein ’58R, ’77BR received the Rabbinic Leadership Award from the Manhattan Jewish Experience.

CLASSNOTES

STAY C NNECTED

Do you receive the biweekly events email and monthly eNewsletter from the Office of Alumni Affairs?

Don’t 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!

ALUMNITODAY

Sharon ’83C and Alan Shulman announce the birth of their granddaughter, Ayla Ayelet, born to their children Tehilla and Eli Shulman.

Cindy and Ethan Siev ’84E announce the marriage of their daughter, Dahlia, to Noah Kravetsky of Winnipeg and Jerusalem. Mazal tov on the birth of their first granddaughter, Liel, to son Jonathan and Rivka Siev of Nof Ayalon, Israel. Congratulations on son Michael’s ’16E study publication in The Journal of Urology.

Dr. Efrat ’95W, ’06W and Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky ’87YC, ’91R, ’96A, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, were honored at the inaugural dinner of their shul, Congregation Ohr HaTorah, celebrating the its 10th anniversary.

Adina ’88YUHS and Jeff Soclof celebrated the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Tova.

Cheryl (Ruben) ’80S and Alan Vogel announce the birth of their granddaughter, Etta Moriah, born to Haley and Max Vogel ’15C.

American Pharoah, a racehorse owned by Ahmed Zayat ’83YC, became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.

1990s Karen and Rabbi Avi Dzik ’96YC, ’01R, ’01A announce the birth of a daughter, Moriah Leah, sister to Netanel David.

Rabbi Eliyahu W. Ferrell ’99R published his work, Avd’cha Dovid Avi: A Guide to Honoring Parents and Treating Them Reverentially, written in memory of his father-in-law, Dr. David Smith.

Penina ’99S and Rabbi Josh Flug ’98YC, ’01R, director of Torah research at the Center for the Jewish Future, celebrated the bar mitzvah of their son, Eli.

Hilla ’95A and Rabbi Meir Goldwicht, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, announce the birth of a granddaughter, born to their son Aviad ’97YUHS, ’00SB, ’05R and Natalie Goldwicht, and the birth of twins—a grandson and granddaughter—born to their daughter Elimor and Rafi Ryzman ’07SB.

Yaffa (Weiss) ’90S and Rabbi Tzvi Klugerman ’90YC, ’94R celebrated the bar mitzvah of their son, Avichai.

Rabbi Shmuel Maybruch ’97YC, ’02R, ’13W published his book, Sefer Yismah Lev on Tractate Hulin and Related Issues in Shulhan Arukh Yoreh De’ah (Machon Be’er HaTorah, 2014).

Dr. Dale Rosenbach ’99YUHS, ’03YC gave a full-day continuing education lecture, entitled “Treatment Planning the Single-Tooth Implant Restoration,” for the Philadelphia County Dental Society.

Barie-Lynne and Ezra Rosensaft ’92YC were awarded the annual Community Service Award in Riverdale, Bronx, NY.

Rabbi Benjamin Samuels ’94YC, ’94BR, ’96R was honored by his shul, Congregation Shaarei Tefillah, at a gala event on March 15 for his 20 years of service to the community.

Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner ’93YC, ’97R was honored at the June 29th Yeshiva University Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov Dinner.

Andrew Wigod ’99SB announces his engagement to Kira Batist.

Sharon ’02SB, ’09W and Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler ’93YUHS, ’98YC, ’01R, ’04A, ’09W were the guests of honor at the gala dinner of their shul, Congregation Ahawas Achim B’nai Jacob and David, in West Orange, NJ.

2000s

Sarah ’09S, ’12W and Rabbi Jeremy Baran ’06YC, ’10A, ’12R announce the birth of a daughter. Mazal tov to grandparents Brenda and

Rabbi Chaim Bronstein ’66YUHS, ’70YC, ’72R, ’73BR, RIETS administrator, and Shari ’78W and Ted Baran.

Debbie ’02YUHS, ’11C and Rabbi Akiva Block ’04YC, ’10R announce the birth of a daughter, Leah Rivka. Mazal tov to grandparents Beile ’72S and Rabbi Robert Block ’68YUHS, ’72YC, ’75BR, ’76R.

Rabbi Reuven Boshnack ’00YC, ’04R, ’08A published his book, Pathways to the Heart.

Sarah ’06S and Rabbi Noah Cheses ’08YC, ’11R announce the birth of a daughter, Orly Sivan.

Freyda ’02S and Donny Cohen celebrated the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Tamar.

Ora ’07S, ’10W and Rabbi Michael Davies ’07SB, ’09R announce the birth of twin sons, Moshe and Shmuel.

Alise ’09S, ’11A and Rabbi Yoni Gold ’09YC, ’09A, ’12R announce the birth of a son, Moshe Chaim.

Michal ’05S, ’08F, ’11F and Rabbi Zev Goldberg ’07YC, ’10R announce the birth of a son, Elisha Chaim.

Miriam and Rabbi Jonathan Gross ’01YC, ’04R announce the birth of a son, Meyer Israel.

Devorah ’08S and Rabbi Yakov Grun ’09YC, ’12R, ’13A announce the birth of a daughter, Shaindel Yaffa.

Ashley and Rabbi Shimshon Jacob ’06YC, ’07A, ’10R were honored at the SINAI Schools Dinner in Teaneck, NJ.

Rabbi Netanel Javasky ’07YC, ’10R, ’11A received the inaugural Alumnus of the Year honor at the June 29th Yeshiva University Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov Dinner.

Aliza ’98S, ’01A and Rabbi Avery Joel ’00YC, ’02A, ’06R announce the birth of a daughter, Atira Zahava. Mazal tov to grandparents Dr. Esther ’83F and Yeshiva University President Richard M. Joel ’68YUHS.

Atara and David Kastner ’05YC announce the birth of their son.

Rabbi Eric (Nahorai) Kotkin ’06A, ’07R published his book, Bible 4 Community: Hebrew Root Dictionary.

Lynn ’05S, ’08BR and Rabbi Aaron Kraft ’06S, ’09R announce the birth of a son.

Elana (Gross) ’00YUHS, ’04S and Rabbi Naphtali Lavenda ’04SB, ’09R announce the birth of their son, Yaakov Aharon. Mazal tov to grandparents Karen ’79S and Rabbi

Stuart Lavenda ’78YC, ’80W, ’80R and Shaindy and Michael Gross ’73YUHSB.

Lavie Margolin ’02SB is the coauthor of Can I Wear My Kippah on Job Interviews? Career Guidance for Sabbath Observant Jewish Professionals (H. Delilah Business & Career Press). The book achieved No. 1 new release ranking in the Amazon job interview category on its first day of sale.

Rabbi Levi Mostofsky ’01YC, ’03R married Yifat Raz of Staten Island, NY. Mazal tov to his parents, Rita and Rabbi Dr. David Mostofsky ’53YC, ’55R.

Reuben Pazornick ’05SB married Liz Fishel.

Dr. Hindi and Rabbi Adir Posy ’04YC, ’06R announce the birth of their son, Yair Binyamin.

Rachel (Gelles) ’09S and Jonah Raskas ’08YC announce the birth of their daughter, Sheri Liana (Shoshana Leah). Mazel tov also to grandparents Sheri z”l and Stanley Raskas ’65YC, ’69R, ’69BR, chair of the Yeshiva College Board of Overseers, and Caron and Steven Gelles.

