YUReviewT H E M A G A Z I N E O F Y E S H I V A U N I V E R S I T Y

S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 / A V I V 5 7 6 9

Discovery

Spring ExhibitionsYESHIVA UNIVERSITY

MUSEUM

www.yumuseum.org or call 212.294.8330

2009FINAL MOURNER’S KADDISH:333 Days in Paintings

MAX MILLER Popper Gallery February 26 – August 16, 2009

TESTIMONY AND MEMORY:Contemporary Miniature Torah Mantles

CAROLE SMOLLAN LondonExhibition Arcade February 26 – July 26, 2009

PASSAGES: Sculpture by

L.T. SYMSSculpture Garden March 22 – August 16, 2009

I OF THE STORM

MICHAEL HAFFTKARecent WorkWinnick Gallery March 22 – August 30, 2009

JOSEPH, THE BULL AND THE ROSE

ANETTE PIER MexicoRosenberg Gallery February 26 – August 30, 2009

PASSAGESP : Sculptu

ILLER

9

ILLER

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 14UNIVERSITY WIDE COMMENCEMENTBernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies Stern College for Women Sy Syms School of Business Yeshiva College WaMu �eater at Madison Square Garden

MONDAY, MAY 26Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall, Wilf Campus

MONDAY, JUNE 1Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center

MONDAY, JUNE 1Yeshiva University High School for Boys/�e Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall, Wilf Campus

TUESDAY, JUNE 2 Albert Einstein College of Medicine Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall, Wilf Campus

FRIDAY, MAY 22Wurzweiler School of Social Work Lamport Auditorium, Zysman Hall, Wilf Campus

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration Weissberg Commons, Belfer Hall, Wilf Campus

Congratulations

For detailed information, please visit www.yu.edu/commencement

rich in innovation and progress, it is easy to become consumed with

staying updated. Often, in an attempt to maintain control in the mod-

ern world, we hunt for new landscapes to keep us in formed without

delving into the beauty of those of the past.

At Yeshiva University, we make it our mission to ensure that our

students not only seek new landscapes, but explore old ones with new

eyes. That is not to say that we neglect innovation. Our faculty and

students are constantly pushing the envelope, using all of our gifts as

human beings to make admirable discoveries, acknowledged and

celebrated by our colleagues and friends. However, it does not end there.

Our traditions inform us not to let discovery remain idle, but to harness science and the human-

ities for the greater good in an effort to uplift and improve our global community. Watch as our jour-

ney of discovery flourishes amid deeply rooted values and long-held beliefs. Applying both critical

analysis and classical Talmudic approaches, we are using lessons of the past as predictors of the

future. Tempered by the humility of our humanity, we extend our royal reach heavenward as we aspire

to the Transcendent. Moses asks for G-d to reveal the Divine splendor. He is told, that as a human,

he is incapable of perceiving G-d’s glory. But the story does not end there. G-d asks Moses to come

and join G-d on the rock. Perhaps the message is that as humans our job is not to see G-d, but to

see as G-d sees. Our challenge is not to perceive the Divine in this world, but to make our vision more

like the Divine vision.

In universities like ours, discovery is also applied inwardly. Our students step through our doors

and onto a never-ending road to self-discovery, challenging them to determine who they are and what

they can do to enrich humanity, whether they emerge as leaders in the community or re searchers in

the laboratory.

Our landscapes certainly enlighten us, but it is our eyes that define us. They define us as a com-

munity dedicated to advancing civilization and bettering the human condition, one discovery at a time.

RICHARD M. JOEL

� from the president

The French novelist Marcel Proust said,“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking

new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” In an ever-changing world,

Y E SH I VA UN I V E R S I T YB O A R D O F T R U S T E E S

Morry J. Weiss

CHA IRMAN

David S. GottesmanRobert M. BerenRonald P. Stanton

CHA IRMEN EMER IT I

Ira Kukin

V ICE CHA IRMAN

Sy Syms

V ICE CHA IRMAN

Ludwig Bravmann

V ICE CHA IRMAN

Mordecai D. Katz

V ICE CHA IRMAN

Alan E. Goldberg

TREASURER

Joseph Wilf

TRUSTEE EMER ITUS

David J. AzrieliJayne G. BekerJack A. BelzJulius BermanMarvin S. BienenfeldMarjorie Diener BlendenSender Z. CohenIsrael A. EnglanderDavid EshaghianJeffrey J. FeilFelix L. GlaubachRuth L. GottesmanKathryn O. GreenbergFanya Gottesfeld HellerLance L. HirtMichael JesselsonRichard M. JoelMarcos D. KatzHenry KresselNorman LammMatthew J. MarylesIra MitznerJoshua L. MussJack M. NagelVivian Glueck RosenbergDavid I. SchachneJay SchottensteinIrwin ShapiroMoshael J. StrausJosh S. WestonZygmunt Wilf

HONORARY TRUSTEES

S. Daniel AbrahamHal H. BeretzJ. Morton Davis Aaron FeuersteinGerald FurstJacob E. GoldmanEmanuel GrussJoseph Segal Elie WieselDavid YagodaJay H. Zises

Y E SH I VA UN I V E R S I T Y

Richard M. Joel

PRES IDENT

Daniel T. Forman

V ICE PRES IDENT FOR

INST ITUT IONAL ADVANCEMENT

Georgia B. Pollak

V ICE PRES IDENT FOR

COMMUNICAT IONS AND

PUBL IC AFFA IRS

YUR E V I EW

Valerie L. Peters

ED ITOR- IN -CH IEF

Kelly Berman

NEWS ED ITOR

Judy Tashji

CREAT IVE D IRECTOR

CONTR IBUT ING TO TH IS I SSUE :

Manny BeharPhilippe CassamajorJune GlazerCatherine FredmanLauren FreudmannRabbi Josh JosephElizabeth KratzHelen KuttnerClifford MethStephen NicksonCelia ReganHadassa RubinsteinBoris VolunuevYael Wolynetz

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jared BernsteinDan BretlEnrique CubilloNorman GoldbergMark KatzHolly KuperPeter RobertsonMatt SchwartzAnnie WassermanV. Jane WindsorEmily Zeng

YUReview is published bi-annually by Yeshiva

University’s Department of Communi ca tions and

Public Affairs. It is distributed by mail to alumni

and friends of the university and on campus to

faculty and administrators. Paid subscriptions

are available at $15 per year.

Editorial contributions and submissions to

“Classnotes” are welcome, but the publication

cannot accept responsibility for un solicited manu-

scripts or photographs. All submissions are subject

to editing. Opinions expressed in the Review are

not “official” university policy.

Send mail to: YUReview

500 West 185th Street

New York, NY 10033-3201

Phone: 212.960.5285

E-mail: yureview@yu.edu

© YESH IVA UN IVERS ITY 2009

FROM THE PRESIDENT

YU DIGEST

DISCOVERY

College years—the time in a student’s life when their quest forenlightenment is realized through access to brilliant minds nurturingpersonal exploration; College—the safe haven for this inquiry andhome to supportive faculty and experts who understand this questfor knowledge.

In this issue, we discover the complex nature of Torah and Madda in criminal law; how the recovery of hidden treasures in Germanyidentified a lost community; what secrets lie within our ownUniversity archives; and how the life-changing experiences of threestudents are making a difference to many.

SPOTLIGHT

ALUMNI NEWS

• FACULTY BOOKSHELF • CLASSNOTES

A LOOK BACK

2416

32

YUReview11 31

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YUdigest

4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

A Strong University in Tough Economic Times

“It is essential that we deal properly and purpose fully

with the new economic realities that confront us all.

Part of our commitment is ensuring that students and their

families can afford a Yeshiva University education: We are

reframing our budget, not just to eliminate the structured

deficit, but to keep the cost of attending the undergraduate

schools as affordable as possible by freezing tuition

and increasing financial aid. We have always been mindful

of the costs of education, looking for ways to do more

with less, while building a great university; now we must

look harder,” said President Joel.

“… We have an operating plan for the coming year

that ensures our delivering on the promise we make to our

families: providing a superb education for every

Yeshiva University student, while keeping our institution

strong and helping us weather the economic climate.

… Yeshiva University’s mission has never been as vital as

it is today. Our values are invaluable and our education

is nonnegotiable.”

Steps YU Has Taken to Address Family Need• In a historic move, YU is freezing the cost of

undergraduate tuition for 2009 /10. Tuition will

remain at $31,594 for the year, with only

a modest increase for room and board of $250

per semester.

• A new scholarship drive—supported by the

Board of Trustees—will add up to $5 million to

the University’s undergraduate scholarship

budget. This will augment the approximately

$31 million in institutional aid that the

University annually budgets.

• New and currently enrolled students who start

their undergraduate studies with a year in

Israel, and plan to stay on the YU campus for

four years after they return, will be eligible for a

half-tuition scholarship for that fourth year.

This applies to students returning from Israel and

enrolling on campus in fall 2009 and is also

being extended to students who are currently in

their first or second year on campus.

To hear more from the president about these new

initiatives, go to www.yu.edu/president/tuition

As a result of the new economic realities confronting the entire nation,

Yeshiva University put in place a process to reframe its budget that began last fall.

President Richard M. Joel implemented a number of steps to reduce operating expenses

by close to $30 million, with the overall goal to minimize the impact of these financial issues

on the student and academic experience, both in and beyond the classroom.

here is much to celebrate about Yeshiva University and theaccomplishments of this community,” said PresidentRichard M. Joel at the annual Hanukkah Convocation andDinner held in December at the Waldorf-Astoria. Theevening’s emotional highlight focused the dinner presenta-

tion on the Points of Light—a group of students, faculty, alumni anddonors whose achievements represent the excellence of YU.“We present to you seven points of light; the number could just as

easily be 70,” said President Joel as he introduced these outstandingmembers of the YU community. “Our 17 schools and affiliatesbrought us a bumper crop of great stories, from which we couldchoose a few exemplars of excellence to share with you.”During the inspiring presentation, each person took a place on the

stage and lit a symbolic candle on a menorah depicting themes ofJewish learning. (See sidebar.)New York State Governor David A. Paterson, one of the event’s

honorees and its keynote speaker, paid tribute to the University’s val-ues and public service. “After 122 years and only four presidents, thisuniversity is thriving,” Governor Paterson said. “President Joel is pur-suing the opportunity to fulfill the true meaning of education: a high-er knowledge and a greater spirit.”This greater spirit was recognized as President Joel awarded hon-

orary degrees to five leaders whose lives embody the Univer sity’s val-ues: philanthropists David Feuerstein and Roslyn Goldstein; ElliotGibber, president and CEO of Deb-El Food Products; Rabbi HaskelLookstein, rabbi of Cong re gation Kehilath Jeshurun and head of theRamaz School; and Gov ernor Paterson.In his remarks recognizing these leaders, President Joel also noted

that, despite the difficult economy, the generosity of those attendingthe evening’s event raised $3.2 million, over $1 million more than theprevious year. To read in-depth biographies of the honorees, visitwww.yu.edu/ hanukkah2008

84th Hanukkah Dinner and Convocation Honors Governor, Students

T

Malka Bromberg, physics major and

Kressel Scholar, Stern College for Women

• Researches ways to make hydrogen a “green”

alternative for powering cars in the lab of

Dr. Anatoly Frenkel, professor of physics

Yofi Jacob, sophomore,

Yeshiva University High School for Boys

• He and his family play a crucial role

in supporting his native Mumbai

Jewish community

Professor Leon Wildes (right) ’54YC,director of the Immigration Law Externship,

and Professor Peter Markowitz (far right),director of the Immigration Justice Clinic,

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

• Respond to needs for quality legal

representation for indigent immigrants

Avi Amsalem, senior at Yeshiva College and co-president of student-run

Medical Ethics Society

• His experience as a donor led to a massive

on-campus bone marrow drive yielding eight

potential matches—see page 28 for full story

Rabbi Ari Zahtz YH, ’01YC, R, fellow of the Dr. Lamm Kollel L’horaah,

Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary

• Compiled tribute volumes to Rabbi Zevulun

Charlop on his transition from dean of RIETS to

President’s special advisor on yeshiva affairs

Dan Kelly ’08AE, graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine

• Founded Global Action Foundation and

built free clinic for victims of violence

in Sierra Leone

Sofia Gordon, Wilf Scholar and senior, Stern College for Women

• Discovered true Jewish identity as a young

Russian immigrant in Germany and chose

to attend Stern to deepen her Jewish studies

education—see page 29 for full story

Shining Examples

This year’s Hanukkah Dinner Points of Light are models of excellence

representative of the entire YU community.

New York State Governor David Paterson received an honorary degree

from President Joel.

“

6 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

ne of the biggest issues in Jewish educa-tion to day is attracting, training andretaining high-quality teachers and lead-ers for day schools, yeshivot and commu-nity and synagogue-based schools. Rais ing

the level of professionalism is critical as schoolscompete with their secular counterparts for studentenrollment. Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Edu -cation and Administra tion is addressing this commu-nal challenge through its new initiative, the Institutefor University-School Partnership.The Institute, directed by Dr. Scott Goldberg, a

noted re searcher and educational consultant, offerseducators opportunities for en hanced professionaldevelopment through the use of new technologiesand applied research. The Institute can offer thissupport because of its access to experts and researchat Yeshiva University. For example, Azrieli faculty mem - bers, who serve as Institute senior fellows, collabo-rate with schools of all denominations across NorthAmerica to mentor educators and raise awareness ofschool issues among lay leadership and parents.Recent surveys among Jewish educators indicate

that ongoing supervision, mentorship and ac cess tothe latest research in secular and Jewish educationare some crucial elements in avoiding burn out andturnover. The Insti tute has already begun answeringthis call by offering many continuing educationprograms at no cost for day school administrators,educators, lay leaders and other professionals thataddress school leadership, teacher training and sup-port, student support and interactive media.Through live seminars, videoconferences (in

cooperation with the Global Learning Initiative atthe Center for the Jewish Future), online materialsand discussion boards, conference calls and fellow-ships for careers in Jewish education, opportunitiesfor quality training are timely and far reaching.Schools also benefit from teacher and administratorplacement services, mentorships and research-basedpublications. Addi tion ally, the Institute has initiatedoriginal research on Jewish day school issues such asbullying, differentiated instruction, the effects of theyear in Israel on post-high school students, religiouspurposefulness and school affordability.A unique aspect of the Institute is its commit-

ment to outreach and collaboration with educationaland nonprofit organizations to achieve common goalsin promoting Jewish education. For example, theInsti tute co-sponsored the Jewish Day SchoolEconomic Summit at the 2009 Annual LeadershipConfer ence run by RAVSAK: The Jewish Com -munity Day School Network and hosted other majorconferences on “The World Outside the School:Engaging Parents and Community” and “Topics inMod ern Orthodox Education.”

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Azrieli InstituteAddresses Professionalismin Jewish Education

O

Jacob Wisse toLead YU Museum

Dr. Jacob Wisse, associate professor of art history at Stern

College for Women, has been

named the new director of the

Yeshiva University Museum follow-

ing Sylvia Herskowitz’s retirement

after 32 years as director.

Wisse, who received his PhD

from the Institute of Fine Arts of

New York University, also has a

background in museum education

and curatorial work. Through the

Metropolitan Museum of Art, he

earned a Curatorial Studies

Certificate and was twice awarded

the museum’s Theodore Rousseau

Curatorial Fellowship.

Since 2005/06, when he was

appointed to head the art history

program at Stern, Wisse has intro-

duced courses that use exhibitions

and museum collections to

complement the classroom experi-

ence, including a summer program

in Florence on the art and culture

of the Renaissance period. He

will continue to teach and guide

the program.

During her tenure, Herskowitz

gave the nascent YU Museum an

identity by shaping it as a teaching

museum that collected, interpreted

and exhibited the art, artifacts and

material culture of Jews the world

over through creative and evoca-

tive interdisciplinary exhibitions,

catalogues and programs for Jews

and non-Jews of all ages.

Goldberg provides teacher training via live videoconference.

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 7

Professor ReceivesCancer Society Honor

In recognition for her outstanding con-tributions to the fight against cancer,the American Cancer Society—thenation’s largest nongovernmental fund -er of cancer research—awarded theMedal of Honor to Susan BandHorwitz (left), PhD, distinguished pro-fessor and co-chair of the departmentof molecular pharmacology.

Her groundbreaking research on the cancer drug Taxol(paclitaxel), used around the world to treat cancers of the ovary,breast and lung, has helped more than one million patients.“It is so important to realize that basic scientists can make

significant contributions to clinical care,” said Horwitz. “I feelstrongly that this is not my personal award. It is for my entirelaboratory—for all the students, fellows, visiting scientists andcollaborators that have worked with me all these years.”Horwitz is more optimistic than ever about curing cancer.

“We’ve learned a tremendous amount in the 35 years since I gotmy first research grant, which was from the American CancerSociety,” she said. “I believe that, with enough financial supportand with the brightest and the best young people going into can-cer research, we should be able to overcome this disease.”

EINSTEIN’S BANNER YEAR OF RESULTSAND REWARDS

A study published by University

researchers in psychology and

health strongly suggests that regular

attendance at religious services of

any denomination, along with the

comfort and strength derived from

these services, reduces the risk of

death in post-menopausal women by

approximately 20 percent.

The study, conducted by Eliezer

Schnall, PhD, clinical assistant

professor of psychology at Yeshiva

College, and co-authored by Sylvia

Wassertheil-Smoller, PhD, professor

of epidemiology and population

health at Einstein, was designed to

see if religious observance played a

role in reducing heart disease.

Though the findings did not support

that, they showed a lower rate of

death from all causes. It was an

ancillary study of the Women’s

Health Initiative, the largest clinical

trial ever funded by the National

Institutes of Health to focus exclu-

sively on women’s health issues, and

evaluated the religious practices of

92,395 women for an average of

7.7 years.

“I don’t want to go beyond what

the facts are showing us, and I want

to be cautious,” said Schnall.

“Interestingly, the protection against

mortality provided by

religion cannot be entirely

explained by expected

factors that include enhanced social

support of friends or family, lifestyle

choices and reduced smoking and

alcohol consumption.”

The study has received significant

media attention and corroborates

prior studies that have shown up to

a 25 percent reduction in mortality.

Yeshiva College and Einstein Researchers Link Religion to Reduced Mortality

Schnall (left) and

Wassertheil-Smoller

(right).

…and in the Lab

• A study in Archives of Internal

Medicine reports that people with low

levels of Vitamin D may face an in -

creased risk of death from all causes.

Researchers including co-lead

Dr. Michal L. Melamed, assistant

professor of medicine and of epidemi-

ology and population health, and

colleagues from Johns Hopkins Uni -

ver sity School of Medicine analyzed

Vitamin D levels in participants in the

Third National Health and Nutritional

Examination Survey conducted by

the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. The re searchers suggest

that Vitamin D be added to the

chemicals measured in routine blood

tests. Low Vitamin D levels may affect

blood pressure and the body’s ability

to respond to insulin as well as

increase rates of breast cancer and

depression in the elderly.

• A trend toward eliminating recess in

favor of increased math and reading

periods means that children are

getting less and less unstructured

playtime. A new study led by Dr.

Romina M. Barros, assistant clinical

professor of pediatrics, suggests that

a daily break of 15 minutes or more

in the school day may play a role in

improving learning, social develop-

ment and health in elementary school -

children. As reported in Pediatrics,

Barros, who looked at data on approx-

imately 11,000 third-graders enrolled

in the national Early Childhood Longi -

tudinal Study, said that recess has to

be considered a crucial element in

child development.

• Men with prostate cancer may have

an increased risk of having an aggres -

sive tumor if they carry a mutation for

either of two genes, BRCA1 and

BRCA2, according to Dr. Robert Burk,

professor of pediatrics (genetics) and

senior author of a study reported in

Clinical Cancer Research. The study

focused on men of Ashkenazi Jewish

descent because they are five times

likelier than people in the general

population to carry a mutation of any

kind in those genes. Women carrying

mutations in either gene face an

increased risk of developing breast

cancer, ovarian cancer or both.

Scientists believe that genetic discov-

eries among the Ashkenazi can have

significant benefits in preventing and

treating major diseases.

In a visionary gift, Laurie M. Tischhas established the Laurie M.Tisch Loan Repay ment AssistanceProgram (LRAP)—to benefit Car -dozo graduates who have chosen topursue careers in public interest/public service law by providing“forgivable loans” to assist them in

overcoming their debt. She hopesthe gift will relieve burdens of out-standing financial obligations asgraduates “work for the commongood.”“This is a transformative gift,”

said Dean David Rudenstine. “Itcompletely changes the face of our

current loan repayment assistanceprogram and ensures that our grad-uates can continue to work for thepublic good. Such work is a sterlingaffirmation of our commitment toequality, social justice, and human-istic and intellectual values.”Tisch believes that the public

sector—whether it be legal assis-tance services, the District Attor -ney’s office, government, humanrights groups, or not-for-profitorganizations—should not bedeprived of some of the best andbrightest legal minds coming out oflaw school. She noted she comesfrom a family in which “publicservice was immensely important;it was instilled in all of us from thetime we were children. This gift toCardozo builds on that family lega-cy.” Ms. Tisch’s daughter, EmilyTisch Sussman, is a 2008 alumnaof Cardozo.

Record Bar PassageRate at CardozoAccording to figures announced bythe New York State Board of LawExaminers in November, Cardozograduates achieved a 93.2 percentfirst-time passage rate on the July2008 New York State Bar Exam. Of the 310 Cardozo graduates whotook the exam for the first time,289 passed. This is the highestpass rate in the school’s history,

exceeding last year’s record of 92 percent. The statewide passrate for first-time takers from allABA-accredited law schools was90.5 percent; for all takers it was74.7 percent.

Alumni Honor DeanDean David Rudenstine wasselected by the Alumni Associa -tion’s 50-member executive com-mittee as honoree at its annual din-ner in November for the dramaticphysical renovation and for theremarkable growth Cardozo hasundergone during his tenure.Rudenstine will step down as

dean in June 2009 and rejoin thefaculty. Kathy Greenberg ’82C,who became chair of the Cardozoboard shortly after Rudenstine wasnamed dean in 2001, said, “I feelprivileged to know him, to havehad the opportunity to work withhim and to have witnessed theextraordinary growth of Cardozounder his watch.”

8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

CARDOZO HIGHLIGHTS

RIETS Annual Dinner of TributeHonors Rabbi CharlopClose to 700 people gathered at New York City’s Grand Hyatt in

September for the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS)

Annual Dinner honoring Rabbi Zevulun Charlop, dean emeritus of RIETS

and special advisor to the president on yeshiva affairs and vice chairman

of the RIETS Board of Trustees, Herbert Smilowitz, and his son, Rabbi

Mark Smilowitz ’92YC, ’98AZ, ’02R. RIETS dinner participants raised over

$1.1 million, that’s $500,000 more raised than the previous year.

Loan Repayment Assistance Gets $5M Boost at Cardozo

David Rudenstine

Laurie Tisch

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 9

digest �

Wurzweiler StudentsReach Out for RecoveryWhen 18 Wurzweiler School of Social Work

students visited New Orleans in November to

study the revitalization of its Jewish community

after Hurricane Katrina, they recognized the

opportunity to put into action the core Jewish

communal values of tzedakah [righteous giving]

and tikkun olam [repairing the world], which

they study in the school’s Jewish Communal

Service Certificate program.

The students, accompanied by Saul Andron,

PhD, program director, and Instructor Lynn

Levy, attended a four-day seminar to learn how

the community has responded in the aftermath

of Hurricane Katrina.

On the last full day of the trip, they toured

the Seventh Ward area, then split into three

groups to visit the homebound elderly, painted

the outside of the St. John’s Baptist Church

Social Ministry’s youth center and applied

Sheetrock to the home of its pastor, Bruce

Davenport.

“This experience not only informed me of

the immense help still needed in rebuilding

New Orleans, but it also taught me a personal

valuable lesson that there is so much to live for

even in such a devastating situation,” student

Gaby Abramson said.

