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Beginning with just seven students in 1964, the Sephardic
Studies Program at Yeshiva University now marks its 50th yearand it
has never been stronger. And as the Sephardic population of North
America continues to grow, the prospects for continued expan-sion
over the next decade are extremely promising.
The Sephardic Studies Program was co-founded by Dr. Herbert C.
Dobrinsky, YUs vice president of university affairs. Thanks in part
to his vision, Dr. Dobrinsky has seen a vibrant YU Sephardic
presence consistently grow over the last fi ve decades. Today,
the Sephardic Program boasts close to 400 undergraduate men and
women and serves an additional 100 graduate students, including 17
rabbinical students. One of our main goals was to create an
environment where Sephardic students who came to YU would have
ample opportunity to learn about and practice their own traditions,
said Dr. Dobrinsky, explaining why the program was originally
created.
Todays generation of YU students have also benefi tted from new
young leadership. Rabbi Moshe Tessone has directed the Sephardic
Community Program (SCP) at Yeshiva since 2000, and also serves as a
rabbinic faculty member at YU and its Philip and Sarah Belz School
of Jewish Music. The Sephardic world is multifaceted, said Rabbi
Tessone. YU is the only place in North America that has such
diversity of Sephardic students and makes a concerted effort to
educate them, in both secular and Jewish studies, while giving
special appreciation to their Sephardic heritage. This began with
Dr. Dobrinskys vision more than a half century ago. Now, thanks to
his foresight, we have an opportunity to do better than weve ever
done before.
Over the last few years demographics have evolved, with a
dramatic increase in the number of Sephardic students attending the
Orthodox day schools that
serve as primary feeders to YU. As a result, the Sephardic
students at YU refl ect a growing percent-age of the overall campus
population. The synergies are potentially explosive as the number
of Sephardic students at YU grows, said Rabbi Tessone. There was a
sense that these incoming Sephardic students needed to feel as if
they had a home at YU, where they would he able to grow not just
academically, but also on a religious, cultural and spiritual
level. We want to attract these students who we train to become
future leaders of the Sephardic world, and give them an inspiring
experience here at YU.
To augment these efforts, Rabbi Simon Basalely was appointed
during the fall of 2013 as the Edmond J. Safra Sgan Mashgiah for
the Sephardic campus community at YU, a newly established position,
which was made possible by the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic
Foundation, which is providing a 3 year grant totaling $180,000 to
sponsor this posi-tion. Within the fi rst year, Rabbi Basalely has
already made a positive impact in his new role. He serves as a role
model and mentor for students, running minyanim in the Sephardic
Beit Midrash during the week and on Shabbat, and coordinating
Shabbat
One of the major accomplishments within YU Sephardic Programs
this year took place in March when, as part of the RIETS Chag
HaSemikha event, 17 rabbinic graduates who received ordina-tion
were of Sephardic origin. This represents a record number of
Sephardic rabbis produced by YU and RIETS in a period of four
years.
Chag HaSemikha is a quadrennial celebration of all the rabbis
who earned rabbinic ordination at YU/RIETS during a four-year
period. This years event also refl ected a record number of YU
rabbinic graduates not only for Sephardim but for the general
Jewish population as well, as an astounding 230 young men received
semikhaa historic number of rabbis produced by RIETS over a
four-year period.
The Sephardic community at large celebrated a Salute to the
Sephardic Musmakhim morninggala event on March 9 at Congregation
Magen
SephardicNewsletter
Jubilee Anniversary EditionYU Sephardic Programs
Sephardic Program at YU Reaches 50-Year Milestone
17 Sephardic Rabbis Ordained in 2014Brings Total Sephardic
Rabbis Ordained at RIETS to Almost 100
In commemoration of our cherished friend Moise Safra ah, YU
Benefactor and Honorary AlumnusThe Yeshiva University family mourns
the loss of YU Benefactor Moise Y. Safra ah in June 2014. Safra was
a great Jewish philanthropist who exemplifi ed the very fi nest in
Sephardic lay leader-ship during his lifetime. He is survived by
his wife, Chella, who resides in So Paulo, Brazil, and his
children, Edmond, Jacob, Ezra, Esther and Olga.
In 2012 Mr. Safra received an honorary degree at Yeshiva
Universitys 88th Annual Hanukkah Dinner and Convocation at the
Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan. Safra, a philanthropist and an
accom-plished fi nancier, fi rst developed a relationship with YU
when he and his wife, Chella Safra, were honored at the inaugural
dinner of YUs newly-formed Sephardic Council of Overseers in 1992.
The Safras formed a close relationship with both Dr. Norman Lamm,
who was president of YU at the time, and Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky,
vice president for University Affairs. They have always main-tained
a strong connection and a warm friendship with YU, which has
continued with Yeshiva Uni-versitys President Richard M. Joel.
During his lifetime, Mr. Safra expressed his admi-ration and
high regard for YU and its unique mission of Torah Umadda. YU is
the perfect balance of both Torah and secular education, one that I
have always believed in, said Safra. While Torah studies might be
the pillar of Jewish life, secular academics is the second pillar
that complements it. Yeshiva Univer-sity is the ideal place for one
to achieve this goal of a well-rounded and complete education.
Through the familys charitable foundation a $3 million gift to
Yeshiva University established the Moise Safra Undergraduate
Scholarship Fund and the Moise Safra Scholars.
We salute Moise Safras lifetime of accomplish-ments in the
business world and equally his life-long dedication to outstanding
leadership and service to the greater Jewish community and his
fellow Sephardim all over the world. May his memory be an
inspiration for other great leaders to emulate and may his good
deeds be a source of blessing for his family and the entire Jewish
people. Yehi Zikhro Barukh.
continued on page 2Inaugural Dinner of YUs Sephardic Council of
Overseers (SCO), 1992
Rabbi Kassin and Rabbi Ben-Haim congratulate Rabbi Setton
Jack Lew, Moise Safra ah, President Richard M.Joel
Edmond M. Safra, Moise ah, Chella Safra, Shari Safra, Jacob M.
Safra
Back row left to right: Eduardo Szajman, Shari Safra, Jacob M.
Safra, Edmond M.Safra, Marielle Safra, Elie Cohen, Carole Sasson
Cohen, Joseph Cohen, Colette Nehmad, Michael Kattan, Albert Cohen
Front row left to right: Esther Safra Szajman, Moise Safra ah,
Chella Safra, Bassia Lowinger, Dalia Picciotto Cohen
The YU Sephardic Newsletter Jubilee Edition is dedicated by
Martin Eliasand family in honor of Rabbi Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky
and Dina Dobrinsky in
tribute to their half century of dedication to the Sephardic
community.
continued on page 3
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2Jubilee Anniversary Edition YU Sephardic Programs
events, Torah lectures and other programs that en-hance and lend
warmth to the religious and cultural environment of the Sephardic
community. I feel privileged to work with a group of such
wonder-ful, energetic students, aspiring to learn and to take
advantage of the opportunities to further connect with their
heritage, said Rabbi Basalely, a gradu-ate of Yeshiva College, the
Azrieli School of Jewish Education and Administration, Rabbi Isaac
Elchanan Theology Seminary and the Beren Kollel Elyon. We are
planning on campus Shabbatonim for students to spend Shabbat
together enjoying Sephardic food and singing Sephardic pizmonim
immersed in the Sep-hardic liturgical tradition, while at the same
time, spending Shabbat in their Yeshiva.
Rabbi Basalely is the person who students can turn to after
classroom hours, to help give them spiritual and religious guidance
that they need beyond academics, said Rabbi Tessone. He is therefor
students in the capacity of a campus rabbi to provide hashgaha
ruhanit [spiritual guidance] on an ongoing basis. Our goal is to
make the Sephardic Beit Midrash a warm, spiritual haven right here
on campus.
For Charles Saka, a sophomore at the Sy Syms School of Business
majoring in business manage-ment, some highlights of the Sephardic
programs include the weekly Sephardic pizmonim club and his daily
shiur with Rabbi Eliyahu Ben-Haim, Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva and Chair
holder of the Maxwell R. Maybaum Chair in Talmud and Sephardic
Halakhic Codes.
Rabbi Tessone has elevated the Sephardic life on campus with his
weekly course in Sephardic hazzanut, said Saka. Rabbi Basalely has
also been a great source of daily inspiration and spirituality with
our minyanim, as well as his divrei Torah and nightly shiurim in
the Sephardic Beit Midrash.
Dr. Dobrinsky, who continues to nurture and over-see the
Sephardic programs on a daily basis, notes, The Sephardic faculty
members at YU include many
giants in their respective fi elds, both in advanced Torah
studies and Sephardic history and culture.
Among the world-renowned faculty at YU are Hakham Eliyahu
Ben-Haim, Rabbi Hayim Angel, Dr. Ronnie Perelis, Dr. Hayim Tawil
and Dr. Daniel Tsadik, among many others who teach Sephardic
courses and serve as role models to their students.
Dr. Dobrinsky fondly recalls the late revered Hakham Solomon
Gaon ah, who was a mentor to him in his early years interacting
with the Sep-hardim, and whose legacy at YU lives on to this day.
When we started the program, he recounts, Hakham Gaon and I would
travel the length and breadth of the country to many Sephardic
communi-ties in order to recruit students and help raise funds to
support the Sephardic Program.
Hakham Gaon, also known as The Hakham, was the leading Sephardic
rabbinic fi gure and states-man in the Americas and Europe during
the 1960s and 70s. The late Ivan Salomon and his wife Sophie were
instrumental in bringing The Hakham to YU initially as a visiting
professor at RIETS, and this initiative later gave rise to the
development of YUs Sephardic Studies and Sephardic Community
Program. After retiring from the position of Chief Sephardic Rabbi
of Britain in the 1980s, he moved to New York and held the Maxwell
R. Maybaum Chair in Sephardic Codes at RIETS, a position he held
for the last 12 years of his life.
