302755
Avi Fertig Named Director of Career Services at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences
Veteran Public Affairs Leader to Expand Career Development, Employer Partnerships and Student Success Initiatives
Avi Fertig was appointed Director of Career Services at Touro University’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, Dean Robert Goldschmidt announced today. A seasoned public affairs professional who has spent his decades-long career solving problems and connecting people with opportunities, Fertig will lead career services for undergraduate students, guiding them from career exploration to employment through advising, workshops and events.
Fertig previously served as executive director of the 47th Street Business Improvement District and led communications, marketing, and nonprofit initiatives across government, private, and community sectors. He held roles as Communications Director and Special Assistant to the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate, Deputy Press Secretary for New York City Council and Director of Community Affairs for the Nassau County Legislature.
“Throughout my professional career in a range of settings from politics to marketing, I have worked to develop creative approaches to solving and resolving issues people face. I’m excited by the opportunity to work with young people to hear their challenges and come up with solutions that will impact their lives and careers for years to come,” said Fertig.
“We are thrilled to have Avi Fertig on board as our new Director of Career Services,” said Dean Goldschmidt. “We know his experience building coalitions and guiding organizations will serve Touro well as he uses those well-honed skills to engage with students, employers and stakeholders ensuring that Touro graduates are positioned for long-term success in whatever field they choose to enter.”
In his new role, Fertig plans to build partnerships with employers, alumni, and faculty to expand internships and job opportunities, while preparing students with resumes and LinkedIn support, interview coaching and networking skills.
“I have always been drawn to education and look forward to preparing students for the workplace by guiding them along the path to success in a field that fits their goals and talents,” said Fertig. “I see my role as building relationships with students and employers, and particularly encouraging Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences’ 50 years of successful graduates to partner with us in mentoring students, sharing industry trends and insights, and to join me in motivating an expanded portfolio of businesses and corporations to seek out and hire Touro students and grads for internships and full-time roles.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/avi-fertig-las-director-of-career-services-.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2025/AviFertig.jpg
August 26, 2025
307155
Touro Flatbush Art Club Goes Modern
Students get a visual lesson at MoMA
The art club at Lander College of Arts and Science recently visited the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan to view the new exhibit “American Modern: Hopper to O’Keeffe.”
The exhibit featured celebrated master works of the museum’s collection alongside pieces that have rarely been exhibited and are little-known. The works depict a rapidly changing American society during the first half of the 20th century. Subjects range from urban and rural landscapes, and scenes of industry, to still life compositions and portraits. They are arranged by theme, revealing visual connections.
Students also visited other galleries, including famous American photographer Walker Evans’ work. Some stayed until closing time to view the exhibit “Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary 1926 – 1938," a collection of paintings and photographs of the surrealist painter.
Students found the MoMA visit to be an enlightening look at a variety of art genres. The exhibits are currently running through January 2014. The Touro art club schedules field trips to major art museums and galleries each semester. To join the art club, contact Prof. Atara Grenadir at atara.grenadir@touro.edu.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-art-club-visits-moma.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/media/LASarttrip2.jpg
November 27, 2013
307154
Giving From the Heart
LAS Flatbush students learn the benefits of a career in physical therapy
More than 20 students from the Lander College of Arts and Sciences at Touro in Flatbush gathered to hear first-hand about working in the field of physical therapy (PT) from an experienced practitioner in a presentation organized by the LAS Physical Therapy Club.
Dr. Cynthia Mark, a physical therapist at the nationally-renowned Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in East Brunswick, N.J, provided a comprehensive presentation on physical therapy and requirements to enter the profession.
“Cynthia is an accomplished professional. She is warm and caring and she really inspired students to consider the field,” said Sara Friedman, president of the club.
Friedman, a senior, always loved science and knew she wanted to go into some related field. She felt pursuing a medical degree would take too long and conflict too much with her Orthodox lifestyle. She knew that physical therapy was the field of her choice in that both her grandparents had required therapy and really benefited from it. More recently, a family friend had broken a leg. Dr. Mark at Kessler had helped her get up and walk again. So, when Friedman was looking for an internship, the friend suggested working with Dr. Mark at Kessler.
“I have seen people come here in wheelchairs and leave walking,” said Friedman of her work under the supervision of Dr. Mark.
Part of what Dr. Mark focused on in the presentation was whether becoming a physical therapist was the right career choice. She asked the group to consider if they like working with people’s physical problems, if they enjoy anatomy and science, and whether they derive satisfaction from working with people in general. She addressed the grades needed for graduate admissions, , specific course requirements, scores they should aim for on the GRE, and how to to prepare for relevant interviews.
The Physical Therapy Club is a division of the Lander College in Flatbush Science Society, which sponsors a series of events throughout the year for students interested in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and the allied health professions. The next scheduled event is a visit to the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine on Friday, Dec. 6.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-physical-therapy-club-program.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2013-featured/LASPTclub2.jpg
November 27, 2013
307153
Seeing Signs
In daylong program, education majors at LAS learn to spot drug/child abuse
A recent Sunday at Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush was an eye-opening one for education majors, who learned to spot the signs of substance and child abuse and also familiarized themselves with child safety and violence prevention.
The eight hours of seminars, which also provided child safety education and information about violence prevention and intervention, are required of future teachers, who are considered mandated reporters in New York State, according to Dr. Avi Brezak, chair of education and special education for all of Touro College’s undergraduate schools.
“These were really valuable,” said Brezak of the program’s offerings. “The students now know much more about drug abuse and child abuse and how to recognized it. The same with school violence and how to prevent it, and how to keep young children safe.”
There were two morning sessions and another two in the afternoon at the Avenue J campus in Flatbush. Dr. Steven Luel, who presented in the morning, focused on substance abuse in one session and on child abuse and maltreatment in the other. Prof. David Smith conducted the afternoon seminars on child safety education and school violence prevention and intervention.
Most of the graduates will go on to teach in the New York City public schools, Brezak said, where they may eventually face some of the issues addressed during the seminars. LAS offers these seminars every semester, and they are open not only to Touro education majors, who must take all four two-hour seminsar, but also to speech majors. The program is also open to students from other institutions, who pay a fee to participate, according to Brezak. Nearly 90 attended this year's program, which has attracted as many as 200 during previous semesters, Brezak said.
“I’ve had students return and tell me how important the information is,” said Brezak. “Not just for their professional work, but for life. Child safety tackles such topics as kidnapping and arson. These are things to tell your own children to keep them safe.”
Gila Sulimanzada is working on her associate's degree at LAS and will then transfer to the bachelor’s degree program. She would like to work one-on-one as an aid to students. The seminars were well done and “pretty informative, especially about bullying,” she said.
Chaya Levilev who attended the seminars last year agreed that the program was a valuable one. “It’s always important to hear these kind of things,” said Levilev, who graduates in January with a bachelor’s degree in education. “I had never really had a class on drugs before.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-signs-of-abuse-training.php
November 21, 2013
307152
Healing Through Art
Presentation at Lander College in Flatbush focuses on art therapy as a profession
Turning the healing powers of creating art into a viable and rewarding profession was Deborah Elkis-Abuhoff’s topic when the visiting professor spoke at recent art therapy presentation at Touro College’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush (LAS).
Senior Aliza Shapiro, a psychology major, found the program fascinating. People misunderstand art therapy and its uses, she said, and Elkis-Abuhoff was able to shed light on its validity and how it helps people.
“She made the concept of art therapy very real and it was understandable in a concrete way,” said Shapiro. “It was fascinating for me to see ways of making the unconscious more conscious through a variety of media. “
Elkis-Abuhoff spoke about how art therapy uses the creative process to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals. Elkis-Abuhoff; an associate professor in Hofstra University’s Department of Counseling, Research, Special Education and Rehabilitation, emphasized how various art modalities, such as drawing, painting, sculpture and other media, can assist people. The profession has grown and art therapists can be found in hospitals, rehabilitation, medical, psychiatric, educational, assisted living facilities as well as private practice, she said.
About a dozen students from LAS and Touro’s School for Lifelong Education attended the program. LAS offers art therapy as an 18-credit minor through the Department of Psychology. Atara Grenadir, chair of the art department and an assistant professor, brings a practitioner once a semester to LAS to speak about the field and how it can aid people suffering from acute mental disabilities, such as schizophrenia, to more common diagnoses, such as anxiety and depression. Elkis-Abuhoff even discussed how they use iPads with cancer patients for instruction. Patients in chemotherapy can’t always use traditional art supplies because of sanitation issues, Grenadir said.
“She really gave a very comprehensive presentation about the goals and benefits of art therapy and the role of the art therapist,” said Grenadir. “I want our students to get a sense that this is a professional career and benefit from the experience of someone who has been in it for many years.”
But students did not just hear about the field; they also participated in a hands-on project of the sort they would be coordinating if they were working in the field.
Peri Morgulis, a graduate of LAS, received her Master's in Speech Language Pathology from Touro’s School of Health Sciences in June. She is now working as a teacher at W.A. Cunningham, a middle school in Brooklyn, but she wanted to further her education in an area that has always interested her, and decided to continue in Touro’s art therapy program.
The program and speaker held everyone’s attention, reinforcing what the students were getting in class, she said.
“I’ve always been very artsy, I draw all the time, but I thought speech therapy would lead to a more stable career,” said Morgulis, who wants to pursue a degree in art therapy. “It’s so good for me to hear people are really getting jobs."
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-art-therapy-seminar-.php
November 21, 2013
307151
The Best Medicine
Pre-med student Jeffrey Herskovits helps comfort terminally ill children at Camp Simcha
It takes a person with a special heart to spend his or her free time providing joy and relief to seriously ill children. Jeffrey Herskovits, a pre-medical student at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS), has demonstrated that compassion for three summers at Camp Simcha, located in upstate New York. As Camp Simcha’s mission statement describes, it exists to provide “fun, friendship and hope” to kids facing debilitating or terminal illness. And for Brooklyn resident Herskovits, it represented a chance to satisfy his natural urge to give back.
“For me, for my family, doing this type of thing is natural,” he says. “When I found out about it, I was determined to get in, and once I got in, I loved it. It gives me a purpose.”
It’s also not entirely removed from his academic passion. Though Herskovits’ studies are training him to clinically improve the lives of others, and his efforts at Camp Simcha lean more toward providing an intangible quality of life, both stem from an unselfish inclination toward caretaking. He recalls one camper in particular suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy who’s made the commitment to Camp Simcha more than worth it.
“I became very close with that camper in particular,” he says. “This past summer, we were putting on a musical; it’s meant to liven up the kids, leave them with a good taste of the summer as it comes to a close – something to look back on and look forward to throughout the year. And at the end, this camper gets up on stage—he’s in a wheelchair—and the guitarist starts playing a song, and the camper starts reading a poem. He explains how he, as a child, used to play sports and be a normal kid until he was 5 when he was diagnosed. He explains how the world crashed down around him. A good portion was describing the life of somebody with Duchenne, but at the end, he breaks off from the solemn part and says he realized what in life is important and what there is to look forward to. To hear it from this kid--it was just so inspiring and eye-opening.”
Herskovits took the camper’s words to heart, and they’ve helped reinforce the drive he’s applied to his life and studies thus far. “He’s in a chair, and he’s more ambitious than almost anybody I’ve ever met,” Herskovits says in awe, adding that his encounters at Camp Simcha serve as a constant reminder for himself that “just because you have a problem facing you doesn’t mean that should hold you back.”
Nor does Herskovits intend it to. While he confesses that it’s difficult to predict where exactly his undergraduate pre-med journey at Touro will eventually lead (though he’s got his focus set on neurology), he surmises that “what would make me happy is becoming a successful doctor and doing my job in an ethically correct way. There’s so much going on out there today. The problems of medicine are now less about the money and more about, ‘Do you love your job or not?’ And if in 15 years I'm helping people and loving my job at the same time, I’ll be happy.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las---jeffrey-herskowitz---the-best-medicine.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2013-featured/jeffreyjerskowitz2fade2b.jpg
August 05, 2013
307150
Taking Tea at 113th ASM Meeting
Touro Professor and Undergraduate Students Present Anti-Microbial Research at the 113th Annual American Society of Microbiology Conference in Denver, CO
A group of nine undergraduate students, under the leadership of Touro Biology Department Chair and Professor Milton Schiffenbauer and Biology Department Coordinator and Assistant Professor Helene Ver Eecke, presented their published research abstract, The Antiviral Effect of White Tea Polyphenol on May 20th at the 113th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in Denver, CO.
Schiffenbauer has been conducting research with students on the antimicrobial effects of white tea since 2007 and has previously attended ASM conferences in Philadelphia (2009), San Diego, and New Orleans (2011).
The research details the effects of the PCS compound extracted from Camellia sinensis tea on bacteriophages, viruses that replicate inside of bacteria. Although these effects were demonstrated in bacterial cultures, and no clinical trials have yet been run, the team believes its findings “suggest that PCS may have positive implications in the inactivation of human pathogenic viruses.”
Eugenia Sava, Amer Alnaqeeb, Nataliia Polataiko, Sanchita Silwal, and Oleg Yefimenko from NYSCAS and Chemda Bernstein, Alan Gross, Refoel Levin, and Esther Saul from Lander College of the Arts and Sciences (LAS) were the students in attendance. Additional Touro students participated in the research but were unable to attend the conference.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/nyscas--las-present-at-113th-asm-meeting.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2013-featured/ASMGroupPhoto.jpg
July 10, 2013
307149
To the Extreme
Shloime Fellig’s path from Parisian yeshiva to tech-savvy online commerce
While earning his Psychology degree at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS), Shloime Fellig, Miami native and current Brooklyn resident, founded Outgrow.me, which provides a unique platform to sell creations originally endorsed by Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Rockethub. As a result, Outgrow.me is one of the only Web destinations to find, for example, Inna Jam’s spicy Fresno Chili or the revolutionary Ouya free-to-play game console. In essence, Outgrow.me both capitalizes on the growing crowdfunding approach to design and manufacture and offers exciting goods and services that even Amazon doesn’t stock.
Despite its virtual pretense, Outgrow.me still manages to personalize visitors’ browsing. “Part of the experience is to view a full-length video of the designer explaining the product and showing how it works,” he says. “That’s really a differentiating point. Instead of browsing by photo, you really get to see the product in action. That’s what draws people.”
It’s no wonder that convenience serves him well. Despite his relatively young age, Fellig is married, taking up to 20 credits a semester and already boasted a global education before landing at Touro. In lieu of a traditional high school, Fellig spent his youth at prestigious Yeshivas in countries of diverse locations including France and Russia. During that time, he was profoundly influenced by one of his Russian teachers in particular, who he still keeps in touch with half a decade later, and who Fellig calls “a wonderful mentor whose dedication and devotion to his students left a huge impression on me.” At the same time, he developed what he remembers as “a fascination with technology, gadgets and online development.” So, despite working in real estate while attending Touro, Fellig also took courses on how to build websites, “put together [Outgrow.me] on my own, and it’s kind of blown up since then.”
The site has received media attention from BGR.com, Lifehacker.com and Ghacks.net, among others. Fellig is the ultimate modern-day multitasker and thrives on being ahead of the curve. It’s a self-imposed mandate that’s rewarding for him and admired by others, but also one he admits isn’t for everyone. “I’m somebody who does everything to the extreme,” he admits. “If somebody’s easily overwhelmed, that may not be the best thing. I make it look all rosy, but it’s definitely a strenuous experience. On the other hand, people go to college and choose from maybe a handful of opportunities, and you lose out on what you may have a lot of potential to do. That brings me back to Kickstarter, where you can just come up with an idea, work at it and get the support you need to make it a reality. It shows that, sometimes, building something fantastic is closer at reach than one might think. Kind of the same when it came to building [Outgrow.me]. All I had was an idea and access to a free website with interactive tutorials. Things can explode really quickly, and as long as you have the dedication to work all hours of the night and make your passion a priority and, as my wife likes to say, punch today in the face, you should be able to make a lot more happen than you would imagine.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las---to-the-extreme---shloime-fellig-profile.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2013-featured/ShloimeFellig.jpg
January 15, 2013
307157
Five Questions With… Biology/Computer Science Alum Aliza Rubenstein
Carving out a woman's role in the sciences
We often take for granted that glass ceilings have been shattered and gender opportunities in America have been rendered equal. But truth be told, certain scientific fields remain disproportionately populated by men. Some of this can be explained by innate psychology itself, although it’s also partly attributable to stubborn institutional bias and stereotypes.
Lander Arts & Sciences Biology and Computer Sciences grad (and 2012 class Valedictorian) Aliza Rubenstein, who’s currently pursuing a rare doctorate in Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics at Rutgers, is the exception to any rule or explanation. And she herself has some theories as to why more women like her aren’t breaking ground in her hopeful line of work or established academic specialty.
The Richmond Hill, Queens native and current New Jersey resident spoke with us about not just gender politics, but the balancing act of interdisciplinary study and making the world a better place.
Touro: What do you think often holds women back from pursuing the work you’re doing?
Aliza Rubenstein: I think it’s a stereotype that’s perpetuated by people being scared to go into the field, because they perceive it as a men’s field. I don’t think it’s anybody’s fault. In my experience, people have been very inviting and accommodating. But I think the reality is people are kind of scared off, which I think is a pity.
Would scientific research benefit from more of a female perspective?
I do think there’s a difference in the assets that either gender brings to the table. In my experience, women often approach science with a greater amount of intuition, which can be very useful. Another major thing is that women really are less aggressive than men, which can make the field itself be less competitive. My opinion—I’d say it would be a good thing.
How do you stay focused with such intense dual concentrations in biology and computer science?
You can either have something that’s multi-disciplinary or interdisciplinary, and it’s very easy to get sidetracked and think that what I’m doing is multi-disciplinary. But that doesn’t really get you far. It really has to be a true interdisciplinary effort. It’s been a challenge for me to try very hard to take classes and do work that really integrates both of them to the best of my abilities. When you like two fields so much, it’s hard not to get sidetracked by one or the other and forget that the point is both of them together.
Is there an ideal scenario you have in mind for applying your doctorate after graduating?
Oh yeah. There are a tremendous number of applications in the field I’m in, in terms of research: pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies. And I’m considering very strongly just going into academia, where you get to work on whatever you want to spend your time on…. Probably the best application, the easiest for people to understand, would be something like drug design, where you’re trying to determine what you want to target. Let’s say, for example, an antibiotic—you want to try and determine what aspect of the bacteria you want to target and what the best way to target it is. And there are loads of computational ways to look at these things that are much more efficient and quicker than doing things in a lab. And also, obviously, less expensive.
Do you feel, in your own small way, you can change the world?
Oh, for sure. I think that was one of the big reasons I decided not to just go straight into computer science. I really had initially been considering going into the health sciences, and when I decided to switch to doing computer science, I was very hesitant, because I felt like it wasn’t altruistic, so to speak. But the great thing about my field is that the applications are endless. For example, currently I’m working on something that’s very academic, but possibly down the line can have implications on a cure for people with cystic fibrosis. It’s very far down the line, but it’s great to think I could be doing something that could really help people in the future.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/five-questions-with-las-biologycomputer-science-alum-aliza-rubenstein.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/Aliza_Rubenstein.jpeg
August 09, 2013
307158
The Silent Witnesses
LAS student, Raizel Shurpin, reflects on Dr. Alter-Muri's art of the Holocaust lecture
On April 19, Touro College had the honor of hosting Dr. Simone Alter-Muri, Ed.D, ATR-BC, ATCS, L.M.H.C., for an enlightening lecture on the art of the Holocaust. This lecture was originally scheduled for March 1but was cancelled due to snow in Dr. Alter-Muri’s hometown. Extraordinarily, though, its final date was even more appropriate. The lecture, “Reviewing the Past to Empower the Future,” sponsored by the Art, Psychology, and History clubs, and arranged by Professor Grenadir, ended up taking place on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) which also so happened to be the exact anniversary of the first Warsaw Ghetto Uprising – April 19, 1943.
Dr. Simone Alter-Muri, a renowned art therapist, spoke about the art of the Holocaust, the symbolism to be found in the work, and the importance of studying and preserving these works of art. The lecture was well-received by the audience, students and professors alike. “It was a very profound workshop of how art can be used to express the extremes in pain and document the Holocaust – a meaningful hands-on way of learning about the Holocaust and pain,” said Professor Sutton, a Holocaust historian.
After being introduced by Professor Sutton, Dr. Alter-Muri began her lecture with the words, “Making marks is something common to all people [from the first] scratch on stones…” and proceeded to call the students’ attention to the scratchboards placed on most of the chairs for the group exercise. Not all of the chairs had scratchboards on them and Dr. Alter-Muri pointed out that similarly during the Holocaust art supplies had to be smuggled in, shared, and made to stretch for as many people as possible.
Dr. Alter-Muri impressed upon the audience that this art is so important because it is “telling the stories of those who can no longer tell their own stories.” Surprisingly, those who were in the Concentration Camps during this terrible time were very aware of this power of art and its ability to bear witness. Alter-Muri told the crowd about her recent visit to Auschwitz and the paintings that she got to see during that visit. “There were so many portraits,” she says, and explains that this was because “even if someone was starving, they asked someone to draw their portrait…if you draw my portrait, I know I’m human.”
Dr. Alter-Muri’s lecture had largely to do with some of the courageous artists of the Holocaust. “Frieda Dicker-Brandeis was one such artist. She made it her business to teach art classes to the children. Dicker Brandeis, “believed children needed hope in times of terror,” says Alter-Muri, “and wanted to give them the moment of creation that comes with creating art as opposed to the fear they had to live with every day.” After the war, 4,000 children’s drawings were found. Other artists, such as Alfred Kantor, Charlotte Salomon, Samuel Bak, and Gyorgy Kagar, documented camp life and the events of the Holocaust through their drawings and paintings. Alfred Kantor destroyed most of his original work so that he would not be killed for showing what was really happening in the camps, but Salomon documented everything in 1,325 notebook-sized gauche paintings and published them under the title Life? Or Theater? Samuel Bak, an artist whose surrealist work often contains images of apples or pears falling apart and the theme of metal birds that cannot fly, was a child prodigy from Vilnius (Vilna). The rav (rabbi) of Vilnus told him to document what was happening to him, and years after the war, his journal was found.
“It is works like these that are so important,” says Alter-Muri, because, “When words fail, visual images fill in the gaps.” Dr. Alter-Muri described some of the recurrent themes in Holocaust Art, such as repetition and the appearance of crows and clouds in even the most seemingly happy pictures. She showed the students a picture painted by a young child, portraying Moses leading the Jews through the Red Sea, but, in what should be a triumphant and joyful scene, Moses has a sad face and is wearing the infamous yellow star. However, Dr. Alter-Muri, says that what she sees more than anything else in these paintings and sketches is “resilience. Resilience is finding meaning in times of trouble, finding meaning in times of stress.”
Dr. Alter-Muri normally does work based on nature, but on her visit to Auschwitz, she was struck by how many lines there were – the lines of the bars leading to the camp, the lines of the barracks, the straight lines everywhere, and how much they looked like barcodes. She began to paint flowers behind bars and this work eventually morphed into flowers behind barcodes and then simply giant barcodes. Dr. Alter-Muri explains that this series of her work, “Codes on Canvas”, symbolizes the labeling and desensitizing of people as well as prayer by evoking the lines on the tallis. In her own way, Dr. Simone Alter Muri is continuing the mission of the art of the Holocaust. “Art talks the language we all know, the language of our hearts,” says Alter-Muri, “It is a link to a past and what can be. No matter how silent, art can talk.”
Dr. Alter-Muri is speaking up for those with no voice.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las---alter-muri-the-silent-witnesses.php
May 07, 2012
307159
Researching the Cure
Aryeh Grossman’s dedication to fighting cancer through biology
Aryeh Grossman was always drawn to medicine and helping others, but when his grandmother passed away from cancer, he turned his focus toward a hopeful future in oncology. “That was one of the things,” Grossman says of his motivation to battle the disease, adding that in general, “You see it on a daily basis and hear about it, so it’s the field I’ll probably be interested in.”
The Flatbush, Brooklyn resident is off to a fine head start. Having graduated from Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences in 2010 with an Honors degree in biology, he’s currently in the process of applying to a range of medical schools, while giving back to his alma mater as a student tutor. He also spent time post-undergrad in Israel, working with an international response team. During his coursework, Grossman had the opportunity to assist hands-on in oncology research at SUNY’s Downstate Medical Center. “That was fascinating,” he recalls. “It was research on these molecules that actually kill cancer cells.”
That experience was a natural extension of his most well-publicized academic achievement. In 2009, Grossman and five other biology enrollees, along with Professor Milton Schiffenbauer, discovered compounds in tea that are capable of fighting off bacterial microbes. The group was even invited to that year’s American Society for Microbiology to present their work among peers. “[That] showed me how research can open up opportunities and provide insight,” he says, emphasizing that “a lot of new advances begin from research.”
Grossman is also highly conscious of the other component in medicine, one that can’t be taught as part of a problem-solving curriculum: compassion and composure under pressure. One of his earliest encounters with a real hospital emergency was helping attend to a young girl who’d been run over by a bus. Ironically, the focus he’d grown accustomed to in a lab or classroom helped him be a steady influence amidst the crisis. “The girl’s mother fainted,” he remembers. “I guess I just focused on trying to grasp the problem and do whatever I could. I quickly used my skills to stabilize the situation.” He subsequently kept in touch with the patient and visited her until she healed, and even met with her and her parents afterwards.
Looking ahead toward a career in oncology, Grossman knows the flipside of saving lives or mitigating injury is the possibility of your best sometimes not being enough. “As much as you want to do everything in your power, you want to do whatever it takes to actually cure them, one big obstacle is there are still times when you won’t be successful or still times when the cancer is malignant,” he explains matter-of-factly. But Grossman remains undeterred, hoping that several years into his future, he can help chip away at the epidemic of cancer and simply ensure people live longer and healthier lives. “The main thing is to feel that I’m able to help people and improve their well-being,” he affirms. It’s a very accomplished feeling, that you can actually make a big difference in people’s lives. That’s gratifying—turning a whole situation around by focusing on the task and using your skills.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/aryeh-grossman---researching-the-cure.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/AryehGrossman.JPG
October 02, 2012
307160
The Boomerang Effect
Touro Poli-Sci Grad Yosef Brown’s Full-Circle Approach to Marketing and Life
Sometimes, what goes around does come around—in the best sense of that expression. In 2009, Yosef Brown graduated from Lander College of Arts and Science with a BA in Political Science. His previous concentration had been marketing, and while attending a campus job fair, the St. Louis native-cum-Long Island resident landed an interview with his current employer, online-advertising firm Blue Cherry Group, where he’s a senior manager. So when the time came for Brown to be on the other side of that table at a Touro recruitment event earlier this year, he assisted in the hiring of a fellow TC alum. “I felt like I was sort of doing my due diligence by helping another Touro graduate get a job when Touro helped me do the same,” he explains. “That was an important experience.”
Thus far in his relatively young life, this husband and father of two has made a career out of accumulating formative experiences. It’s a curiosity reflected in the academic choices he made at Touro and his change in majors. As Brown tells it, “I got the impression that marketing was more of a hands-on, real-world experience,” he says, which led him in a slightly different direction for his studies. “I wanted a major that would allow me to write as the major requirement,” he explains. “It didn’t necessarily undermine my ability to go into advertising or marketing.”
During the summer of 2008, Brown continued to juggle his dual interests—expressing himself through the written word and more directly interfacing with peers and colleagues—by securing an internship with an accounting firm. Shortly thereafter, while still finishing up his senior year, he began freelance writing for a Brooklyn-based ad agency. Once he graduated, the credentials continued to pile up: business development here, sales there.
“I sort of self-educated myself in terms of marketing and advertising,” he acknowledges. And despite his myriad interests, he beams that his role within Blue Cherry “is rather fulfilling, because you really see your efforts come to fruition, especially after a big sale or after pushing a campaign for a while and seeing the revenue you’ve brought in and the partnerships you’ve developed. There’s a lot of creative thinking and collaborating that goes into it as well, so I’m definitely enjoying what I’m doing.”
Ultimately, this path was laid out somewhat evidently dating back to Brown’s youth. Even growing up, he loved converting others to his perspectives and using his intellect and vocabulary to gain confidants and co-conspirators. That, and a sense of humor. “I was always a bit of a comedian,” he says. “And I enjoyed entertaining people and bringing them over to my side, making them like me and appreciate what I had to say and offer. So, definitely, I wanted to go into something along the lines of what I’m doing now as a result of those experiences.”
All the above renders it no surprise that Brown’s biggest advice for students figuring out how to plot their next handful of years is to mix things up and be able to apply a wide set of abilities. And implicitly, to bear in mind that aforementioned adage about things boomeranging back your way. “It’s important to have what I’d call transplantable skills,” he says. “My being a writer—in no way, shape or form did that actually point to a particular career path, but I knew it was a skill I wanted to utilize in whatever I did. And if I had some sort of inherent draw toward marketing or advertising, I knew I would do what I had to. In my case, it was primarily outside of my formal education to give me real-world experience [so] that I could apply that later on in whatever discipline.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/yosef-brown---the-boomerang-effect.php
December 27, 2012
307161
Staying Connected
LAS grad Dr. Chaim Neuhoff’s multidisciplinary approach to community healing
Philosophically, root-generating plant stems known as rhizomes are metaphors for how thought and action can spring from unlikely sources and seamlessly intertwine. In that sense, Dr. Chaim Neuhoff’s work as a clinical psychologist and community leader could be described as fundamentally rhizomatic.
The Class of 2000 Lander Arts and Sciences (LAS) psychology grad demonstrates equal passion for his profession, faith and fellow neighbors, and has found a way for all of those interests to organically intersect and feed off one another. Not only does he operate a private psychotherapy practice for children and parents, but the lifelong Brooklynite helps inspire wellness outside of his office by volunteering mentorship at local organizations like Toshia, which assists observant Jewish families dealing with crises. For Neuhoff, the spiritual component of his life couldn’t exist independently of his clinical work, which thrives off opportunities for philanthropy.
“This parallels the Touro experience,” he says. “[They] were teaching us how to integrate our religious personalities with secular training, and [my work] is an offshoot of that—taking whatever I learned and applying it back to the community. It’s all about integration.” That principle explains why, while at Touro, Neuhoff changed his concentration of study from Marketing to Psychology. “I was running some mentoring programs for adolescents,” he recalls. “I got to know a lot of them and wasn’t able to help them to full capacity, and at that point I decided to switch over to a psychology class, and I really saw that as a way to integrate the work I was doing with the community with a need to make a livelihood.”
His story also mirrors timeless parables that remind us there’s never a wrong time to pursue one’s ambitions. Even though he’d already settled down with a wife and children prior to enrolling at Touro, Neuhoff summoned a universally understood philosophical motivator. “It’s never too late,” he offers. “If someone’s determined, they can get to where they want to get and maybe surpass others who got an early start in the game. There are challenges, but at the same time, there’s nothing that stands in the way of determination.”
As for the goal of reducing trauma and stress among families in his community, Neuhoff will remain vigilant until “the need to get this kind of help is fully accepted by all segments of the Jewish community, and people will not feel stigmatized by it and be able to get the help they need. And Touro plays a large role in that to jumpstart the process.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/chaim-neuhofh---staying-connected.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/Neuhoffpicture.JPG.jpeg
November 25, 2013
307162
Progress Through Prevention
LAS psych grad Dr. Steven Zimmerman aims to stop trauma at its source
One of the foremost questions college applicants ask themselves is, “Where is my education going to lead 10 years down the line?” The answer, of course, is largely up to the student and how much effort they put in during and after academia. But if 2002 Lander Arts and Sciences (LAS) grad and Psychology major Dr. Steven Zimmerman is looked to as an example, the ceiling is sky-high.
Following Touro, Zimmerman used his B.A. as a launching pad toward earning his M.S. Ed. in School Psychology and doctorate in School-Clinical Child Psychology at Pace University. Throughout his decade in higher learning, he multitasked inside the classroom and out: coordinating events for the Touro Science Society, founding the Sons of Israel of Kew Gardens Hills congregation, mentoring behaviorally disturbed patients and recovering addicts, and working with institutional networks such as the Long Island Jewish Health System to diagnose and treat families dealing with trauma.
Today, the former Brooklynite and current Queens resident operates a private clinical practice that treats both English and Yiddish-speaking patients, all while chairing the Clinical Advisory Board of Magen New York and lecturing at organizations across New York City in an effort to teach about abuse prevention. In the midst of his demanding schedule, Zimmerman spoke with us about commitment to goals, selfless determination, and striving to help disrupt cycles of violence and psychological harm.
Touro: You’ve been on a very steady path in psychology. Has that been your lifelong ambition?
Dr. Steven Zimmerman:The helping component has always been there, but I was not fully set on psychology from a very young age. As a child, I always wanted to be a surgeon. Actually, when I first got to Touro, I had a pretty broad spectrum. I took all of the hard sciences—biology, chemistry, physics—to leave a number of medical fields open. It was during my time at Touro that I really realized that the way in which I wanted to help people heal was by becoming a psychologist.
What was it about psychology that finally stood out among the other sciences?
On an intellectual level, the study of people and the mind and how they work was incredibly interesting to me. On the helping side, I felt that the Jewish community has a particular need for well-trained mental health professionals. While I think I could have been a good physician, there were many people who were well-suited to be good physicians. Psychology was, at that time, a yet-unmet need toward which I knew I could really contribute. In fact, through my Yeshiva travels, I would see people who were struggling with intense emotional pain and mental anguish. That was a very strong catalyst in helping me decide on a career, seeing and hearing those stories directly from individuals…and on the positive side as well, where some were fortunate enough to have received psychological help and really benefitted from it.
How have you learned to compartmentalize patients’ trauma and your own state of mind?
The bedrock of working as a psychologist really is the ability to separate out what comes from inside yourself and what is coming from the patient. That is probably a lifelong job, meaning that one always has to try and ask oneself: “Is this concept influenced by my personal thoughts and biases, or is this coming from what the patient is telling me?” Speaking with colleagues and consulting with other professionals is very helpful to that process. It’s one of the reasons I started a peer-supervision group; it’s critical to providing better care to my patients and ensuring that those healthy boundaries are maintained.
How important is it for educators to focus attention on the psychological welfare of children?
It is absolutely critical! We can do so much on the prevention side. Intervention is effective, but it’s very difficult to do. If we can prevent things from happening in the first place that are very damaging psychologically and emotionally to people—especially children—we can avoid so much suffering later on. So I really try to help instill primary prevention in the community, to reduce the need for future mental health services by building a healthier and more stable society.
How profound is it to watch and be a part of patients’ progress?
Patients of mine have come from extraordinarily dark places and have suffered tremendous pain, and one of the incredible elements of this job is to be able to see people emerge from such darkness and live happier, healthier and more productive lives. I’m really privileged to see that process unfold and to hear from them after the fact how much their lives have been transformed and how they’re doing so much better. That’s incredibly inspiring.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/shloime-zimmerman---progress-through-prevention.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/shloimiezimmermanheadshot.JPG
August 13, 2013
307163
Everything’s Accounted For
2012 Alum Sarah Krauss is Getting Down to Business
Recent Lander College of Arts and Sciences alum and accounting major Sarah Krauss admits it’s been challenging to find work and gain footing as a freshly minted college graduate in the wake of turbulent economic times. She describes the gamut of job interviews in today’s climate as “nerve-wracking,” largely on account of having to sit around and “wait for an answer.” Fortunately, First Healthcare Management Company—which provides services to adult daycare centers in New Jersey—ended Krauss’s uncertainty and hired her to help coordinate their accounts.
The lifelong Garden State resident recently married and has eyes on attending Baruch College for a Masters in Taxation, but in the meanwhile, she’s soaking up the early career experience. Besides, as Krauss explains below, she doesn’t quite have the future mapped out just yet. All she can do for now is heed the knowledge gained while at Touro—much of which she outlined in a memorable essay for the Touro Accounting and Business Journal (TAB) on “How Every Great Company Listens to the Voice of the Customer”—observe how it applies in a professional setting and go with the flow from there.
Touro: How has working at First Healthcare called on the accounting education you received while in school?
Sarah Krauss: It’s like background information. You’ll never fully know something unless you work with it, but it’s definitely very helpful to come in knowing things and how everything applies in the workplace…. I’m doing accounts payable, so I take care of all the bills and any random problems that come up in connection with a bill.
Touro: Was there a period or moment in your life when you had the epiphany to pursue accounting?
SK: I always enjoyed math and numbers and logic. I recently started getting interested in business. In 12th grade, my high school [Bais Yaakov d’Rav Meir] had a Touro freshman center, and [they were] giving background on all different majors. When he was describing accounting, I was like, “Oh, that sounds like me.” [It was] the logic of it, and that everything should basically have an answer. And that’s what you’re checking, really—that everything matches.
Touro: Your TAB article focused on how a lot of satisfying customers and clients is common sense. Why do you think that gets overlooked?
SK: Most of it comes down to decency and common sense, but more of it is going the extra mile for the customer. In addition, not everyone has basic decency and/or common sense, and some can't even figure it out. If [managers] are a little bit more removed than the rest of their employees, then they’re not really grounded in what [customers] are looking for. Always make yourself approachable to anyone who’d ever want to come over to you, and make sure you always have people who you can trust to tell you what everyone else is looking for and if they’re happy or not. Basically, just be nice to everyone.
Touro: Do you have any image in your head of a possible five or 10-year plan for your career?
SK: When I graduated, I had this feeling of, “Oh my gosh, where do I go now?” The ideal job for me would be a work environment I enjoy—a position where others depend on me and trust me to do what should be done…working with people I like and hopefully not too much stress.
Touro: What are the most important parts of your life outside of work to make sure there’s a balance?
SK: I would like to make a difference to people. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, I like reading novels and I like learning and knowing random facts. I make it a point to be kind and courteous to everyone I meet, I make time for those who I care about, and I keep my eyes and ears open all the time to make sure I don't miss anything interesting…. The most valuable thing I’ve learned is to treat people with respect everywhere you go, no matter what their position is or yours.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/sarah-krauss---everythings-accounted-for.php
December 27, 2012
307164
Re-Writing the Book
Writer/Editor Rachel Goldberger’s Still Evolving Journey from Seminary to the Courts
Whether you’re a working journalist or aspiring law school student, it’s equally necessary to see issues from all sides and come to honest, measured conclusions. And in today’s workforce in general, young college graduates have to be flexible and open-minded. Brooklyn native and resident Rachel Goldberger understands both these tenets explicitly.
After earning a Business Management degree with a minor in English Literature from Touro’s Lander School of Arts and Sciences in 2009, she coupled that with a Master's in Publishing from Pace University the following year. Before long, the lifelong grammarian (“I hated newspapers, because every time I read them, I wanted to pull out a red pen and start correcting all the mistakes,” she remembers) found work as a freelance editor/writer/proofreader. Next, her sights are set on an Ivy League law program. While wide-ranging, all of her accomplishments and future goals are, in their own way, kindred and mutually inspired by the desire to stay one step ahead of constantly changing industries.
“When I graduated, I was sure I wanted to do book publishing,” she recalls. But in light of the eBook revolution and the publishing industry’s shifting business models, Goldberger pursued other avenues, like becoming a certified personal trainer. “Coming through that perspective,” she adds, “I realized that magazines within the fitness industry might have been something I’d have been interested in, which is something I wouldn’t have known at the time.”
As for how her currently pending applications to Harvard, Yale and other top-tier law schools factor into a larger plan, Goldberger is simply challenging the height of her potential and leaving no opportunity unexplored. “A lot of students feel like they’re married to their degrees,” she says. “It becomes limiting, because they feel like they have to get a job in that particular industry, even if the field has become overcrowded, obsolete, or is in transition and, therefore, there are few if any jobs available. These students often refuse to consider working in related fields, not realizing that many skills are very transferrable. There are also fields people wouldn’t even have thought of in which their skills would be a good fit. For instance, in publishing, a lot of people are freelancing and still looking for something steady within publishing rather than seeking employment in other industries where critical reading and strong writing skills are valuable assets. Personally, I felt if at any point, a degree becomes a liability, it’s time to let go of it, move on, and broaden your horizons a bit.”
That inclusive attitude really took root when Goldberger—who is fluent in Hebrew and Yiddish—traveled to Jerusalem and studied in BJJ seminary prior to attending Touro. “The biggest thing I took back [from Jerusalem] was just meeting and interacting with people from a different culture,” she explains. “That taught me the most. It doesn’t really end when you come back to America.” It’s a lesson that should assist her in the legal field. In fact, one of the concentrations she’s considering is social justice and diversity laws, which overlaps with her current journalistic principles. “Right now, the biggest issue in journalism is balanced reporting,” she says. “A lot of journalism is very slanted in one direction or the other, and it’s an injustice to society.”
Goldberger still has plenty of time to sort out how she can best contribute to leveling the socioeconomic and cultural playing field, whether it’s with a red pen or a legal platform. It’s a story still being written, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/rachel-goldberger---re-writing-the-book--.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/RachelGoldbergerProfile.JPG
November 26, 2012
307165
Time is on Her Side
LAS’ aspiring computer programmer and novelist Chaya Spiegel manages to make time for her two talents.
One of the keys to academic success is time management, which bodes well for January ’14 LAS grad Chaya Spiegel. By the time this lifelong Brooklynite had graduated high school, she’d already written a historical mystery novel, Search for the Lost Children, and founded the Midwood Jewish Library in her home neighborhood. But she describes those pursuits as “more of a hobby, something I do to enjoy on the side.”
Because, oh yes, Spiegel is also in the midst of earning her BS in Computer Science, not to mention serving as president of the Touro College Student Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery, member of the school’s Women’s Computer Society and editor of the Society’s newspaper.
“I think it's important for college students to be able to make time for other interests beside our exams and homework,” she explains. “So I have my library and my writing---not every day, but when I had time. It definitely made my college experience easier and happier.”
In terms of career, though, Spiegel is squarely focused on her work in computer programming. It’s a skillset she quickly developed a knack for and also found tremendously satisfying, despite the fact that making programs run, in her words, requires “a different way of thinking.”
“I enjoy coding,” she continues. “I don’t see myself as a manager or an analyst. It does come with the creative side a little, because every day is a challenge, every day I have something [where] I have to figure out how to make it work.”
She also discovered that her extracurricular activities now served an extra function. Her writing and efforts in developing the Midwood Library didn’t just keep her occupied outside the classroom—they provided a real-life application for her education. “I was definitely using what I was learning in college in real life,” she says. “And [making the library] more business-like and user-friendly.”
For now, Spiegel isn’t sure what’s next for her in the Computer Science field, outside of applying for internships that will keep evolving her programming fluency. In the meantime, she’s taking the fruits of academic education and its myriad applications and becoming an agent of change in her own community.
“Whatever I felt was useful for myself, I figured other people would also like,” she says. “So whatever I felt I needed, I tried to make available for other people.” And she’s doing so, appropriately, by reversing the old adage about their not being enough hours in the day and taking full advantage of the time she does have. “Right now, I’m not employed, so I have fairly large hours for the library,” Spiegel says. “Last year, when I was employed, I just had to open up a few more hours.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/chaya-spiegel---time-is-on-her-side.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/ChayaSpiegelEichlersDisplay.jpg
August 13, 2013
307166
Healing Though Reflection
Touro LAS Grad Gabriel Hoffnung Looks to Help the Orthodox Community Find Peace
Living in contemporary society carries with it the burden of reconciling one’s inherited history and tradition with surging advances in how we communicate. It’s a modern, kinetic world with myriad of ancient beliefs and customs. That dichotomy can be a hard thing for a person of faith to balance in their daily life, and members of the Orthodox Jewish community are no exception. Gabriel Hoffnung, a graduate of Touro’s Lander School of Arts & Sciences’ psychology program (and current Yeshiva University Ferkauf student), believes that guidance from therapeutic counseling helps patients live a practical life, as well as one that’s spiritually fulfilling.
“In the community that I live in and grew up in, religion plays a very important role in people’s lives,” explains the Monsey, New York native and current Staten Island resident. “The relationship between the individual members of a faith-based community and their religion is something very profound and important and also can be very difficult at times. That definitely seems to be a reason why people will sometimes run into problems.”
Hoffnung distinguishes this from crises of faith, which he says are usually mediated directly by rabbis and leaders of the synagogue rather than a clinical doctor. His own attraction to the field started at an early age. His uncle was (and remains) a practicing psychologist in Israel, and would share anecdotes from his experience with Gabriel. “It did seem to me a very interesting occupation, both in terms of the theoretical value of what he was doing and just practically how he was really helping people,” he says.
As Hoffnung matured and began encountering his own internal questioning, the desire to emulate his uncle’s line of work grew more certain. “I’d definitely say that a lot of my personal experience is surely going to play a role in how I perceive things and where I want to see myself go professionally and how I’d help people,” he offers. “I wouldn’t say difficulties, so much as musings. Thinking about them and trying to develop my own perspective has certainly lent itself to influencing my outlook and perspective from a professional standpoint.”
He’s also quick to clarify that if someone does seek counseling to resolve an untenable quandary, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. “An individual has to know there’s nothing wrong with having difficulties and running into questions and problems. That’s a natural part of what makes a person’s religious experience and relationship to that real.” At the end of the day, whether one’s an Orthodox Jew or non-denominationally agnostic, the goal of psychological treatment is to ease pain and confusion and head toward a happier life. “On a basic level, I’d just simply like to help people,” Hoffnung says. “That would be a tremendous growth experience. If I have a chance to push my community forward, I’d like to help heighten awareness of the fact that it’s good and healthy to have that introspection, and that’s something that’s only helping a person, not to the contrary.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/gabriel-hoffnung---healing-though-reflection.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/G.Hoffnung.jpg
August 20, 2012
307167
The Science of Help
LAS Psychology major and Poli-Sci teacher uses politics to serve the underserved
Healthcare is inexorably entangled in state and federal politics. Consequently, compassion and dedication to treating underserved populations is only half the battle. The other part involves understanding and getting in between the red tape that determines how resources get distributed to those in need. Dina Kupfer has always grasped this symbiosis implicitly. After graduating from Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences with a psychology degree in 2009, the Brooklyn native coupled that with a Masters in Political Science from Brooklyn College. Today, she splits her time between the classroom—Kupfer is an adjunct professor in LAS’s Poli-Sci department—and legal work and government liaison for Yeled V’yalda, a Brooklyn-based social-services agency that assists children and their families.
“It relates to everything in life,” she says of political science. “In any profession, it always goes back to, as a citizen, how you navigate the system on a federal, state and local level. Our everyday life encompasses government in official and unofficial ways…. I don’t have one decisive event that pushed me in this direction. Everything came together, and political science is a very spicy subject. My first day coming into class, I always say [to students], ‘Political science has something for everyone, because it involves philosophy and history and current events and ethics and analysis. It has such variety and appeal and application.’”
While no singular experience compelled her down the road where social services and bureaucracy intersect, Kupfer does explain, “I always had this interest toward psychology, but I wasn’t sure where I would go with that. I came to Touro eager to learn and wanted flexibility, so I ended up majoring in Psychology and minoring in Political Science. What got me hooked was an American Politics class. It was fascinating, and I loved the analytical bent.”
While completing her studies, Kupfer explored a myriad career possibilities, including volunteering at a laboratory, doing observations at a pediatrics office, teaching and assuming a post as Editor-in-Chief of the Touro student newspaper. “I was considering all of this,” she explains. After taking a semester off post-graduation, she continued investigating her interest in both journalism and teaching, which, as she remembers, “helped me refocus and think, ‘What do I really enjoy and want to go back to school for?’”
Now, having earned her B.A. and M.A., in addition to splitting her time between Touro and Yeled V’yalda, Kupfer’s next challenge is to make a real-world impact by applying her interdisciplinary approach to helping struggling families. “It has become very complex,” she acknowledges of her ultimate, altruistic goal. “Government is wide and deep, and as citizens, it would be nice if we all knew our rights. But because life is busy, and many times we’re just under-educated in this area, we don’t really know. In the one slice of work I deal with, I see parents come in… and they’re not armed. I don’t know how much of the Constitution your average American knows, let alone all these intricate workings. When you have some background in American politics, you can really push your way through….. We should be better-equipped to defend ourselves if need be or to know what we are allowed and entitled to and not.”
For Kupfer, that necessitated years of varied-but-interconnected immersion in psychological and political frameworks. But the gratification comes on a daily basis via her interactions with people struggling against the odds. “There are growing pains raising any child,” she says. “A family that has a child with special needs is a blessing, and yet it’s emotionally draining and difficult for a parent to come to terms with, and it’s very overwhelming to understand what’s out there that could help them. So it’s very rewarding to be here in this little way and help support parents to make sure these children can grow up to be functioning, contributing members of society.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/dina-kupfer---the-science-of-help.php
January 20, 2015
307168
Analyzing This (and That)
LAS grad and Columbia professor Dvora Sanders thinks outside the lab
To paraphrase a well-worn cliché, there’s more than one way to test a scientific hypothesis. Researchers can spend endless hours in what Columbia University Clinical Psychiatry Assistant Professor Dvora Sanders refers to as “wet lab” experiments. Or, in laymen’s terms, the scenario most of us picture when thinking about clinical trials: people in white coats implementing fancy equipment and conducting a trial-and-error process with myriad variables. Conversely, there’s Sanders’ preferred execution of data analysis, which she describes as a more “straightforward” way to arrive at hopefully similar conclusions.
“When you’re doing an experiment, you have to actually physically do it, and you have to be good at it,” explains the Brooklyn native and Prospect Park Yeshiva alum, who earned her B.S. in Biology from Touro in 1997 (and briefly taught there in the mid-2000s while pursuing a fellowship at Columbia) before acquiring a Ph.D. in Genetics at Rockefeller University. “There are some people who are really good at making sure that they’re doing it well; they know how to ask the right questions. There’s a skill involved in wet-lab work. Doing the computation analysis, it’s math—it’s more clean…. I like, ‘You do this, do that, it comes out yes [or] no, and you move on to the next one.’”
Over the past couple years, Sanders has been applying that numerical intellect by working alongside Columbia’s Professor Deborah Hasin to study the components that influence psychiatric disorders. For example, Sanders and her supervisor have been assessing patterns of alcohol abuse among Russian-immigrant Jews in Israel as compared to global Jewish populations. Their findings provide some insight into how these issues need to be considered from multiple perspectives—heredity, environmental et al—prior to instituting corrective policies or rehabilitation.
“[Russian immigrants] have a much different drinking culture than Jews in other parts of the world and Israelis,” she says. “Jews, even in America, and Israelis on average, tend to drink less than Russians as a group. Until recently, there wasn’t such a problem with adolescent drinking and so on. One of the things we were looking at was, ‘What happened? Immigrants from Russia have been in Israel more than 20 years. How have the drinking cultures changed and what seems to be different?’ There’s nothing we know that’s genetically different. Jews all over the world tend to be more similar to each other than the non-Jews they live among, so it’s something cultural. What we’ve looked at in that case was acceptable drinking behavior, and found that even today, the Russian people who came as immigrants find it more acceptable to drink in certain social situations than Israelis who were born in Israel.”
After arriving at this conclusion, their next step was recommending ways to prevent the culture gap from manifesting a larger national dilemma. “One of the things we’ve been looking at is, ‘Well, if you can’t change somebody’s behavior, but you can have some sort of program to change people’s view on what’s acceptable, then that might change the negative behaviors,’” Sanders says. As for whether it can work, she points to a universal alcohol-related taboo. “Basically nobody thinks driving and driving is acceptable,” she reasons. “And that maybe wasn’t the case 20 years ago. With public-health messages, you can actually change people’s beliefs, and that could change their behavior without having to tell them, ‘You’re doing the wrong thing.’”
While Sanders finds her work stimulating and impacting, and she also enjoys helping ambitious students discover their path of interest, the mother of five doesn’t have some life-defining, independent-study project in mind down the road. Providing her contribution to science, witnessing its effect on positive social change and all the while playing mom ensures she’s plenty fulfilled for now.
“My boss keeps telling me that if I would want to apply for funding to try to get a larger position that I might be able to do it,” Sanders says, conceding, “Right now, I’m just happy to do my 20 hours a week of work and keep the rest of the time to take care of my family.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/dvora-sanders---analyzing-this-and-that.php
December 28, 2012
307169
Psyched to Be Here
LAS adjunct professor Perella Perlstein has a mission to pay her education forward
People helping people helping people: It may as well be Perella Perlstein’s mantra. After all, it’s implicitly guided her studies and career up to this point. The 2006 Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) Psychology grad and current Adjunct Professor in Psychology at Touro—she also acquired a Masters in School Psychology and Doctor of Psychology in between—has been pursuing a greater knowledge of how anxious and personality disorders develop and get successfully treated. She’s also long yearned to work in academia, molding like-minded future peers’ sophistication about our scientific minds.
“I’ve always wanted to teach,” she acknowledges. “I didn’t know if it would be peripheral or centered in terms of my career path, but it was always my dream. I didn’t want to teach elementary or high school-age; I wanted to teach a subject I love at the college level.”
What really solidified Perlstein’s certainty about engaging psychology from a professorial angle was the chemistry she developed with mentors as an undergrad at Touro. She points to key figures during that time like Drs. Melech Press and David Steinman, who still oversee psychology courses at the college. “Those were the ones who really influenced me to want to be in a classroom,” she says, while elaborating on how important it is for any young enrollee to foster those connections. “It’s very important in terms of professional and vocational development, and also just their knowledge base. Sometimes, my students don’t know what they’re going for, especially in their first year. Part of the process of learning what you want is to speak to professionals who are in the field and counseled other students who have had similar questions. The only way you can do that is to really foster a relationship with the faculty.”
Perlstein, who also works part-time at the Interboro Developmental and Consultation Center outpatient clinic in Brooklyn, is now in the unique position of transitioning from mentee to mentor. Fortunately, her experience in and out of the academic environment—not to mention on both sides of the professor’s desk—has imbued her with tremendous empathy. “On a practical level, I find my experience with the clinic helps add color to the lectures,” she says. “When we’re discussing OCD, we can actually discuss a case; obviously, I’d distort the facts to preserve confidentiality, but it adds a lot to the discussion. And [it helps] in terms of just dealing with the things that come up when you interact with students, and dealing with whatever issues might come up in and outside of the classroom. There are students who come over to me for advice, and I’ve directed students to different colleagues. I think the three essential elements of therapy apply in a classroom too: You need to be genuine, you need to be empathic, and you need to have positive regard for your students.”
Naturally, that commitment is dependent on a mutual effort. Perlstein is accessible to all her students, but keeps a special eye out for ambitious pupils who take the work seriously and demonstrate the kind of motivated yen to excel that helped her become accomplished. “It can be very tricky,” she explains. “Very often I’ll teach evening courses, so these are students who work full-time or part-time and then take classes, and you can pretty much tell if they’re an employee first and a student second. So part of it is, “Do you take my class seriously?” That’s evidenced in the obvious, such as actually showing up to class. And very often, they’ll come over at the end of class and continue the thread of a conversation that had been started. There are also students who are interested in research projects, and there are students [with whom] I love the inquisitiveness and the questions and the wanting to know and internalize the course material and take it further.”
Right now, Perlstein doesn’t know exactly how she’ll take her own experiences further. She admits to an unceasing passion for academia, while recognizing the advantages of working directly with patients at clinics and in private practice. Whatever the end result, Perlstein is driven to keep refining her awareness of our complex neurology and passing that education onto others. “I didn’t realize I’d love teaching as much as I did,” she says. “But I realize now that I love the research and academic aspect. I’ve always wanted to work with people, so I’m glad I’m where I’m at.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/perella-perlstein---psyched-to-be-here.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/perellarooz.JPG.jpeg
November 27, 2013
307170
Social-Services Butterfly
Political Science and Eonomics graduate Gittel Fekete is Director of Constituent Services for Brooklyn’s District 44 Councilmember David Greenfield
The recently concluded presidential race between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney was one for the ages. But for young adults of Gittel Fekete’s generation, the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore was their real wake-up call to the world of politics. Lander College of Arts & Sciences graduate Fekete was only in eighth grade that fateful November more than a decade ago, but vividly remembers the historic evening. “I stayed up all night to try and find out, is it going to be Bush or Gore,” she recalls.
Ultimately, the lifelong Borough Park, Brooklynite—along with an anxious nation—would have to wait until completion of the notorious Florida recount. That experience provided Fekete with an early lesson in how volatile and entangled politics can be, an insight that’s only been reinforced during her studies at Touro and current work as Director of Constituent Services for Brooklyn’s District 44 Councilmember David Greenfield.
“When it comes to getting things done, it’s about who you know and how you go about it,” the Political Science and Economics major explains. “In order to get the right things done, you have to be very strategic, and that’s something my boss is really good at. He’s on the front lines of getting things done that really help the community."
Fekete elaborates that as she comes nearer to her June 2014 graduation, that hands-on work with Councilmember Greenfield and her academic studies have collectively helped her “fine-tune what I’m most interested in."
Specifically, she’s intent on continuing to be involved on a local, grassroots level, equipping those who lack basic resources with the tools to survive. “My real interest in government is in the social aspects,” she says, “in welfare and housing for people who can’t afford it.” As a Jew herself, and given her boss’s connection with the Jewish voter base, a lot of Fekete's outreach has directly impacted that population. But in the bigger picture, it’s about instituting indiscriminate change that trickles down to all demographics. “If you’re going to do good, it’s going to affect more than just the Jewish community,” says Fekete. “So if you’re going to make it easier for the general community, then yes, the Jewish people who need this help are going to have access to this help.”
For that to happen, in her estimation, legislators must cease expecting disadvantaged citizens to navigate their way through the bureaucracy. Instead, government has to come directly to them. “People who need the help the most aren’t capable of getting the help they need,” she says. “And as a community and government we need to figure out a way to get to the people who need our help the most, whether it’s making sure they don’t have to jump through so many hoops or simplifying the process for them. Sometimes the underprivileged are so busy coping with the stress of surviving, and really suffer because of that. There needs to be a way they can get the help they need in a painless way.”
As far as how Fekete can put herself in that position of influence, her story is still being written. Like politics itself, she understands that progress is only possible when you take it one step at a time. “I’m not really sure where I’m headed,” she concedes, adding that grad school or a law degree are just a couple of the immediate possibilities come two summers from now. “But whether it’s in public service or the private sector, I know I definitely want to remain working for the community."
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/gittel-fekete---social-services-butterfly.php
January 28, 2013
307171
A Family Affair
Rachel Cohan Looks to Her Daughters and Mother for Mid-Life Inspiration
Inspiration often comes from unexpected sources. Fifty-five-year-old Brooklynite Rachel Cohan moved from Brazil to America when she was 14. Over the next four decades, she adjusted to our culture and language, got married, raised three daughters and excelled at a career in bookkeeping. The only thing she didn’t accomplish was earning a college degree.
But after watching each of her children acquire their Masters' from Touro, Cohan was motivated to pursue higher education. Today, the hard-working mother and businesswoman—who also speaks five languages—still maintains her office job, but at night takes psychology courses at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, with an eye on following that up with even further accreditation in special education. For Cohan, it’s a new calling that’s also rooted in a lifelong passion.
“I’ve always had a sensitivity to children with special needs,” she explains, adding that the example was set for her early on. “My mother was incredible,” she says. “Her way generally with people, being especially sensitive and kind and doing for others.” Cohan has already begun applying that influence, as well as her studies at LAS, in interactions outside the classroom. Her field work with one prematurely born 5-year-old, specifically watching her commit the alphabet to memory after several weeks, has been particularly moving.
