2008 Woodie Awards
YU Steps Up Presence in Israel
Ariel Rosenzveig
Issue date: 8/31/05 Section: News
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Affirming his desire to increase the scope of Yeshiva University's presence in Israel, Howard M. Weisband, Senior Advisor to President Richard M. Joel on Israel Affairs, met with Yeshiva students for dinner at his Jerusalem office on Tuesday, August 9th. Weisband serves as director of all of Yeshiva's assets in Israel, including supervision of all administrative personnel and management of the Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Institute in Jerusalem.
The goal of the present Yeshiva administration is to create a school that embodies strong academics, but at the same time begins to reach out to the Jewish community at large. "Yeshiva can make an indelible imprint on Israel and on Israeli society at large," believes Weisband. "Our job is to articulate Yeshiva's message, its Torah U'maddah philosophy, and to figure out how to impact the Israeli community most appropriately." "I see a more comprehensive approach to Yeshiva University in Israel on the horizon."
Specifically, Weisband noted that preliminary planning is already underway toward offering summer classes in Israel. "There needs to be a YU program in Israel with courses that are germane to Israel and that use Israel as a laboratory," Weisband offered. He also expressed optimism that these courses offered at the Gruss campus would be accompanied by on-campus credit and that four to six undergraduate courses could be offered by next summer.
Course possibilities for undergraduates include classes in Bible, the Israeli political system, the Israeli Supreme Court, archaeology in Israel, and filmmaking courses, among several others. The notion is to combine course study with internships and field work in the specific areas of interest.
Some students at the meeting, however, expressed concern over the seeming lack of science and math courses on the agenda. While liberal arts courses are more relevant to Israeli society and its political scene, some felt that it would be unfair to exclude math and science students from the opportunity to involve themselves in this exciting initiative. "While previously unaware of the interest in such courses, we will do our utmost to accommodate all students," remarked Weisband.
The goal of the present Yeshiva administration is to create a school that embodies strong academics, but at the same time begins to reach out to the Jewish community at large. "Yeshiva can make an indelible imprint on Israel and on Israeli society at large," believes Weisband. "Our job is to articulate Yeshiva's message, its Torah U'maddah philosophy, and to figure out how to impact the Israeli community most appropriately." "I see a more comprehensive approach to Yeshiva University in Israel on the horizon."
Specifically, Weisband noted that preliminary planning is already underway toward offering summer classes in Israel. "There needs to be a YU program in Israel with courses that are germane to Israel and that use Israel as a laboratory," Weisband offered. He also expressed optimism that these courses offered at the Gruss campus would be accompanied by on-campus credit and that four to six undergraduate courses could be offered by next summer.
Course possibilities for undergraduates include classes in Bible, the Israeli political system, the Israeli Supreme Court, archaeology in Israel, and filmmaking courses, among several others. The notion is to combine course study with internships and field work in the specific areas of interest.
Some students at the meeting, however, expressed concern over the seeming lack of science and math courses on the agenda. While liberal arts courses are more relevant to Israeli society and its political scene, some felt that it would be unfair to exclude math and science students from the opportunity to involve themselves in this exciting initiative. "While previously unaware of the interest in such courses, we will do our utmost to accommodate all students," remarked Weisband.