Ferkauf Conducts Cross-Cultural Asthma Study

Research has shown that asthma sufferers are more susceptible to psychological prob-lems, especially panic disorders, and these issues may be culturally based. While asthmais not a curable disease, proper symptom management can improve a patient’s quality oflife. However, other health and environmental factors can further compromise an indi-vidual’s condition.Natalia Pilipenko, a first-year clinical health psychology student at Ferkauf Graduate

School of Psychology, and a native of Cyprus, found that no psychosocial or cross-culturalstudies have ever been conducted with Cypriot asthma patients. Under the guidance ofMaria Karekla, PhD, assistant professor of the Department of Psychology at the Univer -sity of Nicosia, Cyprus, and Ferkauf Assistant Professor Jonathan Feldman, PhD,Pilipenko applied for and received funding for a 24-month cross-cultural research proj-ect comparing a group of Cypriot asthma patients with a group of asthma patients atJacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.In addition to examining cultural and medical similarities and differences between the

two groups, Pilipenko, Feldman and co-researchers at the Cyprus Academic ResearchInstitute hope to develop a behavior modification model that will address the psycholog-ical issues among asthma patients in Cyprus and the Bronx with the long-term goal ofcreating culturally sensitive, psychosocial asthma intervention programs.

CJF Trains Rabbis and Lay Leaders

With challenging economic issues facing synagogues and their communities nationwide,the rabbi’s role as an executive of his synagogue and his partnership with its lay leaderstakes on particular importance. This was the focus of the Executive Rabbinic Seminars,held by the Center for the Jewish Future (CJF) as part of its Legacy Heritage FundRabbinic Enrich ment Initiative (LHREI), supported by Legacy Heritage Fund Limited.The Executive Rabbinic Semi nars, now in their second year, bring rabbis together from

Jewish communities across North Amer ica to learn theory from management ex perts andgain insight from the business world on addressing challenging day-to-day issues.“The seminars increase avenues of communication between rabbis and lay leaders and

develop a more cohesive dynamic of governance in their congregations,” said RabbiKenneth Brander, dean of the CJF. “It is one of the important programs in the CJF reper-toire drawing on the academic energies of the University as a resource for our communi-ty. These programs are only possible due to support from Legacy Heritage Fund Limited.”The rabbi and lay leader work as a team to assess their synagogue’s particular situation

and how the material presented can best be applied to their needs; as a group, the rabbisand lay leaders reflect on common aspirations and challenges and share best practices.The program’s facilitators, who also ran the previous seminar, included Dr. Steven

Nissenfeld and Dr. Brian Maruffi, both clinical professors of management at Sy SymsSchool of Business, and Robert Leventhal, a senior consultant at the Alban Institute,which helps religious congregations ad dress their needs in a changing world.The 2008–09 seminars were held in Florida in November and Decem ber. They

focused on leading strategic synagogue transformation and the role of leadership in initi-ating and sustaining change in the synagogue. The 15 participating communities alsoattended the prior year’s programs on leadership and synagogue management dynamics.

Students helped repair the home of Pastor Bruce

Davenport (center, rear) and his wife (far right).

1 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

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member of the Shilluktribe in southernSudan, Simon Dengwas abducted when hewas nine-years-old and

given as a gift to an Arab family.His job was to draw water from theNile River and carry it back to thehousehold, work typically assistedby camels. After three and halfyears as a slave, Deng was liberat-ed by a man from his former villagewho recognized him and arrangedfor his escape.Deng is a former child slave

from Sudan who spoke last fall at apanel discussion on “Slavery Un -shackled: An Exploration of Mod -ern Day Slavery” sponsored by theSocial Justice Society, the Centerfor Ethics at Yeshiva Uni versity

and the Marcia Robbins-WilfScholar-in-Resi dence Pro gram.Gilah Kletenik ’09S, a member ofthe Social Justice Society, put therelevance in perspective: “Our col-lective experience as slaves longago, and as victims throughout his-tory, suggests that we have aunique opportunity to free thoseenslaved, to be the custodians ofjustice throughout the world.”Deng shared the podium with

Mary Temple, volunteer coordina-tor for Free the Slaves, which worksto eradicate slavery while liberatingslaves around the world, and RabbiShalom Carmy, assistant professorof Bible at Yeshiva University.Temple highlighted the differ-

ence between historical and mod-ern-day slaves. “A historical slave

was seen as a capital expenditureand was given clothing, shelter andfood in order to allow for the mostsubstantial return on investment,”Temple explained. “In the past 50years, the price has collapsed andthe average price of a slave is now$90. People have become dispos-able.”Rabbi Carmy’s comments on

slavery were based on his analysisof biblical and halachic [Jewishlegal] texts. He noted that since

slaves were dependent on the mas-ter’s will, being a slave was a mis-fortune, a curse.Now an American citizen and

anti-slavery activist, Deng sees hismain role as an advocate and ishopeful for the future, “knowing itwill take someone who is free tofree someone who is not.” He saidthat most people think slavery is athing of the past, but he is livingproof that it continues to existtoday.

YU IN ISRAEL

UK Chief Rabbi SharesThoughts on LeadershipLast November, nearly 800 students studying in

Israel on the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program

heard Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of

the United Kingdom, speak on the importance

of leadership. “In the presence of lay leaders

from the OU and rabbanim alike, Rabbi Sacks

charged these students with the responsibility of

becoming the next leaders of Klal Yisrael [the

people of Israel]. He also eloquently conveyed

the message that the path to meeting this

challenge runs through Yeshiva University,” said

Rabbi Ari Solomont, director of the S. Daniel

Abraham Israel Program.

General Assembly Touches on Diversity of North American JewryA delegation of 30 rabbinical students from

Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary

(RIETS) studying at YU’s Gruss Institute in

Jerusalem attended the United Jewish

Communities 2008 General Assembly (GA) to

gather with the “larger Jewish community”

through interactions with Jews from different

streams.

Rabbi Kenneth Brander, dean of the Center

for the Jewish Future (CJF), and Rabbi Yosef

Blau, mashgiach ruchani [spiritual guidance

counselor] at YU, headed the delegation,

introducing the students to leaders from across

the Jewish world and encouraging attendance

at sessions aimed at helping them understand

concepts and ideas that they may revisit as

teachers and spiritual leaders of North American

Jewish communities.

Blau contends that it is this understanding

that breeds stronger, better prepared Jewish

leaders. “While Orthodox rabbinical seminaries

could simply lecture about the viewpoints

of other streams of Judaism, firsthand discus-

sions with those who actually subscribe to these

views are an invaluable learning experience

that will help these young rabbis relate to their

students and congregations in the future,”

said Blau.

A Historical Perspective on Modern-Day Slavery

ASimon Deng

International SoccerTeam Has Common BondMen’s soccer can easily claim it’s the most diverseteam in the Athletics department. This year’sroster includes athletes from Panama, Venezuela,Brazil, France, Chile, Israel, England and Bel -gium who together bring a genuine sense of teamspirit.“I think what is remarkable about this team is

the degree of unity exhibited by a group of youngmen from very different places in the world,” saidCoach Tony Elmore, who himself is from Lon -don. “The most striking factor of the team is notits diversity, it’s the common cultural bond gener-ated by being Jewish and the desire on the part ofall the players to discuss, in detail, every tacticalchange I wanted to make in our system of play.”“While the Spanish speakers, French speak-

ers, and English speakers might, at least at first,have gravitated together at training, this be cameless and less true as the year went on. At a recentteam dinner, players talked about how each ofthem felt the team bonded and became friendsoff the field as well as on.”Under the guidance of Elmore, the team is

turning its performance around. “We went 2–12this season, but within the record was a level ofimprovement that was truly extraordinary,” saidDirector of Athletics Joe Bednarsh. “I think theimprovement from last season to this season wassimply uncanny, and I owe that to the hard workof our young men and the dedication of oursuperb coaching staff.”

Women’s Volleyball ScoresThe Women’s volleyball program made great strides this season, although the team had

club status (an abbreviated season without statistics) as late as 2007 and competed in

only five matches. But in 2008, women’s volleyball was

given varsity program status and began competition as an

NCAA Division III program, the Hudson Valley Women’s

Athletic Conference (HVWAC).

As a result of the team’s two conference wins during the

regular season, Yeshiva earned a berth in the HVWAC play-

offs where it lost 3–0 to the College of New Rochelle in the

quarterfinals. Though the team finished the season with a

2–14 record, senior Adira Katlowitz and junior Nili Block

were named to the HVWAC All-Conference team.

“More that just winning matches against two solid,

veteran programs, our team played with a level of skill and

consistency that you’d expect from a much more experi-

enced program,” said Director of Athletics Joe Bednarsh.

Basketball Super HooperMen’s basketball’s guard/forward Martin

Leibovich ’10SSSB earned four awards in Dec -

em ber after an outstanding week of play during

which he led the Maccabees to a 1–1 record.

For a competitive loss to CUNY powerhouse

Baruch College, 73–64, and a 74–71 overtime

win over Maritime College, Leibovich was named

the Skyline Conference Player of the Week

and ECAC-Metro Co-Player of the Week. He was

also named to the PrestoSports /Metropolitan

Basket ball Writers Association Honor Roll and

D3Hoops.com Team of the Week.

MACCABEE MINUTE

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 1 1

� digestYU’s Center for the JewishFuture ran three service-learn-ing missions in January toTexas, Nicaragua and Israel.The trips, all subsidized by a grant from the Charles andLynn Schusterman FamilyFounda tion, offered studentsa unique lesson in making a difference.

The Coast to Coast group

packed nearly 20,000 meals

at the North Texas Food

Bank in Dallas.

Students in the Jewish Life

Coast to Coast Service

Corps–Texas volunteered in

local communities hit by

Hurricane Ike. They cleaned

up and painted Houston’s

Martin Luther King Boule vard.

Rabbinical student Alec

Goldstein talked about how

Jewish high school students

can contribute to worthy

causes as part of a

presentation on “A Jew’s

Role in the World” at

Houston’s Beren Academy.

“My experience in Nicaragua

has taught me that … there

are many ways to battle

poverty. Education is one of

them—on our side and theirs,”

said Annie Wasserman ’09S

(above), with local children in

Boca de La Montanas.

Near the Nicaraguan village

of Boca de Las Montanas,

students on a mission co-

sponsored by the American

Jewish World Service cleared

ground for a bridge that will

lead to a new school.

Winter Missions Take ‘Tikkun Olam’on the Road

HOUSTON

DALLAS

NICARAGUA

ISRAEL

Students on the Project

Connect Winter Mission met

with seniors from the former

Soviet Union to learn about

their experience adapting to

life in Israel.

Another student group spent

time getting to know

Ethiopian immigrants. They

organized a day of fun

activities for children at an

absorption center affected by

the war in the south.Yaira Dubin got to know a

women at the Bridge, a

homeless assistance shelter

in Dallas. For many students,

it was their first exposure to

the homeless.

• Men’s and women’s tees, polos and hoodies

• Baby bibs, book bags and coffee mugs

• Plus other Yeshiva University items for men, women and children

You can also access the store via www.yu.edu

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DO NOT USE

Through the millennia, the primary purpose of education has been to produce well-rounded and

enlightened individuals. But during the last generation, universities have turned away from poetry

and become too much a place of plain prose, test scores and job placement. Fearful of the upheaval

of the 1960s, the academy has retreated from shaping our civilization, choosing safe, secure topics

rather than encouraging exploration and discovery.But our children long to matter, they yearn deeply for an informing vision of values that make

life work. They confront a madness of license on one hand and extremist hateful fundamentalism on

the other, which seeks to extinguish the light of ideas and the lyric melody of our heritage.

We need to help them, by re focusing on the true exploration of the value of values. We must expose the young to the freedom of commitment, to the nuances of ideals

firmly held, while protecting the rights of others. We must rebuild a spirit of free inquiry, an

academic environment embroiled in the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, while embracing the

immutability of life values that are nonnegotiable. We must teach the skills of navigating theterrain while reaching for the cosmos. Our challenge is not to defend Western civilization,

but to advance Western civilization.

We measure our success in the character and values of our students. Standardized tests

cannot serve as the sole assessment of our achievement. These tests can quantify information that

has been memorized, or skills in reasoning, but they tell us nothing about values instilled. They tell

us nothing of the integrity and ethics of our students. We are in danger of graduating a generation

of test takers rather than one of enlightened and informed citizens.

On a more practical scale, we face another crisis—the crisis of affordability. The cost of

providing a quality higher education has soared beyond the reach of all but the most affluent

families, rendering exploration for its own sake unaffordable. But in its purest form,

education should not be measured in dollars and cents. Any investment a parent makes for the sake

of their child’s learning and future must be rewarded by a university faculty committed to creating

the most wide-ranging and enlightening educational experience possible.

Our universities must meet the challenge of bringing ideals and discovery backinto the classroom. The challenge of nurturing the minds and souls of our students, while

addressing the crisis of affordability, is one that we can meet together. And in so doing, we can

brighten the future for us all.

—President Richard M. Joel

Advancing a Community of Thinkers

An excerpt of a book chapter by President Richard M. Joel, which was included in Letters to the Next President:

Strengthening America’s Foundation in Higher Education, published by Korn/Ferry International, 2008.

THE CATALYST FOR DISCOVERY can be happenstance.Yet it is often triggered by the exchange of ideas in an envi-ronment open to possibility. Enter Yeshiva University. “Theart of teaching is the art of assisting discovery,” wrote theAmerican Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mark van Doren. Ourfaculty practice their “art” in wide-ranging scientific, socialand spiritual studies. Applying both critical analysis and clas-sical Talmudic approaches, faculty and students work to effectsubstantial change and make discoveries in their worlds.

Take a few moments to see how discovery is flourishing inthe YU community. Learn how our scholars in the areas ofcriminal justice and Halacha [Jewish religious law] have wonrenown for their pioneering work in applying current DNAresearch to the pursuit of justice and to resolving one of themost painful halachic issues of our time.

Discover our recently unearthed past as we reveal thelast-known Jewish treasure hoard of medieval history, onceconcealed within the foundation of a 12th-century home inthe former Jewish quarter of a small German town.

Explore the archives and hidden treasures in the MendelGottesman Library of Hebraica/Judaica, which illuminateour deeply rooted traditions, our experiences and our cultur-al history.

Learn about the students whose journeys of self-discoveryprovide inspiration to others: A Ferkauf graduate student whodiscovered she could not stand by and do nothing while herneighbors home in China suffered with the aftereffects ofcatastrophic earthquakes; the student who discovered hispotential to save a life—and sparked fellow students to dothe same; and the student who discovered her identity as aJew and now regularly does outreach work with others.Theirs are discovery stories awakened and nurtured by thetools and resources of Yeshiva University.

Our faculty and students are pushing the envelope, usingtheir gifts to drive discoveries that uplift and elevate ourglobal community. See how the YU experience arms ourstudents with the tools they need to shape and improve ourcollective future.

Exploration in the natural world, from the subatomic to the cosmic,

or in the private world of self-knowledge, snaps existence into focus

and provides missing puzzle pieces to reveal a more complete picture of life.

You know it when it happens:

Discovery

1 8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

r. James Gill, deputy chief med-ical examiner of the Bronx for theNew York City Medical Ex am i -ner’s Office and visiting professorof pathology at the Albert Ein -

stein College of Medicine, explained that DNAconsists of the “genetic building blocks forhumans and all forms of life, down to the singlecell.” The implications for medicine are limitlesssince the study of DNA can help us determinewhich people are most at risk for certain dis-eases and may soon tell us why cells mutate tocause diseases and how the process can be pre-vented or reversed. At Einstein’s recently dedi-cated Michael F. Price Center for Genetic andTranslational Medicine/Harold and MurielBlock Research Pavilion, work in this area willbe applied directly to patient care.

Yeshiva University represents a commitment to the

moral values of Torah while also supporting whole-

heartedly the pursuit of the latest discoveries in

science. Using the science be hind DNA, the double

strand of deoxyribonu cleic acid unique to every person,

our scholars in the areas of criminal justice and

Halacha [Jewish religious law] have won inter national

renown for their pioneering work in applying current

research to the pursuit of justice and to resolving one

of the most painful halachic issues of our time.

D

discovery

The Double HelixinTorah andMadda

DNA Research in thePursuit of Justice

oday, the impact of DNA re searchis being felt in areas beyond med-icine and biology, revolutionizingthe field of criminal justice. Asrecently as the 1980s, judges and

juries in criminal cases have had to rely on oftencontradictory, incomplete or inaccurate eyewit-ness testimony, inconclusive forensic studiesand circumstantial evidence. As a result, manycriminals were either never apprehended oracquitted at trial for lack of evidence, whileinnocent people were wrongly convicted.Beginning in 1989 with the successful applica-tion of DNA evidence, samples from crimescenes as small as the tip of a pencil led to dra-matic changes.

Dr. Gill explained: “Except for identicaltwins, each individual has a unique sequence inhis or her DNA. By looking for repeatingsequences in 13 different loci [noncoding DNAregions], we can typically distinguish peoplefrom one another.” While hundreds of millionsof people may have the same blood type as thatfound in evidence, the chance of two peoplehaving the same DNA sequence in even a few ofthe 13 loci is less than one in a billion.

This makes DNA sequencing a powerful toolfor law enforcement professionals, prosecutorsand defense attorneys. By comparing DNA evi-dence to DNA data banks operated by the FBIand other agencies, suspects can be more easilyidentified. By matching the evidence with thesuspect’s DNA, guilt or innocence can beproven.

Once DNA evidence became available foridentifications, investigators were able to revisitold cases both to apprehend suspects in caseswhere the trail had long ago gone cold, and todetermine whether the people convicted ofcrimes were actually guilty.

One of the pioneers in the use of DNA evi-dence in the pursuit of justice is Barry Scheck,a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo Schoolof Law and the director of clinical education forthe Trial Advocacy Program and Cardozo’s JacobBurns Center for Ethics in the Practice of Law.He is a past president of the National Associ a -tion of Criminal Defense Lawyers and known

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9

Commemorative medallion marking the dedication of

the Mendel Gottesman Library on April 20, 1969.

Background: A papercut charity collection sign asking for donations

to support the work of the Hevra Kadisha in Piaseczna, Poland.

Created by Katriel Wolf of Krotoschin,1827.

THidden

of the gottesman library

Treasures

A library is the heart of a university, a

repository of the best of the past that can

serve as a springboard to discovery.

With 8,000 rare books, 1,200 manuscripts,

over 40 Hebrew and Latin incunabula

(books printed during the earliest period

of typo graphy, the 1450s to the end of

the 15th century) and collections of

memorabilia, the Mendel Gottesman

Library fulfills its role as a vital resource

for inspiration and accomplishment.

On the 40th anniversary year of the library’s

dedication, YUReview takes you to its

book stacks and boxes for an exploration

of some of the unseen treasures defining

our community.

for his role on the “dream team” of attorneyswho won an acquittal of O.J. Simpson. But, ar -guably, Professor Scheck’s most important con-tribution to the legal profession has been withthe Innocence Project, his pioneering work inusing DNA evidence to exonerate people whohave been wrongfully convicted of serious crimes.

Seeing the impact of DNA evidence, Scheckand his law partner and fellow Cardozo facultymember, Peter Neufeld, founded the InnocenceProject as a clinic at Cardozo Law School in1992. Since then, it has tracked 232 victims ofwrongful convictions, including 17 on deathrow. While the Innocence Project became anindependent nonprofit corporation in 2003, itmaintains a close relationship with Cardozo.Each year, 20 Cardozo students work thereassisting in drafting motions for DNA testing,fact development and investigations.

Madeline deLone, executive director of theIn nocence Project, explained that for theInnocence Project to take a case, there has to bea claim of innocence and the possibility thatDNA evidence will prove it.

The cooperation of prosecutors varies fromcase to case, according to deLone, with somereadily providing access to evidence andacknowledging their mistakes and others fight-ing every step of the way.

A look at just two among the many caseshandled by the Innocence Project can provide aglimpse into how past investigations have gonetragically wrong with a devastating impact onthe lives of innocent people, and how DNA evi-dence finally made it possible for justice to bedone and for the innocent to rebuild their lives.

On July 12, 1982, a 22-year-old Louisianawoman woke up to find a gun pointed at herhead. The man raped the woman twice andstayed at her house for four hours. He told herseveral things about his life including that hisname was Marcus Johnson. Police had no infor-mation about a Marcus Johnson, but told detec-tives about Rickey Johnson who was on proba-tion for a misdemeanor traffic violation andwhose life story matched some of the detailsthat the attacker told the victim. The victimidentified Rickey Johnson from an improperphoto lineup and testified at the trial that shewas “positive” that he was the perpetrator.Serological tests on sperm from the perpetrator

showed that it matched Rickey Johnson’s bloodtype. Rickey Johnson was convicted of aggravat-ed rape and sentenced to life in prison.

The Innocence Project took up Johnson’scase in 2006. The local district attorney, DonBurkett, joined the Innocence Project in seekingDNA testing for Johnson and, in 2007, results ofsperm samples from the perpetrator proved thatJohnson could not have been the attacker. InJanuary 2008, a check against the LouisianaDNA database implicated another man, JohnMcNeal, who was serving a life sentence for asimilar rape committed in the same apartmentcomplex three months after the crime Johnsonwas convicted of. Rickey Johnson was exonerat-ed and released from prison on January 14, 2008.

On June 23, 1984, a 25-year-old woman wasab ducted outside a convenience store in theBronx, raped twice, slashed and robbed. Whilestill in the hospital, the victim viewed more than200 photographs and identified Alan Newton asthe attacker. She later picked Newton out of alineup and identified him at the trial. He wasconvicted of rape, robbery and assault and wassentenced to 13.5–40 years in prison. Newtonfirst requested post-conviction DNA testing inAugust 1994, but was turned down because therape kit could not be located. In August 2005,the Innocence Project asked the Bronx Dis trictAttorney’s Office and the Property Clerk’s Officeto search for the rape kit. It was found in the

discovery

2 0

Except for identical twins, each individual has

a unique sequence in his or her DNA. By looking

for repeating sequences in 13 different loci

[noncoding DNA regions], we can typically

distinguish people from one another.”

“

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 2 1

same barrel indicated on the evidence voucher.Testing by the New York City Medical Exami -ner’s Office and an independent lab on spermrecovered from the victim shortly after the rapeproved that Newton could not have been theattacker. Alan Newton was re leased on July 6,2006, when the Innocence Project and theBronx District Attorney’s Office jointly filed amotion asking that his conviction be vacated.

The cases of Rickey Johnson and Alan New -ton are examples of eyewitness misidentifica-tion, which is by far the leading cause of wrong-ful convictions. It was a factor in 75 percent ofall cases of people exonerated by DNA testing.

All of us have an interest in seeing that jus-tice is done in criminal cases. Beyond the trav-esty of innocent people serving long prison sen-tences for crimes they did not commit, there isthe fact that for every wrongful conviction thereis a real perpetrator who has not been appre-hended and may be out in the community com-mitting other crimes. In 40 percent of all DNAexoneration cases, the same testing that exoner-ates the person who was serving time, the realperpetrator is implicated.

The result is a criminal justice system thatmore closely adheres to the Torah’s standardof tzedek, tzedek tirdof—to relentlessly pursuejustice—by exonerating the innocent and doinga better job of apprehending and incarceratingthe guilty.

The Innocence Project has developed a seriesof recommendations to make the criminal jus-tice system better serve victims, defendants, at tor -neys on both sides, as well as the public at large.

DNA Identificationand Halacha

he impact of DNA research onsecular law leads to an obviousquestion—what is the status ofDNA evidence in Halacha? Thequestion became particularly

urgent after the terrorist attacks of Sep tem ber11, 2001.