We were blessed to have The Hakham at Yeshiva, says Dr
Dobrinsky. He was able to relate to people of so many diverse
Sephardic backgrounds, and in doing so he inspired our students and
our program in a lasting way.
According to Dr. Dobrinsky, Yeshiva will con-tinue to invest
resources into developing the Sep-hardic programs that educate the
youth and serve their communities. My hope and prayer is that this
program will continue to blossom for the next 50 years and
beyond!
Sephardic Program at YU Reaches 50-Year Milestonecontinued from
page 1
Photo Credits: Yeshiva University Archival Collection/Curator,
Shulamith Berger
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1. Hon. Herbert Tenzer ah, YU Trustee Chairman, Joseph A. Ades
ah, YU Trustee and Benefactor, Dr. Norman Lamm, YU President
2. Col. J.R. Elyachar ah, YU Benefactor and Hakham Solomon Gaon
ah, Professor and Co-Founder, Sephardic Studies Program
3. Dr. Lamm, Moise J. Safra ah and Chella Safra receiving
Heritage Award in 1992 when Sephardic Council of Overseers was
established, 1992
4. Rabbi Raymond Harari, Abe M. Cohen ah, then President of
Shaare Zion Cong. Bklyn, Dr. Lamm and Dr. Dobrinsky
5. Regina Gaon ah, Hakham Gaon ah, David Eshaghian, Chair,
Sephardic Council of Overseers
6. Albert J. Ades and his son Joseph A. Ades 7. Joseph J. Safra,
unidentifi ed dinner guest, Dr. Dobrinsky 8. Dr. Dobrinsky
presenting Kiddush cup to Hakham Gaon ah,
Dr. Lamm, Rabbi Myron Rakowitz 9. Jacob M. Safra, Chella Safra,
Esther Safra, Ezra M. Safra 10. Rabbi Zevulun Lieberman receiving
award from Dr.
Dobrinsky 11. Rabbi Soleyman Dayan ah, former Rabbi of
Sephardic
JC of Queens, David Eshaghian, Rabbi Doniel Hakimi, Mr. Ebrahim
Ben Davood Eliahu Eshaghian ah
12. Dr. Dobrinsky presenting award to Joseph Safra, Moise Safra
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3Jubilee Anniversary Edition YU Sephardic Programs
David of Manhattan (MDM), which was attended by many
distinguished community leaders and rabbis. Among the many notables
in attendance were Rabbi Eliyahu Ben-Haim, Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva
at YU, and Rabbi Shaul Kassin, Chief Rabbi of the Syrian community
of New York and New Jersey.
The event was co-chaired by David Dweck of MDM and Rabbi Moshe
Tessone of YU. Rabbi Tessone, who has mentored and coached many of
these young men as they experienced their education at YU said:
This milestone is refl ective of YUs dedi-cation to training
Sephardic religious and educational leaders for the current and
future generations of Sephardim.
Dr. Herbert Dobrinsky, who was the keynote speaker at this
event, said: I was truly inspired to see a record number of
Sephardic rabbis and teachers now embarking on careers where they
will serve the Sephardic communities. These young men are indeed
Yeshivas historic gift to the Sephardic world!
Sephardic Rabbinic Graduates of 2014continued from page 1
1. Back Row (L to R): Zachary Hepner, Ariel Levi, Benjamin
Kohanim, Avraham Harari, Meyer Laniado, Saul Haimoff, Sion Setton,
Eitan Bendavid, Simon Basalely
First Row (L to R): Mordechai (Evan) Gershon, Nathan Dweck, Gabi
Danieli, Hakham Eliyahu Ben-Haim, Rabbi Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky,
Yosef Sharbat, Haim Yanetz
2. L to R: Jacob Bitton, Meyer Laniado, Nathan Dweck, Efraim
Illiguev, Avraham Horn, Sion Setton, Alon Amar
3. Rabbi Tessone addressing audience at Celebrate the Sephardic
Musmakhim Event 2014
4. Dr. Dobrinsky (keynote speaker) addressing audience at
Celebrate the Sephardic Musmakhim Event 2014
5. Rabbi Ben-Haim addressing audience at Celebrate the Sephardic
Musmakhim Event 2014
6. Jacque Erdos Esq, Rabbi Setton, Dr. Dobrinsky, Rabbi Shaul
Kassin, Jacob Kassin, David Eshaghian, Rabbi Tessone
7. Rabbi Kassin, Sam Sutton, Rabbi Tessone
8. Rabbi Ben-Haim congratulates Rabbi Laniado, Rabbi Charlop
alongside
9. Rabbi Kassin and Rabbi Ben-Haim congratulate Rabbi Alon
Amar
10. Rabbi Kassin and Rabbi Ben-Haim congratulate Rabbi Dweck
11. David Eshaghian, Rabbi Tessone, Rabbi Bronstein, Michael
Strauss, Rabbi Penner, Rabbi Charlap, Rabbi Kassin, Dr. Dobrinsky,
Rabbi Dr. Abadie
12. Sam Saka addressing audience at Celebrate the Sephardic
Musmakhim Event 2014
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The Yeshiva University community was privileged to host Rabbi
Eli Mansour, rabbi of The Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in Brooklyn in
March 2014. The visit began with greetings and a grand tour of the
YU campus led by Rabbi Moshe Tessone and Rabbi Simon Basalely;
during the tour, Rabbi Mansour expressed his appreciation of
Yeshivas rich social and intellectual history and its historic
impact on the Jewish people. This was Rabbi Mansours fi rst visit
to YU, and he was especially inspired to see Lamport Auditorium,
which he knew was the room where
"The Rav", Rabbi Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveichik a'h, delivered his
most famous and historic Talmudic and halakhic discourses to
capacity-fi lled audiences in earlier decades.
Rabbi Mansour then proceeded to the Schottenstein Center, where
a group of almost 300 men and wom-en had gathered to hear him
speak. After a warm introduction by Rabbi Tessone, Rabbi Mansour
delivered an inspiring talk on the upcoming holiday of Purim. As
part of his message, he commended the students on their dedication
to Torah studies and
encouraged them to continue even further. The event was
co-sponsored by the Sephardic
Student Club, the Student Organization of Yeshiva (SOY) and the
Sephardic Community Program (SCP).
Student leaders Elie Takhalov (Sephardic Club president) and
Isaac Attia (SOY president) and Albert Dweck were instrumental in
organizing the evening event. They joined with the leaders of the
Womens Sephardic Club at Stern College for Women to attract a full
crowd in anticipation of the Purim festival. The students left
inspired and pleased.
Pre-Purim lecture at YU delivered by Rabbi Eli Mansour
Rabbi Eli Mansour delivers Pre-Purim lecture at YU Yehuda
Mansour, Rabbi Basalely, Albert Dweck, Rabbi Mansour, Rabbi
Tessone, Isaac Attia
As an expression of gratitude for the work done to establish the
Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie almost fi ve decades ago, a
gift of $225,000 to be used as a scholarship fund was recently
presented to YU by the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie. Rabbi
Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky made the announcement at the meeting of
the Sephardic Council of Overseers held in May 2014; an additional
amount of up to $30,000 was also promised.
The Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie was once a thriving
community of Sephardim of Judeo-Spanish decent that served
immigrants from Turkey (some by way of Cuba) and Greece. Due to
changing demographics and a decline in Sephardic local popu-lation
in its Brooklyn neighborhood, the community found no option but to
close its synagogue.
The community leaders, led by Jeff Beja, estab-lished this
scholarship fund at YU in tribute to their longtime spiritual
leader, Rabbi Myron, and his Rubisa Sarah Rakowitz. Some 40 years
ago, Rabbi Dobrinsky placed Rabbi Rakowitz as a rabbi in the
Canarsie congregation following the tenure of Rabbi Chananya
Berzon; Rabbi Berzon was the fi rst RIETS musmakh whom RIETS funded
to serve that community.
Jeff Beja grew up in the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie,
but now resides in the Five Towns. Many of his former fellow
community members who are descendants of the original Turkish and
Greek immigrants from Canarsie and New Lots live there as well.
Rabbi Rakowitz is himself a rabbinic alumnus of RIETS who has
served his community with steadfast dedication and commitment for
nearly half a century. He has been a close friend to YU and its
Sephardic programs throughout his tenure. This scholarship will
serve to honor Rabbi and Mrs. Rakowitz and to eternally perpetuate
the name of the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie at YU.
YUs Mekhina Students Visit Sephardic HomeSephardic Jewish Center
of Canarsie establishes Sephardic Scholarship at YU
A group of some two dozen young men from Rabbi Tessones
Halakha-Mekhina class visited the Sephardic Home for the Aged in
Brooklyn during Hanukkah 2013. These fine students enjoyed a
private lunch with Louis Rousso and Michael New, executive director
of the home. Both Rousso and New addressed the group, after which
the students, led by Rabbi Tessone, entered the Social Hall and led
a group of nearly 100 senior residents in the singing of festive
Sephardic melodies accompanied by live music. The young men also
participated in festive dancing, which livened up the spirits of
all who attended.
The Mekhina Program at YU (as opposed to the yeshiva program) is
particularly geared for students with little background in Jewish
studies and practice, and offers these students a chance to grow in
Torah learning and Jewish observance. Mekhina is directed by Rabbi
Yonasan Shippel and has, in recent years, attracted many Sephardic
students both from the United States and abroad. The students were
especially thankful to Chad Hopkovitz, associate director of
Mekhina, who accompanied them with Rabbi Tessone, and helped make
this visit most memorable.
Hazak UBarukh to these fine young men for helping to bring joy
to so many!
