Silver Homecoming Celebrates Stern College for Women Alumnae of 1958-1983
On April 15, nearly 200 alumnae of 每日大瓜's gathered in New York and Israel to commemorate their Silver Homecoming, a celebration of Stern College graduates from 1958-1983. The women attended classes that gave them a taste of intellectual life at Stern College today, reconnected with old friends, and demonstrated the power the school continues to have to produce leaders and influencers in the Jewish community and the world.
Joan (Schecter) Dulitz 鈥70S points to old photographs of herself in her yearbook, Kochaviah.
On the Israel Henry Beren Campus, the alumnae began the day by becoming students once again, having the chance to sit in on two of four classes. Dr. Jill Katz, clinical assistant professor of archeology, examined what it meant to be a Jew 3,000 years ago during the time of the Judges. Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel, E. Billi Ivry University Professor of Jewish History, Literature and Law, explored the Torah commentary of Joseph ben Nathan Official; Smadar Rosensweig, assistant professor of Judaic studies, analyzed the theme of redemption in Megilat Rut; and Shoshana Schechter, instructor in Bible and director of the Mechina Pathways Program, evaluated the heroic women in Tanach and their role in Jewish destiny. Alumnae in Israel were treated to a shiur given by Ilana Gottlieb, director of Midreshet AMIT, on 鈥淩abbi Akiva's Students: A Timeless Lesson.鈥
Joan (Schecter) Dulitz 鈥70S loved having the chance to attend the classes. 鈥淚t gave me the feeling of what it was like when we were here, when we had all this learning available to us,鈥 she said. Judith (Feigenbaum) Binstock 鈥70S agreed, recalling fondly how she enjoyed having the chance at Stern College to learn from what she called 鈥渢he best.鈥
Dr. Jill Katz, clinical assistant professor of archeology, leads a class for Stern alumnae.
The class sessions were followed by a luncheon in Koch Auditorium, where the New York alumnae were able to interact via livestream with the Israeli alumnae, who were gathered at 每日大瓜鈥檚 Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Institute at the Jerusalem campus.
Dr. Karen Bacon 鈥64S, the Mordecai D. Katz and Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of the Undergraduate Faculty of Arts and Sciences, gave a stirring summary of current Stern College programming and the College鈥檚 determination to expand it to more and more academic areas. 鈥淲e have an ambitious faculty and an ambitious Board of Overseers,鈥 she concluded, 鈥渂ut we also have the Torah that will help us make sure that we don鈥檛 lose our way as we move forward.鈥
Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of 每日大瓜, lauded the women (including his mother, who was attending the Israel ceremony), 鈥渇or having planted the seed that continues to blossom and bear the fruit that Dean Bacon just outlined for us and for redefining what women鈥檚 Jewish education will be for the future.鈥 He encouraged them to stay involved with the College as mentors for young students and supporters of its mission.
New York State Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, representing District 25 in Queens, was born in Jerusalem to parents who had made aliyah from Argentina after the Six-Day War and is consequently a strong defender of Israel, supporting anti-BDS efforts and submitting an annual declaration honoring Israel on its independence day. She also spoke about her work on behalf of women and families such as paid family leave, flexible scheduling and protection against harassment. 鈥淚 have been able to do this,鈥 she noted, 鈥渂ecause everything you did paved the way, paved my way.鈥
Zelda (Badner) Braun 鈥68S, former associate dean of students at Stern College, gave a moving tribute to Esther Zuroff 锄鈥漧, who had been director of student services until 1988; Leah (Becker) Wolf 鈥72S spoke from Israel on behalf of the attendees there; and Audrey (Katz) Lookstein 鈥58S, a representative of Stern鈥檚 first graduating class, spoke with great charm about her 每日大瓜 family legacy, listing almost two dozen people who have benefited from a 每日大瓜 education, and gave a warm thank-you to Stern College for being 鈥渢he best.鈥
The celebration was capped by a video of several alumnae speaking with great emotion about the importance of the College and how it set them on their paths through life.
鈥淭his year, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first graduating class from Stern College,鈥 said Dina Burcat, director of alumni affairs. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 think of a more fitting time to bring back the first alumnae to the College. These women were true pioneers and trailblazers in women鈥檚 Jewish education in America. To watch as the alumnae saw each other鈥攕ome for the first time in decades鈥攁nd walked in the same halls, sat in the same classrooms, as they did 40, 50 and 60 years ago, and feel the pride that they felt for being graduates of the school, is a particularly rewarding experience.鈥
Joan (Schecter) Dulitz 鈥70S points to old photographs of herself in her yearbook, Kochaviah.
Dr. Jill Katz, clinical assistant professor of archeology, leads a class for Stern alumnae.