For observant Jewish families, the attacksimmediately raised significant and practicalhalachic questions: When do I sit shiva [mourn]and say Kaddish [the traditional mourningprayer]? What do we do about observing the rit-

Without doubt one of the most original thinkers of any era, Albert Einstein

propelled modern scientific thought through his discoveries. In 1958, Yeshiva

University acquired a 20-page handwritten manuscript donated by Dr. Leo

Perlman of Mt. Vernon, New York. This document, one of Einstein’s early

attempts to find a Unified Field Theory, written in 1929, contains many

revisions, corrections and preparatory calculations giving a rare insight into

Einstein’s working style. Dr. Peter Bergman, a noted Einstein scholar, said

these numerous changes “are indicative of Einstein’s search for the best

possible presentation of his ideas. In several instances there is evidence the

he rearranged materials…to make it easier for the reader to grasp the

argument.” The complete manuscript may be viewed at www.yu.edu/libraries/

digital_library/einstein/panel2.html

GENIUS AT WORK

Hidden Treasures

T

discovery

2 2 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

uals for preparing the body for burial, and thetiming of burial?

For the wives of the victims, the most far-reaching and painful question came a bit furtherdown the road: when, if ever, will I be able toremarry? Many feared that scores of womenwhose husbands were killed at the World TradeCenter might face the tragedy of a life of perma-nent widowhood known as agunot. This term,the plural of agunah [chained woman], is mostcommonly used today to refer to a woman whois unable to remarry because her husband refus-es to grant a get—a Jewish divorce. In the timeof the Talmudic sages, however, it was usedmore often to describe a wife whose husbandhad left and did not return and whose fate wasundetermined. The woman was forbidden toremarry be cause the husband might yet be alive.

Because of the great tragedy implicit in thissituation, the sages were lenient in many ways inaccepting testimony as evidence of the husband’sdeath. While Torah law generally requires thetestimony of two eyewitnesses to verify a deathin the case of a missing husband, hearsay evi-dence and the testimony of a single witness areacceptable. The sages also ruled that the testi - mony of witnesses who were other wise unquali-fied would be admissible in such cases. One ofthe latter day sages noted for his sensitive han-dling of such cases was Rabbi Yitzchak ElchananSpektor, for whom our yeshiva, the Rabbi IsaacElchananTheological Seminary (RIETS), is named.

Since many of the bodies of the victims ofthe September 11 terror attacks were neverrecovered intact, the widows were confrontedwith the possibility that they might becomeagunot unless it could be definitively proven thatthe fragmentary remains recovered were those

of their husbands. Eleven of these womenturned to the Beth Din of America for guidancein the days following the attacks.

Rabbi Yona Reiss, a graduate of Yeshiva Col -lege and Yale Law School with semicha [rabbinicordination] from RIETS (who was recently ap -pointed as its dean), was the director of the BethDin of America, the largest rabbinical court inthe United States, at the time. Rabbi Reiss andhis colleagues worked around the clock at theNew York City headquarters to as semble evi-dence, meeting with the wid ows and personalacquaintances and consulting with rab binical,scientific experts and civil authorities.

Initially, Rabbi Reiss and representatives ofother rabbinical courts met with the New YorkCity Med i cal Examiner’s Office, which wascharged with the task of identifying remains andissuing death certificates, to establish a workingrelationship and to determine whether the con-clusions of the medical examiner could beaccepted as definitive proof that the husbandshad died, thus allowing the widows to remarry.

As a result of advances in DNA research inthe years preceding the attack, DNA evidencewas now available for the first time as a tool forhalachic author ities as they sought definitiveproof that the missing men had in fact beenkilled in the World Trade Center. The work ofRabbi Reiss and his colleagues allowed the lead-ing dayanim [judges] of the Beth Din, RabbiGedalia Dov Schwartz and Rabbi MordechaiWillig, to rule that the husbands had died andthat every one of the widows was permitted toremarry.

It is important to note, however, that in nocase was DNA evidence the sole source for issu-ing a ruling. Other factors taken into considera-

tion were dental records, the retrieval of person-al items and eyewitness testimony or other evi-dence that the men were in the World TradeCenter at the time of the terrorist attacks.

Some Ethical Challenges

hile our knowledge ofDNA has opened newfrontiers of knowledge,some people have ex -pressed concern that it can

be misused in unethical ways.For example, a national DNA database used

to identify suspects in criminal cases couldbecome a tool for profiling people and to deter-mine decisions such as school admissions andjob hiring or even the roundup of potential crim-inals based on what our DNA says about ourfuture.

Dr. Gill emphasized that the loci used foridentification purposes contain no genes at all.They are like fingerprints—they can be used foridentification but tell us nothing about the indi-vidual. But there are less dramatic scenarios thatstill raise difficult ethical challenges.

The same genetic screening that is used toidentify people most susceptible to a diseasecould conceivably be used by insurance compa-nies to determine which patients are the highestrisk and to deny coverage to the people whoneed it most.

Should we forgo the benefits of DNA identi-fication out of concern that the negative conse-quences may be even greater? Dr. DavidWasserman, an attorney and director of research

There is nothing inherently ethical or

unethical in DNA typing or most other

technologies. They can be used for good or

bad purposes, to good or bad effect.”

“

W

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 2 3

This assortment of Yemenite, Persian and European Esther

scrolls are part of the Reverend Leon H. Elmaleh Memorial

Collection. The Book of Esther is read on the festival of

Purim and recounts the escape of the Jews of Persia

from annihilation during the reign of King Ahasuerus.

Leon H. Elmaleh was the Hazzan and lecturer of

Congregation Mikveh Israel, in Philadelphia. He found-

ed the Levantine Jews Society of Philadelphia dedicated

to aiding immigrants from Turkey. His library contained

more than 5,000 volumes dating from 1683.

at Yeshiva University’s Center for Ethics, said,“There is nothing inherently ethical or unethicalin DNA typing or most other technologies. Theycan be used for good or bad purposes, to good orbad effect. We must guard against the abuse ofgenetic technologies to infringe our privacy or todebase our understanding of human beings, butwe must also promote the use of those technolo-gies to serve our values. The work of theInnocence Project and the Beth Din of Americaare striking examples of how DNA identificationhas been used to further our ideals.”

What has been achieved to date has likelyonly scratched the surface of what lies ahead.Our knowledge of DNA has the potential tounlock the secrets of our world and to lead toaccomplishments beyond anything we can imag-ine. But there is one thing of which we can becertain—the scholars, students and alumni ofYeshiva University will be leading the way inmaking use of the latest discoveries of science toimprove the human condition based upon thetimeless values of Torah. �

Hidden Treasures

A DEED WELL DONEIn a document clearly dated January 29, 1664 (below), Peter Stuyvesant,

representing the New Netherlands West India Company, grants a lease to

Claus Clausen for lands in New Utrecht, now Brooklyn, New York. The deed

is written in Dutch and contains what is considered a superb example of

Stuyvesant’s rare autograph signature.

Medieval Discovery UnearthsTreasure ofAnswers

oncealed within the foundation ofa 12th-century home in the for-mer Jewish quarter of Erfurt, thecapital city of Thuringia in centralGermany, the worker discovered

two cups that locked together. He took themhome, opened and polished their contents, andthen, realizing that his find could be of historicimportance, turned the objects over to Germanauthorities.

The plans for a parking lot were abruptly can-celed. In its place, an archaeological investiga-tion was carried out in 1997 and 1998 near thesite of the medieval synagogue. The treasure hadbeen found buried under the western wall of astone building in what was most likely a privatehouse on the same side of the street as the syn-agogue and what was discovered later to be amikvah [ritual bath]. Conserva tion expertsworked for a full year to carefully restore theprecious artifacts.

Found within the cups, filled with medieval

coins as well as gold and silver jewelry, was effec-tively a 600-year-old time capsule, including 3,000silver coins, 14 silver ingots and over 600 piecesof jewelry weighing in at 62 pounds. Since theartifacts were buried in the 1340s (known by thedates on the coins), experts surmised that theywere probably hidden by a Jewish merchant justbefore the vicious massacre of Erfurt’s Jews in1349 at the time of the Black Death.

“From this treasure, we learned a great dealabout the Jewish community in Erfurt,” saidRhoda Seidenberg, an associate curator at theYeshiva Uni versity Museum. “The communitymight have been affluent, or, more likely, theperson who hid the treasure might have been arich merchant and/or a money lender. It mayhave been owned by him, or these were piecesof pawned merchandise,” she said.

Seidenberg said that Erfurt had been animportant center for Jews during this time peri-od. A kinah [elegy] was recited in manyAshkenazi communities to commemorate the

An ExceptionallyRare CollectionThe treasure is unique in its scope

and composition. Only a tiny frac-

tion of original Gothic goldsmiths’

work has survived since precious

objects in private hands were

frequently melted down. Almost all

surviving objects are religious in

character, sacred Christian objects

saved in the treasuries of churches.

But the Erfurt Treasure is primarily

secular tableware and jewelry, with

a few select objects associated

with Jewish ritual.

There are eight rings with the

largest and most elaborate ring

being the Jewish wedding ring, and

the most significant piece in the

entire treasure. It dates back to the

early 14th century when wedding

rings like this one were an impor-

tant part of the Jewish marriage

ceremony. The mid-15th century

Second Nuremberg Haggadah

features a scene from a Jewish

wedding, where the groom places

a large gold ring on the index finger

of the bride. Gold rings with a set

value, without jeweled adornments,

have long had a place in the Jewish

marriage ceremony and this elabo-

rate ring is thought to have been

the property of a family and passed

down over several generations.

There are three other such rings

discovered in different hoards

around Europe, but the Erfurt ring

surpasses them as the most elabo-

rate example of this type of treasure,

according to the experts.

Erfurt: Jewish Treasures from

Medieval Ashkenaz, featuring 167

pieces, was displayed at the Yeshiva

University Museum, the only North

American venue selected for this

exhibition. Next stop is the Wallace

Collection in London and the Beth

Hatefutsoth in Tel Aviv before the

objects return to their permanent

home at Erfurt’s new 11th-century

synagogue museum, set to open

in the fall of 2009.

discovery

C

2 4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

Above: Gold brooch with jewels and pearls from the Erfurt treasures. Photograph courtesy ofThüringisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und

Archäologie, Germany.

Ten years ago, a construction

worker in Erfurt, Germany,

was helping to dig the

foundation for a simple

parking lot in his growing city.

Little did he know that he

was shortly to discover the last

known Jewish treasure hoard

of medieval history.

Jewish weddingring from the Erfurt treasures.Photograph courtesy

of Thüringisches

Landesamt für

Denkmalpflege und

Archäologie, Germany.

massacre of Samuel ben Kalonymus and Jews inErfurt in 1221. The Erfurt synagogue wasburned to the ground during this massacre butwas rebuilt in the late 13th century.

Rabbi Asher ben Jehiel, the famed sageknown as the Rosh, was thought to have sur-vived this massacre and lived in Erfurt in thelate 1200s. During the Black Death in March1349, over 100 Jews were massacred and theothers expelled but al lowed to return to therebuilt synagogue in 1357. Again the Jewishcommunity flourished and members played animportant role in banking until their expulsionfrom Erfurt in 1458.

“In a curious paradox of history, we owe thefact that this treasure was concealed and sur-vived to the terrible persecutions of Erfurt’s Jewsin 1349 be cause of the plague that ravaged mostof Europe,” said Gabriel Goldstein, associatedirector for exhibitions at the Yeshiva UniversityMuseum.

The Black Death, also known as the bubonicplague, was an epidemic that killed betweenone-quarter and one-half of the general popula-tion in Europe during that time period. Despitea papal bull [decree] issued by Pope Clement VI(1291–1352) in defense of the Jews, manyChristians blamed Jews for the disease. Jewswere accused of poisoning wells and other watersources and were massacred throughout Europe.

“Ironically, Jewish rituals such as netilatyadayim [washing of the hands] before eating,mikvah [ritual bathing] and cleaning homes ofall chametz [bread products] before Passover arenow thought to have been reasons why Jewswere not as heavily affected by the plague,which was largely attributed to rats living inclose proximity to people in dirty conditions,”Goldstein said.

At the time of the Black Death, the Jewishcommunity in Erfurt contained about a thou-sand members, including several importantscholars, and was one of the most advanced ofits time along with other Jewish communities inGermany such as Speyer, Mainz and Worms.During the riots, the Jewish quarter was burneddown and the entire Jewish community waswiped out or expelled. In the face of this danger,it is probable that a merchant must have tried tosave his valuable goods by burying them in hiscellar, but didn’t survive to come back andretrieve them. �

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 2 5

Hidden Treasures

The Jewish custom of storing old books and manuscripts in a chamber of the

synagogue, the bet genazim or “house of storing,” may have developed from

a rabbinical rule stating that worn-out Torah Scrolls should be buried. This

12th–13th century genizah fragment is one of two in the library’s Lewin

Collection, which also includes rabbinical manuscripts and sermons,

circumcision records, seals and other documentary material from Poland and

Germany. The fragment is a piece of a piyyut, a liturgical poem for the Yom

Kippur service. Each strophe ends with the words Le-yoshev tehilot,

translated as “to the one enthroned upon praises.”

GENIZAH FRAGMENT

Discovering My Placein Another WorldBY EM I LY Z E N G ,

D O C T O R A L S T U D EN T, F E R K AU F

G R A DUAT E S CHOO L O F P S Y CHO L O G Y

was born in Sichuan, a southwestern pro -vince of China. I came to Ferkauf as adoctoral student in the clinical child psy-chology program four years ago. In May2008, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake hit

my hometown while I was here in the Bronx. Iwas distraught, so I re quested permission frommy professor, Louise Silverstein [Ferkauf profes-sor of school psychology], to be excused fromclasses for a few days. She asked if I had lostfamily in the disaster. They are all my family, Itold her.

I discovered that I could not stand by and donothing while my neighbors suffered back homein China. I discussed the issues in great detailwith my professors at Ferkauf. Over the course ofseveral weeks, the seedlings of a plan grew, and Iworked with Dr. Silverstein and Dr. CarlAurbach [Ferkauf associate professor of clinicalpsychology] to organize a summer trip to China.My aim was to do what I could with the skills Ihave to volunteer for the community.

My professors warned me of the risksinvolved in my plan. We discussed the chaos

discovery

AUniversity is,in its Essence, a Place for

Discovery

2 6 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

I

Zeng (left) and an earthquake survivor in Sichuan.

The college years are not only about reaching for excellence,

maturing and reflecting knowledge. They are also about

achieving the essential discovery of our roles in life,

as human beings and public citizens. Three current students

have journeyed to great heights of personal discovery.

We asked them to tell their stories.

THE MYSTERYOF THE BULLET BOOKFrom time to time, reports pop up

about how someone’s life was

saved by a strategically held

object. While we don’t have any

records recounting the story

behind this 18th-century volume,

we do know it came into the YU

collection with bullet fragments

lodged in its pages and so may

have shielded its reader from an

oncoming cartridge. It was part of

the 7,000-volume library gifted to

YU in 1969 by Moses Lutzki, who

had been a professor of biblio -

graphy at YU for 20 years.

This remarkable book, Binyan

Ari’el (Amsterdam, 1778), was

written by the Dutch Rabbi Saul

Loewen stamm and has sections on

the Pentateuch and the Five

Scrolls, and comments on various

Talmudic passages.

While we can read its pages,

the dramatic tale they tell may

never be learned.

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 2 7

that follows this kind of disaster, the frequentaftershocks associated with large earthquakesand the burn out and traumatization that reliefworkers can develop when faced with a disasterof this level. But the overall feeling from my pro-fessors was support and encouragement.

My professors helped me design a projectbased on a UNICEF model that would providestructure for my clinical work. Additionally, wearranged to have regular live chats over the sum-mer months so that they could provide me withongoing supervision and emotional support.

I spent several weeks traveling around theregion and found that my skills were in greatdemand because I am trained to work with chil-dren. There were many children in the tentcommunities that had sprung up in the country-side, and I was asked to provide counselingunder the auspices of several international aidorganizations. I also worked in hospitals, screen-ing earthquake victims for post-traumatic stressdisorder.

The discoveries I made while I was in Chinawere fraught with not just emotional but alsopolitical complexity. The blog I was writing whileI was in China was tampered with by govern-ment censors because I have been identified assomeone with “ties to the West.” At one point, Iwas interviewed by a policeman about my activ-ities and I feared for my safety. But even thoughI was traumatized, I knew I was in China to dogood, and I knew the support system I had frommy professors at Ferkauf, who consistentlyadvised me to follow the rules and take care ofmyself, would help guide me.

I returned home in September to find myselfcompletely altered. I discovered that I have thecapacity for this kind of relief work and that myconnection to China is palpably strong even as Ilive in my “other world” of Ferkauf and the Bronx.

“We are only human,” Dr. Silverstein cau-tioned me at one point, as she warned me of therisks of international aid work. I used to dismissmessages like these, thinking they were redun-dant or obvious. Now I see them in a new light,with respect.

As I discover my place in the world as aninternational relief worker, I am looking forwardto learning more and teaching others here aboutthe other world I came to know. �

These colorful buttons are part of

the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry

(SSSJ) Collection, which also

includes news letters, photographs,

audio cassettes, bumper stickers,

posters and other ephemera docu-

menting the organization’s public

activities on behalf of Soviet Jewry.

This national student organization

was founded by Jacob Birnbaum in

1964 to oppose the persecution of

Soviet Jews and promote their right

to emigrate freely from the Soviet

Union; buttons were distributed at

rallies and other public demonstra-

tions. In 2007, Birnbaum received

an honorary PhD from YU recogniz-

ing his commitment and service

to the Jewish community.

Hidden Treasures

Discovering MyPotential to Save a LifeBY AV I AMSA L EM ’ 0 9 Y C

t’s not every day that I get an opportunityto save someone’s life.

Four years ago, on my way out of thechadar ochel [dining hall] of Netiv Aryeh,the Old City Yeshiva where I studied for

a year and a half, I stopped by a folding table andparticipated in a quick swab test of the insides ofmy cheeks for a bone marrow registry program.

During my second year at YU, while I was

home in Boca Raton, FL, for Passover break, I re - ceived a call from the Gift of Life, the organiza-tion that sponsored the bone marrow drive in Jeru -salem, notifying me that I was a potential matchfor a person with a life-threatening illness.

I began to understand the magnitude ofthose swabs in Jerusalem. Typically, when stand-ing on the brink of our own life changing deci-sions, we spend time contemplating, seeking theadvice of everyone we know and lose endlesshours of sleep. My life, and the life of anotherperson, however, was changed by an act thatseemed relatively inconsequential at the time—just by participating in a student program inJerusalem.

I spoke to the Gift of Life representativeextensively, gathering information. She encour-aged me to take the time I needed before makingany decisions. While I was already convincedthat it was my duty to pursue this further, myparents sought to consult several doctors in ourcommunity to ease their worries.

A week after receiving the initial phone call,I agreed to the confirmatory tissue typing stageof the donor process. A month later, the resultsof the blood tests confirmed that I was a match.

During the moments leading up to my proce-dure, I sat in the waiting room along with cancerpatients awaiting their treatments. Later, as Iprocessed the ex perience, I couldn’t help butthink that those other people were sitting therebecause they had to be there, and I was therebecause I was healthy enough to be there. I wasoverwhelmed with a sense of privilege.

I didn’t cast myself as a lifesaver, especiallysince the procedure was done anonymously. Forme, those words are reserved for someone whoruns into a burning house and rescues someoneor some other grand, heroic gesture. It was notuntil I received a handwritten thank-you notefrom the recipient that I truly digested that thisperson was alive and well because of me.Receiving a letter meant that my bone marrow“match” was a real person; he is someone’s hus-band, father, brother, uncle, cousin and neighbor.Since then, we have continued to correspond,expanding our physical bond to the emotional.

The experience was, for me, a call for action.Through my involvement with the StudentMedical Ethics Society, I spearheaded two verysuccessful bone marrow drives on campus. Wesurpassed everyone’s wildest expectations, regis-tering over 880 people into the Gift of Life BoneMarrow Registry. I recently learned that, as aresult of our drive, two matches were found andI have been in contact with both donors. I nowalso serve as a speaker ambassador for Gift ofLife where I talk to potential donors, offeringthem advice and encouragement throughout theprocess.

Thinking about my journey over the last fouryears, I discovered that small acts can save lives.Where would I be now if I had not stopped forfive minutes to do those cheek swabs inJerusalem? �

discovery

2 8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

I

Avi Amsalem

This hand-bound, watercolor-illustrated special edition of Walt Whitman’s

1865 elegiac poem on the death of Abraham Lincoln, “When Lilacs Last in

the Dooryard Bloom’d,” is part of the University’s Charles E. Feinberg

Collection. The 70 volumes and folios of Whitman’s important work donated

by the Detroit businessman and Walt Whitman authority in 1959 include

some signed by the poet, and other rare and limited editions.

The poem, considered one of Whitman’s best, never mentions Lincoln

by name.

Discovering My Identityas a JewBY S O F I A G O R D ON ’ 1 0 S

hen I arrived in Germanyin 1995 by way of a refugeecamp for Russian Jews, I didnot know what the word“Jew” meant. All I knew was

that they were a hated people and I was amongthem. I was surrounded by negative buzz, and Icouldn’t help but ask: Why were we there? WasI Jewish? Hesitantly, my mother answered in theaffirmative, but she cautioned me that it wassomething I should keep to myself once we emi-grated to Germany.

Once settled in Würzburg, a small city in theGerman state of Bavaria, I did as I was told. Iadopted German culture as my own. My wishwas to as sim ilate myself completely. I started tospeak the language, and my blond hair and blueeyes were helpful. But I was lonely. I needed tofind a whole new community in Germany, a newway to identify myself.

In Bavaria, the schools require each studentto register as either Catholic or Protestant. Ichose Protestant because, for some reason, Ialways favored the minorities. I enjoyed myclasses as I began to discover a concept of G-d,a greater power from whom to draw strength andlove. I incorporated prayer into my daily routine,standing in front of the cross at school.

It was not until my grandmother came to visitand brought me to a shul that I discovered andinternalized my Jewish roots. I already knew Ihad a passion for religion, and I was particularlyinterested to know where I came from. I beganto attend weekly classes at the synagogue tolearn more. I did not tell my friends and espe-cially not my mother. She would not haveapproved. For me, these classes were like histo-ry lessons. I still wanted to be German, but Iknew that I was hiding some major part of myidentity and the impetus I had to explore thatwas very strong.

Because of my participation in the class, Iwas invited to attend a seminar in Munich runby Rabbi Benjamin Kraus about Pesach. But

W

Hidden Treasures

The photo at left is a life-sized image

of a Bible titled The Bible in Miniature

or A Concise History of the Old & New

Testaments. Its first page reveals that

the book was printed for John Dickens

living at No. 50, North Second Street

in Philadelphia (1796). Measuring

approximately 2¼ inches tall, this tiny

illustrated volume was published for

a juvenile audience.

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 2 9

discovery

when I arrived, I was called upon to teach thePassover Seder to the group, in Russian. But Ididn’t know anything myself. I had never heardabout the Jews being slaves in Egypt! I sat bymyself for hours preparing so that I did notembarrass myself in front of the 400 people inattendance. I made the presentation, but therewas so much that I didn’t know.

It was in Munich that I learned that therewould be a half-day seminary for women open-ing up in Frankfurt, funded by the Ronald S.Lauder Foun da tion, where I would have theopportunity to study my secular topics by dayand learn about Judaism in the evenings. I want-ed to incorporate what the Jewish people said atHar [Mount] Sinai—naaseh vnishma [abide andlearn the commandments]—but in re verse. Iwanted to learn and then I wanted to start prac-

ticing. My teachers at theLauder Yeshiva were SternCollege graduates, and I had awonderful experience there.

Once I reached collegeage, I enrolled at the Uni -versity of Potsdam and movedto Berlin, which has thelargest population of Jews inGermany. There, I could live aJewish life on my own. Buteven in Berlin, it is basically astruggle to be Jewish, a con-stant fight for survival. I gotinvolved in every possibleGerman Jewish organization,most of which are based inBerlin, because I realized if Iam not working to make thingshappen, they will not happen.I helped run seminars for 200people, Shabbat dinners for40, invited politicians to ourevents and started a women’sorganization called Maayan sothat we could have shiurim[lectures] for women.

