The Latest From The Foundation

Dear Wexnerites, I was directed to this you tube of the Yeshiva University Commencement address by Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. I thought that it was one of the best speeches that I have heard in years. It seems to resonate with the teachings of Wexner and Hillel: If not you, then who? and if not now, when? Regards, Raphael Lavin, clfp    

A few months back, my husband Sam and I decided to become involved with UJA-Federation of New York and more specifically Tov B’Yachad, the division focused on engaging Modern Orthodox Jews.  Through my work at Yeshiva University as the Director of Student Life and Jewish Service Learning, I’ve created winter missions focused on Jewish community and communal work, and have always emphasized to our students the impact Federation made in

Reprinted with permission from Mayyim Hayyim. You see blood and it changes everything.  You go from being unharmed to wounded, from ritually ready (tahor) to ritually unready (tameh), and sometimes from being pregnant to losing that pregnancy.  And that’s what happened to me — at 10 weeks pregnant, responding to a middle of the night cry from my three-and-a-half year old and then dashing to the bathroom before popping back

In this “Heard Round WexWorld” collection for Yom HaShoah, we note the possibilities that new technology offers for global connection, sanctification and authentic private reflection.  WGF alum Charlie Schwartz (Class 18) recorded an ELI Talk about the theological questions and raw anguish that emerge when coming across your own name while reading a list of the murdered at 4 AM to an empty room on Yom HaShoah.  Using video and

Yitz and Blu Greenberg capturing what may be their first selfie at one of the many Wexner Heritage Summer Institutes they have attended over the last 30 years. I’m guessing that few people in this world just happen to write a book while in the process of writing another book.  But as our teacher, Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg, says, this book basically wrote itself, emerging from a lifetime of teaching

The Wexner Heritage Atlanta 10 class gathered last week at the home of David and Debbie Kurzweil to catch up socially and to share thoughts on our recent Jewish community involvement.   From leading the creation of Atlanta’s new MACoM Community Mikvah to ensuring the successful merger of two Atlanta day schools, the members and spouses of Atlanta’s 2010 Wexner class are keeping busy, serving their Jewish community and having

It sounds simple enough, but at a deeper level it can actually be emotionally complex.  Or, maybe I simply overthink these matters.  But, the reality is, I have a say in what the next generation will call me….forever.  I take that very seriously.  I also have an opportunity to rebrand my vision of what a Bubbe is – an older, slightly overweight, kitchen bound, loving grandmother.  I am none of

It is not surprising that there are at least three words in Hebrew for “transition.” Most of us are in transition more often, more regularly and more routinely than we realize. It’s a constant factor in our lives, in the lives of those close to us and in the life of community. The first word for transition is ma’avar – to cross over, to pass through. The very name Ivri (a

Video reposted from ELI Talks. A few months ago, Shmuly Yanklowitz donated a kidney to a complete stranger. How much can and should we give of ourselves?  Shmuly Yanklowitz, a Wexner Graduate Fellowship alum (Class 19), is President and Dean of the Valley Beit Midrash. He is also the founder and president of Uri L’Tzedek and the founder and CEO of The Shamayim V’Aretz Insitute. Rav Shmuly completed his Master’s at