“She also worked with her sensory skills,” remembers Cohan. “If I would say the letter ‘c,’ with her hand, she would move and try to write the letter, which was quite interesting, because she couldn’t recognize the letters.” Cohan’s goal thus far when dealing directly with the kids is to try and develop fundamental abilities while simply reinforcing a positive, encouraging attitude. “It’s just exceptionally rewarding,” she beams. “These children are absolutely delighted to get the one-on-one attention.” It’s been so fulfilling, in fact, that she has continued volunteering to assist the aforementioned student even after meeting her academic requirements.
It shouldn’t be surprising that Cohan has found such a connection with these children. Moving to a new country in early adolescence was an often-trying experience, and one that has imbued her with tremendous empathy for anyone—whether special needs or not—trying to catch up with their peers. “I vividly remember being laughed at in class, because of course I did not have command of the English language,” she says, recalling one teacher in particular who took extra time and effort to bring her up to speed and was “also there for me as a friend and was exceptionally nice.”
Cohan’s journey is a testament to how one person can truly make a difference, and that it’s never too late. “It’s not always achieving the ABCs,” she reminds. “It’s the child’s needs you’re addressing.” And as for her daughters, they couldn’t be prouder of their mother, and vice versa. “I couldn’t do it without them,” she says. “It’s a whole [family] line. We try to do the little things.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/rachel-cohan---a-family-affair.php
August 21, 2012
307172
Cutting Her Teeth
Rachel Florence’s transition from psychology to the dentist’s chair
Everybody has a defining moment in their lives, or perhaps even a series of them. For aspiring dentist Rachel Florence, one of hers came early into young adulthood. She’d long set her sights on a career in Occupational Therapy (OT), having even accrued a chunk of related credits by her high school graduation and completed subsequent college coursework in a year. But just as she was set to pursue higher OT education, the Brooklyn native and current Passaic, New Jersey resident made a slight but crucial change in direction.
“It came to actually signing the papers to OT school, and I just didn’t sign the paper,” Florence recalls, adding that she realized, “I moved so quickly to get to this point, but then it struck me that this is not what I want.” Instead, she enrolled in Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences as a biology major under Dr. Milton Schiffenbauer, where she hoped to enhance her background in psychology with scientific research and ultimately choose a career she enjoyed that would allow her to balance work and eventual motherhood.
During that time, Florence participated in a two-week dental-school internship in New Jersey. She describes the experience, which included time observing students at an open clinic, as “eye-opening to the whole field,” adding, “That was what really solidified my decision to go into dentistry…. What I saw that I really liked was you do work with other dentists and can speak to a doctor, but each dentist is managing their own case, one at a time. It wasn’t just that they were working on their mouths. They were also talking to the patients. It wasn’t just mechanical. It was also interpersonal.”
If there is a common thread between her OT knowledge and immersion into more concrete science, it’s Florence’s lifelong tendency toward engaging directly with other people. She has no regrets about the transition. It’s all part of a bigger picture. “Psychology classes play out into any profession you go into if you’re going to be working with people,” she says. “I’m just happy that I did decide to go and observe therapists and actually see what they do because I was able to realize this is not something I’m going to enjoy doing for many years. Something like dentistry, you get to work at your own pace. Therapy takes a lot of patience. Dentistry does too, but in a different way.”
Florence is currently applying to various dentistry schools, something that would have been hard for her to see coming when she started accumulating those OT credits as a teenager. But her main piece of advice to anyone rethinking or modifying their aspirations is to be thorough and patient. “Ask questions,” she offers. “Not just to one person. They have to figure out what their interests are. Not just read things, but to go and see it themselves. You really have to enjoy what you’re going to be doing, because it can affect your whole life. A person who’s waking up in the morning and is not happy going to their job, even if they are making good money, they won’t be happy. The most important thing is to figure out what interests them the most and not get caught up in doing things quickly.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/rachel-florence---cutting-her-teeth.php
December 03, 2012
307148
Triumphing Over Trauma
Leah Younger explores the budding science of post-traumatic growth
So often, we’re defined by the negativity in our lives and/or the trauma we’re exposed to. Even more commonly, those experiences and emotions are dealt with strictly in terms of stress disorders and difficulty functioning within a stable and happy life. There is, however, a growing sentiment toward the study of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), which essentially posits that after confronting tragedy, one can transform their struggles into positive individual progress. In other words, trauma can be absorbed, worked through, and then potentially used as a catalyst for healing.
Leah Younger, a summa cum laude graduate of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) in Brooklyn who’s currently pursuing her Psy.D at Pace University and working with patients at the Queen’s Children’s Psychiatric Center, is basing her dissertation around this concept. After previously spending time in more clinical environments, the 23-year-old Brooklynite “wanted to look at the other end of the spectrum, those that have experienced trauma but are psychologically healthy, to see the natural development of PTG.”
Still, PTG has met with skepticism from the larger clinical community, which itself is one of Younger’s primary impetus’ to better frame the idea en route to her doctorate. “Most researchers automatically jump to what we call the ‘deficit model’, where the focus is on an individual’s weakness” she explains. “Something happened, therefore something must be wrong. There’s definitely that subtle resistance [toward PTG], that it’s too fluffy, it’s too pseudo-psychology. That’s another motivation of mine, to kind of ground it in empirical science.”
In fact, Younger suggests that for some PTG is only effective once a patient or victim of abuse has undergone more traditional methods of dealing with their personal history. “It’s a tricky line, because you never want to pressure someone to grow from their trauma, or feel uncomfortable or guilty if they’re not adopting that approach,” she says. “But you want to leave the door open if someone does say, ‘I want something good to come out of it,’.”
To Younger, studying PTG is an evolving collaboration between applied science and personal philosophy, and an approach that many in the field have personal experience with. “A colleague of mine suffered from severe burns when she was younger, and I think she pretty much exemplifies this topic,” she shares. “Post-traumatic growth doesn’t nullify the potential of post-traumatic stress. They can exist at the same time, and she definitely has experienced negative symptomatic reactions, but it didn’t prevent her from learning from the experience, growing from it and becoming a better person. And she’s in the field today, making significant professional contributions and is a very healthy, functional individual.”
The most common guideposts individuals seek out for ongoing hope and optimism range from spirituality and peer-support to a good, old-fashioned sense of humor. “A lot of what my study is going to look at are the variables that contribute, cause or correlate,” she explains. “I’m not exactly sure what the research is going to show. [In] my own experience, I’ve observed psychologically healthy religious people that believe everything happens for a reason, that whatever happens has some kind of good, and we have to find that good. It’s my hypothesis that those people will experience greater levels of Post-Traumatic Growth, as opposed to people who feel like they’re at nature’s whim and they have no control and are at the world’s mercy.”
Regardless of one’s personal path to recovery and, furthermore, positivity, Younger assures that “Everyone has the capability to work through what they’ve gone through,” adding, “That’s my role, to guide patients through their experiences and help them manage their negative reactions so they can be fully functional.” “I know what I want to do,” Younger beams. “I have a goal. I wake up in the morning, and I’m happy to help other people.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/triumphing-over-trauma--leah-younger-explores-the-budding-science-of-post-traumatic-growth.php
February 20, 2013
307147
The Midwood Kid
Recent Touro grad and Brooklyn native Avi Rosenberg won’t sleep till Washington
The idea of a teenage politician might strike people as something riper for satire than a plausible, real-world government tenure. But for Avi Rosenberg, a recent graduate of Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Brooklyn, the notion of holding office while barely old enough to vote is serious business.
“That was always one of my interests ever since I was young,” Rosenberg recalls. “In fourth grade, my school did an expose on [the presidential election], showing the vote and how it works. So I got interested back then, and ever since, I’ve been interested in politics.”
In 2010, while still enrolled at Touro, then-19-year-old Rosenberg ran for a seat in the New York State Senate’s 27th District. “I had a friend who also ran for Assembly during the same time as me,” Rosenberg explains. “The summer before I started Touro, he contacted me saying, ‘Do you wanna run for office?’ I wasn’t sure yet, but after looking through the issues, and because he was gonna help me out, I figured, ‘Now would be a good time to run.’”
The enterprising student and Midwood resident developed a conservative platform, advocating tax cuts and enhanced benefits and programs for the elderly, among other community-cum-national issues. Rosenberg garnered only 27 percent of the vote, but he gained experience that’s difficult to come by without applying academic principles outside the classroom.
“What I learned is you obviously need a lot more money to run,” he says in retrospect. “You need a lot more volunteers to help you run. I learned that not everyone’s as interested as you are. One guy, as I was handing out flyers, ripped up the flyer in my face. But it didn’t stop me. You have to get used to that. Sometimes, people just don’t wanna listen to you or [want to] ridicule you for what you’re trying to do.”
Rosenberg, now 21 and pursuing his Master of Social Work at Fordham University, has hardly let those minor setbacks define or diminish his post-grad ambition and sense of community obligation. “It showed me that I had a greater interest in my political career,” he says of that 2010 race, adding that following the election, he was appointed as Secretary of Lander College’s Political Science Club and associate editor for the department’s journal. “I want to make sure everyone has their fair share and create a greater sense of involvement in government. I think a lot of people feel like, ‘What power do I have? I’m just 19, I’m just 20; no one’s gonna listen to me.’ And that’s what I thought when I ran. But I think people are starting to see they do have a say and they can make a change.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/the-midwood-kid--recent-touro-grad-and-brooklyn-native-avi-rosenberg-wont-sleep-till-washington.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/content-assets/images/news-and-communication-assets/featured-story-assets/AviRosenberg2.jpg
February 20, 2013
307173
The Advocate
Josh Pruzansky’s mission to fund non-secular schools
The Jewish community worldwide knows all about vigilance. But right in New Jersey, LAS alum and Bronx native Josh Pruzansky is serving as an emblem for that tireless community advocacy on a regional level. Ironically, the current NJ Regional Director of Public Policy for the Orthodox Union’s Institute for Public Affairs graduated with a B.S. in accounting, although his yen for public service slowly surpassed any desire to crunch numbers for a living.
“I’ve always been interested in the fact that non-public schools were always getting the shaft, as far as funding was concerned, from the government,” he explains. “That’s something that I guess spurred my interest in becoming an accountant.” While working with a firm that specialized in the non-profit sector, he recalls observing the politics that drove fiscal assistance to different institutions. Shortly thereafter, Pruzansky received an offer to become Executive Director of Yeshiva of the Telshe Alumni in Riverdale, an offer he proverbially couldn’t refuse. Over the ensuing decade-plus, his work took him to multiple day schools, Yeshivas and Jewish-outreach groups in the tri-state area, further opening his eyes to educational discrepancies.
“What I saw as an executive director and just as a parent [was] that as a Jewish community we are spending a lot of money on taxes, yet we’re getting very little back in return for our children,” he says. “I always thought it was wrong, and I tried to alleviate that issue.” It’s been an uphill battle, as Pruzansky faces resistance from teachers unions, the red tape of local civic leadership and the difficulty of inspiring his fellow Orthodox to mobilize. Part of his approach to combating the odds is by in fact emphasizing an interfaith response.
“It needs to be rectified, but it means uniting all the faith-based communities in this effort, because we’re facing a very staunch opponent,” he encourages. “I’ve been working hand-in-hand with the Catholic caucus for the past four years here in New Jersey, and I’ve become very close with them. From our perspective and their perspective, this has wreaked havoc on our schools. There are schools closing every year, and the population is dwindling because the parents just can’t afford it. In the Jewish community, while we’re not closing schools, it’s just become a very difficult challenge for any faithful family to maintain their lifestyle and keep their kids in school. It’s coming to a head right now where parents are thinking to send their child to public school.”
The danger there, according to Pruzansky, isn’t a social concern, but one of passing on tradition and heritage. As he sees it, there just isn’t ample time and resources in the public-school system to support the kind of Jewish education a child would receive in Yeshiva, Catholic school or other typically privately designated buildings. “Our tradition has always advocated Jewish education since the days that Jacob sent his son Judah to Egypt to establish a Yeshiva. Through very dark times, we’ve always had Jewish education as a major component of our children’s childhood. Some public schools are great and teach our kids well and so on, but at the end of the day, where’s their Judaism? Where’s their heritage being taught to them?” There are Hebrew school classes offered as supplements to public school, but Pruzansky asserts that, “Those kids, after a long day in school, don’t want to sit for another two hours to hear about their religion. It just becomes a turnoff.”
One big step in his mission for change was taken earlier this year, when he joined New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on a trip to Israel. It was an experience that both humbled and uplifted Pruzansky, and one he hopes will begin a trend of awareness toward his cause. “To go to Israel with an elected official of his stature was an experience I’ve never had before, and I thought it was awesome,” he states. “Hundreds of people stopped, and they’re giving him babies and they’re taking pictures with him. It was something I’d never seen before. That I was invited to join him on this tour, it was to me a major honor. It was great from a policy perspective. Even though New Jersey is not involved in foreign policy, I think he had a better understanding of where we stand as a community and our strong support of Israel.”
But, as ever, Pruzansky remains vigilant. The only circumstance that might appease him would be if the state actually began funding education in non-public schools. “That would be a point I’d be very proud of,” he says. “If we hit that level, then I’ll say, ‘You know what, we really accomplished something.’” Even then, the job might not be done. “You have to make sure it stays that way,” he adds. “You might get funding, but there’s always somebody looking to take it away. And if we keep it there, it has to grow.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/josh-pruzansky---the-advocate-.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/JoshPruzanskyOUAdvocacy.jpeg
November 30, 2012
307174
Five Questions with Hayim Feuer
Hayim Feuer’s strategic pursuit of a career in politics
Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) Business Management student Hayim Feuer was barely out of high school when he began assisting with political campaigns. In 2008, conservative Washington State gubernatorial hopeful Dino Rossi launched his candidacy at the same juncture that Feuer was volunteering with a couple friends for the King Country Republican Party. The two causes naturally overlapped, and before long, Feuer was offering Rossi “whatever he needed help with, whether it was mailers, talking to people or organizing an event.”
The events of that year left an indelible impression on the aspiring policy-influencer. (“You really make some progress,” he reflects on those “empowering” months promoting local party affiliates.) Now just a few credits shy of graduation, Feuer has designs on full-time work behind the political curtain, marketing and branding campaigns for nominees he ideologically aligns with. We asked the recent New York transplant and soon-to-be Touro alum five questions about engaging in the political process, generational obstacles and models for change.
Touro: So many people get disenchanted by politics. What specifically about working on Dino Rossi’s campaign made solidified your ambition?
Hayim Feuer: People say political divides are very firm and very strong. It’s amazing, though: when you explain certain issues to people, the differences aren’t that major. It’s not like, “Oh, that person identifies as Democrat, there’s no way he's gonna vote for Dino Rossi.” I found that not to be the case at all. People are able to alter their positions, and I really like that you can make a difference even when you view someone as your political enemy or opponent.
When did an interest in the political process first take root for you?
HF: I remember in sixth grade, when the race was between Al Gore vs. George Bush, and I remember not knowing much about it. The controversy interested me, and I thought it was interesting to pick up a couple of positions. And then when I was a sophomore in high school, we had a debate in front of my school over Bush vs. Kerry, and I got to represent the George Bush side, his domestic policy. The Bush team won the debate. They were down before the debate, and then they picked up several votes afterward. It was encouraging. I really enjoyed doing the research to create my argument, and then the back and forth, trying to explain the benefits of this position.
When you got to Touro, how were you looking to refine or sophisticate your skills?
HF: I started to learn that Karl Rove and more famous strategists within the parties were using marketing more and more. And, of course, “Change we can believe in” is a slogan everybody identifies with Barack Obama, and you start to see that these marketing campaigns are more valuable, and these political campaigns are more interested in having professional marketers work with them. There are two aspects to marketing that I think really help in politics: figuring out who your audience is and then how to identify who you’re selling to, and also there’s the promotion of the candidates, which is the same thing as promoting an iPhone or McDonald’s. You have to decide how to use those resources, and you have to explain to people why they want that thing.
What’s the biggest obstacle to engaging other young people in the political process?
HF: I think there’s a certain amount of frustration. Most people I speak to my age about politics will say something like, “Both sides are crooks, and trust me, nothing’s getting done, and it’s not really two parties.” People are disenchanted. They just don’t think anything is gonna change. The real way to get younger people involved is to say what you’re gonna do and do it and not play games. You see it now with the debt debate. You see Republicans like, “We’re never gonna have any tax raises” and then Democrats like, “We’re never gonna cut any entitlements.” Both sides said they were going do something and neither did it is going to be the final thing, and I think that’s why people are upset.
Is there a recent example of people making a real impact on the political landscape that you point to for inspiration?
HF: Look at the Tea Party. Everybody said it was a bunch of kooks who couldn’t get anything done. Nobody thought it would make a difference, that a bunch of grumpy people could really change anything, and there was a massive change in the House of Representatives—an unprecedented change.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/the-marketing-is-the-message.php
January 15, 2013
307156
Five Questions With: Josh Mandelbaum
Lander finance graduate talks about entering the world of finance in 2012 and financial advice.
It can’t be easy entering the financial sector in 2012. Recent Lander College for Men/Lander College for Arts & Sciences alum Josh Mandelbaum graduated with a class who’d been hitting the books throughout our country’s longest economic recession in decades. Madoff, Lehman Brothers, Occupy Wall Street, the duration of President Obama’s first term—it happened while Mandelbaum plugged away at earning his Finance degree, all the while hoping his path on the other side would be clear.
As it turns out, the enthusiastic number-cruncher is doing just fine. After interning with Arel Asset Management Group, Mandelbaum landed his first full-time gig as a municipal bond analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Heady stuff in a heady time. But as the Great Neck, Long Island native explains, it all comes down to doing what you know, loving what you do and doing it for the right reasons.
Touro: What’s been the biggest challenge about entering New York’s financial industry in 2012?
Josh Mandelbaum: I’d say a lot of uncertainty. Every day, you see that people are cutting jobs. I’ve just started, so hopefully I’ll have opportunities. But right now, it’s hard to see, “Which path should I take? Which path is going to end up being one that will work out in the long run? Which ones are they cutting back on?”
Touro: So while at Touro, what made you confident that you wanted to work in finance?
JM: I like dealing with live data and basic math, like arithmetic and algebra. I found that finance is very analytical. You get a lot of data all together, you get to analyze it, and hopefully end up making the lucrative decision and being successful. That’s what I enjoy doing.
Touro: Do you view part of your job as positively affecting other peoples’ financial stability?
JM: At the New York Fed, the whole point is to promote a good economy, so I hope that’s part of what I’m doing every day, is helping other people. Financial education, I think, is a very important thing—planning retirement, planning for your future and your kids.
Touro: What’s one piece of advice to the average American about ensuring their financial security?
JM: Start saving early and investing early. The first thing to learn in finance is about compound interest. By starting early and investing, that’s really how you enable yourself to have enough money to retire on. Don’t spend more than you have.
Touro: What does Josh Mandelbaum do to relax when not securing others’ finances?
JM: I enjoy hanging out with my family. At work, we have a gym and I get to go play basketball. I like running, exercising, hanging out with friends. Managing stress is something everybody has to do, so I definitely think having a life out of work is important. That’s the whole point of work: Do something you enjoy, but also make sure you create a good life out of work as well.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/five-questions-with-touro-college-for-men-finance-graduate-josh-mandelbaum.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-men/content-assets/images/featured-stories/2012/JoshMandelbaum.jpg
November 29, 2012
307175
Born to Teach
A Profile of Rachel Weiss
There’s always that one teacher…
Amidst the ones who assigned too much homework, who droned on endlessly with information worthy of the dinosaur age, who roll called without recognizing your soul, there’s that one teacher… Either you had her or you heard about her—she’s the one who left her mark with inspiration. In this particular Northeastern right wing girls’ school, her name happens to be Rachel Weiss.
What makes Weiss teacher extraordinaire is not just a love of learning and imparting information-that’s only part of the recipe. Her secret ingredients also include a genuine interest in helping students achieve their greater potential- and watching their progress go from ‘not knowing’ to ‘knowing’ as they conquer the information and fill with personal pride. Weiss’s gaze shines through the lens of her rich kaleidoscopic English course beyond the material, to a wider focus on the overall growth of her individual students in their unique colors and full regalia. For a second year educator at age 23, that’s quite the reflection of emotional intelligence.
Sowing Dream Seeds
Like many elementary school girls, Rachel’s teaching aspirations may date back to elementary school, but it was the legacy of her 4th grade teacher that left a memorable imprint by telling the 9 year-old to “let me know when your first book gets published.” Still, while she loved the profession in its many facets, as time went on her concerns were of the practical kind- job availability in a flooded market, whether it would prove sufficiently lucrative.
With talents in writing and the arts and an interest in psychology, a career in education was not a sure choice. It was a full scholarship to Touro College that pushed her over the hurdles toward her passion, sealing her decision, direction and destination to pursue a teaching career, starting with a rigorous course schedule stoking keen teen minds with high school English.
From College Research to Career Ingenuity
The beauty of studying under Weiss's wing is that it's not Just Another English Class. Alongside the standard focus on literature and composition, she injects original elements into her curriculum essential to developing sophisticated comprehension via exercises in logic and analysis. I.e.: She doesn't just feed her audience minds bytes of what to think—she trains them how to think-- a skill often taken entirely too much for granted.
These exercises ensued as an outgrowth of her psychology major’s research projects with Dr. Sofer at Touro, focusing on the factors that influence students’ decision making in course selections. The successful research inspired her to independently create exercises that could get you membership at a mental gym and stretch those sleepy thinking muscles.
Flex That Cortex
Greater dexterity in thought processes can lead to heightened success professionally, mentally and emotionally—skills that most could use but few possess. With the administrative support of the school she teaches at, Weiss was encouraged to incorporate cognitive exercises into her repertoire, transforming her classes into an uncommon asset.
Her younger students get a workout in skills like paraphrasing, information analysis, extrapolating and drawing conclusions, as well as identifying assumptions, inferences and implications through literary exploration and character analysis. Older students get a more advanced dose with a focus on logic and argumentation. One of the main goals of these courses is to equip students with the life skills to process information and evaluate what they encounter more effectively- and hopefully make better decisions in their lives.
Love It and Live It
Talking to Weiss reveals an appreciation of the craft that oozes from every direction so obviously, you’ll be almost convinced to follow her tracks-- but that’s hardly the point. She’ll tell you what she tells her students: ‘You can be whoever you want to be. Don’t discount your own aspirations, no matter what others tell you. If you’ve got the passion and give it your best, it’s going to be worthwhile… Every bit of progress is enriching and empowering… it’s about the process, not just the destination.’ She abides by her word via living example.
As an educator, Weiss confides her goal is to make the classroom a positive environment: A place students are excited to be rather than have to be. By being a pleasant person toward her students, loving the information she delivers and a commitment to their learning process, she thinks the feelings will be contagious. And so far so good-- the principal is beyond thrilled: ‘Very rarely do you find a person who steps in to fill the vision that matches your own…’ It’s Weiss’s true interest in the development of human potential, coupled with her inquisitive mind, original approach and affable persona that puts her on the fast track to educational excellence.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/rachel-weiss---born-to-teach.php
November 22, 2012
307176
Lower East Side: A Walking Tour Through Art and History
Art student, Simi Bleier, writes about Professor Ayzman's class trip to the Lower East Side
The Lower East Side is an iconic Jewish immigrant neighborhood in New York City, having been born and raised in NY, I’ve never been exposed to the life many grandparents, relatives or fellow jewish immigrants had to endure when they first came to NY. Today the Lower East Side of Manhattan has become a prime location where young artists and musicians are performing in a variety of music clubs as well as developers are quickly converting historic plots of real-estate into expensive lofts and new boutiques causing the evolving ethnic mix we have downtown today.
Although the Lower East Side is very different than it once was in the 19th century, I was fortunate to get a glimpse of various synagogues including the Bialystoker and Agudath Israel synagogues. Walking into these synagogues and looking at the books on the shelves, gave me great appreciation, these books were at least one hundred years old, I was able to touch history. During this tour I’ve seen and learnt things I’ve never known, the fine murals and beautifully stained glass windows in the Bialystoker Synagogue (formerly a church) were astonishing and exquisite.
At one point of the tour we passed a building that had art graffiti on it like I’ve never seen before, the story behind it was what got to me the most. This was one of the buildings that the government gave teenagers to paint on, because at the time teenagers all over NY were vandalizing properties with graffiti, and the side of this building was painted by Jewish teenagers. It reflected their story, Jewish immigrants arriving at the docks of America for the first time and the iconic image of Jewish women lighting Shabbat candles. The Lower East Side was the place where thousands of immigrants took their first steps in America hoping to live the American dream. It was the city that became home to many Jews. Historically, the Lower East Side was built on the legacy of the Jewish immigrants.
Today the Jewish community is not as big as it once was, but it’s still a strong, thriving community that continues to conserve its heritage. Seeing the architecture, walking the streets enabled me to feel the history that once lived in this very place, giving me an enormous appreciation. This experience changed my view of downtown Manhattan, its more than just a hip area with vintage boutiques and new developments, it’s a part of who I am as a Jew, its where I came from. It’s a part of America that will always draw hundreds of people from around the world to learn the hopes and struggles these Jewish immigrants lived through.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/lower-east-side-field-trip-2012.php
June 23, 2012
307177
A Love of Science
“Touro instilled in me a love of science that will stay with me forever. There are reasons for everything, I’ve learned. Science shows you the world in a totally different way.”
In her senior year, Sara Friedman did research in the Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering laboratory at Rutgers University. Her team was trying to turn red blood cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (also known as iPS cells) to help treat cardiac diseases, and the discoveries she made were groundbreaking.
Now, the Biology Honors major and 2014 grad is pursuing physical therapy, armed with the scientific research and knowledge she’s gained in the lab.
“Touro instilled in me a passion for education, especially in the field of biology, and a passion for following your dreams—for doing what you love. Essentially, I’m doing something that’s going to help the world—that’s going to save lives.”
This is Sara Friedman’s LAS.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/sara-friedman.php
August 04, 2014
307178
Yehuda Lehrfield: Pushing for Success
“The scientific method—one of the foundations of any medical profession—is taught rigorously at Touro.”
As a future dentist, Yehuda Lehrfield, LAS ‘14, credits the “unique, individualized attention” the professors showered on him as one of the reasons he was able to do so well academically at LAS. Thanks to his stellar achievements, Lehrfield was accepted to the University of Maryland School of Dentistry—known as one of the most advanced dental schools in the world (and the first one, too.)
“My professors were always trying to push me and help me succeed," he said. He’s also grateful for the lasting relationships he’s forged with these professors. “I gained tremendously from my interactions with the faculty, and I knew I could go to their office anytime to talk—even about subjects outside schoolwork or coursework.
“That’s special. That’s something you don’t get in another college."
This is Yehuda Lehrfield’s LAS story.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/yehuda-lehrfield---pushing-for-success.php
August 25, 2014
307179
Poetry in Emotion
Poetry in Emotion
Assistant Professor of Languages and Literature Yehoshua November is a fascinating guy. There’s just no way around it. As a kid, he and his family bounced around virtually every corner of the country (“I don’t know why we moved around so much,” he says). His father, an obstetrician, was always in search of a Jewish community where he could raise a family and ply his trade.
Yehoshua would eventually attend high school in Pittsburgh before attending SUNY Binghamton for undergrad and returning to the University of Pittsburgh for his MFA in Creative Writing. Disenchanted with what he calls the “literary culture,” November pursued a higher calling by studying Hasidism at a yeshiva in Morristown, New Jersey, where he currently resides with his wife. Today, he balances the creative and spiritual by publishing books of Judaic-inspired poetry like 2010’s acclaimed God’s Optimism and teaching writing at both Touro and Rutgers University.
“I didn’t even know I’d go back to teach and write,” he confesses of that time just after attending yeshiva. “I had a poetry manuscript from graduate school, and I didn’t really work on poetry for the two years I was in the yeshiva, and then I had to decide what I really wanted to do. I could either become a Judaic studies teacher or rabbi, or try to go back to teaching English, so I decided to try English, and I enjoyed it.”
Before long, November re-focused on his writing, refined the manuscript that would eventually become God’s Optimism and—“thank God,” as he puts it—the work was published via Main Street Rag. It was a circuitous, strange, decade-long journey between his first college courses in poetry and the release of God’s Optimism, one precipitated by a sense that he and his literary peers didn’t necessarily share the same values. Where November was motivated by introspection and faith, a majority of his classmates and instructors seemed driven by material success and accolades.
“I thought that when I studied poetry and literature, I would meet professors who would be inspiring and have tremendous insight into life,” he says. “I did have very good professors in [Binghamton], and then when I went to graduate school, it seemed like people were really preoccupied with literary life or awards and getting ahead. It kind of turned me off. “
Not that he doesn’t understand practical imperatives. After all, poetry isn’t typically a lucrative field. That’s why as a teacher, he’s chosen to emphasize both writing’s power as a personal outlet and how it can translate to a meaningful career . “You’re trying to teach them skills they can use to enhance their opportunities,” he confirms, “and you want to give them the tools to express themselves and more fully inhabit their lives.”
In his own work, November had to reconcile his desire to not just be a poet, but be a Jewish poet. That harmony wasn’t always something that occurred as automatic. “When I was young, I thought those were two contradictory forces,” he opines. “But as I’ve gotten older, and not as black-and-white, you see you can integrate the two, and I think they enrich one another. You can write about Judaism in a way that brings it to life or allows you to express how you fit in with the teachings, and it makes it very real and personal, as opposed to something just academic.”
Looking ahead, November isn’t thinking too intently past the present toward future goals, though he acknowledges that “all writers long for as much recognition as possible.” When he does sneak a peek down the road, the dedicated learner and educator’s ambitions are aptly modest. “I would just hope to help people be more attuned to the beauty of their lives,” he says. “And more sensitive to their spouses and children, and to what the possibilities are in a mundane life.”
Before I Took Up This Journey
Before G‑d opens his fist
to let a soul gently descend into this world,
He whispers a name, an occupation, a future bride:
“So-and-so, the architect
will marry so-and-so, the teacher’s daughter.”
If I lie asleep in my bed—
wherein the sages say a man’s soul goes back,
and he is partly dead—
if you must rouse me,
please, my wife,
do not even place your small hand
on my shoulders,
but whisper my name,
remind me that I am such-and-such a man
and you are the dark-haired daughter of so-and-so,
chosen for me
before I took up this journey.
From G‑d’s Optimism by Yehoshua November
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/yehoshua-november---poetry-in-emotion.php
December 19, 2012
307180
Rena Friedman, LAS '15, Attends Top International Computer Science Conference
Rena Friedman wins a grant from the ACM Special Interest Group on Algorithms and Computation Theory (SIGACT) to attend the sixth annual Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science (ITCS) conference at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.
How can computers predict that people who click on images of hand cream are more likely to be interested in, say, baby shampoo? Why do natural photos on the computer appear smooth? How can millionaires safely share credit card information online, without being in danger of their information getting hacked?
Rena Friedman, a recent graduate of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS), learned the answers to these questions, and others, at the sixth Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science (ITCS) conference she attended last month at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rechovot, Jerusalem. Sponsored by the ACM Special Interest Group on Algorithms and Computation Theory (SIGACT), the three-day conference brought together international researchers from companies like Google, Microsoft, IBM and AT&T. There were Columbia and MIT researchers, Ph.D candidates who had, according to Rena, “been studying computer science for years.”
And Rena—a Class of 2015 graduate—soaked up every word.
Early on in her college career, Rena was a math major, considering actuarial studies. She loved math—“it provides symmetry to so many processes and events,” she says. After a few friends suggested she might enjoy branching out to computer science, she tested the waters by taking a summer course on Introduction to Programming and Java. She was hooked—and decided to add computer science as a second major.
During her first year at Lander College of Arts and Sciences, Rena joined LAS’s chapter of ACM (Association for Computing Machinery), the world’s largest computer science society that provides its members with access to publications, conferences, and career assistance. A special division of ACM, ACM-W, aims to encourage more women to enter STEM fields. (According to statistics, only about 25% of computing professional positions were held by women in 2013.)
This past winter, Rena read that ACMW was sponsoring travel grants for women to attend research conferences. There was an upcoming computer science conference taking place in December, in Israel, so Rena applied.
All things considered, Rena thought she would be a good candidate for the scholarship. Although Touro’s computer science program, like most other college computing programs, is geared more towards applied computer science than theoretical computer science (which meant that Rena didn’t have a lot of background in theoretical computer science), Rena quickly realized that she did have basic fluency in mathematical theory—“So I knew I wouldn’t be completely lost following along, and I thought it would be amazing to gain a greater theoretical background to supplement my applied computer science courses.”
The conference addressed everything from multi-party protocols, cryptography, and data mining. Workshops included “Accuracy for Sale: Aggregating Data with a Variance Constraint,” “IP Testing and Learning of Discrete Distributions,” and “Computing on the edge of chaos: structure and randomness in encrypted computation.”
Out of about 50 talks, Rena observed, many of them discussed maintaining privacy in computing.
“Cryptography is huge now in the media: Home Depot losing customers’ credit card information to white hackers, NSA getting in trouble for tapping phone calls…It’s a hot topic. The researchers were discussing this on a much more minute level, as part of multi-part-protocols: How do we share things and input information while still maintaining privacy? A lot of people talked about variations of the ‘millionaire’s problem: How do two millionaires compare their net worth while not revealing how much they make?”
Though the knowledge Rena gained from the conference doesn’t relate directly to her current job (she’s a full-time application developer at MarketAxess–a job she secured with the help of her Touro professors), she says the conference opened up her mind to the “behind-the-scenes” science of computing.
“Hopefully, applying what I learned at the conference will help me become better equipped to make computer systems function better in my business. When you understand why and how a computer command works well, you can apply it to so many other areas.”
Rena, though, doesn’t want to stop at her B.A.: she’s planning on earning her master’s and possibly a Ph.D. These days, she notes, there’s a lot of support—and scholarships and research stipends, she adds, citing ACMW as one example—for women to pursue higher education in computers.
Though Rena loves what she’s studying, she admits that learning to code was “very difficult.”
“It’s a totally different way of communicating, and the subject we’re speaking with—a box, in essence—doesn’t have a brain or any intuition whatsoever. In school, our professors would always tell us that the computer is stupid---it needs every step, process and scenario to be specified. The computer itself cannot build or create anything—that’s the programmer’s responsibility.
But she loves the paradoxical way that computer science—a seemingly rigid science, she says—affords her creativity.
“There are so many varieties and permutations of working with coding. On the one hand, if you pick at any fragment of code, you’ll see that it is so systematic. From higher level organization to spacing guidelines, the whole process follows a protocol. On the other hand, when you take a step back and look at all of the functions you had taught the computer to do, you can begin to piece things together…and just think of something and make it happen.”
“There’s a big jump from coding ‘Hello, world’ to working on creating an entire application like Twitter or Seamless. But after a year of working, and taking classes like Data Structures and Databases, I realized that I just have to be patient with it, and maybe one day I’ll be part of a team that could make the next big application in education, business, or biotechnology.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/rena-friedman-computer-science-conference-jan-2015.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/weitzmanninstitute.jpg
March 01, 2015
307181
An Unstoppable Drive
Professor Yehoshua Bochner was "the little bus-driver that could."
Yehoshua Bochner wears many hats: He’s a Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) alumnus. A Ph.D. candidate at Fielding Graduate University of Psychology. Adjunct professor at LAS. Husband. Father of five. Bobov Chasid (his shtreimel—a literal hat, that one!)
And several years ago, he wore another hat—that of a bus driver. In his first few years as an LAS student, the dedicated young man drove a school bus every day to provide for his growing family—Shia Bochner was married, and a father of three at the time. And since he usually completed his last run of the day quite close to the start of his first class at 5:55 pm, he realized that the only way to make it to class on time would be to drive the bus straight to LAS. (“It was interesting,” he remembers. “Students always complained about the lack of parking spots…I’m just glad they didn’t discover the abundance of space just a block away!”)
So how did this bus driver become an adjunct professor of psychology?
Ever since middle school, Bochner knew he wanted to someday become a psychologist.
I was called Mr. Sensitive as a kid. Feelings, emotions, people… always concerned me,” explains Bochner. “I remember criticizing rebbeim for their strictness and feeling that so much potential is unrealized. Everyone’s pain was very real to me, and I wished I could be in a position to make their lives better.”
But after he graduated high school, it wasn’t quite a smooth path to the doctorate.
Bochner’s lack of a solid secular education was a serious impediment to academic success. Upon entering college, Bochner realized that he barely knew the multiplication tables or how to properly construct a coherent sentence. His financial and family obligations also made it particularly stressful. And finally, pursuing higher education in his Bobov Chasidic community was generally frowned upon. His acquaintances and friends couldn’t understand why such an “average, eidel Bobov boy” was “breaking so many communal norms.” In fact, Bochner recalls how one particular individual scoffed at the notion that the young man would ever become a psychologist.
The comment was difficult to hear, relates Bochner, especially since the individual was probably quite correct: Pursuing a doctorate was actually, in truth, quite unrealistic for him.
Ignoring the eyebrow-raisers in his community, though, Bochner decided to pursue the path anyway. His first step: tutors. Taking the money he and his wife received as presents for their wedding, Bochner hired a tutor for every secular subject he was enrolled in at LAS. He spent an astounding sum—$20,000 total—to catch up to his peers and to prepare for the eventual Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), but he never regrets making that decision. “I knew that my education was important, and that I really had to do well in college if I wanted a shot at a professional life,” he says.
Between bus runs, he would review his tutoring session notes, do homework, or study for exams. “Driving a bus was optimal,” explains Bochner, “because it was relatively undemanding and provided me enough time to excel in college. Some people in my community would see my studying on the bus and laugh and say, ‘Shia and his notes—he thinks he’s gonna be a doctor one day!’”
But Bochner would just smile, ignore them, and keep studying. Eventually, he completed one semester, then a year, then three. He finally graduated LAS in 2004—summa cum laude—with his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and received the Excellence in Psychology award at commencement. His first hurdle down, he applied—and was accepted—to the Ph.D. clinical psychology program at Fielding Graduate School of Psychology a few years after graduation.
For Bochner, Fielding was “a perfect fit.” Fielding is a fully APA-accredited institution (so the courses are particularly rigorous and demanding, says Bochner) but it’s not a traditional brick-and-mortar institution since the program caters to adult learners with families and professional responsibilities. Fielding’s “phenomenal” faculty provided him with a tremendous educational experience and opened many doors for him professionally.
After spending his first year of clinical training at Fielding as an extern for Brooklyn College’s Counseling Center, Bochner spent his second year at the Regional Diagnostic Treatment Center (RDTC) of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. The RDTC provides assessment and intervention for children who are suspected to be victims of sexual and/or physical abuse, and Bochner was responsible to conduct psychosocial/health evaluations of these children.
“The pain of listening to children talk about their horrific abuses with an inability to understand what was happening to them was indescribable. They spoke about it so nonchalantly, like…like you would describe the snow failing outside. I remember walking out of the hospital after one particularly difficult day and just felt like everything around me was turning,” he says.
The RDTC required intensive assessment and meticulous note-taking, since many of the reports would be used as testimony in court. For Bochner, the summer was “an intense, but very experiential one.”
After Beth Israel, Bochner began an externship at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research (IPTAR). As part of his training for IPTAR, Bochner worked as a counselor-therapist at an alternative high school called Satellite Academy for struggling teenagers with traumatic and criminal histories.
It was an “ironic” match, recalls Bochner: Him, a Bobover Chassid, a counselor-therapist for a minority-populated high school, many of who—self-admittedly—had rarely, if ever, interacted with Jews. “I definitely stood out in my suit, jacket, and hat,” he admits ruefully.
With time, though, the counselor managed to become endeared by the school and its students. On his last day, a student told him, “You know, Shia, when you first came here we all thought you were crazy. Then, word got around that you’re a cool dude!”
(After his extensive counseling work done for the African-American and Hispanic students at Satellite, Bochner was invited by the United Jewish Organization to speak to Brooklyn public school children at an event—organized in response to a series of recent assaults on Chassidim in Brooklyn—that aimed to humanize Chassidim and their culture. Bochner’s speech, which “drew on my experience working at the high school,” was an attempt to “lessen the stereotypical myth of ‘those weird funny people with black coats,’ which would hopefully serve to lessen the friction between the communities,” he explains.)
After its first successful year, Satellite Academy asked Bochner to stay an additional year. Bochner did so gladly, and even secured a generous grant to help establish the school’s first counseling center. On his days off, he participated in a significant research project on eating behavior and weight being conducted at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in collaboration with Columbia University.
Meanwhile, LAS was keeping tabs on their dedicated alumnus. Bochner had been in grad school for three years already and now had five children, the youngest 10 months old. Dr. Melech Press, Chair of Psychology, remembered their talented graduate and offered him a position as an adjunct instructor. Bochner gladly accepted four courses: abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, theories of personality, and introduction to counseling and psychotherapy. Until today, his students call him one of their most “dynamic” professors at LAS. Bochner, humble, shrugs at the compliment.
“I only like teaching if I could be dynamic. I can explain depression as a DSM disorder coded 296.21, or I can make it alive. I want to provide them with a classroom experience that makes it worth their money. Also, honestly, I need to keep awake….or I’ll fall asleep during my own lectures!”
The professor is also enthusiastic about having his students form independent opinions. “I see my job, partially, as a medium to stimulate their thought process. I always say, ‘My point is not to convince you of my perspective, but to make you think about yours.’ I want them to think out of the box, I want to challenge them.”
Torah and psychology is one topic Bochner is very passionate about, himself. But he often clarifies—to his clients, his students, and supervisors—that just because he’s a Chassidic Jew doesn’t mean he’ll be judgmental about his clients’ issues.
“Quite the contrary,” he says. “Overstepping the professional code in this way will ultimately serve to sabotage both – the psychological intervention and any religious-related advice. It’s misguided, and even dangerous, to conflate Torah and psychology together. Mental illness and human struggle should be dealt with separately from religion.
“I try to help my patients work-through and clarify their struggles to heal and recover, but I’m not functioning within a religious capacity. I have no vested interested one way or another. My role is not to impose my own religious standards on my clients—it’s to understand my patient’s psychologically-related struggles.
“Of course,” he qualifies, “religion, religious conflicts, and religious observance is a legitimate issue to discuss in psychotherapy as much as it is a valid issue to discuss one’s vacation destiny, marriage partner, depression, or which company of pickles to purchase. But the confusion sometimes occurs when psychologists think they’re rebbeim or Roshei Yeshiva, or vice versa,” he continues. “Psychology does not negate religion; it’s just a different issue. The expertise necessary to be a psychologist doesn’t overlap with expertise in Torah.”
An energetic believer in following one’s dreams and career passions, Bochner’s advice for students whose friends or family members discourage their potential career options is to shrug them off. “The naysayers in your life will be plenty. So many people will advise you not to chase your dream, will tell you to curb your enthusiasm. But if you really want to pursue something, don’t listen to them. Go for it anyway.”
Bochner also advises students not to let the number of years in school scare them off from pursuing a profession. “People would tell me, ‘It’s going to take you 10 years to become a psychologist. By then you’re going to be 40!’ they say. So I tell them, ‘Nu, aren’t I turning 40 anyway?’ Never be afraid of trying. If you try and fail, you’re still better off than those who didn’t try.”
“Whenever I came across difficult times, these small voices came back to me, whispering ‘you’ll never make it.’ but I’m so glad I didn’t listen.
“It’s been a long ride, but it’s almost over.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/an-unstoppable-drive-prof-bochner.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/grad5-2386x2002.jpg
March 27, 2015
307182
The Drama of It All
Professor Yael Krumbein’s students often say she brings history to life. Here’s why.
With her flair for fashion and spirited personality, Professor Yael Krumbein’s animated history classes more often resemble theater productions than typical college lectures.
As a teenager, Professor Krumbein originally wanted to be a lawyer. She imagined passionate courtroom dramas: convincing a jury of a murderer’s guilt, winning a successful plea bargain for her client. It was only when she realized that attorney work is less about the action and more about the paperwork that she became disenchanted with the idea.
But as a history professor, her career retains some of the drama she craved as a hopeful lawyer. Just listen to her deliver a passionate lecture about any time period, and you’ll be transported to another world—sailing on an explorer’s boat in the late 1400s, touring the opulence of the Palace of Versailles in the seventeenth century, sitting in an eighteenth-century French salon listening to Enlightenment ideas, battling the British soldiers during the American Revolution. And she has a willing, eager audience every day: her students.
“I try to teach history so that it comes alive, to make it relevant to today’s world,” she says, citing her Primary Source Reader—a pamphlet of primary texts, letters, and articles from a specific period—as one of her most valuable tools of the trade.
“I want my students to know that history is more than just names and dates. I want to train them on how to analyze a source, and to think about how the events, ideas and developments of the past continue to affect us today.”
And she loves “acting out the drama of it all.”
“I didn’t even know that that’s what would be my favorite part about teaching, but in each semester I find a new crop of students eager to learn. It doesn’t seem to get old, even though it is, after all, history.”
Professor Krumbein talks quickly, excitedly, oftentimes gesturing largely, as if to encompass all her love of history and hand it to her students. Sometimes she will pause to catch a deep breath, and then go barreling on. Advice given to underclassmen interested in taking her courses usually includes a warning that one’s fingers may hurt at the end of each class.
Her “bread and butter courses,” as she calls them, include History I (Early Modern History) and History II (Modern History), which she teaches at both Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush and Lander College for Women (LCW) in Manhattan. Some semesters, she also teaches different electives in Jewish history, such as History of Sephardic Jews – a topic on which she has often lectured in community and adult education forums in the tristate area.
Recently, she has also been working as a faculty liaison with several deans on various administrative projects, such as the new online course evaluation system.
Professor Krumbein graduated from Columbia University with her master’s in modern Jewish history, doing research on the impact of modernity on traditional society and focusing on a group of Eastern European rabbinic leaders. She also has expertise in the history of Jewish women, and has presented on the aforementioned subjects at several academic conferences.
After graduating from Columbia, Professor Krumbein taught Jewish history and Judaic studies in local yeshiva high schools. While teaching at one of these schools, Bruriah School for Girls, she led several Jewish heritage tours to different countries, including Spain and Ukraine. During that time she also taught at numerous adult learning programs like the JCC of Manhattan, The Jewish Renaissance Center and the Women's Institute for Torah (WIT). In 2012 she lectured at an Orthodox Union-sponsored “Yom Iyun L’Nashim” on the topic of “A Day in the Life of a Jewish Woman in Medieval Times,” and was subsequently featured in Mishpacha Magazine as an expert on this same topic in an article titled “Far from Camelot.”
Two years ago, the mother of three lost her husband suddenly. The tragedy had a tremendous impact on her.
“After that, I thought my world would fall apart,” she says. “But I owe it to my children to make sure we thrive, and I try to notice the daily miracles in our lives—these are no small things to be grateful for.”
She also finds comfort in her large alumnae base. Over the years, she’s taught thousands of students, and often meets them in random places. One summer, while walking in a bungalow colony with her children, three different women recognized her as their history professor and came out of their cabins to tell her so.
“I love meeting alumnae—it’s a great feeling to know that they hold onto impressions from our studies together.
“It’s also nice for my children to see the impact their mother has made on her students."
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/the-drama-of-it-all-prof-yael-krumbein.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/krumbeinfinal-475x439.jpg
March 30, 2015
307183
LAS Alum Speaks at Conference in Israel On Confronting Violence and Abuse
Martin Friedlander, Esq. was invited to present to professionals, rabbis, and educators about combating violence and sexual abuse in the Orthodox community
Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) summa-cum-laude graduate Martin E. Friedlander, Esq., a prominent attorney who specializes in Family and Matrimonial Law, recently lectured at "The Jewish Community Confronts Violence and Abuse" conference at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem in December 2014.
The three-day international conference was headed by Debbie Gross, director of Israeli nonprofit organization Tahel—The Crisis Center for Religious Women and Children. This first-ever, landmark event brought together mental health professionals, rabbis (including the Chief Rabbis of Israel and Jerusalem), educators, lawyers, judges, community leaders, and laymen for a series of informative lectures, workshops and networks to combat domestic violence and abuse in the Jewish community. The 600+ attendees were presented with a variety of lectures on topics, such as the importance of victims speaking out against abusers (emphasizing that the issue of “lashon hara” never applies in these mesirat nefesh situations), the need to educate students on the safety, the requirement to train rabbis in recognizing sexual abuse, and the neuroscience of pedophilia.
Mr. Friedlander was invited to facilitate a group panel on “Conscience: A New Frontier in the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.” He also presented a lecture on suicide in a larger discussion of “Domestic Violence – Family Problem or Societal Responsibility?”
In his discussions, the attorney drew upon his professional work representing victims of abuse and violence. One example of his involvement was a prominent case in which he represented a divorced Hasidic client whose husband was a known pedophile in the Jewish community; after the husband was granted partial custody of the children, the woman committed suicide. Mr. Friedlander explored the interface between the criminal justice system and the Orthodox community, and also discussed societal failures in preventing drastic occurrences like the suicide cases he was involved in from happening.
“An important issue the conference addressed was the infrequency in victims reporting abusers and receiving Orders of Protection,” said Mr. Friedlander. “This should be a must. As a community, we're not where we should be; but we're making progress.”
Mr. Friedlander, Esq. with attorney Rachel Marks in a presentation on "Suicide: Orders of Protection, Society Failures, Cause and Effect" as part of a larger panel on "Domestic Violence: Family Problem or Societal Responsibility?"
Friedlander graduated from LAS in 1989 (his son is currently a freshman at LAS-Flatbush, majoring in political science) and continued on to Brooklyn Law School. While attending, he received his Advanced Talmudic Degree and semicha from Yeshiva Torah Vodaath Touro. In his work, he is faced with the interaction between secular law and halacha, and regularly consults practitioners and Batei Dinim (rabbinical courts) on this interaction. He writes and lectures extensively on the topic of matrimonial law, and last year published an article in the Jewish Press entitled “Shame on You, Shame on Me ” about the need for the Jewish community to have a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse (when the allegations are true, that is—Friedlander also writes about the major harm incurred when supposed “victims” make false allegations).
At the conclusion of the conference, Friedlander reported that he and an Israeli attorney are discussing plans to create an international coalition of lawyers who deal with abuse and agunah issues in cities with large Orthodox communities.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alum-speaks-at-conference-in-israel-on-confronting-violence-and-abuse-martin-friedlander.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/MartinFriedlanderAlum2.png
March 30, 2015
307184
From Preschool to Photoshop: An LAS Senior’s Path to Design
Mushka Hecht offers 8 tips for future graphic designers
One day, Mushka Hecht’s co-worker at the preschool where she worked as an assistant said that a relative needed a graphic designer for his website. Mushka’s ears perked up. Her creative mind—till now limited to brainstorming ideas to help teach her preschool kids about numbers and fun ways to color in aleph-bet sheets—raised its antennae. Since she was studying Web and Graphic Design at Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS), Mushka accepted the project and quit her preschool job, trading in coloring sheets for InDesign files.
Mushka was responsible for editing the product photos, designing promotional emails, and creating site banners on up-and-coming daily-deal product website mobstub.com. Her first day on the job, she realized just how much she enjoyed what she was doing. “I love being creative every day and challenging myself to imagine new ways to present information. What’s great about web and graphic design is that I can visualize something, implement my ideas, and then see it onscreen, or on a brochure.”
Or even on invitations. After word got around that she was gaining experience in graphics, Mushka started getting calls to design monograms and invitations for local simchas.
“I actually just made a really cool one for a Bar Mitzvah. The artwork showed a father helping his son put on tefilin for the first time. The parents gave me lot of artistic freedom and told me to ‘do whatever I thought would look best,’ which was amazing...Those are my favorite types of jobs.” The final result, she said, garnered “lots of compliments.”
Mushka, a second-generation Touro student (her own mother attended Touro from 2005-2009), began her college years while still in Israel. The Crown Heights native and Bais Rivka High School grad went to Machon Alta (Rosenfeld) seminary in Tzfat, but wanted to get a head start on college, so she simultaneously signed up for classes at Touro College in Israel. Shuttling between Tzfat and her classes on the Touro campus in Jerusalem wasn’t easy, but she said it was ultimately worth it.
Currently, while finishing up her last semester at Touro Flatbush, she’s still working for Mobstub.com. And though she loves her job, she hates missing class. “Whenever there’s a snowstorm, we dread it, because we need our class time. There’s so much to learn, and so little time!”
Her future plans are ambitious. “Mobstub is a growing company, so I hope to grow with them. They’re trying to hire new people, so my dream is for them to expand the graphic department and for me to someday manage that team. I’m excited to take my career to the next step!”
Though she’s the only one in charge of graphics, she is optimistic. “If I get offered a position as manager of design, I’d be ecstatic.” And she’s not scared about the responsibility. “Two of my professors gave me their personal emails to contact them with any questions that may arise. One of them, Professor Kevin Sartain, said, ‘When you’re offered a full-time job, just say yes and accept [even if you’re not sure you’re fully equipped.] And then I’ll help you along the way.’ To me, this was the most touching statement. It’s so helpful for me to know that I’ll have support even when I leave Touro.’
Just to provide a small glimpse into what she’s learning, here are her top eight tips for future graphic designers—culled from her courses at Touro and from her work experience.
1. Brainstorming and sketching are where amazing ideas are born. “Every design begins with the pen in your hand.”
2. Rulers and guides are your new best friends. “If you thought you were running away from math, you’re mistaken. Nothing is more unprofessional than a line that’s unintentionally a bit off-center or the spacing between two elements a fraction off.”
3. Don't be afraid to play. “Save a copy of your work for reassurance, and then make changes and see what comes out of it. Sometimes, amazing things can happen. For all the other times, you can always go back to the original.”
5. White space is a good thing. “Does it look better without it? If so, leave it out. Ask yourself that question to help keep your designs clean and simple.”
6. Follow great websites, magazines, blogs and Instagram accounts. “‘Stare at great design and you will become great designers’—said by every professor, every semester. Your eyes will be exposed to good design and inspire your mind to create on a higher caliber."
7. On that note, keep an inspiration folder. “Have both a physical one and a virtual one on your computer. Whenever you see something that catches your eye, move it there. Then, when you’re looking for inspiration, open it up for ideas.”
And finally:
8. Always save your work in four places. “You don't want to learn the hard way by discovering your flash drive is lost and all your files you've spent countless hours on have disappeared. At any given moment, make sure your project is saved on your desktop, in your email, on a flash drive, and on a hard drive or cloud storage!”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/from-preschool-to-photoshop-an-las-seniors-path-to-design-mushka-hecht.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/MushkaHecht2.jpg
March 30, 2015
307185
Shooting for Holi-wood
Naomi Holi’s creativity is flourishing at LAS
EXT. EAST SIXTEENTH STREET – AFTERNOON
The first time she watched Joel Schumacher's 2004 film The Phantom of the Opera, Noami Holi, 22, was transfixed. Her favorite part? “The scene where the dust and grime lifts off the seats as the movie goes back in time is amazing. Every time I watch that part I think, ‘That's what I want to do.’”
“Terry Rawlings was the film editor,” she adds. “And he was absolutely incredible.”
But Rawlings is her second muse. William H. Reynolds—who edited Ross and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews—is her first.
She discovered Reynolds’ creative genius while watching the special features addition to the film, in which the producers show the locations and sites where they filmed each Sound of Music scene. Holi was amazed to learn that the back of the Von Trapp family house was a different location than the backyard with the lake and veranda. “When I learned this,” enthuses Holi, “I realized how much work must go into making sure that the two sites appear to be one location. It was this movie that made me think about going into film editing.”
Holi began tinkering around on her computer in eighth grade, in response to a request from her elementary school to make a slideshow for that year’s graduating class. Later, in high school, she was the resident “producer,” creating videos for school productions, dinners, and “color-war breakouts.”
Now, the LAS sophomore spends half her days in college and the other half in seminary at Machon Basya Rochel in Far Rockaway, is aiming for Hollyood herself. At LAS-Flatbush, she’s majoring in digital multimedia and English. Her future career plans?
Film editor… or perhaps screenwriter. Aside from editing, this Brooklyn-native is itching to write film adaptions of novels or historical based films. Her inspiration? Andrew Davies’ screenplay for the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. Holi, of course, loves the book and the movie.
“It's hard to take an old novel and turn it into a movie people will love – while still keeping the essence of the book and ensuring the audience understands what's happening. But Davies did it.”
And Holi believes that she’ll someday do it, too.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/shooting-for-holi-wood--naomi-holi.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/NaomiHoliPromotedBanner-1344x1106.jpg
April 07, 2015
307186
Art You Ready For Creativity?
In Professor Susan DeCastro’s classes, students discover their inner artists
One student, humming under her breath as she paints the pink petals on a rose, looks up when she notices Professor Susan DeCastro watching her. “The texture is coming out really well!” DeCastro encourages her. “You’re getting there!”
DeCastro moves a few feet down to watch another student grapple with the blue shades on a dancer. “Nice job, Eliana! You’re really capturing the movement of the dress.” She stops to give a tip to the class, and the students all look up. “When you paint, reflect the movement of your brush according to the feeling of movement your subject possesses. In this case,” she points to the canvas, “a dancer is striking a pose, so the brushstrokes should move like the dress is. If there’s no movement, though—such as in a landscape—you’d keep your brushstrokes flat.”
For fifteen years, Professor Susan DeCastro has served as a full-time faculty member and the coordinator of the Digital Multimedia Design Department at Touro College, travelling between Touro’s undergraduate divisions— LAS, LCW, and NYSCAS— to teach multi-level courses in drawing, painting, and digital multimedia design.
A prolific artist, DeCastro received her Master of Arts from New York University and Bachelor of Fine Arts from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, studying a semester abroad in Rome, Italy. She’s also studied computer graphics and typography at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York—a prestigious design college placing second on the "best schools for designers" list in 2014. These days, when she’s not teaching, she spends three to four afternoons a week painting at the Art Students League of New York. She often summers in Italy, at Artist-in-Residency programs, where she receives inspiration from fellow colleagues and brings back fresh ideas to her classes. “I’m a lifelong learner,” she laughs.
Although Professor De Castro taught art in Philadelphia public schools for several years before moving to New York, she says she found her calling in college-level teaching when she began working at Touro.
“For many students, this might be the only art class they’ll ever take. So I take great pride in the fact that my class gives them a chance to do something they wouldn’t be exposed to otherwise.
“I believe all students should learn art fundamentals,” she adds, “Even students who aren’t majoring in digital multimedia design. It opens their eyes to the world of aesthetics. And aside from learning new techniques in old-fashioned fine art media and current computer technologies, they develop self-confidence and a sense of ownership of their creative selves.”
"I think it’s peaceful,” says Frieda Wercberger, LCW ’16, a student in Drawing and Painting II at Lander College for Women—the Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School (LCW), who has stayed in school until 9:30 at night, sometimes, to keep painting. “It’s like art therapy,” she says.
Though DeCastro’s courses are of great breadth (the professor has even brought in a prima ballerina to pose for students in class, so they can practice gesture drawing), the professor admits that her favorite topic to teach is color theory. “Color is my personal outlet for expression,” she says. “I live and breathe color—in how I dress, how I feel, and how I paint—and in my own paintings I experiment with color to emphasize hues, values, and complements.”