I applied for a transfer toStern College in 2007 after Ihad exhausted the Jewish edu-cational opportunities forwomen in Berlin. Stern was a

good choice for me because it has been intellec-tually elevating. It provides choices for me tolearn in so many different directions religiously.Combined with the secular knowledge I havegained through my classes as a psychology majorwith a minor in marketing at Sy Syms, it is thissynthesis that has helped me grow, not just inknowledge, but in practice.

At Stern College I have discovered in myselfa stronger, more secure identity as a Jew, whichis a foundation of who I want to become as aJewish adult. I was trying to build somethingthat wasn’t there in Germany, and perhaps I willgo back someday. But if I go, I will no longerhave to teach a subject that I don’t know, like atthe Passover Seder in Munich. Now, with afoundation in the Jewish world, I can makeplans to move forward to build my future. �

Sofia Gordon

3 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

More toDiscover

Enjoy other hiddentreasures of theGottesman Library by visitingwww.yu.edu/libraries

To learn how you cansee these materials in person, contact Shulamith Berger,curator of special collections at archives@yu.edu

This beautifully illuminated manu-

script on vellum was completed by the

scribe Mattathias ben Jonah of Laun in

1489 during a period of relative calm

within a period of catastrophic attacks

against the Jews of Prague.

Presented as a gift to the Gottesman

Library by Ludwig and Erica Jesselson

in 1985, this three-volume treasure is

considered one of the finest examples

of a complete Hebrew manuscript

Bible in existence and is the oldest

written and dated in Prague. The text

is in square Ashkenazic script; the

commentary of Rashi surrounding the

text is in cursive script. There are

84 illuminated leaves; four of them

have full-page decoration. You can

view each page of The Prague Bible

online at www.yu.edu /libraries /

praguebible.asp

THE PRAGUE BIBLE

Hidden Treasures

abbi Yona Reiss is the first dean ofthe Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theo -logical Seminary (RIETS) to holdthe degree of Juris Doctor, whichhappens to be from Yale University.

While he is proud of his degree from “the otherYU,” Rabbi Reiss is quick to acknowledge thathis lifelong associations with Yeshiva Universityare most indicative of who he is, both as a juristand a scholar.

Rabbi Reiss accepted the deanship of theseminary this past summer, which necessitatedthat he give up the post he held for 10 years asdirector of the Beth Din of America, the largestrabbinical court in the United States. He hasindicated that, during his tenure here, YeshivaUniversity’s rabbinical students will continue toreap the benefits of the seminary’s previousstrong leadership, the same dedicated focus onexcellence in textual study, pastoral training andservice learning, with new mechanisms in placefor proper, dignified and professional ways ofresolving halachic [Jewish legal] disputes.

Rabbi Reiss has proposed a plan to provide

satellite space for beth din [rabbinic court] activ-ities at the planned Glueck Center on the WilfCampus so that current RIETS students mayhave the opportunity to observe firsthand theproceedings in action. This would help them tounderstand the sensitivity and expertise that isrequired by dayanim [judges], which alsoinforms the need for strong leadership in com-munities in relation to the halachic decision-making process.

“It is important for us to resolve disputes in amanner which is compatible with halachic tradi-tion as well as the contemporary needs of ourcommunity,” said Rabbi Reiss.

“Rabbi Reiss is a stellar choice for the dean-ship of RIETS,” said Rabbi Zevulun Charlop,dean emeritus and special advisor to the presi-dent on Yeshiva affairs, who was a mentor toRabbi Reiss during his days as a student in theseminary. “His most important character trait ishis integrity, which is known and respectedthroughout the Orthodox community. Moreover,while he lives in two worlds, the secular and thesacred, he is anchored in the yeshiva.”

Rabbi Charlop’s strong voice in support ofRabbi Reiss as his successor informs and echoesothers who have heralded his unique skills asan expert in practical Halacha and other secularlaw matters.

“Rabbi Reiss is one of the smartest people Ihave ever met. RIETS and YU will encounter inhim a powerful combination of erudite Torahscholarship, spectacular thinking and carefulattention to human dignity. The yeshiva will soarto unexpected heights under his direction,” saidRabbi Michael Broyde ’82YUHS, ’84YC, ’93R, acolleague who was the immediate past predeces -sor to Rabbi Reiss at the Beth Din of America.

President Richard M. Joel, who also serves aspresident of RIETS, shared how Rabbi Reissembodies the complex intermingling of Torahand Madda. Tempered with sensitivity andwarmth, the themes of Torah and secular knowl-edge are present in everything he says and does.“The yeshiva is the soul of Yeshiva University. InRabbi Reiss, we have a leader who will nurturethat soul and advance Torah study and protectTorah values,” said President Joel.

3 2 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

spotlight

A ‘Spectacular Thinker’ Focused on Human DignityRabbi Yona Reiss Becomes Dean of Seminary

R

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 3 3

YUReview: Before you became

dean, how were you involved with

Yeshiva University?

Rabbi Reiss: I grew up in Monsey[NY] at Community Synagoguewith Rabbi Dr. Moshe DovidTendler, a RIETS Rosh Yeshiva.My father taught at the MarshaStern Talmudical Academy formany years. I went to the highschool in 1980 and I started atYC in 1983. I spent a year inIsrael, which is also part of theYeshiva College experience,except in those days you firstspent a year in college then a yearin Israel. I graduated in ’87 andenrolled in the semicha [rabbinicordination] program. I overlappedat Yale Law School to somedegree, received semicha in ’91and my Yale Law degree in ’92.

I felt strongly and passionatelyabout YU during my college years,and I even wrote a Torah Umadda“manifesto” at some point. It was a three-page spread for thestudent newspaper. [Editor’s note:The article, “Torah U’Madda: What Does It All Mean?,” waspublished in The Commentator onDecember 10, 1986.]

Most particularly, RabbiCharlop has always been veryencouraging. He was one of theeydim [witnesses] at my weddingand every step along the waywhen I was still learning; when I went to law school; when I wasworking in my law firm; andwhen I was working at the BethDin of America—conversations

with Rabbi Charlop were amongthe highlights of my personalinter actions over the years.

YUR: You were a practicing lawyer

at a New York law firm before you

started working at the Beth Din

of America. How did you keep up

in studies of halachic matters at

the same time?

RR: To give a sense of perspective,I always tell people I’m fortunatethat I started out my career work-ing for a high-pressure WallStreet law firm, because it forcedme to learn how to handle stress.

While I was at Cleary Gottlieb[Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamil -ton LLP], I joined the Yadin YadinKollel for Advanced TalmudicStudies [yadin yadin is anadvanced semicha ordination forrabbis who administer judgmenton certain types of disputes andthis kollel trains decision makersto negotiate these disputes]. Aftersix years, I decided to take a leaveof absence from the law firm tostudy in the Kollel full-time.

During that year, a colleagueof mine, Rabbi Michael Broyde, alaw professor at Emory Universityin Atlanta (who also serves as thepulpit rabbi for the Young Israelof Toco Hills), was brought toNew York for a year to head theBeth Din. I was his chavrusa[learning partner] and did somevolunteer work for the Beth Din.I was asked to take over the jobwhen he went back to Atlanta.

A Conversation with Rabbi Yona Reiss

Rabbi Yona Reiss sat down with YUReviewto discuss his lifelong relationship with YU and his thoughts and ideas for the future.

Centralized leadership

is important to me because

I think it’s important to

create a holistic and cohesive

yeshiva environment…

where we all have a place.

“

”continued on next page

YUR: Like the directorship of the

Beth Din of America, one doesn’t

really “apply for the job” to be

dean of RIETS. How did you come

to be dean?

RR: A couple of years ago, Ientered into discussions withPresident Joel to strengthen theties between Yeshiva University;the Lamm Yadin Yadin Kollel,where many rabbeim train post-RIETS; and the Beth Din ofAmerica. I had a vision, which I still have, of a more formalrelationship in terms of the YadinYadin Kollel training for peopleto serve as dayanim under theauspices of the Beth Din ofAmerica.

We discussed our mutualvision, both in terms of learningJewish communal institutionsand our vision of Jewish commu-nities. The discussion then meta-morphosized into whether or notI’d be interested in taking overthe position as dean of RIETSbecause Rabbi Charlop was stepping down. After thinking

about my goals for the future, I came to the conclusion thatthis was an exciting opportunitythat I was truly passionate about.I’m glad that I accepted it. It is a daunting responsibility tofollow in the path of my prede-cessors, but I hope to be worthyof this task.

YUR: What are your plans for

RIETS in relation to working with

the larger Jewish community?

RR: In addition to being a centerfor learning and Torah leader-ship, it is a part of our responsi-bility to train students to reallybe the dayanim, the poskin[decision makers] and the ba’aleihora’ah [Jewish law experts] ofour communities, to define andidentify the issues, to find solu-tions and answers to halachicproblems and to answer ques-tions that arise in our contempo-rary community. It is also veryimportant to have the right vehi-cles and mechanisms in place forhalachic problem-solving.

For example, the prenuptialagreement has been a very effective tool, resolving potential agunah [chained woman] situa-tions. It was developed in concert

with major Jewish institutionsoutside of YU, such as theRabbinical Council of Americaand rabbinical caucuses at thetime, and widely endorsed byleading rabbinical authorities. It is now widely utilized.

YUR: You and your wife, Mindy,

are blessed with five boys under

the age of nine. Tell me about the

kind of relationship you want your

children to have with YU.

RR: My house is very lively[laughs]. I have brought my children into the office. It’s thetype of environment where I feelthat my whole family belongs.The yeshiva is an extension ofour home because the BeisMidrash is where we live.Recently we spent a Shabboshere, and I brought my babyaround the campus and I felt avery warm sense of all of usbelonging. I want everyone tofeel this way. I want YU to bethere not just for my children,but for everybody.

YUR: What matters most to you in

providing an education to the next

generation of rabbis?

RR: For me, it’s the opportunity

for them to reach their fullestpotential, to find their strengths.They should be able to developand learn; they should be able tofind the right rabbeim for themand the right courses of learning.I want them to have the neces-sary attention to develop ahealthy sense of self-esteem andaccomplishment. I want to makesure they have the tools to con-tinue to learn and to grow, tocontribute to building familiesand communities and continuallyseek to improve themselvesthroughout their life.

Centralized leadership isimportant to me because I thinkit’s important to create a holisticand cohesive yeshiva environ-ment, so everybody feels inter-connected and feels a sense ofbelonging, where we all have aplace. Regardless of what pro-gram students are in, they all area part of the yeshiva.

I think that we at YeshivaUniversity are one of a kind, andat the same time we are verymuch a part of everyone andeverything Jewish, and verymuch a vital component of theglobal yeshiva world. �

3 4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

A Conversation withRabbi Yona Reisscontinued

Yeshiva University New Board Members

ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINEBOARD OF OVERSEERS

Peter A. Gatof

FERKAUF GRADUATESCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYBOARD OF GOVERNORS

Dr. Carol Bravmann

RABBI ISAAC ELCHANANTHEOLOGICAL SEMINARYBOARD OF TRUSTEES

Ben I. AdlerLance L. Hirt

STERN COLLEGE FOR WOMENBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Pamela HirtJanet YagodaNewcorn

YESHIVA COLLEGEBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lee WallachDavid RauchDavid IsaacLawrence AskowitzBernard Hasten

SY SYMS SCHOOL OF BUSINESSBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Alan Kestenbaum

Welcome

eshiva University has been, formany years, a global resource forthe study of Israel thanks to deepfaculty expertise, a dynamic cur-riculum, a highly motivated stu-

dent body, plus renowned research libraries anda preeminent museum. Now, the Center forIsrael Studies brings all of those resourcestogether under an interdisciplinary umbrellathat aims to develop scholars who will assumeacademic and communal leadership in all areasrelated to Israel. “Our goal is to train students tounderstand the complexities and strategic envi-ronment of Israel, and to then interpret thatunderstanding to the wider community,” saidSteven Fine, CIS director and chair of theDepartment of Jewish History.

Research, conferences, museum exhibitionsand academic courses and programming are allpart of the Center’s core mission. CIS celebrat-ed its inauguration this past May with a two-day

conference entitled “The Temple of Jerusalem:From Moses to the Messiah,” held in conjunc-tion with Yeshiva University Museum’s exhibi-tion of five architectural models of the Templebased on Leen Ritmeyer’s work. More than 600people par ticipated in the conference, includingscholars from institutions across North Americaand Israel.

Fine explained that CIS is about the broadstudy of Israel and forging University-wide part-nerships. CIS scholars will work with YU’sCenter for Ethics on, say, the ethics of the 1948partition, or work with YU’s Center for JewishLaw and Contemporary Civilization on contem-porary Israeli law or historical Jewish law.

“We’re also bringing the international com-munity together, institution by institution,human being by human being,” Fine explained.

“For example, we just joined a consortiumput together by the University of Southern Cali -for nia, which includes the University of Illinois

and Johns Hopkins, to use advanced technologyto read ancient inscriptions. Thanks to this con-sortium, this year we’ll make available 15 an -cient Jewish inscriptions in Aramaic and Hebrewthat have never been published,” Fine said.

Joining forces with other institutions willalso be key to the Center’s success. “We’re partof a [science] partnership with the JerusalemInsti tute of Technology and Bar-Ilan University.We’ll be talking about ways to bring the lessonsIsrael has learned about ecology to our campusmore deeply than before. I can imagine us doingscience missions and sending students asinterns to major medical institutions in Israel,”Fine added.

He also noted that CIS is working closelywith the Schusterman Center for Israel Studiesat Brandeis on several projects, and one of YU’spolitical scientists, Dr. Ruth A. Bevan, was ableto enhance her teaching thanks to training shereceived at the Schusterman Center.

Center for Israel StudiesEngaging Students and Facultyin a Broad and DeepUnderstanding of Israel

spotlight �

The Center for Israel Studies (CIS) encompasses Israel-related scholarship, teaching and programming of every variety. With a rich array of courses on Israel, classic area studyprojects and international cooperation initiatives, as well as providing enthusiasm for Israel-themed cultural events, CIS brings together a diverse group of academic disciplines to provide expertise and fresh perspectives to the study of all things Israel.

Y

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 3 5

YUReview: What is the purpose of

the Center for Israel Studies?

Steven Fine: The Center seeks totransform the academic study ofthe State of Israel by providingthe best expertise and new per-spectives on Israel; by educatingthe next generation of Israelscholars; and by offering relevantand exciting public programmingfor the broad New York communi-ty. We have taken an area studiesapproach, meaning we’re interest-ed in everything having to do withIsrael, from Abraham to Zionism.We bring people together fromdisciplines as distinct as politicalscience, biology, archaeology andmodern history to focus on thisplace in as broad and deep a wayas we possibly can. At YU, thatliterally means from the verybeginning of civilization to thepresent. Israel is deeply embed-ded in this institution, far morethan at any other major universityin North America. Our goal is tostrengthen and deepen that relationship.

YUR: What does CIS do that’s

different from existing Israel-

focused programs at YU?

SF: We’re deeply involved in the curriculum in a way that hasn’thappened before. CIS is develop-ing minors in Israel studies atYeshiva College and Stern

College. We want to affect howmuch Israel-related courses arebeing taught here. I’ve createdfaculty working groups in areas asdiverse as the history of Zionism;Israel, Science and Technology;Modern Israel and InternationalAffairs and Archaeology. Thecharge of these working groups isto act as a think tank to developprogramming and, more impor-tantly, to develop long-term projects that will transform ourcampus and the study of its subject areas. The truth is, ourscholars have been doing that forthree generations. But now is themoment where we can takesomething superb and show theworld how great it is.

YUR: CIS celebrated its inaugura-

tion with a conference on “The

Temple of Jerusalem: From Moses

to the Messiah.” How did that

represent CIS’s goals?

SF: Our Temple conference was areal high. We had top-flight scholars from all over NorthAmerica coming just to listen.There were Orthodox Jews andpious Christians and political scientists all in one room talkingto each other. We’re going to bebringing together people whohave never talked to each otherbefore, and they’re going to betalking on our turf.

YUR: The topic for the next confer-

ence is “Israel and India: A

Relationship Comes of Age.” What

is the significance of that topic?

SF: This is a relationship that isboth deeply rooted in history andis up and coming. We know Jewshave lived in India as long as Jews have been writing. We know ofelephants being waltzed throughPalestine to the Roman Empire.And we know of the military, economic and tourist relation-ships today. Twenty years ago, therelationship between Israel andIndia wasn’t on the front page ofinternational relations. Today it is.

There’s an obvious Indian connection through the medicalschool. Sonia Suchday [co-direc-tor of the Institute of PublicHealth Sciences, a joint programbetween Ferkauf Graduate Schoolof Psychology and Albert EinsteinCollege of Medicine] came to meand said, “This is a chance todeepen our relationship in a placewhere YU can make a real contri-bution. It’s real synergy.” So agroup of Stern students andFerkauf students went to Indiathis summer to study globalhealth initiatives, and a MarshaStern Talmudical Academy groupis going to India in the comingyear to do service work in theJewish community and, in theprocess, to learn about the Jewish

Promoting the Academic Study of Modern Israel

A conversation with Dr. Steven Fine, director of the Center for Israel Studies, chair of the Department of Jewish History at Yeshiva College and professor of Jewish history at Yeshiva University.

3 6 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

Steven Fine received his doctorate

in Jewish history from the Hebrew

University of Jerusalem, holds an

MA in art history from the

University of Southern California

and a BA in religious studies

from the University of California,

Santa Barbara. Dr. Fine’s most

recent book is Art and Judaism

in the Greco-Roman World:

Toward a New Jewish Archaeology

(Cambridge University Press,

2005), and he is editor of

IMAGES: A Journal of Jewish Art

and Visual Culture (E. J. Brill).

culture of India. We’re looking forgovernment and university sponsorship from bothcountries to make this a trulylarge event. We’ll bring India ontocampus and bring the India/Israelrelationship onto the front page ofNew York culture for a year.

YUR: CIS is a huge umbrella.

Which particular areas would you

like to focus on first and why?

SF: What’s most important at thispoint is everything having to dowith modern Israel. We haveenough faculty resources to satisfy the requirements for ageneral university, but not enoughfor YU to excel in Modern Israelstudies. If we’re going to be thetop research institution in thisarea, we need real depth in everything from the Arab-Israeliconflict, to art and culture, tofolklore, to Sephardim in Israel.We have people who have taughtit extremely well, but it’s not theirresearch area.

We’ve begun the hiring processin a number of those areas andhave hired more than a dozenacademics from the junior to senior faculty level to complementthe people who were here before.They’re among the best in thecountry, but to be the best will

take time and money. One of theways we’re filling those gaps in themeantime is through distinguishedvisiting professorships. That willcontinue even after we’ve madethe right hires because it addsspice to the entire system.

YUR: CIS offers a perfect way to

practice YU’s core philosophy of

Torah Umadda. Which opportunities

excite you the most?

SF: The most important opportu-nity is the coming together of the different parts of our universityunder this banner.

This year, for example, theCenter co-sponsored the Univer -sity’s first Torah Umadda Week atStern College. We invited world-renowned physicist NathanAviezer of Bar-Ilan University,along with Rabbi Natan Slifkin, a noted author in Israel, and ourown Einstein professor andesteemed scholar Dr. Edward I. Reichman, to present a seriesof lectures on the intersections ofTorah and science.

YUR: Where did you draw your

inspiration for the Center?

SF: I was standing in the EretzIsrael Museum in Tel Aviv, tryingto imagine a Center for IsraelStudies at YU. The museum has

everything from a representativearchaeological dig to an olive oilplant to a planetarium. Each subject has its own pavilion. I thought, wouldn’t this be a won-derful model for a center at YU?We have a museum where youcan actually touch things, wehave students learning TorahUmadda, our medical and lawschools are world-class. Can youimagine finding a way to take allthose individual pavilions thatmake up YU and get them talkingacross a big quad about Israel?

YUR: What is the nature of the

relationship between CIS and the

Yeshiva University Museum (YUM)?

SF: YUM is one of our majordrawing cards. The Museum is

our window onto New York City.It’s hard for the general public toknow what exciting things aregoing on at the University, espe-cially in the humanities. TheMuseum allows people to seewhat we’re dreaming about. It isplanning an India-related exhibitfor this year’s conference. We’realready talking about an exhibiton early Zionism to enhance the2009/10 CIS conference on Zion -ism before the Balfour Declara -tion. The Museum often comesup with an idea for a project andthe Uni versity brings togetheracademic courses and programsaround that project. It’s almostlike symbiosis—the productivepartnership of our public spaceand our academic life. �

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 3 7

Our goal is to train students to

understand the complexities and

strategic environment of Israel,

and to then interpret that under-

standing to the wider community.

“

”

his fall, a group of handpickedstudents at Samuel H. WangYeshiva University High Schoolfor Girls (YUHSG) became thefirst to participate in an enriched

science curriculum initiative that is setting anew standard among Jewish high schools in andaround New York City.

The Science Institute at YUHSG was estab-lished to offer our brightest students an oppor-tunity to study and conduct research at a levelmore advanced than currently available in mostyeshiva high schools and, in some cases, under-

graduate colleges, according to Ruth Fried,teacher and science department chairpersonwho conceived and directs the new program.

The idea of an institute grew when she was in -spired by the state-of-the-art science lab facilitythat opened at YUHSG in fall 2007 and she sawhow technologically well-equipped the lab was;faculty member Dr. Edward Berliner had spear-headed the multiyear improvement efforts to up -grade both the boys and girls high schools withmodern laboratories. The institute crystallizedwhen a group of10 students emerged from amonglast year’s incoming freshmen class as particular-

ly talented and serious. Seven of them acceptedthe invitation to participate in the new venture.

Students in the Institute will remain enrolledthroughout their high school careers following acarefully designed guided sequence of coursesthat focuses on science literacy and researchmethodology. It includes summer researchinternships after grades 10 and 11 and anemphasis on preparing students for the mostprestigious national research competitions.

“The goal of the program is to expose stu-dents to research methodology skills, indepen -dent thinking and inquiry skills, the use of tech-

High School PreparesWomenin theAdvanced Sciences

� spotlight

T

3 8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

nology and different lab techniques and prac-tices that allow them to be placed in a seriouslab environment,” Fried said.

By their senior year, students will be expect-ed to conduct independent research and write apaper to defend in-house and, possibly, presentaround the country at the Siemens Westing -house or Intel competitions.

According to Fried, the Institute is structuredaround the scope of the SAT II exam (more com-prehensive and advanced than the New Yorkstate-mandated Regents curriculum), but employsa creative approach to all things scientific.

“I aim to produce thinkers first and scientistssecond,” said Jason Williams, who joinedYUHSG this year as the Institute’s researchmethodology instructor. It was the first courseoffering and the students met with Williams fortwo hours once a week; they meet twice a weekin the spring.

“To that end, my curriculum includes enrich-ment activities such as debates and discussionsin the history and philosophy of science that willintroduce the classical concepts of knowledge,skepticism and truth,” Williams said. Among theadditional courses the Institute requires are APEnglish, AP Calculus and a choice of electives.

A mentor to previous Intel winners at StonyBrook University and at his current position asan instructor at the Cold Spring HarborLaboratory in Long Island, NY, Williams openedthe Institute this past summer by hosting aweeklong course at the Laboratory’s Dolan DNALearning Center’s satellite in Harlem. YUHSGparticipants learned techniques in recombinantDNA technology and how to use the equipmentnecessary to do this type of research.

“The program at the Dolan DNA LearningCenter was a good launch to the Science Insti -tute because it helped to acquaint us with manyof the more complex apparatuses and proce-dures involved in the research we will be con-ducting later this year,” said sophomore BrachaRose, one of the seven students enrolled in theInstitute.

“For me, this is an incredible experience be -cause I have always had a hope that I could oneday find a cure for cancer, HIV/AIDS or anoth-er disease,” Rose said.

“The Science Institute gives our students anopportunity to explore higher levels of thinkingand analysis, and to consider continuing on inthe sciences during their college careers,” Friedadded. “I look forward to watching these youngladies grow as they accept the challenges theInstitute has to offer.”