1. YU students celebrate a dance with residents of the Sephardic
Home in Brooklyn, NY
2. YUs Mekhina students prepare to leave for a class trip to the
Sephardic Home
3. Isaac Harari, Aron Zohar, Nissim Temstet, Meir Tordjman with
resident of the Sephardic Home
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YU and The Sephardic Community Gallery 1. L to R: Louis Rousso,
Laurie Camhi, Nathan
Halegua, Mousa Bildiricci, Ron Palti, Loni Mori, Saul R Tawil,
Maurice Bigio, Yonni Ahavan, Albert Allen
2. Isaac Dabah, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Dr. Dobrinsky, Ezra Dabah
3. Rabbi Avishai Levy, Rabbi Tessone, Josh Behar 4. Dr.
Dobrinsky, Prof. Perelis, Martin Elias,
Rabbi Tessone 5. David Eshaghian, Joseph Amirian, Rabbi Tessone
6. Dr. John Foxe, Dr. Haddad, Dr. Dobrinsky 7. Simon Ebrani, Sharam
Yaghoubzadeh, David
Eshaghian, Dr Roubini, Nasser Mochtar Zadeh, Eli Reinitz, Aron
Ebrani, Bahman Kamali, Rabbi Tessone
8. Prof. Tsadik, Marc Harary, Daniel Rushefsky, David Moreno,
Jeff Beja, Howard Franco
9. Rabbi Kassin with Dr. Dobrinsky 10. Rabbi Tessone with Sam
Sutton 11. Top row: Dr. Raphi Aharon, Dr. Jack Burstien,
Charles Saka, Rabbi Setton, unidentifi edBottom row: Sam Hadad,
Elliot Laniado, Nadine Laniado, Esther Greenfeld
12. Rabbi Ilan Acoca, Rabbi Tessone 13. Leon Levy with Dr.
Dobrinsky14. Dr. Dobrinsky, Jack Abraham, Rabbi Tessone,
Dr. Shafi zadeh, Jeffrey Mosseri15. Sam Saka, Charlie Saka,
Raymond Saka at YU
Sephardic Program event16. Charles Ouaknine, Rabbi Tessone,
Robert Abitbol17. Dr. Dobrinsky with Sam Sutton18. Eleanor Oziel,
Salomon Oziel, Rabbi Tessone19. Laurie Camhi, Louis Rousso, Dr
Dobrinsky
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In MemoriamIn Memory of Rabbi Dr. Zevulun Lieberman ahThe
Sephardic community lost a legendary leaderRabbi Dr. Zevulun
Liebermanwho served for near-ly 30 years as a Sephardic Rosh
Yeshiva at Yeshiva
University (YU) and the affi liated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Theological Seminary (RIETS). For some fi ve decades, Rabbi
Lieberman, was also the faithful sheperd and rab-binic leader of
Beth Torah Congregation, one of the fl agship synagogues that is
part of todays Syrian com-munity of Brooklyn.
Few leaders in the rabbinic world earn the title of HaHakham
Ha-Shalem, a sage who is com-plete in all areas of Torah and worldy
knowledge. Rabbi Lieberman was such a distinct and remarkable
leader, who left an indelible impression of tolerance, love for
Torah, and commitment to Israel in a man-ner that is the benchmark
for other leaders to follow. Rabbi Lieberman mentored and taught
many of todays fi nest Sephardic rabbis who graduated from YU and
RIETS and are committed to community work and Jewish education.
Rabbi Lieberman was an educator par excellence, with vast
knowledge and expertise in Torah and halakha, and his erudition
extended into literature, history, fi nance, languages and sports.
Rabbi Li-
eberman was himself a graduate of Yeshiva College and was
ordained at RIETS. He was appointed the Maxwell Maybaum Professor
of Sephardic Halakhic codes at Yeshiva by Dr Norman Lamm. Rabbi
Lieber-man passed away in December of 2012.
The Yeshiva University family fondly remembers Rabbi Lieberman
and acknowledges with gratitude the loss of a profound leader in
the Jewish world, whose commitment to the Sephardic community and
its development was apparent throughout his life. We extend our
condolences to his wife Bracha, his daugh-ters Tehilah and Elyora,
his brother Paul Lieberman, his daughter-in-law Yael, and his
grandchildren. May his memory serve as a blessing to his loved
ones, to his community and to the Jewish people.
In Memory of Maran Hakham Ovadia Yosef ahRabbi Ovadia Yosef, the
former chief Sephardic rabbi of Israel who passed away Oct. 13,
2013, visited YU many times in the past 45 years. On one occa-sion
he spent two or three weeks at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological
Seminary, where he gave shiurim on a daily basis.
On his fi rst visit to Yeshiva in the early 1970s he met with
The Rav, Rabbi Yosef Dov Halevi Solevi-etchik, a'h, who was then
Rosh Yeshiva at YU and a world-renowned Talmudic Scholar, Jewish
philoso-pher and posek to American Jewry.
Rav Ovadia Yosef visited YU several times since that historic
visit. The picture below was taken dur-ing one of his visits in the
early 1980s; he is seated alongside YU students and Dr. Norman
Lamm, chan-cellor of YU, and the late revered Hakham Barukh
Ben-Haim ah, who served as spiritual leader of the Syrian community
of New York, and maintained a lifelong close relationship with both
Yeshiva University and Rav Ovadia Yosef ah.
Like Hakham Ovadia ah, all the Sephardic
chief rabbis, known as Rishon LZion, beginning with the late
revered Hakham Yizhak Nissim ah in the 1960s, Hakham Ovadia Yosef
ah, Hakham Mordekhai Eliyahu ah, Hakham Bakshi Doron and Hakham
Shlomo Amar, have visited YU and RIETS on numerous occasions; they
have delivered high-level shiurim at YU, and have maintained close
ties throughout the years with the rabbinic and adminis-trative
leadership at Yeshiva over the past 50 years.
With his passing this past year we have truly lost a great Torah
luminary who served as a premier posek of our generation, and has
equally been a source of Sephardic pride. Rav Ovadias Torah legacy
has been stellar throughout the Jewish world, and he has certainly
left an indelible mark as one of the greatest rabbinic fi gures in
modern times. His halakhic writings are indeed a monumental
con-tribution to the corpus of Torah literature and his unifying
impact on the Sephardic population all over the world will continue
to inspire our people for generations to come.
1. Top row: Rabbi Yitz Rosenblum, Josh Poltenson, Hillel
Novetsky Bottom row: Hakham Barukh Ben-Haim ah, Dr. Lamm, Rabbi
Ovadia Yosef ah, Rabbi Krimsky, Rabbi Jeffrey Palay2. Dr. Belkin,
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Dweck, Rabbi Soloveitchik
1. Rabbi Lieberman ah delivers lecture at YU2. Richard M. Joel
speaking at memorial service at YU in memory of Rabbi Lieberman
ah3. Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky speaking at memorial service at YU in
memory of
Rabbi Lieberman ah
Rabbanit Bar Shalom Speaks at Memorial for her Father Hakham
Ovadia ahShortly after the passing of Hakham Ovadia Yosef ah,
Yeshiva Universitys Center for the Jewish Future, in partnership
with the Sephardic Community Program on campus, presented a special
edition of the Abraham & Millie Arbesfeld Kollel and Midreshet
Yom Rishon in tribute to Gadol Hador Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef
ah.
The keynote presentation, which took place during the fall 2013
semester, was made by Rabbanit Adina Bar Shalom, founder, CEO and
chair of the Board of Directors of the Haredi College of Jerusalem,
and daughter of Rav Ovadia Yosef ah. Rabbi Moshe Tessone made
special remarks about Hakham Ovadia and recited the Hashkava.
The program also featured refl ections by Rabbi Hershel
Schachter, a Rosh Yeshiva of RIETS and Rosh Kollel of the Marcos
and Adina Katz Kollel, and Rabbi Meir Goldwicht, a Rosh Yeshiva of
RIETS, on Hakham Ovadias impact on Jewish life and practice.
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1. The Rishon LZion Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim ah,
addressing assembly2. Left Rabbi Joseph Karasick, Chief Rabbi
Yitzhak Nissim ah, Rabbi Aharon Shatzkes a'h, Mr. Levine3. Dr.
Samuel Belkin, a'h, Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim ah, Rabbi Mordecai
Kirschblum,
Rabbi Dobrinsky, Rabbi Berzon ah, Rabbi Seymour Turk ah4. Chief
Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim ah, unidentifi ed, Rabbi Mordecai Kirschblum
ah,
Rabbi Jacob Nefoussi ah, Rabbi Emanuel Rackman a'h5. Rabbi
Avigdor Cyperstein ah, Rabbi Dovid Lifshitz, ah, Dr. Belkin,
Rabbi David de Sola Pool, ah, Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Lesin ah
Yeshiva University has created a chair in Sephardic studies and
a scholarship fund, established in 2009 by Naumi Alcalay a'h, in
honor of her parents, at YUs Bernard Revel Graduate School of
Jewish Studies. Dr. Ronnie Perelis was appointed to the new Chief
Rabbi Dr. Isaac Abraham and Jelena (Rachel) Alcalay Chair in
Sephardic Studies (Judeo-Spanish) in August 2009.
In 1970, Yeshiva University honored Rabbi Dr. Isaac Alcalay at a
Sephardic Heritage Dinner held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City,
where the featured speakers were Dr. Samuel Belkin ah and The
Hakham, Rabbi Dr. Solomon Gaon ah.
Naumi Alcalay a'h, believed that her parents would be thrilled
to know that todays students can learn about the history and
culture of Sephardic Jews from countries such as Turkey, Greece,
Bulgaria and the former Yugoslavia.
Naumi Alcalays father, Rabbi Dr. Isaac Abraham Alcalay, and her
mother, Jelena Alcalay, dedicated their lives to serving Sephardic
Jewry in Europe and America.
