Yeshiva University's CJF February 2014 eNewsletter

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This past month we have had the pleasure to welcome Rabbi Yaakov Glasser as Associate Dean of the CJF whose broad responsibilities also include directing various aspects of University Life. Rabbi Glasser has a BA from Yeshiva College, Semikhah from RIETS and an MA from Azrieli. Most recently, he has served as the International Director of Education for NCSY and the regional director for New Jersey NCSY. Rabbi Glasser is currently the Moreh D'atra of Young Israel of Passaic and Clifton. In all of these positions, Rabbi Glasser has shown tremendous leadership, growing his synagogue community and increasing the spiritual quality and educational experience of the thousands of teens he and his staff have engaged.  Rabbi Kenneth Brander Vice President for University and Community Life The David Mitzner Dean, Center for the Jewish Future Yeshiva University Dear Friends, It is indeed a great privilege and honor to assume a leadership position in Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future. I am deeply grateful to President Richard Joel for providing me with the opportunity to impact and inspire the students of YU, and Jewish communities across the world. His vision and leadership have positioned our Yeshiva at the forefront of all aspects of Jewish communal life, and I look forward to advancing that aspiration in our work at the CJF. Having served as a synagogue Rabbi for the past 10 years, and working extensively in the fields of outreach and teen engagement, I have benefited greatly from the creativity, passion, and professionalism of this incredible institution. Under Rabbi Brander’s leadership, the CJF has made an extraordinary impact on nearly every dimension of Rabbinic and communal life. Moreover, Rabbi Brander has inspired an entire generation of future communal leaders through transformative experiences innovated by the CJF. The remarkable achievements of CJF are a testament to the outstanding talent and deep devotion that defines the incredible staff of the CJF. The Jewish community is constantly confronting new challenges in spiritually engaging the next generation of the Jewish people. The values and programs of Yeshiva University, together with its Torah leadership and vibrant student body, stand at the forefront of meeting those challenges with dedication and passion. The programs featured in this newsletter project the multiple opportunities for Rabbis, community members, lay leaders, and students to deepen and broaden the spiritual vibrancy of our community. I look forward to greeting you at future CJF programs and events. Rabbi Yaakov Glasser Associate Dean for CJF and University Life Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University FROM KHARKOV TO CLEVELAND, IT’S ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY On Four CJF Winter Missions Around Israel and the World, YU Students Get Closer Look at Jewish Leadership   More than 90 Yeshiva University students spent this winter break engaged in the hands-on study of—and contribution to—vastly different Jewish communities around the world. As participants on winter missions organized by YU’s Center for the Jewish Future, students traveled to Kharkov and Sumy in the Ukraine; Kiryat Malachi, Kiryat Gat and Dimona in Negev region of Israel; areas of New York that were heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy; and cities across the Midwestern United States to make an impact and hone their leadership skills. Related YU 2014 Winter Break Blog (from Student Participants) In the News Cleveland Jewish News: Yeshiva students learn about CJN, Jewish Cleveland during visit 5 Towns Jewish Times: YU’s Second Annual ‘Counterpoint Israel’ Winter Break Program 5 Towns Jewish Times: Five Towns Students Change Young Lives In Israel Jewish Link of Bergen County: YU’s Israel ‘Winter Camp’ Service Learning Initiative Doubles In Size Jewish Standard: Yes, We're All Jewish Jewish Tribune: Toronto YU students learn as much as they taught in trip to Ukraine Washington Jewish Week: Visit to Ukraine teaches YU student about community ADVANCING EXPERIENTIAL JEWISH EDUCATION YU Certificate program in Experiential Jewish Education Now Open to Fourth Cohort   This past year, CJF's Department of Experiential Jewish Education commissioned a field-wide study to explore the role that goals play in the work of experiential Jewish educators along with how they measure success in their work entitled, “Mapping Goals in Experiential Jewish Education.” In December, we launched the study at a public event and invited four experts and leading academics to respond: Dr. Amy Sales, Associate Director of the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University; Dr. David Pelcovitz, Straus Chair in Psychology and Education at Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education; Dr. Carmen Hendricks, Dean of Yeshiva University School of Social Work; and Dr. David Bryfman, Chief Learning Officer at the Jewish Education Project. Each of the four responses to the study is being published on ejewishphilanthropy.com this month. Related Professionalize Your Passion! Apply to the YU Certificate Program in Experiential Jewish Education. Deadline February 17, 2014. In the News eJewish Philanthropy: Formalizing the Informal, By Shuki Taylor eJewish Philanthropy: On Engagement, Setting and Pedagogy: Is Experiential Jewish Education Content Light? eJewish Philanthropy: Deepening the Impact of Professional Development BUILDING JEWISH LEADERS Community Leadership Initiative Launches 2nd Cohort in the Midwest   YU Center for the Jewish Future recently launched the newest cohort of CLI (The Community Leadership Initiative). Sixteen emerging lay leaders gathered at YU to kickoff a 6-month program designed to strengthen and inspire community leadership. Participants came from multiple Midwestern communities, including, Kansas City, Detroit, Columbus, Denver, Des Moines, Omaha, Milwaukee, and Chicago. Related Watch the video from last year’s graduation ceremony YUCONNECTS MAKES A SPLASH IN LOS ANGELES YUConnects runs singles program and educational sessions for the LA Community   On Wednesday, January 22. Mrs. Mindy Eisenman, YUConnects' Staff Connector, spent less than 24 hours in LA, and ran two educational sessions, held numerous private meetings and led a hugely successful singles event. Under the leadership of Sarah Emerson Helfand, YU’s West Coast Regional Director, with the help of a dedicated group of singles and community leaders, Mindy’s day was filled with many and varied opportunities to work with the LA Jewish community on helping create more connections for singles. Related YUConnects Home Page                  Recent YUConnects Programming YUConnects Video                          YUConnects Resources and shiurim on YUTorah ARBESFELD KOLLEL AND MIDRESHET YOM RISHON  DRAWS CAPACITY CROWDS 2 recent programs featured Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and a tribute event dedicated to the legacy of HaRav Ovadia Yosef zt”l   The Abraham Arbesfeld Kollel Yom Rishon Yom Iyun on February 2, which was generously sponsored by Robyn and Shukie Grossman and family, filled YU’s Schottenstein Center to capacity to hear Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who has joined YU as the Kressel and Ephrat Family University Professor of Jewish Thought, speak on “Haman: The First Antisemite.” As well as Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter who spoke on “The Role of the Past in the Present and Future: Nation and Individual.” The Abraham Arbesfeld Kollel Yom Rishon and Millie Arbesfeld Midreshet Yom Rishon also presented a tribute event dedicated to the legacy of HaRav Ovadia Yosef zt”l on Sunday November 24. The event featured special remarks by Rav Yosef’s daughter, Rabbanit Adina Bar Shalom.