Naomi ’02S and Jeff Schrager made aliyah with their children, Tsipporah, Tamar, Tzvi and Yehuda.

Tali and Rabbi Tsvi Selengut ’07SB, ’12R, ’12A announce the birth of a son, Gavriel Pinchas.

Tova and Rabbi Chaim Sendic ’03YC, ’08R announce the birth of a daughter. Mazel tov also to grandparents Yocheved and Rabbi Jeff Bienenfeld ’60YUHS, ’64YC, ’67R.

Miriam ’96S and Rabbi Gidon Shoshan ’02R, ’09A celebrated the bar mitzvah of their son, Meir. Mazal tov to grandparents Faygie ’72S and Rabbi Mordechai Willig ’68YC, ’71R, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS.

Yona (Schaap) ’04S and Rabbi Leib Zalesch ’06YC, ’10R, ’15A announce the birth of a daughter, Ora Shalva.

2010s Julia Levine and Ari Axelbaum ’14YC announce their recent marriage.

Ilana and Rabbi Elie Bercuson ’12BR, ’14R announce the birth of a daughter, Batya Penina.

Sara Esrig ’15S married Eli Bilmes ’14A.

Brooke and Rabbi Aryeh Czarka ’10YC, ’12R, ’13A announce the birth of a son, Yeshaya Simcha.

Shoshana and Rabbi Adam Dubin ’11R announce the birth of a son, Moshe Shimshon.

Dr. Chaya (Gopin) ’04S and Rabbi Daniel Fridman ’14R announce the birth of a daughter, Eliana Bayla.

Dahlia Rimmon ’13S and Danny Goldberg ’13SB announce their engagement.

Sara (Bordan) ’09S, ’11BR and Rabbi Josh Gutenberg ’11YC, ’14R announce the birth of a daughter, Esther Ayelet.

Avigayil and Dr. Yonah Heller ’13E announce the birth of their son, Caleb Joshua. Mazal tov also to grandparents Ilana and Rabbi Ozer Glickman, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, and Dr. Ruth Klein and Dr. Todd Heller ’80YC, ’84E.

Elisheva Wrubel ’15S and Matthew Lempel ’14YC announce their marriage.

Daphna (Lerman) ’12S and Yehuda Lisker announce the birth of a daughter.

Daniella Frankel ’16SB married Ari Marks ’15SB.

Rina and Rabbi Shay Schachter ’14R announce the birth of a son, Michael Simcha. Mazal tov to grandparents Shoshana and Rabbi Hershel Schachter ’58YUHS, ’62YC, ’67R, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS.

Josh Tzvi Simpson ’11SB married Dana Kandel.

Lauren Weintraub ’13SB announces her engagement to Daniel Israel.

Adina ’02S and Rabbi Eliyahu Wolf ’10R celebrated the bar mitzvah of their son, Yisrael. Mazal tov to grandparents Faygie ’72S and Rabbi Mordechai Willig ’68YC, ’71R, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, and Hennie (Lesin) ’70S and Rabbi Shimon Wolf ’69YC.

In Memoriam Etana (Gordon) Friedman ’80SRabbi Moshe Furman ’60YC, ’60BRRabbi Menachem “Emanuel” Gettinger Dr. Elliot Goldberg ’72YCRabbi Yossi Huttler ’88YCSaul Klausner ’53YCRabbi Meyer Kramer ’40YC, ’41RBatya (Levine) Weiner ’08SRabbi Dr. Moshe Weiss ’38IB, ’51R, ’60BRRabbi Adrian Skydell ’43RDulcie Zirkind, YU library assistant

s FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YUALUMNI AND LINKEDIN YU.EDU/ALUMNI/LINKEDIN ALUMNITODAY 3

Legend for school abbreviations:

A: Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration • BR: Bernard Revel Graduate School • BS: Belfer Graduate School of Science • BZ: Philip and Sarah Belz School of Jewish Music • C: Cardozo School of Law • E : Albert Einstein College of Medicine • F: Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology • R: Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • S: Stern College for Women • SB: Sy Syms School of Business • TI: Teacher’s Institute • W: Wurzweiler School of Social Work • YC: Yeshiva College • YUHS: Yeshiva University High Schools

DOWNLOAD THE YU ALUMNI SMARTPHONE APP AT WWW.YU.EDU/ALUMNI/APP ß4 ALUMNITODAY

International Students Find a Home at YUNearly every year, Yeshiva University’s undergraduate schools draw more than 100 students from some 20 countries. Bringing a diversity of languages, cultures and Jewish backgrounds, these young men and women greatly enrich the vibrant student community on campus. Below, we profile a few of our alumni who were, and remain, part of this special community.

DR. FARSHAD SHAFIZADEH ’91YC: IRAN

Dr. Farshad Shafizadeh had a fairly idyllic early childhood in the 1970s, growing up in the sizable Jewish community of Tehran, Iran. About 60,000 Jews were living there at that time, on the eve of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. “My family belonged to the Mashadi community, the close-knit group of Persian Jews of Mashad, many of whom had moved to Tehran by the 1950s,” said Shafizadeh. “We were very tradi-tional as per Sephardic customs in that we kept kosher and observed Shabbat and the holidays.”

He was 10 years old when the Shah of Iran was exiled and the Islamic Revolu-tion convulsed the country. Enrolled in a Jewish school, Shafizadeh recalled that when the new Islamic government presence—armed guards policing the school to ensure Judaism wasn’t central to the students’ learning—grew too intimidating, he switched to public school, where there was less government oversight and Jews were still treated with respect.

In 1985, when he was 17 and just beginning 12th grade, Shafizadeh and a friend decided to escape during the Iran-Iraq War, both of them unable to envision a long-term future for themselves in the country and fearful of being drafted to fight in Iraq. Their families hired professional smugglers to help them flee on foot.

“We traveled to Kerman and then Zahedan, close to the border of Iran and Pak-istan, with more people joining the trip as we went along,” said Shafizadeh. “My friend and I were strictly kosher, so all we ate was the tuna fish, sardines and crack-ers that we had brought with us. There were times when we had to hide in dark caves for hours until we could proceed on our journey, and we occasionally had to bribe border guards who patrolled their areas on foot with machetes and other weapons. It was an arduous and frightening journey.” Shafizadeh and his friend benefited from the kindness of the one Jewish family, the Rahamims, in Karachi, Pakistan, whose matriarch became a “den mother” to these refugee Iranian chil-dren and teens who had managed to escape to Pakistan.

From Karachi, Shafizadeh went to Vienna, Austria, while he waited to obtain a visa to the United States, his intended destination. “While I was in Austria, Rabbi Abraham Cohen of Yeshiva University’s semicha [rabbinic ordination] program would visit us regularly and study Torah and offer guidance to us young Jews wait-ing for our visas and paperwork to come through,” said Shafizadeh. “He encour-aged many of us to attend YU once we arrived in the United States, and I was intrigued by the idea.”