The Chief Rabbi Dr. Isaac Abraham And Jelena Alcalay Chair in
Sephardic Studies (Judeo-Spanish)
Chief Rabbi Visits to YU: A Historical GalleryRishon LZion
Hakham Yitzhak Nissim ah, (1960s)
1. Jelena (Rachel) Alcalay ah2. Rabbi Dr. Isaac Abraham Alcalay
ah3. Rabbi Alcalay ah, addressing Heritage Dinner, Rabbi Fabian
Schonfeld, Hakham Gaon ah
4. Rabbi Dr. Isaac Alcalay ah, and entourage5. Rabbi Alcalay ah,
and wife Jelena Alcalay ah,6. Rabbi Alcalay ah, and Nobel Laureate
Ren
Cassin at YU Convocation in 1973 when he received an honorary
doctorate
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8Jubilee Anniversary Edition YU Sephardic Programs
1. Hakham Gaon ah, with Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu ah, and
entourage
2. Rabbi Shaul Kassin, unidentifi ed, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
ah, Dr. Dobrinsky, Rabbi Hecht ah, unidentifi ed, with students in
background
3. Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu ah greeted by Dr. Dobrinsky
4. Back row: Dr. Dobrinsky, Rabbi MutzapiFront row: Rabbi
Leiberman ah, Rabbi Charlop, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu ah, Rabbi
Eliyahu Ben-Haim, Rabbi Tessone
5. Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu ah delivering lecture in main Beit
Midrash
6. Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu ah addressing gathering
Chief Rabbi Visits: A Historical Gallery ContinuedRishon LZion
Hakham Ovadia Yosef (1970s) ah
Rishon LZion Hakham Mordechai Eliyahu ah (1980s)
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1. Dr. Dobrinsky, Gabriel Eshaghian being blessed by Rabbi
Ovadia Yosef ah, David Eshaghian
2. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef addresses dinner audience 3. Rabbi Dweck,
Rav Ovadia Yosef, Dr. Dobrinsky,
Rav Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik ah, Dr. Belkin ah 4. Rabbi
Raymond Harari, Abe M. Cohen, Rabbi Ovadia
Yosef ah, Hakham Barukh Ben-Haim ah 5. Rabbi Dobrinsky escorting
Rav Ovadia Yosef a'h
with crowd, Rabbi Dweck 6. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef a'h, Hakham Barukh
Ben-Haim Back Row: Unidentifi ed, Rabbi Sion Maslaton, 7. Dr. Lamm,
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef a'h and students 8. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef a'h
addressing a YU gathering 9. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef a'h, Rabbi Yosef
Dov Halevi
Soloveitchik ah, Dr. Samuel Belkin ah, Rabbi Zevulun Charlop
10. Rabbi Dweck, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ah, Rabanit Yosef ah, Dr.
Dobrinsky
11. Dr. Dobrinsky greets Rabbi Ovadia Yosef a'h,student in
background, Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie
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9Jubilee Anniversary Edition YU Sephardic Programs
Rishon LZion Hakham Bakshi Doron ah (1990s)
1. Ebrahim ben Davood Eliyahu Eshaghian ah, Rabbi Bakshi Doron,
David Eshaghian, Dr. Lamm
2. Rabbi Bakshi Doron touring YU campus with Dr. Norman Lamm
3. Ebrahim ben Davood Eliyahu Eshaghian ah, Rabbi Yedidia
Azrahian, Rabbi Bakshi Doron, David Eshaghian, Rabbi Soleyman Dayan
ah
4 Unidentifi ed, Rabbi Zevulun Charlop, Rabbi Bakshi Doron,
Rabbi Zevulun Lieberman ah, Rabbi Eliyahu Ben-Haim, Dr. Norman
Lamm, Dr. Dobrinsky, Rabbi Robert S. Hirt
5. Dr. Dobrinsky greets Hakham Bakshi Doron
Rishon LZion Hakham Shlomo Amar (2000s)
1. Rabbi Moshe Tessone, Rabbi Elie Abadie greeting Rabbi Shlomo
Amar2. Rabbi Amar and President Richard M. Joel3. Rabbi Amar, Rabbi
Hershel Schachter, Rabbi Yona Reiss4. Rabbi Marc Penner, Rabbi
Amar, Rabbi Abadie, Rabbi Tessone5. Rabbi Amar, President Joel,
Rabbi Gershon Yankelevitz ah6. Rabbi Amar delivers lecture in
Glueck Beit Midrash7. Rabbi Amar and Rabbi Ben-Haim with YU
students Photo Credits: Yeshiva University Archival
Collection/Curator, Shulamith Berger
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10Jubilee Anniversary Edition YU Sephardic Programs
YU Sephardic Campus Programs: A Year in Review
Memorial Event Commemorating Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ahStudents and
faculty of Yeshiva University gathered to commemorate and pay
tribute to the late revered Hakham Ovadia Yosef a'h on Nov. 5 (the
third night of Kislev) at YUs Zysman Hall. The assembly took place
on the 30th day after the passingpart of the tradition to hold a
memorial service known as a Sheloshim and to deliver divrei hesped
(words of eulogy). The program began with an introduc-tion by Rabbi
Simon Basalely, the Edmond J. Safra Sephardic Sgan Mashgiah at
Yeshiva University. Rabbi Moshe Tessone recited Tehillim in memory
of Hakham Ovadia, after which Rabbi Eliyahu Ben- Haim began the
eulogies. Rabbi Ben-Haim spoke of Rav Ovadias incredible ability to
make the Torah and its laws accessible to all Jewish people, even
applying the halakha in very lenient but halakhi-cally permissible
ways when he felt it was neces-sary. Rav Ben-Haims presentation was
followed by Rabbi Zevulun Charlop, dean emeritus of RIETS and
special advisor to the President on Yeshiva Affairs, who shared his
personal memories of Rav Ovadias visits to Yeshiva University, and
in particular his role in helping secure Rabbi Ben-Haim as YUs
Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva. Hakham Ovadia indeed regarded Rabbi
Ben-Haim as a Talmudic expert and a leading Sephardic halakhic
authority in North America.
The third eulogy was delivered by Rabbi Meir Goldwicht, who
conveyed many anecdotes illus-trating Rav Ovadias greatness and
concern for the Jewish people. The ceremony was concluded by the
recitation of a Hashkava (memorial prayer) by Hakham Ben-Haim.
Students afterward said they felt privileged to have taken part in
such a powerful evening of inspiration in memory of Hakham Ovadia
Yosef ah.
Sephardic Shabbat LuncheonShabbat of Parashat Bo Rabbi Basalely
hosted over 30 Sephardic students at his home for kiddush and lunch
on a January 2014 Shabbat. The event was particularly timely as the
students celebrated the upcoming hilula of the great Sephardic
leader Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzira, betterknown as the Baba Sali.
Rabbi Basalely shared a story and divrei Torah about the Baba Sali,
and the students, led by a large French-Moroccan contin-gent, sang
the well-known pizmon, Yodu Lekha Rayonai, which was authored by
the Baba Sali him-self. The students, who came from varied
Sephardic backgrounds, also sang Judeo-Spanish classics like Quando
El Rey Nimrod and Bendegamos. Students had the opportunity to share
divrei Torah as well. The Basalelys served homemade Sephardic food
such as lahama bajin as well as more classic
Shabbat dishes. The students (and the Basalely family) look
forward to many more such gatherings.
Shabbat Zakhor and Purim at Yeshiva University Sephardic Beit
Midrash The Sephardic Students packed in to the Sephardic Beit
Midrash for the biggest and most exciting Shab-bat of the year.
Friday night included a standing-room-only crowd to welcome in the
Shabbat as a Sephardic community. On Shabbat morning the beit
midrash reached capacity early on in the tefi llah, pushing the
crowd into the larger Morgenstern Beit Midrash downstairs.
Approximately 70 men and women, mostly students and alumni of
Yeshiva University, fi lled the room to pray together and hear the
reading of parshat Zakhor. continued on page 11
The Sephardic Student Club and the Sephardic Community Program,
benefi ting from the leadership and encouragement of Rabbi Moshe
Tessone and from Rabbi Simon Basalelys daily oversight, have
presented and participated in numerous special Sephardic campus
events over the course the academic year. Some of them are as
follows:
A group of nearly 20 young men from Hillel Yeshiva High School
of Deal, NJ visited the Yeshiva University campus for a day of
learning activities and a grand campus tour during the spring 2013
semester. The group, comprised of many Syrian-Sephardic students
from Monmouth county area of New Jersey, were greeted by offi cials
from the YU admissions team and were addressed by Rabbi Moshe
Tessone, director of YUs Sephardic Community Program, followed by a
question and answer session. The visiting students were also given
a special treat as they heard a shiur delivered by YUs Sephardic
Rosh Yeshiva Hakham Eliyahu Ben-Haim. They also interacted with
some of YUs current Sephardic students.
In recent years Yeshiva has experienced a signifi cant increase
in the number of students from Hillel High School, some of whom opt
to enroll in the Sy Syms School of Business. The educational
leadership at Hillel, including Rabbi Howard Bald, Dr. Ruth Katz,
Rabbi Saul Kassin and Rabbi Victor Gheriani (RIETS 2010) and Sam
Saka, president of Hillel, has been instrumental in encouraging
their students to pursue a college education at YU. Here, students
can achieve academic excellence while being immersed in a wholesome
environment of Torah learning and Sephardic life, including daily
Sephardic minyanim.
