Dear Friends,
Countless demographic studies have demonstrated that one of the most ubiquitously observed Jewish holidays is Chanukah. There is a familial warmth, and a communal vitality that propels the Chanukah experience to a central place within the consciousness of the Jewish people. The icon of Chanukah is, of course, the menorah. A symbol of identity and strength throughout Jewish history, the menorah serves to illuminate the world with the values and ideals of Torah. Yet, on the surface there appears to be a paradox in the halachic identity of the menorah. On the one hand, it is firmly rooted within the paradigm of the home. The most basic observance of Chanukah entails one candle per household. Some commentaries even suggest that one is required to be based in a home in order to fulfill the mitzvah altogether. Yet, the contours of the Chanukah observance are also defined by the world outside the home. The proper timing for lighting the Chanukah candles is when the streets are bustling with people. The menorah must be positioned in sight of the public. Indeed, “pirsumei nisah,” publicizing the miracle, is a defining feature of Chanukah.
Chanukah is about recognizing the nurturing nature of our own personal homes, and concentrating that light outwards – to illuminate the world. The mitzvah begins with the foundation of a strong Jewish home, but ultimately, our mandate is to project that strength to the rest of the world.
Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish future is the conduit for the countless dimensions of our home – here at YU – to project its impact to the rest of the world. Using YU’s outstanding faculty, professors, and rabbinic leaders – we bring the world of Yeshiva University into countless homes, synagogues, and schools – through our work in communities across the world. Moreover, we are building the rabbinic, lay, and student leaders of tomorrow; leaders with the sophistication, experience, and mentorship to confront our community’s greatest challenges. We are proud to serve as the candles that publicize the values and ideals of this revered institution. We invite you to explore our most recent programs and engage the Torah and wisdom of the Yeshiva University community.
Wishing you and your entire family a Chag Urim Sameach,
Rabbi Yaakov Glasser
David Mitzner Dean, Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University
 | SPREADING THE SPIRIT OF YU Aaron and Blanche Schreiber Torah Tours Simchat Torah 5775
This past Simchat Torah, over 300 Yeshiva University undergraduates traveled to 52 shuls across North America. Through song, dance, and divrei Torah, the students contributed a level of excitement and ruach, which the shuls wait for all year round. Prior to the students traveling out for Simchat Torah, they participated in a mandatory orientation at which they learned helpful tips for public speaking, how to have healthy relationships with teens and community members, and how to lead hakafot.
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|  | EXPANDING EXPERIENTIAL JEWISH EDUCATION Yeshiva University EJE Fellowship for Synagogue and Youth Movement Advisors
It’s 8pm on a Wednesday night in the middle of November, and I am sitting in a room with 30 others who have come to learn the secrets of experiential Jewish education. Okay, maybe not the ‘secrets’ – we are here to gain whatever we, as individuals working in youth movements, can to improve ourselves as experiential educators. We do not have formal jobs in EJE (yet). This is something we all do on the side between exams and papers, whether it be Shabbatonim, schmoozes or summer programs. We do it because we love it and in turn, have joined the fellowship program because we want to give the youth we advise the best experience we can.
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|  | ART AND TORAH Yeshiva University Hosts Community Beit Midrash Program
In its third year, the Community Beit Midrash program has expanded its reach with over 175 participants from Central and South Jersey, Brooklyn, Queens and the Five Towns. The program was held at the Yeshiva University Museum where participants joined to study from prominent YU faculty. The program featured Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, Director of the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, Yeshiva University and Dr. Jacob Wisse, Director of Yeshiva University Museum and Associate Professor of Art History, Stern College for Women who co-presented on the topic of: “The Image and the Idea: An Interdisciplinary Seminar on Art History and Jewish Thought.”
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|  | LEARNING FOR LIFE YUConnects "Succesful Dating" Panel at Stern College a Success
Despite a severe Nor’easter affecting the New York area, a large crowd attended the YUConnects’ "Game Plan for Successful Dating" Panel on the Beren Campus, December 9th. Co-sponsored by the Stern student leadership club, TAC, and the YU Counseling Center, the presenters fashioned an exciting educational event that focused on everyday issues encountered in the dating arena. One young woman enthusiastically emailed afterward that, “…each speaker had their own unique perspective which gave us amazing ‘takeaway' useful tips. Thank you for putting it together!”