Yet DeCastro emphasizes that she is careful not to push her own style onto her students.
“In the beginning of my course, all students learn basic rendering techniques, then add light and shade. I teach about composition and proportion. After a few classes, I can determine which students like structure, and which would prefer to explore their own creativity. Once I see that, I cater to each student individually.
“My goal is to bring out the best in my students, so I promote individuality and artistic interpretation. I help them explore and extract their own styles. And the final results are unpredictable…that’s what I love about the class. It’s exciting!”
And apparently the professor is successful.
For Sara Liberow, a psychology major pursuing occupational therapy at LAS, DeCastro’s Drawing and Painting I class helped her discover her own artistic talents. “I never thought of myself as an artistic person, never knew I had it in me, but through the structure of the class I was able to discover my passion for art and channel it,” says Liberow, who grew so enamored with her class that she eventually chose to add on a minor in visual arts “just for fun, just for myself.”
DeCastro glows at the term. “The best feeling I get is when students show me something they drew or painted at home when it wasn’t assigned as homework. At first most of the students are hesitant when I tell them to sketch with charcoal or paint ‘and experiment’; they aren’t used to the freedom. But eventually they end up loving my class. And when one of them decides to embark on an act of artistic creation, without being told to do it—that’s the moment they become an artist.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/susan-decastro-art-las-lcw.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/susandecastro.jpg
April 24, 2015
307187
Hillel Fishman, Number Cruncher
This year’s LAS VITA program returned more than $300,000 in refunds to low-income taxpayers. Meet the man behind the mission.
For the third year in a row, Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) students have been volunteering to assist low-income taxpayers file their taxes through VITA, the national Volunteer Income Tax Assistance IRS program. This year, VITA’s LAS volunteers recovered $320,000 in tax refunds—$80,000 more than what they were able to recover in 2013, and more than double what they recovered in 2012.
The man behind the mission is Hillel Fishman, LAS ’14, a recent LAS-Flatbush summa-cum-laude graduate who majored in accounting. As the VITA site coordinator at Touro, Fishman—who collaborated with Professor Shammai Bienenstock and faculty members Ron Ansel and Faigie Horowitz—oversaw the preparation of over 400 state and federal tax returns, supervising 20 LAS volunteers in the process. We spoke to Hillel about Touro, how he developed an interest in accounting, and how he makes time to juggle family, work, and CPA-studying simultaneously.
Ever since Fishman was a teen, number-crunching came naturally. Growing up, he was fascinated by the concept of accounting and finance, and oftentimes advised family members on business ventures and investing activities.
But Fishman, whose Chasidic high school barely offered a sustainable math education, let alone AP Economics, yearned for more. So as a teenager he began studying financial concepts on his own. His reading material? The S & P 500, Reuters, and Market Edge’s Second Opinion Weekly. His curiosity insatiable, he regularly consumed the Wall Street Journal’s investment section. While his friends listened to music, Fishman listened to financial talk shows on the radio.
At 18, he had gained enough of a rudimentary understanding of the industry to start investing his own money. He tread cautiously, invested conservatively—and became elated at his early successes. After the market crashed in 2008, he “decided to go all in. I saw an opportunity—people were selling, so I took advantage.” He liked buying stocks at bargains, and now, “I still get 25% yearly returns!”
Meanwhile, his brains and sharp acumen kept him at the top of his class. After graduation, he knew he wanted to attend college, even though almost none of his classmates did. LAS—with its religious hashkafa, separate classes, and supportive faculty—was a no-brainer for Fishman.
“While secular colleges try to focus on the process of education itself, Touro focuses on the outcome—to help you reach your professional goals. Any other college culture would have clashed with my strong faith. Here at Touro, the administration and staff not only agree with my Yiddishkeit, they encourage me to grow further. It’s respected that I have a family, and that family comes first.
“I’m Chassidish, and I’m proud of who I am,” he says honestly. “Here, they’re proud of me too.”
And Fishman, the father of three girls, has actually seen this respect and pride demonstrated firsthand by the faculty. When his twin girls were born during finals week, in his most difficult semester, his professors coordinated makeup exams for him so that he could spend his first few days as a new father with his infants. “That was just one experience I had that made me realize how grateful I am to be here. I am always appreciative of the faculty members who really feel for the students and try to help them, both in conventional and unconventional ways.”
Still, though, Fishman admits it’s a challenge to raise a family while pursuing a degree. “It’s hard to be everywhere at once,” he says, “but we make it work.” To enable him to go to school, study, and learn, Fishman’s wife works full time as a special-education teacher, and Fishman’s parents and in-laws help out so their son can maintain his morning learning chavrusas—Fishman has been a member of his local kollel for five years and is currently studying for smicha.
Now, the 20-something-year old is excited to begin his career as a Certified Public Accountant, and is hitting the books to continue studying for his CPA exams.
“What’s that quote again?” he asks, then remembers. It’s a Confucius line: “ ‘Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.’ I wake up every day, excited to help others with the finances in their business and private lives, and it amazes me that I can get paid for this.
“My philosophy on work is: do your best, be honest, and whatever income Hashem wrote for you on Rosh Hashana is going to come to you in the end,” he concludes.
Of course, he qualifies, he knows that he needs to put in maximum effort. But that’s not a problem because Fishman is a self-proclaimed go-getter—and a cheerful one at that, too. His friends attest to his “never say never” attitude and his willingness to do all that it takes to get the job done—always with his signature smile.
“Dean Goldschmidt taught me to settle for nothing but the best. If I’m studying for my CPA exam, I’m not aiming for a 75; I’m aiming for a 100,” he grins.
“And I know I can do it,” he says.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/hillel-fishman-number-cruncher.php
April 24, 2015
307188
Businessman by Day, Student by Night
How Joe Roth, LAS ’15, became an all-star entrepreneur…at age 22
An hour prior to our interview, Joe Roth has just stepped off the plane from Atlanta. That morning, he had taken a 6 a.m. flight to meet a potential business client (a car-leasing company aiming to expand its marketing efforts to the national level), and went back to the airport to catch his returning flight immediately after the 11 a.m. meeting. He made it just in time for his 6 p.m. class at the Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS)-Flatbush.
This busy whirlwind of a day is typical for Roth, who serves as the managing partner of Highlight Marketing LLC, a niche marketing firm that brings in more than $100,000 annually in profit. Every day is a race to fit in meetings, business calls, presentations—and college classes. Because when this young entrepreneur isn’t jetting off to meet clients, he’s taking a full course load of 21 credits at LAS to earn his Bachelor in Business Administration and Marketing. We spoke to this 23-year-old businessman about his enrollment at LAS, his work experience, and what advice he’d give to other aspiring entrepreneurs.
Roth emigrated from Israel to New York at age seventeen. With him he brought a second-grade English reading level, a passionate determination to “make it big” in America, and a promise from his mother to pay for his education.
That first summer, he found a position as an assistant head lifeguard at a summer camp and, in the fall, enrolled at Yeshiva Gedola of Midwood, where he eventually received his Bachelor’s in Talmudic Law. Looking to make productive use of his afternoons while at yeshiva, he enrolled dually in Touro’s Machon L’Parnasa in 2010. He attended classes twice a week, but struggled tremendously with the workload and his secular studies background.
But the administration at Machon L’Parnasa, Roth says, “gave me a chance.” Professors were generous with their time, and the administration found tutors for him in every subject so that the young student could earn his degree while getting his GED.
“I have such a love story with Machon,” muses Roth. “Dean Esther Braun had constant patience throughout everything, and always made sure I had a fair chance as an ESL student.”
Though Touro subsidized the tutors, Roth took odd jobs to pay for the remainder of the costs: He packed frozen food for a supplier in Brooklyn during breaks in his day and was the head lifeguard for the Boro Park Y, where he was responsible for opening up the building at 5:55 am. In his free time, he hosted Kol Hashalom, a popular talk radio show for Israeli-Americans, where he discussed Israeli news, popular human-interest stories, and advice for adapting to American life.
And then his jobs became more intriguing. He was introduced to the managing partner of a large health care firm named Care to Care, and Roth became the executive’s chauffeur. Spending time with this high-profile millionaire in the car proved valuable. For two years, Roth attended events with his boss, rubbed shoulders with investors, and gained a firsthand knowledge of the health care management company. The best part about this job, though, was that Roth’s supervisor understood that the teenager’s priority was school, not work.
Recognizing that they had a trustworthy employee on his hands, Roth’s bosses gave the young man additional responsibilities, and the teenager was promoted to assistant. And then executive assistant. And then project manager. While he was climbing up the corporate ladder, Roth was also celebrating milestones. He graduated from Machon L’Parnasa with his associate’s degree and now geared himself for the next finish line—his bachelor’s. He began taking classes at (LAS) in the evenings, pursuing a degree in business administration.
It was in his first semester at LAS that he began thinking of starting his own marketing company. His edge? “Instead of trying to cut the consumers’ pocket, I wanted to see what would happen if I tried to cut from the source.” By creating partnerships and alliances with different companies, Roth “lessens the costs of goods for these companies so that they can offer cheaper prices than their competitors while still making the same amount of money, or more than they did before. Except that with my help, they can now offer better customer service, have their marketing needs covered, and enjoy a wider, shared customer base as a bonus.”
So Roth began applying what he learned from his classes at LAS to this idea. “It was direct implementation. I was working on a business model in school, and every time I learned something, I imagined ways of applying it into my new marketing company.”
With this business model in hand, the former lifeguard, frozen-food packer, and assistant resigned from his old company with his supervisors’ blessings and became the managing partner at Highlight Marketing instead. Having received significant funding from investors—contacts he had made while working at Care to Care—his startup costs were covered.
The company’s focus is full-service; it provides customized marketing services for small businesses. For example, Highlight will offer a virtual secretary, website maintenance, graphic designers, social media marketing, and phone support all in one customized package deal. “I’m giving people a cheaper alternative to mainstream marketing companies, but we’ll take care of every marketing detail,” explains Roth. “If your business specializes in delicious cookies, I want you to spend all your time baking those cookies, not worrying about how to sell them. Don’t worry about your customers—that’s my job. I’ll get the word out.”
He now employs a handful of his own employees and has a line of international investors continually investing in his start-up. Nine months ago he declared an LLC. And to accommodate his ever-busy schedule, meetings, and flights, the former driver now needs his own driver!
His clients, and current projects, are many. Roth just launched several new products for a medical appliance company, including an exclusive device, a non-invasive invention that can detect imminent heart attacks. Currently, Roth is also in negotiations to open a call center in Lakewood which would serve his small-business clients and give chareidi women opportunities for income. “Why outsource to India and Turkey if we have people here at home? I want to bring it home.”
“At the end of the day, the greatest part about my company is that I’m successful enough to pick and choose my clients. I want to manipulate coexistence. They’re all going to grow and help each other in the future. And that’s what I love about business.”
In the photo essay below, check out the six tips Joe would give to other young entrepreneurs.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/joe-roth-las-15.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/joeroth.jpg
March 17, 2015
307189
'My Brain Was Bored'
Lander College of Arts & Sciences's Rachel Freier went from being a legal secretary to an attorney and director of an all-female EMT corps
At 30, Rachel Freier, a legal secretary in a venerable Manhattan firm, came to a stunning realization. “My brain,” she says, “was bored.”
With equal parts trepidation and determination, Freier decided to treat her brain to a college education at Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush. It wasn’t easy. She had three kids, a husband, and a full time job. Moreover, she is a Hasidic Jew, and women in her tightly knit religious community are more inclined to stay home and attend to family. “I’m no rebel - I love my religion and my community,” says Freier, now a mother of six. “I credit Touro for crystalizing for me that being religious and being educated is not a contradiction!”
Today, Freier, 49, is a real estate attorney, who shares an office with her husband, a Touro graduate as well, who works in commercial finance. In her heart of hearts, however, she is an advocate. “My Touro experience was the springboard and the preparation for so many aspects of my life,” she says, “particularly my passion for advocacy.”
Freier wasted no time establishing her bona fides. Three years ago she advocated for a group of women emergency medical technicians who wished to serve their religious community of Borough Park by joining an established and male-only ambulance corps. When that effort failed, “I decided I was going to make this happen,” says Freier, “even if I had to become director of a new all-women corps - and an EMT!” Done and done.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-freier-pres-report-82115.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2015/RachelFreier.jpg
August 21, 2015
307190
Welcome, LAS Men!
Before classes begin, new students in Lander College of Arts and Sciences-Men’s Division successfully register for classes and meet their professors.
Brooklyn-native Oriel Nemet decided to attend Lander College of Arts and Sciences after returning this past year from Yeshivat Kerem B’ Yavneh (KBY) in Israel.
“It’s the best route to my biology degree,” he said, while waiting to register for classes on August 31. “I know that being in Touro’s small, friendly environment will help me achieve my professional and career goals, which is to become a physician, and I also know I’ll benefit from its intimate classes and large network of alumni,” he added.
Toronto native Dovid Kerzner spoke similarly. Although he has yet to declare a major, the Brisk and Telshe Yeshiva alumnus said he was pleased with LAS’s flexible course schedules that are allowing him to keep learning in Bais Yosef Navardok in Brooklyn, while fulfilling his requisite classes.
Oriel and Dovid join the ranks of one hundred other students in this year’s new cohort of men at Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush. This year’s students have studied in Israeli yeshivos such as Bais Yisrael, the Mir, Mikdash Melech, Netiv Aryeh, Mercaz HaTorah, Chofetz Chaim, Ohr Somayach, and Ohr Yerushalayim (OJ), among others, and have graduated from high schools such as Chaim Berlin, Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, Torah Vodaath, Shaare Torah, WITS, Ohr Elchanan, Nesivos Chaim, Ateret Torah, Mesivta of Waterbury, and Telshe Yeshiva (Cleveland).
The new class of men also includes transfer students like Yonah Karp, whose SAT scores placed him in the top 5% nationally. Yonah enrolled in LAS after spending two years at CUNY’s engineering program. After a gap year in Israel (which he spent studying in R’ Senter’s yeshiva), Yonah switched his major from engineering to computer science in hopes of having greater flexibility to channel his inner creativity. As someone interested in mobile app programming, Yonah has already developed quite a few rudimentary applications—such as TeamMate, an automatic team dividing app that evenly spreads out talent when users are trying to create teams for personal sports games.
“We are very excited for this year’s cohort of Lander College of Arts and Sciences men, who were educated in some of America’s and Israel’s most prestigious yeshivos and share a deep commitment to Torah study and academic excellence,” said Dean Goldschmidt. “We are so proud to welcome them to our campus and look forward to guiding them to a promising future.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/men-orientation-registration-2015.php
September 17, 2015
307191
Work-Life Balance: How Six LAS Men Have Been Keepin' It Steady
Meet Ezra, Mark, Aronie, Moshe, E.C. and Yuriy
LAS students aren't your average college students: In addition to school, they often need to juggle yeshiva, work, and their personal obligations. But Ezra, Mark, Aronie, Moshe, E.C. and Yuriy manage to do it all. Studying accounting, forensics, physical therapy, finance, law, and marketing, these six young men share a bit about their backgrounds, career plans, and decisions to choose Touro.
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Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-men-shorts-2015-landing-page.php
May 06, 2015
307192
Fast Stats: LAS Women
Meet Tarynn, Sarah, Nechama, Sara, and Rochi.
LAS students come from all over the world to study at an institution where their religious values are in harmony with the successful pursuit of their academic aspirations. And these five young women—hailing from Florida, Chicago, Flatbush, South America, and Crown Heights—are no different. Studying marketing, forensics, occupational therapy, biology, and psychology, Tarynn, Sarah, Nechama, Sara, and Rochi share a bit about their backgrounds, career plans, favorite classes, and more.
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Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-women-shorts-2015-landing-page.php
May 06, 2015
307193
Welcome, LAS Women!
Before classes begin, new students in Lander College of Arts and Sciences-Women’s Division successfully register for classes and meet their professors.
Brooklyn-native Tzipori Weinberger decided to attend Lander College of Arts and Sciences after returning this past year from Mesores Rochel seminary in Israel.
Being just two blocks away from her home, LAS-Flatbush “was the one and only option,” Weinberger said. The current sophomore already had sixty credits under her belt from taking advantage of the Touro Freshman Program in her senior year of high school (at Mesores Bais Yaakov) and the Touro Israel Option during seminary, both of which let her gain college credit for qualifying classes. Now, she’s majoring in psychology, is a member of LAS’s Honors Program, and plans to go on for a graduate degree to pursue a career in industrial psychology.
For Meira Bauman, the choice of college was equally clear. The Torah Academy for Girls (TAG) graduate and Machon Raaya Seminary alumna appreciates the schedule at LAS, which allows her to maintain her full-time job at Bottom Line Marketing while completing her undergraduate degree in management and marketing at LAS “without them conflicting at all.”
“I’m taking six courses---four on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and two on Sunday morning—and I can go straight to college after work every day,” said the Honors student. “Plus,” she adds, “I really enjoy and look forward to most of my classes—the content is fascinating, the professors know what they’re talking about, and I’m gaining skills I need for my day job!”
Tzipori and Meira join the ranks of 218 other students in this year’s new cohort of women at Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush. The members of this new group have studied in Israeli seminaries such as BJJ, Bnos Chava, Me’ohr, Mesores Rochel, Ateres, Bnos Sarah, Machon Raaya, Darchei Bina, Nachlas, among others; and have graduated from high schools such as Masores Bais Yaakov, Shevach, Bnos Bais Yaakov, TAG, Manhattan High School for Girls, Bais Yaakov d’Rav Meir, and Bais Yaakov Academy.
“We are very excited for this year’s group of Lander College of Arts and Sciences women,” said Dean Abramson. "We are confident that they will succeed and we look forward to guiding them to a bright future.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/women-orientation-registration-2015.php
September 17, 2015
307194
Middle-East Scholar Joins Students, Faculty in Discussion on Islamic State Threat
LAS students and faculty engage in dialogue about ISIS, Iran, and Israel with Dr. Mordechai Kedar of Bar Ilan University.
On Sunday, October 11, two dozen Lander College of Arts and Sciences-Flatbush students and faculty gathered for a dialogue with Dr. Mordechai Kedar of Bar Ilan University on “The 3 I’s: ISIS, Iran & Israel.”
Dr. Kedar, a renowned expert on Islam and the Middle East, is director of Bar Ilan’s new Center for the Study of the Middle East and Islam. For twenty-five years, he served in the IDF Military Intelligence, where he specialized in Islamic groups, the political discourse of Arab countries, the Arabic press and mass media, and the Syrian domestic arena. The L.A. Times’ Edmund Sanders has called him “one of the few Arabic-speaking Israeli pundits seen on Arabic satellite channels defending Israel.”
During his speech at LAS, he presented evidence of the growing strength and power of the entity known variously as ISIS, ISIL, or Islamic State (IS).
Despite the reluctance of some in the west to acknowledge this reality,” he stated, “it is indisputable that IS has indeed acquired the essential attributes of a modern state and should accurately be identified as a ‘State’ rather than simply an organization or movement.”
Among the critical elements cited by Dr. Kedar are the significant territories—larger than the state of New Jersey—that are currently under full control of IS, together with its complex, multi-level governmental system and bureaucracy, fully-functioning legal and judicial system, and the unique currency that is exclusively used in these areas.
Dr. Kedar continued on to describe the failure of the West to deal with the ISIS threat in a timely manner, questioned America’s air-strike policy, and addressed the possible impact of Russia’s re-engagement in the Middle East—as well as the role Iran might play in the overall strategic balance of the region.
The event was sponsored by the Political Science Society of LAS, whose president is Shimmy Friedlander, LAS ’17.
“The dialogue was really intriguing,” he said. “Dr. Kedar provided thoughtful insight to the inner working of ISIS as well as the religious politics that has controlled the region for decades.”
Professor Alan Mond, the society’s faculty advisor and deputy chair of the political science department, said this lecture was “the first in a year-long series of lectures, events and field trips designed to enhance our students’ knowledge and understanding of how politics intersects with the world.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/middle-east-scholar-dr-kedar-visits-las-oct-2015.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/kedarmond-765x617.jpg
October 19, 2015
307195
Dean Abramson on “Judah the Maccabee”
Dean Abramson’s lecture on “Judah the Maccabee” was the first in a series of free community Jewish history lectures delivered each week on Monday evenings.
Here are the three things you (probably) never knew about Judah the Maccabee and the story of Chanukah…
The Jews weren’t really fighting the Greeks. Contrary to what people may think, the Chanukah battle was “a civil war—Jews fighting Jews,” explained Dean Abramson. “Everyone talks about how the Jews fought the Greeks, but what they don’t realize is that the word ‘Greek’ in those days really meant ‘participant in Greek culture.’” The Jews who were assimilated were called Greeks because they represented the culture of hellas (Greece), he clarified.
It was a cultural war. The reason for this conflict, in fact, was not political but cultural. “It was a Kulturkampf,” said Dean Abramson. “There were Jews who wanted to blend into the very powerful Hellenistic culture, and those who wanted to remain traditional. It was a battle of the minds, of philosophies. As such, it’s still a very relevant dispute even today, in the culture of America,” he added.
Judah wasn’t considered a hero until later in history. “It’s ironic that Judah the Macabee himself received so little attention among historians until the Middle Ages,” shared Dean Abramson. “Because the book of the Maccabees didn’t become incorporated into the Jewish canon, Judah largely disappeared from Jewish historical memory but still lived on among Christian readers, who regarded him as a hero for religious freedom.”
Missed the lecture, or want to hear more? Watch the video above!
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-judah-the-maccabee-lecture-dean-abramson-oct-2015.php
October 30, 2015
307196
Spotlight on: Tech in Healthcare
Meet Shalom Slavin, software developer, Reliable Health Systems, LLC
“Back when MySpace was still big,” muses Shalom Slavin, a 2012 graduate of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush, “I was the guy who would take the time to figure out how it works…I’ve always been geared toward computers,” he remembers.
Now, in his role as software developer for Reliable Health Systems, LLC, Shalom and his colleagues are programmers for a nursing-home software model that has been sold to hundreds of clients across the country. “It has systems for billing, medical, payroll, the whole A-Z,” says Shalom. “So they don’t have to have QuickBooks for this, EMR (electronic medical record) for that, and another software to prescribe drugs. It’s everything, in one package.”
Shalom’s personal responsibilities include creating new software, modifying and updating existing software, and enhancing aspects of the software that aren’t working efficiently or properly. As a developer, he was in high demand after graduating college, he says—thanks to the tech field being constantly on the rise. “Coding and programming are becoming more and more popular—computers are everywhere now,” he says.
What he likes most about his job, and computer science in general, is the logical problem-solving he’s required to perform on a daily basis.
“It’s challenging, but when you figure things out, you get a sense of accomplishment—whether you’re dealing with a client, or it’s more of a technical challenge. Sometimes you have to think out of the box, sometimes you’ll have to consult with other companies, sometimes you’ll have to figure out the answer on your own… But often, when you overcome one challenge, you can see how that solution can be used to solve other issues.”
Shalom adds that it’s gratifying to know that his programming job is associated with the improvement of healthcare.
“Knowing that the software you’re working on is helping make the job of nurses and doctors more efficient and easier, so that they can spend their time doing what they know best—healing people—is very satisfying.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/spotlight-on-shlomo-slavin-2015--tech-in-healthcare.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/LASShlomoSlavin-468x787.jpg
December 17, 2015
307197
Being Orthodox in the Workplace—Are You Up for the Challenge?
Reflections and life lessons from S. Ronald Ansel, MBA, Certified Career and Life Coach, and Director of Career Services at Touro
As an Orthodox Jew in a highly visible position in a Fortune 500 corporation, I was presented with many personal and professional challenges. After two plus decades at JP Morgan Chase, the global financial services corporation, I learned many important lessons that I’d like to share.
Let’s start with a bit of background. After earning an accounting degree, taking a position as a programmer of financial systems, serving in the U.S. Army in the Finance Corps, earning an MBA from American University and working for the NY Federal Reserve Bank as a systems analyst, I took a senior systems analyst /IT project manager position with Manufacturers Hanover Trust with the intention of staying there for a few years. Four mergers and 25+ years later, I was still with the same institution. My role had changed entirely and the company had become JP Morgan Chase.
Here are my top three career and life lessons:
First, it is incredibly valuable to have a coach/mentor. My coach had two critical attributes: he was someone who understood both the corporate world and me. He knew what I was trying to accomplish professionally and personally and was trained to maintain an objective point of view and to listen carefully. He could hear a corporate and or personal situation and help me identify and assess the options without making the decision for me. For example, when I wanted to move from Vice President in Technology to Human Resources to capitalize on my strengths, he helped me articulate my long term goal and the strategy required to reach it.
The second lesson I learned was the importance of self-knowledge, i.e., knowing my strengths, values and potential for growth. This fits hand-in-glove with having a coach because one of the main roles of a coach is to enable their clients to discover these elements and actualize them, if at all possible, in the workplace. In my case, even though I was considered a technologist, I felt a very strong pull toward working with people. Working with my coach, I accomplished a career change from technology to HR, which is not a very common transition. Over time, I was trained by JPMC to become a workshop developer and facilitator, a certified diversity trainer, an executive coach and a strategic change agent involved in rolling out JPMC’s new corporate vision and values.
The third, and most crucial, lesson is that each Jew represents our entire people to the world at large, and it’s critical that the picture we present to the public is one that is honest, respectful and hard-working. Being Orthodox in a secular workplace was a huge responsibility because I, and by extension other Jews, were being judged by my actions. While I was keenly aware that it was only with G-d’s help that I was able to practice my Judaism and be successful in my corporate role, I never made my Judaism an issue or demanded special treatment. I took it in stride when my manager invited everyone to the departmental gathering at his private island on Saturday, knowing full well that I could not attend, or when the master chef from the executive dining room bought a chicken from a subway shop that advertised kosher chickens, cooked it in a non-kosher oven and served it on a non-kosher plate thinking I would enjoy it. I worked diligently to make up the time I missed when leaving early for the Sabbath or Jewish Holidays. I took vacation or personal, not sick, days for the Jewish Holidays.
I knew it was important that my every action uphold the highest standards, including the way I dressed, talked, the expenses I submitted, the way I traveled, and the way I conducted myself at corporate professional and social gatherings. I was careful to be friendly and courteous to my colleagues, but not to gossip or engage in off-color jokes. I made certain to treat everyone (secretaries, guards, etc.) with the utmost respect.
It is an extraordinary responsibility to be an Orthodox Jew in the workplace, but it offers a tremendous opportunity as well—to break stereotypes and be a role model. Take these lessons to heart and you will succeed personally and professionally.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/being-orthodox-in-the-workplace-are-you-up-for-the-challenge.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/faculty/headshots/15882302111_330cb79698_z.jpg
December 17, 2015
307198
Tzipora Glanzman: Reaching Out to the World
“At LAS, I knew I was being guided on the right path. So many people there were willing to sit with me, talk to me, guide me. They told me, you could do this.”
It was after a life-changing humanitarian trip to Costa Rica that Tzipora Glanzman, LAS ’15 solidified her desire to someday work with underserved populations as a Physician Assistant (PA).
“I became a different person on that volunteer trip,” she remembers. “When you work with those less fortunate, it’s so apparent that you’re really helping them. It’s extremely rewarding.”
She always knew she had two passions: the medical profession, and chesed. And ever since high school, her repertoire of extra-curricular and volunteer activities—including the trip to Costa Rica—demonstrates the combination of both. As a seminary student at Bnos Chava in Israel, she volunteered in a Jerusalem hospital’s oncology ward. During college, she began serving the homeless and hungry residents of Flatbush at Masbia Soup Kitchen, and volunteered twice a year at Bobbie’s Place, a clothing store where all of the (brand-new) merchandise is free to families in need. As a sophomore, she spent several days a week with special-needs children, including a child whose brain was damaged by a tumor at age three. The next year, Tzipora sang to patients in her local hospital.
To Tzipora, it’s as important—if not more—to “come out of your own world by extending yourself to a community other than your own.”
And she’s excited to put this into practice in her career.
“As a PA, it’s not only about diagnosing and prescribing medication, it’s about considering the patient as a whole—understanding where they’re coming from, being there for the patient, listening to them deeply,” she says.
This is Tzipora Glanzman’s story.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/tzipora-glanzman-reaching-for-the-world.php
January 12, 2016
307199
Spotlight on: Art Therapy
A conversation with alumna Karen Chyzhyk-Bleich, LAS ‘15
Karen Chyzhyk-Bleich emigrated from Minsk, Belarus to pursue a career in art therapy. At Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS)-Flatbush, she majored in psychology and minored in visual arts, graduating in 2015 with an Art Excellence Award. Currently, Karen is earning her master’s in Hofstra University’s Creative Arts Therapy program. In this interview, the alumna spoke to us about her art background, experience at LAS, and first semester at Hofstra.
Hi, Karen. When did you first get interested in art therapy?
Ever since I was a child, my mom would find me drawing, coloring, and painting all the time on a level that was very advanced. I still remember the first time I drew a turtle. I was probably about seven years old, going into the first grade. My mom showed my dad the picture, and my dad thought my mom drew it!
As a teenager, I tried applying to an art-focused elementary school, but I had no prior professional art training. At the exam, they gave me a piece of clay and asked me to shape it into a cube, but I couldn't do it the proper way—there was a proper way. So I didn't get accepted, and I realized I needed more training. That’s when I knew I wanted to study art in college.
How did you shape your art therapy major at LAS?
When I first came to Touro, it was very challenging. I was still developing English as my second language, and Dean Horowitz and Renee Blinder helped guide Russian students like me by selecting the right courses that would help in perfecting our English. The most exciting courses to me were those in psychology and visual arts, like Art Therapy I with Professor Atara Grenadir and Art Therapy with Children and Adolescents with Professor Daniel Summer. Professor Atara Grenadir was one of my favorite professors, and she was the one who introduced me to art therapy. It was in those classes where I discovered that therapeutic art results in both a final piece, called the “product,” and a healing path for the psyche, which is called the “process.” I was amazed at how producing art not only allows for emotional expression, but also has such a powerful impact on an individual's psychological health.
You’re currently enrolled in Hofstra University’s Creative Arts Therapy program. Can you share with us some of the things you’ve learnt so far?
I love what they’ve been teaching us about energy. When you're a therapist, in order to maintain a therapeutic environment, you need to shift between primary and secondary processes. In primary process, the client would be given an art assignment, and he or she would participate in the play without thinking so much. In secondary process, the therapist asks the client to analyze the product, and/or asks them questions that inspire self-reflection. As a therapist, you need to drift your client from primary to secondary process, back and forth, which is called tertiary process. That's how you keep energy flowing in a room.
Can you give me an example of this?
Sure. Let’s say you come to me as a client, and I ask you why you’re here. When you answer the question, that’s already you engaging in secondary process. Then, in order to keep the energy flow moving, I would ask you to use the puppets on the table to act out a scene (primary process). Then, I’d ask you to analyze your own skit, which is secondary process. It’s the therapist’s job to sense the energy flow…When the communication flow stops or get stiff, that’s when you want to shift, say, from primary to secondary, or vice versa.
It’s interesting to note that puppets serve as a form of art therapy.
Of course. Lots of people mistake art therapy for putting someone in a room and telling them to draw something. We are therapists, and art is just a tool in the therapeutic process. We can ask clients to participate in any art form that might be therapeutic—puppets, art, dance, etc.
Art therapy is often referred to as “breaking the silence.” Can you explain how that’s so?
Sure. The right side of our brains produce creativity, art, music, etc. The left (analytical) side are the centers for science, math, speech, etc. Usually, a trauma blocks those speech facilities in the brain, so many clients aren’t able, or don’t want to, talk about their trauma. That’s why we don’t believe it’s useful to come straight out and ask a client—“Tell me about the trauma you experienced.” Instead, we’d ask them to draw a house. What they draw, and how they draw it, is important. Kids, especially, usually draw x-ray houses, which is very useful, because it allows us to get a peek into the dynamics of the family. This is when the magic happens. You point to the artwork, the product, and say “who’s this person here? Can you tell me about him?” and the kid might say “that’s my father.” And that’s when conversation kicks in. This is when the client starts talking… And that’s how art therapy “breaks the silence”. The right side of the brain, which is free and unblocked, is able to draw, or play out, what the left side of the brain can’t articulate.
Very fascinating. Has university changed your outlook on your career? How do you imagine yourself in ten years from now?
You know how some people go to grad school and realize, this isn’t for me? Or, it’s less magical than they imagined? That wasn’t what happened. When I first took my classes last semester, I was like, Wow, I know I made the right choice; I know this is for me. All the classes inspire so much passion. Although it’s challenging, it’s a private school, like Touro, so classes are small and the professors are always there for me and everyone else. I’m so grateful that I’m here, and I enjoy the lectures immensely.
In the future, I’m hoping to work in hospitals and clinics with adults who have mental-health issues. It would be an honor for me to help people reconnect with themselves and discover, or even work through, their psychological problems. At the moment, I also lead art and therapy groups with autistic children at Imagine Academy, and I teach fine art at a Bais Yaakov in Boro Park. I look forward to continue my teaching in the future, as a teacher and/or professor of art and art therapy in colleges and universities.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/spotlight-on-art-therapy---karen-chyzhyk-las-15.php
January 29, 2016
307200
Eight Questions with Dr. Robert S. Bressler
Meet the Undergraduate Chair of Biology at Touro.
Dr. Robert S. Bressler, Undergraduate Chair of Biology Programs at Touro College, wears many hats. In addition to teaching several classes a semester as a biology and embryology professor, he’s also the advisor to the Lander College of Arts and Sciences–Flatbush Pre-professional Society, Health Science Society, and the Science Journal. We sat down to speak with him about his passion for anatomy, his unique career path, and his favorite part about teaching at LAS.
When did you begin your career as a science professor?
“When I started as a student in 1957 at City College, I needed to put down a major field. Not having anything particular in mind, I put down what the guys next to me were putting down—engineering. But I knew this was only temporary, because I wasn’t really fond of math. Later on, I was faced with the choice of taking either bio for science majors or bio for non-science majors. I thought to myself, I’m getting a free education here, why would I choose a watered-down course? So I took, and very much enjoyed, the bio-for-majors course, and decided to become a biology major! I remember sitting in comparative anatomy class, and the discussion turned to what we were going to do when we grew up. Someone said, Why not anatomy? I heard there’s a demand. My reply: cut up bodies? What are you, crazy?...little knowing that after 5 years of being on the faculty of City College, I’d wind up on the faculty of NYU Medical School, teaching anatomy as part of a job I created for myself.”
How did you manage to create a job for yourself?!
“While I was doing my graduate work at NYU, I was also teaching at City College. I was taking an Electron Microscopy course at NYU with the Chairman of Anatomy, Dr. Michael Ross—a class that required a large time commitment for the lab portions—but it was very difficult running between my job at City College and my NYU class every time we needed to do a lab procedure. So I asked Dr. Ross to give me a job at NYU in any capacity- I’ll do anything in order to be able to learn electron microscopy, I said. He gave me an appointment as a teaching fellow in the Anatomy department, which also provided tuition remission in my grad work and led to my getting my PhD at the medical school, too. When I tell this story to some of my students, they say, “That means I’m gonna have to knock on doors!” I tell them, Yes, you can’t be passive. If I could get a job at NYU medical school with only a BA, they can get an internship!”
Sounds like great motivation.
“I hope so. I once met with Dr. Earnest Napolitano, the president of New York Chiropractic College. On his desk was a sign: “If you think you can’t do this, you’re right.” I pass this on to my students here to show them the attitude they have to have to get interviews and volunteer positions.”
Where do your research interests lie?
“Mainly, endocrine control of the development of the reproductive system. I’ve been invited to present my research in several national and international conferences, and I’ve continued this research all throughout my work at NYU School of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Elmhurst Hospital.”
For a certain time in your life, you played a role in your wife’s business. Can you tell us more about that?
“My wife started a kosher weight-control business called Start Fresh. I came home one night from work at Mount Sinai and she said, You’re in charge of the men’s division. I said, There is no men’s division. And she said, There is now!
At Elmhurst Hospital—which was staffed by Mount Sinai— I had three jobs in one in the Pathology Department, each of which could have been a full-time position. As the Director of the Ultrastructural Diagnostics Laboratory, I was responsible for patient service, research service to the staff, and was a member of a multidisciplinary research team working on hepatitis. I couldn’t do all of that as well as I thought I should, in addition to playing a role in the business, so I resigned from Mount Sinai, and for the next 16 years I led weekly men’s weight loss and aerobics exercise classes throughout the tristate area.”
Did you have experience in the fitness industry?
“As a biology professor, I certainly knew what you had to do to lose weight, and as an anatomist I devised exercises designed to utilize the major muscle groups. And I learned on the job. I also learned, though, that doctors in those days didn’t know a lot about nutrition. Nutrition wasn’t covered so comprehensively in medical schools.”
So how did you get back into academia?
“I never really left academia. Right after I resigned from Mount Sinai, the Dean of New York College of Podiatric Medicine called me. “We’re having trouble with our anatomy program, can you come straighten it out?” he asked. Although I had been challenged to master Pathology at Elmhurst, I could teach anatomy—to borrow from the quote—“standing on one leg,” so I became the Chairman of the Anatomy Department and subsequently the Dean of Basic Sciences. Then, Touro offered me a job that was walking-distance from my home…and the rest is history!”
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from all your years as a professor?
“During my first semester of teaching (at City College, 1962), I had a non-science bio course with a 4-hour lab that required a 20-min introduction. I gave out fantastic info to these students, I was on a roll, so high on what I was saying. After I got through the material, a student came up to me and said, “Professor Bressler, I understood that fine, until you explained it.” And like a bolt of lightning from the sky, the word “simplification” hit me. This was the best lesson in teaching I’ve ever received in my life.”
You’ve taught at many different schools throughout your 50-plus- years of teaching—at City College NY, N.Y.U. School of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Downstate Medical School, and New York Medical College, among others. What do you find unique about Touro?
“Generally, I find the students here to be very appreciative of what the faculty and I can do for them. My wife frequently asks me to retire, but I prefer to hang out with 20-year-olds than with people complaining of Medicare and surgeries and copays. Some students here thank me for helping them, not realizing that they have helped me much more than I can do for them. They keep me from acting my age.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/dr-robert-bressler-profile-2016.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/bressler2.jpg
February 19, 2016
307202
Flatbush Honors Society Completes Successful First Year on Campus
Dean Abramson and students reflect on a successful first year of the new women’s Flatbush Honors Society.
This May marks the completion of the Flatbush Women Honors Society’s first year on campus. Founded by Dean Henry Abramson in September 2015, the Honors Society began with a small group of twelve members, growing to fourteen by the end of the year.
For the past two semesters, the Honors Society students have met in formal colloquia every month, on a Friday morning, where they’ve explored timely articles and bestselling books over brunch. Since the inception of the program in Fall 2015, the Society has read Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath, Cognitive Surplus: How Technology Makes Consumers into Collaborators by Clay Shirky, A Letter in the Scroll: Understanding Our Jewish Identity and Exploring the Legacy of the World’s Oldest Religion by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Banker for the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty by Nobel-Prize winning author Muhammad Yunus, and The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg. While doing so, their discussion topics have touched on everything from the Jewish future, to economics (both financial and behavioral), to the Internet as a tool in modern technology, and beyond.
“All the books and articles we read—they’re not just insular, or distant from us,” says Honors Society member Meira Bauman, a native of Far Rockaway, New York. “They’re about ideas we can apply to our own personal lives; not just something we’re going to read and put in the back of our minds. They have an effect on you… so many of the ideas we discuss can be applied to my position in marketing,” says the management and marketing major who works part-time at Bottom-Line Marketing and is set to graduate next June.
For Bauman, the first year with the Honors Society was “stimulating.”
“It was such a stimulating feeling every month to come together with a dozen or so of my peers who are forward-thinking, vocal, and curious about the world around us. It’s very cool.”
“The members of the Honors Society are extremely bright, motivated, socially aware, and committed to the proposition that they will be future leaders of society,” Dean Abramson noted, reflecting on the first cohort of students. “Through the ideas we explore and the materials we read, we spend all of our time focusing on developing the tools necessary to affect positive change—in the Jewish world, in the United States of America, and indeed, globally.”
The operating philosophy behind the group, according to Dean Abramson, was loosely based on that of the Harvard Society of Fellows, which believes that the best way to promote the skills and talents of high-achieving students is by giving them the opportunity to have intellectual commerce with one another. “So by simply bringing our Flatbush members together and having that intellectual commerce over a particular book or contemporary work, along with a little bit of food, we’ve achieved some tremendous things,” he said.
Every month, the members of the group were also given a collective “charge” with which to prepare themselves before the next meeting. December’s charge, for example, was “to respond to the volatile situation in Israel.”
“For December, we all had to come together, and really discuss the issue, and we even argued…because this is something we’re all really passionate about,” remembers one Honors student. Ultimately, the group came together to create a social-media based response to the situation by creating a pro-Israel based Instagram handle that promoted the positive aspects of Israel while combating the negative. “We had a lot of ideas, we had a lot of debate. We were trying to appeal to people’s visceral reactions, like – ‘this is Israel, this is what we love. Not the terrorism. Let’s remember the good.’”
Members to the Honors Society are admitted to the program on a highly selective basis. Prerequisite factors include a minimum SAT score, high GPA, and letters of recommendation.
Attendance is absolutely mandatory as part of the Honors Society requirements.
“There’s been only one absence in all the meetings—and that was due to sickness,” Dean Abramson states. “What is not mandatory is participation---but it’s not a problem,” the dean laughs. “Everyone fights for a chance to speak.”
“They really worked on creating a culture of discussion,” says Honors Society member Tova Liebermann. “We talk about the ideas amongst ourselves, even outside the group, after the meetings are over.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/women-honors-society-2015-2016.php
May 02, 2016
307201
Touro Undergrads Provide Free Tax Assistance to Those in Need
What better way to receive practical career experience than through community service?
You might think that people would have reservations about relying on students to prepare their tax returns. If they do, they seem to get over it pretty quickly.
A team of 17 students from Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush (LAS) prepared the 2015 personal tax returns of New Yorkers as part of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This is the fourth straight year that the school offered the service—free of charge for low-to-moderate-income individuals and families in the tri-state area—and each year the number of community members seeking assistance with their tax returns has increased.
According to Faigie Horowitz, the director of alumni affairs and program coordinator for Touro’s Office of Career Services and the program organizer, the training requirements and numerous review processes eases the minds of taxpayers concerned with depending on students for such an important task.
“The proof is that so many of the taxpayers are repeat customers, many of whom come from out of the borough—some even come from the Bronx—and others who know about it from word of mouth,” said Horowitz.
The students, most of whom are studying in Touro’s accounting program, have undergone rigorous training that includes completing specialized IRS tax courses and passing the required IRS examination. Some are certified tax preparers and others are reviewers, who check their work.
“It’s a win-win for the taxpayers and for our students,” Horowitz said. “The taxpayers get great service and our students gain valuable experience. The program has helped previous volunteers land jobs after graduation, some even in the Big Four accounting firms.”
It’s a point echoed by the student volunteers.
“There’s nothing better than hands-on experience,” said co-site coordinator Aaron Rumpler, ‘16. “After completing the VITA program, a volunteer basically has all the experience necessary to prepare a personal tax return.”
A total of eight sessions were held this season. Co-site coordinator, Rivka Rubin, ’16, said that on average they prepared close to 40 returns each week.
“Whether the returns involved capital gains, IRA distributions, HSA accounts or just a simple W2, the tax preparers worked through each return with care and dedication,” she said. “I consider the first-hand experience not just as a path to a career but as a journey to an adventurous challenge.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
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April 26, 2016
307203
Faculty Bid Farewell to the LAS Class of 2016
Faculty and staff at LAS bid farewell to the class of 2016 with some parting words of wisdom.
In a farewell message to the Lander College of Arts and Sciences graduates of 2016, the faculty at LAS share some parting words of wisdom and advice, such as…:
“Always be genuine and natural on interviews.”
“Keep advancing your knowledge about your specific industry.”
“Look at short-term jobs as opportunities for growth and networking.”
“Take the chance to learn about new technology; if there’s a project that requires a new cutting-edge technology, grab it.”
“Take the road of integrity, and you’ll always come out on top.”
“It’s not how much knowledge you’ll accumulate; it’s what do you do with the knowledge you’ve accumulated.”
“Use your frumkeit as an asset – because it is an asset.”
“Choose a career path that you’re really going to enjoy: You should look forward to going to work every day!”
And lastly, "keep in touch with the Touro family!"
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
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May 17, 2016
307206
Aidel Ezagui Named 2016 Valedictorian of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences
In it for the education
New York, N.Y. – If Aidel Ezagui’s motivation for going to college was not unique, it was, at very least, particularly unusual.
“I honestly didn’t think I could get my bachelor’s degree,” she said. “But I wanted to go to college because I love being in school and I love learning.”
As it turned out, not only did her fondness for scholarship result in an undergraduate degree, but Aidel was also selected as the 2016 valedictorian of the women’s division of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush and will address her fellow graduates at the 42nd commencement exercises of the Lander Colleges, to be held at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center on May 30th. The finance major made Dean’s List each semester and received an academic scholarship and an award for academic excellence after her first year in school. She was president of the Touro chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the International Economics Honor Society, and is graduating with a 3.98 grade point average.
The truth is that Aidel didn’t think she had time to go to school. For two years before enrolling at LAS she was a full-time assistant teacher at a Chabad preschool on the Upper East Side, assisting with lesson plans and helping develop innovative curriculums. Additionally, she catered Shabbat dinners and luncheons attended each week by 100 guests of the Chabad house.
With her packed schedule, college just didn’t seem like a realistic possibility. Still, she wanted more.
“I needed the money and I didn’t think I could work and go to school,” she said. “But after a while, I felt bored.”
In the summer of 2013 she switched to part time and began taking classes at Lander College, supplementing her income by tutoring her classmates in finance. At the end of the summer session Aidel was hooked, and although she returned to working full time at the preschool, the flexible schedule at LAS enabled her to take a full class load. Every day she worked in Manhattan until 3 pm before heading to school in Flatbush, at first taking the normal four classes each semester and later increasing her course load to six.
As Aidel is preparing for a career in finance, in December, under the guidance of Dr. Menachem Rosenberg, a professor of business and accounting, she took and passed the first of three levels of the CFA exam, a test usually taken by students finishing an MBA degree. On June 5th, just days after commencement, she will take the second level of the exam.
The second of ten children—the oldest is 27 and the youngest is 7—Aidel grew up in Crown Heights. After graduating from high school she spent a year volunteering for the Chabad of Cheviot Hills Hebrew School in Los Angeles as a teacher, program coordinator and dorm counselor. That summer she traveled to Slovakia and directed a summer camp for 50 children between the ages of three and 13. In 2011 she volunteered for a nonprofit organization, Friendship Circle of Brooklyn, running workshops for siblings of special needs children.
The Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush, with separate divisions for men and women, is located at Avenue J and East 16th Street in the Midwood section of Brooklyn. More than 1,000 students are enrolled each semester at the campus. Encompassing more than 90,000 square feet, the campus was inaugurated in the spring of 1995. In September 1997, the New York State Education Department officially designated this site as The Flatbush Branch Campus of Touro College.
About the Touro College and University System
Touro is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 18,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has 29 branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem and Moscow. New York Medical College; Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus; Touro University Worldwide and its Touro College Los Angeles division; as well as Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Ill. are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System. For further information on Touro College, please go to: http://www.touro.edu/news/.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
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May 26, 2016
307205
Yosef Dov Gottlieb Named Valedictorian and Commencement Speaker for Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush
Legal ties to Torah
New York, N.Y. – Whereas many college graduates are still struggling with their career plans in the months after commencement, Yosef Dov Gottlieb knew long ago that the legal field was his most logical landing spot. After all, he considers it an extension of one of his life-long passions: Talmud study.
“I love Gemara, and I’m taken by the similarities between the two,” he said. “In Gemara we deduce the laws using the original texts and thereafter make decisions according to precedent. That carries over to American law, which starts with the Constitution and then moves to previous rulings that determine how we deduce the laws today.”
In the fall Yosef Dov, 22, will take the next step toward the legal profession when he and his wife, KC, move to Boston where he will attend Harvard Law School, an accomplishment which was no doubt buoyed by his stellar undergraduate record. He was named a 2016 valedictorian of the men’s division of the Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush (fellow Monsey native Avi Jacob is the other) and will serve as a student speaker at the 42nd commencement exercises of the Lander Colleges, to be held at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center on May 30th.
Graduating summa cum laude, the economics major made Dean’s List every semester and was president of the Touro chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the International Economics Honor Society. He also worked closely with Dr. Michael Szenberg, a distinguished professor of economics and business at Touro College, assisting Dr. Szenberg on his book project about revolutions in the publishing industry, and co-authoring a paper on commercial banking. Perhaps most impressively, Yosef Dov scored in the 99th percentile on the LSAT.
After graduating high school in Monsey, Yosef Dov studied in Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Israel for three years—the last as an advisor. Upon returning to the U.S. he enrolled in Lander College, a school he chose because it offered the best combination of a quality education, a serious Torah-learning environment and an accommodating schedule. This last point was a significant factor, in that he spent his first year in Flatbush at Lander College while learning in a yeshiva in Monsey, and his next year working as a big data analyst at ETS, an energy engineering company.
He says he made the right choice.
“I got a great education and I think I’m well prepared for law school,” said Yosef Dov, who, in addition to Harvard, was accepted to Columbia Law School. He emphasized his appreciation for the faculty and administration of Lander College in Flatbush, noting that the small class sizes enabled him to develop those relationships. “I connected with every single teacher and they guided me and provided me with an excellent education that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
The Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush, with separate divisions for men and women, is located at Avenue J and East 16th Street in the Midwood section of Brooklyn. More than 1,000 students are enrolled each semester at the campus. Encompassing more than 90,000 square feet, the campus was inaugurated in the spring of 1995. In September 1997, the New York State Education Department officially designated this site as The Flatbush Branch Campus of Touro College.
About the Touro College and University System
Touro is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 18,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has 29 branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem and Moscow. New York Medical College; Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus; Touro University Worldwide and its Touro College Los Angeles division; as well as Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Ill. are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System. For further information on Touro College, please go to: http://www.touro.edu/news/.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
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May 26, 2016
307204
Avi Jacob Named Valedictorian of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush
A little sibling rivalry never hurt anyone
New York, N.Y. – You might think that there would be a playful rivalry between Avi Jacob and his brother, Moshe. After all, each of them was at the top of their respective classes at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush (LAS). But Avi thinks he’s got the upper hand: Moshe graduated with a 3.97 grade point average. Avi? A perfect 4.0.
“He’s trying to downplay it,” he says with a grin, “but there’s no rivalry because I won it!”
All joking aside, Avi’s matched another of his brother’s accomplishments, as he was named a 2016 valedictorian (the other is Yosef Dov Gottlieb of Monsey, like Avi) and will be recognized at the 42nd commencement exercises of Touro’s Lander Colleges to be held at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center on May 30th.
After completing high school, Avi studied at Beis Medrash Elyon in Monsey for two years and spent another at the Mirrer Yeshiva in Jerusalem before returning to the States and enrolling in Touro while also learning in Yeshiva Shaarei Torah. Not only did he feel a need to keep up with his brother’s undergraduate success, Avi also wanted to follow in the footsteps of his parents, whose academic achievements in college were equally impressive, each of their grade-point-averages falling just a fraction below 4.0.
“I come from a family of very motivated and successful people,” Avi said. “I want to live up to that and I don’t take anything for granted, so I worked very hard and I think that’s what got me here.”
This coming year Avi, 24, will continue to learn in Yeshiva Shaarei Torah, and he plans to attend dental school in 2017 after scoring in the 99.9th percentile on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). He says he chose dentistry in part because it meshed with his interest in the sciences. However, his career choice is also related to another of his passions, one not often associated with dentistry: the arts.
“I always wanted to enter a field that integrated science and technology, and dentistry is a good combination of the two,” he said. “But I’m also interested in the arts and hope to specialize in prosthodontics, which requires you to fashion artificial teeth and implants. You’re using your hands to form something brand new, and there’s a certain element of creativity to that.”
The Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush, with separate divisions for men and women, is located at Avenue J and East 16th Street in the Midwood section of Brooklyn. More than 1,000 students are enrolled each semester at the campus. Encompassing more than 90,000 square feet, the campus was inaugurated in the spring of 1995. In September 1997, the New York State Education Department officially designated this site as The Flatbush Branch Campus of Touro College.
About the Touro College and University System
Touro is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 18,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has 29 branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem and Moscow. New York Medical College; Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus; Touro University Worldwide and its Touro College Los Angeles division; as well as Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Ill. are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System. For further information on Touro College, please go to: http://www.touro.edu/news/.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/lasjacobvaledictorian52616.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2016/ResizedJacobFinalPhoto.jpg
May 26, 2016
307207
Ruvi Amiash, LAS ’17, Releases Hit Single
Finance major Ruvi Amiash, who hails from Switzerland, has become the latest Jewish music sensation. Touro interviewed him about his background in music, his gradual rise to fame, and his ambitious career plans.
Ruvi Amiash, majoring in finance and economics at Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush, always grew up singing. This past year, though, marked a particular milestone for him with the release of his hit debut single “Veseoreiv.”
Born in Zurich, Switzerland to a musical family—(his father used to play guitar, and his mother “has a beautiful voice”), the 26-year-old found his voice later on in life. “As a child I had a horrible voice,” laughs Ruvi. “I was the black swan of the family; my sisters all had amazing voices. But I joined a choir at one point, somehow getting a solo, and was so happy about it that I never stopped singing that solo–to this day, my family still makes fun of me for it!”
Ruvi kept singing, and improving his voice, by watching other singers—most notably, Shloime Daskal and Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot. Eventually his mother pushed him to learn an instrument. “She told me, ‘Ruvi, if you’re going to sing, you may as well do it properly and learn the notes.’” First learning the flute, he then picked up piano and keyboard, and eventually began playing—and simultaneously singing—for bar mitzvahs, sheva brachos, and house parties.
Like most Swiss bachurim, Ruvi attended high school overseas, at Or Hatalmud, a yeshiva on the border of France and Switzerland. He then learned for two years at Yeshivat Share Toire, in Manchester, England, before moving on to Israel’s Mirrer Yeshiva, continuing to sing throughout. His first big duet was with none other than London-based Shloime Gertner—“a huge moment for me,” remembers Ruvi.
At the Mir, Ruvi gained heightened popularity. He led staircase kumsitzs (“the Beis Yoshaye building staircase has amazing acoustics—we did four, five harmonies; the building was shaking; people even came in from the streets to listen”) and began singing at his many friends’ weddings, where he found himself side-by-side with contemporary stars like Ohad, Amiran and Arik Dvir, Shloime Daskal, Leibi Lipsker, Ami Cohen and Simcha Leiner. “Once, in Israel, I went to Simcha Leiner for a Friday night meal, before he became famous, and we sang for hours…I have a pretty wide range and able to reach high octaves, so it was like a chicken tie between him and me, who could get higher,” he laughs. At the Mir, even the Rosh Yeshiva's family -- the Finkels -- were fans.
At 25, Ruvi decided to leave the Mir in order to go back to school.
“People ask me why I chose to go to college. And the truth is, I could just have taken my BTL and gone straight to law school,” he admits. “But at the end of day, I knew I was still lacking in certain areas. I needed a real education.”
Thus, after twelve years of studying in yeshiva, Ruvi returned to Switzerland, where he began studying for his GED. After passing the test and receiving his student visa, he applied to Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, where he was accepted on a Dean’s Scholarship.
The next thing he knew, he was disembarking the plane in JFK, just in time for the spring semester. He spends the mornings in a local Brooklyn yeshiva, to keep up with his learning, and the afternoons at Touro’s Avenue J campus. “It was an adjustment, for sure—very different than the European style of schooling,” says Ruvi, “but now that I’m used to it, I enjoy it.”
A week after he began LAS, he met Chananya Begun, founder of New Sound Productions (and son of Miami Boys Choir producer Yerachmiel Begun) at a Motzai Shabbos kumsitz in Lakewood. The young Begun asked Ruvi to come to the studio a week later “to have a listen.” Impressed, Mr. Begun offered Ruvi a contract, which he signed, and the duo began planning his debut single.
Album cover of Ruvi's debut single
Ruvi began working with famed vocal therapist Dr. Anat Keidar, who was “very, very tough,” he remembers. "She created Matisyahu, and lehavdil, Christina Aguilera. The first time I walked out, I was shattered to pieces. She had said, ‘you have amazing potential, and your octaves are enormous, but if you want to work with me I’m going to have to erase any traces of anything you’ve ever learned and reconstruct you from the beginning.’ I was breathing the wrong way, singing the wrong way.” It was only after almost a full year of working with Dr. Keidar that Ruvi finally began production on “Veseoreiv.”
The final song was released on April 19, 2016 on YouTube (and subsequently, on iTunes), after which it began garnering thousands of hits. “My mother’s friend called her up, in Switzerland, and said – ‘I think I just heard your son on Israeli radio!’ It was an incredible feeling.” After the song began gaining traction, a mutual friend sent Ruvi’s song to a famous (secular) producer. “He heard my clips, and said – If this guy wants, I can turn him into the next Justin Bieber. You’ll make millions off one album.’ Obviously it wasn’t a question, but getting confirmation from a huge studio boss like that—that was definitely big,” Ruvi smiles. So far, the song has garnered over 36,000 views—and counting.
Ruvi, though, is still humble about his music talents (“I’m a small fish in a big pond,” he admits), and is taking his college career as seriously as he’s taking his music career. “The stock market, the banking world, always fascinated me,” says Ruvi, who’s majoring in finance/economics.
The ambitious undergraduate already has impressive work experience under his belt: In the summer of 2014, he returned to Zurich for bein hazmanim and landed a competitive banking position at the Credit Suisse headquarters—even before he had earned his GED. Hired solely on talent alone, Ruvi worked as a financial consultant for two months, becoming the group leader in two weeks and the team leader in four. He was promptly offered a full-time job afterwards (which he politely rejected, to return to yeshiva). “I knew how the banking system worked before I went to the system,” Ruvi explains. “I had researched all the terms, all the jargon, the theory. Now, in Touro, I’m learning the formulas, the techniques, calculations—everything I still don’t know."
Meanwhile, the banking enthusiast is also entranced by law, and is still deciding between business school or law school. Armed with twelve years of Talmudic study, Ruvi has mastery in “sevaras, quick solutions, out-of-the-box answers”—all pre-requisite tools in the average law student’s arsenal— and would love to study corporate law at Harvard.
But ultimately, whether he does pursue it as a business or simply as a hobby, Ruvi says he’ll always keep singing. “Music is a very emotional thing for me. It heals the neshama, they say. The nicest, and most important part about it, is that it originates from your heart. Whether it’s a random person singing in the street, or under the shower, or someone humming while they’re in the kitchen – if it derives from the heart, so it’s all beautiful. It’s astonishing- how when you hear a certain chord, a note, a melody and right away you connect to it and transcend to a different and loftier world.”
Listen to Ruvi’s hit single here.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
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July 05, 2016
307208
Touro Psych Majors Inducted Into Psi Chi Honor Society
Outstanding psychology students from Lander Colleges gain membership into international honor society.
On Monday afternoon, June 27, 2016, twenty-three students from the Lander Colleges—Lander College for Men (LCM), Lander College for Women-The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School (LCW), and Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) were formally inducted into Touro College's Psi Chi Chapter.
Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, honors and recognizes undergraduate students who make the study of psychology one of their major interests and who achieve academic excellence in the field. Touro College established its chapter of Psi Chi in November 2011.
Parents, faculty advisors, and deans joined the inductees in the main reading room at the LAS campus in Flatbush, where Dean Robert Goldschmidt shared opening remarks and congratulations, and encouraged students to continue their education while striving for distinction. Chair of the LAS psychology department Dr. Melech Press emphasized that this ceremony “marks considerable achievement,” after which Dr. Barbara Rumain, associate professor at LAS and faculty advisor to Touro’s Psi Chi chapter, began the formal Psi Chi proceedings.
“You are about to be inducted into an organization which is international in scope, international in interests, and international in opportunities,” introduced Dr. Rumain. After she recited the formal statements, students collectively accepted the conditions of membership, were called upon individually to sign their names on documentation, and received an official honorary Psi Chi membership pin.
Some inductees plan to channel their psychology background into health or education fields. This fall, LAS 2016 graduates Gayla Katz and Seema Kazen, who were both preceptors in the NSF-funded Experimental Psychology Lab at LAS this past year, plan to pursue a PsyD at Farleigh Dickinson University. “My favorite thing about psychology is that it's always changing,” said Katz, who is interested in adolescent school counseling. “There is always more to learn about new and different ways to help people.”
Students Yaakov Wenick (LAS ‘16) and Yisroel Dov Goldstein (LCM ‘16) both hope to continue their education in doctorate programs in clinical psychology. While studying at LCM, Mr. Goldstein interned with Dr. Alan Perry, chair of LCM’s psychology department, at criminal courts in Brooklyn and Queens. Forensics was “interesting” to Goldstein, but he prefers to “help people work through difficult life issues,” and is looking forward to a 2016-2017 Joel Daner Yachad Communal Fellowship opportunity.
This past year, psychology and mathematics major Hinda Friedman (LCW ‘16) provided math support as a teacher at Bais Yaakov of the Lower East Side and began her studies in adolescent mathematics education at the Touro College Graduate School of Education (GSE). She plans to continue teaching next year, running math labs and assisting in classrooms as a student teacher at Yeshiva of Flatbush. “Teaching isn't just about giving over information, but understanding your students, their backgrounds, and classroom dynamics,” says Ms. Friedman. “Studying psychology prepared me in those areas.”
Congratulations to the 2016 inductees!
Aliza Lasky, LCW
Asael Kent, LCM
Basha Steinhauser, LAS
Daniel Gabay, LCM
David Rotblat, LAS
Elky Krupka, LCW
Esther Gitty Schwartz, LAS
Gayla Katz, LAS
Hinda Friedman, LCW
Kayla Kraus, LAS
Leah Guterman, LCW
Michael Groden, LAS
Moshe Warga, LAS
Reena Tessler, LAS
Rina LInn-Kanowitz, LAS
Rochel Bretter, LAS
Sara Liberow, LAS
Seema Kazen, LAS
Shaina Shagalow, LAS
Teri Franco, LCW
Yaacov Wenick, LAS
Yisroel Dov Goldstein, LCM
Yocheved Geisinsky, LAS
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
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July 01, 2016
307209
Architects, Doctors and Dentists, Students Discuss Careers
Catching Up With Students Beginning and Finishing Their Journey at Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush
On August 31, students in the men's division of Touro's Lander College of Arts and Sciences gathered at the Flatbush campus to register for courses. Some students, like Gabriel Kaye, 24, of Edison, NJ, were signing up for their final classes before their graduation. Others, like Joshua Sheinbein, 21, of Toronto, were just beginning their academic journey.
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Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/meet-las-men-2016.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2016/MeetLASmen2016bannerLAS.fw.png
September 08, 2016
307210
Students Discuss Their Schedules—and Their Futures
Catching Up With Students in the Women’s Division as They Register for Classes
On September 1, students at the women’s division of Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush registered for classes for the upcoming semester. Students met with faculty members and advisors who helped them decide what classes and majors would be the best fit for them.
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Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/meet-las-women-2016.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2016/MeetLASwomen2016bannerLAS.fw.png
September 08, 2016
307211
Take 5 with Dean Abramson
from Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush
This month, we chat with dean of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences about his previous career as a ski instructor, his passion for martial arts and history and his joy at working with Touro students.
1. Can you tell me about your background and education?
Growing up in a small town in Ontario, Canada, we were the only Jewish family. But my parents thought a Jewish education was very important, so at great personal sacrifice, they sent me to Yeshiva Eitz Chaim. Their dedication continues to be an inspiration.
I went on to study philosophy at the University of Toronto and Hebrew University. And what did I do after graduation? I became a professional ski instructor. When I met my wife—who was also a ski instructor—I realized I had to go back to school and get serious about my career. This time I studied history (at the time, I thought historians made more money than philosophers because they all wore suits and ties). I earned my Ph.D. in history from the University of Toronto. My dissertation was on the Jews of Ukraine. I continued my education with various post-doctoral and research fellowships at Cornell, Harvard, and Oxford Universities. Before joining Touro, I was a tenured Associate Professor of History and University Scholar of Judaica at Florida Atlantic University of Boca Raton.
2. Was there a seminal moment you can point to where you knew academia was the career you wanted to pursue? What do you like most about working at a college?
Yes. Everything changed when one of my professors gave me the typewriter upon which he wrote his most famous books (students, a typewriter is kind of like a machine that does Microsoft Word with no "delete" key). Working with enthusiastic, intelligent young people in the world of ideas is pretty much a dream occupation. I can't imagine anything better. The administrative aspect of the Dean's office is also thrilling because it allows me to build.
3. What accomplishments are you most proud of at Touro? What’s next for LAS?
I am pleased to see an increase in enrollment and increased student participation in the career fair. We have developed a Flatbush Honors program for students who have demonstrated academic excellence. Our Honors students are looking to make a contribution to the world and leave their mark on it. An adult education program for the community was also successfully introduced this year.
4. What advice do you give students?
If it's about choosing a major for a future career, I usually caution students to balance two factors: remuneration and fun. Having a high-paying job that you hate is a terrible fate, while finding a career you love can be debilitating if it doesn't pay the rent. Students have to strike a fine balance between money and job satisfaction.
5. What do you do in your spare time? What are your passions?
What is "spare time?" Before moving to New York I trained in Mixed Martial Arts, earning a high brown belt in Hisardut, which is a style of Israeli Krav Maga. I'm very interested in online education, and have a YouTube channel that features Jewish history lectures (right now it has almost 6,000 subscribers, and the lectures are viewed by more than 1,200 people every day). My current research interests are in the Holocaust writings of the Piaseczno Rebbe, and I hope to have a monograph on that subject completed by the end of the year.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/take-5-with-dean-abramson-.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2016/abramson2.jpg
September 30, 2016
307212
Top 5 Resume Myths
By Chaim Shapiro
Resumes are your job search calling card. It is the very first thing you need when you are looking for a job. Unfortunately, resumes are complex and confusing and not at all easy to produce. To borrow a line from Winnie the Pooh, "The most frustrating thing about resumes is that resumes are frustrating things!"
Perhaps even more frustrating are the prevalent resume myths that people accept as fact. Let's get ready to bust the top 5 resume myths, one by one!
1) There is a RIGHT way to make a Resume: I often speak to frustrated students who tell me that that they have received contradictory resume advice from multiple reliable sources. This is very common. There is little, to no, consensus on the "right" way to create your resume. You will get different options from different experts. I don't believe there is one "right" way to create a resume, but there certainly are wrong ways. Everyone agrees your resume has to look nice and be error-free. Beyond that, it really depends who you ask.
2) Stick to the page limit: I have heard a lot of different permutations of this one, like college resumes need to be one page, or that you can add an extra page to your resume for every ten years of work experience. I don't believe there is a magic formula, but I do believe that you should always use full pages with strong content. Do not go onto a second (or subsequent) page unless you have real accomplishments with which to fill it.
3) Put an "Objective" on your resume: Can we finally put this myth to rest? I personally believe objectives are remnants of the old days when people would send resumes via snail mail in order to specify to which job they were applying. Today, most of the process is automated. Resumes are sorted by job opening, so there is no need to express the specific position (and don’t get me started on the fluffy, meaningless statements people choose to include). Career Fair resumes may be an exception to this rule, because recruiters may be recruiting for numerous positions and it can be easy for a resume to be placed into the wrong pile.
4) Put your references on your resume: I see this all the time. References build your credibility, so I understand why people want to include their references on their resume, but it is simply not the place for it. Space on your resume is at a premium. Don't waste it with your references. The employers will ask you to provide your references when they are ready.
5) Create a PDF Version of your resume: Occasionally, different versions of word processors change the formatting on your resume. To avoid that, the argument goes, create a PDF version of your resume so that it looks the same whenever it is opened.
The problem is that most major companies use applicant tracing systems (ATS) that utilize scanning technology. Many of these systems do not read PDF's well. That means that the system may misread a PDF resume, and it may never get to the human review level, even if you used all the correct keywords.
Chaim Shapiro, M.Ed, is Director of the Touro College Office for Student Success
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/top-5-resume-myths.php
October 27, 2016
307213
Two Books at Twenty-four
LAS Graduate Ariella Schiller Says Touro Helped Her Write
She might be only 24, but Ariella Schiller already has two critically acclaimed Jewish best-sellers to her name.
Schiller, a graduate of Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush, published her first book, Dreams Delayed in 2015. Last month, Israel Bookshop released her second book, Silent Storms.
Schiller began working on her first novel novel while she was a student at LAS. She wrote most of it at Starbucks after her daily work as an intern at the Monsey Advocate.
“I was complaining to my mother (LCW Professor Michelle Tendler) about having to write political articles, and she said that since I had free time I might as well write something I wanted to write,” she recalled.
To develop her first book, Schiller drew her plot from the life of one of her friends. In the book, a bride-to-be loses her chosson right before the wedding.
“The point of the book psychologically was how she was left in limbo: she wasn’t a widow, but no longer a bride,” said Schiller, who lives in Jerusalem with her husband, who learns in kollel, and a son. “I delved into the journey of grieving, the mourning and the moving on.”
Schiller sent out a few chapters to New York’s The Jewish Press and it was published in installments. She says that the feedback she received was tremendous with letters coming in from across America and Canada.
Schiller credits the education she received at LAS and Touro in Israel in helping her craft her compelling stories, in particular, the classes taught by the poet Yehoshua November.
“So many of his rules stick with me when I write,” Schiller explained. “One of his best rules of writing was that the universal is in the particular. People relate to specifics instead of the universal because we are more similar than we realize.”
Other classes that helped? Psychology.
“My psychology classes have helped me with character development and plot development,” Schiller explained. “Good books have relatable characters and to have relatable characters you need to know how people think.”
Touro is a family affair for Schiller. Each of her six sisters is a graduate of LAS. Her mother Michelle Tendler is the head of the marketing department for Lander College for Women (LCW).
After the serialization was complete, Schiller sent the manuscript out to publishers and received several offers from houses like Feldheim and Targum. She chose to go with Israel Bookshop, a Lakewood-based publishing house.
Seeking a subject for her second book, Schiller’s mother recommended she write about a family friend who wasn’t able to have children.
“So many people are struggling with this and I was so scared to write about it,” Schiller said. While she performed research and spoke to infertility experts, she also looked inward after the birth of her own son. “I tried to imagine life without my son and felt I could touch on that void.”
Since being released, the book has sold briskly at Judaica stores around the country. However the best praise Schiller says she received was from an organization in Israel that deals with infertility in Jewish couples.
“They said it was the perfect piece,” Schiller recalled. “It was so heartening to know I touched on a sensitive topic and was right. That was all the reinforcement I needed.”
Schiller offers the following advice to other LAS students considering a career in writing.
“Don’t wait until you think you’re good or polished enough,” she said. “You’ll get there. What matters most is telling a good story. You are never too young—the younger you are, the more ready you are to take risks!”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-profile-ariella-schiller.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2016/ariella_schiller_family.jpg
November 30, 2016
307214
“Touro Was Always There for Me”
First Female Hasidic Judge Credits Touro
The first female Hasidic judge in the state of New York is a proud graduate of Lander College of Arts and Sciences.
The Honorable Ruchie Freier credits LAS with helping her fulfill her dream of becoming a a lawyer. “Touro was always there for me,” Freier explained. “They gave me the ability to transition from the Bais Yaakov high school graduate into the college student and then transition on to higher education, which was, in my case, law school.”
Freier began her law career as a legal secretary to support her husband while he learned in Kollel. After her husband graduated from Touro, Freier decided it was her turn to achieve a college degree. She completed her bachelor’s at LAS in 2001 and then began studying for her law degree at Brooklyn Law School.
A lifelong advocate, while Freier built her law practice and raised six children, she launched the first all-female EMT group, Ezras Nashim, and built a program to help at-risk children in the Jewish community. She is also a licensed paramedic and a pro-bono lawyer for New York Family Court. In September, she ran for a vacant civil court seat in Boro Park’s 5th District. She won the Democratic primary with 41 percent of the vote.
“The part of the community I would like to speak for is the segment that has no voice,” Freier explained. “If someone wants help, I want to be there to help them. Whether it was the children who were rejected from the school system or the women who wanted to serve others in pre-hospital emergency care... When you can have an impact on society, that’s what makes life worth living.”
While compromise is a tenet for most lawyers, there is one issue that Freier refuses to compromise on.
“You can be devoutly religious and conform to all the Torah standards and still be successful in the secular world,” she said. “Without compromising our standards and our values, Orthodox women can succeed.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-profile-ruchi-freier.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2016/ScreenShot2016-12-01at6.30.36PM.png
December 01, 2016
307215
Touro Professor Named Finalist in National Jewish Book Award Competition
Poet Yehoshua November on the Power of the Written Word
Two Worlds Exist, a book of poetry by Professor Yehoshua November, was selected as a finalist in the Poetry category of the 2016 National Jewish Book Awards.
November, who began writing in earnest during high school, teaches creative writing and composition at Touro.
At what point in your life did you know writing was your passion?
I started writing more consistently in high school, following in the footsteps of my older brother Baruch, who's also a poet and English instructor at Touro. When I was an undergrad at SUNY Binghamton, I was fortunate to gain the support and encouragement of my creative writing professors, whom I'm still in touch with today. (In fact, when I got married shortly after graduating, three of my professors traveled from Binghamton to Brooklyn to attend the wedding). Knowing that they believed in my work allowed me to take myself more seriously as a writer.
Can you give me a synopsis of the award-winning book? Any back story that led you to write it?
The book is a collection of poems. I didn't have any particular themes in mind. I just tried to write one poem at a time. In the end, as it turns out, many of the pieces focus on events in my childhood; a number of others touch on the challenges of raising a family. Some of the poems are meditations on Jewish identity and faith against the backdrop of contemporary life.
How did you feel when you heard about this honor?
It always feels surreal when you win a writing award. It almost seems like it's happening to someone else. In part, I think this is because, once a book is published, it kind of has a life of its own out there in the world. And as much as you hope your work will move people and be appreciated, you're never really sure how it will be received by readers and critics.
How do you transmit your passion for writing and the skills needed to be a good writer to your students at Touro?
I try to emphasize that, in a sense, a thought is only as strong as one's ability to express it clearly. Language or writing is a bridge between one's ideas and one's audience. Ultimately, however, the best way to inspire students has been to expose them to examples of powerful work, to let them see first-hand that the written word can change the way a reader thinks or feels.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/yehoshua-november-jewish-book-award-finalist.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2017/bookjacketYNovember.jpg
January 26, 2017
307216
Accounting Veteran and Technology Leader Makes his Home at LAS and LCW
Building a Bridge Between the Frum World and the Corporate One
As an established leader and successful professional, Yossef Newman came back to the place where it all began.
Brooklyn-born Newman began his work life with an internship at DE Shaw during his final semester as a student at Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush. He recalled his own time at Touro as being surrounded by supportive, driven and academically successful peers. “It was a good chevra,” he acknowledged. “Everyone has gone on to be successful—either as professionals in business or in the yeshiva and rabbinic world.”
Newman stressed the practicality of the education he received at LAS. During his interview for DE Shaw, an interviewer threw out a series of highly technical questions on a very specific topic. As it turned out, the topic had been covered very thoroughly by his instructor at LAS, including practical tips and approaches that allowed him to answer these focused questions with accuracy and confidence.
Newman eventually left DE Shaw to accept a position at Deloitte, one of the “Big Four” accounting firms. After gaining experience within the audit practice at Deloitte, Newman was drawn to the opportunities he saw in the emerging field of data analytics and transferred to Deloitte’s national office where he joined a research and development team focused on accounting and auditing technology. While at the national office, Newman progressed through the corporate ranks and was promoted to audit director in 2008. One of his Touro classmates, Chaim Hershkowitz had returned to teach accounting at the college and reached out to Newman to see if he wanted to teach a class. Citing his busy work life, Newman declined.
In 2013 he left Deloitte to join a colleague in founding a boutique data analytics consulting firm. The initial focus of his consulting work was on accounting and financial data within government and the not-for-profit sector. With the ability to make his own schedule, he finally took up Professor Hershkowitz’s offer. His first class was on government accounting, just the field that his firm was specializing in. Teaching came naturally to Newman, as a recognized leader in his field, he was used to speaking in front of crowds, large and small.
While he attained no shortage of professional success during his career, Newman says that teaching at Touro grants him another sort of fulfillment: that of helping his community.
“I see myself in many of my students,” stated Newman, who teaches classes at LAS and Lander College for Women/The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School (LCW). “I can relate to their experiences, both those they have already had as well as those they are likely to face as they move forward professionally. It allows me to share my experiences with them and enable their successes going forward.”
He says the highlight of his teaching career occurs outside of the classroom, in the innumerable one-on-one sessions he has with his students, usually after class ends. He functions as a conduit, helping his students transition into the professional world and preparing them to navigate the occasionally challenging experiences they may face in the corporate sphere.
Ari Schlussel, 22, of Lawrence, who is studying accounting at LAS, said he called Newman on his cell-phone for a quick accounting question; he ended up talking with him for an hour about life. “He’s such a nice guy,” said Schlussel. “He is just so full of information.”
“He’s really helpful,” said LCW student Yael Parkoff who had an internship last summer at Deloitte. “Anything he can do to help us, he does.”
While taking the initial step to teach at Touro was a big commitment Newman says that “it has been more rewarding” than he could have imagined. In fact, instead of limiting or decreasing his teaching load over the years he chose to increase it. He became a full professor of accounting in LAS and LCW this year.
“For decades, Touro has had a solid business program,” Newman said. “We have quality courses taught by professionals with world-class experience. The only thing we lack are distractions.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/lcw-las-professor-profile-yossef-newman-2017.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-women/content-assets/images/stories/2017/YossefNewman-1195x1196.jpg
January 27, 2017
307217
“The New York Tenacity”
Employers Praise Touro Graduates at 2017 Career Fair
Bita Goldman, general counsel and corporate vice president of Quantum Networks, one of Amazon’s leading e-commerce retailers, knows what trait she likes in Touro graduates: tenacity.
“We met a Touro graduate at the career fair and we didn’t have a position for her, but she didn’t give up,” said Goldman, whose company works with sellers on the internet’s largest marketplace and maintains its own product site. “She stayed in touch and eventually we created a position for her.”
The Touro grad became Goldman’s assistant before moving into operations and then, after a steady series of promotions, became a brand manager at the company, forging relationships with sellers and helping Quantum Networks maintain its premier status as one of Amazon’s 200 Preferred Sellers. For her work anniversary, the company surprised her with a trip to Vegas and tickets to see a concert by her favorite performer.
“We like grit,” explained Goldman. “We like this New York tenacity that Touro graduates have.”
Goldman and her company were one of the close to 40 employers that turned up at Touro’s biannual Career Fair, held on March 1 at Lander College for Women—The Mark and Anna Ruth Hasten School (LCW). Employers ranged from leading healthcare providers to NGOs and the top five accounting firms. Graduates and students came from several Touro schools, including LCW, Lander College for Men (LCM); Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush (LAS) and the School of Health Sciences (SHS).
Ron Ansel, Director of Career Services at LCM, who had primary responsibility for the event, said the career fair is an intensive three-month collaborative effort by the Career Services departments of LCM, LCW, and LAS Flatbush.
“We collaborate twice a year to bring our respective students and alumni to interview with employers who have full time positions and internships,” said Ansel. “It is a demanding effort that we feel benefits everyone involved -- students, alumni, employers, and the Touro faculty and administration. The turnout at this fair was especially strong!”
Chaim Shapiro, Director of LAS’s Office of Student Success, praised the event.
“The career fair was a very successful event both from the student and the employer perspectives,” he said. “It truly represents a symbiotic relationship which is beneficial to both. It is always great to see the connections made between career-oriented professional and prepared students and the employers who would like to hire them.”
“The career fair is an opportunity for our students to meet face-to-face with employers, to be able to practice their interviewing skills and to show their abilities in order to obtain internships or full-time positions,” added Sarri Singer, Director of Career Services at LCW. “In today’s competitive world every student needs to take advantage of every opportunity in front of them.”
Companies included Canon, B & H Photo, the FBI, the New York Parks Service, New York City Transit, EisnerAmper; PricewaterhouseCooper, KPMG, Deloitte and the Jewish Community Relations Council.
Brandishing her resume, Mori Berman was a strong candidate for any position. A dual major in biology and psychology in her first year at LCW, Berman was hunting for an internship. “Touro prepared me for this,” she said. “Even if I don’t land an internship, I’m networking and making connections. I’m gaining experience interviewing and getting to learn more about different companies.”
Companies also used the opportunity to get a better feel for the Touro students.
“Having a 4.0 is important, but not as important as having a positive attitude and being a team player,” advised Michael Liss, an auditor at EisnerAmper.
His fellow auditor Abraham Yi concurred: “We’re meeting potential people that we would be happy to work with.”
Yosef Kasle, an accounting major in LAS, looked for part-time position at a small accounting firm.
“It’s worthwhile to make the connections and learn how to be more comfortable in interviews,” he reflected.
Standing head and shoulders above the crowd (he’s over 6’7), Pablo Schiavi, a business major in LAS who came to the college from Argentina, said he felt prepared for the interviews and his career beyond. He credits the small class sizes in LAS and the faculty relationships he forged.
“Classes here are small and so focused,” he said. “The professors are great. You feel ready for the working world.”
David Kaufman, a senior at LCM, thought that learning Judaic studies alongside his secular classes made him an attractive candidate for employers. “The dual curriculum at LCM really sharpened my analytical skills,” he said.
As with many other Touro career fairs, successful Touro graduates were also on the other side of the table, interviewing students for internships and full-time positions. Ruth Volk of EisnerAmper and Ariella Steinreich of Steinreich Communications are graduates of LCW.
“The reason I come to the career fair is because I recognize the opportunity Touro gave me,” Said Steinreich. “It’s my hope to do the same.”
She also offered some advice to students who were nervous during their interviews. “We’re not looking for you to solve the puzzle, we’re looking for you to be interested in finding the right pieces.”
“Everything Sarri Singer [director of career services for LCW] told us when we were preparing for job interviews—how to dress, how to format our resume—is now exactly what I look for when I interview people,” said Volk, an auditor. “I’m always impressed by how prepared Touro students are.”
Sarah Cohen, a computer science major at LCW, was one of those students. “Touro prepares you for your professional life from the moment you step on campus,” she said.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/spring-career-fair-2017.php
March 18, 2017
307218
From Belarus to Brooklyn
Open Curtain Program Allows Jewish Students to Be Religious and Receive Education
A Ba’alat Teshuva graduate of Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush will be spending next year as a kiruv educator.
Belarus-born Natalia (Nechama) Khazanovich grew up in a small village called Kalinkovichy. After attending a religious Jewish camp in her hometown, Nechama slowly found herself being drawn back to her Jewish roots.
“I loved the life,” she recalled. “I loved Shabbat and keeping kosher.”
When she turned 12, she began dorming at the Yad Yisroel school in Pinsk and after graduation, she was given the choice of going to seminary in England, Israel or participating in Touro’s Open Curtain program where she would be in both seminary and college. The program allows young women from Russia and Belarus to receive a full tuition scholarship. She chose Touro and arrived in 2010.
“I chose America, because I wanted to get an education and be religious,” she stated. “It was a perfect match.”
The Open Curtain Program at LAS has been operating for over a decade. It was launched by Dr. Bernard Lander, z’l, Touro's founding president, with the encouragement of Harav Shmuel Kaminetsky, shlita. More than 20 women from the program are currently enrolled in LAS.
“With this unique program, where all students receive full tuition Touro scholarships, Touro is educating young women from Russia and Belarus to raise religious families, while preparing them to earn a parnosah with dignity in various professional fields,” said LAS Dean Robert Goldschmidt.
In Belarus, it was almost impossible to be religious, in Flatbush, Nechama says, it was almost natural with shuls, stores and kosher restaurants everywhere. The first year was the most difficult for her as she adapted to a new language and a new culture. Fortunately, Nechama had several friends from her high school with her as part of the Open Curtain program and the many new friends she met at Touro. Her host family, the Egerts, became her second family.
“I enjoyed all of my classes,” said Nechama, adding her favorites were Sign Language and the myriad of psychology courses she took in LAS.
“No one’s scared to be Jewish in America,” she added. “In Russia, you keep your Judaism hidden.”
After she graduates this year with a degree in psychology, Nechama will be working at a Chabad preschool in Brighton Beach that caters to the non-Orthodox population. Several of her Touro peers worked there and told her about an opening for a bilingual educator. She jumped at the chance.
“I love working in kiruv, because I became religious through Kiruv,” stated Nechama. “There are stories of families becoming religious after sending their kids to this school and I wanted to help and be a part of that.”
Nechama’s brother is currently a student in the Open Curtain program for men at Lander College for Men (LCM). Nechama said this is all a dream for her.
“Touro gave me the biggest opportunity: they gave me an education and the freedom to be who I want to be,” she said.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-student-nechama.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2017/Nechama-814x814.jpg
May 07, 2017
307219
A Ben Torah and a Doctor
Simcha Bordon: Valedictorian of the School for Men at Lander College of Arts and Science
On Sunday, May 28 Simcha Bordon will graduate as the valedictorian of the School for Men at Lander College of Arts and Sciences. This summer Simcha will begin his studies at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Growing up in London, Simcha never imagined he would choose to become a doctor. In high school the focus of Simcha’s studies was humanities rather than science and he specialized in history, politics and economics. After high school he traveled to America to study at Passaic Yeshiva, followed by a seven year stint in Israel at Yeshivas Brisk.
Simcha’s father-in-law, Dr. Chaim Kabalkin, a cardiologist at NYU attended medical school after spending many years in yeshiva, and Simcha was inspired by his ability to combine life as a ben Torah and as a physician, and he realized that the same path could be open to him too. The constantly evolving nature of medicine, coupled with the opportunity to provide compassionate care is what attracted Simcha to the field of medicine.
Touro is a family tradition for Simcha. His wife Naomi graduated from Lander College of Arts and Sciences, and his sister-in-law, Avigail is a current student. Dr. Kabalkin is also an alumnus of Touro.
During college Simcha seized every opportunity to advance his goals. He is especially proud of the research on treating Alzheimer’s disease that he did at Haddassah University, in Jerusalem, with Professor Marta Weinstock. He also made Dean’s List every semester, shadowed physicians and was a volunteer tutor with Chai Lifeline all while starting a family. (His third child was born in March.)
“Simcha is an outstanding example of a Ben Torah who concurrently has achieved excellence in his pre-medical studies, in pursuit of his goal of becoming a caring and compassionate physician who will serve the needs of our community. We are extremely proud of his accomplishments," said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, executive vide president of Touro and dean of Lander College of Arts and Sciences.
Simcha feels prepared for medical school thanks to the intellectual rigor and faculty engagement at Touro. “Touro has small classes so the learning is interactive with a constant back and forth,” he said. He thanks Dr. Emil Kon and Dr. Melech Press for teaching him how to apply everything he has learned and use it to reach the next level.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/simcha-bordon-valedictorian-17.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2017/SimchaBordon-ValedictorianLASResized-843x901.jpg
May 25, 2017
307220
A Quick Mind and an Accurate Answer
Rachel Tabi: Valedictorian of the School for Women at Lander College of Arts and Sciences
Rachel Tabi speaks quickly; she always sounds ready for the next question. Her ability to do math just as quickly and accurately has made her a top student and the valedictorian of the Women’s School at Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS). While at Touro, she earned an annual academic scholarship and was recognized by Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
Rachel majored in actuarial mathematics at Touro and will graduate with a G.P.A of 3.9. “I loved it. It’s very difficult but I enjoyed the challenge,” she said. One reason Rachel chose LAS was the opportunity to study math with Professor Eli Cohen. “He teaches you how to think and understand complex information as opposed to simply following directions,” she said.
Most students dread the professional exams that are required of all actuaries. Rachel, on the other hand, thrives on the challenge. She has already passed four of them and is studying for her fifth.
In September she will begin her career as an actuarial associate in the benefits department at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. She is eager to put her education into practice. Many professions require a background in math but actuarial professionals apply high-level math skills on a daily basis. Rachel enjoys the combination of probability and finance that her new job entails.
“Rachel, who spent a year at Darchei Binah seminary in Israel, has demonstrated exceptional achievement in mathematics by passing multiple actuarial tests, outperforming what most college graduates in this field usually do. She shows great promise for advancing rapidly in the profession and becoming a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. Coupled with her personality and focus on helping others , she will no doubt create a Kidush Hashem in the professional world,” said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, dean of Lander College of Arts and Science.
Rachel’s love for challenges extends beyond the classroom. She takes time to stay physically fit and hopes to run a marathon one day. She also enjoys literature and finds an outlet for her creativity in sewing. Because education is so important to Rachel, she takes pleasure in helping others learn and grow. She provided one-on-one GED and New York State Regents preparation for developmentally challenged students and coached academically and behaviorally challenged students in appropriate social skills. She also tutors in math.
"It always feels great when one is recognized for accomplishments", said Rachel. "I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to give back to my parents and grandparents. They have supported me in so many ways throughout my journey, and I know an honor as such gives them absolute pleasure and joy."
A lifelong Brooklynite, Rachel followed her three sisters to LAS. Her older sister, Sara, majored in math and is now an actuary at Mercer. Tzipora earned an M.S. at Touro’s Graduate School of Education. Chana is pursuing her MS in education there right now.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/rachel-tabi-valedictorian-17.php
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May 25, 2017
307221
The Crowds Come Out to Celebrate the Class of 2017 Graduates of Touro’s Lander Division
Presidential Advisor Jason Dov Greenblatt Delivers Keynote
Friends and family members joined in a celebration for the 42nd Annual Commencement of Touro College on May 28, Memorial Day weekend, at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center.
592 baccalaureate degrees, along with 129 associate degrees, were conferred on candidates from Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush, Lander College for Men (LCM), Lander College for Women (LCW), Machon L’Parnasa/The Institute for Professional Studies and The School for Lifelong Education (SLE).
During the ceremony, guests heard speeches from the valedictorians of LAS: Simcha Borden and Rochel Tabi; valedictorian of LCM: Steven “Lippy” Treitel; and valedictorian of LCW: Meira Goldberg.
LAS Men’s Valedictorian Simcha Borden spent five years at the exclusive Brisk Yeshiva in Israel before attending LAS. In his remarks he thanked the LAS faculty and praised the school’s academic rigor. He will be attending the Albert Einstein College of Medicine next year.
“Our challenge is acknowledging that this is only the beginning,” he said as part of his wide-ranging philosophical address that included a brief discussion of quantum physics, Socratic wisdom and the Talmud.
LCW valedictorian Meira Goldberg spoke about how students should face their future.
“True nobility is being better than your former self,” Goldberg explained.
LCM valedictorian Lippy Treitel spoke about Rabbi Akiva and how the sage’s example continues to guide the Jewish people.
Dr. Mark Hasten, Chairman of the Board, delivered a brief speech about his close friend, Touro College and University System founder and first president, the late Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander.
“Touro College and University System is the largest producer of health education in the world,” stated Dr. Hasten, noting that Touro has five medical schools, two pharmacy schools and a brand new dental school. “This is what Dr. Lander built and we are building on this strong foundation.”
Dr. Alan Kadish, President of Touro College, spoke of the significance of Memorial Day and the gratitude the Jewish people have towards America’s armed forces. He also spoke of the challenges the students will face in the professional world.
“Each of you can make a difference to yourself, to your family, to klal yisrael and the world,” Dr. Kadish said.
Jason Dov Greenblatt, an Assistant to the President of the United States and Special Representative for International Negotiations, was the keynote speaker and recipient of an honorary degree. He was introduced by both Dr. Kadish and Rabbi Moshe Krupka, the executive vice president of Touro College and University System. Both men spoke of the contributions Greenblatt made on behalf of both the Jewish community and secular world at large—from his work with a Jewish youth organization to a popular parenting website he developed with his wife-- all while staying true and firm to his religious beliefs and commitments.
Rabbi Moshe Krupka called Greenblatt’s work an “ongoing Kiddush Hashem, a sanctification of God’s name.” Speaking to Greenblatt, Rabbi Krupka commended him. “You serve as a role model for Jewish youth as you maintain your Jewish identity while maintaining professional excellence in a secular workplace. You are the embodiment of universal Jewish values of integrity and humility.”
“You show that Torah study and Shmirat HaMitzvot is not a challenge to success in one’s career but the foundation to what one creates and achieves,” said Dr. Kadish.
After receiving his honorary degree, Greenblatt spoke about his own remarkable history and the unlikely journey he, the son of a Holocaust survivor and a Hungarian refugee, took to the halls of the White House.
A career or two after graduating New York University’s Law School, Greenblatt was recruited by the Trump Organization and spent twenty years rising up the corporate ladder until he became the Chief Legal Officer.
“None of us can predict tomorrow’s twists and turns,” Greenblatt advised. “What I would like to impress upon each of you today is the importance of keeping an open mind, embracing new opportunities and maintaining the willingness to reinvent yourselves and the resilience to do so.”
“When you find yourself in a comfort zone, that might actually be the right time to step out,” he continued. “When we challenge ourselves to take risks we avoid having to ask ourselves the two saddest words of the English language: What if?”
It was an especially important lesson for Greenblatt who said that he and his wife and children had to do a lot of soul searching about whether or not to accept his offer of working at the White House. After speaking it over with his wife and children, he realized they could not pass up the opportunity and, in fact, they believe he had an obligation to serve the United States.
“If we could help the United States, a country that has been so good to us and our families, how could we not step up and serve no matter the sacrifice?” he asked. “Others have sacrificed far, far more for our country.”
Greenblatt concluded his speech with some words of advice, an exhortation, and a blessing. “Don’t define yourself by your profession,” Greenblatt counseled. “Define yourself by how you interact with others and the differences you make in their lives. May you work very hard to make our world a better place.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/lander-commencement-2017.php
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June 07, 2017
307222
“More Important Than Having Potential is Acting Upon It”
39 Students from Touro Undergraduate Schools Join Psi Chi Honor Society
Thirty-nine students from the Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush (both the men’s and women’s division), Lander College for Men in Queens, Lander College for Women in Manhattan, and the School for Lifelong Education in Borough Park were welcomed into the prestigious Psi Chi Honor Society on June 12.
Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, honors and recognizes undergraduate students who make the study of psychology one of their major interests and who achieve academic excellence in the field. Touro College established its chapter of Psi Chi in November 2011. The honors society was created in 1929.
The top 30 percent of psychology students by GPA are inducted into the honor society and the ceremony, which took place in the main reading room at LAS in Flatbush, was well-attended by the newest honor society members. Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Vice President and Executive Dean, delivered introductory remarks as he counseled students to continue their academic excellence.
“More important than having potential is acting upon it,” he told the assembled students.
Chair of the LAS psychology department Dr. Melech Press emphasized that this ceremony “marks considerable achievement,” after which Dr. Barbara Rumain, associate professor at LAS and faculty advisor to Touro’s Psi Chi chapter, began the formal Psi Chi proceedings.
“Scholarship means more than the attainment of an honorable record, it demands that you not be content with merely adequate performance of the task required of you, but that you strive for real mastery of the subjecttowhich you are devoting your mind,” said Dr. Rumain.
Afterwards students collectively accepted the conditions of membership and were called upon individually to sign their names on documentation.
LAS alum Rachel Rosen was one student who will be putting her psychology education to good use as she pursues a Psy. D degree at LIU next year.
“I was intrigued by how the mind affects how we behave,” she explained about her interest. “Every class in psychology was so intense it made me realize how much I enjoy the science behind it.”
While many of the students will not be pursuing a career in psychology, all the students spoke of the beneficial effects learning about psychology has had for them.
Eliya Bernstein, a student at LCM, will be pursuing rabbinic ordination and becoming a teacher. He said psychology was necessary in everyday life.
“If you’re dealing with people, you need to understand them,” he said.
LAS student Gila Levitin plans to put what she learned in her psychology classes towards her future career as an occupational therapist.
“I’ve always been interested in how the mind works,” she said. “As an occupational therapist, a lot of what we do with patients is dependent on their individual mind-set.”
Congratulations to all the honorees:
Avraham JacobJonathan ZomickYosef KoppelEliya BernsteinNechoma LiebermanGila LevitinChaim LebtoGavriel GulamovHanna MandelbaumChava SternChaya WaxlerEsther MaytelesToby DiamondShira VannAryeh SchwartzChana LipsiusJoshua BlockMenachem KleinmanBracha GoldbergerEva HendlerRochel SchoenbergAtara GruenbaumElazar LaksLeah SorokaAharon TwerskyRachel RosenMalky ZymanBracha BermanJennifer SnyderBatsheva PollakJudith SilberBrocha FrankelYosef BermanYitzchak ShalevEsther Walkenfeld Joseph WeberAtara MagderEsther SchachterDevora Panish
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-psi-chi-honor-society-2017.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2017/IMG_1297.JPG
June 28, 2017
307223
“You Don’t Have to Compromise”
LAS Grad and Hebrew University’s Youngest Doctoral Candidate Talks About Science & Family
After her sister’s death from acute Leukemia, Nechama Silverstein felt herself drawn to science and medicine. After graduating from Prospect Park Bnos Leah High School, Silverstein wanted a rigorous academic program without having to compromise her religious identity. She chose Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush where she found a program that challenged her, professors that inspired her, and a path to a stellar professional career.
At LAS, Silverstein said her professors’ infectious enthusiasm about science had a profound effect on her.
"They gave over their motivation, dedication, and love of science to me," she said.
After marrying, Silverstein and her husband moved to Israel. She earned a MSC from Hadassah School of Dental Medicine where she graduated at the top of her class and was also the only religious woman in the program. During her studies, she published two well-received research papers about the role of a protein in tooth enamel and its effects on overall body health and received the Luxembourg Award, Hebrew University Academic Excellence Award. Afterwards, and now a mother of three children, she completed a Ph.D. in biochemistry at Hebrew University where she studied the role of glutamate transporters, a family of neuro transmitters that move glutamate, amino acids, across cell membranes. While pursuing her PhD she was the recipient of The Ani Shaki Prize, Hebrew University Academic Excellence Award and a Travelling Scholarship for Excellent PhD Students from the Research Authority of The Hebrew University.
"Once we figure out how they work, we can manipulate them,” she said. “We hope that what we’re doing will allow for more precise drug targeting."
Silverstein describes her work as a cumulative process where she works with scientists across the globe as they create building blocks that she hopes can one day be used in life-saving processes.
"There’s a tremendous power to science and research,” explained Silverstein. “There is also the basic quest for knowledge and understanding of how our body works and the beauty of creation."
Currently, Silverstein teaches chemistry and physics at Touro College Israel and chemistry at the Michlalah Jerusalem College for Women. She has a powerful message for her students.
"It’s possible to fulfill your dreams,” said Silverstein. “It’s possible to marry someone who is learning Torah, to be a mother and to move to Israel. At the same time, you can also have an extremely fulfilling professional career. You don’t have to compromise."
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-nechama-silverstein-video.php
July 07, 2017
307224
“We Built a University”
Founding Faculty Member Dr. Emil Kon to Take Sabbatical
After 46 years of uninterrupted service, Dr. Emil Kon, professor of chemistry at Lander College for Arts and Sciences in Flatbush and Lander College for Women—The Anne Ruth and Mark Hasten School in Manhattan and one of Touro’s founding faculty members— will finally be taking a sabbatical.
Friends, family and colleagues gathered for a farewell celebration on August 3 at Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush to celebrate Dr. Kohn’s myriad achievements and his history with the school.
Lander College of Arts and Science Dean and Touro Vice President Dr. Robert Goldschmidt opened the celebration, noting that Dr. Kon “might be the only academic professor in the US who waited 46 years for his first sabbatical.”
What followed was a trip through Dr. Kon’s colorful life, a journey that included the beginnings of both Touro and the State of Israel. Born in Poland, Dr. Kon’s family fled to then-Palestine before the outbreak of the Holocaust. He fought as a member of the Haganah in Israel’s War of Independence before pursuing his education in Zurich where he met his wife Edith. Afterwards, they emigrated to the United States where Dr. Kon completed his Ph.D. at NYU and enjoyed a successful career as a chemist. In 1971, his close friend Dr. Bernard Lander recruited him to join a fledgling institution, a place where he has remained ever since.
Dr. Goldschmidt spoke of Dr. Kon’s almost half-a-century dedication to the institution and its students. When the water broke in Touro’s original building, Dr. Kon carried up pails of water to the twelfth floor to make sure the students wouldn’t miss a lab class. Since 1995, Dr. Goldschmidt explained, twice a week Dr. Kohn began his day at LCW’s campus at nine in the morning, continued his work at LAS in the afternoon and returned home via two trains to the Upper West Side late in the evening. (Dr. Goldschmidt noted that Dr. Kon rarely asked for a taxi back, with the possible exception of New Year’s Eve.)
Participants of the celebration were also able to witness part of Dr. Kon’s career thanks to a powerpoint presentation of old year book photos, a list of students from LAS and LCW that continued to medical school as well as personal dedications from older Touro graduates who studied with Dr. Kon.
Dr. Alan Kalker, a successful podiatrist who graduated from Touro in 1975, wrote, “You may have forgotten me, but I haven’t forgotten you.”
“Your presence is something we are going to miss,” Dr. Goldschmidt said.
LCW Dean and Touro Vice President Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike called Dr. Kon an embodiment of LCW’s slogan: “Academic excellence and Torah values.”
“So many students owe their careers to Dr. Kon,” she said. “You had an illustrious career; you have become a legend.”
Colleague Dr. Meir Peikes, an associate professor of finance at LAS and LCW, spoke of his own close relationship with Dr. Kon. Dr Peikes’s wife, son and his son-in-law took chemistry classes with Dr. Kon and both professors spent time together in Israel. Dr. Peikes also recalled Dr. Kon’s stunning erudition and the eighteen years he spent learning with a study partner to master the Jerusalem Talmud.
“We are going to miss Dr Kon’s Divrei Torah and his political analysis, but above all we’ll miss Dr. Kon,” said Dr. Peikes.
Dr. Kon was presented with the iconic LCW Hasten mezuzah, an institutional plaque, and a bouquet of roses for his wife. He was also presented with a silver Kiddush cup with saucer sponsored by the participants of the celebration.
Asked for his own thoughts on his sabbatical, Kon laughed. “I still have to go through with it.” Then turning serious, he spoke about the 46 years he spent at Touro. “We accomplished something. We built a university.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-kon-celebration.php
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August 16, 2017
307225
"Because It's a Great Place"
LAS Men Sign up for Classes and Share Why They Chose LAS
With the start of the new academic year, male students at Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush signed up for their classes and met with their academic advisors on September 6. We spoke with several attendees about their ambitious plans for their college careers and their hopes for the future.
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Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/meet-male-students-2017.php
September 17, 2017
307226
Students Excited for New Year at LAS-Flatbush Women’s Division
“I Wanted an In-Depth Learning Experience.”
More than 210 women signed up for their first classes at Lander College for Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush. Students—hailing from Brooklyn, Queens, Monsey, Lakewood, Passaic, Long Island, seven other states and four countries (Australia, Canada, Israel and Gibraltar)—met with academic advisors and learned about the various majors the college offers. The room was abuzz with a steady murmur of students thinking about their future.
Adina Cohen, of Kew Gardens, said she planned on becoming a physical therapist and intended to apply to Touro’s School of Health Sciences as soon as she completed her pre-requisites as part of LAS’s pre-PT program.
“It’s a medical field without needles,” Cohen explained about her field of choice. She said she had a very specific reason for choosing LAS: “I know I’m not going to be an undergraduate for a very long time, but I wanted an in-depth learning experience,” she said.
LAS’s flexibility also enables her to work full-time as a teacher’s assistant at the Beis Yaakov of Queens.
The sentiment was echoed by several students who signed up for classes ranging from Calculus to Introduction to Programming, and Literature of the Holocaust to Introduction to Public Speaking.
“The energy and excitement are palpable as the students prepare for a new semester filled with opportunity,” said Chaim Shapiro, director of LAS’s Office of Student Success.
Student Esther Abady said she had signed up for chemistry, micro-economics, pre-calculus, and basketball. “Hopefully I’ll go to medical school afterwards,” she said.
Lander College of Arts and Sciences Dean and Touro College Vice President Dr. Robert Goldschmidt said this year’s class was “very promising.”
“We are excited for the new school year,” he said. “We are welcoming a group of highly talented students to LAS. Many have studied in Israel and many are interested in the sciences. The new class incudes 19 students accepted to the LAS Flatbush Honors Program.”
This year, the school boasts two impressive new faculty members: Dr. John Loike, a former full-time professor at Columbia University who will be joining the Touro faculty as a full-time professor; and Dr. Jonathan Parach, an adjunct professor at Columbia Medical School, who will teach medical physiology.
The beginning of classes also marked the end to some students’ career at LAS. Leah Gancz, a Biology major, will be taking her last classes this semester before applying to medical school.
“The classes were small and amazing,” Gancz said about her time at LAS. “In the last few semesters I took a lot of chemistry classes with Dr. Evan Mintzer. Because of the small class sizes, he was able to cater the course to our needs. I loved it.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/meet-women-students-2017.php
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October 03, 2017
307227
Tikkun Olam in Nepal
Students from Touro Undergraduate Schools Organize Medical Mission
The Nepali children who gathered around Lander College for Men (LCM) student Eli Pollack as he tried to teach them to juggle might have noticed something different about him: his kippah.
Pollack together with twelve other students from LCM, Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush, and New York School of Career and Applied Sciences (NYSCAS), spent a week in Nepal this summer running medical camps and touring the country.
While the kippah might have surprised the children, the children had their own surprise for Pollack.
“I was surprised by how happy and well-behaved the kids were,” said Pollack. “I thought it would be different because of how poor the country is.”
The medical mission for Orthodox Jews was largely the work of Leah Gancz, a biology major and senior at LAS-Flatbush.
“I always wanted to do a medical mission,” recalled Gancz. “But it’s hard to keep Shabbat and kosher if you’re the only person who is observant. I asked in my chemistry class at the Avenue J Campus if anyone would be interested in joining and seven or eight people raised their hands.”
She brought her idea to Touro President Dr. Allan Kadish who was receptive to the proposal. Dr. Kadish, in turn, put her in touch with Touro Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Krupka, to make it happen.
“There are all these undergraduates who want to go into medicine, and try to get some experience in the field,” said Gancz. “But there is a limit of what we’re able to see. Performing a medical mission allows us to see what it’s like in a country where they don’t have the same access to medicine as we do in the United States. It gives you a better appreciation of the field you’re going into.”
Gancz also contacted Chabad in Nepal and made arrangements for kosher food.
Gancz’s Orthodox faith also motivated her to plan the trip.
“There’s a Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam,” Gancz stated. “It means fixing the world. We’re supposed to go out into the world and try to make it better. Helping out in Nepal truly made a difference for the people there.”
When a first location in South America was decided to be too dangerous because of the Zika virus, Gancz considered Nepal.
She reached out to International Volunteer HQ, a New Zealand-based non-profit that organizes volunteer travel missions, and they put her in touch with Nepali Vertical Ascent. “Fifty-seven percent of people in Nepal live below the poverty line,” said Gancz. “We figured that whatever help we could give them would be welcome.”
Gancz recruited students from across Touro. Each was required to raise $400 for medical supplies along with covering their own flight. The trip was divided between working at make-shift hospital centers and touring. The group was chaperoned by Steve Jacobs, a professor at Touro’s School of Health Sciences Physician Assistant-Bayshore (Winthrop Campus) program. The trip was partially sponsored by Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM).
During the first part of the trip, the students, along with two Nepali doctors, set up a medical camp inside two schools in Kathmandu. Students took the vitals of more than 200 children, while giving them a quick evaluation before sending them to the doctors. Scabies, lice and vitamin deficiencies were common.
Many of the children also had issues with their teeth.
“We saw a lot of mouths full of tooth decay,” she said. The group provided the children with toothbrushes and toothpaste and spoke to them about the importance of oral health.
The group was surprised by the general positive atmosphere in the schools and how welcoming the Nepali population was.
“I didn’t realize how happy the kids were,” said NYSCAS student Ben Barris. “I thought the kids would be down but it was the opposite. The kids were very happy. It was eye-opening. We’re so lucky for what we have in the United States. I gained appreciation for it.”
For the third day, the students set up a medical camp in a rural village in Pokhara.
“Almost everyone had super high blood pressure,” recalled Barris. “The older they got, the more likely they were to have high blood pressure.”
The rest of the week the group toured Nepal engaged in a variety of activities including hiking and paragliding.
Gancz said she is planning to return to Nepal after she finishes medical school.
“I hope to go back as professional and help out more people,” she explained. “The trip changed the way I saw things. I came back and looked at how much I had and I thought about how happy the people in Nepal were. It made me wonder if all of this stuff we have is really that necessary.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-nepal-2017.php
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October 16, 2017
307229
LAS Students Learn About Touro's Medical, Dental and Pharmacy Schools
"The Interview is Key"
Looking for a Shomer Shabbat residency? Look no farther than New York Medical College (NYMC), part of the Touro College and University system.
That was one of the facts that students at Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) learned during a wide-ranging discussion for pre-dental and pre-med students presented at the campus last month. More than 50 LAS students listened intently to NYMC's Chancellor and CEO Dr. Edward Halperin; Touro College of Dental Medicine Senior Associate Dean Dr. Edward Farkas; and Touro College of Pharmacy (TCOP) Dean Dr. Henry Cohen.
"The fact that we're holding this event is a reflection of our commitment to your future," stated LAS Dean and Touro College Vice President Dr. Robert Goldschmidt. Also in attendance were several professors and chairs at LAS including: Dean Dr. Henry Abramson; Dr. Robert Bressler, Dr. Evan Minzer; and Dr. Najmunisa Abassi.
Touro Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Krupka moderated the panel and spoke about Touro’s commitment to its students.
"At Touro, you will never have to choose between your religious convictions and your career goals," explained Rabbi Krupka.
Rabbi Krupka also enumerated the other perks that NYMC offers to religious students: an eruv, daily minyanim, shiurim, Daf Yomi and an OU-supervised kosher kitchen. NYMC also leads the nation in offering Shomer Shabbat residencies through their affiliate hospitals across New York.
"Touro has nearly 18,000 students," Rabbi Krupka said. "And every one of them is incredibly important to us."
Dr. Halperin spoke about some things students should consider before applying to medical school, including the school’s mission, curriculum and clinical material. Medical schools vary in what they focus on, he elaborated. Some medical schools have a strong focus on research, while others focus more on producing primary care physicians.
"One mission isn’t better than another," said Halperin. "They’re just different and you have to decide what fits with your personal goals and objectives."
He advised students to know what type of education they wanted before entering medical school. Dr. Halperin also delivered practical tips for the medical school interview—or any interview—including showing up on time, maintaining eye contact and dressing conservatively. Halperin also advised students to send thank-you cards to their interviewer afterwards.
"It’s an interview the moment you step on campus until the moment you get into your car to leave,” Dr. Halperin said.
TCOP Dean Henry Cohen also stressed the importance of the interview in the pharmacy school admissions process.
"The key is the interview," Dr. Cohen said during his powerpoint presentation about the broad possibilities of a career in pharmacy. The pharmacy industry has changed, explained Dr. Cohen, and while most people are familiar with a pharmacist’s role in a chain pharmacy, there are additional professional options including drug development, ambulatory care and hospital-based positions.
"Two-thirds of pharmacy students go into practice after graduating," said Dr. Cohen. "One-third go into residencies."
Dr. Cohen also described the extra rotations that TCOP offers its students. When asked about how important volunteer work is for a pharmacy application, Dr. Cohen explained that the most critical factor is being articulate about it.
"Do something you’re interested in," said Cohen. "And you’ll be able to talk about it."
With Dr. Farkas delayed due to a late flight, Dr. Halperin also delivered remarks for the dental school. At a dental school interview, don’t be surprised if the interviewer asks if you play an instrument or knit.
"They’re looking to see if you have hand-eye coordination," explained Dr. Halperin. "You don’t go to dental school unless you like working with your hands."
When Touro College of Dental Medicine opened last year, it became the 66th dental school in America. Aside from the same perks being offered to religious students at NYMC, Dr. Halperin mentioned the school’s amenities, which include a renovated state-of-the-art multimillion dollar building and that each student has his or her own individual head and neck dental stimulator, a robotic manikin that respond to dental treatment.
Halperin also described the differences between medical school curriculum and dental school curriculum. In most states dental students can practice as soon as they finish school and pass licensure examinations, unlike medical doctors who spend several years in residencies.
"You will learn procedures beginning in your first few weeks of dental training," he said.
A lengthy question and answer session followed the program and students met with all three men privately.
Ari Lehmann, a senior at LAS with a double major in biology and psychology, said the event was "wonderful."
"It tells us what to expect when we apply to medical school. We’re being informed by people who know the system," Lehmann explained.
"It was an opportunity to get all the information," said LAS student Bracha Sachs. Her main takeaway was how important the interview was. "Your behavior on the interview and how much it matters. It’s a big factor in the decision to accept you."
A second similar program for students interested in other areas of medicine and health sciences will take place in November at LAS.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/premed-dental-event-fall2017.php
November 08, 2017
307228
Putting Their Best Foot Forward
Touro Undergraduate Students Impress at Fall Career Fair
Smart. Professional. Confident.
Those were some of the superlatives employers used to describe the 150 undergraduate students that attended Touro’s undergraduate biannual career fair, held in the Lander College for Women—The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School on October 25. Forty employers across a spectrum of industries eagerly met with students from Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush (LAS), Lander College for Men (LCM), Lander College for Women (LCW) and the New York School of Career and Applied Sciences (NYSCAS).
Jewish Community Relations Council, EisnerAmper, the Orthodox Union, the FBI, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, Mazars USA, B&H, Quantum Networks, Roth and Company LLP and many, many others.
“This has been a very successful event as measured by the number of employers and students at the fair,” said Lander College of Arts and Sciences Dean and Touro College Vice President Dr. Robert Goldschmidt “It’s wonderful to see this—it’s a critical moment for our students and seeing them succeed here augurs well for their future.”
Throughout the three-hour fair, smartly dressed students mingled with their future employers and co-workers. As they waited patiently for interviews, students spoke freely about their future prospects. Some hoped to attain a summer internship from the fair while others were more ambitious: hoping to land an interview for a full-time position.
“I hope to get something that leads to a full-time employment,” asserted LAS student Polina Kolyshkina. Originally from Russia, Kolyshkina said she chose LAS because it offered the strongest accounting program she could find. “Accounting came to me naturally— it’s how my mind works. I loved LAS and I know I’m ready for the professional world.”
In the lead-up to the event, each undergraduate school held career workshops and interviews to ensure students began their professional career with the correct foot forward.
Ron Ansel, Director of Career Services for LCM and lead coordinator for the fair, noted the strong attendance at the fair.
“Our students are doing quite well,” he said. “They’re making connections and networking, which is the best way to get an internship or fulltime position. The practice workshops we had with them clearly helped. One thing we focused on during our preparation was making sure the students were aware of their professional persona and attitude.”
Chaim Shapiro, LAS’s Director of the Office for Student Success, said that he had not seen this energy between employers and their potential employees since before the 2008 crash.
“This is the best-fair we’ve had,” Shapiro explained. “The energy is palpable. Our students are incredibly well-prepared and ready to impress their future employers. I believe that many of our students will find success from this career fair.”
Employers spoke highly of the students they met.
Rachel Rapisarda, an assistant vice president and placement specialist at Marsh & Mclennan called her interviewees “wonderful.” “They’ve been really interested,” she explained. “And they knew what they wanted.”
Anita Bissoon, a placement specialist at the New York Transit Authority, said that this is one of the best career fairs she has been at. “They were well-prepared,” said Bisson. She hoped to fill a variety of positions in the organization. “We hire everyone except for chefs, since we don’t have a dining cart,” she joked.
Sarri Singer, Director of Career Services for LCW, said that one of the most important lessons she delivered to her students was the need to look and act professional. “The way a person looks is the first thing an employer sees.” said Singer. “Put your best foot forward.” She said the career fair was an important first step for many students. “There’s a lot of follow-up after the fair,” said Singer. “Many students receive internships and full-time positions from this event.”
Adriane Jimenez-Garcia, Director of Career Services for NYSCAS, said that the career fair served several purposes for students.
“They have the experience of practicing their two-minute pitch,” she said. “They gain confidence and they learn how to be interviewed. Hopefully, this leads to a second interview at the company’s offices.”
While many students were looking for positions or summer internships, some students simply relished the idea of discovering career options they might not have considered.
LCW biology major Rachel Ehrlich waited for an interview with the New York Transit Authority. She said that the dozens of employers gave her a chance to consider careers she might not have initially thought of. “The fair also helps me build my interviewing skills,” she added.
Chaim Levtov, a student at LCM, was hoping to find something in the mental health field. While his long-term plan was graduate school, he said that the fair was a learning experience. “I’m here to find out more information about what companies want from someone with a psychology major,” he said. “I’m certain that the FBI needs mental health specialists and I’m hoping my forensic internship makes me a good candidate (LINK TO LCM STORY).”
As with many past career fairs, many of the company representatives were Touro graduates.
LCW graduate Danielle Poplack conducted interviews for PwC. She received her first internship with the company at a Touro career fair and has been there for seven years. She said a close relationship with Singer and the Career Services department at LCW helped her blossom professionally. “I’m grateful to LCW and I feel like I have to come back,” she said. Poplack noted the professionalism of the undergraduate students. “They knew what questions to ask and how to maintain the balance between being confident but not arrogant.”
Poplack offered a simple but important piece of advice to students: “You have to be comfortable talking about your previous experience, no matter what it was. You need to be able to tell employers a story.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/career-fair-fall-2017.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2017/24423013638_d9aa9b1638_o-814x551.jpg
October 31, 2017
307230
Learning from the Aish Kodesh
New Book by LAS Dean Henry Abramson Examines Life and Work of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira
Each week in the Warsaw Ghetto, Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira (1889-1943), known as the Aish Kodesh, delivered Divrei Torah to his followers and fellow citizens. Despite the mounting horrors, Rabbi Shapira urged his followers to remain steadfast in their faith and drew lessons of strength from the weekly Torah portion. Realizing that he might not survive, Rabbi Shapira gave the copies of his sermons to the Jewish historical society Oneg Shabbat, who buried it underground. Despite offers to spirit him out of the ghetto and later, a work camp, Rabbi Shapira refused and was killed with his followers in 1943.