Hillel HS of Deal NJ Visits YU Campus
Rabbi Tessone delivers shiur in Sephardic Beit Midrash
Dr. Dobrinsky addressing students at YU who are visiting from
Escola Beit Yaakov, So Paolo, Brazil
Rabbi Ben-Haim learning with students in Sephardic Beit
Midrash
Dr. Jacob Tangir with son Elie Tangir and Rafi Katz
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11Jubilee Anniversary Edition YU Sephardic Programs
Sephardic Campus Programscontinued from page 10
The tefi llah was followed by a lavish kiddush and luncheon,
prepared primarily by Rabbanit Basalely, featuring delicious food,
communal singing and Torah study in anticipation of the upcoming
Purim holiday. As soon as Shabbat ended, over 100 men and women of
the Sephardic Yeshiva University commu-nity joined together on the
lower level of Morgen-stern Hall to pray Arbit and to hear the
reading of the Megillah. Purim day the Sephardic Beit Midrash
hosted two morning minyanim, the fi rst one begin-ning before
sunrise. This pre-Purim Shabbat and the Purim festival itself gave
the Sephardic students an excellent opportunity to join together
and pray in their nussah, and to hear the Megillah in their nus-sah
while enjoying collective time in a warm campus community holiday
environment.
Sephardic Shabbaton II The Sephardic community on campus enjoyed
the second of two major Sephardic Shabbatonim of the year on
Shabbat Parashat Tazria, March 2014. The standing-room-only crowd
of students joined togeth-er for Minha and Kabbalat Shabbat in the
Sephardic Beit Midrash, with a d'var Torah from Rabbi Basalely. The
students, many of whom were staying in Yeshiva for the fi rst time
for Shabbat, were uplift-ed by the ru'ah (spirit) and beautiful
singing during the tefi llah. After the tefi llah, the students
headed to the cafeteria for the fi rst seudah. Many students had
the opportunity to sit with Rabbis Avidan Elkin and
Simon Basalely, both of whom joined the students for the fi rst
seudah in the cafeteria. In honor of the Shabbaton, special
Sephardic delicacies were served to all the students. The Shabbat
zemirot were also coordinated especially for the Sephardic
Shabba-ton, as both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic students joined
together for singing Sephardic classics like Ki Eshmera Shabbat,
Nagillah and Habibi. After the seudah, the students proceeded to
the Rubin Shul where they were treated to hamin (cholent),
refreshments and divrei Torah from Rabbi Herschel Reichman, Rabbi
Avidan Elkin and Profes-sor Daniel Tsadik. Shabbat morning services
were beautifully led by the students, including members of the
Syrian, Persian and French-Moroccan com-munities. The services were
followed by a delicious lunch and kiddush in the Sephardic Beit
Midrash serving wonderful Syrian delicacies. Rabbis Elkin and
Basalely shared Divrei Torah while the students fi lled the beit
midrash with pizmonim and zemirot. Seudah shelishit was again
another opportunity for the students to join together in the
Sephardic Beit Midrash for a meal with more singing and more divrei
Torah from Rabbi Elkin. Overall, the students were delighted with
the experience of a warm Shab-bat in the Yeshiva, which gave them
the opportunity to both integrate with the larger student body
while celebrating in the ways of their tradition.
Hazkarah for Hakham Zion Levi ah It is exceedingly rare for one
rabbi to have as much impact on a community as Hakham Zion Levi had
on the Jewish community of Panama in his 57 years as their
spiritual leader. On Wednesday night, Oct. 30, Rabbi Basalely
hosted several Panamanian students for a learning session in memory
of their late beloved rabbi and leader. The evening began with a
video presentation by Hakham Eliyahu Ben-Haim who discussed many of
Rabbi Zion Levis accomplish-ments in Panama, such as establishing
an education-al system, strengthening the kashrut and bringing
intermarriage to near zero. The students then heard from Rabbi
Levis grandson, Avi Levi, a senior in Yeshiva College, about some
of his memories of his grandfather. The evening continued with
studying Torah in memory of Rabbi Levi and concluded with Rabbi
Basalely sharing some thoughts about lessons the students could
learn from the life and legacy of such a great person. The students
truly appreciated the opportunity to join together and to honor the
memory of their esteemed rabbi.
Dr. Nicole Shreiber-Agus, director of YU and Einsteins Program
for Jewish Genetic Health, along with the programs genetic
counselor Estie Rose, visited Rabbi Tessones Sephardic Halakha
class at Stern College for Women in March. During the visit, the
two women dis-cussed the importance of genetic testing in the
Sephardic Community. They introduced them-selves and their platform
by asking students why they believe the Sephardic students were not
invited to the genetic testing event for Ashkenazic Jews hosted at
the Yeshiva College Campus earlier in 2014. The goal of the visit
was to provide an open forum for the young women to ask questions
about the prevalence of genetic diseases in the various Sephardic
and Mizrahi communities.
The session was both educational and informative, as many
students learned about the prevalence of genetic diseases in the
various Sephardic sub-groups, as well as the modes of genetic
inheritance in these groups. Dr. Shreiber-Agus and Rose explained
that genetic testing in the Sephardic and Mizrahi populations is
unique because the genetically distinct Jewish groups in
the United States are from different regions of the Middle East
and North Africa, and the Jews from each region may be carriers of
specifi c genetically transmitted diseases; however, these can be
iden-tifi ed and curbed with proper outreach, testing and
treatment.
There was an open discussion between the panelists and Rabbi
Tessones students, who hailed from various communities in the U.S.
and abroad including the Judeo-Spanish community in Seattle, the
Mashadi community in Great Neck, the Moroccan community of
Casablanca and the Syrian community of Panama. The event ended with
a chance for students to ask the researchers questions and to
connect with them; the hope is that they will serve as liaisons in
their hometown Sephardic communities, where they may be able to
spread awareness about population genetics and how genetic diseases
can be prevented.
Einsteins Program for Jewish Genetic Health Visits Sephardic
Students at SCWBy Jackie Benayoun
Dr. Nicole Shreiber-Agus with Esti Rose
Students engaged in Pizmonim Club activities, singing in
Sephardic Beit Midrash
Prof. Claude (Dov) B. Stuczynski, Dr. Perelis, Dr. Dobrinsky
Students in Sephardic Beit Midrash at Sephardic Shabbaton
Motzaei Shabbat event
Rabbi Basalely speaks with students in Sephardic Beit
Midrash
Rabbi Basaley addressing students
Students studying in Sephardic Beit MidrashDr. Tsadik, Dr.
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12Jubilee Anniversary Edition YU Sephardic Programs
Rabbi Shlomo Amar, the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel,
visited the Yeshiva University-affi liated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Theological Seminary (RIETS) during the spring 2013 semester.
The chief rabbi, also known as the Rishon LeZion, was welcomed
with a performance by YUs Sephardi choir before delivering a shiur
to students in the Glueck Beit Midrash. He then offered divrei
chizuk to students in the James Striar School of General Jewish
Studies/Mekhina Program during their siyum of Masekhet Tamid, and
participated in a luncheon with various roshei yeshiva, members of
the YU faculty and administration and local Sephardi community
leaders.
It is truly a privilege to have Rav Amar in the Yeshiva, said
Rabbi Marc
Penner, dean of RIETS. So many things come together when he is
here: Ashke-nazim and Sephardim, Israel and the Diaspora. His
visits not only enlighten us, but remind us of how close we are as
a people.
This was Rabbi Amars fourth visit to the YU campus in recent
years. His wife, Rabbanit Mazal Amar, delivered a lecture titled
Womens Leadership According to Hazal to students on the Israel
Henry Beren Campus.
Hakham Amars visit was particularly exciting this time, because
he was here to visit the talmidim of the Yeshiva as well as to
attend the RIETS dinner, said Rabbi Moshe Tessone, director of the
Sephardic Community Program at YU. His unique ability to connect in
his presentations to people of all ages and to students of varied
demographic and religious backgrounds is really remarkable.
Rabbi Shlomo Amar Delivers Shiur to Students, Meets with Roshei
Yeshiva
Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahus Visit to YURabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the Chief
Rabbi of Tzfat, visited the YU campus and the Yeshiva
University-affi liated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
(RIETS) during the spring 2014 semester. Rabbi Eliyahu is the son
of the late revered former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Hakham
Mordekhai Eliyahu ah, who visited YU and RIETS numerous times
during his lifetime.
Rabbi Eliyahu was greeted by Rabbi Moshe Tessone and Rabbi Simon
Basalely, and he also had the opportunity to meet with various
roshei yeshiva and members of the YU faculty and administration,
including Rabbi Dr. Herbert
C. Dobrinsky, Rabbi Hershel Schachter and Rabbi Dr. Elazar
Hurvitz.Rabbi Eliyahu not only gave a shiur in the main beit
midrash of Glueck, but
he also spoke in the Sephardic Beit Midrash to some of the
Sephardic students. There, he fondly described his late fathers
remarkable accomplishments as one of the great rabbinic sages of
our generation. Rabbi Mordekhai Eliyahu ah was the son of Hakham
Suleiman Eliyahu of Baghdad who lived during the era of the Ben Ish
Hai and had a relationship with him as well.
4. Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Rabbi Avraham Amar, Rabbi Ben-Haim 5.
Rabbi Amar, Rabbi Zev Reichman6. Richard M. Joel with Rabbi Rabbi
Amar
1. Rabbi Amar with YU Mekhina Class2. Rabbi Amar, Rabbi Tessone,
Leon Levy3. Students look on at Rabbi Amar lecture, YU
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1. Rabbi Eliyahu, Dr. Tsadik, Rabbi Hershel Schachter
2. Rabbi Eliyahu delivers lecture in Sephardic Beit Midrash
3. Dr. Dobrinsky, Rabbi Eliyahu, Rabbi Charlop
4. Dr. Elazar Hurvitzspeaking to Rabbi Eliyahu
5. Rabbi Eliyahu addressing students in Glueck Beit Midrash
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Mekhina Class Visits Rebbes OhelIn honor of Lag LaOmer, Rabbi
Tessones JSS/Mekhina class spent an afternoon visiting the Ohel of
the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneerson ah.
