Yeshiva University graduates
Yeshiva University graduatesIsrael news photo

A large commencement exercise was held in New Jersey, Thursday, for Yeshiva University’s latest graduates. During the ceremony the university honored several people, among them alumnus Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder of the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization for aliyah (immigration) to Israel.



Arutz Sheva spoke to several of the graduating students, who discussed their hopes for the future, including hopes to someday live in Israel. “There’s really no place in the world like it for Jews,” explained new graduate Neta Scet. Moving to Israel “is a privilege that we didn’t always have,” she noted.

Rabbi Kenneth Brander, David Mitzner Dean of Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future,noted that 60 of the school’s current students will spend the summer in socio-economically weak cities in southern Israel, among them Yerucham and Arad. There, they will work with children at risk.

“What happens to our students when they do that is they realize that they really want to spend their time, and to live, in the land of Israel, in the state of Israel,” he said.

Rabbi Fass spoke to the students about the importance of a connection to Israel no matter where they choose to live. “People have to be oriented, to have that compass calibrated to want to help Israel,” he declared.

Rabbi Fass noted that Nefesh B’Nefesh has added to an existing program providing extra assistance to those who move to northern Israel. A similar program now exists for the south, as well, he said.

Also speaking to Arutz Sheva were students Leora and Yosef Jacobs.

credit: ערוץ 7
credit: ערוץ 7
credit: ערוץ 7
credit: ערוץ 7