Since the discovery of Rabbi Shapira’s manuscript by a Polish construction worker in the 1950s, scholars have long puzzled over Rabbi Shapira’s opaque literary approach to the suffering he and his followers endured. In a novel study, Dr. Henry Abramson, Academic Dean of Lander College of Arts and Sciences, and a disciple of Rabbi Nachman Bulman z"l, looks at the context of Rabbi Shapira’s work and provides a much-needed historical background in his new book, Torah from the Years of Wrath 1939-1943. “During his speeches, Rabbi Shapira spoke of the timeless lessons of the Torah and made it known to his followers that they were not alone in their suffering; that their Jewish ancestors had suffered similarly and overcame obstacles,” stated Dr. Abramson. With his extensive knowledge of both Jewish history and theology, Dr. Abramson pares back the mystique of Rabbi Shapira’s writing to understand how, even during the worst of times, the Aish Kodesh imbued his followers with the faith to continue.
T: Who was Rabbi Kalman Shapira?
HA: Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira was born in 1889 to a traditional Chasidic lineage. He was set to be the next rebbe of the Grodzhisk chasidim but there was a dynastic conflict and he moved to Piaseczno, a small suburb of Warsaw. He created Warsaw’s second largest yeshiva and wrote a series of books on a young adult’s spiritual development, the first of which was called the Obligation of Students. It became an instant classic. It spoke about the problems within Chasidic society and provided a clear path forward for young Jewish people: how they could maintain a modern identity while deepening their spirituality. My research focused on his life in Warsaw when the war broke out. Despite repeated requests by the American Jewish Joint Committee and the partisan underground, he refused to leave his followers and stayed. Every week he gave a sermon and wrote it down after Shabbat. My contribution focused on comparing what occurred in the ghetto on a microlevel to his weekly sermons.
Rabbi Shapira wrote in an opaque way. He never mentioned the Germans or the Nazis. You can read the entire book and not know it was written during the Holocaust. Perhaps the most gratifying response to the book I’ve had so far was a comment by Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, whose shul Aish Kodesh is named after Rabbi Shapira. In his approbation for my book, Rabbi Weinberger wrote that a copy of Rabbi Shapira’s wartime speeches had been on his desk for forty years, yet there were things he was not able to understand before reading my historical account.
What was remarkable about what the Aish Kodesh taught? What was the Jewish community of Poland facing?
Poland in the interwar period was a hotbed of political, sociological and gender-based change. The Jewish community was buffeted by all types of ideologies—Zionism, capitalism, fascism, feminism, socialism. They were drawing Jews away from religiosity into new forms of civic movements. Rabbi Shapira felt that arguing about doctrinal matters was missing the whole idea; people were defecting too fast. He took, and I use this term loosely, a “post-sectarian” approach and insisted on the core ideas of Judaism into order to inflame the enthusiasm of Jewish youth and to allow them to recognize that their destiny was intrinsically related to the Torah. Rabbi Shapira had a novel idea about prophecy. He felt that the power of prophecy had not ended. It was still possible to receive direct communication from God; not in the sense of foretelling the future, but by appreciating the reverberations of Hashem’s Torah in everyday life. His books were about developing an awareness of that spirituality.
You mentioned that he wrote in a very opaque way, can you explain that?
Rabbi Shapira adopted this occluded style of speaking with a deep artistic sensibility. Most sermons we have from those times addressed the issues of what was occurring around the Jewish community; the persecution, the wholesale slaughter. Instead, Rabbi Shapira focused on the biblical story and never deviated from it. He spoke about the tribulations of Abraham and the challenges of conquering the land of Israel. He spoke of timeless lessons and made it known to his followers that they were not alone in their suffering; that their ancestors had suffered and overcame similar troubles. His message was that we can see ourselves in the Biblical passages. It was a phenomenally powerful jolt to his beleaguered followers: to see this metaphysical purpose to their suffering. As more and more news of the truth about the Holocaust and the progress of the Nazi advance became evident to the population, we see how his reaction is modulated as he struggles to articulate a coherent sense of meaning amidst incredible human suffering. The nadir of his writing, which is hotly debated by scholars of the period, occurred at the very end of 1942 when the community learned about the gas chambers. In fact, a great deportation began, 6,000 Jews per day from July 1942 on. In my research I proved that there was a shift in Rabbi Shapira’s writing after a young man escaped from the death camp called Chelmno. He smuggled himself into the ghetto and informed the Resistance about the murder process the Nazis had devised for the Jewish deportees. After that report circulated in the ghetto, the Rebbe’s theological approach became much more extreme. He’s clearly reacting to the young man’s reportnd trying to find a way to make sense of it in the Jewish tradition. It’s a form of spiritual heroism to maintain this steadfast faith during the worst kind of suffering we can imagine. He stayed faithful right until his murder in November 1943.
What effect did the war have on him?
He related to it in an immediate and personal fashion. He suffered terrible tragedies. In the beginning of the war the Nazis launched a bombing raid over Warsaw, killing 60,000 members in the capital city in the days between Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot. Shortly after Yom Kippur, a bomb fragment flew through the window and mortally wounded his son. Rabbi Shapira, together with his daughter-in-law and her sister, gathered up his son and rushed to find a hospital. Since the hospital had a shortage of doctors, Rabbi Shapira went to find a physician. His daughter-in-law and her mother remained outside the hospital reciting Psalms for the wounded, when the Luftwaffe executed another bombing raid immediately over the hospital, killing both women immediately. Rabbi Shapira’s son succumbed to his wounds a few days later. The Rabbi had another child, a daughter who went missing in 1942. When he died he had no idea what happened to her, but she was likely murdered in Treblinka. Rabbi Shapira intimately knew the suffering his congregation was going through--aside from his own personal story-- and like every Chasidic rebbe, he was intimately involved in the everyday tribulations of his followers. He did not live a sheltered existence. There were many requests to take him to safety but he refused; even at the end of the war, when he was in a labor camp, the Resistance tried to get him out but he refused to leave. He would only leave if all the prisoners were taken out—including the atheists and the free-thinkers. He would not allow anyone to be left behind.
How were his works discovered?
When he realized he wouldn’t survive, Rabbi Shapira gave his writing to an underground group of historians called Oneg Shabbat who were collecting data on Jewish life in the Warsaw Ghetto. He wrote his last will and testament begging anyone who found his writings to send them to his brother in Palestine. He wrote that anyone who would study his work would earn the merit of his illustrious ancestors. His work was buried underground and remained lost until a Polish construction worker accidentally dug it up and gave it to the Jewish Historical Institute of Warsaw.
What is an example of how he talked about current events in his sermons?
Fairly early on in the war, he started speaking about this problem from Leviticus where walls develop this kind of plague—a type of stain on the wall. There’s this discussion about how to destroy the wall and though it seems like a tragedy, the midrash says that once the walls were destroyed the Jews found treasure deposited by the ancient inhabitants. Rabbi Shapira spends a lot of time talking about it and then you realize he said these words on the week when the Nazis had issued a decree that the Jews must build the ghetto walls. The Jews were terrified of being walled-in and Rabbi Shapira was giving them a message of hope from the Biblical passage. Just as it worked out then, it would work out in the Jews’ favor now. Another one of my favorite examples is when the Jews were entering Israel they sent out spies to check out the territories. Ten of the spies were full of complaints: “there were giants in the land” and “the cities were fortified." Two of the spies come back with a positive report: God promised us the land and we need not worry about the odds. Rabbi Shapira spoke these words in June of 1940 as news circulated that Paris had fallen to the Nazis. The fall of France meant that the Nazis controlled everything from Russia to the English Channel. It appeared that the German Thousand-Year-Empire was coming true, as all of Europe was under Hitler’s sway. The Jews in the ghetto felt completely demoralized, and that’s why Caleb’s message was so important: don’t pay attention to the odds or the strength of the German army. God has already promised us victory.
Do you think Rabbi Shapira’s message still has meaning today?
Rabbi Shapira emphasized the profound metaphysical significance and role that Jews play in the unfolding of cosmic history. He developed a series of spiritual exercises to help Jews develop their potential and stave off the corrosive, alienating effects of contemporary culture. Rather than succumb to temporary temptations of various political ideologies and fads, the Rebbe urged a return to Judaic tradition in a profound and refreshing manner. He emphasized the relevance of contemporary prophecy—again, not in the sense of foretelling the future, but in a close relationship with God. He was fond of quoting a Talmudic passage: “If the Jews are not prophets themselves, then they are the students of prophets.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-abramson-book-years-of-wrath.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2017/IMG_0935-815x550.jpg
November 21, 2017
307231
Faculty Spotlight: Bioethicist Dr. John Loike
Touro Professor on Medicine’s Next Frontier—Balancing What’s Possible with What’s Ethical
Dr. Loike is a bioethicist and professor of biology at Touro College. He recently published an article in Maimonides Medical Journal on the Jewish View of Biotechnology. In this Q&A, he explains biotechnology basics and the ethical issues surrounding these advances.
What is biotechnology?
Biotechnology is the manipulation of biological systems to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet. Stem cell technology offers a wonderful example that will impact the future of organ transplants by providing a greater supply of human organs.
Biotechnology actually relies upon several other scientific fields. For example, scientists use genetic engineering methods to modify existing organisms by changing the genetic materials in them. For example, in the USA, most of the corn we produced is genetically modified to improve its nutritional value and require less use of pesticides. We also apply bioengineering principles and concepts of design and analysis to biological systems and biomedical technologies. New areas in reproductive medicine such as mitochondrial replacement therapy allow women with mitochondrial based diseases to have healthy children.
Aren’t there ethical issues involved?
There are some ethical concerns regarding these biotechnologies. For example, will society limit the use of biotechnologies only for curing disease, or will people begin to use these technologies for non-medical purposes? Concerns about “designer babies” such as those with particular facial structures/eye or hair color, height or enhanced intelligence has worried people since the days of the original Star Trek episode, the “Wrath of Khan.”
In Judaism, the high value we place on curing the sick allows us to engage in technologies even when they are risky.
Are scientists playing God?
I do not believe so. Great rabbinical thinkers from Nachmanides to Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik wrote that God created an incomplete world in which human beings must utilize their creative capacities to complete the creation process. In other words, God directed human beings to partner with Him to finish the creation process.
What are you most excited about for the future of biotechnology?
I believe gene editing is the most exciting new technology discovered in the past few years. To date, there are over 10,000 gene mutations that cause disease. Once we work out some of the problems and risks, we could have the capacity to alter mutated genes in people to cure them of previously incurable genetic diseases. For example, we have the capacity to cure patients with hemophilia using this technology.
The other opportunity I see on the horizon is using stem cell technology to fight disease, to regenerate cells that have died and to create new opportunities in organ transplantation. We have the basic technology to allow most of the people on organ waiting lists to receive the kidneys, livers, or lungs they may need to survive.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/john-loike-tt12018.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2017/JohnLoike1.jpg
December 28, 2017
307232
Bridging the Lower and Upper Worlds
LAS hosts reading with poet and professor Yehoshua November
“What makes this work ‘poetry’?” asked Dr. Miriam Grossman, chair of the English department at Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush to an audience of students, faculty, and poetry enthusiasts on a rainy evening in early December. The stories are accessible, the images are vivid, and the words do not rhyme.
“If you read it patiently enough, carefully enough, and slowly enough, you discover that somewhere in the middle of each story, you suddenly experience the magical leap that is poetry,” she said. “You come to a word or phrase that lifts you - you’re almost propelled to another level of insight, understanding, feeling, another plane of existence - to another world.”
In the poetry of Yehoshua November, award-winning poet and professor of writing at LAS and Rutgers University, this “bridging” is not a poetic technique, but the very subject matter of his poems. His work, which often addresses G-d and integrates Jewish mysticism and Chassidic philosophy, confronts the difficulties and paradoxes of contemporary life. This tension and connection between the mundane world and the spiritual world is the fabric of his poems, and its truth echoes with his listeners. “He gives us the search, his search, our search, of the meeting place of those two worlds,” continued Dr. Grossman. “We’re always looking for the point at which those two worlds meet and which one of them then transforms and sanctifies the other, and that is really the subject of his poems.”
The Soul In A Body (21:25)
is like an old Russian immigrant
looking out his apartment’s only window. Yes, yes, he says. The landlord printed my name in block letters on the lobby directory decades ago. All correspondence has been forwarded to this address. But I am not from here. I am not from here at all.
- From Two Worlds Exist by Yehoshua November
In the LAS auditorium, Professor November shared the background of several of his poems and read from his two published collections, God’s Optimism, winner of the Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award and finalist for L. A. Times Book Prize, and Two Worlds Exist, which was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award and the Paterson Poetry Prize.
In concluding remarks before an open Q&A session, Dean Henry Abrahamson defined a poet as, “someone who can take an ineffable experience and give it a picture in our minds, all at once.” He shared the experience of Professor November’s poetry that deeply resonated with the audience and praised his genius and insight: “We are drawn into a mundane situation, captured by that metaphor, and, like the rustling of a curtain, we get a sense that there is another world behind this one. There is a point where the supernatural world pokes through, and for a second while the concealment is removed, we catch a fleeting glimpse of the divinity behind the veil in which we live.”
Professor November’s advice to writers? “Write about what is most meaningful to you. When you speak about the particulars on your experience, that becomes vivid, and then others can relate.”
Yehoshua November’s work has been featured in the New York Times Sunday Magazine and Sun Magazine, among others. He has been interviewed by several publications, including the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Action, Jewish Week, and his poetry has been reviewed by the Chicago Tribune, The Rumpus, the Jewish Book Council, and others.
Baal Teshuvas at the Mikvah (15:10)
Sometimes you see them in the dressing area of the ritual bath, young bearded men unbuttoning their white shirts, slipping out of their black trousers, until, standing entirely naked, they are betrayed by the tattoos of their past life: a ring of fire climbing up a leg, an eagle whose feathery wing span spreads the width of the chest, or worse, the scripted name of a woman other than one’s wife. Then, holding only a towel, they begin, once more, the walk past the others in the dressing room: the rabbi they will soon sit before in Talmud class, men with the last names of the first Chasidic families almost everyone, devout since birth. And with each step, they curse the poverty that keeps the dark ink etched in their skin, until, finally, they descend the stairs of the purifying water, and, beneath the translucent liquid, appear, once again, like the next man, who, in all this days, has probably never made a sacrifice as endearing to God.
- From G‑d’s Optimism by Yehoshua November
Upstairs the Eulogy, Downstairs the Rummage Sale (10:48)
The beloved Yiddish professorpassed away on the same dayas the synagogue’s rummage sale,
and because they could not bearthe coffin up the many stepsthat led to the sanctuary,they left it in the hallway downstairs,
and because I was not one of his students,and it didn’t matter if I heard the eulogy,they told me to stay downstairs,to watch over the body and recite Psalms.
And I thought,this is how it is in the life and death of a righteous man:upstairs, in the sanctuary, they speak of you in glowing terms,while down below your body rests besideold kitchen appliances.
And I recited the Psalms as intentlyas I could over a man I had only met once,and because I knew where he was headed,and you and I were to wed in a few months,I asked that he bring with him a prayer for a good marriage.
And this is how it is in the life and death of a righteous man:strangers pray over the sum of your days,and strangers ask you to haul their heavy requestswhere you cannot even take your body.
- From G‑d’s Optimism by Yehoshua November
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/november-poetry-12018.php
January 12, 2018
307233
“Let Us Empower Our Community”
Dean Robert Goldschmidt’s 43 Years Leading LAS
Where others saw a challenge, Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Dean of Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush (LAS) and Touro's Vice President for Planning and Assessment, saw an invaluable opportunity.
“The thrust of Lander College of Arts and Sciences was, ‘Let us empower our Jewish community with the ability to pursue a higher education of quality,” recalled Dr. Goldschmidt. “We will give our community this ability to pursue this education in a place where their values are supported, not attacked, where their perspectives are reinforced instead of undermined.”
For more than four decades, Dr. Goldschmidt has led LAS and guided the paths of thousands of successful LAS alumni. Through his tenure at LAS, he has built LAS to become bastion of scholarship where Jewish students can excel without having their core beliefs challenged.
“The values of yiddishkeit are supported and encouraged at LAS,” Dr. Goldschmidt explained, listing myriad of alumni who have gone on to have successful careers in almost every profession.
Part of LAS’s success stems from Dr. Goldschmidt’s personal interest in each of his students.
“I think of every student as a person of great potential,” stated Dean Goldschmidt. “Our job is to help them reach that.”
Dean Goldschmidt’s almost encyclopedic memory enables him to recall hundreds of LAS alumni by name along with their majors, graduation dates and other family members that have attended the institution. Whether it’s women from Russia just learning about their Jewish heritage, yungerlicht from Lakewood, or yeshiva bochurs from Brooklyn, throughout the years, each student has found their own place at LAS and in Dean Goldschmidt's memory. He has often found himself an honored guest at simchot throughout the world.
“Thank you for enabling my family to complete their education and become financially independent,” alumna Chaya Prager wrote while describing the successful careers her five siblings attained because of their LAS education.
Another alumnus recalled Dean Goldschmidt helping him land his first interview.
“I owe my entire career and success to you since you were the one who got me my first job,” wrote a partner at a large accounting firm. “I am forever grateful to you for your assistance.”
“As graduation approaches I reflect on my time in Touro College and think about what the future will bring,” wrote Yehuda Lehrfield. “I am sure that whatever it is that dental school has to throw at me I will be well prepared because of my time spent and lessons learned in Touro College.”
Looking back, Dean Goldschmidt said he views his legacy not only in the continuing academics at LAS, but in the thousands of Jewish families able to be both financially and spiritually secure.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/goldschmidt-video.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2017/Capture-814x552.PNG
March 07, 2018
307234
Making Connections
Employers Meet Future Star Employees at Spring 2018 Career Fair
On March 5, the auditorium of the Lander College for Women—The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School was filled with the sounds of connections being made and careers being formed.
100 students from Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush, Lander College for Women (LCW), Lander College for Men (LCM) and the New York School for Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS) attended a biannual undergraduate fair where they met with representatives from 40 companies across a wide-range of professions.
“This is the most diverse group of employers we’ve had,” explained Chaim Shapiro, LAS’s Director of the Office for Student Success. “We believe in providing our students with the most opportunities across a wide array of careers.”
The career fair was a joint effort of the career services departments of LAS, LCW and LCM.
Students drifted from one table to another amiably networking with their fellow students and future employers. Employers included Deloitte, PwC, KPMG; B & H, Makor, Leshkowitz and Company, Platinum HR Management, Canon, NYC Department of Education, Yachad, the Orthodox Union, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and dozens more. Several students spoke about how adequately prepared they felt from the preparatory workshops the schools offered.
LCW student Miriam Sussman participated in the workshops and said she was expecting interviews to be more difficult. “I expected harder questions,” she laughed.
“There’s an excitement and a buzz,” stated Ron Ansel, Director of Career Services for LCM and lead coordinator for the fair. “One of our goals for the career fair is to allow our students to make vital connections that will eventually lead them to internships and full-time position.”
Ansel stressed the preparation each school offers their students.
“We tell our students what to bring; what to wear and what to expect,” he said.
Becca Zebovitz, director of the Joel Daner Fellowship at Yachad, part of the Orthodox Union, said she was impressed by the candidates she met.
“The students I met were well-spoken and they had a sense of what they wanted, which is exciting for us,” said Zebovitz.
“We have a lot of incredible employers looking for talented students,” said Sarri Singer, Director of Career Services for LCW. Singer added that many students at LCW had taken part in preparatory workshops and mock interviews. “We made sure our students were where they needed to be professionally.”
Adriana Jimenez, Director of Career Services for NYSCAS, said that one of the tips she told her students was to visit tables, even in careers they might not have thought about.
“This broadens our students’ minds about what possibilities the future might hold for them,” she said. “In addition, it makes them more comfortable when they visit a table where they do want an internship.”
David Blechman, development associate at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said he was looking for a few good men and women for the organization’s government advocacy internship program.
“This fellowship is designed to provide students, who are knowledgeable and passionate about the Jewish community, with the tools to be advocates for the community,” said Blechman. As part of the program, students will be placed in local elected official’s offices around the New York area.
Blechman said that last year’s career fair provided him with a stellar intern. “At first, he was a bit hesitant, but by the end, he was really passionate and effective.”
LAS dean, Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, stressed Touro’s commitment to providing employment for its students.
“We need to do our utmost to provide opportunities for our students to meet and network with employers to assist them as much as possible in their career search,” he said. “Landing that first position, in many ways, is the most challenging hurdle to overcome.”
Touro’s success at finding employment for its students was apparent at the fair. Two Touro graduates manned the table for Mercer, the world’s largest human resources consulting firm.
“We’re looking for someone with strong math skills and since that person will be consulting on our behalf, we need them to be client-facing,” said Actuarial Analyst Abbie Jakubovic, a graduate of LCM. LINK TO STORY. “They need to have the ability to translate complicated ideas into simple terms.”
“We need someone who’s eager to present themselves,” added Actuarial Associate Michael Blum, an LAS alumnus.
Dawn Farina, special projects coordinator for volunteer and student services at Maimonides Medical Center, said she always meets someone at the career fair who will be a solid intern. “We always meet good candidates here,” Farina said.
LCM student Sholom Perkel said he felt his skills improved at the fair.
“Doing interviews at the career fair helps me get more comfortable with the whole interviewing process,” he explained. “I feel more confident now.”
Two students from NYSCAS, Oksana Zarkh and Diloron Akhmedjanova, waited patiently for an interview at the Deloitte table. “We’re both looking for experience,” said Zarkh. “We’re looking at the interviews as practice, so we’ll improve.”
Rachel Abecassis, an LAS student from California, is currently a staff accountant at a law firm, but was at the fair to interview with a public accounting firm. “The career fair is about opening doors,” she said.
Another LAS student, Batsheva Ioschikhes agreed. “I wanted to create a social network for myself.”
On hand to help (and cheerlead) his students, was LAS/LCW/LCM professor Yossef Newman.
“Like many events in life, succeeding at the career fair depends on preparation,” said Newman. “Career services did a phenomenal job preparing our students. The last few weeks we’ve worked with students on their resumes and their plans for their careers. Now it’s game time. I feel like a coach. I’m here to make sure our students get the most of it.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/career-fair-spring-2018.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2018/40772373882_75c5ba6f40_o-815x555.jpg
March 15, 2018
307235
Sharing Their Love of Science
Students from LAS in Flatbush Run Science Experiments in Hospital
Students at Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush are sharing their love of science with children in local hospitals.
Several LAS students joined Together Educating All Children in Hospitals (TEACH), a program initiated by Yeshiva University students that organizes twice-monthly science-themed hospital visits.
LAS student Rachel Leah Frimerman is the Teach Project Lead at Maimonides Hospital and works with the hospital’s pediatric department to organize the visits.
“It does more for the volunteers than the kids themselves,” stated Frimerman, who recently returned from a six-month stint working at a lab in the University of Barcelona in Spain. “The kids have taught us something we wouldn’t have been able to learn. You have this incredibly rewarding feeling after spending two hours with children at the hospital and giving them a way to not think about their medical conditions.”
Projects that the volunteers have run include showing the patients different stages of matter, displaying an endothermic reaction with baking soda and shaving cream and teaching the kids how the rain cycle works in a project called “Rain in a Cup.”
“You’re able to teach kids something you’re passionate about,” said LAS student Moshe Baitelman.
Volunteer Rochelle Rubinstein, who will be attending New York Medical College in the fall, cited the Jewish mitzvah of bikur cholim, visiting the sick as a factor in her volunteering work.
“Bikur cholim is a big thing for us,” said Rubinstein. “We’re able to go on Erev Shabbat. Some of the families will be stuck there for the weekend so we’re able to distract them a bit.”
Several of the students who are part of the program are planning on attending medical school when they graduate LAS and said that their visits inform their perception of the world of healthcare.
“Healthcare is about helping people, no matter what their political, social or economic level,” said Frimerman.
“Medicine isn’t just about treating a single illness,” added Baitelman. “It’s holistic and a patient’s experience in a hospital can have an effect. When you interact with these kids in really tough situations—their parents are tired—and they finally get a chance to meet with some people who are energetic it really uplifts them and takes them out of the funk.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-teach.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2018/FD6A6FEC-E3B9-4E62-810A-4D2DE61BB8C6-747x551.jpeg
April 24, 2018
307236
LAS Students Help Low-Income New Yorkers File Taxes
VITA Program Earns $500,00 in Refunds for NY Residents
More than $500,000 dollars. Three-hundred low-income New Yorkers. Invaluable tax preparation practice for 26 accounting students from Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush and other Touro undergraduate programs. And one colossal Kiddush Hashem.
These were the numbers of this year’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Each year, Touro students volunteer for two months at LAS during tax season to help New Yorkers file their taxes. This year the program witnessed the largest refunds and the greatest number of participants in the program’s history. In addition, the number of Touro students volunteering this year increased by 75 percent.
LAS students Shmuli Kendall and Yerucham Klein, the coordinators of the VITA program, said students volunteer for the opportunity to learn more about filing taxes as well as to have something to mention during a job interview. However, they said there was a deeper driving force for student participation.
“It is fantastic experience for students, but it’s not just the experience that brings students out to help,” said Kendall, who aside from being a full-time student at LAS manages the accounting department of Joy Travel. “Touro students want to give back to the community.”
"It’s an opportunity to help,” added Klein. “People come in and have no idea what they’re going to do—they can’t afford to pay someone to file their taxes and they can’t file it themselves—and when they leave they’re just so relieved.”
"Touro’s accounting program is excellent and prepared us all very well,” said Klein.
The 300 New Yorkers who came to the program emerged from all walks of life and every ethnicity. Kendall said that a significant portion of the clients were retirees and the elderly. Participants were eligible for the program if their income was below $58,000. The program was supervised by LAS accounting professor Shammai Bienenstock and administrator Joshua Zilberberg. Official hours of the program were from ten to one, though frequently volunteers arrived earlier and stayed later to ensure that the tax work was completed.
“Our volunteers stayed as long as they needed to make sure the work was done,” Kendall said.
While the majority of the volunteers were from LAS, several volunteers were from other Touro undergraduate programs including Lander College for Men (LCM), Machon and School for Lifelong Learning (SLE).
“It was a fantastic Kiddush Hashem,” stated Kendall. “The positive feedback we received from clients that frum people were doing their taxes for free was truly something to behold.”
“There’s nothing like getting hands-on experience doing tax work,” said LAS student volunteer Yossi Richler. “And there’s nothing like the smile you see when a person hears they’re getting a refund.”
“It was a great experience,” said LAS student volunteer Michelle Lew. “I learned how to file tax returns and saw what it was like to work in a professional environment.”
LAS Dean Dr. Robert Goldschmidt launched the VITA program at LAS seven years ago. He praised the volunteers.
“The volunteers were incredibly professional,” he said. “Touro taught them well.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/vita-2018.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2018/KIMG0162-815x550.JPG
April 25, 2018
307237
Treating Neuropathic Pain in Spain
LAS Student Leah Frimerman Spent Six Months at the University of Pompeu Fabra
A student at Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush returned from a half-a-year stint at one of the leading science laboratories in Europe.
LAS student Leah Frimerman spent six months at the Biomedical Research Park of Barcelona (PRBB) with the University of Pompeu Fabra. PRBB is an agglomeration of six public research centers that houses more than 1500 scientists and students from around the world.
“I was open-minded and it motivated me to seek out an international program where I could collaborate and study with others from around the world,” said Frimerman. “There was something about leaving my comfort zone and going out to learn with a goal of focusing on my work and study.”
During her six months in Barcelona, she worked with the university’s department of Neuropharmacology. Frimerman focused on understanding the mechanisms that modulate the endocannabinoid system during nerve injury. Her work aimed to design new strategies and therapeutics to treat neuropathic pain, a type of chronic pain that lacks effective treatment. She said that her research dovetailed with the sentiment that drew her to medical research in the first place: the ability of science to improve people’s lives.
“Our main objective was to evaluate the behavioral phenotype of our experimental mice and conduct biochemical experiments to analyze their brains and spinal cord on a molecular level,” she explained.
She worked with other students from around the world, including a Fulbright scholar from Yale and another graduate student from Surrey University in the UK.
“It was enriching to meet new people from such diverse backgrounds and it was an honor to represent Touro,” stated Frimerman.
She credited her professor, Brian Chiswell, Ph.D., who introduced her to lab work and had her participate in his research at TouroCOM Harlem the summer before.
“Dr. Chiswell always encouraged me to look further than the books, the lectures, the lab, and how the world was my playground,” she explained. “It was really important for me to have a mentor that advised and encouraged me. Dr. Chiswell is unique in the sense that—to use an analogy—he taught me how to fish instead of only providing me with fish. He gave me the confidence and inculcated me with a thirst for knowledge.”
Frimerman’s trip also coincided with the Catalan referendum to split off from Spain.
“Being involved in the day to day life of this political uprising was definitely an interesting experience,” she recalled. “I was living in a Catalan dominant neighborhood and working with an international, multi-cultural team, so it was a chance for me to learn a lot about the political views and different cultures in a quick manner—with our work and science uniting us.”
Next year, Frimerman will be attending McGill University on a full scholarship for a Master’s in Experimental Medicine.
Her advice to other LAS students is, “Know your limits so that you can surpass them.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-leah-frimerman-spain.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2018/IMG_2438-815x555.jpg
April 30, 2018
307238
Developing Their Own Style
New Artwork by LAS Students Displayed at Avenue J Art Exhibit
Budding artists at Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush had a chance to display their artwork during the school’s second art exhibition on May 24. The exhibition will be open to the public Sundays in June and on two Sundays in July.
“The goal of the art exhibit is to allow our students to celebrate their hard work in a public space where they can receive feedback and see how their work affects people,” explained Professor Atara Grenadir, chair of the art department. The displayed artwork was completed during several art courses offered by LAS. Students used a variety of materials including graphite, chalk /oil pastel, acrylics and paper and Styrofoam. Many artworks were based upon observation, while others were influenced by artists’ styles or from the students’ imagination.
“Art is a visual language,” stated Grenadir. “The unique personalities and diverse talents of our students come across in their art.”
Several students spoke about their artwork and their creative process.
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Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-artfair-2018.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2018/IMG_0440-815x552.JPG
June 15, 2018
307239
An Experience of a Lifetime with Touro
Lander College for Arts and Sciences pre-med student Moses Bibi shares how a medical mission to Nepal changed his view of the world
While many people travel over the summer, not everyone gets the incredible opportunity to assist in providing free healthcare to underserved communities in Nepal. Yet, this August, I did just that when I joined 17 other Touro College pre-health students to participate in a special Nepali program.
With a population of nearly 28 million people, Nepal has only 20,000 doctors. The true scale of this ratio didn’t hit me until we stopped at our first clinic in Sipadol, a village located in the Bhaktapur district outside of capital Kathmandu. There, a 12-year-old girl named Ashrina, who spoke English very well, was talking to me about her life at school. As I began to check her blood pressure and rate of breathing, I asked her when she last saw a doctor. That was when she told me that she has no memory of ever visiting a doctor. At that moment, I realized that our team might be the first set of health care personnel to ever provide a check-up to many of these people. Our mission was even more critical than I ever imagined.
Over the course of our 10 day trip, we all rotated at assigned stations within these clinics, as well as spent quality time with the Nepali people. Whether it was a conversation with a teacher at the school we were visiting or a full-blown dance party with the students, it was such a blessing to help these communities, while also learning about their culture. Being exposed to a culture that is so different from anything I have ever experienced—from their customs to the way they dressed and ate—was unforgettable.
Each time we visited a new place, we were greeted with a traditional Nepali welcome that included being presented with a tikka, a red dot made of powder that is placed on the forehead, a necklace made of flowers picked from local fields, and a polite and careful bow with a softly spoken “namaste.”
Despite our differences, we are all the same
For me, what was most refreshing was realizing that we aren’t all that different. I think the best example of this would be when I saw a teenage boy surrounded by his peers as they all loudly sang a Justin Bieber song. He knew every word by heart, just like my friends here in the U.S.
As the days progressed, it was truly amazing to see how our group continued to grow closer and bond as we worked together to help others. For many of us, these clinics gave us our first opportunity to act as a caretaker in what we hope will be long and successful professions in the health care field.
My initial fear of being unable to relate to these patients dissipated by the end of the trip. Although there was a language barrier with many of the Nepalese patients, constant smiles and a reaffirming touch were the universal language necessary to enable patients to feel at ease as we cared for them.
We also managed to have some amazing adventures on this trip such paragliding over the lake of Pokhara, whitewater rafting through the Trishuli River, and hiking through the mountainous region of Nagarkot. None of this would have been possible without the supervision of Dr. Steven Jacobs, the Chabad of Kathmandu, who hosted our every meal and allowed us to spend Shabbat in their synagogue, as well as the Nepali people we met and for who we had the pleasure of caring. To say that we felt welcome would be an understatement; the people of Nepal truly made us feel at home.
This life changing experience is one I will remember forever and I am certain that the lessons it taught me will remain top of mind as I study to become a doctor.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/moses-bibi-experience-of-a-lifetime.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2018/MosesBibi.jpg
September 17, 2018
307240
Can Genetics Build a Real Kosher Cheeseburger?
Lander College of Arts and Sciences Professor Dr. Loike highlights what could be the next big trend in Kosher cooking
The “kosher foodie” movement is having a moment. Countless blogs, cookbooks and Instagram accounts are devoted to reinventing traditional Jewish foods for a new generation. Amateur and professional chefs are finding ways to use bold, new ingredients to reimagine and reformulate the foods of their youth. Could cloned, genetically modified meat be the next new exciting trend in kosher cooking?
Bioethicist Dr. John D. Loike of Touro College, Rabbi Moshe Tendler of Yeshiva University and Rabbi Dr. Ira Bedzow of Touro’s New York Medical College ask this very question in a recent article published in Hòakirah, the Flatbush Journal of Jewish Law and Thought.
Advances in biotechnology are opening the doors to new possibilities in food production and raising questions about the nature of pareve food. As “lab-to-table” food production becomes more of a reality, rabbis will need to make an assessment about the halachic nature of cloned meat. There is precedent in the industry as some clean meat companies are already working with rabbis and claim their cultured meat is both kosher and vegan-friendly. However, a keen understanding of both Torah law and biotechnology will be needed to determine kashruth.
Dr. Loike, Dr. Bedzow and Rabbi Tendler outline what they believe would make cloned beef universally accepted as kosher. Their three main considerations are:
The sample must be obtained from a kosher animal.
The animal must be properly slaughtered.
Cloned beef could be considered pareve if the tissue from which the muscle stem cells are obtained comes from the skin.
Best estimations are that we are five to 10 years from actually seeing cloned meat and poultry in the supermarket. As has been done in the past, religious scholars will have to carefully assess the status of such products. If cloned meat is widely accepted as kosher and pareve, it could have major ramifications on the environment, our economy and, yes, our ability to eat kosher cheeseburgers.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/genetics-and-kosher-cheeseburger.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2018/Cheeseburger.jpg
September 27, 2018
307241
“There is So Much to Gain”
LAS Welcomes More Than 200 Women for Fall 2018
Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush welcomed their latest class of female students on August 26, adding more than 200 women to the already-thriving student body at LAS.
“It’s an incredibly diverse class,” said LAS Dean Dr. Robert Goldschmidt. “I’m impressed with how motivated and goal-oriented our new students are.”
A case in point was student Chaya Meissner, a graduate of a Beis Yaakov School in Montreal, with whom Dr. Goldschmidt casually struck up a conversation in French. Meissner’s four siblings are all enrolled in Touro schools; her brothers attend Lander College for Men, one sister is in Lander College for Women—The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School and another is a medical student at New York Medical College. Meissner herself is considering a career as a physician assistant. “I’m looking forward to making friends and gaining knowledge and experience,” said Meissner about her hopes for her college experience.
Chaim Shapiro, director of LAS’s Office of Student Success, said it was the busiest registration he had seen since he began working for the school eleven years ago.
“This is my favorite time of year,” said Shapiro. “Students have unlimited opportunities and possibilities before them.”
Some students like Etti Svei, of Lakewood, already knew where their future lay. “I’m going to become a biologist or do research in biology,” said Svei. She plans to take as many credits as possible and her course load included classes in anatomy, chemistry and calculus. (This was her first full semester, she took Biology 1 and Biology 2 over the summer.) “I was always interested in the sciences.”
Others like Basi Noble were more open to ideas. “I want to try things out,” she said as she debated between signing up for a math class or a class in chemistry.
First-year student Baila Gunsburg was thinking about a career as an optometrist. “There is so much to gain from LAS,” she said.
“The new semester is indicative of the exploding growth at Avenue J,” emphasized LAS Dean Dr. Henry Abramson. This semester, Dr. Abramson is teaching “Survive Jewish History,” a gamified course where students had to respond to the existential challenges Jews have faced throughout history. “The best form of learning isn’t repetition,” said Dr. Abramson. “It’s discovering a new idea or a new way of thinking.”
Sarah Weiss came from Pittsburgh to attend LAS. “I’m looking forward to the warm atmosphere,” said Weiss. She planned on majoring in computers. “I feel like it’s a field that always has opportunities.”
Weiss’s friend Chaya Oster, also from Pittsburgh, moved to New York to attend LAS as well. “I wanted to be in a Jewish environment,” she said. She was hoping to go into education or child advocacy work. “I want to be able to help children and touch their lives for the better,” she said.
Among the new offerings for female students at LAS is Medical Physiology, a class taught by Columbia Medical School professor Dr. Jonathan Barasch. LAS Biology Department Chair Dr. Robert Bressler explained that the course will challenge students to find the root cause of medical issues and then find the solution. “Students will develop an expertise in comprehension and not just memorization,” said Dr. Bressler, adding that it fulfills a key component of LAS’s educational mandate. “Education is not just an accumulation of knowledge, it’s the application of knowledge.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-women-orientation.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2018/LASMeetWomen.JPG
October 07, 2018
307242
Academic Excellence Brings New Male Students to LAS-Flatbush
Meet Five High-Achieving Members of the New Class
As summer changed to fall, a new coterie of male students at Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush began their academic journey. During class registration in September, students spoke excitedly about the classes they were enrolling in and the careers they were considering. Many spoke of how they looked forward to being challenged and growing as individuals through their college experiences. We spoke with five of the new students whose charisma and ambition made them stand out.
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Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-meet-new-students-2018.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2018/BiniRosenbaum.JPG
October 08, 2018
307243
Touro Students Teach Girls to Code
Touro Students Aim to Close Gender Gap in Tech Field Through Girls Who Code Program
Every other Sunday, Devorah Klahr can be found at Touro’s Lander College for Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Brooklyn sharing her love of computer science with local high school girls. “I want other girls to know that technology is a field they can go into, and that it is actually a lot of fun!” Devorah said. Her interest was sparked by a design course in high school, and solidified at Touro when she realized she enjoyed the hands on aspect of IT, and that she gets to harness her creativity and logic. “I hope that at the end of the day the girls I’ve worked with will at least consider it as a potential career.”
Touro professor and computer science chair Shmuel Fink brought the Girls Who Code program to Touro two years ago. It is a year-long program that teaches computer coding to high school girls in order to spark their interest in lucrative careers in technology. Girls Who Code is a national nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology. According to Girls Who Code, by 2020, there will be 1.4 million jobs available in computing related fields. U.S. graduates are on track to fill 29 percent of those jobs. Women are on track to fill just 3 percent.
“This is a great opportunity for everyone. Girls who attend the club get a chance to try out computer science and get a head start on a career,” said Dr. Fink. “They learn valuable skills, even if they never work in technology. Touro students who facilitate are able to demonstrate to prospective employers that they have leadership skills and that they are both passionate and knowledgeable about technology.”
Girls Who Code provides a national curriculum for the course. Devorah, and the other women computer science majors at Touro who teach the program rely on it. They also enhance the experience for the students by showing a short video related to the week’s activities. As for Devorah, she recently landed a position as a web developer for a large health care company.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/girls-to-code-2018.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2018/devorahklahr.jpg
October 08, 2018
307244
How I Built My Own Media Company
From Podcasts to Social Media to Digital Marketing, Touro Alum Eli Langer Helps People and Companies Succeed
From a sports blog to CNBC to starting his own media company, Lander College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Eli Langer shares how he turned his love of all things digital into a fulfilling career--and why you should always pursue your passion.
How did you decide on a career in marketing? Did it evolve or was it a field you always knew you wanted to enter?
Marketing is all about people. It encompasses the different ways we communicate with each other and how we can provide value for them. I love people. I’ve always been a people-person, and I really enjoy interacting with different types of people in all sorts of situations. That is exactly why I gravitated toward social media when it launched in the late 2000s. The world became so much smaller when I had the ability to tweet at my sports heroes and build new connections with media personalities.
When word got out that I had a sports blog and an active Twitter presence, companies started reaching out to me to assist them with their marketing needs. It was around that time that I entered Touro’s campus to select my profession/career choice, and marketing felt like a natural fit for me. Though I majored in finance due to its potentially lucrative field, my exposure to the marketing arena ended up steering me away from finance and toward the advertising world.
Today I manage Harvesting Media, which is a marketing firm I co-founded in 2017 to help independent supermarkets reach more people in a digital world. From there we transitioned into assisting food brands, restaurants, nonprofits, and medical businesses. We work on email campaigns, social media management with a focus on paid ads, online review management, text message marketing and more, and I love it because it’s a people-to-people business. In this field, you can have a direct impact on the quality of an individual’s life.
You started out running social media for CNBC and then running your own digital marketing company. How did you transition from working for a large company to working for yourself?
In 2009, I met CNBC sports reporter Darren Rovell on Twitter, and he was impressed with my work ethic and ability to help him market himself and his brand across social media; this led to a full-time gig at the cable news channel. While working in CNBC’s newsroom for nearly four years was an experience that many Orthodox Jews don’t get, I left for a few reasons – including the need to allow myself to be more creative in generating marketing campaigns for small businesses in the communities where I’ve lived, and to focus on my growing family.
Recently, you’ve started the Kosher Money podcast. Why do you think podcasts are proliferating today? What does it take to be successful as a podcaster?
Smartphones are in the hands of practically every adult across the world. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more people were looking for mediums to stay informed or be distracted, and audio was a natural solution for that. People who have long commutes or work out at the gym want some level of stimulation, and podcasts fit the mold very well. A recent study from eMarketer revealed that the top ten podcast advertisers spent nearly $300 million combined on podcast ads in 2021, more than double the $145 million spent in 2020 – so that’s where the marketing spends are going.
Many people have approached my brother and me about creating their own podcasts. The tip we give to people interested in creating a podcast is, “Just begin!” If you have an idea, grab a microphone or mobile device to record and publish an episode. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Don’t get lost in the preproduction. You’ll get to perfection, but it need not be there on day one. Initially, it was a struggle to attract sponsors to our nascent podcast, though over time and after continuing to pump out episode after episode after episode, we continued to grow the numbers each week, thereby generating interest from sponsors. Success comes from the one above when you are persistent.
What’s the premise for Kosher Money and who’s the intended audience? Have you found there’s interest beyond the Jewish community? Why do you think that is?
While one of the reasons I left CNBC was for creative purposes, ultimately in order to pay the bills of a growing Jewish family in New York, I felt the need to transition back to working in a capacity to help small businesses in the digital marketing space. The idea to create Kosher Money was specifically fueled by my brother, Yaakov, creator of the Living L’chaim network, which has a host of shows to enhance the lives of Orthodox Jews. Shows include Kosher Money, which focuses on managing personal finances; That’s An Issue, which discusses mental health in our communities; and The Spirit Of The Song, which gives listeners an inside look at the meanings behind the most popular songs in Jewish music. Kosher Money is now in Season 3, and the episodes have millions of streams on YouTube and across leading podcast networks, which is really amazing to see.
We’ve generated hundreds of thousands of views from non-Jews as well from all over the world: South Africa, Chile, Trinidad. I think finances cut across every religion and culture, and the words that our guests share relate to everyone, which is pretty phenomenal. We bring on financial experts and Rabbis to talk about the challenges and opportunities that communities are facing, though in more recent episodes, we’re careful to use less Hebrew words in hopes that the material is understandable and relatable to all who are listening.
What advice do you have for Touro undergrads interested in a marketing career?
When you’re starting out, don’t chase salary, but opportunity. Interning at a firm where you’re going to learn from the best of the best is a whole lot more lucrative in the long term than acquiring the highest compensation you can get on day one. There will be plenty of time to make top dollar, so use your early years to learn and sponge as much as you can on the job and off the job. YouTube is an excellent resource to learn practically anything you want to, so take advantage of it. Additionally, don’t discount the value of connections and relationships. The old saying, “It’s not what you know but who you know” rings true time and time again.
How did your Touro education help propel your career?
Touro is an extremely welcoming school, from its faculty to its students - some of which I keep up with to this day. I found Touro’s English writing curriculums to be extremely helpful in propelling my career. I’ve gotten compliments on my ability to write and convey messaging, which I credit to my Touro professors, particularly Professor Lydia Kraus. In today’s day, writing is the primary form of expressing oneself, and if you could do it well, it can sometimes be the difference between closing a deal and going bankrupt.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alum-eli-langer.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2022/EliLanger.jpg
May 24, 2022
307246
Touro College Dedicates Flatbush Campus In Memory of Major Donor’s Parents
Local Politicians Join Touro Faculty to Celebrate Contribution of Real Estate Investor, International Businessman and Philanthropist, Alex Rovt
The flagship campus of Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences on Ave J in Flatbush was renamed in memory of Simon and Lenke Roth, parents of donor, Dr. Alex Rovt. The dedication ceremony drew numerous public officials including Ingrid Lewis Martin , senior advisor to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; New York State Senator Simcha Felder, a Touro College alum and professor; Pinchus Hikind, special assistant to NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer; and NYC Councilman Kalman Yeger, also a Touro alum.
Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Executive Dean of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, thanked the donor for his gift and pointed out that it will help “build productive citizens who will contribute to the Jewish and larger community for years to come.”
Dr. Alan Kadish, president of the Touro College & University System spoke of Mr. Rovt’s remarkable life and path to success. “Born in Munkacs, Hungary, Rovt remains a devoted Munkacser chosid until this day. From humble beginnings, he distinguished himself as a successful student and later used his smarts, hard work and faith in G-d to become extremely successful in international business and real estate.”
Beyond his success in business, Kadish described Rovt as a leader of the Jewish people.”Yosef Hatzadik described two essential qualities leaders must possess –that of a chacham and a navon. A leader must be one who cares for others and he also must possess the savvy necessary to create and maintain systems that work for the community. Alex Rovt has demonstrated this kind of leadership through his roles as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for One Brooklyn Health Systems, founder of the Zvi Dov Roth Academy in memory of his grandfather and as member of the Touro Board of Governors. He has the winning combination of caring and concern for others and business know-how,” said Kadish.
Rovt described his background and his parents’ values that shaped his life. “I am so honored to dedicate this building in memory of my parents who truly valued education and community service,” said Rovt. “They taught me that writing a check is not enough. We all must give of ourselves to help others. In the old country, my grandmother used to travel by bicycle daily to bring food packages to the needy. My mother went through the Holocaust and Soviet regime and lost her parents and numerous family members at a young age. Both my parents worked very hard at menial jobs when they came to this country, but despite that, their focus was on helping others and they passed that passion on to me.”
Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences opened its doors 40 years ago. The school moved into the current campus building in 1995, and Rovt’s gift will help sustain and upgrade the facilities at this location.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/flatbush-campus-rovt-dedication.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2018/dedication.PNG
December 26, 2018
307247
At Touro, Professional School Readiness Happens In and Out of Class
Health Science and Medical School Deans Demystify Admissions Process, Offer Interviewing Tips and Real-Time Practice
Moshe Baitelman decided to become a doctor when he took his first biology class in his Vancouver high school. In college, at Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush, he has been preparing for rigorous medical school application process both inside and outside the classroom.
Touro offers a series of programs to introduce its undergraduate students to health science careers and demystify the graduate school application process. Students like Moshe have opportunities to meet with graduate program leaders and faculty members, gain firsthand experience and prepare for the admissions process.
Each year, Touro brings deans and faculty members on a tour of its undergraduate schools to share their knowledge. Stops include Lander College for Men in Queens, Lander College for Women in Manhattan and Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Brooklyn. “Access to leaders at our health sciences programs is a strategic advantage for Lander students. They gain the knowledge they need to present themselves effectively to medical, dental and allied health schools and a chance to meet key people at these professional schools,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, president of Touro.
Last month, more than 60 students interested in medical, dental and pharmacy schools participated in an exclusive information session a Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush. Students had a chance to interact with the chancellor of New York Medical College, the dean of Touro College of Pharmacy and the vice dean of Touro College of Dental Medicine. Faculty members presented information about their specific programs and curricula, and about the admissions processes. The formal program was followed by a question and answer session where students met with the deans in small groups to gain more personalized insight and advice.
In the spring, Lander College for Women hosted a similar session for students interested in careers in pharmacy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, speech, nursing, medicine, dentistry and osteopathic medicine. Students had a chance to meet with LCW alumnae as well as faculty from the health sciences graduate programs.
“It’s a win-win. Our students get the practical information they need to ensure that they are competitive and have the right courses and background to qualify for admission to Touro’s excellent health science and medical programs. Plus the admissions officers at the graduate programs get to know our students,” said Marian Stoltz-Loike, Ph.D., dean of Lander College for Women.
The deans traveled to Queens-based Lander College for Men in the fall to present a similar program. “Our students’ remarkable record of acceptances to medical and dental schools is the result of both their own hard work and our commitment to helping them succeed. Many have attended NYMC and Touro College of Dental Medicine, and have been delighted with their experience,” said Rabbi Moshe Sokol Ph.D., Dean of Lander College for Men.
Touro also offers a unique opportunity for pre-med students to prepare for one of the most daunting parts of the application process, the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). The MMI is typically a series of six to 10 very short interviews that revolve around a specific scenario. Patients don’t receive the scenario until right before the interviews. It is designed to gauge an applicant’s potential to successfully interact with patients and colleagues.
Moshe Baitelman described the MMI as a “black hole” in the application process, until he attended the session. “We had an opportunity to do practice interviews with medical school professors and get useful feedback. It made the process much less intimidating,” he said.
“We are bringing all of Touro’s resources to bear to help students learn what they can expect from each of these programs and how to prepare for them. The way we provide professional and career guidance is far beyond what is routine at other colleges,” said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Vice President for Planning and Assessment and Executive Dean at the Lander College in Flatbush.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/professional-school-readiness-2018.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2018/healthprofessions.jpg
December 26, 2018
307248
Fighting Blindness
Lander College for Arts and Sciences Graduate Dr. Michelle Grunin Researches Age-Related Macular Degeneration
In the battle against the medical condition known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Dr. Michelle Grunin, a graduate of Lander College for Arts and Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush, is busy fighting in the trenches.
“AMD is the leading cause of blindness,” explained Dr. Grunin. “It begins to occur when a person reaches 60. We don’t know why it occurs and we don’t have a cure for it. We have an elderly population that should double by 2020. People don’t want to simply grow old, they want to grow old well and live happily.”
Grunin, who recently completed her Ph.D. at Hebrew University and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, credits LAS with setting her on her career path.
Michelle, a native of Chicago, attended the Machon Bnos Yehudah seminary through the Touro College Israel Option program, before beginning at LAS. “I was pre-med,” recalled Dr. Grunin. “I come from a family of doctors and I was 19 when I finished my pre-requisites. I was warned that medical schools might not be so interested in accepting someone so young, so Dr. Robert Bressler, LAS’s chair of the biology department, encouraged me to volunteer in a research lab.”
Dr. Bressler connected her with Dr. John Lewis, a researcher in SUNY Downstate University. For the next year, Dr. Grunin worked in the lab running microbiology and genetic experiments on the vaccinia virus, the first virus used in vaccines for smallpox.
“It was my first experience with serious research and I loved it,” recounted Dr. Grunin. “When you’re a pre-med student you tend to not realize that there is more than one way to help a patient. There’s an incredible amount of work being done in so-called translational medicine, medicine developed from the lab that is then taken to the patient’s bedside. You can help millions of people. It was an entire branch of medical sciences that I never would have thought of.”
Dr. Bressler encouraged her to consider a Ph.D. instead of an M.D. “He was a real inspiration and role model for me,” said Dr. Grunin about Dr. Bressler.
During her time at LAS, Grunin helped relaunch the Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences and worked as a physics tutor for undergraduate students. After graduating with a biology honors degree, Dr. Grunin moved to Israel to pursue a Ph.D. in human genetics at Hebrew University. She worked under Dr. Itay Chowers, the chairman of the ophthalmology department in Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center. Her research focused on the genetics and immunological biomarkers indicative of macular degeneration.
During her time at Hebrew University, Dr. Grunin received a bevy of honors and scholarships, including becoming a Baroness Ariane de Rothschild Woman Doctoral Fellow, a prestigious fellowship given each year to only five doctoral candidates; and scholarships from the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the Landovsky Foundation and Hebrew University.
Her thesis focused on both the genetics of AMD and a subset of white blood cells and chemokine receptors involved in the condition.
“It was fascinating,” recalled Dr. Grunin about the experience. “I was thrown right into an amazing lab where I worked with the data of thousands of patients.”
She published several papers in leading journals about her research, including papers in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Scientific Reports, and JAMA Ophthalmology. She joined the International AMD Genomics Consortium and was involved in their Nature Genetics study in 2016 that looked at over 30,000 people to discover the genetics of AMD. Dr. Grunin also investigated whether genetic factors can influence treatment response for AMD. Using a smaller part of the consortium’s data set, she performed the first and largest worldwide pharmacogenetics study for AMD, as well as a smaller genome-wide association study on AMD patients in Israel.
In 2014, while in the throes of her Ph.D. work, Dr. Grunin contacted Touro Israel and asked if they needed a science teacher. She helped design the organic chemistry and genetics labs and taught several courses, allowing the school to offer a complete course load of premed sciences.
“I really loved teaching at Touro,” she said. “It was a phenomenal place to work and I was able to give back in a way, since Touro had done so much for me.”
Dr. Grunin sees herself as an ambassador of the sciences for women, and frum women in particular.
“I’m a proud Touro graduate and I want to inspire the next generation of women who want to go into sciences,” said Dr. Grunin. “There’s an especially pronounced lack of frum female scientists. Most frum women want jobs that are compatible with raising a family. I’m a scientist, and my friends are doctors and the amount of work we put in is much less than people think. After residency a doctor can work 2-3 shifts and they can support their family. For me as a researcher, I have a lot of flexibility as well.”
“Before I began Touro I didn’t know what researchers did. There weren’t any role models. I’m trying to change that.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-michelle-grunin.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2019/LASMichelleGrunin.jpg
January 22, 2019
307249
A Career in Content Creation
Touro's Lander College of Art & Sciences (LAS) Alum Mordy Golding Details How His Role at LinkedIn is Helping Global Professionals Expand Their Professional Skill Set
LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of courses to help professionals learn new skills, brush up their credentials, or get a LinkedIn certificate to help them stand out to prospective employers. Those courses are created by Mordy Golding and his team. Golding shares how LinkedIn can help you jump start your career and take it to the next level.
Content strategy and content marketing are hot fields right now. Can you talk a bit about what you do?
Content Strategy is certainly a term that most people associate with marketing these days, but in my case it’s different. Most people create marketing content to sell other products or services, but we create learning content in the form of high-quality online courses. In my role, I’m responsible for all the English-language content we publish, which is about 1600+ courses per year. I oversee a team of incredibly talented professionals who decide what topics we cover, what specific courses we’ll create, and which instructors and real-world experts we’ll use.
I get to work with incredibly talented people, and the scale at which we operate translates to new challenges every day. LinkedIn is a large Silicon Valley-based company, so we have lots of perks and nice offices around the globe. But our mission—to bring economic opportunity to every member of the global workforce—is what drives the people that work here and gives meaning to what we do every day.
Any tips for making the most out of using the LinkedIn platform?
Our data shows that people start getting real value out of LinkedIn once they’ve reached at least 30 connections. So, having a great profile and adding connections is a great way to start. The best way to get the most out of LinkedIn is to actively participate. Share your opinions, comment on someone’s post, write about something you’re working on or something you’re passionate about. This leads to opportunities for potential work, jobs, or to network with like-minded professionals who can help you in your career.
Why should students and professionals consider taking the online courses through LinkedIn? What can they expect to learn? How is it different from what the students might be learning in their traditional coursework?
I think people often think our online courses are meant to replace what they learn in school. But we consider our courses post-secondary education. They are meant to augment traditional education. Whereas college courses last 12 weeks, you can often complete online courses in a few hours. More importantly, you can learn just what you need or just what interests you. If you want to go into marketing, you can take a few online courses and see if it speaks to you.
Additionally, leveraging online courses can give you the real-world skills companies are looking for. If you’re a professional or you’re looking for a new job, taking online courses can give you an edge over your peers or your competition. This is especially true today where technology changes so quickly. Our data shows that skills have a shelf life of about five years, so having an “always be learning” growth mindset is more important than ever.
How did your experience at Touro help shape your career path?
I majored in Computer Science, but what has had the most impact on my career were all the communication and writing courses I took. Without question, those classes set me up for success. I have published numerous books and have presented on stage to thousands of people at conferences that have opened new doors and opportunities. And in today’s world, where email and documents are at the core of every job, the development of writing and speaking/communication skills have given me an edge.
What advice do you have for our students as they think about their future careers?
I think when people enter college, they focus on what they think their job will be. I’m going to be an accountant... a lawyer… a marketer, etc. But I’d urge students to focus instead on what they enjoy doing or what specific topics or areas interest them most. Ask most successful people what got them there and they’ll tell you that you must work hard. If you love what you do and you’re genuinely curious about always learning more, working hard will come easy to you — it won’t feel like work. But most of all, focus on growing your soft skills — communication, analytical thinking, creativity — because technology is always going to change industries and the tools we use, but those skills will help you navigate and succeed in life.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/content-creation-linkedin-mordy-golding.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2019/mordy3.jpg
February 26, 2019
307250
VITA Program is a Smashing Success at Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush
Students Help Low-Income New Yorkers File Taxes
For the eighth consecutive year, students from Touro’s Lander Colleges helped low-income New Yorkers file their taxes free of charge as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in conjunction with the IRS. By the second Sunday of the program on Feb. 24, word of the professionalism and competence had already spread throughout Brooklyn and the Lander College for Arts and Sciences (LAS) auditorium was filled with residents from all over New York busily filling out forms while waiting for a tax preparer.
“This is an important opportunity for Touro students,” said VITA site coordinator and recent LAS alum Yerucham Klein who is running the program with his fellow coordinator, Elisheva Rosenberg of Lander College for Women. “It is something they can put on their resume as well as an opportunity to give back.”
Klein, who was also site coordinator in 2018 and just accepted a position with EisnerAmper, said that the program had been unusually busy. He estimated that they would file more than 300 tax returns by the end of the tax season. Usually the early Sundays are comparatively quiet, but more than 60 people showed up before noon on February 24. Klein graduated in January and passed three of the four CPA tests, while also pursuing rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva Torah Vodaath during his time at LAS.