Rabbi Yagen Speaks at YUYUs Sephardic Club hosted Rabbi Yaakov
Yagen as a guest speaker during the spring 2013 semester. The event
was orga-nized by club leaders including Benjamim Lugassy and
several others. This was Rabbi Yagens second visit to the YU campus
and was very well received by all who attended, including many
Sephardic young women from Stern College for Women. Rabbi Yagens
inspiring words of Torah and life anecdotes were particularly
exciting to todays young men and women; he has a unique ability to
identify with the young generation who appreciate his timely
message.
Sefer Torah Dedicated for the Sephardic Beit Midrash
The Sephardic Community Program at Yeshiva received a new and
beautifully written Sefer Torah for the Sephardic Beit Midrash in
July 2013. The Torah scroll was donated by Mr. Benjamin M. Aminoff
in memory of his nephew Sam Aminoff ah.
The festivities began with the completion of the letters of the
Sefer Torah in the lounge of Morgenstern Hall, and continued with a
processional of joyous liturgical pizmonim and dancing onto the
pedestrian mall of Amster-dam Avenue on the YU Wilf Campus. The
traditional singing and dancing continued into the Sephardic Beit
Midrash where the new Torah was placed alongside two other scrolls
in the Heikhal (Holy Ark). A brief dedication ceremony was
conducted in the Beit Midrash by Rabbi Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky,
Hakham Eliyahu Ben-Haim, Rabbi Moshe Tessone and Rabbi Simon
Basalely.
Dr. Dobrinsky, who shared words of inspi-ration at the
dedication, said: This sefer is particularly beautiful and will be
put to much good use by our students in their daily and Shabbat
services; indeed, it also marks a new beginning for the Sephardic
Beit Midrash and the rabbinic leadership will benefi t from it in
the coming years.
The donor, Benjamin Aminoff, also ad-dressed the audience and
expressed his joy and gratitude for the opportunity to partake in
this great mitzvah. He also shared his par-ticular personal fulfi
llment in knowing that the new Torah scroll was being placed in a
sanctuary that will put it to immediate and frequent use. The
program concluded with a delicious meal in Morgenstern lounge. The
event marked the inaugural occasion for Rabbi Simon Basalely, who
is the grandneph-ew of Mr. Benjamin Aminoff. Rabbi Basalely is also
the newly appointed Edmond J. Safra Sgan Mashgiah who will fi ll
this newly estab-lished position to work with the Sephardic
students on the Wilf Campus, made possible by a grant from the
Edmond J. Safra Philan-thropic Foundation.
This dedication was especially meaningful because Rabbi Basalely
is closely related to the Aminoff family, explained Rabbi Tessone.
He now has the unique opportunity to oversee the religious growth
that will be reaped from the frequent use of this Sefer Torah.
Since this dedication, Benjamin Aminoff a'h, passed away in
March 2014, but his contribu-tion to the Sephardic students at YU
lives on.
Rabbi Tessones class in front of Rebbes Ohel on Lag Laomer YU
Mekhina students visit Lubavitcher Rebbe's Ohel Students praying at
the holy site
1. Rabbi Yagen speaks with students2. Women of Stern college
attending Rabbi Yagens lecture at
YU Wilf Campus3. Rabbi Yagen addresses YU students4. Ben Lugassy
(YU Sephardic Club President) with Rabbi Yagen
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Beit Midrash2. Rabbi Tessone inscribes letter in new Sefer
Torah3. Rabbi Tessone, Rabbi Basalely, Dr. Dobrinsky,
David Bessalely, Benjamin M. Aminoff ah, Mr. Elias Basaleli
4. Rabbi Ben-Haim dancing with New Torah5. Rabbi Ben-Haim
addressing gathering in
Sephardic Beit Midrash6. YU students and staff dancing with
new
Sefer Torah in front of Sephardic Beit Midrash on Amsterdam
Avenue
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14Jubilee Anniversary Edition YU Sephardic Programs
Jackie Benayoun is a graduating senior at Stern College for
Women and a student in the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program where
she majored in biochemistry. She is of Sephardic-North African
descent, as her father was
born in Morocco. After graduating from Shevach High School in
Queens, she attended a year at Michlalah Jerusalem College where
she greatly enriched her Torah knowledge and deepened her love for
Eretz Yisrael. During her year in seminary, she connected to her
Sep-hardic heritage by visiting the kivrei tzadikim of the
Sephardic gedolim, including Rav Yosef Karo and the Rambam, ah.
During her undergraduate days at Stern College, Benayoun
participated in various programs that exemplifi ed her leadership
abilities including tutoring inner-city children through Project
START Science in Washing-ton Heights and tutoring at Norman
Thomas
High School in New York City. In addition, Benayoun applied her
love for help-ing others to a non-academic setting, serving as a
hospital leader for Project TEACH at New York Presbyterian
Hospital, a program aimed to perform activi-ties and experiments
with hospitalized children and their siblings. Benayouns passion
for community service also extends well beyond the Yeshiva
University community. This summer, she participated in the
prestigious Roth Scholars Program at YUs Albert Einstein College of
Medicine.
Benayoun is as enthusiastic about her Sephardic heritage as she
is about her scientifi c achievements. In fact, she has merged the
two interests by writ-ing about the possibility of genetic testing
in the Sephardic community in the Stern College Science and Torah
journal Derech Hateva. As a member of the S. Daniel Abraham Honors
Program, she has decided to make the topic of her honor's thesis
the prevalence of genetic diseases in the various Sephardic
sub-groups. Her love for her heritage has inspired her to accept
and appreci-ate the differences among Jews, and to recognize the
importance of Jewish community outreach. Benayoun hopes to become a
medical doctor serving in the fi eld of obstetrics and gynecology
and in doing so, to spread awareness about genetic diseases and how
they can be prevented.
Daniel Danesh (YC 2013) and his twin brother David (SSSB 2013),
are Sep-hardic Students who attended YU and are fi rst generation
Iranians Americans who grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Both attended
Yeshivat Ateret Torah for elemen-
tary and high school. Following their graduation from Ateret
Torah they both studied at Yeshivat Torat Moshe in Jerusalem for a
period of two years, after which both enrolled at YUs
un-dergraduate studies program. While at YU Daniel received a
degree in Hebrew Literature with Latin honors from Yeshiva College
(YC) and Da-vid was a leading student at the Sy Syms School of
Business (SSSB).
Daniel and his twin brother Da-vid, are both currently attending
YUs
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law where they were awarded the
Dean's Merit Scholarship to study at Cardozo School of Law. They
are also both cur-rently working as LSAT instructors at Kaplan Test
Prep in NYC. They are also both currently serving on YU alumni
boards as members of the YU GOLD Society with Daniel serving on the
YU Young Alumni Committee and the YU Nachshon Society.
As an undergraduate student, Daniel was also elected
Co-President of the Jacob Hecht Pre-Law Society for two terms. In
addition, he also served as President of the Torat Moshe Symposium
at YU for two terms as well. In 2012, he placed as a fi nalist at
the Sy Syms School of Business Fast-Pitch Sales Competition. As an
undergraduate student, David was very involved in campus activism
and student leadership. With his brother, he has also been the
Co-President of the Jacob Hecht Pre-Law Society for two terms,
together with serving on the boards of the YU Real Estate and
Management Clubs. David also interned in his last semester with YUs
Offi ce of the General Counsel as a speechwriter for the General
Counsel.
By combining their love for Torah observance and their interest
in becoming professional lawyers serving in the corporate world,
both Daniel and David will continue to exemplify the Jewish ideal
of leading a life that combines Torah U' Madda in a most fulfi
lling way.
Jackie Benayoun
We Take Pride in Our Students
Congregation Shearith Israel in The City of New YorkThe Spanish
and Portuguese Synagogues Role in The Development of Yeshiva
Universitys Sephardic Studies Programs is Remembered With
GratitudeCongregation Shearith Israel in the City of New York, the
Mother Synagogue of American Jewry played a critical role in the
development of Yeshiva Universitys Sephardic Studies Programs in
1964 under the leadership of Rabbi David de Sola Pool and his
congregations clergy and lay leadership. The establishment of the
Sephardic Hazzanut courses at the Philip and Sarah Belz School of
Jewish Music was initiated by the congregations Hazzan, Reverend
Abraham Lopes Cardozo, ah who taught the Occidental Nussah Hatefi
llah for decades, which was aug-mented by Hazzanim of the Syrian
communitys congregations who taught the Oriental Nussah Hatefi
llah. The Sephardic Reference Room which houses the largest
Sephardic Collections in North America was established through the
generosity of their Trustee, Ronald P. Stanton (who later became
the largest Benefactor of YU with his $100 million gift) and a
Chairman of the YU Board of Trustees. The Librarys Sephardic
Reference Room was donated in honor of the congregations past
president, Judge Edgar J. Nathan Jr., ah, and Mr. Ivan Salomon, ah,
who had provided the necessary funds to cover the expenses of
travel and lodging for The Hakham, Rabbi Dr. Solomon Gaon, ah,
Chief Rabbi of the Sephardic Congregations of the British
Commonwealth, who never accepted personal compensation until after
his retirement from that prestigious rabbinic position to assume
full-time teaching as YUs Professor of Sephardic Studies. The
congregation during the Presidency of Edgar J. Nathan 3rd, ah,
engaged the fi rst Sephardic rabbi ordained by the Sephardic
Rabbinic Program at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
to assume a pulpit, Rabbi Dr. Marc D. Angel, currently its Rabbi
Emeritus, is serving the congregation with distinction for forty fi
ve years and was the youngest rabbi, and the fi rst Sephardic
rabbi, to become the President of the Rabbinical Council of
America. He was an award-winning author of many books on Sephardic
history and related subjects and the Congregation has continued to
engage its rabbis and Hazzanim from YUs affi li-ated Rabbi Isaac
Elchanan Theological Seminary ever since. Its current spiritual
leader is the highly respected rabbinic scholar, Rabbi Dr. Meir
Soloveichik. The Congregations Sisterhood provided scholarship help
for deserving and needy Sephardic students at Yeshiva University
and the Congregation hosted the Central Sephardic Jewish Communitys
Mens and Womens Divisions, where its current Womens president, Mrs.