When he was finally granted a refugee visa to the United States, Shafizadeh stayed at his grandmother’s home in Kew Gardens, New York, and finished 12th grade at Hillcrest High School while also taking ESL courses to improve his Eng-lish. After graduating high school, Shafizadeh decided to enroll at YU—but his now-widowed mother and younger sister, who were still in Iran, as well as other relatives in the United States expected Shafizadeh to instead begin working and contributing to supporting his family financially. “Going straight to work was what a lot of people in my situation did at the time, but I was deeply passionate about

education, and I wanted to learn,” explained Shafizadeh, who said he had always been adept at math and science. “I persisted. With Rabbi Cohen’s help in applying, an Iranian childhood friend at YU there to show me the ropes, and with the schol-arship assistance that YU offered me, I enrolled in Yeshiva College in 1987.”

Shafizadeh said he considers his time at YU a major turning point in his life. “Yeshiva University opened my mind, not just in terms of education but also with regard to finding a common goal with like-minded peers,” he said. “YU had a mis-sion, and everyone who attended had a mission they were working toward, both professionally and personally, to strive to become a more educated and learned Jewish person. I loved it.”

Shafizadeh lived in the dorms full-time, even in the summer months, and called it home. “My dorm was in the RIETS building, and the place felt very spiri-tual,” he said. He spent a lot of time in science labs or the library, where he studied or hung out into the late-night hours with the close friends he had made at school.

“The librarian sometimes had to kick us out of there before closing, we spent so much time there!” he said, laughing at the memory.

When his mother and sister came to the United States during his sophomore year, Shafizadeh left school to work fulltime.

“I was making good money where I was working, but I knew it wasn’t for me,” said Shafizadeh. “I dreamed of returning to school to finish my studies. I missed YU too—everyone accepted me for who I was there, who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. The head of YU’s Sephardic Studies Department at the time, Rabbi Mitchell Serel, called my mother and told her of my potential and dreams. My mother listened to him and saw my desire to go back and continue my education, and she agreed.”

Back at YU, Shafizadeh now felt an even greater impetus to do something meaningful. He spoke at length with Dr. Carl Feit, associate professor of biology and the Dr. Joseph and Rachel Ades Chair in Pre-Health Sciences, about attending medical school. “Dr. Feit was honest with me about how tough medical school is, and he said that I should attend only if medicine is my true passion,” said Shafiza-deh. “He told me I have to love it or I won’t be successful. It resonated with me, and I decided I was up for the task ahead.”

Shafizadeh majored in physics, excelled on the MCAT and was accepted to most of the medical schools he applied to. He attended SUNY Downstate and com-pleted both his general surgery and urology residencies at the Albert Einstein Col-lege of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center.

Upon completing his residency, Shafizadeh was appointed assistant director of urology at Cabrini Medical Center in Manhattan. Later, he became the residency coordinator for Mount Sinai’s Department of Urology at Cabrini Medical Center, where he was extensively involved with residency training and teaching, a long-held interest along with practicing medicine and surgery. Currently, he is in pri-vate practice on Park Avenue in Manhattan and is an assistant professor of urology at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Shafizadeh maintains contact with YU by frequently attending meetings as a member of the Sephardic Board of Overseers. He is a close friend of Rabbi Moshe Tessone, director of YU’s Sephardic community programming, who also keeps him connected.

“I remain supportive of Yeshiva University and always will,” said Shafizadeh. “There might be bigger universities in this country, but YU has something nobody else has. It treats you like family, it is a home for you, and it becomes a part of you. It’s not just a university but also a place that nurtures you and your passions so that you can grow and thrive. YU changed my life because it welcomed me and offered me unconditional support during a hard time in my life. Not many other universities give their alumni that feeling.”

“Over the years, YU has always been a bastion for young Jewish men and women whose families have sent them here from all over the world,” said Dr. Feit.

“One of the joys of teaching here is the opportunity to meet and mentor these stu-dents and have the chance to learn about their diverse backgrounds. Like Farshad, they are highly motivated to learn and succeed. Seeing their success allows me to shep nachat [derive pride] from their accomplishments.”

Shafizadeh is married to Yasman Sassouni-Shafizadeh. They live with their two daughters, Leila and Talia, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

DR. OLGA (PANTUKHOVA) SEGAL ’00S: RUSSIA

Growing up in a remote region of the Arctic Circle, Olga Pantukhova Segal didn’t envision herself one day attending Stern College for Women in the heart of cosmo-politan New York City.

Segal spent much of her childhood in Vorkuta, a coal-mining town situated just north of the Arctic Circle, where she moved with her parents and siblings from her birthplace in St. Petersburg, Russia.

She knew that her parents were Jewish, but religion wasn’t celebrated or prac-ticed in any way. “Being Jewish was something vague, ” said Segal. “I didn’t know what it represented. We studied very extensive geography in Soviet public schools, but Israel was never mentioned.”

ALUMNITODAY

s CHECK OUT WHAT ALUMNI EVENTS ARE HAPPENING ON CAMPUS AND AROUND THE WORLD AT WWW.YU.EDU/ALUMNIEVENTS ALUMNITODAY 5

After the Iron Curtain fell in the late 1980s, Segal’s uncle and aunt, then living in Israel, came to visit, inspiring many of her relatives and friends to make aliyah [immigration to Israel]. Segal’s parents decided to send her and her younger sister to a Jewish school in Kishinev, a boarding school overseen by the Agudath Israel of America to expose Soviet Jewish children to Judaism. Segal responded to her stud-ies right away and was selected to continue her education at the Bais Yaakov of Baltimore. Though the adjustment to a new country and culture was difficult, Segal continued her Jewish studies and, when it came time for college, had only one place in mind: Stern College.

“I wanted to be in a great school, but I also wanted to be in a Jewish school,” said Segal. “I had been immersing myself in Judaism for three years by that point, and I knew a lot, and it meant a lot to me.”

Stern College was able to offer Segal generous scholarship assistance—thanks to the support of donors who understand the deep value of a Yeshiva University education—and Segal made excellent use of it, taking as many classes as possible.

“I like to say I majored in everything!” she said. “I had 180 credits by the time I graduated. While officially I double majored in psychology and pre-med and minored in business, I also audited many classes that I couldn’t receive credit for because I always reached the maximum amount each semester.” She especially enjoyed her classes with Dr. Sidney Langer, adjunct professor of sociology. “I’m a student by nature,” she added, “and at Stern, I was getting so much exposure to

such a diverse range of subjects that I couldn’t get enough.”

Aside from study-ing, Segal was involved in extracurricular activ-ities and served on both the International Stu-dents Club and the Rus-sian Students Club. She took advantage of living in Midtown Manhattan and frequented the the-atre as well as various museums and galleries throughout the city. She also worked in numer-ous positions—including as administrative sup-port, a babysitter and smoking cessation coor-dinator in the psychiat-ric unit of the Bronx VA hospital—all secured with the assistance of

Naomi Kapp, associate director of YU’s Career Center. “Stern College was the best time of my life,” said Segal. “I was constantly

stimulated intellectually, and I experienced so much personal growth too. I met amazing people from all walks of life, many of whom I’m still friends with today. I discovered where I stand religiously, socially and professionally and, ultimately, my place in the world.”

After graduating, Segal attended Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she met her husband. She is now a practicing neurologist and is board certified in sleep medicine as well.

Segal stays connected to YU by offering her guidance and mentorship to cur-rent students at Stern College who have similar career aspirations.

