YESHIVA UNIVERSITY ∞ WINTER 2012 YUTODAY ∞ VOLUME 16 • NO. 1 Annual Dinner Shines Light on Honorees 5,140 United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand keynotes Yeshiva University’s 87th Hanukkah Dinner and Convocation Approximate number of times Dr. Eliezer Schnall’s findings on religious service attendance and optimism were cited in the media PAGE 2 $1.2 million NIH grant money awarded to YU President Richard M. Joel bestowed an honorary doctorate degree on U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at the 87th Annual Hanukkah Dinner and Convocation. Stern College At right, Stern student Avital Chizhik lights a candle on the symbolic menorah, as one of eight Point of Light honorees at the dinner. science faculty nited States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand delivered the keynote “Like the ancient Maccabees, we reaffirm our commitment to PAGE 4 address at Yeshiva University’s 87th Annual Hanukkah Convo- life and values, to success and purpose, to faith and freedom, to teach Ucation and Dinner on Sunday, Dec. 11 at The Waldorf=Astoria and to touch, to rights and responsibilities,” he said. “Yeshiva teaches in New York City. YU President Richard M. Joel bestowed an hon- its students to dream and to achieve. The Jewish people, the United orary doctorate upon Sen. Gillibrand, describing her as “a voice for States, Israel, indeed the whole world, needs to reignite the passion vulnerable citizens,” and her career as one in which “fervor for family of purpose, the belief in ideas, the access to achievement and the pos- fuels [her] political passions.” sibilities of tomorrow.” 25 “Whatever issue you bring, you bring from principle, not parti- In her convocation address, a heartfelt message replete with Countries sanship or ideology,” said President Joel. “You devote your profes- both personal anecdotes and political aspirations, Sen. Gillibrand represented by the sional career to opening the eyes of so many who don’t want to see.” praised YU for ingraining in all its students a defining mantra of giv- 250 international At the convocation, President Joel also conferred honorary de- ing and leadership, and inspiring students to reach out and make a students enrolled grees upon technology executive Philip Friedman, a member of YU’s difference in the lives of others all over the world. at YU Board of Trustees since 2009 and a former board member of YU’s “I am most grateful for the leadership taught here at Yeshiva PAGE 4 Syms School of Business; real estate developer Ira Mitzner, a trustee University … a quality education built on a foundation of faith and val- of YU since 2007 who established the David Mitzner Deanship of the ues,” said Sen. Gillibrand. “When times are dark and unstable, this Center for the Jewish Future; and commercial real estate executive leadership is seen in its greatest light and we need to share these op- Stephen B. Siegel, a 25-year board member at YU’s Benjamin N. Car- portunities for vision and commitment.” dozo School of Law. She told the story of Josh Teitcher, a YU student who partici- “These recipients of honorary degrees are a shining light on YU pated in a summer program called Counterpoint Israel, making it his 14 and the world, and their lights are life lessons to our students and to mission to work tirelessly with a speech-impaired child, giving him International scholars all of us,” said President Joel. “Tonight, we celebrate the successes of hope and inspiration. “He was determined to make a difference in a who participated in a an amazing, noble enterprise, and resolve to keep it strong and sacred. little boy’s life,” the senator said. Continued on Page 6 ç prestigious research project led by YU’s Dr. Mordechai Cohen PAGE 4 Leadership and Longevity: Coach Jonathan Halpert’s 40 Years with the Macs orty years ago, Dr. Jonathan Halpert shiva University, and their story is the story of 227 ’62YUHS, ’66YC, ’78F began leading the Yeshiva,” said YU President Richard M. Joel. YU and YUHSG FYeshiva University Maccabees basketball “The passion and professionalism that Coach students who program, serving as coach, mentor and guid- Halpert has brought to his four decades as lobbied for Israel ance counselor to scores of young men at YU. coach are simply a manifestation of the passion on a mission This year, those former ball players are giving and commitment that he has as an alumnus to Washington back in a big way. and as a committed Jew. That’s what makes PAGE 5 Halpert’s four-decades-long tenure at the this opportunity to honor Coach Halpert and helm of YU’s basketball team is a remarkable to formally recognize his incredible years of feat in a field where most basketball coaches service to YU so special.” change schools several times during their ca- Halpert has also been recognized twice as reer. To recognize Halpert’s lasting influence a Skyline Conference Coach of the Year and on his players and his legacy at the University, was