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|  | CREATING SAFER COMMUNITIES Yeshiva University Offers Online Child Abuse Prevention Course for Rabbis
Early each Monday morning, from 1:30 to 3:30 a.m., Rabbi Alon Meltzer wakes up and logs on to his computer, joining 20 other rabbis from countries around the world who are participating in a new online Yeshiva University course designed to help rabbinic leaders identify and protect their communities from the dangers of child abuse. As rabbi of the ACT Jewish Community, Inc., in Canberra, Australia, he considers the sleep loss a small price to pay.
Related:
YU Trains Rabbis to be 'Supermen' Against Child Abuse |
|  | THE BETTER HALF OF THE RABBINATE Rebbetzin Esther Rosenblatt Yarchei Kalla
The Rebbetzin Esther Rosenblatt Yarchei Kallah for Rebbetzins took place this past Monday and Tuesday, November 9th and 10th, 2014 at Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck, NJ. The purpose of this program is to give rabbis’ wives the opportunity to meet with seasoned professionals and to discuss issues of self, family, and community in a safe and supportive environment. The participants have the opportunity to network, develop lasting relationships, nurture a support system, and enjoy the intellectual stimulation of Torah study with leading Jewish scholars while being mentored by more experienced rebbetzins.
Related:
A Good Reason Not to Lose Faith in the Rabbinate – the Rebbetzins |
|  | UNITING THE COMMUNITY YU hosts Community Siyum of Seder Moed
On Sunday, October 5, the Daf Yomi cycle finished the first complete seder, Seder Moed, and Yeshiva University and RIETS celebrated the accomplishment with a communal siyum in the Glueck Beit Midrash on the Wilf Campus. The program featured Rabbi Hershel Schachter, (Rosh Yeshiva, Nathan and Vivian Fink Distinguished Professorial Chair in Talmud and Marcos and Adina Katz Rosh Kollel, RIETS), Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, (Magid Shiur, YUTorah.org, Program Director and Magid Shiur, DRS High School and Rabbi, Beis HaKnesses of North Woodmere), and Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman, (Rosh Yeshiva, RIETS and Rabbi, Ohr Saadya, Teaneck, NJ).
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|  | TRAINING THE LEADERS Newest Cohort of Rabbinic Yarchei Kallah Trains 30 Rabbis from Around the World
In September YU's Center for the Jewish Future launched it's sixth Yarchei Kallah cohort for rabbis. Over 30 rabbis participated from around the world - studying topics ranging from delivering inspirational sermons to dealing with stress and challenges in the rabbinate. Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, University Professor of Jewish Thought and History and Senior Scholar of the CJF delivered a stimulating array of presentations to the rabbis and is currently preparing the cohort’s next get-together in March. With the addition of this newest cohort, nearly 200 rabbis have now experienced the learning and comradery of the Yarchei Kallahs.
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|  | TORAH ON THANKSGIVING Annual Five Towns Thanksgiving Kollel Yom Rishon draws hundreds
Over 250 men and women attended the annual Thanksgiving Kollel Yom Rishon in the Young Israel of Woodmere on November 27, with shiurim from RIETS Roshei Yeshiva Rabbi Elchanan Adler on "Ayin Hara: More Than Meets the Eye" (Listen on YUTorah) and Rabbi Jeremy Wieder on "Conflicts Between Science and Halakhah: The Responses of Poskim" (Listen on YUTorah). Attendees had the opportunity to ask follow-up questions after the program and a meaningful Thanksgiving was had by all. |
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Join RIETS for a Community Day of Learning on Thursday, December 25. Click on the flyer above for more information and to register.
 The Marcos and Adina Katz YUTorah.org
"Top Ten Online Torah Resources"
 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
Resources for shidduchim and relationships
The Yeshiva University
Speakers Bureau
The Abraham Arbesfeld Kollel Yom Rishon Sunday Morning Learning Program for Men
The Millie Arbesfeld Midreshet Yom Rishon Sunday Morning Learning Program for Women
Certificate Program in Jewish Experiential Education
Torah Tours registration for synagogues and YU students
Championsgate Leadership Conference
The Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Chicago Community Kollel
The Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Zichron Dov Community Beit Midrash of Toronto
Rabbinic resources, drasha materials and more
Watch videos from all our programs and events |
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