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Students celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, on Wilf Campus

From April 24, 2023, through April 26, 2023, ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ (YU) commemorated Yom HaZikaron [Israel Memorial Day] and celebrated Yom Ha'atzmaut [Israel Independence Day], honoring those who gave their lives protecting the State of Israel and celebrating the Land of Milk and Honey’s past, present and future. The programming was coordinated by the Office of Student Life and the YOMs Committee, a student-run group appointed by the various student councils, who dedicated their time and energy to creating a unique program for the entire student body, as well as staff, faculty and rabbis. The programming began on a somber note on the eve of April 24 with a presentation by Hagay Ringle, an IDF veteran who lost friends and loved ones during 2014’s Operation Protective Edge. Over 120 students came to hear Ringle’s moving presentation, which added a sense of solemness and weight to the day.

Yonadav Rimberg leads the festive maariv (evening prayer) service

On April 25, the annual tekes ma’avar [transition ceremony] was held in Lamport Auditorium, with close to 1000 students, staff, faculty and rabbis in attendance. The program featured speeches by ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, Rabbi Meir Goldwicht, who founded the tekes ma’avar upon his arrival at the University, and ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½IDF veterans, as well as a video presentation by Ohal Tal, a current member of the Israeli Knesset [parliament]. Following the tekes, students participated in a festive maariv [evening prayer] and danced the night away. The festivities continued on April 26, beginning with yimei iyun [days of learning] on both campuses. On Wilf Campus, students enjoyed shiurim [classes] with Rabbi Goldwicht and Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, director of Semikhah at RIETS, as well as a Q&A with Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky and Rabbi Josh Blass. This was followed by a seudat hodaya [meal of thanks], which featured a keynote lecture by Rabbi Larry Rothwachs of Congregation Beth Aaron in Teaneck, NJ, who is moving to Israel to start a community in Ramat Bet Shemesh.

Zusha performs at YU's Ha'atzmaut celebration

On Beren Campus, students heard from Sivan Rahav-Meir, a leading Israeli journalist and media personality and then participated in the annual Achdut [unity] event, led by ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½rabbinic figures and spiritual leaders. Later that day, Beren students headed to Wilf Campus for the annual, university-wide Yom Ha'atzmaut BBQ, featuring a concert by Zusha, an American Hasidic folk-soul band.