YUYESHIVATo UNIVERSITY • JUNE 2005 • VOLUME d 9 NO. 5 ay

Jeffrey Swartz Urges Graduates Fellowship Awardees to Apply Torah to Their Lives to Pursue Research

I ‘Take Torah to the Street’ says Timberland CEO at 2005 Commencement

effrey Swartz, CEO of The Square Garden. Mr. Swartz also active in your community.” Timberland Company, received an honorary doctor Mr. Swartz is the third gen- charged 600 Uni- of humane letters degree eration of his family to lead the versity undergraduates from YU. socially responsible footwear, Jto apply the lessons of “Torah learning is not just apparel and accessories com- Torah in all aspects of their lives sitting in the beit midrash,” pany. Under his leadership, Tim- during his keynote speech at he said. “Being active in the berland’s annual revenues have the university’s 74th com- words of the Torah means study grown from $156 million in mencement exercises May 26 and action. You have to take 1989 to more than $1.4 billion. at The Theater at Madison Torah to the street by being President Richard M. Joel conferred some 2,000 under- William Stenhouse Jay Ladin graduate and graduate degrees, and re-conferred degrees upon rofessors Jay Ladin and publication of a book. the Yeshiva College class of William Stenhouse re- Dr. Ladin taught narrative 1955 in celebration of its 50th ceived post-doctoral re- poetry and American Literature reunion, and acknowledged search fellowships to II this spring at Stern, where he the reunion classes of 1980 Ppursue research interests during has also taught composition, and 1995. the 2005–2006 academic year. creative writing, and American During his address, the presi- Dr. Ladin, David and Ruth poetry. dent told students “to bring Gottesman Assistant Professor The Stern professor was en- wisdom to life.” of English at Stern College for couraged in his fellowship “Today marks a great be- Women and director of its application by Morton Lowen- ginning,” he said. “You have Writing Center, received a grub, PhD, vice president for assembled the kite that is your research fellowship from the academic affairs, and Karen life: You have crafted it, American Council of Learned Bacon, PhD, The Dr. Monique launched it, it has caught the Societies. His research will C. Katz Dean of Stern College. Valedictorians L-R: Ari Wainberg (IBC), Leeran Factor (JSS), breeze, and now it soars toward focus on the of Ameri- Dr. Ladin said both adminis- Riva Preil (SCW-), David Hellman (YC), Yael Wagner your future. So feel the tug of can poetry from 1850 to 1920 trators understand the impor- (SCW-General Studies), Eli Belizon (MYP), Rebecca Reback (SSSB), and the origins of modernist and Michael Nahmias (SSSB). Not pictured is Ian Baine (BMP). continued on page 9 poetry, and will lead to the continued on page 9

Students Urge Action on Darfur at Central Park Rally

eshiva University stu- David Weinberg, the orga- former Borough dents were bolstered nization’s director and a YU President, spoke at the rally, by hundreds of sup- senior, said the inspiration for which was covered by local porters from other the rally came from the Human and national print and televi- Yregional universities on May 8 Rights and Sovereignty lecture sion media. when they gathered in Man- series hosted by Stern College Other speakers included hattan’s Central Park to raise for Women this spring com- Yahya M. Osman, general sec- awareness of the killing of memorating the 60th anniver- retary of the Darfur Rehab thousands of innocent people sary of the end of the Holocaust. Project, who lost six members in Sudan. “It is our responsibility as of his family to violence in Not Now Not Ever, a student- Jews to stand up and make Kutum, Sudan. run humanitarian organiza- sure that the kind of genocide “People often use the tion founded by YU students, our grandparents’ generation excuse, ‘We’re only human,” organized the rally, which Inspiration for the rally came from Human Rights experienced doesn’t happen President Joel said. “But for us drew 1,000 participants. and Sovereignty lecture series at Stern College. today,” Mr. Weinberg said. as Jews, humanity is not an The students partnered with Richard M. Joel, YU presi- excuse; it’s an aspiration. It is groups at other East Coast uni- University of Connecticut, Rutgers, Swarthmore College, dent, and Ruth Messinger, our responsibility as humans to versities, including Brandeis, Georgetown, Harvard, NYU, Touro College, University of executive director of Ameri- Brooklyn College, Columbia, Penn State, Queens College, Pennsylvania, and Vassar. can Jewish World Service and continued on page 9

E INCUBATOR WATCH OUT, A DEBT LESSONS PROJECT WORLD REPAID FROM DELIVERS HISTORY D

I Presidential Fellows Here They Alumnus Clears CSL Looks at Sponsor Sexuality Come—YU’s Holocaust Nuremberg