SAVE THE DATE: RIETS Chag HaSemikhah 5774 Special Program for Rabbis on Child Abuse - click on the flyer above for more info @YUCJF @RabbiBrander @YUTorah @eJewishEd @ChampionsgateYU YUCJF YUTorah Experiential Jewish Education YUConnects yu.edu/CJF Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future home page YUTorah The Marcos and Adina Katz YUTorah, with over 60,000 shiurim YUConnects Resources for shidduchim and relationships YUSpeakers  The Yeshiva University Speakers Bureau Kollel Yom Rishon  The Abraham Arbesfeld Kollel Yom Rishon Sunday Morning Learning Program for Men Midreshet Yom Rishon  The Millie Arbesfeld Midreshet Yom Rishon Sunday Morning Learning Program for Women Experiential Jewish Education  Certificate Program in Jewish Experiential Education Torah Tours Torah Tours registration for synagogues and YU students Championsgate Championsgate Leadership Conference Chicago Torah The Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Chicago Community Kollel Toronto Torah The Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Zichron Dov Community Beit Midrash of Toronto Rabbanan.org Rabbinic resources, drasha materials and more The CJF YouTube Channel Watch videos from all our programs and events

Our mission is to shape, enrich and inspire the contemporary Jewish community by convening the resources of Yeshiva University, infusing the student body with a spirit of leadership and a sense of responsibility to the Jewish people and society in general, building, cultivating, and supporting communities, and their lay and rabbinic leaders, and creating a global movement that promotes the values of Yeshiva University Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future 500 West 185th St. Suite 419 • New York, NY 10033 • 212.960.5263 • cjf@yu.edu

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