“I would tell them I would not have become the person that I am if I did not attend Stern,” she said. “My years at Stern were truly formative ones, and I am grateful that I was able to attend thanks to scholarship support.”

Olga is married to Dr. Eric Segal ’05E. They have five children and live in Teaneck, New Jersey. Her children receive tutoring in Russian so they can speak their mother’s native tongue and connect to her culture.

SARAH (OHANA) RAPAPORT ’11S: FRANCE

While growing up in Paris, France, Sarah (Ohana) Rapaport lived among many Jews and had several options for synagogue and kosher food to choose from, but she said it was not an easy life for Jews.

“I didn’t personally experience any overt anti-Semitism, but being a Jew in France felt weird,” she said. “People assume that because you are Jewish, you are automatically ‘different,’ and there exists a real tension between Jews and Muslims.”

Rapaport was born in Boudenib, Morocco, where her parents were close with some of the country’s most prominent rabbinic families. Though her parents moved to France right after her birth, Rapaport said that their experiences in

Morocco proved formative for her family. “My mother grew up in playgrounds with kids who are now very prominent rabbis, and my family has deep roots in Jewish philosophy and tradition because of this,” she said.

In France, Rapaport attended public school and was the only Jewish stu-dent in middle school before going on to a high school with many Jewish students.

Rapaport first learned about Stern College for Women from her older cousin, who attended the school and sent back glowing reports to France. Even so, after finishing high school, she followed the same route as most of her peers and went directly to Sorbonne Law School, since France doesn’t have traditional undergrad-uate colleges like those in America. But after her first year, she decided to give Stern more serious consideration, applied, and was ecstatic to learn she had been admitted.

“When I arrived at Stern, I didn’t know much about learning Torah, but fortu-nately for me, Stern had a program of Jewish studies for beginners called the Mechinah Pathways with amazing teachers, such as Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff and Mrs. Shoshana Schechter,” said Rapaport. “I learned a great deal about Torah, mitzvot [commandments], halachot [Jewish laws] and mussar [ethics] as well as Jewish history and philosophy. I was amazed by how much there was to learn. I enjoyed all of it.”

Rapaport majored in mathematics and found a mentor in Professor Morton Lowengrub who she called “an inspiration.” She also participated in many Shab-batons [Sabbath festivities], job fairs and other activities.

It took some time for Rapaport to fully immerse herself in an environment where English was the primary language spoken, and she stayed close to other French-speaking students at Stern to ease the transition. She was placed in Brook-dale Hall with another French student, who quickly became her close friend and roommate for the rest of her stay at Stern.

In her free time, she explored and fell in love with New York City. “I would just walk the streets after class and discover new things,” she said.

“I excelled at Stern and gained a newfound appreciation for a university that allowed me to work toward a degree while also allowing me to explore my religious Judaism and grow toward the Jewish woman I wanted to be.”

Today, Rapaport works at Peerform, a marketplace lending platform, with her husband, Mikael Rapaport, the company’s CEO. “I feel a sense of accomplishment both in my personal life and my professional life,” said Rapaport. “And both are thanks to Hashem who gave me the chance to go to Stern College! My husband and I try to hire as many YU graduates as possible, too.”

She remains in contact with Marga Marx, international student adviser at Stern College, and Naomi Kapp, whom Rapaport credited with helping her in her studies and with job leads and career opportunities.

Rapaport lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband and two children, Leanah and Salome.

MARTIN LEIBOVICH ’11SB: ARGENTINA

Growing up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Martin Leibovich, a six-foot-five natural athlete, planned on dominating the basketball court in his professional future. Though he knew he was Jewish, religion took a back seat to sports, and Leibovich’s family observed only the very basic traditions, such Continued on Page 8 ç

Dr. Olga (Pantukhova) Segal

Sarah (Ohana) Rapaport

SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND AT WWW.YU.EDU/ONLINEGIVING ß6 ALUMNITODAY

SIXTH ANNUAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS GATHERING (JUNE 24, 2015)More than 150 alumni and friends of Yeshiva University took part in YU Real Estate Profes-sionals Group’s sixth annual gathering at the Fifth Avenue law offices of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. The event featured a conversation with Michael Stoler, president of New York Real Estate TV, and Jeff Blau, CEO of Related Companies, hosted by Yeshiva University Trustee and Real Estate Committee Member J. Philip Rosen ’74YUHS, ’78YC. The YU Real Estate Professionals Group is cochaired by Marc Kwestel ’87YC and Bruce Schanzer ’91YC, ’93C and is one of several professional networking groups offered through Yeshiva University’s Office of Alumni Affairs. Learn more at yu.edu/alumni/development.

INTERNATIONAL STERN ALUMNAE SHARE YU JOURNEYS (JULY 1, 2015) Stern College for Women paid tribute to its international alumnae at its annual benefit held at The Greenhouse at Scholastic. The event, “Passport to Success,” featured dynamic presentations by Stern women from around the globe and celebrated the recently-released book, Me’Arba Kanfos Ha’aretz: From the Four Corners of the Earth. The book, compiled by Marga Marx, Stern’s international student advisor, and edited by Yael Farzan ’14S, presents the stories of 15 alumnae who came from all parts of the world to receive a Yeshiva University education. Two women profiled in the book, Blima (Svatek) Dalezman ’85S from the Czech Republic and Farinaz Sedaghat-Mairzadeh ’03S from Iran, and a current student, Esther Knafo ’16S from Morocco, recounted their journeys to Stern. The event raised more than $50,000 for the Stern College Annual Fund, and was chaired by Rachel (Mandel) Berger ’88S, Pamela (Laulicht) Hirt ’90S and Rena (Rivkin) Kwestel ’92S.

m Marc Kwestel ’87YC; Michael Stoler; Josh Muss ’58YUHS, ’62YC, YU Real Estate Committee chair; J. Philip Rosen ’74YUHS, ’78YC; Jeff Blau and Alan Secter, executive director of annual giving and major gifts

m Jane Gural-Senders and Sheera (Berkowitz) Riemer ’09SB

m Marc Kwestel ’87YC, Ayall Schanzer ’93C, Bruce Schanzer ’91YC, ’93C and Philip Schanzer

m Rena (Rivkin) Kwestel ’92S, Pamela (Laulicht) Hirt ’90S, Assistant Vice President of Alumni Affairs Suzy Schwartz ’84S and Rachel (Mandel) Berger ’88S

o Dr. Marcia Robbins-Wilf, founding member of the Stern College Board of Directors; Shira (Radinsky) Yoshor ’89S, chair of Stern’s Board; and Dr. Karen Bacon ’64S, the Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of Undergraduate Faculty of Arts and Sciences

k Alana Rubenstein ’07S, Penina Blazer ’89S, Rachel (Mandel) Berger ’88S and Dr. Michelle Small Roth ’85S, ’90E

m Marga Marx, Esther Knafo ’16S, Farinaz Sedaghat-Mairzadeh ’03S and Blima (Svatek) Dalezman ’85S

m Avi Lieberman ’06SB and Jonathan Rosner ’91SB

k President Richard M. Joel welcomes attendees

q Rose Gerszberg, Gila (Zinkin) Gerszberg ’95S, Arlene Ignacio, Shelly Zinkin, Rebecca Rivkin and Rena (Rivkin) Kwestel ’92

o Dr. Dena (Zlotnick) Felsen, Estie (Hirt) Rottenstreich ’13S, Dara (Kushner) Orbach ’01S and Pamela (Laulicht) Hirt ’90S

m Esty (Hochbaum) Levinson ’90S, Naomi (Skolnick) Kaszovitz ’87S, ’90C, Alisa (Elefant) Levy ’86S, Rachelle (Blumenfeld) Margulies ’86S, Elisa (Blumenfeld) Wietschner ’89S, Pamela (Laulicht) Hirt ’90S, Abby (Laulicht) Herschmann ’97S, Nikki (Fuchs) Sausen ’94S and Mindy (Speiser) Davidoff ’87S