Science Enrollment andMed School Acceptance Up at Stern

A natural destination for many YUHSG science students is Stern College for Women,

where they find cutting-edge science programs in biology, chemistry and physics

combining strong instructional coursework with a myriad of research opportunities.

“More and more women are going into the research sciences now,” said Dr. Chaya

Rapp, assistant professor of chemistry, who observed that the number of students

taking general (introductory) chemistry at Stern this fall hovers near 90, up from 47 in

2005. “These are students who are premed and pre-

dental and interested in allied health fields or who

plan to go into research,” she said.

Enrollment is growing in the advanced courses as

well, including biochemistry, thermodynamics and

physical chemistry. Further indicators of the pro-

gram’s strength include: expanded course offerings

in the health and biological sciences; a distin-

guished and growing research faculty; state-of-the-

art lab facilities; opportunities for undergraduate

students to conduct research at the graduate level,

both independently and in collaboration with faculty;

and the numerous research publications Stern

women co-author.

Proof of Stern’s success in building its science

program can be measured in part by the consistently

high acceptance rates to medical schools: 19 of 22

graduates applying last year are now enrolled. MCAT

scores are another indicator. As of November 2008,

67 percent of Stern MCAT test takers scored 29 or

above, while during that same period, only 30 per-

cent of all national test takers scored 29 or above.

“Our results, which are above the national average, reflect our outstanding curricu-

lum in general, and our superior science curriculum specifically,” said Dr. Bracha

(Brenda) Loewy, clinical associate professor of biology and director of prehealth advise-

ment at the women’s undergraduate school.

“Not only does our program thoroughly prepare students for the MCATs, it gives

them an excellent foundation for the first-year curriculum of medical school,” she said,

adding that the numbers also reflect the high caliber of the students Stern College

attracts. “These are women who are extremely bright, highly motivated, very conscien-

tious and, in short, the cream of the crop,” she said.

Since 2002, a boost to the Stern program has been the attractive scholarship made

available by the Anne Scheiber Fund for students interested in medicine. This scholar-

ship offers up to full tuition to graduates entering YU’s Albert Einstein College of

Medicine and has made Stern an even more attractive choice for science-oriented high

school students.

Scheiber Scholars have gone on to establish the Stern-Einstein Research Connection

(SERC), a nonprofit program promoting research between the two campuses. The group

donates money each year to fund a freshman’s or a sophomore’s 10-week summer

research internship at Einstein.

“To watch our women rise to the intellectual challenge of scientific research, and to

see the exceptional camaraderie that emerges from teams of faculty and students

working together, is to see the best of science in action,” said Dr. Karen Bacon, the

Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of Stern College for Women. “The women in science at Stern

College are a formidably creative group and they are having a lot of fun in the process.”

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 3 9

r. Arthur Hyman may have re -cently stepped down as dean ofBernardRevelGraduate School ofJewish Studies, but that doesn’tmean he’s slowing down. In fact,

since resigning this past summer, Hyman divedback into “doing what I was trained to do: teach-ing and research. I wanted to go back to my ownwork,” the scholar of medieval Jewish andIslamic philosophy said recently from his newoffice in Belfer Hall.

Hyman’s successor at Revel is Dr. DavidBerger ’64YC, ’67R, an esteemed scholar inJewish history. Berger, whose many ties to YUinclude a visiting professorship at Revel since1975, was appointed to joint positions at Reveland Yeshiva College in fall 2007.

The integration of Jewish studies across thegraduate and undergraduate schools is part of aninitiative to transform the University into a cen-ter of excellence for this curriculum. It builds on

the foundation laid by Hyman who doubled thenumber of faculty at Revel and significantly ex -panded the student body during his tenure.

Dr. Morton Lowengrub, provost and seniorvice president for academic affairs, describedHyman as one of the preeminent scholars inJewish philosophy and said, “Arthur Hyman wasenormously successful as a teacher of both grad-uate and undergraduate students and his admin-istrative skills have resulted in building a first-class school of academic Jewish studies.”

He was appointed dean of Revel in 1991 byDr. Norman Lamm, then YU president, and setabout building a first-rate faculty to fill in theschool’s offerings in areas such as Kabbalah andmodern Jewish philosophy.

“Our faculty are all publishing scholars,”Hyman noted. “There’s virtually no national orinternational conference [in Jewish studies] towhich they are not invited and no jubilee volumeto which they do not contribute.”

When he became dean, Revel had approxi-mately 80 students—mostly graduates of YU. Byhis last semester, there were 140 students,roughly half of whom came from colleges suchas Columbia, Barnard, Brown and Penn.

As the school grew, it hewed to the model ofclassical Jewish studies with concentrations inBible, Talmudic studies, Jewish history and phi-losophy, but it was also sensitive to changes indisciplines. “In surveying Jewish history, we nowalso appreciate that the day-to-day life of theJewish people is important in understandingwho they were,” said Hyman, noting theappointment of Dr. Debra Kaplan, whoseresearch focuses on Jewish life in the early mod-ern period.

The highlight of his deanship came in 1999when a visiting committee of distinguishedscholars evaluated the school. “They gave us a veryhigh recommendation that ‘the University is solid -ly committed to Revel and sees it as a jewel in its

� spotlight

Revel Dean Revisits His RootsHyman Steps Down and Welcomes Berger

D

4 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

Hyman (left) passes the torch to Berger (right) but remains a valuable part of the successful program he built.

crown.’ That gave me great satisfaction,” he said.Based mainly at Revel, Hyman also teaches a

course on the philosophy of the 17th and 18thcenturies at Yeshiva College. He is particularlydrawn to the work of Maimonides, whose inter-est in finding common ground between phi -losophy and Jewish tradition he shares. “An areathat I want to work on next is the philosophiccomponents of Maimonides’ halachic writing,”he added.

Keeping his eyes fixed firmly on his goalsmay be the secret of this philosophy professor’sself-effacing charm. He is in the 2009 edition ofWho’s Who in America, a fact he noted wryly.“I’m not a person for all this recognition. I’mgoal-oriented and the accolades that come with

it are something else,” he said but conceded, “Iguess in the modern world one has to learnsomething about publicity.”

He holds visiting professorships at some ofthe nation’s top universities—including Colum -bia; Yale; the University of California, San Diego;and Hebrew University and Bar-Ilan Universityin Israel—and honorary doctorates from HebrewUnion College and the Jewish TheologicalSeminary. He received his PhD in philosophyfrom Harvard University, where he studied withDr. Harry Wolfson, the “scholar laureate” of Jew -ish studies who occupied one of the first full-time chairs in the field at any university in theU.S.

Now the distinguished service professor of

philosophy at YU, Dr. Hyman has taught atRevel for 47 years and has written or editedseven books. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, thescion of modern Orthodoxy who was rosh yeshi-va of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Sem -inary at the time, recruited him from the now-defunct Dropsie College in Philadelphia.

Over the course of his career, he has seenJewish studies grow from an isolated subjectstudied only at rabbinical schools and Hebrewteacher’s colleges to a place in the mainstreamof academic study.

“In the 1970s, we founded a General Associ -ation for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy.I was the first president,” he said. “Now it has300 members and the American PhilosophicalAssociation now has a session or two on Jewishstudies at every general meeting.”

He is by no means one to rest on the laurelsof his success. After almost 50 years of teachingthe same courses, year in and year out, he hasmastered the art of reinvention. “It is never thesame two years in a row. I rethink the materialevery year and I become interested in new prob-lems with each new year. If you want to stayalive as a teacher, you have to have new ideasand keep an open mind to students’ ideas. That’smy theory of teaching and being with people,”he said. �

Our Students Have Never Needed Us MoreWe know times are tough. That’s why Yeshiva University

has committed to raise an additional $5 million for

scholarships this year for our students. And, to help us

meet our goal, one benefactor has committed to match

up to $600,000 in gifts received before June 30.

We’re giving our students more financial support than

ever before−but they’re your students, too. Please

help us meet our scholarship goal. Take a moment

right now to use the business reply envelope in this

issue of YUReview.

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Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 4 1

In surveying Jewish history, we now

also appreciate that the day-to-day life

of the Jewish people is important in

understanding who they were.

“”—ARTHUR HYMAN

any adults may recall beingbullied or witnessing bully-ing during their school years,but research shows there arepositive steps that parents

and educators can take to combat this phenom-enon still occurring today.

That research is being conducted by Dr.Rona Novick, associate professor at AzrieliGrad uate School of Jewish Education andAdministration, director of its Fanya Gottesfeld

Heller Division of Doctoral Studies and alicensed clinical psychologist. She said bullyingand related problems such as taunting, name-calling and social exclusion are more seriousthan most adults acknowledge.

“It is common that children who are harassedand bullied suffer severe long-term effects,including depression and suicidal feelings,”Novick said.

Her classroom-based program, called BullyReduction/Anti-Violence Education and SocialLeadership Development (BRAVE), is part of acareer-long goal to bring psychological expertiseinto the classroom to help educators make bet-ter decisions. The application of the program issupported by the Institute for University–SchoolPartnership at Azrieli, which is dedicated tobringing the latest pedagogic research and tech-niques into Jewish day school environments.

“Bullying is a social issue that requires a social

context and an audience,” said Novick. “Oftenthat social context is the school peer group.”

Novick said preliminary results appear toindicate that the phenomenon of bullying is asprevalent among Jewish day schools as it is incomparable public schools. “Our schools are inno way immune,” she said. “We teach the notionof bein adam l’chaveiro [treating one’s fellowman properly] as part of Torah values, but we

still see children bullying and taunting their fel-low students.”

Novick has been conducting carefully con-trolled research on bullying, and the viability ofher program, at five Jewish middle schoolsacross the country that have committed toBRAVE over a period of years in order to changethe culture and social climate of their institu-tions. They are Yeshivat Rambam in Baltimore;the Greater Miami Hebrew Academy; Man hat -tan Day School; and the Yavneh and JosephKushner Hebrew Academies in New Jersey.

Select educators and administrators recentlytook part in intensive training at Yeshiva Uni -versity, which they will in turn model for col-leagues to adapt for their classrooms. PatriciaZahl of the Greater Miami Hebrew Academywho attended the training session at YU seesBRAVE as a way to “address the needs of middleschoolers in what Dr. Novick calls a ‘safer, gen-tler environment.’” It points to being “proactivein addressing the issue by getting the tools andgiving them to students.”

The BRAVE program begins with a mock trialof cartoon-character bullies and bystandersaccused of bullying, which “allows students toexplore the definition of bullying and come tounderstand the impact ‘innocent’ bystandershave when they do not become involved in help-ing those victimized,” said Novick, who is theauthor of Helping Your Child Make Friends andeditor of the series Kids Don’t Come With In -struction Manuals. The program also includesstudent workshops and monthly student ses-sions with trained BRAVE instructors. Novickvisits schools to offer support, collect data andaddress parents.

Novick has vast experience in the field ofeducation and child psychology (she is also asso-ciate professor of child and adolescent psychol-ogy at Albert Einstein College of Medicine), andhelping children deal with various forms of vio-lence is one of the hallmarks of her career. Herarticles on the effects of 9/11 on children haveappeared in such publications as Journal ofTraumatic Stress and she directed an antibully-ing program for the Alliance for School MentalHealth initiative at North Shore–Long IslandJewish Health System.

Novick’s next steps include piloting BRAVE inIsraeli schools, analyzing the program’s effectson single-gender versus mixed-gender environ-ments and investigating the most successful ap -proaches for both younger (i.e., elementary) andolder (i.e., high school) students. �

4 2 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

Novick (center) reviews the mock trial activity with educators and administrators at the BRAVE

training session. Azrieli student Eli Shapiro (rear), BRAVE program manager, served as court officer.

� spotlight

Azrieli Prof CombatsBullying in Schools

M

alumninews

orn in Tangier, Mor oc co,in 1941, Bentsi Cohenem i grated to Israel whenhe was six years old. Heserved in the Israel De -

fense Force, moved to America atage 24 and struggled to put himselfthrough school including Ye shivaCollege (1964–66). He earneddegrees from several academic in -stitutions, went out into the worldto make his fortune, made it, thenlost most of his money.

That’s when he really struck itrich.

Cohen’s life turned in a new di -rection after financial disasterstruck at age 61. Until then, hisrags-to-riches story included acareer as a respected economist,author and entrepreneur. His firstsignificant money came from in -vesting in gold; then he built aplastic bottle manufacturing com-pany that he sold; later he co-owned factories in Israel, Hungary,Ukraine, Romania and Tajikistan.But in 1992, when civil war brokeout in Tajikistan, his business part-ner, that nation’s sitting president,was assassinated. Warned that hemight be next, Cohen fled thecountry, abandoning the factory intowhich most of his savings had gone.

“I returned to America knowingthat the way money comes, that’s

the way it goes,” said Cohen, wholost more money when the marketsseized and he was forced to sell hisIsraeli plant and European distri-bution centers. With just a smallnest egg and his wife’s pension tolive on, Cohen decided that thetime was right to indulge his loveof learning. He reenrolled in YU’sBernard Revel Graduate School ofJewish Studies in 2001 and con-tinues to attend classes at Yale,Columbia University and NYU.

“There are so many things toknow, to learn and to do,” saidCohen. “I’ve begun to recognizethat when I’m involved with some-thing, I want to know everything

about it.” That was certainly thecase when he heard from a friendabout a manuscript in the BritishMu seum that was written by agrandson of the Rabbi Moshe benNach man (aka, the Ramban, con-sidered the foremost halachist ofthe 13th century). Publishedaround 1,300, the manuscript fromRabbi David had been virtually

ignored by scholars. Its existence,however, piqued Cohen’s interestand he dove right in.

“The author was a genius—soahead of his time,” he said. “I tooka course on nuclear physics fornonphysicists at Columbia just tomake sure I understood what he

was saying. His manuscript de -scribes what today we know asE=mc2. He called it the Laws ofEquality, meaning that the laws ofphysics that prevail here also pre-vail outside of this world. And hetalks about the movement of theconstellations around the sun—286 years before Copernicus!”

Cohen has already publishedtwo books on the manuscript andis working on publishing the entiretext. He also recently wrote a bookon Parshat Ha Shavua, a weeklyTorah portion that includes hisown poetic commentary. What’smore, he compiled a uniqueHaggadah to add to his ex tensivecollection wherein he presentssimultaneous translations of theHebrew text into Russian, French,Spanish and Eng lish for use bymultiethnic guests at the sameseder.

Now 67 years young, Cohenshows no signs of slowing down. “Ialways want to have projects inmind,” he said. “The more proj-ects, the more time I’ll need toaccomplish them. It’s the secret tolong life—living like the formula ofa spiral. The more we go around,the greater strength we’ll have.When we learn, we bring forthfrom our inner resources strengthswe were unaware of. That’s whatI’m doing.” �

B

Bentsi Cohen

The Secret to Long Lifeis Lifelong LearningEnduring financial devastation, Bentsi Cohen struck it rich.

ALUMNI PROFILE

I’ve begun to recognize that whenI’m involved with something, I want to know everything about it.”

“

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 4 3

Deconstructingthe Mideast’sCritical Moments Matthew Levitt’s business isthinking about conflict.

Matthew Levitt ’92YC, senior fel-low/director of the Wash ing tonIn stitute’s Stein Program on Coun -

terter ror ism andIntel li gence, hasmade a career ofstudying the ob -stacles to peacein the MiddleEast. In his newbook, Negoti a tingUn der Fire (Row -

man & Little field), published inOcto ber 2008, the author de con -structs the means by which violentgroups hostile to peace talks canundermine negotiations.

“Peace is in everyone’s best in -terest,” said Levitt, a recognizedex pert on Hamas and Hezbollah.“But just wanting that doesn’tmean it’s going to happen.”

Through a detailed analysis ofthree critical moments in the Oslopeace process—the Baruch Gold -stein Hebron massacre of 1994,the Nachshon Wachsman kidnap-ping and execution of 1994 andthe nine-day string of suicide busbombings carried out in Israel inMarch of 1996—Levitt demon-strates how violent, militantgroups can derail negotiations andoffers a crisis-management modelto address these vulnerabilities.

From 2005 to 2007, Levittserved as deputy assistant secre-tary for intelligence and analysis atthe Department of the Treasury.Previously, he served as an FBIcounterterrorism analyst. In all, hisresearch leads him to believe thatthe various leaders in the MiddleEast are the key to the puzzle. “Inthe 90s, you actually had leaderswho were capable of achieving apeace deal,” he said. “They wereable but not necessarily willing.Today we have a situation wherethe leaders are very willing butcompletely unable, lacking in polit-ical legitimacy at home.”

YESHIVA UNIVERSIT Y ’ S

Annual Cruise2ndBALTIC COAST AND RUSSIA

7 days from Copenhagen, DenmarkAugust 9 – 16, 2009

For more information, contact Heidi Kuperma at212.960.0193 or kuperman@yu.edu

SPECIAL GUESTS

President Richard M. Joel and Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter

n

� alumni

4 4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

hen Elana Silber ’89S first enteredStern College for Women, she had noidea how perfectly her educationwould prepare her for her current roleas director of operations at

Sharsheret. The national, not-for-profit organization ofcancer survivors is dedicated to addressing the uniqueconcerns of young Jewish women facing breast cancer.

“When I completed high school, I was very inter-ested in continuing my Jewish education,” said Silber,“and growing up in a YU family, choosing Stern was anatural decision for me.” Know ing that their daughterwas interested in both businessand healthcare, Silber’s mother,the late Marcia Brickman Hirt’62S and father, Robert S. Hirt’55YUHS, ’59YC, ’62BRGS,’62RIETS and current senioradvisor to the president, en -couraged their daughter to takea shaped major that would effectively combine her var-ied interests. Following her business managementdegree with a concentration in healthcare, Silberreceived an MBA in healthcare administration. “Ialways wanted to be in business, but I wanted to applymy business skills in a way that could help people,” shesaid. “I saw the healthcare industry as a great way tocombine both. I also had a great interest in a careerthat would serve the Jewish community.”

In her director’s role at Sharsheret, Silber overseesall of the organization’s programming, planning andfundraising efforts. “I have an opportunity to really bepart of everything we do,” she said. “What I find mostrewarding is knowing that I’m a part of something thatis truly improving the lives of so many Jewish womenand their families across the country.”

Founded in 2001, Sharsheret’s efforts to supportyoung women and educate healthcare professionalshave been recognized with prestigious awards and sig-nificant media coverage. The organization has beenfeatured in more than 75 publications and media out-lets nationwide, including the Wall Street Journal, USAToday, Self Magazine and CBS News.

W

Helping Jewish Women Cope With CancerElana Silber brings business acumen to this sensitive subject.

Rabbi Edward Y. Abramson

’64YUHS, ’69YC, ’69JS, ’73BR,

’73RE

A Circle in the Square: Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Reinvents the SynagogueUrim Publications

Detailed account of Rabbi Shlomo Riskin’s influence onOrthodox Judaism

Rabbi Marc D. Angel ’67YC,

’70RE, ’75BR

The Search CommitteeUrim Fiction

Novel pitting the traditional Yeshi va world versus ModernOrthodox Torah institutions andrabbis

Rabbi Dr. Gersion Appel ’38YC,

’41RE, ’45BR,

YU Professor Emeritus

A Philosophy of Mitzvot: TheReligious and Ethical Principles ofJudaism, Their Roots in BiblicalLaw and the Judaic Oral TraditionYashar Books

A comprehensive view of thestructure and meaning of theTorah’s commandments

Adena K. Berkowitz ’85CSL

(co-authored with Rivka Hau)

Shaarei Simcha-Gates of PrayerUrim Publications

First liturgical work in themodern era written byOrthodox womenfor use in theOrthodox and general Jewishcommunities

Lynn (Edelman) Biederman

’89CSL (co-authored with

Michelle Baldini)

UnravelingRandom House

Novel for young adults featuringthe adventures of a precocious 15-year-old girl

Rabbi Benjamin Blech ’54YC,

’56RE (co-authored with

Roy Doliner)

Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’sForbidden Messages in the Heartof the VaticanHarperCollins Publishers

Tells the story of how Michel an -gelo embedded messages in hismost famous work

Rabbi Hillel Goldberg ’52YC

Hallel HakohenUrim Publications

An elucidation of the commentaryof the Vilna Gaon (1720–1797)on the laws of mikvehs

Penny (Finkelstein) Harow ’92SCW

Festival of LightsUrim Publications

A journey through a world ofchanukiot designs

Amy (Ginsberg) Hendel

’76YUHS

Fat Families, Thin FamiliesBenBella Books

Offers a “family team”approach to tack-ling obesity andother health chal-lenges

Libby Kahane

’55YUHS

Rabbi Meir Kahane:His Life and ThoughtUrim Publications

Volume 1 (1932–1975) coveringthe life of the author’s late husband

William D. Kaufman ’36YC

The Day My Mother Changed HerName and Other StoriesSyracuse University Press

Book of short stories featuring theimmigrant Jewish experience insmall-town America

Meyer Lubin ’58FG

Thrilling Torah DiscoveriesSelf-published

A personal story of Torah fulfillment

Jonathan Mishkin ’90YC, ’92RE

Think of It This Way: CreativeStrategies for Jewish EducationSelf-published

An innovative text for informalJewish education

Seymour Moskowitz ’54YC, ’56RE

Falcon of the QurayshUrim Publications

A historical novel depicting theeighth-century Muslim conquestof Spain

Seymour Moskowitz

’54YC, ’56RE

Inter-Religious PrayersUrim Publications

Provides help for anyoneunexpectedly called upon

to offer a prayer in public

Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg ’69YC,

’74RE, ’74FGS, ’92AGS

Public Speaking: A Guide for StudyBEHR Publishing House, Inc.

Everything you need to knowabout speaking in front of an audience

Rabbi Sol Steinmetz ’53YC, ’56RE

Semantic Antics: How and WhyWords Change MeaningsRandom House

Etymological study tracing thedevelopment of many everydaywords

Rabbi Joseph Telushkin ’70YC,

’73RE, ’74BR

A Code of Jewish Ethics: Love Your Neighbor as YourselfBell Tower

Second volume that elucidates the practical application of thebiblical commandment

Joel B. Wolowelsky ’69BR

(co-editor),

Abraham’s Journey: Reflections onthe Life of the Founding PatriarchKTAV Publishing

Latest book in the MeOtzar Ho Rav series, which covers thelife and work of Rabbi Joseph B.Soloveitchik

Alumni Bookmarks

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 4 5

A Philosophy of Mitzvot: TheReligious and Ethical Principles ofJudaism, Their Roots in BiblicalLaw and the Judaic Oral Tradition By Rabbi Dr. Gersion Appel,

University professor emeritus of

philosophy and Jewish Studies

Yashar Books, 2008

In this wide-ranging study, RabbiDr. Appel sets forth the objectivesof the Sefer ha-Hinnuch—one ofthe principal works in Jewish ethi-cal and halakhic literature and aprimary source for the reasons andpurpose of the divine command-ments in the Torah—and theHinnuch’s approach to revealingthe religious and ethical meaningof the mitzvot [commandments].The author presents a comprehen-sive view of Jewish philosophy asdeveloped by the Hinnuch and theclassical Jewish philosophers. The

Hinnuch emerges in this study as agreat educator and moral and reli-gious guide, and as a treasure troveof Jewish knowledge, religious in -spiration, and brilliant insight inthe molding of human character.

Divine Footsteps: Chesed and the Jewish SoulBy Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman ’94YC,

’98RIETS

Instructor of Talmud and

Jewish studies,

Stone Beit Midrash Program;

Director of Rabbinic Research,

Center for the Jewish Future

Yeshiva University Press, 2008

This book, a follow-up to The Rightand the Good: Halakhah andHuman Relations (Jason Aronson,1999; expanded edition YasharBooks 2005), explores the qualityof chesed—kindness in all its man-

ifestations—from a halakhic, the-matic and structural perspective.Chapters include such topics as“Boundaries, Balances and Aspi ra -tions in the Realization ofChesed,” “The Best Medicine: TheMitzvah of Bikkur Cholim,” and“Bringing Merit to the Masses:The Gabbai Tzedakah and theCharity Professional.”