S Program 2005 Grads Hero’s Name Legacy N Page 3 Page 6 Page 8 Page 12 I

www.yu.edu/news/publications 2 YUToday June 2005

department at St. Vincent’s Hos- CONDOLENCES TO Abraham M. Mann, PhD, ’59Y,B,R, People in the News pital titled “An Update on Issues in director of development for RIETS, College Mental Health.” Also, he Paul Brusiloff, CSL board member, on the loss of his father, Rabbi conducted a training session for on the loss of his father, Eugene. Jacob. With his late wife, Isabelle, Chaim Feuerman, EdD, Golda NJ; and “Can We Help Young the student affairs division of Rabbi Mann established scholar- Koschitzky Professor of Jewish Edu- People Affected by Domestic Vio- Fordham University on suicide Dr. Meir Havazelet ’68B, SCW pro- ships at YC and SCW and was a cation, AGS, offered faculty training lence Build Healthy Relation- prevention and suicide response fessor of Bible, on the loss of his Guardian of YU. programs and staff consultations ships?” NYC Dept. of Youth and on college campuses. wife, Sarah (Mirsky). in March at Stern Hebrew High Community Development. School of Philadelphia and Mai- Moshe Sokolow, PhD, YH,’69Y,B, Irma Hilton, PhD, professor at monides School of Brookline, MA. Daniel Pollack, MSW, JD, professor Fanya Gottesfeld-Heller Professor FGS, on the loss of her mother, BOARD NEWS at WSSW, authored “Intercountry of Jewish , AGS, authored Alice Lubin. YC Writing Center staff—Lauren Adoption: Who are the Good “Teaching Spirituality in Day Penny Randall, MSW, Lisa Hersh- Fitzgerald, PhD, director; Allison Guys?” in the American Public Schools and Yeshiva High Schools,” Naomi Kapp, associate director of berg Striar, PshD, ’97F, and Therese Smith, assistant director; Liesl Human Services Association’s Jewish Spirituality and Divine Law YU’s Office of Career Services, on Rosenblatt, PhD, ’94F were elected Schwabe, faculty tutor; and (APHSA) Policy & Practice, March (The Michael Scharf Publication the loss of her father, Josif Kapp. to the FGS board of directors. undergraduate tutors Tzvi Kahn, ’05. Trust of the Raimy Rubin, and Leib Zalesch (all Press, 2005). YC seniors)—presented “Stigmas Rabbi YH, Scott Apfelbaum to Direct and Enigmas: Approaching Worlds ’62Y,R, Nathan and Vivian Fink Publications by Manfred Weid- of Difference in the Writing Center Distinguished Professor of Talmud, horn, PhD, Abraham S. and Irene Operations in Israel Session” at the Northeast Writing gave a shiur (lecture) in English, Guterman Professor of English Centers Association Conference, “Eilu v’Eilu—The Possibility and Literature, this year included “Twin YU’s presence in Israel recently received a boost with the appoint- Long Island University-Brooklyn, Legitimacy of Differing Opinions” Stars: The Anxiety of Sibling Rivalry ment of Scott Apfelbaum ’89Y as director of operations for Yeshiva on April 17. at YU’s Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss between Literary Titans,” Papers on University in Israel and the Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Institute. Institute of Jerusalem in February. Language and Literature (Spring Mr. Apfelbaum’s duties are varied. In addition to being respon- Scott Goldberg, PhD, AGS assis- 2004); “Shakespeare’s Skepticism sible for the physical plant and the staff, he will communicate with tant professor, spoke in May on Alvin I. Schiff, PhD, ’47Y,F, Irving Redefined,” Orbis Litterarum (2004); government, municipal, and Jewish Agency offices, oversee budget “It’s Not the Media We Grew Up I. Stone Distinguished Professor of “A Match Made in Heaven” (accep- and fiscal activities, complete special projects and programs, and With,” South Nassau Communities Jewish Education, AGI, authored tance speech for 1998 Farrow Award provide support to alumni. Hospital. “Bashert—Partnership between Man for Excellence in Churchill Studies), “I want to create a strong educational, cultural and social center, and His Creator” in Chadashot, a Churchill Proceedings 1998–2000; a place where students and alumni can gather and feel at home,” , PhD, YH, quarterly published by the Young and “Pacifism Lost,” and “Notes Mr. Apfelbaum said. “With new programs and initiatives, YU will ’77Y,R,B, E. Billi Ivry Professor of Israel of Oceanside, NY. He pre- on the Ambiguity of Violence,” The have an impact on Israeli society as a whole.” Jewish History and chairman, sented an array of lectures at Cong. International Journal of Humanities Mr. Apfelbaum’s family made aliyah from Great Neck, NY, when Rebecca Ivry Department of Jew- Torah Ohr, Boca Raton, including and Peace (2004). he was 13 years old. He graduated from YU in 1989 with a bache- ish Studies at SCW, was scholar-in- a series of 15 on Haftarot focusing lor’s degree in . Before returning to Israel in 1992, Mr. residence at Mt. Sinai Jewish Center, on the historic, social, philosophic, Apfelbaum was assistant director of admissions at YU. He was also Washington Heights, in February. and linguistic background of the the administrative director of Yeshivat Sha’arei Mevaseret Zion for He spoke on “Views of Yemot annual cycle of readings. The syn- CONGRATULATIONS TO 13 years. Hamashiach” and “Ashkenaz and agogue awarded him its Marbitz “Scott is energetic and creative, and a consummate professional,” Sefarad: Similarities and Torah award. Also, he was inter- Rabbi Kenneth Brander ’84Y,R, said Howard M. Weisband, senior adviser on Israel Affairs. “As a YU Differences.” viewed on Israel radio on “Assim- inaugural dean of the Center for graduate and a professional, Scott shares our vision for YU in Israel ilation in the United States and the the Jewish Future, and wife Rachel and cares about our commitment to students, faculty, and the Prof. Edith Lubetski ’68B, head Role of Jewish Education in Com- (Tambor) Brander ’84S on the administrative leadership of the university.” librarian of Hedi Steinberg Library bating Assimilation.” birth of their fifth child, Chaim Mr. Apfelbaum is a member of the urban planning and devel- at SCW, presented greetings via Yitzchak Amichai. Mazal tov to opment committee in Efrat, where he lives with his wife and their video to Yaakov Aronson, Bar-Ilan David J. Schnall, PhD, YH,’69Y,R, grandparents Rabbi Aaron ’59R three children. University librarian, at a yom iyun AGS dean and Herbert H. Schiff and Ellen Brander. (day of study) celebrating his retire- Professor of Management and ment. Administration, was the keynote Chavi (Swidler) Eisenberg YH, speaker for the Chachmei Lev ’01S, director of undergraduate Rabbi Alter B.Z. Metzger ’54Y,R,F, National Honor Society, Hebrew alumni programs, and her hus- YUToday professor of Judaic studies, served Academy of Long Beach; and was band, Dr. Daniel Eisenberg YH'95, VOLUME 9 • NUMBER 5 as simultaneous translator (Hebrew- appointed associate of the on the birth of a son, Eliyahu

English, Yiddish-English) at Madison Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Shaul Eisenberg. YESHIVA UNIVERSITY Square Garden during the March 1 Morry J. Weiss, Chairman Siyum HaShas commemorating Samuel Schneider, PhD, depart- Rabbi Uriel Lubetski YH,’96Y,B,R, YU Board of Trustees the conclusion of the seven-year ment of Hebrew language and acting assistant principal at YH, on Richard M. Joel cycle of Talmud study. This is the Hebrew literature chairperson, his marriage to Shani Brukner. President third time he has functioned in authored “Hebrew Language Mazal tov to parents Dr. Meir and Dr. Chancellor that capacity. Study in Jewish Day Schools,” Prof. Edith Lubetski ’68B and Peter L. Ferrara Emunah magazine (spring/summer Harry YH’72 and Linda Brukner. Director of Communications and Public Affairs David Pelcovitz, PhD, Gwendolyn 2005). He also received YU’s Murray Joshua L. Muss, Chairman, Board of Directors, Yeshiva College; Marjorie Diener Blenden, and Joseph Straus Professor of and Madeleine Baumel Faculty Shoshana Margoliot of the YU Chairman, Board of Directors, Stern College for Women; Bernard L. Madoff, Chairman, Board of Jewish Education at AGS, spoke on Incentive Award for 2005. Israel office on the birth of a Directors, Sy ; Ira M. Millstein, Chairperson, Board of Overseers, Albert “Dealing with the Aftermath: A grandson and the marriage of her Einstein College of Medicine; Kathryn O. Greenberg, Chairman, Board of Directors, Benjamin Community’s Response to Tragedy,” Victor Schwartz, MD, director, daughter. N. Cardozo School of Law; Robert Schwalbe, Chair, Board of Governors, Wurzweiler School of ; Mordecai D. Katz, Chairman, Board of Directors, Graduate School Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jer- counseling and mental health of Jewish Studies; Katherine Sachs, Chair, Board of Governors, Ferkauf Graduate School of sey; “The Recipe for a Mentsch” at services at YU, made a grand-round ; Moshael J. Straus, Chairman, Board of Directors, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Cong. Sons of Israel of Cherry Hill, presentation to the psychiatry Education and Administration; , Chairman, Board of Trustees, (affiliate) Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary; Erica Jesselson, Chairperson, Board of Directors, (affiliate) Yeshiva University Museum. Board listings as of June 1, 2005.

Key to School Abbreviations YESHIVA UNIVERSITY TODAY Kelly Berman A, AECOM Albert Einstein College of Medicine • AG, AGI Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Editor Administration • BG, BGSS Belfer Institute for Advanced Biomedical Sciences • B, BRGS Bernard Revel Graduate Jerry Bergman, Esther Finkle, Marcy Frank, June Glazer, School of Jewish Studies • BSJM Belz School of Jewish • CTI Cantorial Training Institute • C, CSL Cardozo Norman Goldberg, David Hillstrom, Cara Huzinec, Esther Kustanowitz School of Law • F, FGS Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology • I, IBC Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies • J, Peter Robertson, Hedy Shulman, Shira Weiss, V. Jane Windsor JSS James Striar School of General Jewish Studies • MSDCS Max Stern Division of Communal Services • Y, MYP Contributors Yeshiva Program/Mazer School of Talmudic Studies • SBMP Stone Beit Midrash Program • R, RIETS Rabbi Isaac www.yu.edu/news/publications 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 • Yeshiva University Today is published monthly during the academic year by the Yeshiva W, WSSW Wurzweiler School of Social Work • Y, YC Yeshiva College • YH, YUHS Yeshiva University High Schools University Department of Communications and Public Affairs, 401 Furst Hall, 500 West 185th St., New York, NY 10033-3201 (212-960-5285). It is distributed free on campus to faculty, staff, and (MSTA The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy) (SWHSG Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls) students. © Yeshiva University 2005 June 2005 YUToday 3