ALUMNI IN ACTION

s WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS FOR PROGRAMMING IN YOUR REGION. CONTACT SUZY SCHWARTZ AT SUZY.SCHWARTZ@YU.EDU OR 212.960.0848 ALUMNITODAY 7

Simon Goldberg ç Continued from Page 1

Goldberg eventually became ToT’s executive director while still in college. He was also busy with SHEM, running events such as a panel discussion on the controversial negotiations between Israel Kastner, a Hungarian-Jew, and Adolf Eichmann, to help Jews escape Nazi-occupied Europe; a symposium on Holocaust testimonies; and a talk by Efraim Zuroff ’66YUHS, ’70YC, director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Israel and Nazi hunter.

In 2012, Goldberg was selected as a member of The Jewish Week’s annual “36 Under 36,” which highlights individuals who are making a difference in the greater Jewish community and the world.

After graduation, Goldberg saw an article that mentioned the Elsa Jew-ish International School in Hong Kong and plans for a Holocaust center there. “I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I could teach at the school for a year while also leveraging my experience to help set up the center? I contacted Elsa’s principal with this suggestion, and after many conversations from halfway across the world, it came to fruition.”

Goldberg taught Jewish studies at Elsa while sitting on the executive board of the newly established Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Cen-tre (HKHTC), and then spent a year in Israel obtaining his master’s in Holo-caust studies at the University of Haifa. He returned to Hong Kong to serve as the center’s director of education, where he was tasked with building the institution’s infrastructure, overseeing communication and driving outreach initiatives.

While there was no typical day in the office for the fledgling organization, Goldberg spent much of his time lead-ing training workshops on how to teach the Holocaust for secondary school and university educators. He has written curricula and lesson plans and worked directly with students by delivering talks, screening Holocaust films followed by question-and-answer sessions and working on drama and arts projects that com-memorate genocide and the Holocaust. For the center’s first art and writing contest, students were invited to creatively answer the question, “How and why should we remember cases of genocide?” and submitted sculptures, poems, paintings and even an interpretive dance.

If Goldberg has learned anything during his time in Hong Kong, it’s that toler-ance simply isn’t enough to promote real peace and mutual understanding in this world. “Ultimately, no one wants to be tolerated, we want to be accepted unblink-

ingly,” said Goldberg. He recounted discussing anti-Semitism with college stu-dents at China’s Sun Yat-sen University. In just a few hours, Goldberg explained many of the turning points in the history of the Jewish people and saw many tan-gible reactions of understanding, where students were able to speak and interact with a Jewish person—many of them for the first time.

“When I think about tolerance today, I think about those students and how we engaged in open dialogue that transcended civility and moved toward a place of real mutual understanding,” he said.

But genuine understanding demands a two-way street, stressed Goldberg. “In Hong Kong, it requires that we learn about Chinese culture, traditions and society. In Europe, there’s outright, vengeful anti-Semitism that must be fought

with a clenched fist, but think about how many people live in China: over 1.3 billion. I don’t think nurturing dia-logue with this population is any less vital to fighting anti-Semitism around the world.”

Goldberg is now back in the United States and preparing to con-tinue his graduate studies at Clark Uni-versity’s Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Massachu-setts, where he will be on the doctoral track. “I’d like to lecture in the field and write,” he said about his long-term professional plans. “I’m also drawn to the grassroots impact of international NGOs, so I’ll likely balance academia with other projects.”

Goldberg added: “It was driven home to me at Yeshiva University that the richest dialogue that exists is that between Jewish teachings and social action. You get to think about Jewish ethics and their practical application—irrespective of your chosen career. To leave the beit midrash [study hall] after perusing Rambam’s Eight Levels of Tzedakah, find yourself thinking about it on the street and then go back to ruminate over the Rambam’s ratio-nales and how it applies to your own drive for social action—the texts come alive and drive you to excellence. That can only happen at a place like YU.” n

“ Ultimately, no one wants to be tolerated, we want to be accepted unblinkingly. ”

Are you receiving more than one copy of YUToday or duplicates of any other correspondence we send?

AS PART OF A UNIVERSITY-WIDE EFFORT TO “GO GREEN,” we are undertaking an initiative to update our records and send you electronic communication as much as possible. This time– and cost–saving measure, requires little effort from you and will contribute to our efforts to reduce waste.

HELP US GO GREEN!Send your updated and current e-mail address, home address, preferred prefix (Ms., Dr., etc.) and employer information to recordupdate@yu.edu

International Students ç Continued from Page 5

as attending synagogue on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and conducting a seder on Passover.

Shortly after finishing high school, Leibovich was recruited with a full scholarship to play basketball, first for Division I Navarro College in Texas and then for Barry University in Miami. His dream of becoming a profes-sional basketball player looked secure. He returned to Buenos Aires for the summer break after his sophomore year and met several rabbis who were part of an NCSY (formerly known as National Conference of Synagogue Youth) mission to Argentina, led by Stephen Savitsky ’63YUHS,’67YC, then the president of the Orthodox Union (OU). This encounter piqued his already-budding interest in learning more about Judaism.

“I had already been attending various Torah seminars that powerfully impacted me,” said Leibovich. “I was eating kosher and learning Torah for several hours each day by that point. After meeting the rabbis on the OU mission, I began to seriously consider keeping Shabbat and other basic mitzvot.”

Savitsky told Leibovich about Yeshiva Uni-versity, where he could further explore his Juda-ism and gain an outstanding secular education. Leibovich decided to see where his interest in Judaism would take him and made the choice to finish out his college career at YU’s Sy Syms School of Business, where he was offered a full scholarship and starred on the court for the Maccabees.

Leibovich majored in business manage-ment, where he did very well, but he truly thrived in his Jewish studies. “I went from the alef beis [Hebrew alphabet] classes in the James Striar School of General Jewish Studies (JSS) to the highest Gemara shiur [lecture] there with Rabbi Uri Orlian.” For his last two semesters at YU, he learned with Rabbi Yehuda Willig at a more advanced level.

“My experience at YU was such that I felt I was really preparing for life itself,” said Leibovich. “The levels of intensity and efficiency in only one reg-ular weekday was something that I’ll probably never forget, and I grew more in my two and a half years at YU than I would have had I spent five years at any other university.”

Though he was far from Argentina and immersed in a very different kind of environment than he had been accustomed to, Leibovich said he felt no homesickness whatsoever. “I felt like I had a real home at YU,” he said.