The program runs for two months during tax season on Sundays. The majority of the volunteers were from LAS, however several volunteers were from other Touro undergraduate programs including Lander College for Men in Queens (LCM), Lander College for Women in Manhattan (LCW). Professor Shammai Bienenstock of LAS provides academic supervision for the program while Joshua Zilberberg, a senior advisor at the LAS campus, is responsible for administrative coordination.
“VITA serves several goals for us,” explained Professor Bienenstock. “It gives our students some real-world experience in the world of tax preparation; it allows our students to interact with the diverse population groups of New York and finally, the program helps us fulfill Touro’s mission of giving back to the community.”
As part of the program, participants bring in their income statements along with valid forms of ID. While they wait to see a tax preparer, they fill out a basic form describing their income and living status. A tax preparer then goes over it with them, enters it into tax software which is then double-checked by a second reviewer, before it is officially filed. Participants are eligible for the program if their income is below $58,000, as set by the IRS.
Rosenberg, a student at LCW, will graduate in June and already has a position lined up at EisnerAmper as a personal wealth advisor. (She received the job offer through contacts she made at Touro’s biannual career fair). Aside from being able to help others, the program gave her a practical advantage during her interview with her future accounting employer. “My interviewers knew about the VITA program,” said Rosenberg. “We immediately had something to talk about.”
Jacqueline Frazier, whose daughter is a security guard at LAS, had her taxes done by a LAS student. She was pleased with her experience. “They filled out my forms and I enjoyed the service,” said Frazier, who works for the City of New York in Human Services. “They’re helping people.”
This was the third year that Tzvi and Karen Langsam of Brooklyn had their taxes done by LAS students. “It was a very good experience, said Karen. “The students are very professional.”
Esty Shechter, an accounting student at LAS who works as a bookkeeper, said she wanted some tax experience. “It’s a good opportunity,” she said. “I never filed my taxes before, and I wanted that experience before I become a full-fledged working professional.”
LAS student Judah Wagner, of Woodmere, New York, worked as a greeter ensuring that clients who came to have their taxes done carried the right forms and were residents of New York (Some New Jersey residents were turned away). “I thought it would be an exciting opportunity to learn about the tax process.”
Shoshana Weinfeld of LCW, worked as a greeter and was one of the few students not in the accounting field. (She’s a computer science major) “It’s a really nice program,” she said. “It’s a chance to help people get their tax refunds.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-vita-2019.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2019/LASVITA2019(1).JPG
March 06, 2019
307251
When Religion Meets the Law
LAS Poli-Sci Students Learn about Religious Liberty from Leading Scholar
Close to 40 male and female students at Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush discovered how the American legal system interacts with religious liberty during a lecture by Dennis Rapps, esq., Director of the National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs, on Feb. 13.
Entitled, “Religious Liberty & the Jewish Community,” and organized by LAS’s Political Science Society, Rapps spoke about the long history of religious freedom in the United States as well as his organization’s role in carving out a place for Orthodox Jews in public American life.
Raizel Deutsch, president of the political science club, said that she hoped that bringing Rapps to LAS would show students how both politics and law have a direct effect on their lives as Orthodox Jews. “A lot of times we view politics as something that doesn’t have much to do with us,” she said. “Mr. Rapps and speakers like him are able to teach us how laws and accommodations actually apply to us.”
Professor Alan Mond, deputy chair of LAS’s Political Science department and faculty advisor to the club, introduced Rapps and spoke of the current political climate. “We live in an age where religious liberty has become a major issue,” said Mond. “A great deal of work has been done balancing the interest of the general public and the interests of religious minorities. Rapps is one of the leading experts on this. Many of the legal arguments he used for the rights of Orthodox Jews have been used by lawyers for other religious minorities as well.”
Rapps began his lecture by describing the initial understanding of what religious liberty meant in America.
“In the general sense, religious liberty, especially for the Orthodox community, was the freedom from what used to occur to Jewish communities in Europe,” he explained. “Jews were forced to convert or forced to say prayers. This was prevented in the US by the parallel directive of, not only having the right to believe and worship, but having the right to act on what a person believes.”
Rapps spoke of the lawsuits his organization has been involved in, including finding a compromise between New York State autopsy laws and Jewish religious edicts. “When someone dies there’s an autopsy, but Jewish law is much more limited when allowing autopsies,” said Rapps. With the help of a posek ( a religious judge) from the Satmar Hasidic community, Rapps’ organization developed a compromise with the state, where autopsies would be performed on Jewish bodies in only a few select cases, most notably where there is fear of a spreading disease.
Rapps elaborated on accommodations workplaces are required to provide for their employees based on their religion, an extension of religious liberty laws. “My father got a job on Monday, and lost it on Friday,” recalled Rapps about the effect of his father’s Shabbos observance. Currently, there are provisions in the law against the religious discrimination that his father faced with companies, both public and private, required to provide reasonable accommodation for an employee’s sincerely held religious belief, if the accommodation will not impose more than a de minimis cost or burden. Rapps said that the current understanding of what constitutes a de minimis cost might be challenged in an upcoming case to the Supreme Court.
For his last topic, Rapps spoke of the latest iteration of religious liberty, when a protected class like religion, conflicts with another protected class, like gender or sexuality, as occurred when the Supreme Court heard the Masterpiece Cakeshop case last year.
“There is a conflict between two protected classes— Which class takes priority?“ Rapps asked audience members, many of whom offered their own opinions. (Rapps noted that the question was sidestepped in the court’s ruling which focused on the baker’s freedom of expression.)
During the lecture, Rapps engaged in a lively discussion with attendees who offered their opinions about the repercussions and rationale for various laws. “Why is it moral for the government to tell me who I can do business with?” Asked one student from a political science class. “I’m not a moralist,” responded Rapps. “I’m a lawyer. Why is hitting someone a crime? Because the law says it is. Why is discrimination a crime? Because the law says it is.” Rapps praised the students at the end. “They were a great audience,” he said, adding that he teaches the same material in law school classes and the questions he received tonight were of the same caliber.
“It opened my eyes,” said LAS student Chanania Yousaflaleh. “I’m going to try to gain a deeper understanding of how our religion interacts with law.”
Yisroel Appelbaum, a pre-med student on an accelerated track in LAS, attended the lecture with his classmates from a political science class. “I found it interesting that religious liberty laws extend to me even when I will be in medical school,” he said. “This means my Shabbos observance won’t be affected by medical school.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-rapps.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2019/LASRapps.JPG
March 11, 2019
307252
Touro Undergraduate Spring 2019 Career Fair Arrives in Brooklyn
“I Made a Good Impression and a Kiddush Hashem”
Employers met their newest future star employees at the Touro College Undergraduate Spring Career Fair on March 5 at the Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush.
The school’s auditorium was filled with the buzzing chatter of students interacting with recruiters. Many returning employers were present—including B&H, Canon, Deloitte, KPMG, Ohel, The Orthodox Union, Achieve Beyond, Maimonides Medical Center, Leshkowitz and Co., BKD CPA & Advisors—as well as new employers like Cross River Bank and Fasten Halberstam. More than 110 students participated in the Fair.
This marked the first time that the biannual career fair was held in Brooklyn. The fair was a joint effort between Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS), Lander College for Men (LCM), and New York School of Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS).
“There’s a lot of excitement and hopefully this will lead directly to our students having opportunities to move forward in their careers.” said LAS’s Director of the Office for Student Success, Chaim Shapiro. He said that the fair had one of the largest turnouts he’s witnessed.
“I’m glad to see so many students here,” said Ron Ansel, Director of Career Services for LCM. “The house is full of students who are looking for internships that will really help them and provide a stepping stone for their future careers.”
LAS Dean Dr. Robert Goldschmidt said the fair was “extremely successful.”
“We worked hard to put together a large group of employers, both from the for-profit and non-profit sector,” he said. “It is heartening to see the work of our career services ensuring that our students are well-prepared for their interviews. It’s an excellent turn-out and a great opportunity for our students looking for professional advancement.”
Given the strong career potential of most undergraduates, it was no surprise that many of the recruiters were Touro graduates themselves.
Manning the table for accounting firm BKD CPA & Advisors was LAS graduate Aaron Shapiro, tax director for the company. He said he was impressed by the students. "They are diligent, motivated and professional," he said about the candidates he met. "There is a reason why we keep on coming back to recruit at Touro." The firm hired a full-time employee they met during last year's career fair and Shapiro said that they already have another new hire from Touro starting in September along with a Touro intern.
LAS-Flatbush alumni Michael Ament and Yehuda Fruchter conducted a steady stream of interviews for their employer, Big-4 accounting firm Deloitte. A piece of advice Ament gave to students was to send a thank-you note to interviewers. “It’s a small gesture, but it means a lot,” he counseled.
Behind the table for KPMG were two alumni from LCM, Naim Kaplan and David Kaufman. Kaplan offered his own advice to the students. “We end up spending as much time with our coworkers as we do with members of our family, so being positive and easy to work with is something we look for," said Kaplan.
Elisheva Florence, an audit manager at Fasten Halberstam, graduated from LAS in 2015 and represented her firm at the fair. “Touro prepares their students well,” she said. “I’m happy to be here and give back to the institution.”
Ariella Shamash, an accounting major at LAS, had several interviews at today’s spring career fair. "It went really well," Shamash said. Her favorite moment during one of her interviews was when she was asked to explain the economic value of auditing, a question she had prepared for. As part of the career fair, each of Touro’s undergraduate schools hold mock interviews for students and extensive resume workshops.
Lander College for Men student Nachum Krohn attended the career fair in hopes of finding an internship. "I feel that what I learn in yeshiva gives me an advantage," said Krohn, who is studying finance. "Learning Gemara develops your analytical skills which I think is necessary for a solid business career."
LAS student Abraham Shaw, president of the school’s finance club, was looking for his second internship. Last summer, he interned at Merrill Lynch and he recently passed his first CFA exam. "It was an awesome experience," he said about his time at Merrill Lynch. "I believe I made a good impression and a kiddush Hashem."
LCM student David Hausman said he felt prepared for the interviews at the fair. He said he believed his organizational skills would help him in an accounting career. “Plus, with an accounting degree I could crossover into the world of finance,” he said.
LAS student Malka Agular was at the fair to find an internship in graphic design. “I’ve always loved art and I decided to take it further and do it professionally,” said Agular. “The program at LAS is amazing and the teachers are always making sure we have what we need.”
Accounting professor Yosef Newman was on hand to help his students before their interviews. One thing he constantly repeated to his charges was not to “underplay what they have achieved.”
“I had a student who had a summer internship and after talking with her for a while she finally told me what she did, which was remarkable,” recalled Newman. “She helped switch over the accounting firm’s software to a new tax system. I told her to stress that. When she went for an interview, she found out that her interviewer had actually designed that exact tax program.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-career-fair-spring-2019.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2019/LASCareerFairSpring2019.jpg
March 14, 2019
307245
NYC Councilman Credits Touro for Powering Political Career
Wisdom from Professors Helped David G. Greenfield Jumpstart His Success
New York City Councilman David G. Greenfield routinely regaled his staff with the wise words of his Touro professors. “I kid you not,” says Greenfield, who represented New York’s 44th district. “There isn’t a single day that I don’t use something I learned at Touro. And, I graduated 20 years ago!” That was before he earned a degree from Georgetown Law School, long before he became an activist lawyer and before he was elected to public office - twice.
The seeds of his determination to help others through government and public policy were planted at Touro Flatbush. “Touro provides students with tremendous opportunity and support”, says Greenfield. “They customize the education to your needs.”
Among other achievements, including being class valedictorian, Greenfield founded a political science journal, Equal Justice. “The Dean helped me brainstorm topics, suggested other students who’d be interested and provided financial support for the publication. Next thing I knew, we had a journal. And one whose stories everyone didn’t agree on. It was an intellectual give and take. Imagine!” After his term ended, Greenfield left public life for a new role as CEO of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty.
As he has with every professional endeavor, Greenfield will take with him the wisdom imbued by Touro College. “It was there that I learned critical thinking. They taught me about Plato, Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, but they also taught me how these great thinkers’ ideas applied to today’s issues. What a gift.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/david-greenfield.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2018/david-greenfield.jpg
October 26, 2018
307253
Landing and Keeping a Graphic Design Job
Alumni Offer Five Tips for Current Students
How do you succeed as a graphic designer? This was the question addressed to panelists at the first-ever alumni panel hosted by the Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush’s Digital Multimedia Design Society.
Four successful LAS alumni who work as graphic designers—Toby Rubenstein of Go! Group; Shaindel Plumer of The Five Towns Jewish Times; Reena Abady of We Are Miller, and Yael Dolinger of The Lakewood Shopper— shared tips about their own success in the field and offered advice to current LAS students considering a career in the design world.
“To succeed as graphic designers our students need to be unafraid to think outside the box,” said organizer Susan De Castro, a professor and the coordinator for LAS’s Digital Multimedia Design Department. “They should never underestimate their resources and creativity.”
Work as Part of Team
While graphic designers can work as freelancers, all four shared the sentiment that their work had improved by working as part of a team. “You need to work around other people to improve,” said Rubenstein. “A good creative director pulls out the best in you. Your work won’t improve if you sit at home designing in a vacuum.”
Get Experience Early
Abady spoke of how she held her first job while a student LAS. “I was able put into practice what I learned in school,” said Abady. Rubenstein added: “The only way you can learn is by doing. You’re only going to reach your potential by venturing out of your comfort zone.”
Update Your Portfolio
Not only it is vital to showcase your latest work to employers, it’s also a good way to gauge your own progress. “Line up your artwork and you can see your work improve,” said Plumer.
Stay Current
Pay attention to current trends in the graphic design world. Watch Youtube videos from graphic designers and follow graphic designers on Instagram. Not only will this provide you with inspiration but it’s something to talk about during a possible job interview. “Being able to talk about design shows your interest in the field,” counseled Rubenstein. “Interviewers want to see that you’re passionate about being a graphic designer, not someone who’s just working for a paycheck.”
Ask Questions
Each panelist mentioned a particular instance when a client rejected a piece of artwork and how the fix—guided by client’s revisions—had been minor. “Don’t take a ‘no’ as a wholesale rejection of your talent,” said Plumer who detailed how a client rejected one of her advertisements because of an unrelated issue. “If you ask why a client doesn’t like something, they may just have a minor reason that can either be addressed or the rejection might be because of another factor you aren’t aware of.” Though panelists also said that there may be times when a client simply doesn’t like the work, but finding out where you went wrong will help you on your next attempt.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-graphic-design-alumni-2019.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2019/LASGRAPHICPANEL.jpg
April 11, 2019
307255
Touro’s Lander Colleges Celebrate the Class of 2019 at Commencement
608 Graduates Earn Bachelor’s Degrees, Top Students Recognized
New York, NY - Graduating seniors at Touro’s Lander Colleges marched into Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall on Sunday. Before an audience of family members and friends, they received their diplomas at the 45th Annual Commencement of Touro College. In all, 608 graduates were awarded baccalaureate degrees from Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush, Lander College for Women and Lander College for Men. Eighty students received associate degrees from Machon L’Parnasa/The Institute for Professional Studies and The School for Lifelong Education.
Touro also awarded an honorary doctoral degree to Professor Jonathan Halevy, co-director general of Shaarei Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Professor Halevy established the hospital as a center of excellence and has played a central role in the Israeli healthcare system. He urged students to “keep reading and learning, and always maintain your curiosity…once you become a leader in your discipline, become a mentor yourself.”
Becoming Leaders Who Contribute to Society
Valedictorians Moshe Baitelman, Sarit Hadi, Eric (Yitzy) Klipper and Rebecca (Rivka) Melka all looked beyond “adulting” to talk about becoming leaders and contributors to society. They thanked Touro for preparing them to become successful professionals while maintaining Torah values.
Moshe Baitelman, valedictorian of Lander College of Arts and Sciences Men’s Division, an alum of Yeshivas Beis Dovid Shlomo in New Haven, moved from Vancouver, BC to attend the college. Next year he will start medical school. He thanked his biology professors who “took the spark of scientific curiosity in me and turned it into a roaring flame.” Moshe also thanked his family for their unending support. Moshe served as the president of the science society and executive editor of the science journal at the Lander College of Arts and Sciences.
Sarit Hadi, valedictorian of Lander College of Arts and Sciences Women’s Division in Flatbush, told her classmates, “our careers may identify what we do, but they do not identify who we are. Who we are is not determined by what we acquire, but rather, paradoxically, by what we give.” Sarit attended seminary at Lahav Bais Yaakov. She is following in the footsteps of her mother and sister, who are both Touro alumnae, and plans to become a speech-language pathologist, a field that will enable her to help people find their voices. She has been accepted to the graduate programs at Brooklyn College and Touro and the doctoral program in audiology at the CUNY Graduate Center. She lives in the Midwood section of Brooklyn.
Eric (Yitzy) Klipper, valedictorian of Lander College for Men, quoted former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, who said “leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” Yitzy said, “whether it is a class project, helping an individual through hard times, creating the next technological advancement, or running a country, we as the future leaders must nurture a vision of what we want to accomplish, and do everything we can to achieve it.” A highly motivated student who previously spent two years studying at Yeshivat Shaalvim in Israel, Yitzy will begin Rutgers School of Dental Medicine this fall. He is a native of Elizabeth, NJ.
Rebecca (Rivka) Melka, the valedictorian of Lander College for Women, also spoke about leadership and determination. She said, “If we have a vision of who we want to be and what we want to accomplish, with determination and self-confidence, we can and will rise to the occasion.” Rebecca cultivated this spirit during college, seeking out internships with local dentists and working as a research assistant while maintaining a near-perfect GPA. Rebecca will enroll this fall in Columbia University Dental School. She attended Michlalah Jerusalem seminary and grew up in Waterbury, CT.
Choosing Wisely
Dr. Alan Kadish, president of Touro College & University System, told the students they had all made a series of choices when they began their academic journey. “One of these choices was to choose Touro’s Lander Colleges, where we work to build a university system that will help repair the world through education and Jewish values. My wish for each and every one of you is that you take the lessons that you learned here and truly apply them; that for the rest of your lives, you have the opportunity to bring a tikun to a society that truly needs healing. As such, I urge each of you to fully dedicate yourselves to becoming the professional that you would hold up as the standard bearer, not only professionally, but also ethically.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/touros-lander-colleges-celebrate-class-of-2019-commencement.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2019/gradhatSM.jpg
May 30, 2019
307256
5 Ways Summer School Can Advance Your College Career
A short term investment with long term benefits
As the weather heats up, you could spend your days lounging at the pool, visiting with friends and chilling out. Or, you could sign up for college summer classes—a real downer? Not necessarily. If you look at the long term benefits of a few short weeks of work, you might decide to go for it.
According to Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Dean of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush, summer is a time to maximize opportunity. Here are 5 ways you can do this when enrolled in summer school:
For new students, summer is a great time to ease into college and explore potential majors and interests without committing to a 15 weeks semester. You can try out different classes and discover likes and dislikes in a compressed fashion. Based on what you learned about your own interests and proclivities, you can then move forward in the professional direction that’s right for you.
For students who are in middle of college, summer school is a way to accelerate your degree program and complete your bachelor’s quicker. In two summer sessions of just eight weeks total in class, you can earn up to 13 credits.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the sciences and health professions, it’s possible to complete a full year of science courses in two summer sessions.
Despite fewer classes being offered and less students enrolled than during the year, there is a full college advisement staff working through the summer. This is a time to take advantage of the available academic and career support and mentoring at the college, while this staff team has a lighter workload. They will be able to focus more on you and your needs and give you more time than during the regular school year.
If you’re a yeshiva student back from Israel and planning to return there in the fall, you have a chance to earn 6 college credits and get a true jumpstart on your academic career in a special Bein Hazmanim semester. Pick up where you left off next summer and then move ahead in your chosen field, with some core courses behind you, when you’re ready to enroll full time.
Learn more about the summer session course offerings for men and for women at Touro.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/5-ways-summer-school-can-advance-your-college-career.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2019/touro-las-students-walking-outside.jpg
May 31, 2019
307254
Lander College of Art & Sciences Alumni Spotlight: Chaya Rockford
A Touro Alum Shares How She Started Her Own Successful Business Designing Clothes
We spoke with Rockford about how she navigated through the challenges related to starting her own business, Project 6, what a day in her life looks like, and the inspiration behind her clothing line specializing in unique shapes, innovative construction, and movement.
How did Project 6 get started? Did you create a business plan or find partners?
During my time at Touro, I worked in elementary school administration. I started as an assistant and worked my way up to administrator. After four years in that role, I started feeling like I wanted to do more. I knew I wanted to run my own business, but I worried that I didn’t have what it takes. At the same time, my older sister had just enrolled her youngest child in preschool and was ready to focus on her fashion dreams. She knew I had the business mind and education, and she asked me to join her. I took the leap and Project 6 was launched, named so since my sister had five children!
We still laugh about our first meeting when I was trying to guide her through a business plan. I also spent hour’s online researching pricing strategies and business strategies and assessing risks.
Fortunately, my sister had a successful hair accessory business that she ran from home since 2009, so we didn’t need to borrow capital. Later, when my sister stepped down and the business became mine, I was able to use my savings to invest in the business. I’m so grateful to my parents who instilled in me the importance of saving!
What is a typical day like for you?
In late 2018, my sister decided to pass on the business to me, as she wanted to focus more on her family. So now, my days look different, as my job includes things that it hadn’t before, such as more of the design elements and communicating with our factories. (In the process of hiring, know any fashion designers?)
I believe in morning routines. For me, having a morning routine, makes my day go so much smoother! I start my work day using Brendon Burchard’s High Performance Planner. I love it because it helps keep me organized on paper, so I know I’m not forgetting something important.
I start with checking in with our factories, to make sure that we are on track. I answer customer emails, both retail and wholesale! Our wholesale customers also have my phone number, so I’m usually chatting with them a few times during the day. Actually, it’s often also at night, since they’re business owners, too!
I also review reports so I can better understand where we are holding, what is working, what’s not working, and where I need to put my efforts.
It’s 2019 and social media is so important. So, I try to “Instastory” on @project6ny as much as I can.
At the end of each day, I go back to my planner to review my day and make notes for the next day.
What inspires your designs?
We believe inspiration comes from keeping your eyes open to the world around you. Constantly appreciating G-d’s beauty all around us. Inspiration and ideas are floating everywhere, you just have to be open to it!
For example, last season, I was walking in a smelly alley and there was a huge mess of rusty metal pipes. Bam! A collection (and photoshoot) was formed in my head! I was inspired by the metallic pipes and created several styles of headbands featuring metallic ropes. For the photoshoot, we built different structures out of PVC pipes and spray painted them in metallic colors as the backdrop for the shoot.
Inspiration is about keeping your eyes open, not pressuring yourself, and allowing ideas to come to you and trusting that they will come.
How do you manage to juggle personal life with running your own business?
This is a great question, and I’m not going to say I have all the answers. It’s a struggle because at the end of the day, I’m running a small business with a lot of moving parts.
Before I sit down to work from home after hours, I ask myself: “does this need to happen now? Can it be delegated? Can it wait until tomorrow?” The tasks I often do from home are more design- related and the things that are relaxing and fun for me. That way, it doesn’t feel like I’m working!
We also moved the business to Florida where my parents and 5 of my siblings live. Spending time with my family and nieces and nephews is so refreshing to me.
What advice do you have for our students who want to create their own fashion brand?
I have three pieces of advice and they really apply to anyone interested in starting a business:
Experience, experience, experience! Get as much experience as possible working for someone else first! Before investing your own money and time into creating a brand, if you can first learn the ropes, the flow, and the environment via an internship or job, you’ll be so much more equipped to succeed!
Start saving money now! This is for every single person on the planet, but especially for entrepreneurs. If you have some savings to invest in yourself and some to live off, then you won’t have to borrow from others or worry about putting food on the table which puts an extra pressure that you just don’t need when starting a business. If you feel like you don’t have enough money to be putting some towards savings, I encourage you to read David Bach’s books, specifically his new one called The Latte Factor.
Aspiring fashion designers often don’t realize that having a fashion brand isn’t just about creating 24/7. It ends up being 75% business, perhaps more. So, I would encourage you to make sure you really understand what is going on in your accounting and business classes. Knowledge is power!
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/lander-chaya-rockford.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2019/Capture.JPG
June 13, 2019
307257
Accountant-Turned-Critical Care Nurse is on the Front Lines
Touro Alum Benjamin Korman Discusses His Nursing Career and Life in the ICU During Pandemic
You switched careers from Accounting to Nursing – what prompted the career change?
I was working as an accountant and not finding great fulfillment in that role when I got into a motorcycle accident that changed my life. I went from managing my workload in an office to being completely dependent on nurses. I was in very bad shape and experienced a lot of pain as a result of “road-rash” and fractures. The nurses were so kind and caring and they literally saved me. I had a lot of time to think about life at that point and all I could think was, “Wow, what an incredible job they have. I want to do that as well. Why shouldn’t I have a job that’s so rewarding?”
It wasn’t easy because I was married with two kids at the time; however, my wife was very supportive. As soon as I recovered, I enrolled in Touro again, this time for a bachelor’s in biology before heading to nursing school. Today, I can honestly say that every day is a beautiful day. Although the work is often challenging and extremely stressful, I truly love every minute. I feel so gratified that I can spend my days having a tremendous impact on the lives of patients and families. My goal every day is to try to go beyond what’s expected, for all my patients – comforting a child with epileptic seizures, encouraging and educating families of stroke or cardiac arrest patients and the list goes on. The rewards are truly priceless. Driving to the hospital; I pray that I will be able to do the best I can for each and every patient.
Can you describe a day in the life of an ICU nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic?
In two words, I would say it’s “controlled chaos.” Our administrators at Northwell Health Forest Hills Hospital are excellent and have created team structures and procedures. The number of patients varied from day to day, and they’ve now converted multiple other units into ICUs. There is so much to monitor and it’s all critically important – sedation, blood glucose levels, blood pressure, antibiotics, hydration and nutrition. The number of medications and drips per patients vary and is part of a complex package compiled specifically for each patient at a given time, yet things can and do change in a New York minute. The patients’ survival depend on so many factors, with the entire health care team working cohesively on a constant basis. Many COVID patients suffered from hypotension, or low blood pressure, and kidney failure. It’s a delicate balance we have to strike, since a somewhat stable blood pressure is required in order to start dialysis which treats the kidney failure. In other words, when a patient’s blood pressure is too low, dialysis is generally not an option until the issue is corrected.
What do you find most challenging?
Going to work knowing we are risking our lives for others is quite a challenge, and seeing people in their 30s and 40s coming in with COVID and even passing away. I can’t deny it – these are frightening times. Keeping it together, both mind and body, during this pandemic, is a challenge for health care professionals. We see so much pain and suffering but we can’t let it break our spirits. I have been attempting a strategy used by a senior trauma nurse to keep my mental health intact. When something goes on at work, I place it in a bag in my brain. Before I go into my house after my 12- or 16-hour shift, I hang the bag up on a hook outside my home. I do everything in my power NOT to take any pain into my home.
What is most rewarding?
Seeing patients improve and actually go home. While the day-to-day reality of caring for sick people is rewarding as well, seeing the results of our efforts when they actually recover is immensely rewarding. Being part of the front-line team is amazing. Every single employee at the hospital is part of the front-line team. We are all putting ourselves at risk to keep taking care of patients and keep the hospital employees and visitors safe. In the ICU, we monitor patients constantly and can never let our guards down for even one minute. The only way to achieve this goal successfully is to work as a cohesive team. Nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, dietary, radiology, pastoral, social workers transport, security, pharmacy, laboratory, materials, management/administration, just to name a few – we all collaborate to create a plan and do the best for our patients and staff.
How did Touro help with your career?
My B.S. in Biology gave me a very strong science background, which of course helped me become a better nurse and enabled me to understand the anatomy and physiology, chemistry, pharmacology and disease process.
Beyond that, Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Dean of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, gave me a priceless piece of advice that I’ve used for decades. As an accounting major, Dean Goldschmidt knew I’d be in the business world and advised me to read the front page of the Wall Street Journal every day so I could stay on top of important news and developments and converse intelligently with colleagues. Dean Goldschmidt also said it would help me become a well-rounded person. That tip helped me as an accountant and I continued to follow his advice even as I moved into the health sciences. There are so many times that I need to break the ice with a patient or distract them from pain or a procedure and I do it successfully using something I read that morning as a conversation starter. It always works!
What advice would you give to the public about the pandemic?
Pay attention to health information and necessary precautions. Trust the health care professionals with current experience. We don’t have an ulterior motive, we all just want to minimize the spread, manage this horrific situation and keep people healthy. Maintain good hygiene, don’t break social distancing barriers, stay well hydrated and wear your mask. Don’t wait until someone close to you becomes critically ill or dies to take this seriously. Hopefully, these measures will help us all stay healthy!
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/ben-korman-accountant-turned-critical-nurse.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2020/benkorman.jpg
May 18, 2020
307258
Touro Students Help Design Virtual Summer Internship Program at Eastern Union
500 College Students Across the Country to Learn Lending, Underwriting, Finance Aspects of Real Estate
Sometimes a casual conversation can be the catalyst for a major initiative. A few weeks ago, Chaim Shapiro, M.Ed, director of the Office for Student Success at Touro College, was discussing a project with Ira Zlotowitz, founder and president of Eastern Union, when Zlotowitz asked Shapiro how the pandemic was affecting his students’ prospects for summer internships. Shapiro shared that many internships at top-tier firms had been curtailed and some offers were even rescinded. Students were frustrated by the lost opportunities and unsure whether they would find meaningful and productive alternatives.
In less than five minutes, Zlotowitz asked, “Why don’t we do something together for them?”
Overnight, a virtual internship program was born. Shapiro sent resumes of seven business and accounting students. Zlotowitz followed up with a conference call where the students shared insights and gave input to help build the program from the ground up. They discussed what they would like to learn and what elements were necessary to make it a success, agreeing that both educational and experiential components should be incorporated.
Virtual Internship Goes National
Zlotowitz took their advice. After a follow-up meeting with Shapiro and Jodi Smolen from Touro Career Services to finalize the details, he launched the Virtual Summer Underwriting Internship, open not only to those Touro students, but to any college students across the country who want to learn about real estate through the eyes of banks—lending, underwriting and finance.
In less than a week, 350 student interns signed up. Zlotowitz has decided to keep the applications open, but cap the program at 500. College and graduate students studying real estate, finance, accounting, economics, business, law, mathematics, marketing and management are eligible to apply. "We're looking for applicants ready to learn on-point skills in commercial real estate finance, and then leverage these skills to help propel their future careers," said Zlotowitz.
“Everyone has a life mission. Mine is to help people make a living—to give them the skillset, mentoring, coaching and confidence they need to be successful,” continued Zlotowitz. “At my firm, we take every opportunity to do this. We have the best training system in the country in the commercial real estate lending space and we want to use that to help position people for success.”
"Virtual" interns will participate from the safety and convenience of their homes and work remotely alongside Eastern Union's commercial real estate brokers and senior underwriters.
Internship curricula will be offered in conjunction with services provided by the company's new "Multi-Family Group," which recently reset market pricing by introducing an unprecedented quarter-point fee—with no back-end fees—for refinancing multi-family properties backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, transactions known as "agency refinancings."
Four Key Tracks
The internship program covers four tracks: underwriting and finance education, sales and origination education, hands-on education and business development and underwriting. Students may enroll in multiple tracks. The program will offer zoom sessions followed by Q&A; enable interns to join portions of the junior brokers training; offer the opportunity to analyze live deals every week with the head of underwriting; and for those who are able to bring a deal to Eastern Union, the chance to actually work on it live with a senior underwriter mentoring them every step of the way and possibly even earn a commission.
Students Have a Voice
“Ira asked for our input and valued our opinions, and came up with great solutions—the four different tracks—to help different people with diverse goals and priorities achieve the most out of their internships,” said Moshe Pinkas, a finance major at Touro. “I’m excited to get started and see how the business works from A to Z. The unprecedented access to behind the scenes calculations and negotiations will be invaluable for anyone going into real estate specifically, and finance generally.”
“I have always wanted to enter the fields of real estate or financial advising. This internship allows me to hit the ground running on the real estate path. I had something lined up in the financial advisory sector which was cancelled due to COVID-19. I’m grateful to have this opportunity presented at the last minute. Thanks to Ira’s generosity and thoughtfulness the summer will be a productive one. May Hashem repay Ira’s generosity and kindness the way only He can,” continued Pinkas.
“While discussing different ideas and deciding how the internship should be structured, I learned more about myself which allowed me to zero in on what exactly I was looking to gain from the internship,” said Bennet Kest, an accounting major at Touro College.
Internship sessions will run during the Monday-through-Thursday period from July 1 to August 31. Interns, however, will have flexibility in designing their schedules.
Internship spots are limited, so students are urged to apply promptly. Applicants may apply at www.easternunion.com/intern.
“Touro Career Services is always working on new and innovative ways to increase employment opportunities for our students, so a collaboration with a forward-thinking industry leader like Eastern Union was a natural fit. We are so pleased that this partnership can extend further as well,” said Shapiro.
Founded in 2001, Eastern Union is a leading national commercial mortgage brokerage firm employing more than 100 brokers and real estate professionals and closing $5 billion in real estate transactions annually.
Touro College offers 20 different majors and tracks, including business, finance, accounting with accelerate CPA track as well as pre-med, pre-dent and numerous health sciences
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/virtual-summer-real-estate-internship-program-eastern-union.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2020/irazlotowitz.jpg
June 29, 2020
307259
Pandemic Can’t Stop Lander Students from Securing Internships
Undergrads Enter Worlds of Real Estate and Cybersecurity Through Virtual Summer Opportunities at Leading Firms
When the pandemic erupted, Touro career services staff went into overdrive to help students secure internships in spite of company closings and the cancellations of many established internship programs. Touro prepared students to market themselves via online interviews and even helped companies design virtual internship programs. Two students from Touro’s Lander Colleges share their experiences.
Chaim Bald, a student at Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush, has been interning at Eastern Union, a commercial real estate firm, since July. Through the program, which was designed in partnership with Touro students and staff, he participates in online classes in real estate, underwriting and sales, and has the opportunity to bring in real estate deals for the company. Recently, Chaim became the first intern to bring in a real estate financing deal and he will earn a commission when it closes.
Chaim, who started college intending to become an actuary, has found that he loves the world of real estate. “I’ve always liked numbers, but I also like helping people. What we do is help investors get loans, so the work resonates with me,” he said.
One look at Chaim’s LinkedIn page makes it clear how much he enjoys the internship. The first words are “Eastern Union Loan Originator… Let me help you save money.” His message is working—the LinkedIn page has attracted interest from investors seeking loans and as a result, Chaim is now working on his second deal.
Chaim hopes to continue working at Eastern Union while returning to classes in the fall. He will return to Touro with the goal of using his degree to jumpstart a real estate career. He is especially eager to be able to thank Touro professor Jon Balin, who taught his Principles of Management class. Professor Balin required his students to create their own LinkedIn profiles. “Because of him, I found this internship on LinkedIn and got my first deal through LinkedIn,” he said.
Sholom Abrahams, a student at Lander College for Men (LCM), is interning at Harbor Labs, a health care cybersecurity firm in Baltimore. A computer science major, Sholom was excited to explore the practical side of computer programming after focusing on many theoretical aspects in school. Working remotely from his home in Baltimore, he spends his days doing full-stack web development alongside cyber-scientists from Johns Hopkins University. Through video calls and texts, he works closely with and learns from Harbor Labs senior staff.
Sholom hadn’t done a summerlong internship before, but he knew someone who had interned at Harbor Labs, so he emailed the company to find out about opportunities. To prepare for the interview, he received tips and advice from Jodi Smolen, LCM’s director of career services. Computer Science Department Chair Dr. Jonathon Robinson helped him get ready for the technical portion. He got the internship and is now one step closer to a career as a computer programmer.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/pandemic-cant-stop-lander-students-from-securing-internships.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2020/chaimbald(002).jpg
August 10, 2020
307260
The Fulfillment of a Dream
Ophthalmologist Isaac Reich, a Touro Grad, Works Alongside His Father
Ever since he was a young child coming home from school through the office that his father—an ophthalmologist—kept in the basement of their home, Isaac Reich knew what he wanted to become.
“I was committed to becoming a physician,” laughed Isaac Reich, MD, a 2005 alum of Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush (LAS). “I had no backup plan. All I wanted to do was become a doctor… My father always came home from work tired, but he always seemed so happy at work. The idea that you could love your work and make a difference in people’s lives was incredibly inspiring.”
To achieve his goal, Dr. Reich attended LAS, where he received a stellar education while also continuing his studies in yeshiva.
“Lander College of Arts and Sciences set me up to be academically and professionally successful,” explained Dr. Reich. “It enabled me to continue my rabbinical studies during the day and go to college at night.”
A star student at LAS who became close with the school’s exemplary biology department, Reich was accepted into his first choice for medical school, The State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine. He completed his degree in 2009 and now works with his father, though moved now to a medical offices space and no longer in the basement of their home. His name is now listed on a plaque below his father’s. The two practice comprehensive ophthalmology which provides eye care to all patients—ranging from newborns to septuagenarians.
“The eye is truly a wonder of God’s creation,” said Dr. Reich “As an ophthalmologist, I have an opportunity to help people in a very significant way. When I operate on someone who can’t see and, with God’s help, enable them to see again, it’s very thrilling. There’s no price for something like that.”
“I’m standing on very broad shoulders,” concluded Dr. Reich. “Going from a little boy who came home from school through the office in the basement to the point now where I’m working alongside my father is the fulfillment of a dream.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-video-reich-fulfillment-dream.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2020/Las_video_reich2.PNG
October 01, 2018
307261
Welcome to the Future, Third Time Around
Historians Will Mark 2020 as a Revolutionary Year for Higher Education
Dr. Henry Abramson, historian and dean of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, puts the transition to remote learning into historical perspective. Writing and printing caused similar upheavals in the world of education when they were first introduced.
Despite a raging pandemic, colleges and universities took advantage of mature technologies to transition online, preserving the safety of students and faculty while maintaining true to our educational goals.
Understandably, many participants in this bold enterprise lamented what was lost, even temporarily, myself included. The digital divide, Zoom fatigue, and the annoying experience of teaching and learning while masked were common complaints. But let there be no doubt: we are at the cusp of a bold new era in education, particularly tertiary education.
But we’ve been here before. Twice, at least.
The first time educators encountered this phenomenon was in the ancient world, when the technology of recording the spoken word became widespread. Clay tablets incised with wedge-shaped script, friable inked papyrus, and of course scrolls from animal skins preserved instruction for generations, the first global experiment in distance learning.
Socrates subjected the educational value of writing to withering criticism, saying that “writing…is very like painting. The creatures in a painting stand like living beings, but if one asks them a question, they preserve a solemn silence. And so it is with written words; you might think they spoke as if they had intelligence, but if you question them, wishing to know about their sayings, they always say only one and the same thing.” Writing lacks synchronous interactivity with an instructor, and is therefore critically impoverished. That said, Socrates’ argument is undermined by the fact that we receive his words only because his student Plato (ahem) wrote them down.
And with synchronous Zoom classes, Socrates’ argument is rendered moot.
Related concerns were raised by the Sages regarding the commitment of the Oral Torah in textual form, and the Talmud was only rendered in its current form after strenuous debate.
So despite the objection of the early Greek philosophers, western civilization marched ahead with writing anyway, considering this technology an invaluable add-on to in-person instruction, not its replacement.
The next major challenge came some 2100 years later, with the advent of cheap printing technologies. Long accustomed to beautiful Arabic calligraphy, the Islamic world largely rejected the poor quality mass-produced equivalent, inadvertently missing an opportunity to participate actively in the scientific revolution that would give Christian Europe a distinct advantage entering the modern era. But not all Europeans were pleased—Hieronimus Squarciafico, himself an employee of an early Venetian print shop, panned the new technology in 1477, writing “already abundance of books makes men less studious; it destroys memory and enfeebles the mind by relieving it of too much work.” Better, argued Squarciafico, to learn more deeply with expensive handwritten texts than read lots of cheap printed books.
But the printers won that debate. Five centuries later, it is increasingly rare for instructors to assign bound physical books, let alone manuscripts on vellum or parchment. No one will doubt the diminished aesthetic value of a mass-produced book when compared to a hand-written work, painstakingly completed by a human scribe. The value of increased access, however, widely overwhelmed the sacrifice of artistic beauty of individually produced written works. And just as Socrates’ objection to writing was recorded in text, so too was Squarciafico’s lament preserved in a printed book.
And with synchronous Zoom classes, the increasing range of personal customizations—virtual backgrounds, gallery vs. speaker views, filters and so on—suggest that even the aesthetic features of remote learning may be overcome to meet individual tastes.
Historians are notoriously unreliable when speaking about the future—we tend to do our jobs best when we are looking backwards, not forwards. But that rear-view perspective suggests that if 2020 is anything like 400 BCE, or like 1500 CE, the Zoom revolution in higher education will certainly not eliminate live, in-person education: we will take these new digital tools to expand, not diminish, our pedagogic power.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/henry-abramson-welcome-to-the-future-third-time.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2020/henryabramson.jpg
October 05, 2020
307262
Touro Alum and Winit CEO Reflects on What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur
Spotlight on Ouriel Lemmel
Ouriel Lemmel is not one to rest on his laurels. As the CEO of WinIt, an app helping drivers fight their tickets, he rarely takes time to reflect on his successes, seeming to prefer focusing on the next big challenge. This year he was selected as a top young entrepreneur for Forbes 30 Under 30 list. We spoke with Ouriel about his career since graduating from Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush in 2010 and about how his company has adapted during the pandemic.
What made you interested in tickets?
I was driving in New York City and it seemed impossible to avoid tickets. I realized there are over 60 million tickets issued in the U.S. every year and there was no easy way for drivers to handle them. I decided to create a product that would address a major pain point for everyday drivers and help them save money.
How big is WinIt today and what fueled its growth?
Since our launch in 2015, our app has been downloaded close to one million times. We have a wide range of users, from the average driver who goes to work or shopping and forgets to feed the meter to power users like delivery companies, real estate brokers, flower delivery companies, etc. We now process parking and traffic violations in several states.
You didn’t have much work experience when you founded WinIt. What made you think it could succeed?
Success depends on so many factors; it’s almost impossible to predict if something will work or not. With WinIt, there were three pillars that convinced me to try:
First, the product was relevant and needed. I experienced myself how unavoidable and annoying dealing with tickets was.
Second, testing: I tested with my own tickets and realized there was a way to create a process to efficiently dispute them.
Third, the economics: with the size of the market and our clear business model, we knew we had a shot at trying this.
How was your Touro experience helpful?
I studied mathematics at Touro in Flatbush. It taught me how to think in a structured and rigorous way. Touro was also great for its flexibility. I was taking evening classes in Flatbush and had time for other activities during the day. Finally, it was affordable so I didn’t graduate with crushing debt.
What skills and talents did you need to start?
Grit, persistence and humility. I am also fortunate to have a great cofounder. I think it’s helpful and healthy to have someone with a different approach on things who is able to constructively challenge you.
What has been hardest?
When you’re launching a business without outside investments, you’re constantly dealing with chicken and egg problems. You need revenue to build a product but you need a product to capture revenue.
The challenge is to think pragmatically and recognize the necessary concessions you need to make in order to have your first product prototype live. Then you get valuable feedback from users and you can keep building to refine your product.
What advice do you have for future entrepreneurs?
Study your market well. Ensure your product is something people want and need. Don’t stay in your own bubble. My partner is a very good check on that as we come from different backgrounds. I’m also fortunate to have great mentors, advisors, and friends that are super helpful.
How has COVID affected your business?
At first there were fewer police and fewer cars on the road so fewer tickets were written.
Now our app is even more relevant than ever before for two reasons:
More people are using cars to reduce the use of public transportation where social distancing can be difficult.
Users don’t want to take the risk to go court and potentially be exposed. A single attorney in court can represent multiple users so you can reduce the amount of people being physically present in that court.
What should college students do if they want to become entrepreneurs?
Most successful entrepreneurs I know didn’t wake up one morning and decided to become one, they’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. If you have a business idea or project, don’t be shy—try it. College is a great time for this as you have more available time than when you start working.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alumn-ouriel-lemmel-spotlight.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2020/ouriellemmel.jpg
October 07, 2020
307263
Touro Alum and Kosher Food Influencer Talks Food, Travel, and Success
How Naomi Nachman, "The Aussie Gourmet," Went From Teaching to Kosher Media Marketing
Naomi Nachman’s life revolves around food. For the past 17 years, she’s shared her delicious recipes, taught hundreds of cooking classes, authored two cookbooks and developed a huge following on social media. Hear her expert advice for aspiring influencers, how she began her professional life as a teacher and why her educational training from Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush helped build her brand and propel her career.
How did you get started as a kosher food influencer, recipe columnist and cookbook author?
I earned my bachelor’s degree from Touro College in Judaic Studies and Education, and taught preschool for many years. When I started working at the Educational Alliance on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, they asked me to do a sushi class and it was a fun experience. I did it a few more times and truly enjoyed it. Eventually, I decided to leave teaching to start Aussie Gourmet, my own business offering personal chef services and cooking classes. As a teacher by trade, teaching classes came naturally to me. Over the years, I employed different marketing tools to drive people to my catering business—a radio show, blogging and other kosher social media activity. After a while, I realized I didn’t need the catering business; the cooking classes were enough because I had launched a career as a kosher influencer, or kosher media marketer, partnering with businesses to promote their products or services. I expanded by giving classes to schools, shuls and for Pesach programs, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. I also do team-building exercises and run "Chopped"–style cooking competitions for corporations and other organizations all over the country.
Traveling is also part of my business now. While working on Pesach programs, I networked with organizers and began working with Miriam Schreiber’s Legacy Kosher Tours. I do cooking demos for them and help with social media. I have been to Panama, India and six Asian countries in this role. My husband, Zvi, and I have run two Birthright Trips as well, for Israel Free Spirit and my family and I have traveled extensively through Africa and Europe.
I enjoy recipe development and share those on Instagram @naominachman as well as in my weekly column in The Jewish Home. I have also published two cookbooks— Perfect for Pesach and Perfect Flavors and talk food and cooking on my radio show on the Nachum Segal Network called Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.
Since Corona started, I began doing my classes over Zoom and have done 70+ classes that way. You need to be creative and keep the flow, even as the world changes.
You have 30,000 + followers on social media. How do you keep them engaged on a constant basis?
I talk to them like they’re my friends and many have actually become my friends. My followers are people in the food business and people interested in cooking. I ask them questions, they answer me and we are in constant dialogue. I answer every single question that comes my way and my followers have become part of my family. I work really hard at maintaining my online community. I spend hours every day on it. When I go out to dinner, I show them what I’m eating and when I’m food shopping or cooking, I keep up a running dialogue, showing them what I’m buying or producing and answering their comments and questions. In your opinion, what does it take to become a successful influencer in your industry?
Hard work!!! Another key to acing this game is networking. It’s all about building and maintaining relationships—between you and your followers, you and your customers, you and others in the industry. My motto is—“Let’s all work together and everyone’s business will grow.” It’s important not be self-centered or self-focused. Partner with others and you’ll amplify your own voice and multiply your impact. I am contacted daily to promote various products and services to my followers. I am a big supporter of women-owned businesses, Israeli enterprises and local businesses.
How did your Touro education help propel your career?
I have to thank Dean Robert Goldschmidt of Touro College in Flatbush. When I came to this country from my native Australia, he gave me the opportunity to start life in America, to learn about New York and become part of the community. He gave me a foot in the door and for that, I am forever grateful... I loved Touro and then my brother and cousin ended up going to Touro as a result of my excellent experience. In terms of my career, everything you do is a building block for the next stage. Touro gave me a really strong foundation. I took education classes and became a better teacher and it translated to my cooking classes. I took communications classes and improved my oratory skills when I give public presentations. I learned about Jewish history at Touro and it helped with my travel blog.
What do you love most about your job and what do you find most challenging?
I love everything about the job, but if I had to pick out what I love most—it’s people, food and travel. Corona has been very tough on me as there’s been no traveling for months and minimal contact with people.
What do I find most challenging? Washing the dishes! As much as I love cooking, I hate cleaning up!
What advice would you give new grads interested in launching careers as influencers?
It’s important to understand that you can’t start out planning a full-time career as an influencer. It won’t pay your bills in the beginning. What I recommend is to start off by earning a college degree in a field you enjoy. Find your passion and then start sharing about it on your favorite social platforms. Eventually, as you build a following, you may be able to make it a full-time career. Once you start your business, you have to network, reach out to people and work to create partnerships with companies in the space who can magnify your message by sharing with their own built-in audience.
People now hire me for cooking demos and competitions. I’ve built partnerships and am a brand ambassador for kosher.com, where I have a video channel. I’m also a brand ambassador for Empire Chicken and Gourmet Glatt. I have done recipe development for Tropicana, Breakstone’s butter, Manischewitz, OreIda, Abeles & Heymann and more.
So back to my advice—Find your passion and do what you love and you’ll be successful. You have to work hard and put in the hours. I had a whole career before I got into kosher media marketing. I then found my passion, put in the time and it just evolved once social media started. I have now been in the food space for 17 years and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else!
Your industry partners will want to see your numbers—how many followers, how much engagement, how much influence and how you sell. But beyond that, it’s important to be authentic. You must find your own voice and use it. For me, it’s been my passion, personality and, of course, my accent that helped distinguish my brand as unique. Before I started, I wrote down 50 different ideas and suddenly, Aussie Gourmet came to me and now this brand is closely connected with my name.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/touro-alum-naomi-nachman-the-aussie-gourmet.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2020/naominachman-1000x581.jpg
November 18, 2020
307264
Joining the Fight Against Cancer
Her Mother’s Passing Led Chana Wircberg to Oncology
Chana Wircberg wanted to be a healer since the time she was in middle school. “I always read science books, was always fascinated by the body and how it works and wanted to understand health. I figured if you like science, you must be a doctor.”
For undergrad, she found her way to Touro because she wanted to attend a school with a strong Jewish environment. “I really like the Jewish community and amenities on campus—and that the schedule is mindful of the Jewish holidays.”
After graduating from Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences, Chana decided to continue her education at Touro’s New York Medical College (NYMC). Now in her fourth year, she’s getting valuable medical experience and enjoying her rotations—along with the unique perspectives of her classmates. “At NYMC, you meet all types of people going into the field and can see how a diverse group can use their individual personalities in interactions with patients. Each person brings something else to that interaction.”
Chana is still considering her options when it comes to specialties, but she’s excited by the idea of internal medicine with a fellowship in hematology oncology.
“I’ve heard it said that behind every physician is a parent. My mom had cancer for 10 years before she passed away. Her oncologist was such a big part of her life and our family’s life. During that time, he made such a difference. When she died, he sent us a beautiful letter and I knew then I wanted to have that same connection with my patients and be that person in their lives,” says Chana.
“It’s fascinating all the ways we are thinking to fight cancer. I want to be a part of that, and helping people’s recovery.”
No matter which path she pursues, she’s excited about being able to support and connect with her patients during such a vulnerable time. “It’s an intimate experience—and also a big responsibility!”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alumni-chana-wircberg.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/content-assets/branding/images/Chana-Wircberg.jpg
December 31, 2020
307265
Following In His Father's Footsteps
LAS Alumni Steven Jaskiel Chose Touro College of Dental Medicine to Reach His Goal
Growing up in Miami, Florida, with his parents and younger sister, Steven Jaskiel found an early role model in his hardworking father. As a dentist devoted to his craft, Steven’s father instilled in him important life lessons such as quality over quantity and to never stop learning. Witnessing his father’s passion and how he helped his patients, and even improved their lives by boosting their self-esteem, Steven was inspired to follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in dentistry.
His journey to Touro began while he was searching for an undergraduate program. “I chose Touro for my undergrad degree because the teacher-to-student ratio allowed me to have a personal relationship with my professors,” Steven says. “They also offered unique programs like their post-Pesach program and summer semesters, which allowed me to get a head start on the path I chose.”
Steven also appreciated the flexible schedule that enabled him to attend yeshiva during the day while still working towards fulfilling his career goals. “I am so grateful to Touro for providing me with this amazing opportunity, for not only did it allow me to advance in my secular education, it enabled me to continue in my religious education as well."
When it came time to apply to dental schools, Steven knew he wanted to stay within the Touro community for his professional education. “I was immediately drawn toward Touro College of Dental Medicine’s high-end facilities, state-of-the-art technology and its compassionate faculty who want the students to succeed. Although dentistry is a difficult field of study, I do believe the resources offered at TCDM ease the path as much as possible. I am truly excited to continue in this career path and see what else this incredible field has to offer.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alumni-steven-jaskiel.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/content-assets/branding/images/Steven-Jaskiel-2.jpg
January 06, 2021
307271
Bracha Cohen Rises Through the Ranks to Become Partner at Goldman Sachs
Touro Alumna Parlays Analytical Skills and Love of Learning into Career Triumphs
Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences graduate Bracha Cohen is an unlikely superstar. This Brooklyn mother of seven has risen through the ranks of Goldman Sachs by doing what comes naturally to her—mastering new skills and learning new business areas. In early 2025, she was named partner at the firm, a prestigious title bestowed on less than 1% of Goldman Sachs employees. The selection process was extremely rigorous, and Cohen is honored to be recognized as a business leader who excels not only in generating revenue, but in representing the Goldman Sachs culture of partnership, client service, integrity and excellence.
To backtrack a few years, Cohen’s professional journey began at Touro University. She chose the school because it offered a strong education and supported her values as an observant Jewish woman. There, she focused on computer programming, enjoying the analytical and creative aspects of the field. She also thought it would be a sensible career choice, offering flexibility if she needed it.
“Touro gave me a solid foundation in technology, the concepts of computer science and hands-on programming in languages that were used at the time,” she said. “Touro also exposed me to finance and business basics, so I was well prepared for my first job, and I have been able to learn on the job since then,” Cohen said. When asked how the field has changed over the course of her career, Cohen asks rhetorically, “what hasn’t changed?” and then answers, “when I started in tech, it was mostly a substitute for manually producing a report. There have been so many disruptors—the internet, the cloud, artificial intelligence, multiple massive transformations. I am always learning and it never gets boring.” With the advent of generative AI, Cohen says she uses it to improve efficiency, drive innovation and accelerate productivity through the use of a coding assistant for developers and software engineers. “We use AI to guide code writing and to generate test cases. We are also using AI to aid in building workflows.”
From Testing Software to Identifying Opportunities for a Unit that Manages $3 Trillion
Cohen began as a programmer at Goldman Sachs and now heads a large team of programmers globally across the U.S., EMEA, Asia and India. Her division--Asset & Wealth Management--manages more than three trillion dollars. “I started out writing and testing software 30 years ago, and have since made several moves to support different business areas. In the process, my roles have become less hands-on; instead, I began leading and overseeing other developers. Now I focus on identifying emerging opportunities and setting priorities for developers. We build platform solutions to ensure that the people in the Business and Operations can achieve their goals in terms of revenue growth, risk management, client service and regulatory compliance,” she explains.
When it comes to emerging opportunities, Cohen shared an example of an exciting initiative she is currently managing. About three years ago, Goldman Sachs acquired a company in the Netherlands to expand their business overseas. This company came over to Goldman with their own people and systems. Cohen has been working on a major integration project to get the combined business running on common systems. “This is not just a tech project,” explains Cohen, “but a synthesis and fusion of cultures –people working in different countries are learning what we do and how to integrate.”
Committed to excellence on all fronts, Cohen has honed her skills at home as well as at work. “I have many children, so I learned to be very organized and to delegate at home. I decide what activities I consider to be high value, and I make sure to do those myself. So, for example, I would prioritize being the one to take my kids to the bus and be home to put them to bed but hire help to do the laundry. It’s also important to me that I create structure for my family, so they know what the routine is and when I’ll be with them on a consistent basis. Even now that my children are older, I carve out uninterrupted time to talk with them and advise on important decisions in their lives, and do some of this during my drive to and from work. Prioritizing my time and creating structure are obviously also useful skills at work.” As a religious woman, Cohen strategically built support to manage her schedule by ensuring backup coverage when she could not be available, and volunteering for assignments on secular holidays when her colleagues need to take off. Goldman Sachs is also a company that understands that different types of thought leaders develop better products.
For computer science students at Touro today, Cohen offers this advice, “You can’t expect to operate with the same programming languages and technical skills throughout your career; focus on the concepts because they will always be relevant. Also, try to make sure you thoroughly understand the business or real-world problems that are being solved with the software you are creating; you will create a far better product that way. Soft skills are a critical part of any job—from being a team player to communicating well and being conscious of making a good impression on others. The moment you meet someone, they form an impression of you. Use every chance you get to make a positive and lasting one. It’s also important to form relationships at every step with the people you work with, those you work for and those who work for you. Build trust. You never know how your paths might cross again in the future.”
Outside of work, Cohen manages to find time for exercise, swimming, and for philanthropic activities. She enjoys volunteering and shares that Goldman Sachs encourages this pursuit. “Goldman Sachs is proud of how many partners are on non-profit boards and they make company funds available to support our charitable interests.”
Volunteer, mom, corporate partner and business leader extraordinaire, Bracha Cohen is leading a life of purpose and passion in all areas.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/bracha-cohen-rises-through-the-ranks-to-become-partner-at-goldman-sachs.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2025/B.-Cohen-Headshot.jpg
June 06, 2025
307272
Alum Spotlight: Touro Flatbush Alum on his Rise at Ernst & Young
What It's Like to Be a Tax Professional, How to Stand Out in the Workplace
Michael Sharf, a Managing Director at Ernst & Young, shares how Touro’s top-ranked accounting program set him up for success and offers essential advice for students ready to climb the corporate ladder:
Can you talk a bit about your career path? When and how did you know this was the field for you?
It basically started with the words of my mother when I was a high school senior: “You’re good at math; you should be an accountant!” During my first year after high school, I began taking classes at Touro’s Flatbush campus. I suspected I would end up selecting accounting as my major because it appeared to offer the broadest options/gateway to various careers in the business world. However, after the first day of the first accounting class I attended, I was hooked. The clear rules and need for attention to detail resonated strongly with me. The Touro accounting professors (some of whom are still teaching at Touro today) were outstanding and helped me develop a passion for the field that I still have today. After graduating from Touro, I enrolled at Fordham Law School. I ended up combining my accounting and law educational background into a career in tax. I spent the early years of my career in the tax departments of Big4 accounting firms (KPMG and Arthur Andersen), first working on tax return preparations and then tax consulting/planning for international corporate clients. After approximately seven years, an offhand comment I made to a recruiter about my Microsoft Excel skills set into motion an unexpected chain of events that resulted in me landing at Ernst & Young in a group that focused on the financial accounting side of income taxes. For the first time in my career, I found myself working with the Debits and Credits of financial accounting that I enjoyed in college, with a focus on the income tax accounts. It was the perfect mix for me, and I haven’t looked back.
What do you do for Ernst & Young? What is a typical day like?