Group Work: A Humanistic andSkills Building ApproachBy Urania Glassman

field office director at the

Wurzweiler School of Social Work

SAGE Publications, 2008.

This second edition is designed aspart of advanced undergraduateand graduate courses in the fieldsof social work, psychology andcounseling, and identifies the hu -manistic values and democraticnorms that guide a group practi-tioner’s interventions. Seven stagethemes of group development arepresented. The book describesmember reactions and highlightsworker pitfalls, self awarenessissues and skills to maximizegrowth within each stage.

Esther: A Classified BibliographyBy Edith Lubetski, head librarian

at Stern College for Women’s

Hedi Steinberg Library,

with Meir Lubetski

Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2008

This comprehensive bibliography,by Edith Lubetski ’68BRGS, with

husband Meir Lubetski, a profes-sor of modern languages and com-parative literature at the City Uni -versity of New York, is a guide toscholarly works on the biblicalbook of Esther. It contains over1900 references. It includes titlesof books, collected works, Fest -schriften [collections of writingspresented to a scholar], theses,journal articles, essays in collec-tions, encyclopedia and dictionaryarticles and online material. It is aclassified bibliography, arranged inthree categories-commentaries,bib lical chapters and verses, andsubject headings in alphabeticalorder. The scope of the bibliogra-phy is international, and its focusis on research from the last hun-dred years.

A People’s History of Poverty in AmericaBy Stephen Pimpare, associate

professor at Yeshiva College and

Wurzweiler School of Social Work

The New Press, 2008

This social history of poverty inAmerica, from the 17th century tothe modern era, is told from theperspective and experiences of thepoor themselves. The focus is onhow the poor from cities and thecountryside have created commu-nity, secured shelter, found foodand struggled to find dignity and

4 6 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

facultybookshelf

Ceremonial Violence: A Psychological Explanation ofSchool ShootingsBy Jonathan Fast

professor at the Wurzweiler School

of Social Work

Overlook Hardback, 2008

Jonathan Fast observes in his newbook that school shootings are atype of terrorism. Ceremonial Vio -lence analyzes the Columbine highschool shooting and four othercases in an attempt to explain whyteenagers commit school rampageshootings. Fast acknowledges theimpossibility of predicting schoolrampage shooters, but outlinesclear and realistic goals for educa-tors, community leaders, parents

and students that seek to help pre-vent these violent attacks. Utilizingelements of abnormal psychology,developmental psychology, sociolo-gy and neurology that contribute tothe homicidal mindset, Fast alsoworks to offer a means of under-standing and coming to terms withthese tragedies.

Jonathan Fast

respect. Through historical testi-monies and anecdotes he has col-lected, Pimpare shows that thepoor are all too often aware thatcharity comes with a price. It isthat price that he questions in thisbook, reminding us that poverty isnot simply a moral failure.

Abraham’s JourneyBy David Shatz, professor at Stern

College for Women, with Joel B.

Wolowelsky and Reuven Ziegler

KTAV Publishing, 2008

Abraham’s Journey is the ninthbook in the MeOtzar HoRav series,edited by Stern College facultymember David Shatz, Joel B. Wol -o welsky and Reuven Ziegler. Thebook, which focuses on the writ-ings and teachings of the famedrabbi and Yeshiva University RoshYeshiva Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveit -chik (1903–1993), considers thelife of the founding patriarch of theJewish people, Avraham Avinu. In10 chapters, Abraham’s Journeyexplores the life and legacy of thepatriarch, with particular focus onthe story of Abraham in the contextof human advancement, the devel-opment of monotheism and theemergence of the ethical man.

The Hungry Clothes and OtherJewish Folktales By Peninnah Schram,

professor of speech and drama at

Stern College for Women

Sterling Publishing, 2008

A diverse selection of 22 Ashke -nazi and Sephardic folktales ispresented here, with equal parts ofwit and wisdom. They include The

Pots of Honey, which teaches theimportance of both justice andforgiveness; The Boy Who Prayedwith the Alphabet, about an un -learned boy who finds a uniqueway to express his love for G-d; andThe Wise Daughter Who SolvesRiddles, one of the most belovedstories in the Jewish tradition. Thischildren’s book is filled with evoca-tive artwork and a cast of colorfulcharacters.

Adoption in the United States: A Reference for Families,Professionals and StudentsBy Daniel Pollack, professor at

Wurzweiler School of Social Work,

and Martha J. Henry

Lyceum Books, 2008

A comprehensive guide to both themedical/health aspects of adoptionand the laws and procedures cov-ering adoption in each state, byDaniel Pollack and Martha J.Henry, director of the Center forAdoption Research at the Univer -sity of Massachusetts MedicalSchool. In addition to sections onresearch from many fields and be -havioral, developmental and men-tal health issues, this book coversregulations for intercountry adop-tions as well as for public fostercare and domestic infant adoption.

Hatzi Nehama: Studies in theWeekly Parsha Based on theLessons of Nehama LeibowitzBy Moshe Sokolow,

Fanya Gottesfeld-Heller Chair in

Jewish Education at Azrieli

Graduate School of Jewish

Education and Administration

Urim Publications, 2008

This volume contains studies onthe weekly Torah portion (parashah/sidrah) evoking the memorable andinfluential style of Nehama Leib -owitz. Using lesser-known pub-lished works by Nehama and notesof her private lessons, MosheSokolow elucidates the text and itsclassic commentaries in a mannerthat engages readers, making themactive participants in Torah study.

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 4 7

WHAT’SNew

@YU?CHECK OUT

www.yu.edu

/presidentread and hear the latest from President Joel

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recent scores

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LOTS of stuffon the WEB

1950sMazal tov to Dr. Mel ’57YC and Debby’55YUHS Adler, and Arthur and Niki

Fuchs on the birth of twin grandsons,

Yaakov Yehoshua and Shmuel Reuven.

The proud parents are Zevi ’92YC and

Leslie (Fuchs) ’94SCW Adler.

Mazal tov to Rabbi Aaron ’55YC, IBC,

’59BRGS, RIETS and his wife Pearl’52YUHS Borow on the marriages of

their grandsons Chaim and Uri to

Tzivia Nudel and Dina Levy,

respectively.

The accomplishments of Dr. LeonChameides ’51YUHS, ’55YC, TI, IBC,

’59AECOM, in the field of pediatric

resuscitation were described recently

in a chapter of “Resuscitation Greats,”

a book published in Great Britain.

Dr. Chameides retired 11 years ago

after 30 years as director of pediatric

cardiology at Hartford Hospital and the

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center,

and as clinical professor at the

University of Connecticut’s School of

Medicine. He was very active in the

American Heart Association (AHA) and

served as chair of the Pediatric

Resuscitation Committee, which was

responsible for developing the Pedi -

atric Advanced Life Support course

(PALS), the Neonatal Resuscitation

program (NRP) and the AHA course

on first aid.

Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky ’50YUHS,

’54YC, ’57RIETS, ’80FGS, vice presi-

dent for university affairs, celebrated

the wedding in Jerusalem of his

granddaughter Aliza Kramer to Elie

Deutsch of Efrat, Israel. Aliza is the

daughter of Dr. Michael ’73YUHS,

’77YC and Dr. Deborah Kramer.

At the AECOM graduation in June, the

Alumni Association honored Dr. ArthurEidelman ’55YUHS, ’59YC, ’63AECOM,

’75BRGS, professor of pediatrics, with

its 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Eidelman is a visiting professor of

pediatrics at Einstein. He is a past

director of newborn services at the

Weiler Hospital of the Albert Einstein

College of Medicine.

Mazal tov to Libby Kahane ’55YUHS,

who just completed “Rabbi Meir

Kahane: His Life and Thought,” a

book on the life of her late husband.

Mazal tov to Meyer Lubin, ’58FGS on

the publication of his collection of

essays, “Thrilling Torah Discoveries.”

Mazal tov to Seymour Moskowitz’54YC, ’56RIETS on the recent publi-

cation of two books: “Falcon of the

Quraysh,” a historical novel depicting

the eighth century Muslim conquest of

Spain, and “Inter-Religious Prayers,”

which is intended to help any person

unexpectedly called upon to offer a

prayer in public.

Mazal tov to Monty Noam Penkower’59YUHS, ’63YC and his wife Yael, of

Jerusalem, on the birth of their newest

grandson, Moshe Ro’i Ne’eman, born

to their children Avi and Rochelle Pen -

kower of Talmon, Israel. Mazal tov to

the Penkowers also on the Bar Mitzvah

of their grandsons Nachshon Yosef

Roth in Jerusalem, and Aharon Ohev-

Shalom Penkower in Talmon, Israel.

Mazal tov to Roz and Rabbi AlvinPoplack ’58BRGS on the marriage of

their granddaughter Sara Steinberg to

Barry Rubin.

Sheldon Rudoff’50YUHS, ’54YC,

’57RIETS recently

joined the New

York City office of

Phillips Nizer LLP

as a partner in the

corporate depart-

ment. Mr. Rudoff will continue to prac-

tice in corporate and commercial law,

representing privately owned business-

es, corporations, not-for-profits and

philanthropic organizations. Mr. Rudoff

serves as a member of the Board of

4 8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

Albert Einstein College of MedicineStern College for Women

Wurzweiler School classnotes

YUReview welcomes Classnotes submissions that are typewritten or neatly

printed. Relevant information (name, maiden name, school, year of graduation,

and a contact phone number) must be included. The magazine is not

responsible for incomplete or in correct information. Graduates of Cardozo,

Wurzweiler, Ferkauf, and Einstein may also direct notes to those schools’

alumni publications. In addition to professional achievements, YUReview

Classnotes may contain alumni family news, including information on births,

marriages, condolences, and bar/bat mitzvahs. Engagement announcements

are not accepted. We reserve the right to edit submitted items. We cannot be

respon sible for time-sensitive submissions that expire before publication.

Items sent for the next edition of YUReview will be included as received and

as space permits. Photographs are encouraged.

Join the alumni online community to be informed of upcoming events

Search for old classmates

View photos from various alumni events

Add ‘YUAlumniAffairs’ as friend

Add ‘YUAlumniAffairs at Yeshiva University’ as a contact

Stay in Touch with the Alumni Officewww.yu.edu/alumni

@

Directors of Yeshiva College and as the

honorary president of the Beth Din of

America and the Union of Orthodox

Jewish congregations of America. He

is chairman of the board of a UJA-

Federation agency, chairman of the

Audit Committee of the Conference on

Claims Against Germany and a

member of the audit committee of the

United Jewish Communities.

Mazal tov to Sol Steinmetz ’53YC,

’56RIETS, and his wife Tzipora, on the

birth of great-grandson Moshe

Menachem, in Israel. Mazal tov also to

the grandfather Steven Steinmetz’82YC and his wife Liba.

Dr. Joseph Sungolowsky ’55YC,

’58BRG, professor of French literature

and Jewish studies at Queens College,

City University of New York, and

adjunct professor of French at Stern

College for Women, wrote “La tentation

dans ‘Le Père Goriot’ de Balzac,”

which appeared on the Web site of the

Association Française des Enseignants

de Français (AFEF) on October 24,

2007, and “André Neher (1918–1988)

et Erets Israel,” which was published

in Delmaire, Danielle & Pollefeyt,

Didier, eds., “La pensée juive contem-

poraine,” Editions Parole & Silence,

2008. He also wrote “Hidden Children

in France (1940-1944): A Memoir,”

published in “The Hidden Child,” vol.

XVI, 2008.

Mazal tov to Dr. Gerald ’55YC and

Judith ’57TI Traub on the Bar Mitzvah

of their grandson Jake.

1960sCongratulations to Rabbi Edward Y.Abramson ’64YUHS, ’69YC, ’69JSS,

’73BRGS, ’73RIETS on the publication

of his book, “A Circle in the Square:

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Reinvents the

Synagogue.”

Mazal tov to Dr. Stanford Goldman’61YC, ’65AECOM, who was recently

honored with the Lifetime Achieve -

ment Award from the Society of

Uroradiology (SUR) at the annual

meeting in Rancho Mirage, California.

Mazel tov to Robert Philip Kaminsky’66AECOM who recently retired from

a successful career as a gynecologist

and has three granddaughters and

one great-granddaughter.

Mazal tov to Charlie and Susan

Rotsztajn and Robert J. ’64JSS, YC and

Judy Pransky on the recent marriage

of their children, Amanda and

Yehoshua.

Phyllis Maza Parker ’69SCW has been

named a shareholder at the Philadel -

phia law firm Berger & Montague,

P.C., where she specializes in securi-

ties class action litigation. She is

married to Charles B. Parker ’68YC.

Mazal tov to Joseph Pessah ’64YC,

’66IBC, ’68FGS on the birth of a

granddaughter, Hannah Grace. Mr.

Pessah recently lectured at the

Museum of Jewish Heritage on the

Jews of Greece during the Holocaust,

and the courage of his father in saving

many Jews during this period.

Benjamin Z. Richler ’60YC edited the

recently published “Hebrew Manu -

scripts in the Vatican Library.” His pre-

vious editorial work includes “Hebrew

Manuscripts in the Biblioteca Palatina

in Parma” and “Guide to Hebrew

Manuscript Collections.”

Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg ’69YC,

’74RIETS, FGS, ’92AG recently pub-

lished a revised and expanded version

of his educational text entitled, “Public

Speaking: A Guide for Study.” He and

his wife also celebrated the engage-

ment of their son Yaakov to Avital Kelin.

“Insights on the Haggadah and

Pesach” (1993), written by RabbiEliyahu Safran ’69YC, ’78RIETS,

’78FGS was reprinted (2003). Drawing

on the resources of Jewish thought

and extensive Jewish sources, Rabbi

Safran illuminates every aspect of the

Passover festival in 31 essays. Rabbi

Safran is vice president-communica-

tions & marketing /Orthodox Union

Kashruth division. He previously

served as principal of Yeshiva

University High School for Girls.

Dr. Edward Stim ’60AECOM lives in

Tokyo and works for the Japanese

medical assistance company

Emergency Assistance Japan (EAJ).

He speaks to physicians around the

globe, makes medical reports that

assist insurance companies in deciding

eligibility, and organizes medical

rescue missions. He is happy to be

a guide and offer a stayover to any YU

alumni who find their way to Japan.

1970sTamar S. Kramer Klein ’73SCW, ’79CSL

and her husband Yitzchok announce

the marriage of their daughter, Adina

Klein, to Ari Lerer. Mazal tov also to

the bride’s uncle, Rabbi Dr. Doniel Z.Kramer ’70YC, ’73RIETS, ’76BRGS,

and her grandfather, Rabbi MeyerKramer ’40YC, ’41RIETS.

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of LawFerkauf Graduate School of Psychology

Yeshiva College Bernard Revel Graduate School

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 4 9

of Social Work

Rabbi Shmuel Simenowitz ’75YUHS (second from left) recently

received a citation from the Hon. Uri Lapolianski, mayor of

Jerusalem, for his contribution to the journal, “The Environ -

ment in Jewish Thought and Law,” jointly sponsored by Sviva

Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection and the

municipality of Jerusalem. His article, entitled “Composting—

Torah Style,” traces the history of biomass use through

Talmudic times, using the laws of “hatmana” as a guide.

Simenowitz is the executive director of Project Ya’aleh V’Yavo,

Inc., a Torah-based environmental education program based

on his maple farm in Southern Vermont. His sugarhouse—

which is a functional synagogue—was built to resemble the

wooden synagogue from his family shtetl, Ivye, and is featured

prominently in the new book, “How Strange It Seems”

(Michael Hober man; University of Massachusetts Press, 2008)

about the resurgence of Jewish life in New England.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF JERUSALEM

Linda (Pattashnick) Klonsky ’71SCW

has been elected president of Kemp

Mill Synagogue and is a Ph.D. student

in organizational development at

Fielding Graduate University. In addi-

tion to teaching leadership at Hebrew

Union College in New York City, she

runs a firm that specializes in strategic

planning, leadership development,

organizational assessments and board

retreats. She and her husband Elliot

are pleased to announce that their son

David is an assistant professor in

clinical psychology at Stony Brook and

is married to Alexis Black.

Estelle I. (Faden) Krumholz ’73WSSW

recently received a certificate in

completion of a three-year program in

advanced study of psychoanalytic

psychotherapy from the Institute of

Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis of

New Jersey. She maintains a private

practice in Florham, New Jersey, and

her daughter Abigail recently received

her bachelor of arts degree from

Haverford College.

Mazal tov to RIETS Rosh Yeshiva

Rabbi Yaakov Neuberger ’77YC,’79RIETS

and his wife Peshi (Charlop) ’73YUHS,

’77SCW on the engagement of their

son, Motti, to Avigayil Schwerd. Motti is

the grandson of Rabbi Zevulun Charlop’47YUHS, ’51YC, ’54RIETS, dean

emeritus of RIETS and special advisor

to the president for yeshiva affairs.

Avery E. Neumark ’70YUHS, ’74YC has

been elected director-at-large of the

New York State Society of Certified

Public Accountants for the fiscal year

2008–2009. Mr. Neumark is the

partner-in-charge of employee benefits

and executive compensation with

Rosen Seymour Shapss Martin &

Company LLP (RSSM) and has more

than 25 years of experience in public

accounting and employee benefits

consulting. He also has served as

counsel to the law firm of Rosen &

Reade. Prior to joining RSSM, Mr.

Neumark served as a partner in Weber

Lipshie & Company and Ernst & Young.

Mazal tov to Dr. Abraham H. Pollack’73YC and Shelley Pollack ’72YUHS

on the birth of a grandson to parents

Sunni and Jonny Halpern.

Nava Rephun ’76WSSW participated in

a panel presentation at Stern College

sponsored by the SCW Psychology

Club and the YU Career Development

Center, on the topic “Careers in

Psychology.” She also gave a lecture

series at the Friar Tuck Inn in Catskill,

New York, on “Using the Imago

Approach to Develop Vibrant, Commit -

ted Relationships.” Nava is a licensed

clinical social worker and certified

Imago relationship therapist who works

with couples and individuals in her

New York City private practice, and

leads workshops in the U.S. and Israel.

Mazal tov to Rabbi Yitschak and Zhava’78SCW, ’82WSSW Rudomin upon the

marriage of their daughter Miriam to

Menachem Yifat and upon the birth of

their first grandchild, Yocheved, to

David and Sara Rudomin. Congratula -

tions to Zhava on obtaining her

licensed clinical social worker status

and her completion of the seminar in

field instruction at Touro College

Graduate School of Social Work in

order to supervise Touro College MSW

social work students.

Mazal tov to Philip Schiffman ’79YC,

IBC and his wife Miriam (Ryfka)’80SCW on the birth of granddaughter

Anna Michelle.

Mazal tov to Sheila and Larry Strulo witz’72YC on the birth of two granddaugh-

ters. Meira Tamar was born to their

son, Rabbi Joshua Strulowitz ’01YC,

’05RIETS and his wife Bethany ’01SCW,

’06AG, and Aliyah Serach was born to

their daughter Sari ’02SCW and her

husband Ari Kahn ’99YC.

Mazal tov to Deborah ’78SCW and

Heshy Wengrow, who serves on the

Orthodox Union Board of Directors,

upon the engagement of their son,

Yoni, to Tzippy Leidner.

Mazal tov to Samuel ’77YUHS, ’81YC,

’84RIETS, BRGS and Deena ’88AECOM

Zimmerman on the Bat Mitz vah of their

daughter Rivka Shafrira.

1980sNaomi (Bromberg) Bar-Yam ’81WSSW

is the founding executive director of

the newly formed Mother’s Milk Bank

of New England. A milk bank is a

service through which mothers who

have more milk than their babies need

pump and donate their milk to pre -

mature and sick babies.

Adena K. Berkowitz ’85CSL co-

authored, “Shaarei Simcha—Gates of

Prayer” the first liturgical work in the

modern era written by Orthodox

women for use in the Orthodox and

general Jewish communities. During

2007–2008, Adena served as scholar

in residence at Congregation Orach

Chayim and KRA in Manhattan and

the Great Neck Synagogue.

Mazal tov to RIETS Rosh Yeshiva

Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh ’89YUHS,

’97RIETS and wife Leora, on the birth

and brit milah of their son Yechiel

Yaakov.

Mark M. Goldberg ’84YC has been

appointed president of Carey Finan -

cial, LLC, the W.P. Carey & Co. broker-

dealer subsidiary responsible for

wholesaling its Corporate Property

Associates series of nontraded real

estate investment trusts. Prior to join-

ing W.P. Carey, Mr. Goldberg served as

CEO and president of independent

broker-dealer AIG-Royal Alliance, Inc.

He has also held senior management

positions at SunAmerica Financial

Network, AIG Securities–Tokyo, and

Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.

Mazal tov to Chanu ’88SSSB and David’87YC Goldis on the Bar Mitzvah of

their son Shmuel Elimelech in

November 2007 and the birth of their

triplets Gavriel Moshe, Arielle Charna

and Adielle Bracha in December 2007.

5 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

� classnotes

Wurzweiler School of Social Work

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of LawSy Syms School of Business

Yeshiva College

A, AECOM Albert Einstein College of Medicine • AG Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration • BG, BGSS Belfer Institute for Advanced Biomedical Sciences • B, BRGS Bernard Revel

Graduate School of Jewish Studies • BSJM Philip and Sarah Belz School of Jewish Music • CTI Cantorial Training Institute • C, CSL Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law • F, FGS Ferkauf Graduate School

of Psychology • I, IBC Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies • J, JSS James Striar School of General Jewish Studies • MSDCS Max Stern Division of Communal Services • Y, MYP Yeshiva Program/Mazer

School of Talmudic Studies • SBMP Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program • R, RIETS Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • S, SCW Stern College for Women • SG Sue Golding Graduate Division

of Medical Sciences • SB, SSSB Sy Syms School of Business • T, TI Teachers Institute • T, TIW Teachers Institute for Women • W, WSSW Wurzweiler School of Social Work • Y, YC Yeshiva College •

YH, YUHS Yeshiva University High Schools (MSTA The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy) (SWHSG Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls)

An Evening of Pop Art honoring

Suzanne and Miles BergerSTERN COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

Benjamin S. Chouake, MDYESHIVA COLLEGE

Philip FriedmanSY SYMS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

6 p.m. Reception

The

Ellie Kastel ’80WSSW has been named

executive director of the Boro Park Y

in Brooklyn. Ms. Kastel has worked at

the Boro Park Y since September

1980, first as its program director,

later as assistant director and, finally,

associate director. She brings with her

many years of experience and an

understanding and appreciation of the

needs of the community.

Mazal tov to Ephraim Kanarfogel’73YUHS, ’77YC, ’79RIETS, ’87BRGS,

the E. Billi Ivry Professor of Jewish

History at the Bernard Revel Graduate

School of Jewish Studies and at Stern

College for Women, who has been

elected to the American Academy for

Jewish Research, the oldest organiza-

tion of Judaic scholars in North

America. Members are nominated and

elected by their peers and thus

constitute the most distinguished and

senior scholars teaching Judaic

studies at American universities.

Professor Kanarfogel joins Yeshiva

colleagues professors David Berger,

Louis Feld man, Arthur Hyman, Haym

Soloveitchik and Richard Steiner as

a member of the academy.

Russell D. Mayer ’81CSL is a senior

partner in the Jerusalem-based law

firm Livnat, Mayer & Co. and recently

had an article published in “Law and

Financial Markets Review” entitled,

“Capital Adequacy Requirements for

Israeli Banks: The Impact of the Basel

II Accord.”

Hindy Najman ’88SCW has been

appointed director of the Center for

Jewish Studies at the University of

Toronto. Professor Najman received

her Ph.D. in Bible and post-biblical

literature from Harvard University in

1998 and subsequently taught at the

University of Notre Dame in South

Bend, Indiana. In 2003 Professor

Najman moved to the University of

Toronto, where she has been associate

professor of ancient Judaism in the

Department and Centre for the Study

of Religion at the University of Toronto.