a two-time winner of the College Basket- 120 YU is joining athletic alumni to honor the ball official Sportsmanship Award. YU students coach by endowing a scholarship fund in his After a group of past players met to decide who mentor name for undergraduate students, and by re- on how best to honor the coach, they conveyed local students naming the basketball court over which he pre- Coach Jonathan Halpert their ideas to President Joel, who challenged as part of the sides in his honor. them to raise a minimum of $250,000 to name Heights Initiative Halpert has a long history with YU. During his student years, he the court. Daniel Gibber ’91YUHS, ’96SSB and coach of the MTA PAGE 8 was a basketball player, serving as team captain in his senior year, and Lions, was instrumental in developing the idea. “Forty years is an in- later attended YU’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Halpert’s credible amount of time to so selflessly dedicate to a university and a father, Dr. Max Halpert, also attended YU and worked for the school’s basketball program,” said Gibber. “Hundreds, even thousands of play- Interesting new facts about YU all the time. development office for more than 30 years. The coach’s brother and ers, students and people who have gained from Jonny’s teachings Check in often at children are also products of YU, and his grandchildren are now con- about basketball and life and have benefited immensely from him. blogs.yu.edu/news tinuing the legacy. When I realized that there was a high school team in our own league “In so many ways, the Halpert family is synonymous with Ye- that named their court in honor of Continued on Page 6 ç 2 YUTODAY YU Scholars Visit Teaneck for YUTODAY ON THE WEB www.yu.edu/news Community Shabbaton eshiva University made a quick trip across the George Yeshiva University Invites you to a Teaneck Shabbaton Washington Bridge for Shabbat on Nov. 11–12 as the November 11-12, 2011/ 15 Cheshvan, 5772/ Parshat Vayera YTeaneck and Bergenfield communities hosted many of ! YU’s leading scholars and personalities in various shuls We lo ou ok for ith y ward to spending Shabbat w throughout the community. The Shabbaton—organized by YU’s Center for the Jew- ish Future (CJF)—featured President Richard M. Joel; Rabbi RICHARD M. JOEL RABBI HERSHEL RABBI KENNETH RABBI OZER RABBI LAWRENCE MRS. CB President, Yeshiva SCHACHTER BRANDER GLICKMAN HAJIOFF NEUGROSCHL University Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Isaac The David Mitzner Dean, Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Isaac Judaic Studies Faculty, Head of School, Samuel Bravmann Family Elchanan Theological Center for the Jewish Elchanan Theological Stern College for Women H. Wang Yeshiva Kenneth Brander, David Mitzner dean of the CJF; Rabbi Universityy Professor Semieminarynarry FutFutureure SSeminaryeminary University HHighigh SSchoolchool Hershel Schachter, rosh yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary; Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, professor DR. RONA NOVICK RABBI DR. JACOB PROFESSOR DR. EFRAT RABBI MICHAEL RABBI JEREMY WEB EXCLUSIVE: Director, Doctoral J. SCHACTER LAWRENCE H. SOBOLOFSKY TAUBES WIEDER Program, Azrieli Graduate Senior Scholar, Center SCHIFFMAN Director, YUConnects, Menahel, Yeshiva Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Isaac of Jewish History and senior scholar at the CJF; and Dr. School of Jewish for the Jewish Future Vice Provost for Center for the Jewish University High School Elchanan Theological Education University Professor Undergraduate Education Future for Boys - Marsha Stern Seminary Talmudical Academy Lawrence Schiffman, vice provost for undergraduate educa- 87th Annual Hanukkah tion, among others. Dinner and Convocation “The responsibility to reach out to communities in North America and forge an ongoing relationship Look online at our photo gallery, is one which we embrace, but we cannot forget communities right in our own backyard,” Rabbi Brander with hundreds of pictures from the event said. “It is important for us to celebrate the synergy between YU and the Teaneck Jewish community.” k yu.edu/hanukkahdinner Rabbi Brander noted that 307 current YU students, as well 2,500 alumni, hail from Teaneck. Speakers spent Shabbat rotating among several different shuls in the area. Lectures covered a multi- k Download mobile reader at http://scan.mobi and enjoy additional web content throughout YUToday. tude of topics, including “Modern Orthodoxy and the Collapse of Wall Street,” “The Chosen People: A Superiority Complex or Recipe for Jewish Success?” and “When Science and Halakhah Clash.” PLUS The Shabbaton also included a Friday night event for high school students, as well as an interactive Syms to offer Executive MBA program, beginning panel discussion on “Spirituality and Jewish Identity.” in August “YU impacts the Teaneck community, and the Teaneck community impacts YU,” said President k yu.edu/symsmba Joel.