David Glaser Hits a High Note with Music Award

avid Glaser, who has ence,” he said. taught music at YU The award is the most senior since 1996, received given by the academy’s music a music award from committee and is presented to Dthe American Academy of non-members of the academy, Arts and Letters at a ceremony said Jane E. Bolster, music on May 18. The award “honors awards coordinator. The Ameri- outstanding achievement and can Academy, founded in 1898, acknowledges the composer disperses annual cash awards who has arrived at his or her to some 50 artists, architects, own voice.” writers, and composers (who Dr. Glaser, visiting assistant are not members). professor of music at Stern Among the classes that Dr. College for Women, is a com- Glaser teaches are Sense of poser who writes frequently for Music, Chamber Music Coach- small groups of virtuosic play- ing, and Seven American Com- ers. He won the Academy Award posers, a course of his own in Music for two pieces, Gold- creation that traces the evolu- Vermillion, a trio for flute, alto tion of a distinctly American sax, and piano; and Moonset #1, musical style and , for soprano and clarinet. and features guest lectures by David Glaser enjoys exposing students to new music. One of four composers who three prominent composers. L-R: Ariela (Sherman) Orkaby, Rachel Krug, Malka Krupka, Elisheva Shulman, and Sarita Filler were honored, Dr. Glaser re- “I like the idea of exposing ceived a prize of $7,500 and students to music they would- musical style unique, he said, Apparitions, Dr. Glaser’s new will premiere this coming sea- an additional $7,500 toward a n’t otherwise have a chance to were “the way the melodic work for chamber orchestra, son both at the University of recording of one work. hear,” said Dr. Glaser, who lines and instrumental colors (based on collages by the Xalapa in Mexico and by the “This will help me produce previously taught at Yeshiva interact. They influence each artist Linda Plotkin) will pre- Washington Square Con- a commercial CD, which is the College and Columbia Uni- other as well as the larger miere August 14 in Westhamp- temporary Chamber Music best way to reach a large audi- versity. What makes his own shape of the piece.” ton, NY. His Piano Trio No. 2 Ensemble in New York. I

Presidential Fellows Project Focuses on Exhibit Showcases Attitudes Toward Sexuality Talmud’s History

Studies for Women and is a Herskowitz, YUM director. PhD candidate at the CUNY Never before displayed Graduate Center, suggested outside Israel, the mosaic the topic of gender relation- floor, from a synagogue in the ships to the Orthodox Forum, Beth Shean valley, weighs 3 a think tank devoted to tons. It is the earliest surviv- Jewish thought organized by ing rabbinic text, containing a YU, and went on to co-chair 29-line inscription about its annual conference in April. Jewish agricultural laws. She and Mr. Frances sat on the Talmud examples on dis- panel that discussed Ortho- play include a 13th-century dox singles. Spanish manuscript of Avodah “Jews of all ages face ten- Zarah (a tractate on idolatry sions in life and are often left frequently destroyed by the to face them alone, unguided Catholic Church) and one of by Jewish tradition,” Ms. the few extant complete sets Rosenfeld said. “I’m con- of the 16th-century Bomberg Jennie Rosenfeld and Koby Frances conceived of Tzelem. cerned that young Orthodox Talmud, which set the stan- people don’t know the basics dard for layout of the Talmud of sexuality—not just biologi- page. nonprofit project of New York. “Many felt like cal facts, but issues of social Other items include a copy called Tzelem— their feelings and experiences interaction, communication, of the Holocaust Survivors’ “image” in Hebrew— were out of sync with their and ways to be in a healthy Talmud printed by the United is the inaugural un- religious identity.” relationship.” sixth-century mosaic States Army in 1948. Adertaking of the Incubator The Presidential Fellows Ms. Rosenfeld and Mr. floor and rare Talmud “Printing the Talmud” also Project, created by the Yeshiva created the Incubator Project Frances plan to spend the tractates are on dis- features an online display of University’s 2004–2005 Presi- to encourage YU students to summer raising additional play at Yeshiva Uni- sample Talmud pages as well dential Fellows to support devote themselves to human- funds for their program. Aversity Museum as part of its as a multi-screen video instal- fledgling programs in need of itarian projects. In the fall, they hope to latest exhibit, “Printing the lation, “The Infinite Sea,” sponsorship. YU President Richard M. develop seminars on YU’s Wilf Talmud: From Bomberg to showing Talmud learning in The idea for Tzelem was Joel instituted the Fellowship and Beren campuses to help Schottenstein.” the United Kingdom, Iran, proposed by YU alumni Jennie program in 2004 to maintain students navigate the com- The exhibit, which opened Poland, Peru, Australia, Lithu- Rosenfeld YH,’01S,AG, and close ties with promising uni- plexities of relationships with April 12, explores the world of ania, the United States, Israel, Koby Frances, ‘97Y, who iden- versity graduates. the opposite sex. Talmud study and illustrates Mexico, and Russia. tified a need for an honest “This is a critical area we In the future, they would how technological advances “This exhibit highlights examination of sexuality and need to focus on to help like to devise a premarital have transformed the ancient the fascinating journey from gender relationships in the young people develop,” said counseling curriculum focus- discipline of Talmud study oral text to handwritten docu- Orthodox community. Hillel Davis, PhD, vice presi- ing on gender and interper- into an accessible pursuit. ments, to manuscript, to “I noticed a lot of my single dent for university life. sonal relationships that could “Our generation, which printed book and beyond,” peers struggling with issues “Supporting this type of val- be used by synagogues or lives in the midst of the digi- said Gabriel Goldstein, exhi- around their sexuality. Some ues-based education is part of individual rabbis. Eventually tal information age, can clearly bition co-project director. “It felt overwhelmed by their the university’s mission.” they hope to create a drop-in understand how the printing illustrates how printing the feelings,” explained Mr. Frances, Ms. Rosenfeld, who also counseling center. For more press created an impact on Talmud allowed this text to a PhD candidate in clinical completed YU’s Graduate Pro- information about Tzelem, e- those who lived in the fif- attain a preeminent position psychology at City University gram in Advanced Talmudic mail [email protected]. I teenth century,” said Sylvia in Jewish life.” I 4 YUToday June 2005

UNDERGRADUATE SCIENCE RESEARCH

YC Senior Lands For Stern Researchers, Nanoparticles Journal Placement Create Mega-Opportunities

Four Stern College students In March 2005, Ilana Pister At the 229th American presented physics research at discussed size control for Chemical Society meeting in national meetings of various nanoparticles at the National San Diego in March, senior science societies over the past Synchrotron Light Source Sarah Nemzer gave a poster year. The students worked on (NSLS) seminar at Brookhaven and oral presentation on an investigation of nanoparti- National Laboratory, and pre- “characterizing nanoparticle cles, each focusing on their sented on a similar topic at size” using x-ray and trans- own part of the project under the American Physical Society mission electron microscopy the supervision of Anatoly meeting in Los Angeles. techniques. Frenkel, PhD, associate profes- “Initially, I was nervous to At the National Meeting of sor of physics at YU. present my work to graduate the Materials Research Society “When materials are broken students and post-docs,” said in Boston in November 2004, Ben Lefkove researched tuberous sclerosis. down, the atoms form uni- Ms. Pister, a shaped bio- junior Louisette Soussan pre- que, exotic shapes,” Dr. Frenkel physics major due to graduate sented a talk confirming the Benjamin Lefkove, a senior at ous sclerosis phenotype in the said. “That’s predicted theo- next year. “But I knew the prediction that certain nano- Yeshiva College, co-authored skin and brain.” retically, but no confirmation material. Once I got to the particles will adopt regular a paper in the December 2004 “To me, research embodies of theories existed. We syn- conference, I was confident.” polyhedral shapes as their size issue of Journals of Biological the ideals of a doctor: to use thesized particles in our lab at Ms. Pister’s research focused changes. Chemistry based on research he all of one’s given potential to Stern College and investigated on the techniques used to Over the past year, junior conducted last summer at heal and better the world,” their structure using advanced synthesize and analyze gold Dana Glasner made three Emory University. said Mr. Lefkove, who began x-ray techniques.” nanoparticles. poster presentations, one at The Atlanta native re- doing research at Emory in the American Chemical searched tuberous sclerosis, a summer 2003. Society, the second at the genetic disease that causes “Seeing my name in print American Physical Society, benign and malignant tumors is a trophy of accomplish- and the third at the Annual on the brain and in other vital ment and a sense that I have NSLS Users’ Meeting at organs, under Jack L. Arbiser, aided in a new understanding Brookhaven. MD, PhD, associate professor and furthering of scientific “Giving a talk in front of a of dermatology at Emory Uni- progress.” distinguished audience, with versity School of Medicine. In After graduation, Mr. Lef- the best scientists in your field the lab, Mr. Lefkove’s research kove plans to continue doing present in the room, is a focused primarily on finding a research at Emory, pursue a tremendous experience for novel treatment for melanoma. master’s degree in either biol- young scientists,” said Dr. The paper is titled “Trans- ogy or biochemistry, and Frenkel. “It was most fulfilling genic expression of dominant attend medical school. He will for me to witness my students negative tuberin through a also hike the Appalachian defending their results in a strong constitutive promoter Trail, of which he has already L-R: Sarah Nemzer, Louisette Soussan, Dana Glasner, major conference setting.” I results in a tissue-specific tuber- completed 100 miles. I and Ilana Pister in Dr. Frenkel’s lab.