I am a Managing Director in EY’s Tax Accounting and Risk Advisory Services group, which is part of the Firm’s tax service line. In my current role, I generally work with large (e.g., Fortune 500) companies, assisting them to prepare the income tax accounts on their financial statements and, in some cases, serving on the EY audit team that signs off on the financial statements. A typical day for me includes a mix of reviewing Excel workpapers and tax calculations, reviewing technical memos that address tax accounting issues as they relate to the income tax accounts and responding to ad hoc questions from clients. I manage multiple teams serving different clients and have regular touch points with my teams to ensure our projects are moving along and issues are resolved. Before COVID, I spent most of the traditional accounting busy season working at client locations across the northeast region of the U.S. Since COVID, we rely heavily on technology tools to remain connected as a team. I am also active in the interviewing process at EY and am an instructor at our in-house training programs that our tax and audit professionals attend each year. I have always enjoyed teaching, and this has given me an opportunity to help develop the skills of our professionals.
What are the challenges involved in your professional role? What do you love about it?
The most significant challenge I face is the time crunch that is inevitable during busy season. There never seems to be enough hours in the day/week! Nights and weekends is par for the course, and I owe my wife and children a tremendous debt of gratitude for putting up with the demands of the job during my busy seasons. However, the time constraints create a tremendous rush during those high-pressure weeks of the year, and I find the work exhilarating because I am fortunate to really love the work I do. I work with talented, smart and diverse colleagues and clients on technical issues that are often complex, and I am rarely bored because I am always learning something new.
How did Touro help prepare you for your career?
Most importantly, by encouraging academic excellence in an environment supportive of my personal and cultural background. The ability to pursue a college degree in the evenings while continuing in yeshiva during the day was crucial to me. I had the good fortune of having outstanding professors at Touro who taught their classes in a clear and thorough manner. This formed the foundation in accounting and business matters upon which I built my entire academic and professional career. My professors had high expectations of us and were firm, but fair, without cutting corners when it came to covering the curriculum in each course. I developed very strong study and work habits that have remained with me since I graduated from Touro. Many of my professors were accomplished professionals in their own right and inspired me to believe in my own ability to achieve similar professional success while remaining true to my personal ideals and religious convictions. Also, Dean Goldschmidt was an instrumental pre-law advisor when I was applying to law school, helping me navigate the application process and offering a personal letter of recommendation. I also made some lifelong friends while at Touro, and have a network of former classmates in different professional roles both within accounting and in other fields.
How can a recent graduate stand out while looking for their first job?
Generally, the Big4 accounting firms hire entry-level staff exclusively from their in-house internship programs, so it is crucial for students who are interested in working for these firms to start their job search with an internship before graduation. For smaller firms that don’t hire exclusively from their in-house internship programs, applying for a summer or winter internship is still an excellent way to build real-world skills and to open doors to full-time entry-level opportunities. In terms of specific tips for standing out during the interview process, I believe it’s important for candidates to remember that they are being evaluated on both their technical skills and their “soft skills.” It is crucial to demonstrate an engaging personality while maintaining a professional demeanor. A smile goes a long way! Also, be prepared to describe specific examples (in detail) of successful teaming with others, leadership skills, defusing conflicts with others, managing your time effectively and being an active member of your community. These are all qualities that firms are looking for when hiring candidates because people with these skills have the potential to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Do you have any advice for climbing the corporate ladder?
From the first day you start at your first job, focus on building your personal brand within your company as a team player who has a positive, can-do attitude and who always acts with integrity. Strive to be the gold standard by which employees at your level are evaluated and don’t shy away from challenging assignments. This includes making an effort to operate, at least some of the time, at the level of your supervisors. Also, be a leader who always treats those who you supervise with respect and fairness.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/michael-sharf-las-alum-at-ernst-and-young.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2021/MichaelSharf.png
February 03, 2021
307273
Alum Spotlight: Eli Tarlow on His Career in Technology
A Technology Leader Finds Business Solutions that Change Lives
Touro alum Eli Tarlow talks about his role as Director of Healthcare at Sirius Healthcare and why advances in technology and innovation mean “unlimited” opportunities for students interested in the field.
Can you share what you do as a Director of Healthcare at Sirius Healthcare?
My career in Information Technology began as an intern within an IT department during my final semester at Touro. At that time, I was excited about technology and didn’t focus specifically on the industry or organization where I was employed. I worked in the government, telecommunications, pharma and other industries. As I advanced in responsibility, I was offered an IT leadership role in a hospital which was daunting to me at first. I realized that the work I would be doing providing technology services not only served a greater purpose supporting health and wellness, but that it also meant that if, G-d forbid, something didn’t work as expected, it could lead to risk and impact to human life.
Serving as a Chief Information Officer for various leading hospitals in NYC for many years, enabled me to learn the “business of healthcare” and how technology can improve clinical outcomes, patient experience, provider engagement and the overall common financial goals of hospitals. I joke that what I loved most about my role as a hospital CIO was that “I get to provide patient care, but without the medical school student loans”. It is still a relatively small amount of people that completely understand the technology options that support the goals of health. The healthcare industry has improved significantly over the last decade in how it takes advantage of technology but still remains far behind other sectors such as retail, finance, travel, etc.
After many years working within hospitals, I decided to move to the vendor side which now gives me the opportunity to help many CIOs and many hospitals across the country. I get to help healthcare organizations learn about leading edge technology and how those solutions can help improve their business and the lives of the patients they serve.
How do you know which technology trends will impact the healthcare world?
There’s a reason for the term “practicing” medicine. Physicians, nurses, etc. know that they are continuously learning about advances in science and medicine and how best to provide care. The same applies in the healthcare technology area. Not a day goes by that I’m not amazed about a new breakthrough. I learn from peers who participate with me on volunteer committees and boards. I learn by attending conferences and seminars. I learn by reading published articles. Mostly I learn from those on the frontline at the hospitals. We meet and discuss real life challenges they face and I bring that back to my team. Of course, if a product or solution already exists, we introduce that to them. If there isn’t a viable solution in the market already, we have our own mock patient room simulation labs and can bring vendor partners in to develop a new, unique product.
How do you see healthcare evolving in light of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning? Will this technology improve patient outcomes? Improve the way hospitals and healthcare systems are set up?
One component that makes a doctor highly successful is his/her ability to absorb information and then to retain the information. A cardiologist who has seen 1,000 patients could arguably provide a better assessment of a condition than another specialist who has only seen 50 patients. However, as humans, there is a limit to how much information we can absorb as well as a limit to how much we can retain. This doesn’t apply to machines. As long as we can increase the computing storage, machines can “learn” and retain more. For example, a machine can store billions of heart rhythm sound files. It can be taught what “normal” is, and automatically detect abnormalities out of a defined range. The frame of reference for a human, using a stethoscope, is limited and can only compare to what was learned and with patients he/she personally met in practice. With advancements in technology, machines can now “learn” and retain medical information at a greater level than a human will ever be able to. Seeing how this has objectively improved patient outcomes, healthcare providers have quickly adapted the use of AI and machine learning in almost all areas. This has proven to be highly effective with patient charting, diagnosis and treatment, decision support, medication management, etc.
What opportunities are there in the tech sector for students who are graduating now and in the next few years? How can they best prepare?
The short answer is “unlimited.” Technology is an absolute requirement in every single business and in every single industry. Technology brings convenience and service. As consumers, we know we have choices and we continue to be loyal to the companies that are “better, faster, cheaper”. The survival of any business and the ability to remain competitive almost solely depends on the right investments in technology.
For students that are considering a career in the tech sector, firstly, I would recommend they learn what it is about themselves that excites them and to align that energy with a specific area in technology. For example, there are many people that love working to develop something new. They could consider focusing on software or hardware development. Others I would imagine might despise “coding” or building and they get excited about fixing or resolving issues. They should consider focusing on technology troubleshooting and the technical services area. The biggest mistake a graduating student could make is chasing a fad or a trend. The second piece of advice I’d give is for students to equally invest in non-technical “soft skills”. I’ve seen many, many times, where the person with the best technology skills and experience lost to the candidate who was articulate, could show a level of understanding business acumen, and able to communicate effectively.
How did Touro help you in your career?
I graduated with a degree in Management Information Systems. It was a fairly new field at the time and Touro did a great job requiring classes that covered many diverse areas which provided great perspective over my career. It covered the obvious technology classes but it also included classes in business, finance, management, communication, etc. I have an incredible amount of gratitude to Touro for providing me the platform to begin my career and my son just began his first semester with Touro this month!
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alum-eli-tarlow-sirius-healthcare.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2021/EliTarlow.png
April 16, 2021
307274
From Touro to the Big 4
Samuel Lowenthal, CPA, MBA, Tax Partner at Deloitte on the Many Benefits of an Accounting Career
A Touro alum discusses his career journey—from Touro to becoming a partner at a Big 4 accounting firm, and offers important advice on what it takes to succeed in the business world
Why did you choose accounting?
Accounting is a great profession in its own right and it’s also a potential gateway to a lot of other business areas and careers. You can stay focused on accounting/reporting, become a tax advisor, or leverage your skillset and accounting career to secure finance and other positions in any company.
I did not choose accounting because I excel in math, one of the common misconceptions about the field. Accounting is not about calculating numbers. It’s about how you report them and how they inform business and financial decisions. What do you like about the field?
I have worked at a CPA firm my entire career. Public accounting is a profession that involves tremendous relationship-building and I love that. We work on projects as part of a team and as people move up the ladder, we have the opportunity to lead teams. We serve clients, and our ability to develop relationships and foster trust with both colleagues and clients, building our network, is crucial to achieving success.
Another aspect of the field that I really enjoy is the ability to help others. As a tax professional, I deliver advice to clients, supporting strategic decisions that bolster their personal success and their business’s bottom line.
Can you talk about your career path and what it takes to become a partner at a Big 4 accounting firm? After earning my accounting degree at Touro, I was determined to obtain an advanced business degree. Since I had my sights on a career in tax, I decided to pursue an MBA with a concentration in tax at Baruch College. The MBA curriculum provided a well-rounded business focus on top of the advanced tax courses of the master’s program.
While in graduate school, I began tutoring Touro accounting students and ultimately became an adjunct accounting professor at Touro, teaching accounting, auditing and tax for 10 years. I also began my career at Deloitte (as I was pursuing my advanced degree), and have been at the firm almost 30 years. For my entire career, I have been in a group that serves the financial services industry. Early on, I focused on what I was asked to do and made sure to learn a lot as I was doing it. I started building my internal network at Deloitte right away.
Over my career the nature of what I do has evolved, correlating with changes in the profession, as well as the nature of my responsibilities in different roles at Deloitte.
The career opportunities at a firm like Deloitte are vast. Among the qualities looked for in a prospective partner are the ability to generate business, being agile and flexible to take on new challenges, and sustained strong performance over time. These and other qualities, a strong business case, and of course, lots of help from the One Above, can make it happen! How do you manage religious observance and professional responsibilities?
I always found effective communication to be a critical component of managing this, especially as it relates to required days away, having to shut down/leave early and similar situations. Being honest and upfront when communicating regarding religious needs as well as being respectful of others’ time and personal lives. Planning ahead so that colleagues know what to expect is important to the success of a religious person in the workplace. This can apply in numerous contexts.
Over the years it has become increasingly easier to navigate these issues as the workplace continues to be more inclusive and respectful of all religious beliefs and customs. Further, as people work remotely to a greater extent (which preceded COVID-19, but now will likely become even more commonplace), certain issues become less of a problem.
How did Touro help you achieve your career goals?
Touro gave me a strong education in accounting. I had great professors at Touro’s Flatbush campus, with a blend of deep academic and professional accounting background. In addition, Touro prepared me well for my advanced degree and for the CPA exam. At Baruch, I had the foundation to be successful in the MBA program. Overall, Touro was a launching point for my career. How can future accountants ensure they are prepared for a career in this ever-changing field? Any advice for new grads just starting out in the corporate world? The fact that the business and communal environments around us are “ever-changing” presents opportunity! It allows us to distinguish ourselves collectively and individually in the profession. Be attuned to what’s going on in your own company and in the world around you. Learn how changes and other factors impact businesses. Understand what’s important to your clients and colleagues. Recognize the importance of technology and its impact on everything around you. Make sure people have a good first experience when working with you the first time so that they want you joined with them on future projects. First impressions are important. At the same time, remember while it can take years to build a reputation, that reputation can be lost in a flash if you make a poor decision. Act with integrity always. As you continue to advance and earn promotions, get a good feel for what you like and what you are good at. Understand your strengths and build on them.
As noted earlier, relationships are an integral part of your career. You must build relationships and grow people’s trust in you. This can take time but over the course of years, the trust you build will lead to more success. Also, find mentors that you can lean on for advice and counsel when needed.
Most importantly, you must own your career. While others will always play a role in your development and success, I always say the person who will have the greatest impact on your career is you. Early in your career, ask questions and make sure deliver the product/service that is required of you in a timely and accurate manor. Be proactive; if you want to be assigned to a particular project, ask for it! Don’t blame others when challenges arise. Rather, seek to solve them. Ask superiors for honest feedback so you can always try to understand what you do well and what you can do better. Early on in my career, I reached out to partners I was working with and asked them—where are the gaps? What I am doing well and what do I need to do better? I absorbed the feedback I received, continued to up my game, interacted regularly and often with colleagues and clients and with G-d’s help, I advanced in my career. You will, too!
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alum-samuel-lowenthal-tax-partner-deloitte-accounting.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2021/samuellowenthal.jpg
June 15, 2021
307275
From Touro to PwC – Working My Way Up the Career Ladder
Touro Lander College of Arts & Sciences Alum Rises Through the Ranks at Top Accounting Firm
Touro alum Miriam Abraham Zaltz talks about her Touro experience, women in leadership and how best to progress in your career. Miriam recently transitioned from her role as a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to Head of Tax Compliance at Tiger Global, a leading investment management firm.
Why did you choose accounting? What is it you like about the field?
Accounting is in my family. My father and sister are accountants, so I looked into it as a career path and from the start, I liked it. Accounting is not just about numbers, it’s about rules. I’m someone who likes things in the proper order, so it appealed to me.
Where did you start out in your career and how did you advance to where you are today?
After graduating from Touro in 2006, I started off at a small accounting firm in Brooklyn and then I wanted a larger challenge. I didn’t really have my sights set on the Big Four, but I was introduced to someone who worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). We had an informal interview, he submitted my resume and a week later, I was hired as an associate and moved up from there.
Advancing at a firm like PwC requires hard work, especially a willingness to volunteer to help colleagues and supervisors. Being the person to raise your hand is in your best interest. The more positions and opportunities you volunteer for, the more you build new skills and expand your network within the firm. I tried to be the go-to person and I got noticed and kept moving to the next level.
It’s also important to have a good attitude, as that can be a tremendous differentiator. When the person above you knows they can count on you to do difficult tasks with a smile, they keep coming to you to do new projects. This in turn gives you more exposure to senior-level people as well as different types of projects and gets you noticed when it comes time for reviews or promotions.
Can you describe your day-to-day role as Tax Director at PwC?
I don’t always know what the day will bring, but generally speaking, my role includes advising my hedge fund/private equity clients on tax positions, handling their tax compliance needs, structuring of new deals and investments and the tax information that they release to their investors. I also deal with billing, staffing and sit on the Quality and Risk Management Committee and am involved with technology projects, process improvement and proposals for new business.
In achieving your current position, you’ve shown that women can rise to senior positions. Can you talk about your career path and the challenges you may have faced?
I never felt discriminated against because I was a woman. The challenges came when I had personal life events, such as getting married and having children. When I was engaged and had so much to do, I was lucky I had worked with my team for a while. All the volunteering and hand-raising earlier paid off, they were so supportive and pitched in when I needed them.
Another big challenge came when I had kids. As a manager and director, my day is full of meetings, and after hours is when I typically would get my work done, catch up and plan for the next day. When I had my first baby, I didn’t have “after hours” to give. That was such an adjustment and as the mom of a three- and five-year-old, I’m still figuring it out.
I’ve taken meetings and calls at my home office with a baby in a carrier and while doing carpool. You learn to incorporate and weave the different parts of your life together.
Are women in leadership positions perceived differently than men? What do you feel is key to success as a woman in a senior role in a large firm?
You don’t need to hide aspects of your personal life, but you also can’t make it an excuse. People understand you may need flexibility, but it can’t be done to a point where it negatively affects colleagues. Work must get done and deadlines must be met.
However, if you show you care about the quality of your work and take personal responsibility for meeting deadlines, your colleagues will usually appreciate it and reciprocate by helping you and working around your schedule.
How did Touro help you achieve your career goals?
The accounting program at Touro was very rigorous. We were very well prepared for the CPA exam and for the professional world. During PwC interviews, the partners were very impressed to learn that Touro required us to take exams to advance on the CPA track. There’s a reason Touro grads consistently do well on the CPA exams. In general, the well-rounded education I received helped me feel knowledgeable as a new hire at a Big Four accounting firm.
How can future accountants ensure they are prepared for a career in this ever-changing field? Any advice for new grads just starting out in the corporate world?
When new laws and regulations come out, it’s new to everyone. Everyone can be involved in figuring out how the new laws apply to your industry and how to change the way you work accordingly. I’ve seen associates and senior associates fast-track their careers by being part of a change management team and developing tools and templates that adapted to a new tax law or code.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alum-miriam-zaltz-pwc-career-ladder.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2021/MiriamZaltz.png
October 15, 2021
307276
Alumni Spotlight: Connecting Celebrities with Brands and Sponsors
Touro College Alum Eli Lunzer Rubs Shoulders with the Rich and Famous but Never Misses a Friday Night Dinner
Eli Lunzer, a 2002 Touro grad who majored in marketing and management, is a sports and entertainment marketing agent and founder of Eli Lunzer Productions. An observant Jewish Manhattanite in his early 40s, Lunzer manages talent, connects celebrities and pro athletes with brands and sponsors and produces top-tier events. Despite his unusual career choice for an Orthodox Jew, Lunzer is deeply committed to his observance of Shabbat, Kashrut and Jewish holidays. Here, he talks about his career choice, personal passion and the keys to his success.
How did you get started in the entertainment industry?
I first got my feet wet at an internship I did, while in college, in the music industry. I was lucky enough to work on the team that managed one of the biggest musical celebrities in the world—Ringo Starr. It was certainly an auspicious way to start, and I stayed there for a short while after college, learning the ropes of the sponsorship and talent booking world as I managed different projects and participated in all kinds of deals.
I then entered a specialized graduate program at NYU in live events and entertainment marketing and was hired by Madison Square Garden (MSG) for small projects. Six months turned into a few years and I had a chance to work in sales for the N.Y. Knicks and Rangers. That role expanded to marketing, sponsorships, and running events, and soon I was parlaying my professional skills to personal not-for-profit endeavors as well. I created events and young professional groups for OHEL, Shaarei Zedek Medical Center, and even Migdal Ohr, the largest orphanage in the world run by the man known as the “Disco Rabbi,” Rabbi Yitzchak Grossman.
How did you advance to launching your own company?
Between all the opportunities I was given at MSG and running events for charities that were close to my heart, I felt I had enough know-how to start my own event planning and production firm. I started doing weddings, charity galas, and corporate events. Once I began taking on more corporate events and aligning brands with charitable functions, I saw a big need for sponsorship opportunities, and that has now become a major focus of my work. I introduce brands to events in the sports and entertainment world, so they can partner and showcase their product or service.
By building personal relationships with professional athletes and celebrities, I also manage talent, booking athletes for appearances, and negotiating endorsement deals.
Why did you choose to enter the sports and entertainment world?
I’m a big believer in following your passion, whether it leads you to a typical or atypical career. I knew I’d never follow a traditional path and become a doctor or an accountant. I wanted to do what I loved and what energized me to get up and get out of bed in the morning. Even as a young kid, my dream was to be an agent and get into the sports world. Growing up in Manhattan, I was always running around TV and commercial sets and going to games and concerts. I loved sports and being in the middle of the action. Now I love being able to connect people and create great opportunities.
What advice would you give to college students who are interested in the world of sports and entertainment marketing?
The most important thing is to do something you enjoy and excel at, and something that will be good for you and the people around you. If someone is interested in this field, they shouldn’t let anything stop them and should try to go as far as they can. Observant students should know that it’s hard to maintain their commitment in this field, but it is possible. If you take every opportunity you’re given and work hard and smart, you can achieve your goals. Everyone always must stay on top of his or her game, but for observant people, it’s even more important to do so. If your colleagues are working Friday night and Saturday so you can observe Sabbath, then you have to work later during the week every night and on secular holidays. Strive to be a valued and devoted employee so your teammates and clients will want to work with you. Go above and beyond on all your projects and be honest with everyone. Let them know beforehand if you can’t show up or if you’ll have to leave early.
How do you manage to keep your commitment to Jewish observance in this field?
I have to say it starts with my family and how I was raised and continues with the Jewish education I received at various yeshivot here and in Israel. Ultimately, however, the biggest factor is my own personal philosophy and purpose in life. I’m an all-or-nothing, black-and-white kind of person. I have faith in G-d that he is the ultimate source of my success, so I don’t sweat if I have to give something up to observe Shabbat. I know He will make it up to me. I have had to walk away from some of the biggest opportunities that came my way because they involved working on Saturdays or Jewish holidays. If something might not work out well because it’s a Friday, I won’t take the event or booking. I’m a perfectionist and if I can’t be there running it and knowing it’ll turn out 100%, I won’t be happy. I truly believe that if I have to say no to a few deals because of Shabbat, I’ll get other ones.
How did your college experience at Touro help you in your career?
I took basic business classes in marketing and management that so many people think are not very important. The truth is a lot of those principles play out as you’re working, and having mastered them in school can be extremely helpful in the business world. Networking is also key when it comes to forging business connections, so I always stay in touch with people I met in college and beyond. Touro offered a flexible schedule that enabled me to concentrate simultaneously on my religious studies and professional growth. The small class sizes fostered access to professors who offered guidance on both personal and professional levels, giving me the confidence to enter the workplace and start on my career path.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/touro-alum-eli-lunzer-sports-and-entertainment-marketing-agent.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2022/EliLunzer.jpg
February 17, 2022
307277
A Goldman Sachs Veteran Looks Back at Her Career
Touro Alum, Vivian Schneck-Last, Shares Her Success in the Business World, and Navigating it as an Orthodox Jew
After graduating from a Bais Yaakov high school in Brooklyn in the late 1970s, Vivian Schneck-Last signed up for an aptitude test offered by Equitable Life Insurance. While the era of personal computing was still years away, companies were adopting the then-new computer mainframe technology and desperately needed programmers. “They assumed they could give an aptitude test and anyone who had the right aptitude they could train,” remembered Schneck-Last.
Schneck-Last, normally an astute and excellent student, missed an important test criterion: it was only open to college graduates, not high school graduates. “I was young, foolish, and fearless and I ended up being very fortunate,” laughed Schneck-Last who aced the test and was offered a position as a junior developer at the insurance company.
It was a culture shock. “It was eye-opening to be working with very smart people who were culturally different—and being the only Jewish person in my group,” said Schneck-Last, the daughter of two Holocaust survivors who had until then spent all of her life in the frum community. “I was the only Orthodox person in my class through the training, so it created a dynamic where I had to be aware and protect what needed to be protected and be observant in an environment that I wasn’t accustomed to.”
All My Life I Was Chaya… And Then All of a Sudden, I Was Vivian
“It was quite an adjustment,” continued Schneck-Last. “All my life I was Chaya and all of a sudden, I was referred to as Vivian. The whole environment was completely different.”
In an effort to get her college degree while she worked, Schneck-Last signed up for classes at Touro College. The school quickly became a stabilizing influence for her. “For me, going to Touro was like going back home,” said Schneck-Last. “It gave me a break from that completely secularized environment and a bridge back to my roots… I didn’t need to devote any brainpower to how I was going to navigate the Jewish calendar and college requirements. I didn’t have to explain myself to my fellow students in class why I’m not going out with them to a social gathering that’s not kosher or not-Orthodox friendly. Touro was a very warm, supportive environment, and that was particularly important to me because otherwise the whole rest of my day was not spent in a place like that.”
Touro was like going back home.
In addition to the culture shock, Schneck-Last also experienced the challenges common to many frum people entering the workforce in the 1980s. “My boss would interrogate me as to why I had to leave two hours before Shabbos began—I tried to explain that if there’s a breakdown on the subway, I can make up the work, but I can’t make up missing Shabbos,” she explained.
After a year and a half in her position, with tension rising between her boss and her religious commitments, Schneck-Last left the company for Paine Webber, an investment and stock brokerage firm. There, she found a supportive project manager who visited her desk every Friday afternoon to ensure she left on time for the Sabbath. While Schneck-Last liked the collaborative aspects of the work-culture, the company wasn’t a perfect fit for her, and she eventually grew bored and left to work for the New York Stock Exchange.
At the NYSE, Schneck’s career focus transitioned from programming to data and data design optimization. “I quickly realized that I connected with data management.”
The Right Person for 90 Percent of the Time
From the New York Stock Exchange, Schneck-Last made her way to Goldman Sachs, the nation’s premier banking and investment firm. During her interview, when she told her future boss about her religious accommodations, her boss responded: “I’d rather have the right person for 90 percent of the time, than the wrong person 100 percent of the time.”
At Goldman Sachs, Schneck-Last quickly hit her stride and proved she was the right person.
“The culture of Goldman Sachs was great for me because it was the closest thing to a meritocracy that I had experienced. I had a super smart and supportive manager. Goldman was great at identifying people with capabilities and sucking it out of them,” she laughed. “I was given a lot of responsibilities quickly and I really enjoyed what I was doing.”
Her timing was fortuitous as well. Goldman Sachs was expanding at a rapid clip, and she worked as part of the team that transitioned the firm’s systems and data from an IBM mainframe to three-tiered architecture and, finally, to cloud infrastructure. “Goldman was one of the best places to be because they had the resources to spend on technology and recognized the competitive advantages of it,” said Schneck-Last. “They made it a priority to invest in technology.”
Goldman Fellow and Rise to Managing Director
Schneck-Last’s work was recognized, and she was ultimately responsible for all of the firm’s data infrastructure. Schneck-Last also became a Goldman Doty Fellow, a prestigious fellowship given to two employees per year. As part of the fellowship, Goldman Sachs sent Schneck-Last to Columbia Business School for an MBA.
“They give you a scholarship to business school and you go on Goldman time, but you still have to put in a full workweek,” said Schneck-Last. She recalled ripping out the pages of her business school textbooks and stapling them together so she could carry them and read them on the train to her classes.
Schneck-Last eventually rose to the position of managing director at the firm. One of her proudest accomplishments during her thirty years at the firm was helping synchronize all of the firm’s reference data to a single master source. This enabled the firm to instantly access all their data about a particular client or counter-party across the full range of positions and exposures. “Now the process is pretty standard, but at the time it was really strategic,” she said. “There wasn’t this issue of reconciliation of one part of the firm not understanding the other. It was fundamental for us to understand the exposure the firm or a client had to a currency or a sector. We were able to identify the weakness in the housing market and reduce the firm’s exposure and not suffer the same way other firms did in 2008.”
Touro gave me the opportunity to gain a solid undergraduate education without having to compromise my religious values.
As an example of the benefits of centralized data, she cites the meeting US Treasury Secretary Hank Poulson had with the head of banks in 2008 when Bear Sterns collapsed. Schneck-Last said that when the banks were asked about their exposure to Bear Sterns, the other major banks needed several days to gather the relevant info. Goldman Sach’s Chairman Lloyd Blankfein had the answer within the hour.
“This foundational investment in technology was used many times before that infamous weekend,” said Schneck-Last. “From an internal risk management perspective, knowing your exposure on an entity level gives you information to decide how much you really want to be exposed. The firm could run daily analysis to report exposure in almost every area.”
Schneck-Last capped off her thirtieth year with Goldman Sachs and retired in 2015. She currently advises and invests in emerging technology companies in fintech, data science and cyber spaces. She is also a strategic consultant and an executive coach and serves on the boards of several companies. “I thought I was a natural insomniac,” joked Schneck-Last about the long hours she put in during her time at Goldman. “It turns out I can sleep for seven hours straight.”
Schneck-Last is still grateful for her time at Touro.
“Touro gave me the opportunity to gain a solid undergraduate education without having to compromise my religious values,” she said. “I felt supported which was so important given that I was already in the secular world where very often I didn’t feel very supported.”
Three Tips to Succeed in the Corporate World While Keeping Your Values Intact
Given Vivian Schneck-Last’s success in the corporate world and her unflinching commitment to her religious principles, we asked Schneck-Last for some tips for orthodox Jews on navigating the secular world.
Pick Your Employer, Choose Your Employment Opportunity.
“If you know the company you’re going to work for is not supportive of your religiosity, don’t expect them to change,” explained Schneck-Last. “Whether they should or should not have to change, isn’t material. One person is not going to change a large company so it’s not necessarily worth the effort since there are many more options that are comfortable and supportive. I was upfront with Goldman Sachs before they made me an offer and I made it very clear that my religious observance was non-negotiable—and I made it clear that non-negotiable meant without exception. Legally, you’re not required to tell a company about your religious obligations during the interview process, but I think it’s an important factor for certain jobs. Not being upfront can be construed as being dishonest or misleading, and I don’t think anyone wants to work for a company that wouldn’t hire them if the company knew they were shomer Shabbos. A company that doesn’t respect your religious belief, whether it’s because of a company cultural factor or availability, is clearly not a job in which you’re going to flourish and be successful.”
Think About Your Coworkers and Teammates and Carry Your Weight
“While the company might be legally required to give you off for Shabbos and Yomim Tovim, your coworkers and teammates are picking up the slack. You have to demonstrate that you’re making up the time. Offer to cover their holidays or work late. I worked every Christmas and every legal holiday at Goldman Sachs. I volunteered to cover the day before Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, and the day after Christmas when a lot of people want to take off. I came in because my team covered for me, and I wanted to covered for them. It’s very important to carry your own weight regardless of whether your company is legally required to give you off or not.”
Know Your Boundaries and Priorities
“It’s not up to your company to manage your priorities. Whatever your priorities are —whether you’re an avid musician, shomer Shabbos, or you have elder care or child responsibilities—it’s not your company’s job to set those boundaries for you. You have to set them.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/vivian-schneck-50.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2022/big-Vivian-Schneck-Last.jpg
March 11, 2022
307279
Touro Prepares Future CFO for Career Success
Lander College of Arts and Sciences Student Shterna Angster Receives Internship Offers from Big 4 Accounting Firms
Shterna Angster received internship offers from KPMG, NYFS Audit, and EY Tax. Angster explains how she secured such prestigious offers and shares valuable advice for other students interested in a career in accounting or finance.
Why did you choose accounting as your career path?
Originally, I intended to major in finance. But during my first semester I took an accounting class and noticed I enjoyed and understood the subject very well. I enjoyed how everything had a place and how there were concrete answers. I wanted to learn more, so I made the switch get my degree in accounting.
What is your ultimate career goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
My ultimate career goal is to become CFO of a financial company. Over the next 10 years I hope to gain experience by expanding my career path at different types of accounting and financial firms. I also hope to give back to my community based on my skills and knowledge.
You recently got internship offers at KPMG, NYFS Audit, and EY Tax. What steps did you take to make that happen?
I had other internships in accounting prior to applying for one at a large accounting firm. Those experiences gave me the confidence to apply for internships with the big 4 accounting firms. Additionally, I was introduced to people who work at the Big 4 and they helped coach me through the application process. Touro Career Center’s Chaim Shapiro was helpful in reviewing my resume, assisting me in my online profile, and prepping me for the interviews. Even with all the help, it took me a while to get these positions. I kept applying and never gave up on myself nor the process.
What was your day-to-day role at KPMG? What did you learn? What will be your day-to-day role at EY?
My work for KPMG was focused on audit while for my EY internship will be in international tax. While at KPMG, I either worked on the list of tasks that I was responsible for and or I was helping a teammate on their projects. I learnt that self confidence in your work really helps the decision-making process, and it shows the team how you are applying your critical thinking. Also, offering to help others is a great way to show team effort and can get you placed on tasks that will make you more valuable at the company.
How did Touro prepare you for your internship and, ultimately, your career?
Touro helped me prepare through its career center, where they helped me practice my interview skills and gain a better understanding of what different companies are looking for in an intern. The guidance from Chaim Shapiro helped me gain more self-confidence in my field and focus on my career path. Self-confidence while remaining humble is the most valuable skill that I have learnt from Touro.
What advice do you have for other students who would like to land an internship or a job at one of the big 4 accounting firms?
No matter what, APPLY, even if you think you won’t be accepted. It’s important to get yourself out there and show your diligence. Also, NETWORK, this helps gain a better understanding of the profession. If you can, reach out to individuals from companies you are interested in to determine if the firm is the right place for you. This will not only give you better insight but also hopefully a leg up in getting your resume through the system. When you do get the internship or job, remember people want to work with people who are positive and upbeat. So, no matter what day your having, put your feelings aside and be a breath of fresh air for your colleagues.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/touro-prepares-future-cfo-for-career-success.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2022/shterna-475x622.JPG
May 24, 2022
307278
Physical Therapist by Day, High School Biology Teacher by (Almost) Night
Lander College of Arts and Sciences and School of Health Sciences Alumna Sara Feigenbaum Found Her Calling in Two Careers
When Sara Feigenbaum, DPT, isn’t busy running her own physical therapy practice in Staten Island, she is teaching young women about the wonders of biology.
“Sometimes I have to pinch myself,” laughed Dr. Feigenbaum, a graduate of Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences (LAS) and Touro’s School of Health Sciences Doctorate of Physical Therapy program (DPT). “I’m teaching biology and I have my own practice. I’m doing two things I love.”
Dr. Feigenbaum’s journey to successful PT and bio teacher began as she graduated from Reenas Bais Yaakov in Highland Park. It wasn’t a question which college she would attend.
“I knew I was going to Touro,” said Dr. Feigenbaum who has nothing but praise for the experience. “The decision was a no-brainer. Touro was the only place that would uphold my religious standards while providing a high-level education. And I was right! It was a wonderful experience. I made so many friends that I’m still in touch with, and I loved my professors. They were an amazing bunch of educators.”
Nursing a love of the hard sciences that she had since she was a child, Dr. Feigenbaum majored in biology. “I always loved bio.” she said. “The biology classes in Touro were fascinating, especially genetics. I also loved chemistry and organic chemistry—it was quite challenging, but we had a great professor, Dr. Evan Mintzer.”
While she considered medical school, Dr. Feigenbaum realized that a doctor’s life wouldn’t give her the time she wanted with her family. She chose instead to become a physical therapist since she felt it was the therapy with the strongest connection to the biological sciences. While she applied to several physical therapy graduate programs, she decided that Touro’s SHS DPT program was the best fit.
“I realize that if I attended Touro I wouldn’t have to miss classes because of Shabbos or the holidays,” said Dr. Feigenbaum. “I wouldn’t have to make up classes or run out to make it home in time on Friday afternoon.” Plus, she added, the close coterie of friends she made at LAS were also going.
“We were inseparable in graduate school,” Dr. Feigenbaum related. “We studied together and supported each other through the challenges and joys of building families while in school full time. We worked hard-and had a lot of fun while we were at it. I can’t imagine having gone anywhere else.”
Dr. Feigenbaum is still in touch with some of her professors like Dr. Yocheved Bensinger-Brody and Dr. Jill Horbacewicz.
Dr. Feigenbaum had four internships, one with the Hospital of Staten Island, one with Richmond University Medical Center, and two at orthopedic clinics—the second of which offered her a job as soon as she graduated. “I learned so much,” she said.
Dr. Feigenbaum recalled her graduation in 2017 with mixed emotions. “It was bittersweet,” she said. “I still miss my classmates and my professors and the support we gave each other, but I was excited about getting into the field.”
In 2019, Dr. Feigenbaum took an extended maternity leave for her third child and decided she needed her “biology fix.”
“I’ve always enjoyed teaching.” she explained. “I took off a year to teach biology in Reenas Bais Yaakov, and I loved it. Replicating the positive experience I had in high school biology for my students is a privilege for me. I showed my students what I love about biology in the hopes that it inspires them as well.”
The following year, while continuing to teach biology in the afternoon, Dr. Feigenbaum opened her own physical therapy practice, Orchid Physical Therapy, specializing in women’s health.
“I see women of all ages,” said Dr. Feigenbaum. “Physical therapy catering solely to women is a relatively new field; we deal with issues like incontinence and pelvic pain, which are incredibly important but not talked about as much as other physical therapy issues. When you’re able to help your patients with these issues, it gives them a new lease on life.”
She relies on the training she received at SHS as well as extensive continuing education courses as she treats her patients.
“Listen to your patients,” advised Dr. Feigenbaum. “Weave their story together with your objective findings to create an individualized plan of care. Make the biopsychosocial approach your own by seeing the patient as a whole and making them whole again.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/touro-50-sara-feigenbaum.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/fifty-anniversary/images/news-and-events/SaraFeigenbaum.jpg
May 19, 2022
Doctor of Physical Therapy
307280
Inspired by Her Parents, LAS Grad Prepares for Dental Career
Adelle Perkelvald is the 2022 Valedictorian of Lander College of Arts and Sciences Women’s Division
Adelle Perkelvald has been shadowing dentists and orthodontists since she was in high school. “I fell in love with the patient interaction and the mechanics,” she said. Right now, she is applying to dental school and preparing for a rewarding career.
Adelle interned at the National Institutes of Health in a research lab, where she developed strong relationships with principal investigators there who continue to mentor her. However, her first and best role models are her parents, who run an endocrinology practice together and share the experience with their family. Adele grew up volunteering in the office and seeing the impact of quality care.
Although internships, shadowing and school work could keep her busy, Adelle makes time for community service. She has volunteered for Bikur Cholim, Chai Lifeline, Siach Sod and Shaarei Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. A biology honors major, Adelle was selected for the Flatbush Society of Fellows and the honors society at Lander College of Arts and Sciences.
“With her keen intellect and stellar academic achievement combined with a passion for reaching out to those less fortunate, Adele reflects the best qualities of a true Bas Yisrael,” said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Executive Dean of Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush.
Adele attended Lev Bais Yaakov in Brooklyn for high school and Michlalah Seminary in Israel before starting at Lander College of Arts and Sciences.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-valedictorian-2022-adelle.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2022/adelle.jpg
May 27, 2022
307281
Addressing the Mental Health Needs of the Orthodox Community
Yisroel Fishman is the 2022 Valedictorian of Lander College of Arts and Sciences Men’s Division
It is no surprise that Yisroel Fishman is planning a career in psychology. He has always been dedicated to helping people. As the oldest of many siblings, he is accustomed to pitching in and skilled at connecting with people.
“During the pandemic, I observed how people’s mental health suffered, and I decided I want to be part of efforts to improve mental health in the long run,” he said.
A psychology honors major, Yisroel is already conducting research in the field of relational communications —the study of how people in relationships communicate with one another. He plans to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and hopes to go into practice and become a professor as well. He recently won first prize for his research at Brooklyn College's Science Research Day 2022.
Yisroel began building connections as soon as he arrived at Touro. He introduced himself to faculty and staff and promptly found mentors. He also started the Touro Free Tutoring Chat Q&A, a text service for students who need quick answers to academic questions.
“A Ben Torah who has continued learning while pursuing his college degree, Yisroel is committed to entering a profession that is service-oriented, focusing on addressing the mental health needs of the frum community. We are confident that he will be a role model for others,” said Dean Goldschmidt.
Yisroel attended high school at Yeshivas Emek HaTorah in Lakewood and studied at Mir Yerushalayim in Israel before starting at Touro.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-valedictorian-2022-yisroel.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2022/yisroelfishman.jpg
May 27, 2022
307282
Touro Celebrates 600+ Graduates at 48th Annual Commencement
Lander College Students Receive Awards, Words of Inspiration, and Messages for Life
Touro’s Lander Colleges graduated more than 600 students last Sunday at the 48th Annual Commencement Exercises, held at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center. Families, friends and faculty came out to honor the graduates in the first in-person ceremony in three years.
For a group of students who spent a good part of their college years in lockdown and on Zoom, emotions ran high as they celebrated their collective achievements and shared the crowning moment of their academic careers.
“Today, as we honor the culmination of your hard work, and your commitment to fulfilling your dreams under the most difficult of circumstances, I am confident that you will continue to transform your aspirations into realities,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, Touro President. “At Touro, you have been part of a tight-knit community brought together by our shared values, and by our devotion to Torah and Klal Yisrael. We have challenged you to think deeply, speak clearly and continually grow. We think of ourselves as leaders in what we are trying to accomplish. But the best leaders don’t make followers—they make new leaders. And this is what we are expecting of you.”
Numerous awards were presented for community service as well as high academic achievement in math, accounting, biology, art, education, finance, psychology, political science and more.
Dr. Stanley Boylan, Vice President of Undergraduate Education and Dean of Faculties, received an honorary degree and served as Keynote Speaker. “You are entering into a new world, which continues to evolve before our very eyes, a world in which your own ability to continue to learn and innovate will be essential,” said Dr. Boylan. “As the graduating class of the Lander Colleges, hold fast onto your dreams. Just as our founding President, Dr. Bernard Lander, himself a dreamer, visualized Touro as a burgeoning academic institution to help the Jewish community master all the new skills needed to assure the continuity of Jewish life, you too can aim high and seize the great opportunities each of you will have to realize your dreams for today and for the future.”
One of the valedictorians, Yisroel Fishman, shared his thoughts on greatness with his peers: “Every great person made a choice to go into a field they loved—whether it was medicine, physics, psychology or business—and each made the decision to stick by that choice and persevere. Choice is the vehicle through which all great people are born. Perseverance is the stuff of which they are made,” said Yisroel.
“Each one of us here has proven ourselves and shown our ability to choose and persevere. We are already on the path toward greatness. Whether you are a finance major ready to take your place in the corporate world, a bio major heading off to learn to heal people, or a psych major preparing to help people cope, the fact that you are here in this hall today is a true testament to the consistent choice we all made to keep persevering, despite the tremendous hurdles the Class of 2022 has faced,” continued Yisroel. “Each one of us has worked diligently and relentlessly, day after day, semester after semester, and year after year to finally come to this day. Mazel tov and congratulations to all of us!”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/lander-48th-annual-commencement-may-29-2022.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2022/LanderGrads2022.jpg
May 30, 2022
307283
Applied Yiddishkeit
How a Jewish Marketing Pro Used What He Learned in Touro to Launch a Successful Marketing Career
If you’ve eaten cereal or had a yogurt, there’s a good chance you’ve seen something that Touro alumnus and brand whisperer Yosi Heber has worked on.
Yosi, who holds both an MBA from the famed Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and rabbinical ordination from the prestigious Torah Vodaath Yeshiva, created and led multi-million-dollar national campaigns that have advertised everything from children’s yogurts to cookies, and he credits Touro with helping him get his start.
Yosi, a native of St. Louis, MO, attended Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago. After spending several years learning in the Mir in Israel, he returned to the US where he learned in Torah Vodaath, while studying finance at Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences.
“It was a great experience,” recalled Yosi. “I learned how to be frum in the non-Jewish world. Touro was very good at talking about this. I had great teachers and they talked about the most important thing: the real world. I think that’s where Touro stood out. We learned the academic dimensions of accounting and finance, but also what happens in the real world.”
A Branding Expert is Born
While leafing through a Procter and Gamble brochure at a job fair, Yosi had an epiphany. “I looked at the brochure and I realized that this—this brochure—might be what I want to do,” he said. “Seeing the brochure and how it advertised their products, made me realize that I liked working on real products that I could touch and feel. I wanted to work on something that people could actually use.”
Yosi’s first position out of Wharton was as a product manager at Kraft General Foods, and he found that being an Orthodox Jew really didn’t hinder his corporate success.
“Thirty years ago, a lot of people didn’t understand what kosher was,” remembered Yosi. “During lunch meetings, I’d drink a coke or have a fruit salad, it was a bit of a challenge, but I never had issues. If you treat people well and they see you’re religious and consistent, then no one has a problem with it. Someone once said to me, ‘If I was consistent with my weight loss program as you are with your religion, I would have lost 20 pounds by now.’”
One of his first assignments was developing a campaign for the ubiquitous Kraft Jell-O brand, which is not kosher.
“It was a $200 million brand and we had to design the mold and recipes that were on the back of the boxes,” explained Yosi. “I was in charge of working with the kitchen so here I was going to these taste tests and getting served Jell-O, and I couldn’t eat it. I’d just jiggle it and say how beautiful it looked. “
Helping His Employers and His Community
When the company’s Post cereals changed to a more stringent kosher certification, Yosi saw an opportunity to help both his employer and the Jewish community.
“I proposed that we advertise to Jewish kids and their parents, in order to let the Jewish world know,” he said. “We developed a program called ‘Brochos for Breakfast.’ It was virtually unheard of for a large non-Jewish corporation to do a program targeting the Jewish world. There was the Maxwell House Haggadah, but that was pretty much it.
“At the time, there were no books on brochos (blessings) and no one knew what brochos to make on many cereals,” continued Yosi. “We created this pamphlet that talked in a fun way about which blessings they should make on cereals.”
The booklets went out to 300,000 students enrolled in Jewish day schools around the country. The campaign was a big success and received media attention from over 200 Jewish newspapers as well as The New York Times.
“In Touro, we learned about how we apply our Yiddishkeit to the non-Jewish world. This was a good application of that,” stated Yosi.
The Spirit of Touro
Yosi said that trying to do something for the Jewish community was a bedrock value he learned in Touro.
“I heard it from my parents, and I heard it in Touro,” he said. “It was something that Lander College of Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Robert Goldschmidt always talked about. Our teachers were people who not only taught but did things in the community. They helped people get jobs and advised them when they needed help. I think that’s the spirit of Touro that is unique. Aside from the academics, Touro focuses on giving back to the community.”
After five years at Kraft, Yosi left to become a VP of marketing at Dannon Yogurt. His next major success came from a trip to Israel where he noticed the popularity of yogurt geared towards children. “There were no children’s yogurts in the US, so we created one,” said Yosi who helmed Dannon’s Sprinklins, America’s first yogurt geared exclusively to children. “We grew it from nothing to a billion-dollar category.”
When Dannon yogurts switched to OU certification, Yosi saw another opportunity to serve the Jewish community. Yosi created ‘Dinim by Dannon,’ a pamphlet that contained the laws of Sukkoth and Pesach along with information about Dannon products. (Dinim is Hebrew for laws.) A quarter of a million copies were sent out to Jewish families through the Torah Umesorah network of Jewish day schools.
“We wanted to marry the non-religious world with the religious world, while doing something for Klal Yisrael,” Yosi explained. “These booklets taught kids about brochot and dinim, but also publicized our product.”
While at Dannon, Yosi also developed the “Daf Yomi Masechta Review,” a well-known audio review series covering all of Shas (The Talmud), which came to be used by tens of thousands of people around the world. At the time, there were very few resources available for those studying Daf Yomi, and nothing to help people review what they had learned. This review program was sort of a Cliff Notes executive summary of the key learnings and takeaways from every page of the Talmud, and Yosi considers this to be one of his proudest achievements. Today, the program is featured on many online Torah portals including Kol Halashon and the OU’s All Daf mobile app.
After more than twenty years in large corporations, including a stint as chief marketing officer at Barry Diller’s IAC, Yosi opened his own marketing and consulting firm, Oxford Hill Partners, LLC. His clients have included small start-ups, medium-sized companies, and many large corporations like Hyundai, Krispy Kreme, and even Procter and Gamble, the company whose brochure inspired his career.
Yosi continues to serve both the professional world and the Jewish community. He has written extensively on the concepts of Kiddush Hashem in the workplace, as well as marketing/digital trends, and has spoken on these topics in many venues including various Agudath Israel conventions, trade shows and business schools. He lives in Detroit with his wife and six children.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/touro-50-yosi.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/fifty-anniversary/images/news-and-events/YosiHeber.jpg
May 31, 2022
307285
Living a Childhood Dream
Efrat Bruck Shares Her Medical Journey from Touro Flatbush to Anesthesiology Resident at Mount Sinai Hospital
When her five-year-old daughter informed everyone in her path, “My mommy is a doctor!” a fierce pride enveloped Efrat Bruck. “She understands already that I love helping people and I love science,” says Bruck, who in 2021 graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Dr. Bruck’s medical journey began at Touro in Flatbush. “Touro provided me with an excellent education that was tailored to my needs,” says Bruck, who graduated with an honors degree in biology. “Touro educates and gives you the tools to succeed, while being culturally sensitive. Those are crucial components, especially to a religious student seeking a good education.”
Today Bruck is an anesthesiology resident at Mount Sinai Hospital. Becoming a doctor was a childhood dream: Her family moved from Israel to New York because her brother suffered end-stage kidney disease, requiring specialized care. She juggles motherhood, community service and the vampire hours of a resident. “Sleep is right up there after oxygen for me,” she says, laughing.
It’s a mystery when she fits that into her schedule: Bruck has created 30 MCAT prep videos for the online Khan Academy, to help those who can’t afford tutoring. She helped create a pre-med chapter for the Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association and also gave birth to a second daughter during med school.
Bruck was a high school teacher for several years. She believes the two careers are a perfect match. “Teaching is an important skill in medicine,” she says. “Teaching patients is a way to help them through sadness and confusion.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/alumni-spotlight-dr-efrat-bruck.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2022/EfratBruck.jpg
July 19, 2022
307284
A Rewarding Career as a Pediatric Dentist
How a Touro Education Helped Daniel Peikes into His First-Choice Dental School and First-Choice Specialty
Dr. Dan is a pediatric dentist who, at age 40, effortlessly channels his inner kid, transforming the trauma of “open wide” into a truth-telling session that sometimes ends in a stand-up comedy routine.
From toddlers to teens, they all love Dr. Daniel Peikes. “That’s because I myself grew up in the dental chair,” says Peikes, whose private practice is in Montvale, New Jersey, near the Clifton home he shares with his wife and five personal dental clients (aka children). “I knew from my experiences that I wanted to help kids just like I was helped by my dentist, who became my mentor.”
His chief mentor, though, was his father, Meyer Peikes, currently business department chair at Touro and a professor at the university for 40 years, who recommended the school. Nothing readied the young Peikes for the rigors of dental school and additional years of pediatric specialty studies more than Touro in Flatbush, where he received an interdisciplinary sciences degree. “Its flexibility, its rigorous education, I was able to do well academically and religiously,” says Peikes, who attended yeshiva by day while pursuing college studies at night. “The Lander education got me into my first choice dental school and eventually my first choice of specialty.”
A Dean’s List regular, Peikes graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). He completed his pediatric dentistry practice while serving as chief resident. “The ability to turn a frightened, anxious child into a trusting patient is my ultimate goal,” he explains. “My career is truly rewarding.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/alumni-spotlight-dr-daniel-peikes.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2022/DanielPeikes.jpg
July 20, 2022
307286
Other People's Money
From Online Stock Trading to Wealth Management, Touro Alum Delivers Return on Investments
Touro alum and wealth manager Joel Bodner began his career as an Associate at Merrill Lynch. He then worked with large teams, first at Smith Barney, followed by stints at UBS and J.P. Morgan. He now serves as a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Bodner talks about his career in finance, his secrets to successful investing and shares surprising advice for new grads seeking to enter the field.
Why did you choose finance as your career?
I always loved trading stocks online. When I was a teenager, my father encouraged me to open an e-trade account and I was able to quickly turn $5,000 to $10,000! I thought I was a genius, and ever since then, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in finance and investment.
It turns out my brilliance was short-lived. My investment portfolio sank to just $500 in a matter of weeks. I learned an important lesson, and that is that you must really understand what it means to invest and spend time researching the companies you’re investing in.
Some people say playing the market is like gambling, but I take my job very seriously and approach it professionally and with a lot of discipline. It isn’t a game, especially when you’re tasked with looking after other people’s hard-earned money. It’s really important to understand your financial goals, what you’re investing in and why you are investing.
Can you describe a day in your life as Senior Vice President/Wealth Manager?
Every morning I listen to various strategy calls, getting up to speed on financial news. I track many different market sectors including stocks, bonds, real estate, interest rates, gold, oil and even crypto. I talk with portfolio managers and analysts, gathering their thoughts and insights. I meet with clients regularly to review their financial plans, helping them understand their portfolios and their financial goals. I also spend a portion of my day reviewing each client’s portfolio and rebalancing and making the necessary adjustments as needed.
There is a lot of psychology involved in how people make financial decisions. Investors often become emotionally attached to their investments and benefit from having a professional to help guide them in making prudent financial decisions. Studies have shown that most investors fail to keep up with the returns of the broad markets simply because they engage in market timing which has historically led to dramatic underperformance.
My clients have all sorts of questions about everything that relates to money. They ask about buying a vacation home, planning for college tuition, buying vs. leasing a car and, of course, estate planning or tax-saving strategies. Clients often call me for advice on all kinds of issues when they need a trusted outside advisor.
What do you like most about finance? What are the challenges you face?
People are so appreciative of what we do — keeping them on track with their goals, helping them make important financial decisions and showing them how they can have the life they want during retirement. The best part is helping clients understand their portfolios to give them peace of mind so they can focus on their families and what they enjoy most.
The greatest challenges involve dealing with clients who spend too much and will have to cut back when they retire. I want to make sure their financial future isn’t thrown off. Sometimes the whole family is involved and everyone has different opinions.
Who had the most impact on your life and career?
My father always preached the value of a good education. His parents were Holocaust survivors and he grew up in a very simple home. He put me through college and business school, and always encouraged me to work hard, study, read and learn on my own. He himself was an experienced commodities trader and got me excited about the world of finance from a very young age.
How did your Touro education help propel your career?
I had some great professors at Touro. Many of them were in business themselves, so they taught on a level that connected with our career aspirations, and they used real-life examples instead of mere theory.
I majored in finance, but I learned so much in other areas as well. I took computer classes that helped me master Excel and learned to write well, thanks to Touro’s English Department. Writing may be a bit of a lost art, but it is still very important. When you send a professionally-worded email, it makes a huge difference.
While I was at Touro, I interned at Morgan Stanley. There, I learned about the world of investments and decided I wanted to focus on financial planning. After Touro, I went to Baruch College, where I received my MBA.
What advice do you have for students entering the workplace in the field of finance?
Get your feet wet, get experience, work hard and prove yourself. In the beginning, experience is more important than how much money you make. Don’t focus on the name of the company or your job title. Instead, find opportunities to work alongside someone who you really respect, who will mentor you and spend time helping you grow. I got my first job working with very successful people. I spent my early days filling out FedEx forms, putting “sign here” post-it’s on documents and helping with personal matters. Yet, I learned so much from the way my supervisors interacted with others and was able to observe what made them successful financial advisors.
What do you do for fun?
I am blessed with a wonderful wife and three great kids. Having a meaningful work-life balance is very important to me. We love traveling and eating out as a family. I also enjoy learning and volunteering my time to help others who are not yet financial independent. While it’s important to work hard, earn wealth and strive to be the best at whatever you do, life is not about getting to the end with the most stuff. Try to find a way to use your success to create meaning and purpose in your life and the lives of those around you.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alum-joel-bodner-talks-about-his-career-in-finance.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2022/JoelBodnerheadshot.png
August 15, 2022
307287
Moving up the Corporate Ladder at PwC
Lander College of Arts & Sciences Alum on Life at a Big 4 Accounting Firm
Judy Edelstein, Touro alum and managing director at PwC, talks to us about her career trajectory, the importance of work life balance and how Touro helped her succeed. She also offers insightful advice for future CPA's.
Why did you choose accounting as your career?
I enjoyed math as a student and assumed (like most people do) that if I liked math and was good at it, then accounting made sense for me as a career choice. The joke is on me because I primarily use Excel in my day-to-day job and, for most accountants, there is no need to like math, or even numbers at all, to find a fulfilling career in accounting. I really enjoy my job and it was a great choice, whether my rationale and reasoning were logical or not.
Can you describe a day in your life as a managing director at PwC?
Every day is different and brings along something new and challenging, but as a managing director at the firm, the areas that I spend the most time on are audit methodology, staffing and recruiting, and of course—reviewing and approving audit work. During the spring and summer, I spend a lot of time interviewing new candidates; working with my current staff on transfers and opportunities they may want to pursue; and planning for the coming year from a structure, budget and staffing perspective. During the fall, I shift my focus to audit methodology and how our team will apply these methodology considerations to the work we perform for our clients. And then of course, there is the day-to-day activity involved with the busy season in public accounting; January and February is crunch time for my team, as our public clients start filing from late January through the end of February. My days are spent answering questions; reviewing audit work and approving it for filing; and dealing with “fire drills” and the last minute issues that inevitably crop up the night before filing.
What do you like most about your career?
I really enjoy the challenge—I've been at PwC since day one, fresh out of Touro, and have done so many different things and taken advantage of so many different opportunities. It’s fast paced and constantly changing, and I enjoy that environment. While most people don’t equate work-life balance and flexibility with public accounting, it actually goes hand in hand, at least at PwC! I moved from Brooklyn to Lakewood three years ago with three small children, and before ‘working from home’ was ‘a thing,’ my partners were supportive and accommodated my schedule; non-busy season months saw me commuting to the city two to three days week and working from home the other days. Since COVID, I have been fully remote and it’s been amazing for me and my family that I can really have both worlds—a fulfilling family life and exciting career.
What are the challenges you face as a woman climbing the ranks of a Big 4 accounting firm?
For me personally, the biggest challenge I faced was managing the social aspect that is so integral to building relationships and networks both internal and external to the firm. At the end of a long day or week, when the team would go out for drinks and relax, all I wanted to do was go home, play with the kids or spend time with family and friends. I had to be creative in developing these relationships in other ways, as well as balance when I felt it was important to go to a social event vs. what my personal life required at that time.
Who had the most impact on your life and career?
My husband—my #1 cheerleader and partner through it all. Busy season late nights, sick visits for the kids; he covered for the times I could not and always waited up during the latest of nights until I got home. He listens to my stories, nods along when I use words that are a completely foreign language to him but are part of my everyday vernacular at work. He is just a rock whenever works gets stressful.
What do you consider your biggest success?
When I speak with colleagues at work and mention that I am a proud mother of six amazing kids, there is always a moment of shocked silence before they can eke out a response. They are my biggest success—my oldest was born as I finished my first year as an associate, my baby is under a year (born last year and I missed my first busy season in 14 years!) I’ve participated in proposals for new audit clients, led first year audit engagements and currently lead a team of 70+ staff, but when my children are happy at the end of the day, I can count that day as a success.
How did your Touro education help propel your career?
I attended Touro right after my year abroad and finished after two years and two summers, using college credits I earned as a high school senior to help with the core requirements. In the fall of my second year, Touro hosted a career fair and invited a number of mid-size to large accounting firms to attend. From that career fair, I had interviews at a few smaller firms, as well as PwC and ultimately, I chose the Big 4 and never looked back.
What advice do you have for students entering the workplace in accounting?
Take things day by day—I joined PwC in August 2008 and had a goal to pass my CPA within the first year, as the firm offers a bonus if you pass all four exams within one year. And so, I took it day by day, night by night—as a first year associate, busy season and then a newborn—but I was a CPA within a year! And so it continued throughout my career—each day is an opportunity to grow, to develop your brand and your relationship and to progress to the next level. I would encourage students to take advantage of each day and use it to the fullest and you will get there, to whichever level you are aspiring to reach.
What do you do for fun?
Between a full-time job and my family, life is full, busy and yes, fun. But in between my life to-do lists and work to-do lists, I enjoy reading (early on, my husband began buying books as gifts instead of flowers) and getting out for a walk and some recharge time.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alum-judy-edelstein-moving-up-the-corporate-ladder-at-pwc.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2022/JudyEdelstein.jpg
September 09, 2022
307288
How to Work with Superheroes
Marc Schreiber Leveraged His Touro Accounting Degree to Find His Dream Job
Marc Schreiber, Touro Flatbush 2009 alum, is a senior financial accounting analyst for Marvel Entertainment. Marc shares his surprise entry into the field, a day in the life on his job and how Touro helped propel his career.