“The rabbis in JSS were very warm and patient, and I found many friends in the small community of South American students at YU. I spoke Spanish, so it was very comfortable for me to be living in Washington Heights. Further-more, the Savitsky family opened their doors to me since I first arrived in New York, and I became a ben bayit [frequent house guest] and visited them almost every Shabbos.”

As a member of the Maccabees, Leibovich devoted hours each week to practice with his teammates, games and strength training. He also took on a job at the student-run cafeteria in the evening hours to help cover his every-day expenses and, in his senior year, worked 12 hours each week for YU’s Department of Institutional Advancement.

Leibovich’s passion for Judaism inspired those around him as well. He was chosen as one of the eight Points of Light at the University’s Annual Hanukkah Dinner and Convocation in 2010, where President Richard M. Joel highlighted his work ethic and commitment to intensive Jewish studies, steadily progressing to more advanced levels of Jewish learning.

After graduating, Leibovich found a job in a commodity trading firm, Marco International, through connections made at YU. When his company sent him back to Argentina on a temporary assignment, he decided to stay

there and open his own business, a travel agency, and learn Torah in a com-munity kollel [advanced study group] for half the day.

Noting the opportunity for real Jewish outreach in his hometown, Leibovich decided to contact NCSY to see if he could help reinvigorate its presence in the area. “I saw great potential,” he said. Leibovich was named the director of NCSY Argentina, and now counts about 90 local teens who participate in programming.

“I give about five shiurim each week to mostly nonobservant Jews, orga-nize activities for teens and fundraise for NCSY,” said Leibovich. “I’m

involved in kiruv [outreach] in some way almost every afternoon and evening—thank God, there’s lots of good work to do.”

Leibovich remains very close with Savitsky, the man who first put the idea of YU in his head.

“I call Steve my zeidi [grandfather] and stay at his home twice a year when I visit New York. My gratitude for the Savitskys and to YU are things I will hold onto forever.”

“There was only one school in the world that was perfectly suited for Martin,” said Savitsky.

“Even though Martin came from Argentina and a completely different culture, he fit into YU from the moment he arrived. The warmth of the stu-dents and the rabbis allowed him to flourish. YU

certainly changed his life, and today as director of NCSY Argentina, he is changing the lives of hundreds of young men and women who he has brought closer to the world of Torah.”

Leibovich serves as an ambassador for YU, encouraging local Argentin-ean teens interested in Judaism to give serious consideration to YU. “Attend-ing YU was a dream come true for me, and I hope it will be for others as well,” he said. “I tell people that it’s the best place in the world, aside from Israel, where you can have such high aspirations for your life in Torah Umadda.”

He added, “Supporting YU is equal to investing in the future leadership of the Jewish people. It’s almost impossible to count how many Jewish worldwide leaders started at YU, and I am so proud to count myself among its graduates.”

Leibovich is married to Pamela, and they are the proud parents of a son, Meir Simcha. n

EXCLUSIVE OFFER ON AUTO AND HOME INSURANCE FROM LIBERTY MUTUALLiberty Mutual offers special savings to Yeshiva University alumni on auto and home insurance.*Find out more about Liberty Mutual Auto and Home Insurance. Or call 855.948.6267 for a free quote.

*Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverages only. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. Please consult a Liberty Mutual sales representative for additional information.

Martin Leibovich

ALUMNITODAY

ALUMNITODAY 8s FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YUALUMNI AND LINKEDIN YU.EDU/ALUMNI/LINKEDIN

YUTODAY 5

SUMMER 2015 WWW.YU.EDU/NEWS ßs FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YESHIVAUNIVERSITY

CHINAAfter receiving her

PhD in mathematics at YU in May, Dr. Ran Zhuo

will join the faculty at Henan University in

Kaifeng.

RUSSIADr. Margaret Samu,

adjunct instructor of art, presented a paper at the

Seventh International Peter the Great Congress in

St. Petersburg in June.

INDIADr. Archishman

Chakraborty, the Mel Harris Chair in Financial Risk

and Insurance at Sy Syms, presented a paper at the 2015

Summer Research Conference of the Centre for Analytical Finance

at the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad

in July.

ISRAELDr. Jill Katz, clinical

assistant professor of archaeology, guided Stern College students, including Miriam Jacobson

(pictured), in archaeological fieldwork, research and lectures at Tell es-Safi/Gath in July.

Dr. Mordechai Cohen, professor of Bible and associate dean of Revel, served as visiting scholar at the Israel Institute for Advanced

Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in a research group exploring the interaction between interpretation and law in Jewish, Christian and

Muslim traditions, in June.

In June and July, 23 undergraduate students participated in the Summer Science Research Internship Program at Bar Ilan University, working in labs alongside scientists in hands-on, cutting-edge research.

The tenth summer of the Center for the Jewish Future’s Counterpoint Israel Program brought 28 undergraduates to southern Israel in June and

July. They taught English and empowerment skills at summer camps for disadvantaged Israeli teens from low-income communities.

In July, 28 undergraduates participated in YU’s July in Jerusalem Program, learning Torah and

exploring Israel in an intensive introductory experience, including lectures,

touring and study.

POLANDIn June, Judah Kerbel (pictured), a student at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan

Theological Seminary, participated in the two-week Fellowship at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional

Ethics in Poland, Germany and New York.

Dr. Karen Shawn, visiting associate professor of Jewish education at Azrieli, instructed professors and preservice teachers

on how to teach the Holocaust using testimony, poetry, drama and narrative at Jagiellonian University in Kraków in May.

SWEDENDr. S. Abraham Ravid organized a conference on

entrepreneurship and finance at Lund University in May.

TURKEYDr. Alessandro Citanna, professor of economics,

delivered a talk on insurance market design at the Conference on Economic Design in

Istanbul in July.

ETHIOPIADr. Carol Harris, director of the Ein-

stein Institute of Global HIV Medicine, worked with a student and other faculty on clinical work and

research in Hawassa.

MALAWIDr. Mahalia Desruisseaux, assistant professor of pathology and

medicine at Einstein, studied cerebral malaria and the host response to infection at the Blantyre Malaria Project in Blantyre with Brandi Freeman,

a PhD student in the Sue Golding Graduate Division, and faculty from other universities in August.

SOUTH AFRICAIn June, Ariella Applebaum, a Stern College student, spread awareness of HIV and AIDS, and worked in a clinic and orphanages as part of a volunteer

program through African Impact.

UGANDADr. Jerry Paccione, professor of clinical medicine at Einstein, brought a group of residents and fourth-year medical students

to serve as health educators and public health workers in tropical and community medicine in villages near

Kisoro in an ongoing program of Einstein’s Global Health Center in June and July.

6 YUTODAY

s WWW.YU.EDU/NEWS SUMMER 2015 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/YUNEWS ß

On May 7, 62 graduates received their master’s degrees in Jewish education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration in a ceremony held in Weissberg Commons on the Wilf Campus. Four graduates received doctorates in education, and two were awarded specialist certificates.

Rabbi Dr. Leonard Matanky, president of the Rab-binical Council of America and dean of the Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Chicago, delivered the ceremony’s keynote address. He spoke about the importance of educators demonstrating their care for their students and being responsive and responsible. Neta Jansenson, whose husband and six children came to see her receive her master’s, said, “This is the best thing I can show my children—you never stop learning.”