Students Raise More Than $70,000 for Israel’s Poor

eshiva University stu- Following a campaign kick- dents have raised more off event in February, students than $70,000 since partnered with schools and February as part of a synagogues nationwide to col- Ycampaign to help alleviate lect tzeddakah (charity money). hunger and poverty in Israel. Also, students hosted a variety The campaign, “Feed Israel’s of events, such as shiurim (lec- Hungry,” is an initiative of tures), and a matanot l’evyonim L’man Achai (for the sake of (gifts to the poor) drive for the our brothers), a grassroots, Purim holiday. student-run organization that “Because of the tremen- educates American Jews about dous efforts of students at YU, poverty in Israel. together with Jews from all “L’man Achai is an out- over the US, we were able to standing student-driven proj- help 652 families in Israel ect that proactively responds have food for Passover,” said to issues affecting the Jewish Baruch Deutsch, a representa- people,” said Rabbi Kenneth tive for Lev Chessed Charity Brander, dean of YU’s Center Fund, which benefited from On Memory Deborah Lipstadt, author of Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on for the Jewish Future, which L’man Achai’s contributions. Truth and Memory, spoke at YU’s annual Yom Hashoah observance May 4. plays a mentoring role for the The campaign wrapped up At the event, sponsored by YU’s Rabbi Arthur Schneier Center for International Affairs and student leaders of L’man June 5 at the Israel Day Parade organized by the undergraduate student councils, Dr. Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Achai. in . Jewish and Holocaust Studies at Emory University, gave a personal perspective on Holocaust “The experience of helping Students from Yeshiva denial and anti-Semitism. to feed Israel’s hungry will College and Stern College for Her emphasis was on honoring the memory of those who died. “We owe them something,” leave a life-long impression on Women collected money she said. “If only to live as Jews.” the students involved, inspir- there to distribute to Israeli The Yom HaShoah event honored Rabbi Herschel Schacter, a YC alumnus and the first US ing future initiatives, both on soup kitchens and charity Army chaplain to enter the Buchenwald concentration camp after its liberation in 1945. campus and in the outside organizations. I world.” June 2005 YUToday 5 Commencement20200505

Rabbi Herbert Bomzer, assistant professor of Talmud, celebrated the Abraham Gdanski (second from left) became the youngest YU alumnus in his family graduation of his three grandchildren: (L-R) Yonina Bomzer (SCW), (L-R): Jeffrey ’93Y, Melissa (Gdanski) Keiser ’96S, Scott ’93Y, and Jonathan ’03Y. Joel Bloom (YC), and Meshulem Rapps (YC).

Dr. Morton Lowengrub, vice president of academic affairs, hands A life-size figurine of Albert Einstein brought a light-hearted touch a diploma to Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology graduate to AECOM’s commencement. At right are Stephen H. Lazar, EdD, Paul Ferbank, while Professor Moshe Anisfeld looks on. assistant dean of AECOM, and President Richard M. Joel.

Jonathan Stavsky and his mother, Ruth, graduated on the same day, from SSSB and WSSW respectively.

YC’s Class of 1955 held a reunion for their 50th anniversary. Miriam Zucker, a 1971 WSSW alumna, hoods her son, Jonathan, at Wurzweiler’s commencement.

NY State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer delivered the keynote address at Cardozo’s graduation. President Richard M. Joel welcomes Stern students into The Theater at . 6 YUToday June 2005

PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE

Dali Ben-David

Sy Syms School of Business graduate Dali Ben- dream of a college degree. That she did, with David will soon start working for Perelson honors, when she walked across the stage at Weiner LLP, a midsize accounting firm in mid- Madison Square Garden during YU’s 2005 town Manhattan. It will be a far cry from the commencement. days not long ago, when she spent hours on Though proud of how far she has come, Ms. her feet making pastrami sandwiches at a deli Ben-David says her family is the most impor- in Forest Hills, Queens. tant part of her life. But Ms. Ben-David has come an even longer She credits her husband, son, and daughter way than that. with patience and tolerance during what she In 1979, at the age of 10, she and her family called “all those isolating days when I dedicated emigrated from Kutaisi, Georgia, in the former myself to my studies.” Soviet Union, to Naharya, Israel. Her family Ms. Ben-David also paid tribute to “the was part of a generation of Russian Jews who whole YU family” for making her experience so moved to Israel in the late 1970s and early enjoyable. “I cry when I think about leaving 1980s. this place. Everyone, even the librarians, were In 1996, Ms. Ben-David, possessing only a helpful,” she said. “I owe so much to Professor high-school education, moved with her hus- David Hornung [adjunct assistant professor of band, Chaim, and two young children to the accounting at SSSB]. He made accounting United States, where she hoped to achieve her much more than dry number crunching.”

Francine Garrett

“A huge transition into the real world” is how While a student at Einstein, Dr. Garrett vol- Francine Garrett describes graduating from unteered for the Student National Medical Albert Einstein College of Medicine after nine Association, the oldest and largest medical stu- years in its MD/PhD program. dent organization dedicated to people of color For the newly minted doctor, that world will and underserved communities. A board member be Cornell Weill Medical College–New York and former chair of the organization, she was Presbyterian Hospital, where she begins a three- recently named emeritus chairperson, a rare year internal medicine residency in June. honor. With a PhD in the field of immunology, Dr. She is also a recipient of a Bristol-Myers Squibb Garrett now hopes to get her feet wet in clinical Academic Medicine Fellowship, given to minor- research at Cornell. “The next year or so will be ity students by National Medical Fellowships, an adventure, finding the area I’d like to work and the Herbert W. Nickens, MD, Minority in,” she said. Medical Student Scholarship of the American Dr. Garrett was born in the United States Association of Medical Colleges. and grew up in Israel. A gymnastics scholarship Dr. Garrett plans to serve humanity where brought her to California State University at help is most needed, regardless of where her Fullerton, where she studied biochemistry. career takes her. That, she said, is thanks to Back in Israel for a summer term abroad, she “everyone at Einstein who helped me along worked in a cancer center and, for the first the way. I wouldn’t be where I am today, and time, “saw how powerful the combination of where I’m heading tomorrow, without them.” science and medicine can be,” she said.

