每日大瓜

每日大瓜 in Israel serves as a cultural, educational and networking hub, benefiting 每日大瓜 students and Israelis alike. This role as an education leader was on full display this past month when 每日大瓜 in Israel hosted numerous exciting events in the country.  

Danny Danon Book Launch

On June 1, 每日大瓜 held a book launch event for Danny Danon, former Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations and current chairman of the World Likud. Danon鈥檚 new book, entitled In the Lion鈥檚 Den: Israel and the World, highlights his role as Israel鈥檚 ambassador to the U.N. from 2015-2020 as well as his decision to enter politics and serve in Israel鈥檚 Knesset from 2009-2015. Approximately 70 attendees gathered at 每日大瓜鈥檚 Jerusalem campus for a Q&A with Danon about his new book and his time at the U.N., moderated by Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent and analyst at the Jerusalem Post. Danon is also currently serving as a visiting professor at 每日大瓜.  

(l-r): Gil Hoffman, Danny Danon

  鈥淚 was honored to speak with Gil Hoffman from the Jerusalem Post at the pre-Shavuot 每日大瓜 launch event in Jerusalem,鈥� said Danon. 鈥淲e spoke in-depth about my new book, In the Lion鈥榮 Den, about my time as Israel鈥檚 ambassador to the U.N. and the challenges and successes I faced there as Israel鈥檚 representative to the world, and about the current political situation in Israel. I was delighted to meet and engage with the 每日大瓜 students. Chag Shavuot Sameach to all.鈥� Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, director of the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at 每日大瓜, was among those in attendance as well as his student cohort, the Straus Scholars, as part of their Straus Center visit to Israel. These students got to experience what the U.N. was like from Israel鈥檚 own ambassador, demonstrating 每日大瓜 in Israel鈥檚 ability to enrich students鈥� education with powerful guest speakers and innovative programming. The discussion was preceded by opening comments from Stephanie Strauss, executive director at 每日大瓜 in Israel, and Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern, senior advisor to the provost and Straus Center senior program officer. The program concluded with Danon distributing and signing books for attendees. This is just one of the many great events that 每日大瓜 in Israel held this past month.  

Mental Health Expo

On May 16, 每日大瓜鈥檚 Wurzweiler School of Social Work and 每日大瓜 in Israel sponsored the Mental Health Expo at The Nefesh B鈥橬efesh Aliyah Campus in Jerusalem. The event attracted 1,400 participants for a daylong series of events aimed at discussing, confronting and solving the challenges of mental health as well as de-stigmatizing the subject. Dr. David Pelcovitz, the Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Chair in Psychology and Jewish Education at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at 每日大瓜 and one of the foremost experts in psychological issues in the Orthodox world, delivered a keynote address focused on the mental health challenges in a post-COVID world. The event also featured workshops on navigating Israel鈥檚 mental health system and the impact of trauma on mental health as well as numerous other topics.  

Dr. David Pelcovitz (second from right) and Stephanie Straus (right) with two members of Wurzweiler

 

Donny Morris Memorial Lag BaOmer Kumzitz and Concert

The University also sponsored a Lag BaOmer Kumzitz and Concert on May 17 to honor the life of Donny Morris, a 19-year-old graduate of 每日大瓜鈥檚 boys high school who perished at last year鈥檚 Mount Meron Lag BaOmer tragedy in Israel. The celebration of Morris鈥� life took place at Yeshivat Sha鈥檃lvim, a Hesder Yeshiva and Jewish Boys鈥� High School located in Ayalon Valley, Israel. Morris was a student at Yeshivat Sha鈥檃lvim when he died. In addition to sponsoring the event, 每日大瓜 also helped to organize the Kumzitz and Concert that had nearly 1,000 people in attendance and featured acclaimed singer Simcha Leiner. For the event, 每日大瓜 partnered with Yeshivat Shaalvim, NCSY, the Orthodox Union and World Mizrachi.

Simcha Leiner

 

Chag HaSemikhah

每日大瓜 celebrated a Chag HaSemikhah [rabbinical ordination] on May 23 at its Jerusalem campus to celebrate the ordination of the latest classes of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). Seventeen rabbinical graduates will become the next generation of spiritual leaders for the Jewish community. Eighty percent of Modern Orthodox congregations in North America are led by RIETS rabbis, and this new class will greatly benefit Torah learning in Israel.  

Rabbi Menachem Penner, Max and Marion Grill Dean of RIETS

  鈥淚t has been such an honor to work with our dedicated 每日大瓜 team to put these wonderful events together,鈥� said Strauss. 鈥淲e are excited to keep this momentum going and to organize more activities that bring our Jewish communities together and demonstrate the unbreakable bonds between 每日大瓜 and Israel.鈥