YESHIVA UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES WITH ITS ALUMNI IN ISRAEL Bestowing 4 Honorary Doctorates 72 year old celebrates Rabbinical Ordination

Yeshiva University is holding its first Colloquium in Israel this month, with the theme: “Torah U’Madda in the 21st Century: Engaging Israel, Engaging the World”. From March 17-23, 2006, a series of thought-provoking events will be held around Israel, bringing together Rabbis and academic faculty members from Yeshiva University in New York and leading Israeli experts in a number of fields.

The week of March 20th, the YU RIETS Israel Rabbinical Seminary will celebrate the graduation of 32 Israel-based Rabbinical ordinands from Yeshiva University's Rabbi Israel Elchanan Theological Seminary, for those who do not wish to travel to New York for the main triennial Chag HaSemikhah celebration. The new Rabbis who have graduated from RIETS in the last three years and chosen to stay in Israel include Rabbi Ian Pear of Bet Knesset Shir Chadash in Jerusalem's German Colony, teachers at a number of leading Jerusalem institutions, Rabbi Dr. Howard D. Apfel - a pediatric cardiologist and medical ethics lecturer, and Rabbi Reuven Bleich who, at age 72, is believed to be the oldest man in modern day to receive Rabbinical ordination

Academic symposia events will focus on the relationship between Judaism and various professions, including law, medicine, education, and social work.

The highlight of the week will be Yeshiva University's first Academic Convocation in Israel on Thursday, March 23, at the Renaissance Hotel, Jerusalem, where Honorary Doctorates will be presented to Rabbanit Malke Bina, Mr. Victor Geller, Professor Moshe Kaveh and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, in recognition of their contribution to Jewish life and to celebrate the relevance of Torah U'Madda in Israel.