Alan Steven Ronkin ’89YC, IBC was

honored by the Jewish Community

Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater

Boston with the Warren B. Kohn

Award for dedicated service to the

Jewish community. The Kohn Award is

presented to an outstanding Jewish

community relations professional each

year. Since January 2000, Ronkin has

served the Boston Jewish community

as JCRC’s deputy director. His passion

for the Jewish community is reflected

in his 20 years of Jewish communal

service, having worked at Jewish fed-

erations in Los Angeles, Cleveland and

Seattle. Since being in Boston, his

work has focused on Israel advocacy,

community and interfaith relations,

Holocaust programming and the devel-

opment of media and public relations

strategies. Ronkin led highly success-

ful efforts to defeat what the JCRC

considered anti-Israel resolutions in

the city of Somerville, developed a new

focus for the Israel Action Center, and

implemented JCRC’s rebranding.

For service and commitment to his

synagogue and his community, MarkS. Ross ’82CSL received the Distin -

guished Alumnus Award by the United

Synagogue of Conservative Judaism,

New Jersey region. Ross is the co-

owner of the Menorah Chapels at

Millburn funeral home as well as a

practicing attorney and the owner of

M. Ross Advertising, all located in

Union, New Jersey.

Evelyn (Sarota) Rutstein ’80SCW,

’82WSSW is a life coach specializing

in women going through transitions in

their lives. She and her husband

Dr. Stan Joel Rutstein ’80YC, JSS live in

West Hartford, and their son Yaakov(“Jay”) ’07YC recently married Tzirel

Cook. They are also grandparents

of a granddaughter, Channa, who was

born to Rochel (Rutstein) and Avi

Rosenholtz.

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 5 1

Bernard Revel Graduate SchoolFerkauf Graduate School of Psychology

Yeshiva University High Schools

Albert Einstein College of Medicine Stern College

Dr. Michael (Mike) Cohen ’93YC, ’93JSS, founder of The Galilee

Institute for Practical Zionism, and former YU sports information

director, women’s basketball coach and special assistant to the

director of public relations, was awarded the second annual

Defender of the Reserves award by Israel’s minister of defense,

chief of staff and chief of all reserve forces. The award was pre-

sented to 10 companies that exemplify the spirit of national serv-

ice and Zionism in uniform. Five major corporations, including the

Strauss-Elite conglomerate, Bank Mizrachi-Tefachot and Bezeq

Telecom, three midsize corporations and two community initiatives

were presented with the award this year.

Mark Sommer ’80YC is a visiting

professor at West Point Military

Academy in the Social Science Depart -

ment and has recently published

numerous articles in many different

U.S. Intelligence and Department of

Defense publications.

Mazal tov to Rabbi Brian Thau ’86YC,

’90RIETS, ’94AG and his son Avraham

Zvi Thau on the completion of the

entire shas Mishnayos.

Linda (Vlosky) Zack ’84SCW recently

graduated from Capital University Law

School and passed the Ohio state bar

exam. Linda is married to RabbiHoward Zack ’80YC, ’85BRGS, RIETS

and is the mother of Etana ’09SCW,

Shifra ’10SCW and Meira ’11SCW.

1990sOtto M. Berk ’90WSSW is now in pri-

vate practice in Forest Hills, New York.

Mazal tov to Dina Bogner ’97SCW and

Daniel Heiss, who were married in

April 2008. Dina’s parents are Gail and

William Bogner ’71YC, ’73WSSW.

Mazal Tov to Ariel Davis ’98YUHS,

’05YC and his wife Yael who had a

baby, Avishai Azriel. Avishai’s grand-

parents are Dr. Hillel ’72YC, ’75BRGS,

RIETS, vice president for university

life, and Rachayl Davis ’75SCW.

Mazal tov to Talia and Yitzi Flynn’93YUHS, ’00CSL on the birth of their

baby boy.

Isaac Geld, ’97WSSW was promoted to

director of community education

outreach at Citywide Adult Protective

Services.

Dr. Isaac Halickman ’98YC has com-

pleted his fellowship in cardiology at

Cooper University Hospital in New

Jersey. He is currently a staff cardiolo-

gist in southern New Jersey.

Mazal tov to Margy (Berkowitz)Horowitz ’94SCW and her husband

Jeremy on the birth of their son Natan

Zev (Nathan), brother to Julia.

Margy founded the Jewish Women’s

Repertory Company, a nonprofit

musical theater group for religious

women in Los Angeles.

Mazal tov to Shoshana (Scheide)Hurwitz ’99SCW on her aliyah to Maale

Adumim with her family in July 2008.

Sarah Klayn ’98SCW, SSSB and Gary

Klayn announce the birth of their

daughter Meirah Leeba.

Mazal tov to Shelley Klein ’93SSSB

and Judah Fierstein on the birth of a

baby boy.

Mazal tov to Amir and Necli Kohan’91SSSB, who had a baby daughter,

Natalie Sarah, in February 2008.

Mazel tov to Jeremy Kurz ’92YUHS,

’96YC, ’00AECOM and his wife,

Rebecca (Breslau) who are happy to

announce the arrival of a new son

Daniel Yisrael (Israel), brother to

Yonatan (8), Ayelet (5) and Aviva (2).

Mazal tov to Shira (Lieberman)Goldress ’96SCW, SSSB and her

husband, Gadi, who announce the

birth of a son, Eitan Pesach. Mazal tov

to grandparents Andrea (Kaplan)Lieberman ’69SCW and Dr. MichaelLieberman ’70YC and Leslie and Irwin

Goldress, and great-grandmothers

Esther Kaplan and Roslyn Novack.

Great-grandfathers were Rabbi MurrayH. Lieberman ’35YUHS, ’39YC, IBC

and Rabbi Philip (Pesach) Kaplan’36YUHS, ’39YC, ’42RIETS.

Mazal tov to Chana E. (Schiffmiller)Meyers ’96SCW and Tsachi Meyers on

the birth of their son Akiva Yonatan.

He joins siblings Atara Tzipporah and

Ariana Tamara. Mazal tov also to the

grandparents Shari (Spilky) ’72TI and

Rabbi Dr. Richard Schiffmiller’68YUHS, ’72YC, ’76RIETS, ’77BRGS;

and Josie (Kaplan) ’71SCW and JoelMeyers ’69YC, JSS.

5 2 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

� classnotes

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education

Sy Syms School of Business

ALUMNA PICKS YU BLUE

Shanna Blaustein Winters ’90YUHS, ’93SCW, ’96CSL, recently

left Yeshiva University’s “trademark” color blue on America’s

eminent publication relating to copyright law.

Working as an attorney for the U.S. House of Representatives

Judiciary Committee, Winters is chief counsel for the

Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property.

Winters has been with the Judiciary Committee since March

2006, and previously worked in the U.S. Patent and Trademark

Office. She spent part of that time as a fellow for U.S. Rep.

Howard Berman (D-Calif.), chairman of the intellectual property

subcommittee where she now works.

Winters gets one interesting perk through her job. “As chief

counsel of the subcommittee, you get to pick the color of the

cover of the copyright book when it comes out. It’s basically an

unofficial tradition,” she explained.

So this past year, the Circular 92

Copyright Laws of the United States

and Related Laws Contained in Title 17

of the United States Code, October

2007 Version, was outfitted in YU blue.

“The previous counsel went to

Duke, so his choice color was blue, and

before him, the color was purple for

Northwestern,” she said.

“I debated about whether the color

should be hot pink, but then I decided

to pick Yeshiva, as I am a triple alum.”

Winters is not just a high school,

undergraduate and law school alumna of three Yeshiva schools;

she also represents the third generation of YU graduates in her

family. Her mother, Joette Milians Blaustein, graduated from

Cardozo in 1986, and her grandfather, Bernard Milians, graduat-

ed from both the Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies and

Yeshiva College in 1933.

This past summer, Winters presented Yeshiva University

President Richard Joel with a copy of the book in Washington,

when he joined the community for a shabbaton at Kesher Israel

Synagogue, in Georgetown.

Winters lives in Washington with her husband, Gary, a former

president of Kesher Israel, and their three children.

Jonathan Mishkin ’90YC, ’92RIETS

published “Think of It This Way,” a

book on informal Jewish education.

Rachelle Hannah Nash ’99CSL litigated

in the area of commercial real estate

and corporate law in supreme, appel-

late, housing and civil courts before

recently becoming one of the youngest

administrative law judges hired by the

City of New York.

Mazal tov to Jeremy S. Neiss ’99YUHS,

’03YC on his recent marriage to Alison

Leventhal. Mazal tov also to brother

Jonathon ’93YUHS, ’97YC and Mindy

Neiss on the birth of their son Yishai

Gavriel. Proud parents are RabbiMoshe S. Neiss ’68YUHS, ’72YC,

’74RIETS, ’75BRGS and Dr. Vivian J.Neiss ’91FGS.

Rabbi Eliezer Schnall, Ph.D., ’95YUHS,

’00YC, ’03RIETS, ’07FGS recently ran

a study assessing the efficacy of a

psychosocial intervention for use by

family medicine physicians. His results

were published in the June 2008 issue

of the journal “Family Medicine.”

Zvi Shapiro ’99SSSB and his wife Leah

announce the birth of their first child,

Adina Yaffa.

Avi Shmidman ’96YC delivered a

lecture entitled, “Cibarious Motifs in

the Festival Poetry for the Grace after

Meals,” at the Fifth Medieval Hebrew

Poetry Colloquium, held at the Univer -

sity of Groningen, in the Netherlands,

during July 2008.

Mazal tov to Miriam (Bluth) ’90YUHS,

’93SCW and Daniel Wallach ’93SSSB

on the birth of their fourth child,

Shlomo Yonatan (Yoni).

Mazal tov to Deborah Michelle Waltuch’94YUHS, ’98SCW, ’98SSSB, daughter

of Rabbi Marvin ’66YC, ’69RIETS,

’99FGS and Rosalie Waltuch, on her

marriage to Uri Frenkel.

Effy Zinkin ’93SSSB, ’96CSL chaired a

$1.5 million fundraiser for Tikva, a

charity dedicated to saving the lives of

orphaned, abandoned and abused

Jewish children in Odessa, Ukraine.

2000sDaniel Abramoff ’01YC has joined the

firm Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott

LLP. He earned his J.D. from Fordham

University, and his practice focuses

on real estate law.

Mazal tov to Zachariah ’07YC and

Penina (Oberstein) Abramowitz ’03SCW

on the birth of their son Naftali Yaakov.

Mazal tov to Alex Altberg, ’02YC and

Jennifer Feldman ’05SCW on their

recent marriage.

Mazal tov on the marriage of TamarEstreicher ’08SSSB to Yoni Braun.

Dr. Rachel Leah Farkas ’00SCW,

daughter of Zelda Farkas and Israel

Farkas of Willowbrook, Staten Island,

married Dr. Jacob Moalem, the son of

Rowena Moalem and Sasson Moalem

of Plainview, New York. Dr. Farkas is a

third-year surgical resident at Strong

Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New

York, and received her medical degree

from New York Medical College in

Valhalla, New York. Dr. Moalem is an

assistant professor of endocrine

surgical oncology at the University of

Rochester.

Lisa (Helprin) Feldman ’02SCW recently

completed her MPA in nonprofit man-

agement from the School of Public

Affairs at CUNY and was honored at

graduation for having the highest

academic record in the school. She

recently accepted a position with

Nishmat as its director of development

and alumnae relations in its New York

office. Her husband, Dr. Jonah Feldman’03YC, recently graduated from Stony

Brook Medical School and will soon

begin his residency at Winthrop

University Hospital on Long Island,

New York.

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 5 3

Theological Seminary and Administration

Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies

Stern College for Women

Albert EinsteinYeshiva University High Schools

‘Conventional’ AlumJeff Stier, ’93YC, ’96CSL was an attendee at both the Democratic

and Republican Conventions this year, on behalf of his non-profit

independent think tank, the American Council on Science and

Health, which works to debunk health scares and put public health

issues into perspective. His organization gets involved in public

debates when “junk science” finds its way into federal regulations,

often involving issues like alleged health implications of plastics, the

safety of nuclear energy

and food safety. He said

his time at Cardozo, and

especially as editor of

the Cardozo Law Forum,

prepared him well for

his role in public affairs

advocacy.

As an orthodox Jew,

Jeff said he enjoyed the

diversity of comments

and sideways glances he

gets when he wore his yarmulke at the national con-

ventions. “Last night [outside the Democratic National

Convention] someone tapped me on the shoulder to

say ‘shalom.’ “He said, ‘I am from South Lebanon, and

I’m on your side.’ ”

Jeff took the opportunity to attend and participate in a

myriad of Jewish events at the conventions, some of which were

sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, the National Jewish

Democratic Council, the Republican Jewish Coalition, AIPAC and

JPAC, a new left-leaning public affairs committee.

Because Jeff often appears on television and radio to debunk the

latest health scares in the media, he especially enjoyed the “Radio

Row,” areas at the national conventions, where many radio shows

broadcasted live on location in the unending hallways that run

around the perimeters of the convention centers. During the course

of one afternoon, Jeff’s voice was heard in over 100 cities, where he

spoke about a variety of issues in the public health arena.

He had a variety of unique Jewish experiences in the two cities,

both of which have smaller Jewish populations than cities in the

tri-state areas. He ordered in kosher sandwiches from the East Side

Kosher Deli with an Orthodox Union staffer and davened mincha with

a minyan in Denver. He visited the Chabad House in Minneapolis,

tempering an afternoon of schmoozing with lobbyists with an evening

shiur with Rabbi Manis Friedman. Jeff said he appreciated the

fellowship with other Jews to help process an exciting and sometimes

exhausting convention experience.

Mazal tov to Aaron Friedman ’08 SSSB

and Ariella Beth (Deyong) ’08SCW, who

recently had a baby boy, Dovid Gershon.

Mazal tov to Dassie and Ari Fuchs’07SSSB upon the birth of their

daughter.

Mazal tov to Rachel Hyman ’03SCW,

daughter of Dr. Dale and Ruth Hyman’69SCW, on her marriage to Steven

Schwartzberg.

Mazal tov to Scott Garber ’03SSSB and

Tova Lieberman ’07SCW on their

engagement.

Rabbi Ryan S. Girnun ’01YC, ’05RIETS,

husband of Bari (Rothstein) Girnun’01SSSB, AG, has just graduated from

the University of Miami Law School

with the distinction of summa cum

laude.

Judith Eve Gorelick-Feldman ’07SCW

married Joshua Rosenbloom. They

met as first-year graduate students at

Harvard, where she was in dental

school and he was in medical school.

Mazal tov to Sandy and Rabbi AlanKalinsky ’69YUHS, ’73YC, ’76RIETS,

’77FGS, director of the Orthodox

Union West Coast, upon the recent

marriage of their daughter Michelle(Michal) Ilana ’08SSSB to Jonathan(Yoni) Frankel ’07YC. Mazal tov also to

the grandparents, Harriet and Isador

Kalinsky, and to Yoni’s parents, Rabbi

Sam and Sharon Frankel.

Mazal tov to Joseph B. Korn ’00SSSB

and his wife Devorah (Rubin) ’01SCW

on the birth of their daughter Avigail

Bracha.

Mazal tov to Chaim Kozlovsky ’01YC on

his marriage to Randi Adelman.

Jeremy Kupferman ’06SSSB and his

wife Danielle joyfully announced the

birth of Noah Aaron. Mazal tov to

grandparents Alan ’82YC and Mindy

Peyser and Carole and Max Kupferman’65YUHS.

Sara Menchel ’07SCW, daughter of

Rabbi Gary Menchel ’74YUHS, ’78YC,

’81RIETS and Beatrice Menchel’74BGSS, ’77TI, was recently married

to Eric Pollak ’08YC.

Mazal tov to Isralight Avraham HaLevi

Rabbinic Enrichment Fellow Rabbi

Seth Nadel, his wife Na’ama (Fogel)Nadel ’03SCW, and their entire family

on the birth of a baby girl.

Mazal tov to David and Leora (Fein)Neuman ’08SCW on the birth of their

son Dov Gavriel. Leora is the daughter

of Renee (Edelman) ’83SCW and AlanFein ’83YC, ’87CSL. The baby was

named for his great grandfather DavidEdelman ’49YUHS, who is survived by

his wife, Hannah Edelman ’59SCW.

Mazal tov to Yair Oppenheim ’00SSSB

on his marriage to Aviva Bieler, daugh-

ter of Rabbi Richard C. Bieler ’74YC,

JSS, ’78RIETS, ’79BRG, senior execu-

tive director for community affairs.

Mazal tov to Sara ’08SCW, daughter

of Mindy ’80SCW and Steven (Shmully)Rosengarten ’76YUHS, who recently

married Saul Haimoff, son of Ellen

and Manny.

Mazal tov to Evan Rosenhouse ’05YC,

’06SSSB and Susanne Goldstone’02SCW on their marriage.

Mazal tov to Aliza ’06SCW, SSSB and

Dov Sassoon on the birth of their son

Charles Isaac.

Mazal tov to Amy ’02SCW, SSSB and

Shalom ’01YC Schwartz on the birth of

twin sons, Yehuda Bavriel and Shuvel

Aron. Mazal tov to the proud grand-

parents Janet and Berni Schwarz’77YC and Mona and David Schwartz.

Jonathan (Yoni) Shenkman ’07SSSB

recently joined Secemski & Associates,

a wealth advisory and financial

planning group within Merrill Lynch.

� classnotes

Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology

Yeshiva CollegeBenjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Yeshiva University High Schools

5 4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

Calling allPast Presidents and

Vice Presidents

who served on any of Yeshiva University’s undergraduate

student governments

WE WANT TO STAY IN TOUCH!

Please let us know which student body government you served on and the year

that you graduated.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact Melissa Klein atthe Office of Alumni Affairs

Email mnklein@yu.eduor call 212.960.5412

Mazal Tov to Drs. Joshua ’01YC,

’05AECOM and Rachel ’05AECOM

Sisser on the birth of their daughter

Rebecca Elizabeth.

Mazal tov to Ari Spodek ’05SSSB and

his wife Ariella on the birth of their

son Gaby.

Mazal tov to Marc and Elysia Stein’04SCW on the birth of a baby girl,

Abigail Paige.

Mazal tov to Victoria Stone ’08 SCW,

the Fredda Leff Presidential Fellow for

Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School

of Social Work, daughter of Natalie

and Ken Stone, on her recent mar-

riage to Ezra Sutton ’09YC (expected),

son of Nancy and Sam Sutton ’71YC.

Jenny and Samuel Sultan ’05YC

sponsored an Eruv in September in

honor of the marriage of Sammy’s

brother, Rabbi Raymond Sultan ’01YC,

’06RIETS to Chana Leora (Ora) Klein’06SCW. Sammy and Ray’s parents are

Dr. Ronald and Andrea Sultan ’78SCW.

Mati Sved ’08YC and his sister Amber,

children of Ira ’79YUHS and Naomi

Sved, were both recently engaged.

Mati will be marrying Jenny Steinberg’07SCW, and Amber will marry JosephDavid (Joey) Schwarz ’08SSSB.

Josh Vogel ’07YC, past SOY president,

and Tamar Grun ’07SCW were married

in Baltimore. Josh’s parents are Alan

and Cheryl ’80SCW Vogel.

Sharon Weiss ’03SCW, ’06AG was

recently married to Ben Greenberg,

who went to Lander’s College and is

currently completing his studies at

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.

Mazal tov to YaelWolynetz ’08SCW,

the Robert M.

Beren Presidential

Fellow for the

Yeshiva University

office of commu-

nications and

public affairs, daughter of Lori and

Larry Wolynetz, on her recent marriage

to Baruch Jakubovic ’09YC, son of

Holly (Yudkowitz) ’76SCW and Henry

Jakubovic, in Toronto, Canada.

Mazal tov on the marriage of SethZahner ’08SSSB to Ariella Noveck.

BOARD / FR I ENDSCALLOUTS

Mazal tov to Elie and Sara Weiss on

the birth of their son Jonah Zvi. Mazal

tov to Elie’s father, YU Board ChairmanMorry Weiss and his wife, Judith, as

well as brothers Jeffrey ’85YC and Zev’88YC Weiss.

Dr. Michael A. Stocker, secretary of the

Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s

Board of Overseers, has been appoint-

ed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as

chairman of the board of the New York

City Health and Hospitals Corporation,

the largest municipal hospital and

health-care system in the country,

serving 1.3 million New Yorkers annu-

ally. Since his election to the board in

1999, Michael has provided invaluable

service to the college. A member of

the executive committee and an

Einstein benefactor, he has also served

as chairperson of the hospital affilia-

tion committee, and as a member of

our ad hoc governance and nominat-

ing committees. Although the wisdom,

guidance and personal warmth he

brought to AECOM will be missed,

AECOM wishes him all the best in his

new position and thanks him for his

many years of dedicated service.

Mazal tov to Jack Zencheck, YU’s chief

procurement officer, and wife, Robin,

on the marriage of their daughter

Wendy to Tom Cavuoto.

Bernard Revel Graduate SchoolWurzweiler School of Social Work

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Stern College for Women Rabbi Isaac Elchanan

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 5 5

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� IN YUREVIEW � ONLINE � BOTH

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WE MOURN

Condolences to the family of Dr.Yehudah Assouline ’95YC, ’01AECOM,who died in July 2008.

Rabbi Eli Baum ’54RIETS, ’99FGS is

mourned by his wife Margot and by

their son Rabbi Shalom Baum ’88YC,

’92CSL, ’94RIETS.

Condolences to the family of Nisson A.Berlin ’64YUHS, who passed away inApril 2008. His family includes sister

Sarah Fishman ’55TI, brothers MosheBerlin ’54YUHS, ’58YC and the lateJoseph I Berlin ’62YUHS, ’66YC, andsons Elie and Avi.

Rabbi Jerome H. Blass ’44YC,’48RIETS, ’60BRGS, who died in April

2008. Condolences to his wife Rita

and children Dr. David M. Blass, Dr.

Robert A. Blass and Dr. Joel M. Blass.

Condolences to the family of CharlesBernstein ’74YC, who died in October2007.

Condolences to the family of DanielAlan Epstein ’82YC, ’82JS, who passedaway in September 2008.

Condolences to the family of AlizaEsral ’08SCW, who passed away inJuly 2008.

Hyman Fleishman ’59IBC, ’59YC,beloved husband of Elinor and father

of Ovadaya Elchanan.

Sol Kalish ’48YUHS, father of JayKalish ’79YC, ’82CSL, president ofYeshiva University Israel Alumni and

father-in-law of Judy ’76YUHS, ’80SCW.

Henry Kamioner ’74YUHS, ’78YC, ’81Cpassed away suddenly. Condolences to

Henry’s wife Debbie ’78SCW, hisdaughter Chava Weisstuch ’05YUHSand his son Michael ’04YUHS.

Condolences to the family of Dr. BennyKraut ’68YC, who is survived by hiswife, Penina L. Kraut ’67BRGS, ’71TIand his daughter Yosefa Kraut ’04SCW.

Condolences to Harvey Lieber ’59YCon the loss of his wife, Vera ’60SCW.

Our condolences to the family of YoelLipschitz ’62YC, ’65BRGS, RIETS whodied in February 2008. He resided in

Petach Tikva for more than 35 years

and was the Baal Koreh and Baal

Tokeah in the Great Synagogue of

Petach Tikva for 22 years.

Condolences on the passing of RabbiDr. Levi Meier ’64YUHS, ’70RIETS,’71BRG, who was the chaplain of

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He is

survived by his wife Marcie; his broth-

er Rabbi Menachem Meier ’60YUHS,’66BRGS, RIETS and his wife Dr.Tzipora Meier ’63BG, ’67SCW; hisdaughter Chana Gelb ’94SCW and herhusband Rabbi Pinchas Gelb; and his

daughter Malka Grebenau ’04SCW andher husband Rabbi Maurice Grebenau’01YC, ’04RIETS, ’07AG.

