Alumni Newsletter

June 2026

Dear Friends,

When Meta paid more than $21 billion for WhatsApp in 2014, it was recognizing the power of connection.

Today, with billions of people using WhatsApp every month, it’s become the world’s go‑to spaces for staying in touch and getting things done.

That same spirit drives our YU alumni community. We thrive when we’re connected — sharing ideas, opening doors and supporting one another in the fields we know best.

So, we’re bringing our nine alumni affinity groups onto WhatsApp, where conversations can happen quickly, naturally and in the flow of your day.

These are closed, alumni‑only spaces built for real networking and real community. Join the groups that speak to you — or all of them if they do.

And as always, my door is open for your questions, ideas, and partnership.

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

YU Alumni Run on WhatsApp

• Accounting & Financial Planning
• Health Sciences & Medicine
• Law
• Marketing & Advertising
• Nonprofit
• Real Estate
• Technology & Science
• Wall Street & Finance
• Young Alumni

A Message from the YU IT Department

If you are an alum who still uses your Microsoft 365 from the time you were a student, here is important information from the YU IT Department.

The University's Microsoft licensing guidelines require that anyone receiving a license for Word, Excel, or PowerPoint be an active student. Active students are using one license type, and the alumni are part of the non-active student license.

Microsoft recently removed the Office suite from the non-active student license. However, Microsoft did not enforce this until recently by removing the software from our licenses.

If you suddenly notice that your Microsoft 365 alumni account is no longer working, this is why.

Thanks for understanding.

Edith Lubetski is Retiring

Professor Edith Lubetski, Head Librarian of Hedi Steinberg Library, is retiring after 62 years of committed service to YU Libraries. As part of her present upon retirement, we would like to gift her with a memory book.

We would love to include former students' memories as a chapter in this book!

Using the link below, please share your interactions with Professor Lubetski (if applicable), any positive memories or experiences you had in the library, and well wishes.

Your participation will really help make this memory book complete and truly special.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Emily Apterbach at emily.apterbach@yu.edu or Rina Krautwirth at Rina.Krautwith@yu.edu.

Share a Memory»

You Might Be Interested In...

Founding Celebration of the Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine
The Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine is the first dental school to open in New York City since 1916.

• Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 6 p.m.
  Museum of Jewish Heritage
  Edmond J. Safra Plaza
  36 Battery Place
  New York, NY 10280
• Register/Donate»

2026 Catalog of University Authors presented by The Office of the Provost and Yeshiva University Libraries
This catalog recognizes scholarly and creative work at Yeshiva University from March 2025 through February 2026.

• One hundred and five individuals — both faculty and staff members — submitted bibliographic and descriptive data about their books and book chapters, journal articles, blog entries, documentary films, podcasts and art pieces.
• Read the catalogue»

Past Events

The alumni reunions of the classes of 1966, 1976 and 2001 on May 28 were a tremendous success. More than 120 alumni from the three classes marched in the Commencement ceremony, took in the strong words of Mike Huckabee, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, greeted the new 2026 grads as they joined the worldwide YU alumni network, and Zoomed with their fellow alums in Israel. Photos»

On May 11, at the 39th Annual Sy Syms Awards Dinner, the school presented its inaugural alumni awards to Marc Zwebner ‘92SB, senior managing director at Third Point LLC (Alumni Partnership in Student Success Award), and to Moshe Bellows, JD, ’90YC, ’08W, and Bruce Taragin, JD, MBA ’89SB, Maccabee Ventures managing members and Sy Syms adjunct professors. Pictures»

Mazel Tovs

Mazal tov to Jonathan Alpert ’97F on the publication of Therapy Nation: How America Got Hooked on Therapy and Why it's Left Us More Anxious and Divided. (HarperCollins, May 19).

Mazal tov to Rabbi Gary Pollack ’60YUHS, ’64YC, ’68R a"h and Mrs. Ann Pollack ’62YUHS, ’66TIW on the graduation of their grand-daughter Sela Pollack Teitelbaum from Wurzweiler School of Social Work (daughter of Shmuel Pollack ’87YUHS, ’92YC); the graduation of their grand-daughter Bracha Leah Pollack from Touro Medical School; and the birth of a great-grandchild, Chaim Balter.

Mazel tov to Rachel (Frohlich) ’93YUHS, ’97S and Yisroel Orenbuch on the bar mitzvah their son, Benny.

Mazal tov to Dr. Martin Garfinkle ’71YC, ’77W on the acceptance of his grandson, James Garfinkle, into Yeshiva College, following in his footsteps.

Mazal tov to Dr. Jared Benjamin ’21YC for completing medical school at New Jersey Medical School, continuing on at Albany Medical Center for Urology Residency and receiving semicha this past year.

Mazal tov to Abraham Katz ’75YC for starting his series of adult education classes through the Young Israel of Hillcrest titled “Beurei Hatefila for Semicha Students.” The purpose of the classes is to prepare pulpit rabbis and Jewish studies teachers to develop classes on the subject in synagogues and schools.

What You Need To Know

The 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.