(l-r): Aviv Ezra, Israeli Consul General, at this year’s Hanukkah Dinner with Ira Mitzner, Chairman of YU’s Board of Trustees; U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, namesake of the newly announced Senator Joseph Lieberman Center for Public Service and Advocacy (made possible by a generous gift from the Ira Mitzner and Riva Collins Mitzner Families); and Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University Message From The President
Dear Friends, Students and Colleagues,
As the year draws to a close, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the many heroes who have emerged from the tragedy of Oct. 7 and its aftermath: the brave IDF soldiers in Israel, our brothers and sisters in Israel and to all those across the globe who have tirelessly contributed time, prayers and steadfast support of Israel. On Dec. 3, during our 99th Annual Hanukkah Dinner, over 500 esteemed friends and supporters of YU came together to celebrate these heroes. The evening, filled with music and unity, paid tribute to the unwavering courage displayed by those who defend our people. Renowned Israeli singer-songwriter, Ishay Ribo, not only graced us with his performance but was also honored with the University’s Or l’Yisrael (Light of Israel) award for his exceptional contributions to our community. This year’s Hanukkah Dinner not only showcased our values as the flagship Jewish University but, at this critical moment in history, underscored our profound mission—to educate and develop the next generation of leaders and advocates for Israel. In this edition of the View from YU , you will read concrete examples of this mission in action—from YU’s powerful presence at the March for Israel in Washington, D.C., where over 2,500 students, among the largest contingents at the rally, expressed their solidarity with the Jewish state, to Operation Torah Shield III, which sent 36 undergraduates on a week-long chesed mission to Israel, offering solace to grieving families and wounded soldiers. A collabo- ration between YU’s Undergraduate Torah Studies program and the Counseling Center brought Yossi Landau, a volunteer with Zaka, to the Wilf Campus for a moving talk on the valiant actions of first responders in the wake of Oct. 7. More than 150 members of YU’s Political Action Club traveled to our nation’s capital to lobby elected officials on support for Israel and the need to combat antisemitism on college campuses. Meanwhile, our Alumni Affairs Office organized a highly successful webinar with more than 220 participants, addressing ways to confront antisemitism and anti-Zionism in the workplace. As you will read in the pages that follow, YU is steadfast in its mission to enable the Jewish leaders of today to educate our leaders of tomorrow—instilling in them the values and skills necessary to lead purposeful lives dedicated to the greater good of the Jewish people and our broader society.
My warmest regards,
Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman President, Yeshiva University
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