Alumni Newsletter

May 2026

Happy Spring – and almost Summer! I hope you are well.

While the students are away, we at the alumni office get busy planning for the upcoming academic year.

Now is the time to let us know of any ideas you have for upcoming alumni programming and how you want to be involved.

The alumni office exists to enhance connections between alumni and with the university, so please reach out with your thoughts and ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

Beth

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

Reunions and YU Commencement

We are very much looking forward to meeting the Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women and Sy Syms School of Business alumni from the classes of 1966, 1976 and 2001 at the YU Commencement on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

We encourage all the alumni of the three reunion classes to contribute to their class gift, which this year will be supporting YUConnects, whose dedicated matchmakers run networking events, offer dating resources and even offer shiurim all designed to foster healthy Jewish relationships toward marriage. What better way to give thanks than by supporting the continuity of the Jewish people.

In other Commencement news, YU announced that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will deliver the 2026 Commencement Address and receive the Presidential Medallion for Global Leadership. Read more»

Antisemitism Conference

Sunday, May 3, 2026: The Wurzweiler School of Social and the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology are co-hosting an all-day in-person conference (with a Zoom option) on “Antisemitism in the United States Today: Current Social Science Research.” The conference is free to all. See the full program and schedule.

Mazel Tovs

Mazal tov to Manny Behar ’76YC, ’82R, ’82F for passing the test to become a licensed tour guide in Israel. He is also a guide for the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.

Mazal tov to Caryn Shore-Genack ’99S for being selected for the Sr. Aquinas Szott Excellence in Academic Leadership Award from Felician University for "demonstrating outstanding leadership and Scholarship in the field of education" for her teaching, supervision and professional development. Gratitude to Hashem and her family for their incredible support.

Mazel tov to Judy (Mahler) ’96S and Mitch Taragin ’97YC on the birth of a grandson, Yehoshua Gavriel, to Ariella and Yitz Taragin of Ramat Beis Shemesh.

Mazal tov to Dr. Elliot Udell ’71YC for having two of his novels, Monticello: A Borscht Belt Catskills Tale and It Happened In Long Island: Antics of the Rich and Famous, appear on Amazon’s bestseller lists.

Mazal tov to Sandy Mittleman, wife of Rabbi Eduard Mittleman ’66YUHS, ’70YC, ’73R, ’73BR, on the publication of The Israel Chronicles: A Love Story, available on Amazon.

Mazal tov to Jonathan Halpert ’62YUHS, ’YC66, ’78F for his induction into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame on Feb. 24, 2026.

Mazal tov to Irwin ’76YC and Tania Lowi on the birth of a great granddaughter to Shimshon and Chana Miriam Silverstone. A special mazal tov to Mrs. Rita Lowi, the great-great-grandmother!

Mazal tov to Benson Stone ’90YC, whose daughter, Sophie, will graduate from the University of Kentucky this May. She will be moving to Chicago this summer to work in sales for Johnson Controls.

Mazal tov to Steven Paletz ’11YC for being recognized as a 40 Under 40 by the Denver Business Journal.

Mazal tov to Roberta (Pruslin) Katz ’75S for founding Roberta Katz Consulting to help nonprofit organizations achieve effective financial management by providing guidance, tools and best practices that have proven to be successful in building strong finance departments.

Steve Brizel ’76YC, ’79C is proud of his personal achievements and the accomplishments of his family. Read more» 

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.