Jack Hartog

He started law school at New York University including running a family business, Hartog in 1946. Fifty-nine years later, on June 7, 2005, Foods Inc., in New York City. That step marked Jack Hartog is graduating from the Benjamin the end of his hopes for finishing law school, N. Cardozo School of Law. Mr. Hartog said. “Life went on.” Mr. Hartog, a Holland native in his late 70s, But when he retired in 1999, he decided to came to the United States in 1940 during the give law school another try. German airborne invasion of Holland. While he does not intend to practice law, He studied at NYU, and had Mr. Hartog said that he wanted to go to law gone on to start law school there when he was school for the intellectual training and condi- offered a job managing a shoe factory in Penn- tioning. He has returned to work full-time at sylvania. He took the job instead of finishing the family business, where he plans to work for law school. It was a hard decision, Mr. Hartog a few more years. admitted. “But I don’t regret it, particularly “I’ve had an exciting life,” Mr. Hartog said. now that I’ve had my cake and eaten it too.” “Law school was the icing on top of the cake.” He later moved on to other ventures, June 2005 YUToday 7

PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE

David Kastner

A well-read physician—that’s what David map parts of the signal transduction pathway, Kastner intended to be when he enrolled in which is the means by which cells convert one Yeshiva College as an English major. But after kind of signal or stimulus into another. four years of undergraduate study, during Last summer also marked his receipt of the which he chose two additional majors—in Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, granted to biology and chemistry—Mr. Kastner, 23, will college sophomores and juniors who intend to enter the prestigious MD/PhD program at pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sci- Stanford University this fall. ences, or engineering. During the summer of 2002, the native of Mr. Kastner is interested in studying neuro- Teaneck, NJ, worked as a lab assistant at logical diseases and would like to combine Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, NY. patient treatment with research. The experience solidified his interest in research. He chose the Medical Scientist Training The following summer he conducted Program at Stanford because it stresses an inter- research at the Weizmann Institute of Science disciplinary approach. “[It] combines different in Rehovot, Israel, and found his interests shift- fields and fosters collaborative efforts among ing to biology. programs,” Mr. Kastner said. He spent the summer of 2004 in the Summer The program, which typically admits only Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program at eight to 10 students at a time, requires an the Rockefeller University, where he helped intensive seven to nine years to complete.

Chanita Warn

Chanita Warn has a string of academic achieve- Attending shabbatons and workshops with ments to her name. The biology major is this the children taught Ms. Warn how to react year’s recipient of the Ida Lamport Hurewitz with aplomb, even in difficult situations—a Memorial Award for Excellence in Biology at skill she developed further as a teaching assis- Stern College for Women. Last year, she was tant and tutor in the organic chemistry lab this awarded the American Chemical Society’s past year. Polymer Education Committee Honor for Out- “Working as a TA was a confidence-building standing Performance in Organic Chemistry. experience,” said Ms. Warn. “It was very satis- Vice president of Stern’s Chemistry Club, fying to help other students gain confidence in she also made the Dean’s Honor List during their own abilities.” each of her three years as a student here. In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist But these honors comprise only half of this attacks, Ms. Warn was one of a handful of Stern new graduate’s accomplishments. Throughout students who participated in the act of shemi- her years at Stern, she matched her academic rah, accompanying victims’ remains until burial. success with a desire to serve the community. “That was an unforgettable experience,” she As a high-school student in Cleveland and said. “It was very shocking, but it was a way to while studying for her undergraduate degree, give something back and pray for the victims.” she worked as a volunteer for YACHAD, the A native of Beachwood, Ohio, Ms. Warn will National Council on Synagogue Youth’s pro- attend SUNY State College of in gram for mentally disabled children and adults. Manhattan this fall.

Kenneth Wigginton

Social workers want to change the world and At this year’s Wurzweiler commencement, help people in need. But for 50-year-old Mr. Wigginton received the Irwin and Sylvia Kenneth Wigginton, social work—specifically Lieferman Award for Care of the Elderly. his years studying for his master’s degrees at “He is a champion for the aging,” said Wurzweiler School of Social Work—saved him. Joanna Mellor, DSW, assistant professor at His mostly administrative role as the records Wurzweiler, citing the “remarkable empathy he compliance specialist at an employment organ- showed clients in his fieldwork” as one of the ization had him “almost fading away,” Mr. reasons he was selected for the award. Wigginton said. His next job, as a public The Bronx native hopes to focus on clients guardian at Self Help Community Services, who don’t want to be helped, a population “rescued [him] from stagnation.” neglected by academic research, he said. “In For the last eight years he has helped people social work schools, it is projected that most deemed incapacitated by the NY State Supreme clients seek help,” Mr. Wigginton said. “But Court to deal with financial and medical issues. most clients I serve don’t fully acknowledge Most of his clients are hoarders scheduled for that they want help. eviction because they’ve accumulated so much “Social work is an art form more than a sci- trash. One of them kept a small stable horse in ence,” said Mr. Wigginton, himself a former his fourth-floor walk-up apartment. filmmaker and musician. “I look at people as “I clean their houses out, give them therapy pieces of art in progress and try to assist them for obsessive-compulsive disorder, which most in finding their specific medium in dealing of them have, and make their lives livable with life.” again,” Mr. Wigginton said. 8 YUToday June 2005

Alumnus Helps Clear Holocaust Hero’s Name

n June 1940, Aristides de times. Dismissed from his job, international campaign to Sousa Mendes, the consul- Dr. Sousa Mendes sold off his pressure the Portuguese gov- general of Portugal in family estate and died a pauper ernment to restore Dr. Sousa Bordeaux, made a decision in 1954. Mendes’ reputation. They Ithat would irrevocably alter About 40 years later, Robert worked with Jewish commu- the course of his family’s life. Jacobvitz, then the executive nities in Lisbon, France, and Defying government orders, director of the Jewish Com- Canada, gained major media Dr. Sousa Mendes worked munity Relations Council for coverage, and rallied the sup- around the clock processing Oakland, CA, read in a local port of US politicians, includ- thousands of visas to Jews newspaper about the efforts of ing Tony Coelho, then US fleeing Nazi-occupied France. Dr. Sousa Mendes’ son, John Representative of California Paul, to clear the family name. and a Portuguese American; He felt compelled to help. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ); “I thought, if I were a Jew and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D- standing in front of his door MA). at the time and someone “Through our international other than him had been in contacts, we created a mo- his place, my children and I mentum and consistuency for wouldn’t be alive today,” said the family’s cause that they Mr. Jacobvitz, a 1975 alumnus never had,” said Mr. Jacobvitz. of Wurzweiler School of Social Their efforts culminated in Work. a public apology from Mario Robert Jacobvitz (second from left) with “Sousa Mendes consulted Soares, Portugal’s first demo- Aristides de Sousa Mendes’ grandchildren. with his wife and children cratically elected president, in WSSW alumnus and they decided they had a 1995. During a ceremony at through and the good work of the pen he used to enter Robert Jacobvitz higher value to uphold than the Portugal National Theater their father did,” Mr. Jacobvitz those names. the Portuguese government at in Lisbon, Dr. Sousa Mendes said. Mr. Jacobvitz, now execu- The diplomat helped save the time. I could not but work was awarded the Medal of For his efforts, Mr. Jacob- tive director of the Building the lives of about 30,000 peo- on their behalf.” Liberty, the country’s highest vitz was awarded the Aristides Owners and Managers Asso- ple—including 10,000 Jews— In 1986, Mr. Jacobvitz civilian honor, and advanced de Sousa Mendes Medal by ciation (BOMA) of Silicon who gained safe passage founded the International to the most senior grade dip- the International Raoul Wallen- Valley, said he was inspired by through Portugal. Committee for the Commem- lomatic rating posthumously. berg Foundation at the the man whose cause he It was an act of moral oration of Dr. Aristides de For the surviving family Museum of the Jewish Heritage championed. “Sousa Mendes courage that plunged the large Sousa Mendes with John Paul members, a long shadow was April 6. The reception marked was one of those individuals Sousa Mendes family, descen- and his wife Joan Abranches, lifted. the opening of the museum’s who sought justice and truth dants of a Supreme Court judge and Anne Treseder, an attor- “They have a sense of satis- exhibit of the registry book in his life, no matter the con- and members of the Port- ney in San Francisco. faction that the world now used by Mr. Sousa Mendes for sequences,” he said. “It was part uguese aristocracy, into dark The group mounted an knows the pain they went the first 2,000 visas issued and of the fiber of who he was.” I

