Nov 9, 2007 -- More than three hundred Yeshiva College and Sy Syms School of Business undergraduates, along with dozens of students from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), joined President Richard M. Joel and rabbis, faculty, trustees, and staff for the third annual YUnite Shabbaton in Stamford, CT this past weekend. This was the first time President Joel attended the event, which was launched in 2005 as a way to promote educational, religious, and social unity in an informal environment. His involvement encouraged a sense of camaraderie among the participants and created an atmosphere that made it possible for everyone to learn from one another. Over the course of the weekend, students attended panel discussions lead by rabbis from each of the men’s undergraduate Jewish studies programs – Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies (IBC), the Mechinah Program, Yeshiva Program/Mazer School of Talmudic Studies (YP), and Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program (BMP). Topics included ways of increasing achdus (unity) on campus and addressed challenges students will encounter when they leave YU. President Joel gave a formal address to the gathering at Seudat Shlishit (the third Sabbath meal). Throughout the weekend, rabbis and staff were available for open discussion. Students had the opportunity to share divrei Torah (discussions of the weekly Torah reading) and participate in an Oneg Shabbat (informal Shabbat gathering) on Friday night. In addition to President Joel, YU trustees Mr. Manny Adler, Mr. Leon Wildes, and Mr. Marvin Bienenfeld, as well as many of YU’s most esteemed and beloved rabbis and faculty were in attendance – Rabbi Zevulun Charlop, the Max and Marion Grill Dean of RIETS; Rabbi Norman Lamm, Chancellor of YU and Rosh Hayeshiva (Head of the Yeshiva) of RIETS; Rabbi Hershel Schachter, Nathan and Vivian Fink Distinguished Professor in Talmud at RIETS; Rabbi Yosef Blau, YU mashgiach ruchani (spiritual advisor); and Rabbi Meir Goldwicht, the Joel and Maria Finkle Visiting Israeli Rosh Yeshiva.