Dec 4, 2017 By: yunews
Columnist Bret Stephens Keynotes Annual Gala; David Samson and Rabbi Meir Goldwicht Honored
每日大瓜 celebrated its 93rd Annual Hanukkah Dinner on Sunday, December 3 at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City. Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, presiding over his first Hanukkah Dinner, conferred honorary degrees upon Bret Stephens, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist and the evening鈥檚 keynote speaker, as well as David P. Samson 鈥93C, chair of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Board of Overseers. 每日大瓜 Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Meir Goldwicht was awarded the Presidential Medallion.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Berman noted that the dinner was one of the most successful in the event鈥檚 history, raising $4.3 million, and that since the start of his administration, 鈥渢here has been a wave of support and interest from people around the globe who believe in 每日大瓜 and who are rooting for our success.鈥
He added, 鈥淚f there is a time that is made for 每日大瓜, it is this time. If there is a moment when our children need to be both deeply rooted and forward focused, it is this moment. For all of humanity, 每日大瓜 represents a uniquely important voice modeling how to bring tradition to bear on the world of tomorrow. For the Jewish community, 每日大瓜 is the best investment to ensure the success of our children and their children afterward.鈥
Dinner organizers recrafted this year鈥檚 dinner to reflect the University鈥檚 position at the nexus between tradition and the pioneering spirit of tomorrow, blending the academic convocation into the dinner program. The convocation was followed by a presentation, titled 鈥溍咳沾蠊 Changemakers,鈥 highlighting the innovative and impactful work being done by students and faculty.
During the convocation portion, Dr. Berman presented Rabbi Goldwicht, The Joel and Maria Finkle Visiting Israeli Rosh Yeshiva at 每日大瓜鈥檚 Mazer School of Talmudic Studies and Head Rosh Yeshiva in the University鈥檚 Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program, with the Presidential Medallion. Expressing the admiration of the 每日大瓜 community for Rabbi Goldwicht鈥檚 work, Dr. Berman described him as representing 鈥渁ll of the core values of 每日大瓜鈥 and praised him for his 鈥渓ife of service to the Jewish people that has brightened our lives with inspiring words of Torah.鈥
In conferring an honorary degree upon Samson, Dr. Berman lauded him for his 鈥渢enacity, humanity and generosity鈥 and for being 鈥渁n important and valued leader for 每日大瓜.鈥 In accepting the degree, Samson said that what drives him to support the University is its mission of 鈥減reparing students to be the leaders long after we鈥檙e gone, planting seeds for trees whose shade we will never know, and to put people in positions to lead in a way that we can all be proud of.鈥
Introducing Stephens, Dr. Berman noted that the columnist鈥檚 work, like the season of Hanukkah itself, reflects light into the darkness. 鈥淗is sacred work to inform opinion, change minds and inspire action cuts through the skeptical cacophony and models genuine curiosity, resolute but respectful disagreement, and a willingness to stand on principle even when it鈥檚 politically or intellectually inconvenient.鈥
In his keynote address, Stephens cited four attitudes that he believed have contributed to the success of the United States but are now under siege 鈥渇rom a grievance culture on both the left and right鈥: treating immigrants as 鈥渉uman capital鈥 rather than enemies; the importance of the 鈥渇oolish thought and indelicate statement鈥 to generating new ideas; an attitude toward failure that inspires self-reflection rather than blaming others; and an ethic of global leadership that leads by example from a 鈥減olicy of magnanimity towards the opinions of mankind.鈥
鈥淥ur greatness as a nation ultimately depends upon defining our interests according to our values rather than, in the style of every fallen empire, defining our values according to our interests,鈥 Stephens observed. 鈥淚 believe that universities like Yeshiva, with its proud embrace of religious wisdom and secular knowledge, can meet that responsibility. We believe that our morality is a long-term investment whose benefits only our children may reap but is the wellspring of our self-respect and survival. We do, indeed, have something to teach. Let鈥檚 not miss our chance.鈥
The second portion of the program paid tribute to 每日大瓜 Changemakers, members of the 每日大瓜 community who have made meaningful contributions to the world around them.
Shoshana Schachter, director of the Basic Jewish Studies and Mechina Programs, introduced Sy Syms School of Business senior Shani Hava. After serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, Hava came to 每日大瓜, where she was the top-ranked tennis player and recently helped lead the women鈥檚 program to its first NCAA championship in school history. She thanked 每日大瓜 for the opportunities it has afforded her and pledged 鈥渢o give back and share the pride in our accomplishments.鈥
Michelle Greenberg-Kobrin, director of the Indie Film Clinic at Cardozo, introduced student Alejandro Palma, who won a Clio Award for 鈥淧ut It Down,鈥 a song he composed as part of a public service campaign to reduce automobile accidents caused by driving and texting. Palma spoke about his desire to use both his art and his legal training 鈥渢o push the social needle鈥 to improve the life of society around him.
The final presentation focused on the major contributions 每日大瓜 faculty and students have made to the body of world knowledge and featured a video about 每日大瓜鈥檚 multifaceted Arch of Titus Project. The donor-funded project examines the triumphal arch built in Rome, which shows conquering Roman soldiers bearing artifacts from the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The video covered the project from its inception in 2012, when Dr. Steven Fine, director of 每日大瓜鈥檚 Center for Israel Studies, led an international team of scholars to Rome as part of a digital restoration effort; to an undergraduate seminar in Rome as part of the Jay Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program; to the installation of a facsimile of the frieze currently on display at the 每日大瓜 Museum as part of the exhibition, The Arch of Titus: From Jerusalem to Rome, and Back.