David Pelcovitz Invested as Straus No Question Too Trivial for Professor in Jewish Education Stock Market Contestants

avid Pelcovitz, PhD, he was honored that ompeting students market. The first team to hit professor of educa- Dr. Pelcovitz accepted from 12 area Jewish the buzzer got to answer. tion and psychology the position of chair high schools could The Moshe Aaron Yeshiva at Azrieli Graduate occupant. “We need hardly contain their High School (MAYHS) of South DSchool of Jewish Education resources to train Centhusiasm at the first annual River, NJ, won the champi- and Administration, was in- teachers and rabbis,” Sy Syms School of Business onship, beating out Rav Teitz stalled as the occupant of the he said. Stock Market Trivia Contest on Mesitva Academy of Elizabeth, Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus YU President Rich- April 13. During each round, NJ. The Frisch School captured Chair in Jewish Education at ard M. Joel empha- teammates met the correct third place. an official ceremony in sized the critical role answers with applause, laugh- All 12 teams, their teachers, Geraldine Schottenstein Cul- Dr. Pelcovitz plays in ter, and high-fives. and a number of Syms students tural Center March 31. The advancing Azrieli and One teacher from The Frisch and professors gathered in chair, endowed by Moshael its commitment to School of Paramus, NJ, said Weissberg Commons during and Zahava Straus in memory Jewish education. “In students there had looked for- the break for an address by of their parents, is at the moving the university ward to the contest for days. Peter M. Kash, chairman of Azrieli School with a joint forward we needed a In each contest, two teams Two River Group Holdings appointment at YU’s Stern serious scholar, a pro- of four students were asked the and author of Success Through College for Women. fessional, and a ben same set of questions relating Failure. Mr. Kash told students “I would like to thank Torah [observant Jew] to Wall Street and the stock “never to fear failure.” I Moshael Straus for his gen- to spearhead efforts to President Joel installs David Pelcovitz erosity and vision, and for the help the Jewish com- as Straus Professor. wonderful appointment of Dr. munity, which he has Pelcovitz to this chair. This done throughout his career,” scope of behavioral difficulties gift will allow us to expand President Joel said. “We honor in Orthodox teenagers and the vision that Moshael’s David Pelcovitz with the suggested ways for educators leadership has brought to the Straus chair at the same time to intervene. school,” said David J. Schnall, that we honor the Straus chair Dr. Pelcovitz concluded by PhD, Azrieli dean. with David Pelcovitz.” paying tribute to supporters Mr. Straus, founding chair- Dr. Pelcovitz delivered the of the chair for “lighting man of the Azrieli board, sec- Straus chair inaugural address lights of inspiration for the retary of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan on “The At-Risk Adolescent in community, educating educa- Theological Seminary’s board the Orthodox Jewish Com- tors, and helping parents to and a YU board trustee, said munity.” He sketched out the hug their children.” I Students from 12 area Jewish high schools competed. June 2005 YUToday 9

Commencement, continued from page 1 Profiles in Courage: Righteous

Torah; feel the tug of learning.” Protectors Confront Genocide President Joel also bestowed honorary degrees upon Linda M. Hooper, creator of the Children’s Holocaust Memorial and Paper Clip Project; Leon Charney, host of The Leon Charney Report and member of the Board of Directors of YU’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law; and Barry Shrage, president of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston. Mr. Charney dedicated his degree to Ezer Weizman, president of Israel from 1993 to 2000, who died earlier this year, calling him a warrior in times of war and in peace. Mrs. Hooper, principal of Whitwell Middle School in Tennessee, received a standing ovation. Mrs. Hooper stressed the power of the individual to make a difference. “You can do anything if you decide to do it. Just do what is right.” President Joel lauded Mr. Shrage as a personal example of Jewish communal leadership. “You are a wonderful role model to our students of how devotion to community leadership can make a difference,” President Joel said. Anat Barber, one of the 2005 Graduate Fellows, explained the impact of the program. The Graduate Fellowship in University and Community Leadership program was instituted by Simone Weil Lipman and Rev. Carl Wilkens President Joel to keep top graduates connected to YU. It places recent graduates in university departments and exposes them to n the final event of the tal, Kinali. He stayed 100 days, American policies toward leadership and decision-making opportunities at the highest Human Rights and Sov- and saved more than 100 chil- Rwanda. levels. ereignty lecture series April dren who were dying of dysen- “There were simple things This year’s student speaker was Stern College for Women 18, sponsored by the tery, overcrowded conditions, the US government could have graduate Yael Wagner of Woodmere, NY, one of nine under- IMarcia Robbins Wilf Scholar- and thirst in an orphanage done but was limited by the graduate valedictorians. Ms. Wagner emphasized that reaching in-Residence Program, two peo- that had become a refuge. lack of will,” he said. any goal is a process. ple from different generations Ms. Weil Lipman joined Ms. Weil Lipman, who even- “There is always more to undertake, and there is always more met and discussed their efforts OSE, a child care agency that tually moved to the US and potential to realize,” Ms. Wagner said. I to save children during geno- was helping children in the in- earned a master’s degree in cides on different continents. ternment camps in France. At social work, said she continued Simone Weil Lipman helped first she was a social worker in her work after the war by tell- save hundreds of Jewish chil- the camps. ing her story to school children. Stern Faculty Fellowships, continued from page 1 dren in France during World When the children faced “If you don’t speak out you War II; Rev. Carl Wilkens saved deportation to Auschwitz, Ms. participate in the evil,” she said. hundreds of orphans during the Weil Lipman worked with the “I’m not an activist or demon- tance of scholarly research in maintaining high academic stan- genocide in Rwanda. Prof. Underground, finding hiding strator. But it’s important to dards at YU. Bryan Daves, coordinator of the places and false identities for help people to see humanity “It certainly creates organizational complications for a full- series that commemorated the them. In charge of a region and value in each other.” time faculty member to leave for a year,” Dr. Ladin said. “But 60th anniversary of the end of where 350 children were hid- Rev. Wilkens said he also Dean Bacon’s response was, ‘These are complications we love.’”. the Holocaust, said Ms. Weil ing, she sometimes had only 24 traveled and spoke at schools. Dr. Stenhouse, assistant professor of history at both Stern and Lipman and Rev. Wilkens hours to provide them with In his current job as chaplain/ Yeshiva College, received a fellowship from the Italian Academy proved that every individual new identities, coach them, pastor at Milo Adventist Aca- for Advanced Studies in America at Columbia University, which can make a difference. and take them to a new envi- demy in Oregon, he teaches his sponsors research relating to Italian history, society, and science. The two heroes told similar ronment. students the value of human Dr. Stenhouse will analyze how museums in Italy affected his- stories of courage, compassion, The children she helped life, an important continua- torical research and writing between 1550 and 1620, a time and selflessness. were placed by non-Jewish tion of his work. when collectors held important cultural roles and historians Rev. Wilkens emerged after agencies in foster homes, con- Saul Kagan, board member used material objects to reconstruct past events, thereby hiding in his home for three vents, private schools, and of Wurzweiler School of Social expanding the range of sources used to write history. weeks to find that he was the orphanages, where they were Work—which cosponsored the Dr. Stenhouse, whose research focuses on the history of only American and one of very accepted as Catholic. event—presented awards to archeology, this semester taught two courses at YC and one at few Westerners who had re- Rev. Wilkens said his expe- Rev. Wilkens and Ms. Weil Stern, an honors seminar on the history of travel writing and mained in Rwanda during the rience did not provide him with Lipman. “We are proud of ethnography. He will maintain an office at the Italian Academy genocide. “the luxury to feel frustration these people—of their selfless- on Columbia’s campus next year. Rev. Wilkens was director and anger,” although for years ness and inner courage that is “Taking the year off from teaching means that I can lay the of the Adventist Development afterward he couldn’t salute the almost inconceivable,” said foundation for my next project,” he said. and Relief Agency in the capi- United States flag because of Mr. Kagan. I “The fellowships awarded to Professors Ladin and Stenhouse are concrete indications of the importance of their work to the advancement of knowledge,” Dean Bacon said. “I know that after a year spent immersed in research and writing they will Almost 1,000 students danced return to us as even more creative teachers and colleagues.” I and sang late into the night in celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) at the Max Stern Athletic Center Darfur Rally, continued from page 1 on May 11. Earlier, the students packed into Lamport Auditorium in Zysman Hall to commem- involve ourselves with others.” orate Israel’s 57th birthday, Rally sponsors included Human Rights First, the Anti-Def- which featured a multimedia amation League, the American Jewish World Service, and presentation about YU students’ Yeshiva University. experiences in Israel through- Dr. Bryan Daves, a political science professor at Stern College out the years. The evening and coordinator of the human rights lecture series that inspired began on a more somber note the students’ involvement, said he had been hoping the pro- with a memorial program for gram would move students to work for change. Yom Hazikaron (Israel Memorial “Students involved in this effort have learned that they can Day), which remembers the take the lessons they have learned as Jews and relate them to the many soldiers who gave their rest of the world. In a remarkably short period of time they are lives for the Jewish State. raising awareness of the tragedy that is unfolding in Darfur among students and non-students alike,” Dr. Daves said. I 10 YUToday June 2005