Irma Cardozo, provides annual contributions to YUs Sephardic
Student Scholarships. The editors of The American Sephardi, Journal
of YUs Sephardic Studies Programs, Professor Herman P. Salomon and
the late Toms L. Ryan, Esq., ah, produced outstanding academic
articles until the publication ceased publication in 1978.
Rabbi Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky has reported that the initial fi
nancial support for Yeshiva Universitys Sephardic Student
Scholarships and special projects was
secured from the Congrega-tions members, among other communities
who followed their example and were in-spired by the leadership
they provided, which they regarded as an endorsement of this ma-jor
Yeshiva University historic program.
The lay leaders of Con-gregation Shearith Israel, whose names
are too many to list, played a very important role in the
acceptance of the Yeshiva University initiative by President Samuel
Belkin, Rabbi Herbert C. Dobrinsky and The Hakham Rabbi Dr. Solomon
Gaon who came to spend one month a year to travel with Rabbi
Dobrinsky throughout the United States and Canada to recruit
students and fi nancial support, and to be available for
consultations with leaders of all Sephardic congregations in North
America. The rabbis and key offi cers attended several Synagogue
Leadership Conferences organized by Rabbi Dobrinsky. The
congregations infl uence spread to leaders on the Board of the
Sephardic Home for the Aged in Brooklyn, some of whose mem-bers
belonged to The Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst and other
congregations in New Jersey, the Bronx and in Brooklyn, all of whom
became involved with Yeshiva University. At a later time, members
of Nassau County and many com-munities outside of New York joined
in sending students and became involved on a personal level and fi
nancial basis.
YU President, Professor Richard M. Joel, Dr. Norman Lamm,
President Emeritus and Rabbi Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky, YUs Vice
President for University Affairs and co-founder of, and consultant
to, and overseer of all the Sephardic Programs at Yeshiva
University and Rabbi Moshe Tessone, Director of Sephardic Community
Programs and Strategic Planning, all join in expressing Yeshiva
Universitys everlasting appreciation of its past and present
kinship with Con-gregation Shearith Israel which played such an
important role in strengthening Yeshiva University from the
inception of its Sephardic Studies Programs until now as we
celebrate our Jubilee Anniversary (19642014).
Daniel and David Danesh
Jackie BenayounThe Danesh Twins at YU
-
15Jubilee Anniversary Edition YU Sephardic Programs
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY SEPHARDIC GRADUATES 2014
ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINEDoctor of Medicine(as of May
28, 2014)
Michael Sassoon AboodiBS, Yale UniversityDavida CohenBA, Yeshiva
UniversityEdward Jack EbaniBS, Brandeis UniversityFrank
LalezarzadehBS, Cornell UniversityWendy Lauren RabbenouBA, Yeshiva
UniversityMichael Aaron ShamoonBA, Wesleyan UniversitySahar Eshrat
ZaghiBA, Yeshiva University
EINSTEIN GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCESSUE GOLDING
GRADUATEDIVISIONDoctor of Philosophy(as of January 31, 2014)
Jeannette Anne NachbarBA, Yeshiva UniversityMA, Columbia
UniversityMS, Albert Einstein Collegeof MedicineKifC3 Promotes
Mitotic Progres-sion and Integrity of the Central Spindle in
Cytokinesis
Doctor of Philosophy(as of May 28, 2014)
Ariana Bree HarariBA, Wheaton CollegeMS, Albert Einstein
Collegeof MedicineThe Role of FGF Signaling in Early Embryonic
Forebrain DevelopmentEpidemiology of HPV31 Evolutionand
Pathogenicity
Rachel S. SalamonBA, CUNYQueens CollegeMS, Albert Einstein
Collegeof MedicineClass I and Class III PI3 Kinases in Endocytosis,
Integrin Signaling, and Nutrient Sensing
AZRIELI GRADUATE SCHOOLOF JEWISH EDUCATION
ANDADMINISTRATIONMaster of Science(as of September 30, 2013)
Ouriel Isaac Hassan
Master of ScienceAccelerated Program(as of September 30,
2014)
Tali Sasson
BENJAMIN N. CARDOZOSCHOOL OF LAWMaster of Laws(as of January 15,
2014)
Neta HassidimLLB, MBA, College of ManagementIsrael
Master of Laws(as of May 27, 2014)
Alain D. BensimonLIC, MAIT, Universit de Paris XFranceAlison E.
BensimonBA, New York UniversityJD, Loyola University ChicagoLaurie
Esther MamaneMA 1, MA 2, LIC, Universit de Paris-Sud XIFrance
Juris Doctor(as of January 15, 2014)
Jacob S. AryehBS, New York University
Juris Doctor(as of May 27, 2014)
Morris S. DweckBA, CUNYBrooklyn CollegeThema A. EmanuelBA,
University of PennsylvaniaMichael J. Emrani
BS, University of Southern CaliforniaJoseph A. FrancoBBA,
CUNYBaruch College
Brachah GoykadoshBS, MA, CUNYBrooklyn CollegeDavid IsraelBS, New
York UniversityAdrienne D. LevyBA, SUNYBinghamtonAbraham Z.
MelamedBA, Touro CollegeDanit L. MishaniBA, SUNYBinghamtonBenjamin
D. OhebBA, New York UniversitySara RohaniBA, Hofstra
UniversityZubin D. SoleimanyBA, Bennington CollegeNicole M.
WaknineBA, Rutgers UniversityMichael Oriel ZarifpoorBA, Yeshiva
University
BERNARD REVEL GRADUATESCHOOL OF JEWISH STUDIESMaster of Arts(as
of January 31, 2014)
Jonathan Jacob CohenGidon Michael Shamir
Master of Arts(as of May 30, 2014)
Ezra AshkenazieMeyer E LaniadoYoel Saidian
FERKAUF GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYMaster of Arts(as of
January 15, 2014)
Michael AnavianBA, CUNYQueens College
Doctor of Psychology(as of September 30, 2013)
Ariella AbrahamBA, Touro College
WURZWEILER SCHOOL OFSOCIAL WORKMaster of Social Work(as of May
30, 2014)
Lillian Beth Rishty
Certifi cate in JewishPhilanthropy(as of May 30, 2014)
Alisha J. AbboudiKeith S. Barbarosh
SY SYMS SCHOOL OFBUSINESSWilf Campus
Bachelor of Science(as of January 31, 2014)
Raphael Nessim AbergelJoseph Dilmani CLeon FrancoOren Heskia
CItamar Nissim
Bachelor of Science(as of May 30, 2014)
Brett Baruch Bar-Eli HDaniel BenchimolAbraham BendahanJonathan
Danesh HEdward Dayan HJoshua Eleyahouzadeh HJacob Robert
FrancoDaniel Yehuda HazanMordechai KhaimovMoises Isaac Tarazi
Bachelor of Science(as of September 30, 2014)
Shlomo Shawn Aziz HEzra BarryJoshua S. Cohen HIsaac Henry
HarariEvan KalatizadehYonatan Kamel H
Asher Perez HMeir Tordjman
SY SYMS SCHOOL OF BUSINESSIsrael Henry Beren Campus
Bachelor of Science(as of January 31, 2014)
Morgane BenarrochLiyah Moran Eliyahu
Bachelor of Science(as of May 30, 2014)
Lauren Esther Guenoun
Master of Science in Accounting(as of May 30, 2014)
Raphael Nessim AbergelMichelle Khakshoor
Executive Master ofBusiness Administration(as of September 30,
2014)
Adebola Alade AdedimejiShlomo Amram
GRADUATE PROGRAMS INARTS AND SCIENCESSTERN COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
Associate in Arts(as of January 31, 2014)
Morgane Benarroch Koral Rivka DadonLiyah Moran EliyahuAvital
MeiriBriana MizrahiBarbara OuaknineTalia SaghianMalka SassonNasim
Tishbi
Associate in Arts(as of May 30, 2014)
Yael AlmaniRachel AmsellemTovly AronovMargot Michelle AtriLeslie
AzranRebecca Leah BenhaghnazarAshley Myriam BenloloDana Ariela
Ben-ZakenTamar Zilpa BenzaquenElana Sarah BetaharonEllie Faye
BlancoTamar Henrietta BuzagloVictoria Elizabeth ChabotDevora
CohenPenina Sima CohenSara Malka CohenSharon CohenNeda
EghbaliGabriella Hannah Michelle ElkaimYael Malka FarzanDaniela
GarzonDeena R. GilboaLauren Esther GuenounSharon HaimShlomit Tehila
KahanDesiree KashizadehMariya KulangiyevMichelle N. LeviTal H.