Rabbi Dr. Moses Mescheloff ’32RIETS,rabbi emeritus, Congregation K.I.N.S.

(Knesset Israel Nusach Sfard),

Chicago, recently passed away. He is

mourned by his daughter Renah M.Bell ’58SCW, sons Rabbi DavidMescheloff and Rabbi EfraimMescheloff ’62YUHS, ’65RIETS anddaughter-in-law Felice Mescheloff’62YUHS, ’64TI.

Rabbi Leon Mozeson ’40YUHS, ’44YC,’47RIETS was the husband of Bernice

Mozeson, father of Rabbi Yoni Mozeson’77YC, ’80RIETS and father-in-law of

Navah Mozeson.

Rabbi Philip H. Reiss, ’48RIETS wasthe beloved husband of Gladys and

father of Gedalia.

Condolences to the family of RabbiIsaac B. Rose ’38YC, ’42RIETS, whopassed away in August 2008.

Yeshiva University

mourns the loss

of Yeshiva College

student DavidRottenstreich whopassed away on

Tuesday April 7,

2009 after a brief

but serious illness. Over 60 of his

friends and fellow classmates joined

together after night seder and maariv

on April 20 in the spirit of camaraderie

and love to remember David.

Condolences to Suzie (Schapiro)Steinberg ’84SCW, ’86WSSW upon thedeath of her mother Rosalee(Jacobson) Schapiro ’59SCW.

Jacob Silvera ’71YC, beloved husbandof Marlene.

We mourn the passing of Rabbi Dr.Victor M. Solomon, Col. Ret., USAF’50YC, ’55RIETS in June 2008. A

renaissance scholar, author, rabbi,

psychologist and psychotherapist, who

served as a pulpit rabbi in Philadel -

phia, Pennsylvania, and Fairfield,

� classnotes

Wurzweiler School of Social Work

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of LawSy Syms School of Business

Yeshiva College

5 6 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

Rabbi Dr. Leon A. Feldman ’48RIETS, ’57BRGS, renowned scholar,prolific author and master teacher, passed away on July 23, 2008,

at the age of 87 after a brief battle with cancer. He had served as

professor of Jewish history at the Touro College Graduate School of

Jewish Studies since September 2004. Dr. Feldman was born in

Berlin, and found refuge in England and Canada during World War

II, eventually settling in New York. In addition to semikhah, he

earned a D.H.L. from Yeshiva University and a Ph.D. from Columbia

University. He also received a doctorate from the University of

Amsterdam, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Oxford Uni -

versity, as well as an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University.

Dr. Feldman founded the department of Hebraic studies at Rutgers

University and taught there from 1962 to 1992, serving as distin-

guished professor of Hebraic studies. He also held visiting faculty

appointments at universities in Canada, England, Germany, Israel,

Spain and Switzerland, and was the founding rector of the College of

Jewish Studies in Heidelberg, Germany. Dr. Feldman’s many schol-

arly volumes and articles focus primarily upon medieval rabbinic

literature and, in particular, on responsa as a source for the study of

Jewish history. His critical edition of the sermons of Rabbi Nissim

ben Reuben Gerondi was awarded the Jerusalem Prize for Literature

and Jewish Thought in 1975. In 1988, he received the Rabbi Judah

Leib Maimon Prize for Rabbinic Literature and Jewish History. Dr.

Feldman was the recipient of numerous prestigious academic fellow-

ships, and served as consultant to a wide variety of Jewish commu-

nal and educational organizations. He had been a fellow of the

American Academy for Jewish Research since 1982. He is survived

by his wife, Elizabeth Small Feldman, his brother Emmanuel

Feldman, his sons Howard R. Feldman ’62YUHS and Peter B. Telem,his granddaughters Debra Belowich, Adee and Michal Telem,

grandsons Brian Feldman, Elan Telem, and great-grandchildren

Alexa and Talia Belowich.

Connecticut, then as the highest-rank-

ing Jewish chaplain in the United

States Air Force, he also was chief of

the Jewish chaplains in the Far East

and associate director of the Jewish

Welfare Board in NYC. His distin-

guished career was recognized by

Yeshiva College several years ago. A

graduate of YU’s High School for Boys

and Yeshiva College, he was ordained

by RIETS and earned three doctorates

from other universities. Heartfelt con-

dolences are extended to his beloved

wife, Marcia R. Solomon, to his sister

Rhoda Fefferman, to his children,

Yeshiva College and Yeshiva University

Museum Board member Rabbi Samuel(and Meryl, M.D.) Solomon ’81RIETS,BRGS, who are also YU guardians,

Shimon (and Lisa) Solomon, YitzchakSolomon ’84YC and wife Yosepha’87SCW, Avraham Solomon ’94YC andhis wife Rebecca ‘94SCW, and also tohis many grandchildren.

We mourn Leon Sutton ’43YUHS, ’47YC,brother of David Sutton ’50YUHS, whopassed away in September 2008.

Our condolences to the family of HarrySteinberg ’32YUHS, who passed awayin May 2008. He was one of the last

surviving alumni of Yeshiva College’s

first graduating class.

CONDOLENCES TO :

The family of Roland Arnall, whostrengthened the Jewish community as

a generous supporter of Jewish causes

around the world. With his beloved

wife Dawn as benefactors to YU, they

helped establish The Center for the

Jewish Future and supported educa-

tion and research at the Albert

Einstein College of Medicine. They

also established the Roland Arnall

Presidential Fellowship at YU. We

send our heartfelt condolences to his

wife and children, Daniel and Michelle;

his brother Claude; his nephew Adam

Bass; and to all members of the family.

Shirley Auslander, member of theJewish Studies Office, on the death of

her husband Heshy Auslander in May 2008.

Rachel Balsam ’62SCW, whose mother

Ann Steinberg passed away.

Rabbi Howard Seth Balter ’83YC,’85RIETS, devoted member of the

RIETS board of trustees, on the death

of his father David Balter in July 2008.

Rabbi Aharon ’56YC, ’58RIETS andLolet Batt ’59SCW, who mourn the lossof their grandson Yonadav HaimHirshfeld, age 19, of Kochav Hashahar,in the Yeshiva Mercaz Harav terrorist

attack on March 6, 2008.

Carl Bennett, husband of DorothyBennett, Yeshiva University benefactor,who passed away in May 2008. The

couple established the Carl and

Dorothy Bennett chair in pastoral

counseling at the Wurtzweiler School

of Social Work in tribute to Rabbi

Joseph H. Ehrenkranz, as well as a

major scholarship fund at the Sy Syms

School of Business. Condolences also

to their children, Marc and his wife

Katy, Bruce and his wife Jennifer, and

Robin and her husband Joseph

Kanarek, as well as to Dorothy’s sister

Florence Caplan.

Rabbi J. David Bleich, a RIETS RoshYeshiva and “Tradition” columnist, on

the passing of his daughter ChayaGurwitz.

Rabbi Jon Bloomberg ’69YC, ’74RIETSon the loss of his beloved father AllanBloomberg.

Jan Blumenfeld, senior director of oper-ations for institutional advancement,

on the death of her grandmother RuthBlumenfeld in April 2008.

Rabbi Aaron Chomsky ’42 YUHS,’46IBC, YC, ’51RIETS on the death of

his wife Lillian Chomsky.

Olga Cohen, on the death of herbeloved husband Ezra Cohen, in April2008. Symphathies also to their

daughter Chella and her husband

Moise Safra, a YU benefactor who

established the Women’s Health

Program at AECOM. The Cohens are

Yeshiva University benefactors who

have established and supported many

scholarships at Yeshiva University

and AECOM.

Dr. Jay ’81YC, ’85AECOM and MindyCinnamon and Dr. (Yussie) Robert andCarol L. Lesser ’72 SCW on the pass-ing of their mother Ethel Cinnamon.

Joseph Cukier ’00YC and Robert PhilipCukier ’02YC, whose beloved motherpassed away in September 2008.

Rabbi Eliot Feldman ’72 YC, JSS,’75RIETS, his wife Ann ’72SCW, andtheir sons, Joshua ’97SSSB, Jay Nathan’07SSSB and Jeremy ’02SSSB, on thedeath of mother and grandmother

Blanche Feldman.

Jeffrey Fiedler, member and pastchairman at Einstein, on the death of

his mother Caroline Fiedler in August 2008.

Jutta Freudenstein, whose husbandErich Freudenstein died in June 2008.Condolences to their children George’71YUHS, Deborah Fink ’73YUHS,Shoshana Silver and Michael.

Rabbi Joel Grossman ’83BRGS on theloss of his mother, Ruth Grossman.

Rabbi Yeshaya “Arnold” Heisler’40YUHS, ’44YC, ’46BRGS, RIETS,

Reuven “Ruby” Heisler ’51YC, TobyGoldberg and Yitta Weiss on the loss

of their sister, Dorothy Ciment.

Yeshiva University Benefactor

Geraldine Schottenstein Hoffman andher husband, Martin Hoffman, on thepassing of Martin’s brother, PhillipHoffman, in May 2008.

Rabbi Chaim Ilson ’68YUHS, ’72YC,’76RIETS, on the death of his wife,

Rebbetzin Esther Chana Ilson in June2008.

Professor Eliezer Jaffe ’55YC, TI, onthe passing of his wife Rivka Jaffe inSeptember 2008.

Bernard Revel Graduate SchoolFerkauf Graduate School of Psychology

Yeshiva University High Schools

Albert Einstein College of Medicine Stern College

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 5 7

L I L L I AN ZACH ’ 64F

Everyone in the Yeshiva University and Ferkauf

community mourns the loss of Lillian Zach,

a beloved alumna, founding faculty member

and mentor who taught every student in the

school’s psychology and school-clinical child

psychology programs during her 45-year

tenure. She chaired Ferkauf’s department of

educational psychology and guidance, served

as associate dean and was first director of its

school psychology program. She created the Ph.D. program in

school psychology and developed Ferkauf’s National Institute of

Mental Health fellowship training program. An early giant in the field

of school psychology in New York, she worked with the New York

City board of education and other school systems. Heartfelt

condolences are extended to her son, Dr. Jonathan Zach; her

brother Leon Feingold; and all members of her extended family.

� classnotes

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education

Sy Syms School of Business

5 8 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

Rabbi Lowell Kronick ’63YUHS, ’67YC,

’70BRGS on the loss of his father

Julius Kronick.

Doris Kukin, a member of the Stern

College for Women Board of Directors,

who with her husband, Dr. Ira Kukin,a YU benefactor, mourn the loss of

Doris’ sister Evelyn Nadler.

The family of Hy Koblinsky, an

employee of Yeshiva University from

1985 through 1997, who died in

March 2008.

The family of Susanne Kornreich, with

profound sorrow, on the passing of this

dear friend and longtime, passionate

supporter of the Albert Einstein

College of Medicine. Susanne was the

beloved wife of former overseer

Matthew Kornreich, mother of Kathy

Weinberg—honorary president of the

division’s Westchester/Fairfield chapter

and a vice president of its national

board—and mother-in-law of Einstein

Overseer Samuel Weinberg. Susanne

was an honorary vice president of the

Westchester/Fairfield Chapter of

Einstein’s Women’s Division and

served on its national board. Deepest

sympathies are extended to all her

family.

Yonina Langer ’71SCW and MeiraDavis ’69SCW, on the passing of their

mother Lotte Katz of Brookline,

Massachusetts. Mrs. Katz is also

mourned by Yonina’s husband Dr.

Sidney Langer and their daughters

Talia and Naomi, as well as Meira’s

husband Rabbi Edward Davis ’68YC,

’70RIETS, ’71BRGS.

Rabbi Pinchas Stolper ’49YUHS, a

long-serving executive vice president

of the Orthodox Union, on the passing

of his sister Frayda Labovitz.

Meyer Lubin, ’58FGS and his son

Lazan, on the loss of Malka, a beloved

wife and mother.

Geri Mansdorf ’96AG, associate direc-

tor of admissions at Yeshiva University,

on the death of her father, SamuelSpiegel, in June 2008.

Susan Meyers ’92SCW on the death of

her grandmother Adela Engel.

Melekheh Nassimi and children Albert,

Morris, Mike and Edward, on the

death of their beloved husband and

father Aghajan Nassimi in May 2008.

He served as a member of YU’s

Sephardic Council of Overseers and

established the Aghajan Nassimi

Endowed Scholarship Fund for

Sephardic Students.

The family of Mortimer Propp, a distin-

guished Jewish communal leader who,

with his beloved wife, Eugenie, and his

brothers, Ephraim (and Gail) and the

late Seymour Propp, and his wife

Gabrielle, served as a YU guardian,

having jointly established the Propp

Brothers Scholarship Fund at the affili-

ated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological

Seminary in memory of their parents,

Morris and Anna Propp. Morris and

Anna were also founders of the Albert

Einstein College of Medicine and

supported many other projects within

Yeshiva University and the Yeshiva

University Women’s Organization

(YUWO), where all three sisters-in-law

—Eugenie, Gabrielle and Gail—are

members of the executive council.

Norma Rodriguez, administrative

assistant for campus events communi-

cations, on the loss of her mother,

Guillermina Rodriguez.

The kehillah of New Rochelle and

Scarsdale, NY, on the tragic loss of

Rabbi Jacob and Devorah Rubenstein,rabbi and rebbetzin of the Young Israel

of Scarsdale, who passed away in a

house fire in 2008. They are survived

by four children: daughters Shira’97SCW and Yocheved ’04YUHS,

’09SCW and sons Daniel and

Jonathan. Rabbi Rubenstein was a

past president of the Rabbinical

Council of America and a past chair of

the Rabbinic Cabinet of the United

Jewish Communities. Rabbi Ruben -

stein’s many awards over his lifetime

included the Yeshiva University Mrs.

Abraham Stern Service Award.

Before coming to the Young Israel of

Scarsdale, New York, where he was for

the past 20 years, Rabbi Rubenstein

served in pulpits in Milford, Massachu -

setts, and Providence, Rhode Island.

The Sy Syms School of Business on

the loss of Dr. Peter Lencsis, an

adjunct assistant professor of finance

and coordinator of insurance programs

since 2000. He taught insurance,

finance, estate benefits and employee

programs. He was also a beloved

student advisor and special projects

coordinator. Lencsis was the author of

many articles and several books on

business insurance, liability and work-

ers’ compensation law. Heralded as a

favorite of many students, he took

great pride in having been selected

adjunct professor of the year at Sy

Syms in 2007.

The family of Samuel J. Sable, who

with his late wife, Jean, and their

friends named the Samuel J. and Jean

Sable Chair in Jewish Family Social

Work at the Wurzweiler School of

Social Work. He was a devoted leader

on behalf of the university and many

other institutions. Heartfelt condo-

lences are extended to his children,

Marlene Weller, Heather Sable, Martin

(and Gayle) Sable, as well as his

grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rabbi Nachum Sauer ’69YC on the

passing of his mother Chana Bas AkivaSauer.

Jack L. Scharf, Esq., on the passing of

his beloved wife, Anita Scharf, who

together have been longtime support-

ers of Yeshiva University and its Rabbi

Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary,

personally and through associated

foundations. Anita was a kind, gentle

and caring friend, whose commitment

to Jewish education and to her family

was well known. Condolences are also

sent to their children Kenneth Scharf,

Donna Hoenig and their entire family.

Arnold Skolnick, husband of Beverly,

who was a past president of Young

Israel of Oceanside, New York. Our

thoughts go to his son Zev Skolnick’80YUHS, ’85YC and his wife Erica,

and to his daughter Naomi Kaszovitz’87SCW and ’90CSL and her husband

David ’80YUHS.

Dvorah Telsner ’63YUHS on the death

of her mother Edith in March 2007.

To the family of Anne Tanenbaum, who

passed away in April 2008. She was a

guardian of Yeshiva University and

generous provider of scholarships for

students at Yeshiva University and

AECOM. Condolences are sent to her

children, Joey and wife Toby Tannen -

baum, Minda and husband Les

Feldman, Tuaba and husband Sol

Spiro, Howard and wife Carole

Tanenbaum, Lawrence and wife Judy

Tanenbaum, Carol Tanenbaum, and

Jeannie Tanenbaum; to her brother

Bill and wife Noah Wolf; and to her

grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Anne and her husband Max, who

predeceased her, were among the

most generous supporters of Jewish

causes in Toronto.

Wilfredo Toledo, lead mechanic in

facilities management, on the loss of

his brother.

Stanley Waintraub, a YUHS parent and

former member of the YUHS board,

on the death of his beloved father IzakWaintraub in July 2008.

Dafna Zwickler, on the death of her

beloved husband Rabbi Joel Zwickler’77YC, ’82RIETS, ’82FGS. We also

send condolences to his mother, Ruth

Zwickler, his sons Donald ’79YC and

Zvi, and his daughter Chavi Tilson’83SCW.

Theological Seminary and Administration

Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies

Stern College for Women

Albert EinsteinYeshiva University High Schools

Y U R E V I E W • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 5 9

I N MEMOR IAM

E. Billie Ivry,Benefactor and First Female Trustee,Dies at 102

Yeshiva University deeply mourns the loss of E. Billi Ivry, a Universitytrustee, YU’s longest continual donor and a celebrated philanthropist ofJewish causes. Ms. Ivry died on October 18, 2008at her Manhattan home. She was 102 years old.“Billi Ivry taught us how to use all our being to

serve God,” said YU President Richard Joel in hiseulogy. “Her heart was large and pure, her spineupright with dignity and integrity, her eyes undi-minished in their foresight and love, and her lipsfilled with encouragement and humility.”Even as her eyesight faded, President Joel

noted, “her vision remained clear. That vision wasfocused on the children, on the Jewish story, onlearning and on knowledge. That vision focuseduntil the last on serving as a link between her parents, Rebecca and Israel Ivry, and our children,Jewish history and Jewish destiny.”In 1987, Ms. Ivry became the first woman ever

elected to the University’s Board of Trustees. Shewas also the first person to serve on the boards offive different YU schools: Stern College for Women(1987), Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law(1985), Bernard Revel Graduate School for Jewish Studies (1992) andAzrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration (2002).A YU Benefactor, Ms. Ivry memorialized her mother by endowing

the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College, thelargest and most diversified university program of Jewish studies inNorth America.Ms. Ivry also endowed scholarship funds, research fellowships, a

professorial chair, a free loan fund, a Beit Midrash [study hall], and a student center at various schools under the Yeshiva University banner,from Stern College and Cardozo to Rabbi Isaac Elchanan TheologicalSeminary.In 1987, Ms. Ivry was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane

Letters degree, the highest honor YU bestows upon an individual. In

conferring the degree, then University President and now ChancellorRabbi Norman Lamm said of her: “Throughout your life—in work and inleisure, in family and in community—you have unabashedly proclaimed,‘Ivry Anokhi’—I am proudly Jewish, a member of the Hebrew people.”Ms. Ivry served since 1992 on the Board of the Jewish Theological

Seminary, where she endowed the Rebecca and Israel Ivry Prozdor HighSchool and the E. Billi Ivry Professorship of Talmud and Rabbinics. She was served on boards of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity,the State of Israel Bonds, the Friends of the Bezalel Academy of Arts

and Design in Israel, and the Brookdale Center onAging at Hunter College. She also supportedJerusalem College of Technology (Machon Lev),David Yellin College of Education, and Boys Town,Jerusalem.E. Billi Ivry was born on August 27, 1906 in

Grajevo, Lithuania/Poland, one of seven childrenof Israel and Rebecca Ivry. Her father was in thelumber business in Europe and a paper box manufacturer in New York City, while her mother became very active in philanthropic workwith women’s organizations in Manhattan.After graduating from NYC public schools Ms.

Ivry accepted a summer secretarial job at UnitedCigars and was soon selected to work for variousexecutives. She so enjoyed her work that shedecided to forego her acceptance at HunterCollege to take a position as secretary to the CEOof that company.From there, she went to work as personal

secretary to the top executive of McCrory Department Stores; he fueledher interest in investing when he loaned Ms. Ivry a small amount ofmoney to invest on her own behalf.When Ms. Ivry was in her 50s she became a licensed stockbroker,

enjoying a successful second career at Bache, McKennon, E.F. Hutton,Prudential and Prudential Bache. This success propelled her third—andfavorite—career, as a philanthropist, following in her parents’ footsteps.Ms. Ivry is survived by her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces,

grandnephews and cousins, many of whom attended the special birthdaycelebrations sponsored by Yeshiva University over the years, includingher centennial. It was at that event that Richard Joel, the YU President,played the accordion. “I hope she forgave me for that,” he said in hiseulogy. �

A Look Back

CURIOSITY IS TIMELESS (and apparently much more formal in the ’40s). This student life

photograph, shot in one of our laboratories, was taken sometime during or after 1947 by

Herbert S. Sonnenfeld. We have identified the young man with the glasses as Theodore “Ted”

Kallner ’44YUHS, ’48YC. If you recognize the other two gentlemen pictured, let us know who

they might be at yureview@yu.edu and we will publish their names in the next issue.

6 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • Y U R E V I E W

Jerry and I always valued what the school stood for, especially its mission of Torah Umadda. I think of it as a modern Orthodoxy—you can be Jewish, lead a religious life and also beengaged in the world.”

—MARY SWARTZ

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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ESTABLISHING A SCHOLARSHIP OR ENDOWMENT AT YESHIVA UNIVERSITY TO HONOR A LOVED

ONE, PLEASE CONTACT HENRY T. RUBIN, JD, DIRECTOR OF PLANNED GIVING, TOLL-FREE AT 877-983-3857 OR 212-960-0870;

FAX TO 212-960-0869; OR E-MAIL HRUBIN@YU.EDU

InspiringFor one intensive and inspiring month—filled with lectures, tours andtraditional beit midrash [study hall] and chavruta [partner-style]study—20 Yeshiva University students traveled this past summer toIsrael as part of a program called July in Jerusalem. Now in its secondyear, the program is designed to provide those from secular back-grounds with focused learning about Torah and Jewish values.

During part of their month, students also had an honored guest intheir midst: Mary Swartz ’88C, the donor who has made this programpossible.

“It was wonderful,” Swartz said of her time with the program.“Young people have to have a real interest to make this type of com-mitment to their religious lives. They were able to build a tremendousidentification with Israelis, both on a spiritual and religious basis.”

Swartz’s own life experience has been marked by a deep commit-ment to her faith. A native of Cincinnati, she converted to Judaismwhen she and her late husband, Jerry, an advertising executive, wereliving in Tokyo. Years later, in 2004, the couple provided seed moneyfor YU’s then-new Mechinah Program, now the Gerald and MarySwartz Introductory Learning Program. The program takes studentswith limited foundations of Judaism and offers them unique experi-ences in Jewish life and scholarship. It was a perfect fit for theSwartzes’ interests in raising consciousness of the Jewish faith, espe-cially amongst unaffiliated Jews. Jerry, in particular, was passionate

about the concept of pintele yid, fostering the spark of Judaism thatexists in all young people of Jewish descent—a spark that can be easi-ly lost in the din of mainstream culture.

Swartz, who is currently working part-time as a lawyer for the cityof New York focusing on the issue of eminent domain, decided to spon-sor July in Jerusalem as part of her continuing involvement with theMechinah Program. “Jerry and I always valued what the school stoodfor, especially its mission of Torah Umadda. I think of it as a modernOrthodoxy—you can be Jewish, lead a religious life and also be en -gaged in the world.”

The Swartzes’ values are inextricably linked to the program.Shoshana Schechter, coordinator of the Basic Jewish Studies Programat Stern College for Women, noted that the Swartzes “had an incredi-ble amount of insight to understand that education is the key tostrengthening Jewish identity—we have a tremendous amount of grat-itude for how profoundly their gifts have enhanced our program andtouched our students.”

One student touched by the couple’s generosity is Cheryl Noll’10SCW, who had the opportunity to attend the recent session of Julyin Jerusalem. Noll, whose parents are both Israeli, had attended pub-lic schools her whole life and found the classes in Israel deeply affect-ing. “July in Jerusalem was a life-changing experience,” said Noll. “NowI know that this is where I’m supposed to be.”

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