Latino Task Force Honors Wurzweiler ‘Independent Thinker’ Earns Dean and Three Alumni National Merit Scholarship

eshiva University’s Puerto Rican Family Institute Community Mental Health Wurzweiler School of to address the shortage of Center in the Bronx, where halom Sokolow of Social Work recently bilingual Latino social work- she oversees 16 outpatient Manhattan, a senior received quadruple ers. For the past two years, Dean programs for adults and chil- at Yeshiva University Ykudos for its role in improv- Gelman has worked with dren, substance abusers, and High School for Boys ing the quality of life of New other members on initiatives victims of domestic violence. S(YUHS) in Washington York’s City’s Latino communi- to train more Latino social She teaches at Columbia Heights, received a $2,500 ties. Sheldon R. Gelman, the workers. University as an adjunct assis- National Merit Scholarship school’s Dorothy and David I. The three Wurzweiler grad- tant professor. for his performance on the Schachne Dean, and three uates were recognized for Dr. Ortiz Hendricks is asso- 2003 Preliminary SAT/ graduates of the doctoral pro- their achievements as Latino ciate professor at Hunter National Merit Scholarship gram—Evelyn Laureano, Car- social work professionals. College School of Social Qualifying Test. men Ortiz Hendricks, and Dr. Laureano is executive Work. She has researched, Mr. Sokolow, 17, received Evelyn J. Nieves—were hon- director of Neighborhood Self written, and taught courses a score of 224 out of 240 on ored by the Latino Social Help by Older Persons Project on diversity and culturally the PSAT and was one of Work Task Force at a lunch- (SHOPP), which provides social competent social work prac- 2,500 high school seniors eon March 31 for their efforts service programs for Latino tice, and contributed to across the country to receive to bring more culturally sensi- elderly in the South Bronx. NASW’s Standards for Cul- the scholarship. The stu- tive social services to the city’s Dr. Laureano, also an ad- turally Competent Social Work dents were chosen from a Latinos. junct professor at Wurzweiler, Practice, published in 2001. pool of 15,000 finalists. Dean Gelman is a member sits on Mayor Michael Bloom- Proceeds from the Task Mr. Sokolow will study at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel of the Latino Social Work Task berg’s Senior Advisory Council Force’s luncheon helped next year, after which he plans to attend Columbia Force, which was convened for the Department for the establish a scholarship pool to University to study political science. At YUHS, he is vice by the NYC chapter of the Aging. fund Latino students in social president of both the debate team and ARISTA, the National Association of Social Dr. Nieves is executive work programs. I school’s National Honors Society. Mr. Sokolow is also edi- Workers (NASW) and the director of Fordham-Tremont tor of The Academy News, the school’s newspaper. “I was very surprised and pleased to have received the scholarship,” Mr. Sokolow said. One of his favorite subjects is history, which enables him to “understand the circumstances that created the world in which we now live.” Scholarship recipients were selected by a committee that evaluated each candidate’s skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in college studies. “Shalom’s academic achievements, along with his demonstrated leadership ability and maturity, explain why he is so highly regarded by teachers, administration, and peers,” said Ya’acov Sklar, YUHS principal. “He is an independent thinker and needs virtually no direct guid- ance on how to tackle complex issues.” I Sheldon R. Gelman Carmen Ortiz Hendricks Evelyn Laureano

Winning Smile Sy Syms School of Business student Joey Bohm presents his business plan for a teeth-whitening company called Hollywood Smiles to judges at the second annual Dr. William Schwartz Business Plan Competition. Mr. Bohm was placed first in the competition, winning a prize of $5,000. He said his proposed company would be a lower-cost competitor to Brite Smile, which targets more affluent customers. Judges were Josh S. Weston, hon- ory chairman of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.; Gerry L. Golub, chair of American Express Tax and Business Services; and Michael J. Connelly, president and CEO of Mosaica Education, Inc.

Portraits of Creativity YU’s annual arts festival gave students a chance to show off their creative talents in exhibitions, performances, and readings both on and off campus. Refael Omer Cohen (top left), a SSSB senior majoring in marketing and minoring in fine art, displayed his self-portrait in a student exhibit at Weissberg Commons, Belfer Hall. Students from the Beren Campus participating in a concert at the Eldridge Street Synagogue on the Lower East Side included (bottom left) SSSB junior Rena Needle on vocals and SCW junior Hillary Lewin on guitar, and (right) SCW senior Leora Sarna on flute. June 2005 YUToday 11

LA Team Clinches Annual Sarachek How to Daf-a-Day Basketball Tournament When You’re on the Go