On May 11, the Wurzweiler School of Social Work awarded 49 Master of Social Work degrees and three doctorates to its Class of 2015 in a ceremony held in Zysman Hall’s Lamport Auditorium. At the commence-ment exercises, four student speakers summed up their perspectives on their student experiences and on social work.

“We listen to people’s pain,” said graduate Ariel Mozenson. “We worry about them, we try to help them. We give, and some part of us feels deeply fulfilled by it. Thank you, Wurzweiler, for helping me along this journey and teaching me a million theories about how to help people.”

Nearly 600 students from Yeshiva University’s under-graduate schools were presented with their degrees in front of thousands of proud family and friends at YU’s 84th Annual Commencement Exercises, held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on May 17 (story on page 1).

At the same ceremony, 33 graduates received a Mas-ter of Arts degree and two received doctorates from the Bernard Revel Graduate School for Jewish Studies. At Revel’s year-end reception on May 20, the Class of 2015 was addressed by graduating member Shira Shio-witz, chair of the Tanakh department and codirector of professional development at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls.

On May 18, the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology awarded 47 Master of Arts, eight Master of Science, 11 Doctorate of Philosophy and 21 Doctorate of Psychol-ogy degrees to its Class of 2015 at a ceremony held in Lamport Auditorium. For the first time, Assistant Dean Michael S. Gill also presented the Early Career Promise Award in Mental Health Counseling, an honor that rec-ognizes a graduate who has demonstrated potential and ability in the field of mental health counseling. The first recipient of the annual award was Kimberly Epperson, who will be working as an adoption and couples coun-selor. Epperson was chosen by a unanimous vote of the school’s counseling faculty.

“My Ferkauf education undoubtedly gave me excellent clinical skills, which I am confident using to build my counseling career,” said Epperson. “However, Ferkauf and its remarkable professors gave me so much more. Throughout my education, I was encouraged to ana-lyze my culture, my biases and my worldview, and I was guided in the process of becoming a truly giving member of society, one who strives to cherish all people in the same light and bring unity through the counseling work I do. I am eternally grateful for this insight and growth.”

On May 21, Stern College for Women’s Graduate Pro-gram in Advanced Talmudic Study celebrated its 13th commencement, awarding 10 Master of Arts degrees in a ceremony held in the Lea and Leon Eisenberg Beit Mi-drash on the Israel Henry Beren Campus. At the event, President Joel addressed the graduates, saying, “I am warmed by the light and potential of what you—small in number, but unbelievable in strength—can do.”

On May 28, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine awarded 218 degrees—including 185 MDs, six MD–PhDs, and 27 PhDs—to its Class of 2015 at a ceremony held in Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. Dr. Darrell G. Kirch, president and chief executive officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges, discussed the state of health care in America and a doctor’s ethical commitment to create a healthier and more just society in his keynote ad-dress, “Gifts Given and Promises Made.”

“Growing up in a small town in rural Louisiana, I never dreamed I’d have the chance to fly airplanes, reach nine Gs in a centrifuge, or go to medical school,” said for-mer Air Force officer and new graduate Mary A. Gomez in a blog post that reflected on her journey to Einstein. “I just knew I was curious about the world. To those pursu-ing their goals—be tenacious.”

On June 2, the Sy Syms School of Business graduate pro-grams—the Executive Master of Business Administra-tion (EMBA), Master of Quantitative Economics and Master of Science in Accounting cohorts—celebrated their commencement exercises in a ceremony at Weiss-berg Commons. Six students graduated from the EMBA program, 12 from the MS in economics and 25 from the MS in accounting program.

“When I enrolled in the Syms EMBA program, I was hoping to fine-tune my leadership and management skills as well as broaden my business knowledge,” said new graduate Melanie Winer. “What I ended up getting out of the program was that and so much more: I was quickly promoted to manager of my team, I interviewed and hired my first employee, and I oversaw some very high-profile projects for the chief revenue officer of the Bloomberg Media Group. I’m very grateful for everything that I have already been able to accomplish because of my EMBA education, and I am excited to see what the future holds for me and for my career as the possibilities are now so much greater than they were before.”

On June 4, the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law awarded 365 JDs and 50 master’s degrees to its graduates in a ceremony held in Avery Fisher Hall. Keynote speaker Judge Denny Chin, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, urged students to go forward and pros-per, to not forget about those who came before and helped them, those who need their help now and those who will need their help in the future. “Be a good person, and you’ll be a better lawyer for it,” he said.

At the ceremony, Alexander Reinert received an award for Best First-Year Professor, Richard Bierschbach was awarded Best Professor, and Associate Dean Lynn Wishart, Professor Toby Golick and Registrar Isabel Balson received special awards for 30 years of service. Matthew Diller received the Monrad Paulsen Award.

On June 9 and 11, Yeshiva University’s Samuel H. Wang High School for Girls and Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy/Yeshiva University High School for Boys celebrated 51 and 59 graduates, respectively, in a cere-mony held in Lamport Auditorium.

This past commencement season, Yeshiva University celebrated the graduation of more than 1,900 students across its high schools, undergraduate colleges, and graduate schools in the fields of law, medicine, social work, education, Jewish studies and psychology.

A Season of Celebration

COMMENCEMENT | ROUNDUP

YUTODAY 7

SUMMER 2015 WWW.YU.EDU/NEWS ßs FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/YESHIVAUNIVERSITY

libraries at Yeshiva University since 1985. She is the former president of the Association of Jewish Libraries and has authored numerous articles related to library services and Judaic library collections.

Since his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2012, Frates has worked to raise awareness and funds for ALS research. In 2014, Frates helped launch the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, a social media phenomenon that raised more than $100 million in donations for the ALS Association. Dorine Gordon, president and CEO of the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter, accepted the degree on behalf of Frates, who congratulated the graduates in a prerecorded video message.

Greenfield is a Brooklyn-based master tailor who honed his craft in the brutality of Auschwitz. The sole survivor of his immediate family, he went on to become the clothier of presidents and celebri-ties. Greenfield recently published his life’s story, Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz Survivor to Presi-dents’ Tailor.

The reunion classes of 1955, 1965, 1975 and 1990 were recog-nized at the graduation ceremony for their 60th, 50th, 40th and 25th reunions.

Celebrating her 50th reunion, Estelle Glass ’65S of Teaneck, New Jersey, noted that both she and her husband and four children are YU graduates, and two granddaughters are currently in Stern College for Women. “We are a devoted Yeshiva family. To us, there is no institution comparable to YU capable of creating generations of Torah-educated and accomplished individuals, living examples of Torah Umadda,” she said. n

Straus Elected Chairman ç Continued from Page 1 YU Summer School Program ç Continued from Page 1

Yeshiva University Commencement ç Continued from Page 1

The Strauses have a long history of philanthropic giving to higher educa-tion, communal and Jewish causes. They have supported various initiatives at YU, including the Joseph Straus Scholarship Fund at Cardozo, and the endowments of the Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Chair in Jewish Education at Azrieli and the Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Chair in Talmud at RIETS.