MeiriSarah Miriam MizrachiGabriella Eftihia NunezShaina SanieoffLea
L. SoussanRebecca TabarokiJessica TuachiDevorah E. YarmushMoran
YazdaniDoreen Zehavi
Associate in Arts(as of September 30, 2014)
Stephanie AbrahamJacqueline Simha BenayounLeedan CohenAnna
Nathanie HakakianYonati Esther HaymovMiriam KhukhashviliElina
MosheyevaAriella Raviv
Batya SadekZelda Rachel SalfatiSara Elizabeth Shamir
Avital TzubeliElvira Yevdayeva
Bachelor of Arts(as of January 31, 2014)
Tal Ben-ZakenKoral Rivka Dadon SAvital Meiri MBriana Mizrahi
MBarbara Ouaknine CTalia SaghianMalka Sasson CNasim Tishbi S
Bachelor of Arts(as of May 30, 2014)
Yael Almani HTovly AronovLeslie Azran HRebecca Leah Benhaghnazar
HDana Ariela Ben-Zaken HTamar Zilpa Benzaquen HElana Sarah
BetaharonEllie Faye Blanco HTamar Henrietta BuzagloDevora
CohenPenina Sima Cohen H*Sara Malka Cohen H*Sharon Cohen HNeda
Eghbali HGabriella Hannah Michelle ElkaimYael Malka Farzan
H*Daniela Garzon HSharon HaimShlomit Tehila KahanMariya Kulangiyev
HMichelle N. Levi HTal H. MeiriSarah Miriam Mizrachi H*Gabriella
Eftihia NunezShaina Sanieoff HNancy Shilian H*Lea L. SoussanRebecca
Tabaroki HJessica TuachiMoran Yazdani HDoreen Zehavi
Bachelor of Arts(as of September 30, 2014)
Jacqueline Simha BenayounAnna Nathanie Hakakian HYonati Esther
HaymovMiriam KhukhashviliElina MosheyevaAriella RavivBatya Sadek
HZelda Rachel SalfatiLeora Sanieoff HSara Elizabeth ShamirAvital
TzubeliElvira Yevdayeva
Master of Arts in Biblical andTalmudic Interpretation(as of May
30, 2014)
Rachel Chaviva AbboudiSarit Bendavid
JSS/JAMES STRIAR SCHOOLAssociate in Arts(as of January 31,
2014)
Raphael Nessim AbergelArman DavtianJoseph DilmaniLeon Franco
Associate in Arts(as of May 30, 2014)
Alon AvitanJacky BedaDaniel BenchimolJacob Robert FrancoElliot
ShavalianMoises Isaac Tarazi
Associate in Arts(as of September 30, 2014)
Isaac Henry HarariMeir Tordjman
ISAAC BREUER COLLEGEOF HEBRAIC STUDIESAssociate in Arts(as of
January 31, 2014)
Itamar Nissim
Associate in Arts(as of May 30, 2014)
Abraham BendahanGabriel DavidoffDaniel Yehuda HazanMordechai
Khaimov
YESHIVA COLLEGEBachelor of Arts(as of January 31, 2014)
Jonathan Andrew Abda SMatthew Mosheh NassimiMichael
YousefzadehBachelor of Arts(as of May 30, 2014)
Nathan Yehuda Ben Agi H*Michael David AhdoutIsaac A. Attia HAri
Yonah Bardash HJacky Beda HTeddy Edery HEli A. EliasOren Eliahu
Ishal HAbraham Joseph Levy HMichael Mizrahi HJedidiah SeguraElliot
Shavalian HDarren Lyndon Sultan HIrving David Sultan HYousaf Zaghi
H
Bachelor of Arts(as of September 30, 2014)
Noah Ariel CohenRafael David DayanJonathan Ismaili HEitan J.
Selevan
Abbreviation Key:S: Summa Cum LaudeC: Cum LaudeM: Magna Cum
LaudeH: HonorsH*: Completed the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors
Program at Yeshiva College or the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program
at Stern College for Women
-
AWARDS AND HONORS
VALEDICTORIANS
JSS/JAMES STRIAR SCHOOLIsaac Araten Memorial Award forExcellence
in BibleJacky BedaDaniel BenchimolTeddy EderyMoises TaraziMeir
Tordjman
Isaac Araten Memorial Award for Excellence in TalmudJoseph
DilmaniJoshua EleyahouzadehAlan Geni
Professor Solomon WindMemorial Award in Jewish Studiesand
Character (Valedictorian)Elliot Shavalian
ISAAC BREUER COLLEGE OFHEBRAIC STUDIESBlanche Attas
ZuckermanMemorial Award for Excellencein Sephardic StudiesNathan
Agi
Isaac Araten Memorial Award forExcellence in Jewish StudiesAsher
Perez
YESHIVA PROGRAM/MAZERSCHOOL OF TALMUDIC STUDIESFOR EXCELLENCE IN
TALMUDThe Meyer and Bella RhineMemorial AwardAbraham J. LevyDarren
L. Sultan
The Rose Rachel SiegelEndowment Foundation AwardEvan Pieri
YESHIVA COLLEGEProfessor Meyer Atlas MemorialAward for
Excellence in BiologyNathan AgiEvan Pieri
Professor Michael Bernstein Memorial Award for Excellence in
BibleGilad Barach
Departmental Award forExcellence in SociologyMichael Mizrahi
Biblical Joseph Prize for Outstanding Achievement in the Study
of EconomicsEvan Pieri
Samuel and Emily Granet LemlerMemorial Award for Excellencein
Pre-Medical StudiesOren Ishal
Masmid Award for OutstandingService to the Student BodyElliot
Shavalian
Gertrude Nissenbaum Memorial Award for Excellence in Computer
ScienceIrving SultanJordan Sved
Orthodox Union Award forExcellence in Jewish StudiesJonathan
Drory
Fannie and Asher Scharfstein Award for Best Essay on Gemilut
ChesedDavid Drory
The 20132014 Lillian F. and William L. Silber Professor of the
Year AwardAmish Khalfan
Dr. Samuel Soloveichik Prizein Natural ScienceDarren Sultan
David and Rebecca Wolstein Memorial Award for Excellence in
PsychologyElliot Shavalian
SY SYMS SCHOOL OF BUSINESSBernard Brown Award for Business
StudiesBrett Bar-Eli
The Lillian F. and William L. SilberProfessor of the YearGalit
Ben-Joseph
Professor Richard WilliamsMemorial Award for Service
andCharacterBrett Bar-Eli
Deans Award for ScholasticAchievement in ManagementJosh
Eleyahouzadeh
Deans Award for Serviceand CharacterJonathan Danesh
STERN COLLEGE FOR WOMENAmerican Institute of ChemistsAward for
Excellence in ChemistrySarah Mizrachi
Jason Botnick Memorial Award for the Pursuit of Graduate Studies
in Jewish EducationVictoria ChabotBenjamin and Jennie
HammerMemorial Award for Excellence inPolitical SciencePenina
Cohen
Ida Lamport Hurewitz MemorialAward for Excellence in
PsychologyYael Malka Farzan
Langfan Family ConstitutionalOratorical PrizeFirst PlaceYael
Malka Farzan
The Dean David Mirsky MemorialAward for Excellence in Studio
ArtVictoria Chabot
The Dean David Mirsky MemorialAward for Excellence in Creative
WritingYael Malka Farzan
Marcia Pearlstein Memorial Awardfor Excellence in Hebraic
StudiesAvital Meiri
The Edward A. Rothman MemorialAward for the Best Paper onIssues
in Judaism in PracticeYael Malka Farzan
The Lillian F. and William L. SilberProfessor of the Year
AwardAaron Cohen
Ann and David SteinbergMemorial Award for Growth andCommitment
to Jewish StudiesMichelle N. Levi
With Gratitude to our Current Major DonorsWe would like to
acknowledge with gratitude the current generous support of the
following families who have taken a lead role in enabling the YU
Sephardic Community Program to fl ourish and for their kind help in
providing scholarships that benefi t our deserving and needy
Sephardic students at Yeshiva University.
Jack AttiaLydia and Joseph AbergelThe Ades Family FoundationSara
and Albert AllenNazanin and Joseph AmirianRene and Ezra DabahMartin
Elias and FamilyThe Elyachar Family Foundation
Simone and David EshaghianThe Gindi Family/Century 21
Associates FoundationBeatrice Levy Scholarship FundFran and Leon
L. LevyThe Leon Levy Family FoundationThe Families of the late
Joseph E. and Sam Maleh, ah
The Maybaum Brothers Memorial Fundfor Fellowships, Scholarships
and Professorships
The Mitrani FoundationChella and the late Moise J. Safra, ahThe
Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation The Sephardic Geriatric
Foundation of New York, Inc.The Sephardic Jewish Center of
CanarsieDebra and Asher Zamir
Urgent Appeal For Scholarship Aid For ImmigrantAnd North
American Sephardic Students
Many Sephardic students from Canada, France, Morroco, Syria,
Iran, Turkey, Bukhara and elsewhere are eager to enter Yeshiva
University. We are launching an urgent scholarship appeal for these
students to raise the necessary funds to
accommodate them. The cost for tuition, dormitory and the
minimum food plan, plus fees, is $49,630 per student.
Please complete and detach this form and send it with your tax
deductible scholarship gift made out to:YESHIVA UNIVERSITY
SEPHARDIC STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND
c/o Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky, Yeshiva University 500 West 185th
Street, New York, NY 10033-3201
Credit card contributions will also be accepted. Please call
212.960.0850NAME
________________________________________________
ADDRESS ____________________________________________
CITY _________________________________________________
STATE ___________________ ZIP _________________________
TELEPHONE __________________________________________
CELLULAR ___________________________________________
Contributions of $100,000 or more will establish a personal
endowed scholarship and blended scholarship (half expendableand
half endowed) in your name that will be listed in all appropriate
University publications in perpetuity.
CONTRIBUTION
Please indicate the amount of your scholarship gift for
Sephardic students at Yeshiva University:One Year Full Expendable
Scholarship: l $49,630Personal Endowed Scholarship: l
$50,000Personal Endowed and Blended Scholarship: l $100,000Partial
Scholarships:
l $26,000 l $7,500 l $1,000 l Other l $18,000 l $5,200 l $501
_______________ l $10,000 l $2,600 l $101
May you merit many years in good health and happiness.
If you receive more than one copy of this YU Sephardic
Newsletter, kindly share it with a friend who will appreciate its
content.