he annual Red Sara- mong observant Jews, on March 1 at Madison Square chek High School a pervasive trend is Garden, main site of the most Basketball Tourn- learning Daf Yomi, a recent Siyum HaShas, where it ament ended the same page of Talmud a day, attracted considerable atten- Tday as the NCAA Champion- Ain preparation for a large-scale tion, including an article in ship, on April 4. But the Sara- Siyum HaShas, a ceremony The New York Times. Hundreds chek game, while hard-fought, held every seven years mark- of ShasPods have since been was a little more one-sided. ing the completed study cycle sold to laypeople and rabbis The Los Angeles team for- of the Talmud’s 2,711 pages. all over the world. Customers merly known as YULA and now In world technology, a major include the chief rabbi of called Young Israel of Century trend is the iPod, a light- Venezuela and Rabbi Shmuel City emerged from a field of 20 weight personal listening Kaminetsky, Rabbi Gross- Jewish high schools nation- device with a large memory man’s rebbe. wide to capture the tourna- capacity for storing music. For customers who already ment championship by de- Recognizing the potential own iPods, Mr. Shmidman feating The Frisch School of in marrying these two trends, loads the lectures and returns Paramus, NJ, by a score of 53-36. Yeshiva College graduate the MP3 players to their owners. The 14th annual tourna- Yehuda Shmidman ’04Y saw The 24-year-old’s entrepre- ment, named for YU’s leg- the iPod as an ideal format for neurial initiative was already endary former basketball coach storing all 66 Talmudic trac- evident during his undergrad- Bernard “Red” Sarachek, fea- tates. uate education at YU. The tured 20 high schools repre- “I thought it would be cool Teaneck, NJ, native was the senting 14 US states and two A Frisch player pressures an opponent from to make Daf Yomi learning executive editor of The Com- Canadian provinces. Sara- Ramaz during the Sarachek tournament. accessible anywhere,” said Mr. mentator, the men’s under- chek, now 92 and living in Shmidman, chief operating graduate student newspaper, Florida, coached the Yeshiva formances. Among the closest (also known as the Rams) by a officer of Heck Yeah, a licens- and was one of the co-presi- College Maccabees for more games was a 42-41 victory by score of 40-37. ing and branding company in dents of the Operation Torah than 25 seasons. the Weinbaum Storm of Boca The most impressive victo- New York. II mission to Israel in 2001. He was inducted into the Raton, FL, over Kansas City’s ry occurred on the first day of For $100 more than a regu- Three years ago as president New York City Basketball Hall hard-charging Rams of the tournament when the lar iPod, Mr. Shmidman sends of the Israel Club, his passion of Fame in 1991 and the Hyman Brand Hebrew eventual champs, Young his customers a 20-gigabyte fueled YU’s first participation Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in Academy. Israel of Century City, bested “ShasPod” loaded with Talmud in the Salute to Israel Parade 1997. In later years, Coach Another down-to-the-wire Yavneh Academy in Dallas by lectures by Rabbi Dovid Gross- in almost a decade. I Sarachek was a consultant to match-up featured YU’s own a tally of 68-26. Yavneh’s man of Los Angeles. Com- the NBA’s Miami Heat. boys high school, The Marsha Bulldogs came back later in muters can listen in a car or on This year’s tournament was Stern Talmudical Academy the tourney to defeat the the subway, or open a gemara a five-day mix of nail-biting Lions, who lost a close battle Maimonides M-Cats from and follow along. “Put head- contests and dominating per- to downtown rival Ramaz Brookline, MA, 59-56. I phones on and you’re there,” said Mr. Shmidman. “The recordings take the lis- Three Cardozo Professors Make Their Mark tener through every single word of the text,” he said. at Stanford/Yale Junior Faculty Forum “After you finish all the shiurim [lectures], you literally have studied the entire Shas.” hree faculty members presentation, five of which of the Modern Class Actions” The device was launched of the Benjamin N. were selected since 2003— as part of a civil litigation and Cardozo School of more than any other school dispute resolution panel. Her Law—Professors Barton except Harvard University. paper will appear in the TBeebe, Daniel Crane, and Professor Beebe, who has Michigan Law Review. I Myriam Gilles—were chosen taught at Cardozo since 2000, Calendar of Events to present their work at the presented “Search and Per- sixth annual Stanford/Yale mission in Trademark” as part Junior Faculty Forum at Stan- of an intellectual property JUNE 1 SEPTEMBER 21 ford Law School on May 27–28. panel. The paper will be pub- Albert Einstein College of Yeshiva College 75th No other law school has mul- lished in the Michigan Law Medicine Commencement Anniversary Dinner tiple faculty members present- Review. 6 pm, Avery Fisher Hall 6 pm, Pier 86, ing their work this year. Professor Crane presented at Lincoln Center USS Intrepid, “Cardozo has been known “The Paradox of Predatory West 46th Street and since its founding for a Pricing” as part of an antitrust JUNE 7 12th Ave young, vibrant, and prolific session and plans to publish it Benjamin N. Cardozo School faculty. We are delighted that in the Cornell Law Review. of Law Commencement SEPTEMBER 29 the junior members of our Professor Gilles presented 2 pm, Avery Fisher Hall International Bioethics faculty, who follow in that “Opting out of Liability: The at Lincoln Center Conference tradition, are again being rec- Forthcoming Near-Total Demise Daniel Crane Location and time TBD ognized for their scholarship JUNE 8 Sponsored by the Rabbi by the larger scholarly com- YUWO Ballet and Luncheon Arthur Schneier Center munity,” said David Ruden- 11 am, Metropolitan Opera for International Affairs stine, JD, the school’s dean. House at Lincoln Center The forum encourages the work of young scholars by JUNE 28 inviting professors with one Wurzweiler School of to seven years of teaching Social Work Dinner experience to submit unpub- 6:30 pm, The Pierre, lished papers for evaluation. at 61st Street This year’s topics will cover private law and dispute reso- lution. Since the forum began in 2000, seven Cardozo For a more comprehensive listing, go to www.yu.edu/event.asp papers have been selected for Barton Beebe Myriam Gilles NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE YUToday PAID YESHIVA UNIVERSITY A PUBLICATION OF YESHIVA UNIVERSITY 500 WEST 185TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10033 JUNE 2005

Nuremberg Trials Teach Broader Lessons at Conference

n historic three-day day. Stephanie Frease, director conference on the of programs at the Coalition Nuremberg war crimes for International Justice, ex- trials, at Benjamin N. pressed concern over the con- ACardozo School of Law in late clusion of the United Nation’s March, reminded participants Commission of Inquiry on that “never again” has be- Darfur that what is happening come “over again” as human in Sudan is not genocide. rights violations continue. “We need to respond to “We hope to reaffirm the crimes against humanity lessons of Nuremberg,” said whether they are genocide or Sheri Rosenberg, Cardozo not,” said John Prendergast, deputy director of the Program special adviser at the Inter- in Holocaust and Human national Crisis Group, who has Rights Studies, who along made three trips to rebel-held with Prof. Richard Weisberg, Darfur in the last six months. the program’s director, organ- The failure to act forcefully ized the conference. shows that little has changed A broad spectrum of partic- since the crisis in Rwanda, Mr. ipants—including former Nu- Prendergast said, and the gov- remberg prosecutors, govern- Richard Dicker (left), director of The International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch, ernment needs to impose ment officials, academics, and and Geoffrey Robertson, chief judge at the special court for Sierra Leone. sanctions on Khartoum. “It’s participants at tribunals in not too late to act in these Rwanda, the former Yugo- ments. “I was a witness to that for Rwanda, brought a sober- had flaws, without them the cases,” Mr. Prendergast said. slavia, and Sierra Leone— history,” he said. ing reminder to the proceed- International Criminal Court Former Nuremberg prose- gathered to analyze the impact Henry King, former Nurem- ings: While Nuremberg and (ICC) at The Hague would not cutor Ben Ferencz, who at age of the Nuremberg principles berg prosecutor and professor Rwanda are far apart in time have been established. 27 tried his first case at on the 60th anniversary of the at Case Western Reserve School and geography, they are the The discussion touched on Nuremberg, shared his disap- trials. of Law, invoked the memory same problem. “It continues whether the lessons learned at pointment that the United As part of a “recollections” of the late US Supreme Court to happen,” Mr. Jallow said. Nuremberg are being applied States does not support the panel, first-hand witnesses to Justice Robert Jackson, chief Although crimes against to the war in Iraq. “It’s not too ICC. “There’s only one threat the injustice shared their prosecutor for the United humanity are ongoing, pan- late to correct the mistakes to our service personnel—war experiences. Richard Sonnen- States at Nuremberg. “We owe elists reminded the audience that have been made for the making,” Mr. Ferencz said, feldt, who at the age of 22 was Judge Jackson thanks for giv- that the work at Nuremberg Iraqi tribunal,” said Geoffrey likening fighting against an the chief interpreter for the ing us a blueprint for the was not in vain. In a keynote Robertson, chief judge at the international court to fighting American prosecution team, future and a vision for a better speech, Justice Theodore special court for Sierra Leone. against Nuremberg. told the standing-room only world,” Professor King said. Meron, president of the Inter- Panelists on the crisis in “It’s not enough to catch crowd he had the opportunity Hassan Bucabar Jallow, national Criminal Tribunal for Darfur, Sudan, discussed the the perpetrators,” Mr. Ferencz to speak with everyone during chief prosecutor at the Inter- the Former Yugoslavia, said that civil war that is raging and said. “You have to stop the the trial and read the indict- national Criminal Tribunal although the Nuremberg trials producing new victims every killing first.” I