In 2010, the Strauses established the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Ye-shiva University. Led by Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, the center’s mission is to develop Jewish thinkers by deepening their education in the best of Jewish tra-dition by exposing them to the richness of human knowledge and insight from

across the ages and confronting them with the great moral, philosophical and theological questions of our age. In ad-dition to unique courses, seminars and fellowships, the center hosts numerous lectures and events. Past guests have included Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Sca-lia, former Senator Joseph Lieberman, Senator and then-Newark Mayor Cory Booker, columnist George Will and New York University President John Sexton.

Straus earned a bachelor’s degree at Yeshiva College, a JD at Fordham Univer-sity School of Law, and went on to found, with his brother Daniel, the Multicare Companies, a health care services com-pany. He is currently the CEO of Ascend Capital Group International. n

Comedy and Satire, an online course taught by Dr. Nora Nachumi, associ-ate professor of English, was so popular among students that Nachumi decided to open another section in the second half of the summer. “We weren’t as limited by time and space as we would have been in a typical classroom,” said Nachumi. “As a result we were able to work with a va-riety of media.” In addition to films and the assigned reading, Nachumi’s stu-dents watched sitcoms and considered examples of standup, sketch comedy and slapstick.

YU Summer School also offered pre-med classes and graduate school prereq-uisites that universities and colleges in the Tri-State area don’t frequently make available over the summer, including courses in microbiology, human physiol-ogy, chemistry and physics, all featuring hands-on lab classes with close mentor-ing from professors. That personal touch was one of many advantages summer study at YU offered students from outside institutions: At many universities it would be rare for an undergraduate to encounter the head of a department teaching a foun-

dational course, especially during the summer—but at YU, the summer session of Frontiers of Science, a core require-ment, was taught by Dr. Fredy Zypman, cochair of the physics department.

“In this course, we had the oppor-tunity to explore science as an endeavor of human inquiry, from classical Greece to modern times,” said Zypman. “We have used this idea to portray advances in medicine, chemistry and astronomy. The questions are similar throughout the ages—how things work, how one can solve practical problems—but the tech-niques and ideas become more and more sophisticated.”

The program also offered business classes including principles of market-ing, finance, accounting and information systems.

“The best part is that by taking a summer course here in New York City, I was able to take part in an internship at the same time,” said Makena Owens, a senior from Seattle, Washington. “There were many more internship opportuni-ties here in journalism, which is what I want to do, than back home.” n

Dr. Henry Kressel Honored for Years of Service

President Richard M. Joel, Chairman Moshael J. Straus, members of the board, family and friends paid tribute to Dr. Henry Kressel for his six years of extraordi-nary service as board chairman at a June 16 dinner reception.

“Henry is the poster child for YU,” said President Joel. “He has taken the educa-tion he began here at Yeshiva and used it to build a successful career in science and business while, at the same time, accepting the responsibility of ensuring Yeshiva’s continued growth.”

Summer School enrollment nearly doubled this year

(Seated) Martin Greenfield, Dr. Ruth Wisse and Dorine Gordon (Standing) Pearl Berger, President Richard M. Joel and Chairman Emeritus Dr. Henry Kressel.

YUTODAYYESHIVA UNIVERSITY • 500 WEST 185TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10033 • SUMMER 2015 • VOLUME 19 NO. 3

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 | | www.yu.edu/itunes | | www.google.com/+yu |

YU Students Accepted to Grad Schools at Remarkable Rate

Yeshiva University graduates choose to continue their academic journeys at a remarkable rate. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Yeshiva

University second in the country among colleges with the highest percentage of graduates pursuing advanced degrees within one year of graduation.

However, the rates at which graduates are being ac-cepted to schools in their fields are even more astound-ing: This year, 93 percent of students applying to medical school, 96 percent of students applying to dental school and 100 percent of students applying to law school have been accepted.

According to Dr. Brenda Loewy, director of pre-health advisement at Stern College for Women, the rates reflect the uniqueness of the YU student body: “Our stu-dents are extremely motivated and they are used to working hard because of the challenges of balancing a dual curriculum. They have a dream and they are will-ing to do whatever it takes to achieve it.”

At YU, students hoping to pursue medical or dental school also gain access to research opportunities and faculty mentorship that helps set them apart from other applicants. “Our faculty in biology, chemistry and phys-ics are conducting state-of-the-art research. They reach out to students to include them and list them as authors on the papers they write together, which is very impres-sive,” said Loewy. “Faculty also help students network to find research positions with their collaborators in other top-notch institutions, like the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York University, and Mount Sinai Medical Center.”

But above and beyond their pursuit of research op-portunities, students make time for meaningful work outside the classroom. “The students are engaged in myriad activities that we propel them toward early and consistently,” said Lolita Wood-Hill, director of pre-health advisement on the Wilf Campus. “College EDge is a wonderful example of how our students engage with the larger Washington Heights community, helping teens whose backgrounds, cultures and languages are very different from the YU community to get a college education. Such sharing of themselves highlights the unique values of YU.”

For Estee Robin, a biology major with a concentra-tion in molecular and cellular biology who will be attend-ing Rutgers New Jersey Medical School this fall, the

support from YU faculty and staff has made all the differ-ence. “I always knew that I had a support team standing behind me the whole way through,” she said.

Noah Kirschner, a biology major who will be at-tending Einstein in the fall, remembered how Wood-Hill personally called the deans of two schools he hadn’t heard back from during the application process. “The next day the schools reached out to me to arrange inter-views,” he said.

For law school hopefuls, YU also provides unique access to programs that give students their first real taste of the field—and an edge in the application process.

“Our Yeshiva University Undergraduate Judicial In-ternship Program places our undergraduate students in judges’ chambers, something almost no other undergrad-uate school does,” said Dina Chelst, director of pre-law advisement at YU. “They not only sit and observe but also participate in the legal process, which is unbelievable. Students can also participate in Frontiers in Contempo-rary American Law, a course taught by experts at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law that exposes them to many different areas of law.”

Like the pre-med advisers, Chelst works hard to identify and meet with students early in their undergrad-uate careers to set them up for success. “We discuss their trajectory for taking the LSATs, which doesn’t always occur to students when they begin their studies, and plan out their reach schools and safety schools,” she said. “I review multiple iterations of their essays with them. I also foster relationships with law schools to make sure our students’ applications get the most positive review they could be given.”

Ariella Muller, a political science major and biology minor, felt her undergraduate experience and the close advising she received from faculty and staff at YU played a critical role in helping her obtain law school accep-tances from top-ranked programs, including Columbia University, Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania. “The Frontiers in Law program gave me exposure to actual law school classes and helped me real-ize that I would enjoy law school—it played a major role in my decision to pursue it,” said Muller, who hopes to practice international or intellectual property law.

Whatever their dreams, students know that they have a team of coaches cheering them on every step of the process—whether it’s an academic adviser calling a grad-uate school on their behalf or a Career Center counselor conducting mock interviews with them to make sure they’re comfortable and confident during the real thing.

“The one-to-one ongoing attention for students as well as the collaborative efforts between the Career Center and the pre-professional advisers is a key to their success,” said Marc Goldman, executive director of the Career Center. n

YU Mobile for iPhone and AndroidPut Yeshiva University in your pocket with the latest news, campus and athletic event listings, course schedules, library resources, photos, videos and more on your smartphone.

Available free on iTunes and Google Play

100%

96%

93%

Law School

Dental School

Medical School

k

k

k

2015 ACCEPTANCE RATES