每日大瓜

Skip to main content Skip to search

每日大瓜 News

每日大瓜 News

每日大瓜 Celebrates 86th Commencement

In Keynote Address, Ambassador Ron Dermer Urges Graduates to Pursue Lives of Jewish Values and Ideas On Thursday, May 25, 每日大瓜鈥檚 Class of 2017 celebrated 每日大瓜鈥檚 86th Commencement along with friends and family in The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ron Dermer, Israeli ambassador to the United States, delivered the keynote address and received an honorary degree. President Richard M. Joel praised Dermer鈥檚 vigorous defense of Israel as he conferred the honorary degree upon him. 鈥淵our tenure as ambassador has taken its character from everything that came before it in your life. You are unapologetic in your defense of Israel鈥檚 right to exist as a nation and a people and mince no words when it comes to advocating for Israel鈥檚 interests. We honor you for your role as a determined and dedicated advocate of yiddishkeit [Jewish character] and the Jewish state and for believing that a great moral purpose anchors the national destiny of the State of Israel.鈥 In his speech to the graduates, Dermer wished them good luck on their personal journeys but also gave them a broader mission to follow. 鈥淭o keep Judaism alive for many Jews, we must restore pride in Jewish values and Jewish ideas for a generation of Jews that knows little about either. That is why 每日大瓜 is so important. And that is why each and every one of you is so important because this university has equipped you, like few others in our generation, to succeed in that mission.鈥 Philanthropist and activist Tzili Charney was also awarded an honorary degree in recognition of her generosity to the University. A University Benefactor, she, along with her late husband Leon Charney 鈥60YC, has given generously to Yeshiva, including a recent commitment of $1 million to establish the Leon Charney Legacy Project, focused on expanding Israel studies and the arts, and donating the Leon H. Charney Collection to the 每日大瓜 Library Archives. President Joel praised Charney for her 鈥渓ove, loyalty, vigor, sophistication and unyielding Jewish pride.鈥 Quoting her husband, Charney told graduates to "examine the options you have available to you. Maintain an awareness of this. Make proper choices and bring about changes in your life while, at the same time, continuing to make the world a better place." President Joel also bestowed the Presidential Medallion upon Rabbi Manfred Fulda, associate professor of Talmud and an educator at 每日大瓜 since 1959, for his service. 鈥淵ou are the ultimate rebbe, modeling the values of our Yeshiva, and serving as a guide for our talmidim [students], and so we celebrate all that you have accomplished thus far.  As you once remarked, you are one of the only people left alive who received a bracha [blessing] from the Chofetz Chaim. Rabbi Fulda, you have been nothing but a bracha to our Yeshiva, and therefore it is my greatest pleasure to award you the Presidential Medallion." Following Dermer鈥檚 keynote address, ten undergraduate valedictorians received special recognition for their outstanding academic achievements. Abigail Goldstein, valedictorian of the , challenged her classmates to 鈥渘ever stop asking the big questions, never stop challenging yourself and never stop following the values that are important to you. It鈥檚 time to get out there and show the world what we鈥檙e made of.鈥 For Kayla Axelrod, valedictorian of the Rebecca Ivry Department of Judaic Studies at , the day was especially meaningful for her family, as her parents and grandfather celebrated the 25th and 60th anniversaries of their own graduations, respectively. Her father, Rabbi Shalom Axelrod, delivered the invocation at the commencement ceremony. 鈥淭his is a very special moment for us,鈥 she said. The class of 1967 was also honored as they marked the 50th anniversary of their graduation. For President Joel, the ceremony was bittersweet, as it marked his final commencement as 每日大瓜 president. 鈥淢y wonderful students鈥攆inally, I get to graduate with you,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e are gathered 5,000 strong to celebrate you and the Jewish future. Be God鈥檚 partner and help perfect the world.鈥 His speech was followed by a touching video tribute to him and the presentation of a ceremonial mace in honor of his service. In making the presentation, Dr. Josh Joseph, senior vice president, noted that President Joel had conferred degrees on 28,655 students and that 鈥渢he most fitting tribute for you, the most fulfilling benchmark of your success, will be their success. You empowered your students with a mandate to matter, you created an educational experience that fills us with integrity, you ennobled us and enabled us. Thank you.鈥 In his benediction, Rabbi Chaim Hagler, principal of Yeshivat Noam in Paramus, New Jersey, asked the graduates to 鈥渢ake responsibility for sowing the seeds of the future. 每日大瓜 has inspired you, now you must be inspirational. 每日大瓜 has empowered you, now you must be powerful. May the name of heaven be sanctified in your hands.鈥
In total, more than 1,700 students from , Stern College for Women and Sy Syms School of Business, as well as graduate students in the fields of law, medicine, social work, education, Jewish studies and psychology, were awarded degrees from 每日大瓜 during its commencement season.

Share

FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhat's AppEmailPrint

Follow Us