Alumni Newsletter

February 2026

Dear Friends,

I hope you are well and staying warm! Temperatures here on campus are frigid, but we have many indoor opportunities guaranteed to keep you warm and engaged.

The men’s and women’s signature intergenerational learning events are both happening this month: Men’s Dor L’Dor is on Monday, Feb. 16, and Women’s Yom Iyun is on Sunday, Feb. 22. (See the details below.)

These can’t-miss events are unique opportunities to engage with YU luminaries and learn like you did as a student. You’ll be happy you came.

With excitement, 

Beth

Beth Lebenson Praver
Director of Alumni Engagement
646.592.4493 | beth.lebensonpraver@yu.edu

Events

Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026: Join Dr. Michelle Levine and Dr. Nechama Price at 8 p.m. in an online conversation about Dr. Levine’s book, Navigating Wilderness: Ramban's Commentary on the Exodus and Numbers Narratives. Explore Ramban’s insights into the relationship between God, Moses and Israel’s path toward national destiny. Register»

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026: Alumni Discount Night at the Seforim Sale from 8 to 11 p.m. You must have an active alumni ID to receive 5% off. If you don't have an Alumni ID yet, apply now to get one now. (NOTE: This year's Seforim Sale will be in the Heights Lounge near Nagel Bagels).

Monday, Feb. 16, 2026: If you miss the Kol Torah of the Beit Midrash and the opportunity to learn, come back to Yeshiva for a morning of learning with your son, grandson or even your old YU roommate at the annual Dor L’Dor Day of Learning! Alumni without a family member studying at YU can come with a male friend or fellow alumnus. The event begins at 9 a.m. and is free; breakfast will be served. Registration for alumni and parents required» (Student registration is not required.) If you are interested in sponsoring the program, contact Alan Secter in the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026: YU alumnae are invited with their daughters, granddaughters or even their old Stern roommates for the Yom Iyun: Come Learn at Stern women’s day of learning. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free, with breakfast included. Registration for alumni and parents required» (Student registration is not required.) The day includes a conversation between Rabbi Shay Schacter and newly released hostage Matan Zangauker on "Reflections on Tefillah." The Yom Iyun program is sponsored by Gary and Diane Katz in memory of Daniel P. and Rosalie Katz, beloved grandparents of our student Yaira. To be a sponsor of the program, contact Galit Reichlin in the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026: YUConnects is sponsoring Quick Connections, a unique curated speed dating experience for people aged 23 to 30 at 7 p.m. in midtown Manhattan. Participants will be able to meet other young professionals in comfortable small group settings. Space is limited, so register soon.

Sunday, March 8, 2026: Cardozo Law is proud to host the Center for Law and Antisemitism’s 2026 Law and Antisemitism Conference on March 8–9, 2026. This interdisciplinary gathering will bring together more than 50 leading scholars from around the world for two days of rigorous, timely, and pathbreaking discussion on the legal dimensions of antisemitism. Register now»

Monday, March 16, 2026: The Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary will be holding The Yeshiva Dinner, its annual gala, at Marina Del Rey in the Bronx. Receiving awards at the dinner will be Elliot Gibber, Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger and Rabbi Dovid Miller. You can register now to attend, but if you can't attend, you can donate and be on the scroll of honor.

Save the Date

Thursday, March 19, 2026: Save the date for this interactive evening presented by the Young Alumni Finance Committee to answer questions about investing, managing debt, retirement planning, budgeting, separating feelings from financial reality, knowing how to spend money on things that matter, and understanding workplace benefits. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Lincoln Square Synagogue on the Upper West Side and includes a light dinner, wine, networking and dessert. Registration will open soon.

Past Events

• Jan. 12, 2026: YU Night at the Rangers was, to sum it up in a word, a blast! Kids of alumni got to visit the tunnel to greet the players as they skated onto the ice, with high fives and cheers all around. And while the Kraken came away with the win, everybody felt like a winner as they gathered on the ice for a memorable group picture. Definitely a hat trick of an evening. See the pictures here.
• Jan. 21, 2026: Shevat Rosh Chodesh Recharge, our online bi-monthly shiur for alumnae around the globe, featured Sara Guigue, aka the Hasidic Hipster Girl. Our next speaker for Nissan will be in March.
• Jan. 31, 2026: Alumni Night with the Macs! Alumni and family cheered on the Macs as they played the US Merchant Marine Academy at the MSAC. Participants not only got pizza, swag and dessert for the entire family, they had the chance to root for the Macs at this annual event. Pictures will be on the alumni Flickr page when available.

Mazel Tovs

• Mazal tov to Ilene '75S and Ken '76YC Miller on the birth of a grand-daughter.
• Mazal tov to Ilene '75S and Ken '76YC Miller on the engagement of their grand-daughter.
• Mazal tov to Sandy '70S and Moshe Speter on the birth of a great grandson.
• Mazal tov to Jonathan Schloss '95YC, '98C on the publication of his book, Four Survivor Grandparents: Run. Rely. Rebuild, with Amsterdam Publishers.
• Mazal tov to Michael '85YC and Leah Poppers on the birth of a granddaughter to Rena and Shlomo Tanny.
• Mazal tov to Rabbi Alan '73YC, '76R, '77F and Sandy '67YUHS Kalinsky on celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
• Mazal tov to Rabbi Alan '73YC, '76R, '77F and Sandy '67YUHS Kalinsky on the wedding of their granddaughter Leah to Kehos Gorelick. Mazal tov to Leah's parents, Rabbi Dr. Yosef '01YC, '06A, '09W, '14R and Elisheva Kalinsky.
• Mazal tov to Dr. Martin '76YC and Debra Hirsch on the birth of a great-grandson, grandson of Moshe '05YC and Elisheva '05S Danzger.
• Mazal tov to Chayim Mahgerefteh '20SB on starting a new job as Tax Manager at SJS Tax & Consulting.
• Mazal tov to Dr. Wolf Safrin '60YC on the bar mitzvah of his grandson Levi.
• Mazal tov to Joel Strauss '86YC, '92C on being reappointed by Gov. Murphy in December 2025 to serve another term on the New Jersey-Israel Commission, a voluntary position.
• Mazal tov to Dr. Jill Joshowitz '13S on the publication of her first academic monograph, titled “Visual Exemplars: Biblical Figures in the Art and Literature of Jewish Late Antiquity” with Brill.
• Mazal tov to Rabbi Ari '16YC, '23A and Rebecca Zucker on the birth of a baby girl.
• Mazal tov to Rabbi Avi '06YC, '11R and Atara Tilonsky on the birth of a son, Shilo Hillel.
• Mazal tov to Ted '64YC and Elaine '69S Sylvetsky on the birth of two great-grandsons.
• Mazal tov to Jeffrey Rosenfeld '06SB on being appointed as co-chair of the Tax, Benefits, and Private Client practice group at Blank Rome LLP, effective January 1, 2026.

What You Need To Know

The new alumni website has all the information you need about Benefits & Services, Career Support, Events, News, Networking and Making a Gift.

Here are a few things we want to emphasize:

• Join the Alumni Association because your alumni ID card gains you selective campus access and puts you on our mailing list for notices about events, jobs, social gatherings, reunions, minyan access on campus and legacy admission support.
• Update Your Information so that we can better serve you, especially if you have moved or changed your email address.