How did you wind up at Marvel?
After graduating from Touro, I worked in the accounting department of a family-owned international business. Marvel is actually a division of Disney. I grew up going to the Disney parks with my family every year, and I knew all the animated movies. It had been a lifelong dream to work there. When I spotted a job in accounting at Disney on LinkedIn, of course I immediately applied.
I started out part time. In the beginning I did lots of nitty gritty work in order to learn and contribute to the company in whatever way I could. After nine months, I became a full-time employee and now I have two employees under me. I transitioned to this position at Marvel five years ago.
What is it like being a religious Jew at Disney?
The company is very accommodating. It was an interesting transition because I was working for a Jewish company beforehand. Now I’m the only Orthodox person in my group. I never hid my yarmulke or shied away from my background and identity. I am proud of who I am.
Disney is famous for its corporate culture. How do you experience that?
The company is very collegial. In my interview, I was asked if I was open to pitching in to contribute to diverse projects and if I had good communication skills. They hire people who want to help others succeed. Everyone I have ever worked with has been exceptionally friendly.
How does that culture affect you?
The company offers lots of training to employees, they pushed me to grow and gave me opportunities to build my skills and knowledge. I’ve gotten to understand the dynamics and structure of the corporate environment, from the high level to the minutia. This enables me to understand the flow of the business and make better recommendations.
What is a typical day like?
On a typical day, I spend time reviewing documents on the accounts I am responsible for. I check to see if anything should be fixed or improved. Right now, l work with the publishing side of the business, but I am learning other parts of the business to see how it impacts my role and to understand the overall business.
During the busy season, I focus on reconciling accounts, proving journal entries and documenting everything. I often present to other divisions, including operations, finance and sales. It is important for me to understand everything that is going on to show how it affects the income and expenses.
How did you choose accounting?
It actually came as a surprise to me. There are lots of accountants in my family and originally I wanted to do something different from them. When I first enrolled at Touro, I planned on becoming a physical therapist, but I quickly learned that I didn’t like chemistry.
I sat down with Dean Goldschmidt, who said, “This is your chance to explore other areas. Science might not be your field.” His advice was profound and helpful; without it I don‘t know if I would have tried accounting.
How did you like studying accounting at Touro?
It was terrific. I remember Professor Tajerstein because he made accounting enjoyable and interesting. He was a kind person and an excellent teacher. He showed me that accounting isn’t just math; it is a way to make sense of the whole organization.
What advice do you have for current students?
First, if you don’t know something, ask. There is always somebody who can give you advice. If you are not afraid to ask, you will stay ahead of the game. Second, in whatever field you are in, try to help others.
You have three young children. What do they think of your job?
My son tells everyone, “My dad works for superheroes.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alum-marc-schreiber-works-with-superheroes.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2022/marcschreiber.jpg
September 19, 2022
307289
Touro Undergrads Learn What It Takes to Succeed in Med School and Beyond
Deans from Touro Professional Schools Share Tips and Insight About Admissions Process
Over 90% of undergrads at Touro’s Lander Colleges who apply to medical school and 98% who apply to dental school secure spots. As a national leader in medical and health science education, Touro gives its students an edge. From research and shadowing opportunities to medical missions in Thailand and Nepal, test prep and clinical training, Touro offers students every opportunity to realize their dreams of becoming doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals. Close to 100 students attended this workshop.
In keeping with its goal to ensure future medical professionals are set up for success, Touro University presented a special session last month at Touro in Flatbush, designed for undergraduate students to learn about their options in the medical and health science fields, what it takes to gain admission into highly competitive programs and how to become candidates for professional schools in growing fields. The program was organized by Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Executive Dean of Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush.
Deans and other representatives of five of Touro’s graduate and professional schools—New York Medical College, Touro College of Dental Medicine, Touro College of Pharmacy, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Touro affiliate New York College of Podiatric Medicine—spoke to the students about the process of choosing and applying to medical schools, as well as how to succeed once enrolled. Afterward, the school representatives were available to speak to students one on one about their respective programs.
A Pathway to Success
Touro's Executive Vice President, Rabbi Moshe Krupka, opened the session highlighting the school's dedication to seeing their students succeed. "We're going to give you an outstanding education, we're going to give you caring professors, we're going to give you guidance, and we're going to have nights like this and endless opportunities to prepare you to be successful. We are so proud of the fact that our institution stands by each and every one of you."
Dr. Edward Halperin, Chancellor and CEO of New York Medical College said, “In developing this prep session, I felt that we needed to deal with two unmet needs. First, to provide educational programming to address the special needs of observant Jewish students seeking careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and podiatry. Second, to describe the ways in which we seek to facilitate the transition of Touro undergraduates to our own university's health professions' graduate and professional schools. This program, which we provide each fall at the Touro Brooklyn campus, strives to meet both needs."
He stressed the importance of choosing where to apply. He noted that when deciding which car to buy, most people will pick up a copy of Consumer Reports or do research on the pros and cons of different models. “But they pick where they’re going to college, medical school, or dental school because it feels right, because they liked walking around the campus,” Dr. Halperin said. “Nobody in their right mind would spend $200,000 on a purchase because it feels right. They would do their homework and that’s what you all need to do.”
Speaking of homework, Dr. Halperin said undergraduates always ask what matters most to the admissions staff. Does the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) matter more than GPA? Does GPA matter more than the Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer)? How important are the letters of reference?
“Answer: Everything’s important,” he said. “We look at it all. You need to take challenging courses. You need to get good grades. Your references matter. You need to write a clear essay that’s understandable, and do well on your standardized tests.” Halperin shared tips for interviewing successfully and told the group that qualified Touro undergrads have a good chance of securing interviews at Touro professional schools.
Preparing for Future Careers While Honoring Our Values
Beyond learning about Touro’s various opportunities in medicine, dentistry and health sciences, the students heard about rising to the unique challenges religious Jews encounter during training. Students at Touro’s medical and dental schools are fortunate to have their class and exam schedules in sync with the Jewish calendar and to have access to on campus minyanim, shiurim and a community of like-minded students who share values as well as study sessions, Shabbatons, challah bakes and other events. All food on these campuses is kosher and the environment is conducive to Jewish life.
The second half of the event was dedicated to facilitating conversations between potential students and the deans and staff members representing Touro’s graduate schools. Students were encouraged to approach various stations throughout the room to ask questions of the representatives and learn more about the specific programs.
“I like the idea that there are a lot of medical professionals in the same place that you could talk to,” said Yael Levy, in her second year at Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences. “I know I want to do something in the medical field, but I’m not sure exactly what yet, so it was really helpful to hear everyone and see people who are doing different things.” Levy shared that, in some ways, learning about what it takes to succeed in the field of health sciences is overwhelming. “But at the same time, it made me realize I want to do this,” she says. “It sounds intense and hard, but also an exciting challenge.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/succeed-in-med-school-event-dec-2022.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2022/FlatbushMedicalSchoolEvent.jpg
December 27, 2022
307290
Practicing Medicine Half a World Away
Touro Undergrads Experience Cultural Differences in Healthcare on Eye-Opening Trip to Thailand
How should pre-med students from the United States react to a hospital in Thailand that hires its all-female nursing staff based on a beauty contest? And should they have ethical concerns about an in-vitro fertilization clinic in Bangkok that refused to treat infertile couples of different religions?
Twenty-six students from Touro’s Lander College for Women (LCW) and Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) debated these and other questions during a midwinter break trip to Bangkok, as part of a two-week course in bioethics. The three-credit course, Biomedical Cross-cultural Educational Program (BioCEP) provided the students with a first-hand look at a wide variety of hospitals and institutions to learn how culture can impact ethical decisions in medicine, dentistry and biology.
Accompanied by Dr. John Loike, a professor of biology and bioethics and the founder of BioCEP, the students were introduced to a number of compelling ethical questions, including when life begins; the nature and limits of informed consent; the treatment of so-called “orphan” diseases; and the use of deception in research. Having the students confront these issues in person, rather than in theory, was one of Dr. Loike’s many objectives for the course.
“Part of the experience is for the students to appreciate and respect the diverse cultural values in medicine and science,” he said. “Gaining an appreciation for this international diversity is critical for pre-med, pre-dent and pre-health students, and I wanted to instill in the students an appreciation and respect for the diverse cultural values people have in medicine and science.”
Learning new perspectives
Over the course of the two weeks, the group visited multiple hospitals and met with healthcare staff to gain a better understanding of people with whom they shared many professional interests, but have very different backgrounds, and who face challenges the American students hadn’t encountered previously. Among those were the Yanhee Hospital for Health and Beauty, to witness some of the surgical innovations to enhance patients’ appearance and beauty, and the Hospital for Tropical Medicine, to learn about the ethical challenges in treating Dengue fever and malaria.
Naomi May, a senior at LCW, said she was fascinated by a lecture they heard at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital about cord blood, which is the blood left over in the placenta that contains hematopoietic stem cells.
“These stem cells are so important, as they can be used to treat many serious diseases, even cancer,” said May, who hopes to be a nurse in a delivery and labor unit.
Students also had the opportunity to hear from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health about the ethical challenges in developing universal healthcare and about the difficulties in establishing clinics in rural areas of Thailand.
“My thoughts before the trip were that patient autonomy was the most important tenet of medical ethics, and any decision made AMA [Against Medical Advice] must be due to their personal beliefs,” said Shira Davis, a psychology major who is a senior at Touro’s Lander College for Women. “Now I understand the pervasiveness of misinformation and lack of medical care that can lead to patients making such decisions.”
Collaboration across cultures
Dr. Loike founded BioCEP to enable students to discuss, assess and reflect on the ethical questions they encountered in Thailand. The program was facilitated in conjunction with the Knowledge Exchange Institute, an organization that allows students abroad to “gain practical experience and enhance their understanding of the world through cultural and social immersion.” The Institute provided the group with a Thai representative, Marisa Chung Vinitketkumnuan, a former Buddhist monk, who joined the students on field trips and taught them about Thai culture.
Students stayed at hotels next to the five-story Chabad-Lubavitch of Bangkok Center, which provided meals for their two Shabbatot in Thailand and where they davened, joined by more than 500 Israeli tourists. Dr. Loike lectured the students each night on Chabad’s sky roof lounge overlooking the Bangkok landscape and they also heard meaningful shiurim about halachic challenges of living in Thailand from the Director of the Chabad House, Rabbi and Rebetzin Wilhelm.
Although the educational aspects of the program is its primary purpose, they still managed to squeeze a little fun into their time abroad. The highlights included the beautiful underground aquarium that housed a salt water lake containing sharks and sting rays, and an elephant reserve where they bathed elephants by hand. They also visited a Red Cross snake farm, where the head veterinarian showed them how king cobras are milked to develop anti-venom serum.
Before coming home, they met with 30 undergraduate students at Mahidol University to learn about innovative online science education, and to build cultural bridges with some of their Thai counterparts.
“Never before had I felt the global connection of physicians and researchers as strongly as I did in Thailand,” said sophomore Chana Birnbaum. “Spending time in Bangkok broadened my understanding of both Thai culture and healthcare. Moreover, it demonstrated how insights and breakthroughs are shared across the world, for the sake of humanity.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/touro-pre-med-undergrads-experience-cultural-differences-in-healthcare-on-eye-opening-trip-to-thailand.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2023/ThailandTrip.jpg
February 08, 2023
307291
Building a Successful Accounting Career
Touro Alum on Climbing the Corporate Ladder as a CPA and Her Day-to-Day Role as Senior Director of Finance at Centers Plan for Healthy Living
Gila Engelberg (Lander College of Arts & Sciences, 2007), credits Touro and a strong work ethic for helping her achieve her career goals. Gila talks about her career journey and offers indispensable advice for new grads entering the workforce.
Why did you choose accounting as your career path? Is it a field you always knew you would enter?
I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do. Both my parents are CPAs and I have two accountant brothers so I just figured I would give it a shot and hoped it was genetic! Looking back now, I see that it was such a great choice for me. Growing up, I was very artistic and wanted to have a career that could utilize this talent. Most would never associate such a talent with accounting. I have realized over the years how I use my creativity in my day-to-day work. Building a budget for 30 departments, with five lines of businesses from scratch in Excel is an example of a project that triggers my creativity and make me truly enjoy my career choice.
Where did you start out in your career and how did you advance to where you are today?
Back in the day, you needed to have two years of public accounting experience in order to become a CPA, so that is where I began. I knew I wanted to work in a big corporation, but one that was not too big that I would get lost. I started at RSM McGladrey in the healthcare audit department. I advanced every two years or so from associate to senior associate to supervisor and ultimately manager. My work ethic moved me quickly through the process. I knew if I prioritized my job and worked hard in the early stages of my career, it would allow me more flexibility later in my career when I would need it more. After four years at McGladrey, the partners in my group moved to Cohn Reznick and took me along. I worked there for two more years until an opportunity at a private firm came along. I worked at Revival Home Health Care for two years until I felt I needed more of a challenge in my career and I transferred to Centers Plan for Healthy Living (CPHL) as a Finance Manager. I was promoted to Associate Director of Finance, then Director of Finance and then to Senior Director of Finance, where I am today.
Can you describe the transition from public accounting to private?
Honestly, this transition was more difficult than I expected. In audit, we are trained to view everything from one perspective. We learn to review financial statements from the client and are trained to trace and test numbers for accuracy. In private, you are the one preparing the financial statements and are therefore recording the actual journal entries and ultimately, creating the numbers. It was a learning experience and a challenge, which I enjoyed. It was great having two CPA parents to call constantly with questions. And I always turned to T-accounts (a simple way to view journal entries that records the debits and credits under the accounts in the shape of the letter “T”) when in doubt!
Please share what you do in your day-to-day role as Senior Director of Finance at Centers Plan for Healthy Living.
I run the finance department for CPHL, which is the largest managed long-term care in New York. I oversee about 8-10 employees and I report to the CFO. I am responsible for overseeing monthly financial statement preparation. In addition, I am responsible for preparing the annual budgets, quarterly state reports and all other reporting requirements. My days are usually hectic, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I make sure to try to start my days with a workout (usually a six-mile run or spin) and then head to the office. My job at this point is flexible, which allows me to take care of the day-to-day things that come up out of work. Having the ability to work from home when needed is great, although working from the office is my preference.
Are women in leadership positions perceived differently than men? What do you feel is critical to success as a woman in a senior role in a large company?
Women in leadership are absolutely perceived differently. Many assume we will put family first and work second. I feel I changed that perception since I tried my best to excel at both. I have five beautiful kids and they are independent and self-sufficient and appreciate that their mother is a hard worker. At this point in my career, I make sure to focus 100% on the kids when I am home, so that my time spent with them is total quality.
How did Touro help you achieve your career goals?
Touro had the most amazing accounting program. I remember clearly how much the classes at Touro were in line with my CPA review and helped me pass each exam on the first try.
How can future accountants ensure they are prepared for a career in this ever-changing field? Any advice for new grads just starting out in the corporate world?
First of all, make sure to sit for the CPA exam as soon as possible! Pushing it off will never help and it is a huge asset to have on a resume. Life gets busier, so the sooner the better. I also believe starting in public accounting as opposed to private is very helpful if you are looking for a strong career. Many people that start in private accounting get stuck in a bookkeeping type of role and advancement can sometimes be more difficult. In public accounting, as long as you stick it out for the right amount of time, the transition to private can land you a higher role. But my most important advice is to focus on your work ethic! Not everyone is the smartest and brightest but as long as you take your job seriously and you truly make yourself indispensable, you will grow in your career.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-alum-gila-engelberg-shares-how-she-built-a-successful-accounting-career.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2023/gilaengelberg.jpg
March 15, 2023
307292
Software Engineer at Goldman Sachs Named Touro in Flatbush Valedictorian
Stellar Grades, Sterling Character and Outstanding Performance at Fortune 500 Internships Made Aliza Peikes A Natural Choice
Aliza Peikes was drawn to the world of computers from a very young age. As a child, she enjoyed playing around with basic computer programs and later on, her interest grew to include problem-solving and logic games which propelled her towards a career in computer programming.
Entering Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush after a gap year at BJJ in Israel, it didn’t take Peikes very long to choose her major—computer science was the obvious choice. Today, the 2023 class valedictorian and summa cum laude graduate of Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences is employed as a software engineer at Goldman Sachs. She works closely with finance teams to improve the overall efficiency of financial operations and designs and develops software systems that are used to generate the firm’s financial metrics and reports.
Besides her stellar grades and corporate internships that led to full-time employment, Peikes seeks out chesed opportunities that enable her to help individuals and organizations. For ten years, she offered respite to a family with a special needs child and has also lent her time and talent to help small companies and startups with software consulting. Additionally, she helped digitize the operations of a local organization that provides discounted clothing to Kollel members and mechanchim.
“I chose Touro in Flatbush because it provided me with a quality education while upholding my personal values. The positive experiences of my mother and six siblings who also graduated Touro, further influenced my decision,” says Peikes.
“When it came to gaining real-world experience, Touro connected me with alumni who are working at the top of the field. My journey began with an internship at Goldman this past summer, followed by another internship as a software developer at IBM in the fall. I then secured my full-time role at Goldman Sachs, with the guidance and encouragement of Touro’s computer science department chair and a Touro alumnus who is currently employed at Goldman Sachs,” shares Peikes.
She looks forward to an exciting career but says her ultimate goal is to stay true to her values and dedicate herself fully to every endeavor she undertakes. She strives for excellence and seeks to make meaningful contributions, professionally and in the community.
"Aliza Peikes has achieved excellence in her academic studies and has performed at a high level in two extremely competitive internships at Fortune 500 companies. Beyond academics, she demonstrated sterling character traits and middos in her general conduct. She is a role model for all our students to emulate," said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Executive Dean at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences.
Peikes is an outdoor sports and travel enthusiast and particularly enjoys visiting national parks. She’s been to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, the Colorado Rockies, Badlands National Park, Windcave National Park and Mount Rushmore, and hopes to add many more to her travelogue.
Touro University’s 49th Annual Commencement Exercises will be held in Alice Tully Hall Lincoln Center on Sunday, June 4.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/aliza-peikes-software-engineer-at-goldman-sachs-named-touro-in-flatbush-valedictorian.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2023/AlizaPeikes.jpg
May 23, 2023
307293
Lander College of Arts & Sciences Names 2023 Valedictorian
Early Life Experience Sparked Dovi Teigman's Passion for Dentistry
Dovi Teigman, a biology major and predental student from Bayswater, was named 2023 valedictorian at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences. Dovi has always had a strong desire to pursue dentistry as his career path, as his interest and passion for the field go back to an early childhood experience. While playing with his cousins in shul when he was eight years old, he fell and had a traumatic mouth injury.
He needed to get braces early on in order to allow the teeth to grow in properly. For good measure, he also broke two front teeth a few years ago while playing basketball.
Instead of scaring him away from the dental profession, these experiences showed him the transformative power of dentistry and he would like to be able to help his future patients in the same way.
Dovi will serve as one of the student speakers for the Lander College commencement at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center on June 4th. He made Dean’s List every semester, and received the Touro’s Dean’s Scholarship straight out of high school. He also published a research paper in the Touro Science Journal and volunteered at the Margaret Tietz Nursing Home. Dovi has plans to become an EMT, join Hatzalah and work for the Chevra Kadisha as well.
“Dovi has compiled an outstanding record, earning a 3.97 Grade Point Average in pursuing a rigorous biology-predental program, and concurrently continuing his intensive Talmudic studies,” said Robert Goldschmidt, executive dean at Touro University’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences. “He will become a respected healthcare professional who will create a Kiddush Hashem.”
Dovi graduated from Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens and then spent three years learning in Yeshiva Toras Chaim in Miami before coming to Touro. Since then, he has continued his learning at Chofetz Chaim during the day and commuting to Touro in Brooklyn for classes at night.
In pursuing a career in dentistry, Dovi wanted to earn a degree and also spend his days learning in yeshiva, so he was particularly appreciative of the opportunity provided to him by Touro.
“Where else can I get a degree and, at the same time, stay in yeshiva and still receive an excellent education and preparation for professional school?” he asked. “Touro makes it possible for a yeshiva guy who is learning three sedarim a day to pursue a degree without having to give up too much.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/lander-college-of-arts--sciences-names-valedictorian.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2023/DoviTeigman.jpg
May 24, 2023
307294
Touro Alum and Jewish Music Singer Pursues Passion for Medicine
Lander College of Arts & Sciences Grad Dobby Baum on Her Success as a Musician, Her Plans to Practice Medicine, and How She Balances It All With Her Young Family
Dobby Baum (Lander College of Arts & Sciences, 2023), shares how COVID prompted her to pursue a lifelong dream to become a doctor, why she won’t give up her singing career, and in what field she ultimately hopes to practice. Dobby offers valuable advice for other adults with families who are embarking on a higher education journey.
Can you share a bit about your background and your childhood in London as the youngest of 10?
I was born in Stamford Hill, London, and grew up in a Chasidic family. When I was seven, my life changed as we moved out of town to Edgware, where my father became a Rabbi. I continued attending school in Stamford Hill and received a top-flight education, excelling in art, science and mathematics. I also studied piano professionally under the UK’s Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and became a certified pianist. Being the youngest of 10 meant that I had no younger siblings to look after and I often got bored, so my parents sent me to piano lessons, and I performed in many shows and events from the age of 13 years old. I naturally gained leadership skills and independence, and graduated high school at 16 years old with an award of excellence in both Judaic and secular studies.
You have a career as a Jewish music singer. Is that a longtime passion? How did you get into the field and where do you perform?
Ever since I could talk, my family remembers me singing pitch perfect and with supreme confidence. My first big solo was at my kindergarten graduation at four years old. By the time I was seven years old, I was singing and composing harmonies.
My mother had the most beautiful voice as a child; however, when she was 13 years old, she damaged her vocal cords in summer camp from screaming and singing too loudly. She therefore encouraged us to use our voices properly. I started professional voice training once I turned 18 years old, and I haven’t stopped since! Being a female singer in the Orthodox Jewish world was a far-off dream, but it wasn’t a real possibility in London, since there were no British Orthodox singers for me to follow.
I met my soulmate and husband, Pinny Baum, in 2015 and since he is a New Yorker, we moved across the pond in May 2016. I had my first live concert booking a few months later and will never forget the surreal experience of singing in in front of an all-female audience. I was so connected to that stage, and it was in that exact moment that I knew I was born to perform. Since then, I have performed at numerous events and concerts in London, California, Las Vegas, South Carolina, Savannah, New York, Tennessee, Vermont, Utah, Manchester (UK), Denver and many more places around the globe. Currently I am working on releasing my debut solo album with my brother Gershy Schwarcz, from Edgware Studios.
What was your major at Touro? What motivated you to pursue higher education, at this stage of your life as a mother of two?
I was a premed student who majored in biology. Ever since I was in elementary school, I’ve had a love for science. I actually used to read biology textbooks as a novel, and memorized biology terms and definitions word for word. In high school, my mother called me “Doctor Dob”—although I never thought I would actually become a doctor. I received perfect scores on my standardized science exams, which I completed at age 15.
I applied to Oxford University Online, and took my full Biology A-Levels asynchronously (associate degree level). I ordered a mini lab on Amazon for myself and kept the test tubes, PH paper and chemicals in my bedroom.
When I became pregnant I was very sick with HG (hyperemesis gravidarum), and therefore any dreams of pursuing my higher education were paused. I was really busy with a full roster of voice students privately and performing in small concerts locally. My singing career was progressing really nicely in New York, and therefore I didn’t feel the need to get my bachelor’s degree. Thanks to social media, I was able to share videos of my performances which led to additional bookings.
When COVID hit in March 2020, suddenly all my concerts were cancelled, and I didn’t know if I was ever going to sing on a live stage again. It really hit me, and made me question my life choices. My husband said, “Remember you always wanted to be a doctor? Well, why don’t you go back to school and follow your dreams?” I dwelled on that thought for a couple of months, and saw how physicians were some of the only professionals who were busy during COVID. I finally got the courage to apply to Touro and started in January 2021 as a pre-med student. My British college credits couldn’t be transferred so I had to start from scratch.
I loved the Jewish environment and all the classes at Touro. Juggling two toddlers, singing and college wasn’t easy, but I decided that I would never give up my singing career, as it gives me life. I spoke to various medical professionals who told me not to worry, that I will always be able to sing and practice medicine simultaneously. They said it’s healthy to have an outlet or hobby while dealing with intense medicine daily.
Your ultimate goal is to become a doctor. What field of medicine do you want to practice and why? What’s the inspiration for the career switch?
While I’m definitely keeping an open mind, I would love to become an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor.
In June of 2022, I travelled to Athens, Greece, by myself for two weeks, on a medical internship. I got to scrub into surgery and shadow doctors from 10 different medical specialties—that gave me clarity in eliminating certain medical specialties. For example, I scrubbed into orthopedic surgery in the Athens medical center, and I noticed how strong the surgeon had to be in order to lift the patient’s knee, to perform knee replacement surgery. I knew then that this specialty was not for me.
Since constantly training and singing professionally, I have visited my ENT various times and become more fascinated each time with the anatomy of the vocal cords and nasal passage area. I feel becoming a laryngologist would be an ideal way for my singing and medical career paths to meet in perfect sync.
I actually wrote a research paper for Bio 493, about the anatomy of the larynx and a singer’s voice, which has been published in the Touro Medical Journal. It was fascinating to me how music and medicine are a perfect combination for a biology research topic.
Since I don’t plan on stopping to sing and perform—if anything, my singing career has only begun—I’m excited for what’s to come in both medicine and music. To me, both careers have a lot in common—I get to help people and inspire others. So I’m calling it a “career upgrade” rather than a switch.
What advice do you have for others who want to go to school as adults?
My most important advice is to take frequent breaks and travel during semester breaks and holidays, since studying and mothering take up a lot of mental energy. I always try to recharge my batteries in order to succeed in my life. Over the past seven years, my family travelled to 26 states in the U.S., four provinces in Canada and many countries. We road trip, fly and have fun together during my study breaks. Also, I always try to switch off my social media while travelling with my family. It’s important to live in the present, and amazing for my children to spend quality time with me during vacations. Then they don’t resent when I work or study long hours; instead, they respect and appreciate me as their mother.
My second piece of advice is to listen to your own heart and not outsiders. If you want to go back to school as an adult, do not hesitate, as everything is possible with the right mindset and support.
And last but not least, my advice is to go to Touro. It’s a school that prepares you academically for your profession in an environment that is warm and supportive. I will remain a proud Touro alum forever.
Where can people find you online?
Dobby Baum on Instagram; Dobby Baum on YouTube; Dobby Baum on Spotify; Dobby Baum on Apple Music
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/las-grad-dobby-baum-jewish-music-singer-pursues-passion-for-medicine.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2023/DobbyBaum.jpg
June 07, 2023
307295
Touro’s Lander Colleges Launch Finance Alumni Network
Dozens of Alums and Students Gather to Gain Career Advice and Make Professional Connections
The Lander College Finance Alumni Network launched last month with dozens of Touro alumni gathering on a Manhattan rooftop to shmooz, enjoy sushi and most importantly, make professional connections.
The event took place at the penthouse office of Audrey Weitz, Managing Director at Old City Investment Partners in midtown Manhattan, and a mother of two Touro University students. As the driving force behind the network, Weitz sought to model the new organization after alumni organizations of top-tier public and private universities, having seen the tremendous impact of those groups and also to create opportunities for students and alumni alike. Lander College for Men (LCM) alumnus Jason Appleson, Managing Director and Head of Municipal Bonds at Prudential, and Jodi Smolen, LCM’s Director of Career Services, teamed up with Weitz to help jump-start the process.
“I was planning to say that tonight we are launching something, and 20 years from now it will be an amazing institution and resource for the university and the graduates,” Weitz said. “But we’re already seeing major success, with so many people showing up on a random Wednesday.”
Camaraderie and Career Advice
Billed as an evening to expand professional networks, learn from other alumni in the business world and help rising undergraduate finance students, Appleson got the ball rolling by offering some advice to the attendees. One tip, he said, was that it’s important to move out of your comfort zone and take on new responsibilities, even when you don’t feel ready. He urged the group not to shy away from risks, whether in the form of new roles, new projects, new paths or new opportunities.
“I joined Prudential, and they said, ‘We want you to do an interview on TV.’ And I said, ‘Whoa, on TV? That’s crazy,’” Appleson said. “But you do it. You say, ‘OK, I know it will be difficult, I’ll prepare, and the worst that can happen is you look like an idiot.’ And I may have a few times. But these are things you can overcome.”
Addressing those just starting out, Appleson said that people often have a career plan in their minds, but they should understand that it might not play out that way, which is just fine.
“You will find that often your career does not match exactly the path that you had laid out for yourself,” he said. “As a six-year-old, I did not say, ‘I want to be a municipal bond portfolio manager.’ That’s not what I had in mind. But I took this path, and I got here, and I’m very happy with where I ended up.”
Alumni attendee Yehuda Sokel, CFA, Head of Treasury and Investor Relations at Sterling, echoed Appleson’s sentiments. “Missed opportunities can sometimes be the greatest blessing,” he said. “The ‘dream’ job or promotion that didn’t materialize can often open the door to an even better opportunity. Just ask Warren Buffet… a Harvard Business School rejection led to attending Columbia instead, where he met his mentor Ben Graham and shaped his investing philosophy. This point hits home to me as well, as I’ve experienced significant career disappointments which ultimately paved fruitful paths that I wouldn’t have otherwise discovered.”
Supporting Current Students
Smolen said that beyond making professional connections with each other, the new alumni network is also intended to help current students find opportunities and excel in the business world.
“In addition to our formal mentoring program, if I have a student who wants to know what it’s like to be in Fintech, I’ll call up someone who works in Fintech and say ‘Can you talk to a student for just a few minutes?’” she said. “That’s a one-time thing, and if they hit it off and then want to follow up, great. If not, they got the information they needed and they can continue and make a decision where they want to go and spend their time.” To that end, Smolen said that she will be reaching out to the attendees if she knows of current students who could use their advice.
“Additionally, alumni will find ways to pay it forward to current finance students by coming back to campus, getting involved in alumni events and by connecting recruiters from their firms to entry-level talent from Touro,” continued Smolen.
Alumni attendees currently work in finance roles at UBS, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, Deloitte, AIG and other top firms.
Chana Rubel, who graduated from the Lander College of Arts & Sciences in 2002 and is an Associate Director at Protiviti, a business consulting firm, said the opportunity to meet so many impressive individuals from successful companies was invaluable.
“For me personally, it’s very important, because when I go to my office and I say these are my contacts, it’s going to bode well for me in my career, as everyone is trying to get that next potential opportunity,” she said. “Coming to an event like this, with people of this caliber and these companies that are so important and to have this visibility, this is priceless.”
“You couldn’t pay money to come and speak to half these people.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/-lander-colleges-finance-network.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2023/audreyjason.jpg
July 13, 2023
307296
Touro Ranks in TechGuide's Top 20 list of Best Computer Science Programs for 2025
Educational Path Leads to Expanded Job Opportunities, Meaningful Careers in Rapidly-Growing Field
Touro University’s computer science program was ranked #17 in TechGuide’s Best Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science Programs for 2025, up 7 points from its #24 ranking in 2024. The list highlights colleges and universities that excel in providing educational opportunities and training for today’s students interested in pursuing this high-demand career.
Computer science is one of the university’s most popular majors with 150 students and the bachelor’s degree in the field is offered both in person and via zoom. Last semester, Touro offered a course focused on Python programming and its application in AI and beginning this fall, Touro is planning to incorporate AI throughout the computer science curriculum.
According to Dr. Shmuel Fink, deputy chair of the computer science department at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, the plan is to teach students how to use tools such as GitHub Copilot, Anthropic Claude, and Cursor to assist with writing code. Touro will also cover technologies such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, Weaviate), orchestration libraries (LangChain, LlamaIndex), and graph-based link-chains. These tools help large language models (LLMs) access up-to-date information, store and retrieve that information efficiently using specialized “smart” databases, and connect related pieces of data. Together, they enable AI systems to generate accurate, natural-language responses that include company-specific or context-specific information.
The National Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of computer scientists will grow 26 percent in the next decade, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 3,400 openings for computer and information research scientists are projected each year. According to TechGuide, earning a computer science degree can be a lucrative educational path for students looking to expand their job opportunities and pursue an analytical, computational and even creative career.
“Touro University’s bachelor's in computer science offers students the foundation necessary to develop cutting-edge computing solutions and adapt to a world of ever-evolving new technologies. It is the perfect blend of theory and hands-on skills,” said Dr. Fink.
“Our graduates have secured top-tier positions and begun successful careers as software engineers, mobile app developers, full-stack developers, analysts, senior managers and more,” continued Fink.
Recent Touro alumni have landed internships and jobs at Goldman Sachs, IBM, Northwell Health System, Capital One Bank, Deloitte, Cross River Bank, HealthFirst, among others.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/best-computer-science-program-touro.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2025/computersciencetechguidepic.jpg
June 13, 2025
307298
Meet Touro’s Acclaimed, Award-Winning Poet
Touro Professor Yehoshua November Shares the Power of Poetry
In a fast-paced world where people spend hundreds of hours each week scrolling through social media, Professor Yehoshua November shuts out the noise and focuses on “the wondrousness of ordinary life.” The prolific poet, whose work has been featured in The New York Times Magazine, The Sun, Virginia Quarterly Review and on NPR and Poetry Unbound, has shared his love of literature and creative writing with Touro students for nearly two decades.
“I know most of my students will enter the corporate world or various professions, so I focus on reading comprehension, critical thinking and written and oral communication skills—areas fundamental to career success and living a thoughtful and introspective life,” says November.
November is the author of the poetry collections “God’s Optimism” (2010)— a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize and winner of the Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award; “Two Worlds Exist” (2016)—a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award and Paterson Poetry Prize; and “The Concealment of Endless Light” (Orison Books, fall 2024). His poems have won Prairie Schooner’s Bernice Slote Award and the London School of Judaism’s Poetry Prize.
Naturally, November is a fan of poetry as an art form. “I admire poetry’s compression—its capacity to communicate poignant ideas and emotions in a few short lines. Poetry can wake us from our habituation and make us more grateful.”
November credits his upbringing for his passion for poetry. “There was a constant backdrop of music in my home, and it was poetic,” he explains. Poetry also runs in the family. His paternal grandmother was a poet, and his older brother and younger sister are poets as well.
As an English major in college, November’s professors—established writers themselves—supported and encouraged the work he was producing in their classes, and he started to take himself seriously as a writer. “I think I also turned to poetry because young people have a great need to express themselves and communicate with the world. Poetry fills that need with a potency and power that other art forms can’t match,” he says.
As a student of Hasidic Jewish thought, November’s poems are largely concerned with the intersection of spirituality and everyday life, reflecting the Hasidic theology that the Divine resides in all things and is present in the least likely places.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/meet-touros-acclaimed-award-winning-poet.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2024/YehoshuaNovember.jpg
April 16, 2024
307297
From Touro to Tax Partner
Touro Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) Alum Mindi Lowy, Class of '04, Talks About Her Rise at Accounting Powerhouse PwC
Mindi Lowy has risen through the ranks at one of the top accounting firms in the country. Lowy shares her career journey, invaluable advice for women climbing the corporate ladder, and the significant role Touro played in her professional success.
What led you to choose a career in accounting?
Growing up I always enjoyed numbers and math. What I appreciated about accounting is that it offered numerous avenues to pursue beyond being an accountant and that it provided valuable skills for running a business. I felt that the core skills I would learn in the accounting program—reading financial statements, understanding components of profitability—are essential to every business and could enable me to enjoy a fulfilling accounting career or pivot into a finance role.
Can you describe your career journey- where did you start and what were the steps from there to your current role as a tax partner at PwC?
Once I earned my accounting degree and passed the CPA exam, I started off at PwC in the asset management tax industry. Early on in my career, I focused on hedge funds and then I went on to servicing mutual funds, private equity funds and fund of funds. Today, my clients are a diverse array of funds that exist in the industry, and I strive to help them through transactions, with tax structuring, as well as with tax compliance.
I started as a first-year tax associate with limited experience and have been fortunate to be able to develop into a partner who has a diverse array of roles and responsibilities, including overseeing a team that works with me, and delivering training and educating within PwC and at industry conferences.
I have had the opportunity to speak on a wide range of tax topics relating to the asset management industry. Some topics I cover include current industry trends, how the shifting market conditions can impact funds, tax planning ideas and tax complexities. Fund managers and investors want to know about tax implications because it can impact the bottom line.
Can you share a day in the life of a tax partner?
No two days are the same. As a tax partner, I tend to juggle numerous responsibilities, including overseeing compliance, assisting clients with structuring and transactions, and overseeing an internal team responsible for delivering to clients.
I could have my day planned out and a client may call asking for assistance on a pending transaction that needs immediate attention, so I’ll pivot and reprioritize my day. I spend a lot of time with clients on unanticipated work when they are working through deals.
I also really enjoy having the opportunity to spend time training our staff, recruiting and sourcing talent and staying up to speed on the latest trends in the fund world. On any given day, I try to be focused on a number of these initiatives.
What professional achievements are you most proud of?
Number one is the gratification of being able to become a partner. This was the culmination of years of hard work and contributing to the industry, to the firm, and to our clients. I’ve been fortunate to have several incredible mentors and a fantastic team who have significantly contributed to this success. I’ve also been excited to publish articles in industry publications to bring an idea or solution to the industry that may not have been previously explored.
What advice do you have for other women who seek leadership roles in corporate America?
There is a tremendous amount of opportunity today for women who aspire to be leaders. There are also role models for women to emulate who have paved the path. I have looked to them for guidance throughout my career. My advice is to find a mentor—having a mentor is key for individuals seeking a leadership role, and something I’ve been fortunate to have throughout my career. I continue to rely on mentors to share ideas, seek advice or obtain a second opinion.
I also recommend that women lean into opportunities that are in front of them and not let opportunities pass them by. Perhaps just as important as raising a hand for opportunities that come your way is to create the opportunity itself.
My final recommendation is to become a trusted advisor. Clients will call for tax, financial reporting and accounting issues, but are they reaching out to me for business issues outside my specialty? For example, over the last year, many clients have been struggling with their back-office strategy and employee retention. Should they require people to come into the office five days a week or do they adopt a hybrid work model? Because I have exposure to a large client base, some clients value my abilities to benchmark and bring a perspective on topics outside of my core competency.
If you become a trusted business advisor to your clients, it can make your relationships broader and stronger. It can lead clients to come back for more assistance and can help you to continue to succeed.
How did your Touro education play a role in your current success?
It played a significant role. The person who helped me get my first job at PwC was another woman at Touro. Because of Touro’s effective accounting program, I felt well-prepared for the CPA exam and for success in the field.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/from-touro-to-tax-partner.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2024/MindiLowy.jpg
May 28, 2024
307299
Ariel Goodstein Named Touro University Valedictorian
Future Lawyer to Represent Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences as Student Commencement Speaker
For Ariel Goodstein of Lawrence, attending law school was almost a foregone conclusion. The son of two practicing attorneys who always enjoyed rigorous Talmudic study, he was drawn to the career path from an early age.
Entering Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Brooklyn after studying for two years in Israel, Goodstein chose accounting as his major. He enjoyed the precise nature of the field and felt his yeshiva training in analyzing texts served him well in a discipline that required close inspection of journal entries and financial statements.
Today, the class valedictorian and summa cum laude graduate of Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences is learning at Yeshiva Shor Yoshuv and headed to Harvard Law School. He may build upon his accounting background to pursue a career in tax law, but is keeping his options open as he enters law school.
During his college career, Goodstein interned both at a brokerage firm called Rosewood Realty Group and for Justice Leon Ruchelsman of Kings County Supreme Court. The Supreme Court internship further piqued his interest in pursuing a legal career and cemented his decision to apply to law school.
Besides his academic interests, Goodstein is an avid sports and exercise enthusiast. A graduate of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov High School and a member of Kehilas Bais Yehuda Tzvi, Goodstein feels he has gained “so much from my teachers, schools, shuls and the community… “ He hopes to pay it forward in the future by using his knowledge in Jewish studies, accounting and law to help community members in need.
“I chose Touro because I wanted to be able to continue studying Talmud while pursuing a respected college degree. The flexible schedule at Touro in Brooklyn enabled me to study in a local yeshiva while attending college and receiving a stellar education and outstanding pre-law advisement. The prelaw advisor guided me throughout the entire law school application process and helped me achieve my ultimate goal of gaining admission to a top law school. The positive experiences of my father and older brother, who also graduated Touro, further influenced my decision,” says Goodstein.
Goodstein is one of four valedictorians who will serve as student speakers for the 2024 Lander College commencement, to be held June 2 at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/-ariel-goodstein-named-touro-university-valedictorian.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2024/arielgoodstein.png
May 21, 2024
307300
Chana Birnbaum Named Touro Valedictorian
Future Medical Professional to Represent Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences as Student Commencement Speaker
Chana Birnbaum was drawn to the world of medicine from a very young age. As a child, she observed the dedication and concern her physician assistant mother felt toward her patients and she aspired to emulate that.
Entering Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences while studying at Bnos Binah seminary, Birnbaum was pre-med with a biology honors major and a recipient of the New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence. Today, the class valedictorian and summa cum laude graduate of Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences is employed as a medical assistant in a pediatric clinic where she’s learning about clinician patient interaction and gaining an understanding of pediatric medicine. Birnbaum is also conducting rheumatology research at Brookdale Hospital.
Besides her stellar grades and research, Birnbaum developed her leadership skills as a member of the Touro Flatbush Society of Fellows and by co-founding a committee to support fellow undergrad students pursuing medical careers. Birnbaum made time for chesed as well, volunteering for OHEL, at a dialysis unit at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where she says she “learned to channel my empathy constructively to help patients” and for Camp Kesher, where she worked with special needs children.
“I chose Touro University because I appreciate the school’s commitment to moral values and the pursuit of knowledge,” says Birnbaum.
“I also had the opportunity to travel with Touro to Thailand as part of a bioethics course where I was able to broaden my horizons by seeing medical ethics issues play out in real time and by learning about public health,” shares Birnbaum.
She looks forward to an exciting career but says her ultimate goal is to harness her empathetic nature to have a positive impact on the lives of her patients and develop close relationships with them.
In her spare time, Birnbaum enjoys playing piano and mentoring younger students.
"Chana Birnbaum has earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average, after completing a biology honors/pre-med major. Beyond her outstanding academic record, Chana has displayed a sterling character and Midos . I am confident that she will create a Kiddush Hashem when she enters the medical profession,” said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, executive dean of Touro’s Lander College in Flatbush.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/chana-birnbaum-named-touro-valedictorian.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2024/chanabirnbaum.png
May 21, 2024
307301
Morris Oiring To Receive Alumnus of the Year Award at Touro’s Lander Colleges Commencement
Leader and Innovator in Healthcare Industry Pays it Forward with Scholarships to Help Touro Students Succeed
Morris Oiring, founder of the Oiring Group and long-time COO of Pleet Homecare, will be presented with the 2024 Alumnus of the Year Award at the 50th-anniversary commencement for Touro’s Lander Colleges, to be held in Lincoln Center on June 2.
A 2011 graduate of Touro’s Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Brooklyn with a major in management, Oiring is a visionary leader and innovator in the healthcare and hospitality industries whose lifelong mantra is Tikkun Olam. As an observant Jew and trailblazer in the healthcare field, Oiring consistently pursues initiatives that serve and advocate for patients, the Jewish community and society through his personal and professional endeavors.
Oiring is committed to ensuring that Touro students have opportunities to achieve success in their careers. He has supported numerous scholarships and is dedicating the library at his alma mater home campus, Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences.
“We are so proud to honor Morris Oiring with this award,” said Touro President, Dr. Alan Kadish. “He truly exemplifies the values of Touro University—striving for the highest level of professionalism and success in his field while giving back to those in need every single day.”
Over the course of his career, Oiring has improved efficiency in patient care by leading the industry in the adoption of Electronic Health Records, has broadened access to care for the underserved through telemedicine and leveraged data analytics to predict healthcare trends and assist in disease prevention. He has also pioneered the use of technology and integrated robotics in surgery to increase precision and efficiency for patients.
“I consider my connection and commitment to Touro to be a springboard for my success over the past two decades and I’m thrilled to be able to pay it forward to other students so they may achieve their academic and professional goals,” said Oiring.
Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Touro Vice President and Executive Dean of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, shared, “I commend Morris Oiring for his loyalty to Touro in Flatbush, for his dedication to our current generation of students and his commitment in assisting them in their quest for professional careers that will enable them to support Torah families in dignity.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/morris-oiring-alumnus-of-the-year-2024.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2024/MorrisMoishe.png
May 22, 2024
307302
Connecting Futures: Touro Finance Alumni Network's Second Gathering
Touro Alumni and Current Students Network and Learn from Industry Leaders at Annual Meeting
Nearly 100 members of the Touro Finance Alumni Network gathered last month at the Touro University campus in Times Square for its second annual event. Billed as an evening to expand professional networks, learn from other alumni in the business world and help rising undergraduate finance students, Touro graduates in finance roles at UBS, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, Deloitte, Prudential, PwC and other top firms, as well as some current students got to know one another and made professional connections over sushi.
The keynote speaker was Mitchell (Moyshe) Silk, the former assistant secretary for International Markets in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. After discussing his experiences in the Treasury Department, Silk gave the attendees three pieces of advice that he said helped fuel his success over his long career.
“What is most important to me and what kept me going, are my community, my family and myself,” he said “This is primarily a finance crowd, and each of you should involve yourselves in community matters; dedicate yourself to your family, which should be self-explanatory; and take care of yourselves: Take care of yourselves by learning, take care of yourselves by exercising and take care of yourselves by pursuing outside interests.”
It’s All About Relationships
The Touro Finance Alumni Network launched last year at the penthouse office of Audrey Weitz, managing director at Old City Investment Partners in midtown Manhattan, and a mother of two Touro University students. The organization was modeled after alumni organizations of top-tier public and private universities, and the tremendous impact of those groups have had in creating opportunities for students and alumni alike.
“The point of the network is twofold: One is to help you, the alumni, build relationships with each other to advance your own career,” said Jodi Smolen, director of career services for Lander College for Men (LCM), who organized the event and directs the Touro Finance Alumni Network. “Second is to connect back to Touro, so that you can hire Touro finance and accounting students into your into your firms now; and to mentor our current students to help jump-start their careers. It’s paying it forward.”
Josh Mandelbaum, a vice president and fixed income credit analyst at 1919 Investment Counsel, as well as a member of the Touro Finance Alumni Network executive committee, said events like these are important because in the financial industry, “it’s all about relationships.”
“It’s important to have relationships with people who went to the same school as you, because you never know what business and job you will need a few years from now,” said Mandelbaum, who travelled from Baltimore to attend. “It also provides chizzuk—it’s important to see successful alumni and for the young grads to start off making connections.”
Expanding Networks and Sharing Success
Not only did the event help alumni and students network, it also sparked new ideas to branch out even further. Abbie Jakubovic, a senior actuarial associate at Mercer and an alumnus of Touro’s Lander College for Men, suggested creating actuarial sub-group within the Touro Finance Alumni Network, and Yael Parkoff, a managing consultant at Forvis Mazars and a graduate of Touro’s Lander College for Women, suggested holding a similar event for women in business.
Beyond the ability to network and provide assistance to current Touro students and to alumni, one of the prevailing themes of the event was how graduates were returning home to take advantage of the opportunities that being home presents.
“I always say to people that one of the major problems of teaching is you don’t get to see the fruits of your labor,” said Dr. Meyer Peikes, chair of Touro’s undergraduate Department of Accounting and Business. “Sometimes you meet someone 20 years down the road, and sometimes you don’t get to see them altogether. So it’s great to see all of you here and the companies you’re working for and your successes, we love to share in them.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/finance-alumni-network-second-meeting.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2024/TFAN2024womenattendeesandmenattendees.jpg
July 22, 2024
307303
From High School to Dental School
Qualified HS Grads to Earn BS/DDS in Seven Years with Touro Dental Honors Pathway
Touro University announces the launch of the Touro Dental Honors Pathway, a groundbreaking educational initiative designed to provide a direct route to dental school for highly qualified high school graduates. The Touro Dental Honors Pathway is a collaboration between Touro’s undergraduate divisions--New York School of Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS) and the Lander Colleges--and Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM).
This innovative pathway program guarantees conditional admission to Touro College of Dental Medicine upon acceptance directly from high school, easing the educational journey for aspiring dental professionals.
The new Dental Honors Pathway offers two options. For students who choose to begin immediately after high school, the 3+4 BS/DDS program offers an opportunity for students to earn both a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree and a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in just seven years. They can take their prerequisite courses at any Touro undergraduate campus (Touro NYSCAS, Lander College for Men, Lander College for Women, Lander College of Arts & Sciences), enter Touro College of Dental Medicine after three years and earn their BS degree after their first year of dental school. The 3+4 BS/DDS program not only accelerates the timeline to a DDS degree but also provides significant financial benefits by saving a year of tuition.
Students who choose to take a post-high school gap year of study in Israel will enter Touro College of Dental Medicine after earning a BS degree at a Touro undergraduate campus and will still take only three years of prerequisite courses at the undergraduate level.
Opportunity for High Achievers to Begin Training for Chosen Career Early On
“This program reinforces Touro University’s pioneering leadership in healthcare education and our commitment to providing high-quality, accessible professional training that meets the evolving needs of students and the healthcare industry. It’s an exciting opportunity for high-achieving students to begin the pathway toward their chosen career early on and benefit from the cutting-edge technology and training at Touro College of Dental Medicine,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, president of Touro University. “By streamlining undergraduate and professional studies, Touro is paving the way for the next generation of dental professionals.”
Participants in the Touro Dental Honors Pathway Program will be nurtured and guided by dedicated faculty and staff from both Touro University and Touro College of Dental Medicine. The comprehensive support system includes academic mentoring, Dental Admissions Test (DAT) preparation assistance and access to clinical or research opportunities at TCDM during undergraduate studies.
"The Touro Dental Honors Pathway is an amazing opportunity for those gifted students who have a sense of career direction while still in high school. We have created an exceptionally strong, professional, cutting-edge academic program with a warm and nurturing environment,” said David J. Katz, D.D.S., F.A.G.D., F.A.C.D., Vice Dean, Professor and Director of Halachic Dentistry at Touro College of Dental Medicine.
Cutting Edge Academic Program with a Focus on Public Health
Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) incorporates the hallmarks of Touro -- a top quality education with a focus on public health and serving the local community. TCDM students benefit from the latest technology and its graduates are expertly trained, compassionate dentists, equipped to practice in the 21st century.
“The Touro 3+4 BS/DDS program saves the well-prepared student a year, both in tuition and in time, by focusing the curriculum on essential coursework, and allows a more rapid entry into the dental profession,” said Dr. Judah Weinberger, dean of Touro’s New York School of Career and Applied Studies. “The program enables students to network with future dentists from the first day in college. The combined 3-year BS and 4-year DDS program can be a great choice for highly motivated students who are certain about their career path and want to maximize their time and resources.”
For more information about the Touro Dental Honors Pathway Program, contact Dr. Brian Chiswell at brian.chiswell@touro.edu
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/from-high-school-to-dental-school.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2024/katzfinal.png
August 28, 2024
307304
As Campus Antisemitism Spreads, Enrollment Surges at Touro University
Increase of 35% in Overall Enrollment of New Students, 60% Rise in Transfer Students at Touro’s Lander Colleges
As American college campuses erupt in protests against the war in Gaza, university presidents step down and antisemitism rises, Touro University welcomes a record high number of students for fall 2024. Touro’s Lander Colleges, serving the Jewish community, saw an average increase of more than 35 percent in overall enrollment of new students and a nearly 60 percent rise in transfer students.
Students who transferred from Ivy Leagues, and state universities in Florida, Maryland and New Jersey, reported high levels of discomfort being Jewish on secular campuses since October 7. Many who seek careers in medicine, dentistry and the health sciences are turning to Touro University, where they have the opportunity to continue their professional studies in an environment that respects their values.
One such student is 20-year-old Adam Commer of Livingston, New Jersey. After spending his gap year at Ashreinu in Israel, Commer enrolled as a freshman at Rutgers University, where he planned to study biology in preparation for a career in dentistry. Early on in the year, Commer reports that things started to change. “Right after October 7, the Jewish students started organizing vigils for Israel and, at the same time, Palestinian students were protesting and bashing us. We tried to talk peacefully but they were having none of it. They felt their ‘truth’ was the only point of view. When I came back to school after Pesach, I was greeted by an encampment and couldn’t get to my classes safely, as they had blocked off the path. This was the last straw for me.”
Commer said he decided to transfer to Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences with the support of his family. Now a pre-dental student at Touro University, Commer is “thrilled to be able to be an observant Jew on campus while pursuing my dream career. Touro University had great appeal to me because of the opportunity to continue on to professional school that offers state-of-the-art training in an environment, that’s in sync with my values, at Touro College of Dental Medicine.”
Commer has hundreds of peers at the Lander Colleges who are on the path to medical and dental school and planning to continue in the Touro University system. “We are proud to welcome all of our new students to Touro and offer a safe haven to Jewish students at this volatile time,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, Touro University president. “No one has to give up on their academic or professional aspirations because of the unrest on campuses. As a national leader in health and medical education, Touro has expanded our offerings to include seven medical schools, two dental school campuses, seven physician assistant programs and top-rated programs in health sciences. Beyond health sciences, Touro’s accounting CPA program is one of the top in New York State and students can pursue any and all careers they choose at Touro—from pre-law and education to finance, technology, cybersecurity and more.”
Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike, dean at Touro’s Lander College for Women, shared that “The significant increase in enrollment at Lander College for Women is part of the upward trend we have been seeing over the last few years. It was accelerated because of the fallout of October 7th around the country. For prospective and current students, Lander College for Women offers academic excellence and Torah values, which is what our students seek in an educational experience.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/campus-antisemitism-enrollment-surges-fall-2024.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2024/AdamCommerinLabatLASFlatbush.jpg
September 24, 2024
307305
What Matters Most to Medical School Admissions Staff
Touro Academic Leaders Share Advice with Undergraduates Considering Careers in Medicine, Dentistry, Podiatry and Pharmacy
As one who reviews more than 10,000 applications for medical school every year, Dr. Edward Halperin, chancellor and CEO of Touro’s New York Medical College, is often asked by potential applicants what matters most to admissions staff: the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)? Grade point average? Personal statement? Letters of recommendation?
He told more than 150 Touro University undergrads, “Everything. We look at it all.” The quality of your course selection, your grades, your MCATs or your dental admissions test (DAT) or other standardized tests, your essay, and your references; they all matter.”
Dr. Halperin went on to say, “Are you more likely to get an interview at a Touro-associated medical, dental, podiatry, or pharmacy program if you are a Touro undergraduate? Yes. We have policies in place that give preferred interview status to Touro undergraduates.”
Dr. Halperin shared his insight and experience as part of an information session for students who came to learn about their career options, what it takes to gain admission into highly competitive programs, and how to become candidates for professional schools in growing fields. Dr. Halperin was one of several academic leaders, deans and representatives of Touro’s medical, dental, podiatry, and pharmacy schools at the event.
Dr. Halperin said that for candidates it comes down to finding the right fit. He noted that there are 172 MD-granting medical schools in the U.S. and Canada, 80 schools of dentistry, 141 schools of pharmacy in the US, and nine schools of podiatry in the US.
“But people will select an institution of higher education based on an impression obtained during a walk-through or the advice of well-meaning friends and relatives,” he said.
Instead, he recommended that applicants evaluate graduate health sciences schools based on each school’s mission, curriculum, clinical material, location, association with other schools and training facilities, and tuition.
Stellar Results
Touro’s results demonstrate that the students would do well to listen to the wisdom dispensed by Dr. Halperin and the other members of the faculty in attendance: More than 90% of undergrads at Touro’s Lander Colleges who apply to medical school and 98% who apply to dental school secure spots.
After hearing from Dr. Halperin and others, the students were invited to meet with the representatives of Touro’s medical programs in attendance—New York Medical College, Touro College of Dental Medicine, Touro College of Pharmacy, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Touro-affiliated New York College of Podiatric Medicine—to learn more and ask individual questions.
“You’ve got some heavy hitters here tonight,” said Halperin. “And I feel comfortable saying that you’re not going to find any other university where the deans of this many professional schools come such a considerable distance to meet with undergraduates.”
The sentiment was echoed by the students in attendance.
Supporting Students’ Career Aspirations
“This was an amazing opportunity to actually meet the deans,” said Tzion Masri, a junior from Brooklyn who is pre-dental. “I learned that Touro Dental School has a program where I actually get to experience four days on campus and get a hands-on feel for what dental school is going to be like. Just for that it was already worth coming to the event.”
And Tzion said it was worth it for him to come to Touro if only because its students get preferential consideration for interviews for its medical and dental programs.
“Dental school is super competitive to get into, and it was important to do everything in my power to succeed,” he said. “It shows that Touro is going out of their way to support their students and ensure they look out for us to help us succeed. It almost feels like we’re part of a large family, with everyone having our best interests in mind.”
Ezra Masri plans to pursue a career in pharmacy, and hadn’t realized the deans would be there when he decided to attend the information session. He was particularly excited to speak to Dr. Henry Cohen, dean of the Touro College of Pharmacy, who told him about some of the opportunities available within the field.
“I wanted to know about eventually building a business within the industry,” said Ezra, from Brooklyn, who is in his second year at Touro in Flatbush. “It was good to hear from an expert that there is upward mobility within the profession, that you can work in many different settings and that there are opportunities for growth and entrepreneurship.”
The deans stressed to the students that that upon becoming medical professionals, they’ll be treating people from many different backgrounds.
“One of the implicit messages communicated is that if you choose medicine or healthcare health, you have to be prepared to serve the totality of the New York City community, or whatever community you live in,” according to Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Executive Dean of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, who organized the program. “You have to be ready and prepared to accommodate and treat patients of diverse backgrounds, with diverse perspectives.”
The message resonated with Shaina Borisute, a senior from Crown Heights. She said that, although she is pursuing a career in nursing, there was plenty of applicable information to glean from the presentation. “I grew up learning a set of values, and my parents taught me to live a certain way,” said Shaina. “And tonight, they talked about how we can hold on to those values, while following professional standards at the same time.”
Chanee Slapochnik, a senior from Crown Heights, arrived at the information session still in the process of determining which field to pursue within the medical profession. Listening to the presentations and meeting with representatives from different schools didn’t make her decision for her. But it did make it a little easier.
“The truth is that ultimately I need to be the one to decide on my future career path,” Chanee said, “but having these experts in so many fields available to talk with will help me figure it out for myself.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/what-matters-most.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2024/Undergradsinterestedinmedicineandpharmacyforcms.jpg
December 18, 2024
307306
Touro Alum Rises at Leading Global Professional Services Firm
Naomi Schulman Works With Clients to Impact Healthcare Delivery in the U.S.
Touro LAS alum Naomi Schulman, Class of 2010, shares her career journey from in-demand actuary to high-level health management consultant, offers advice for other women seeking leadership roles, and explains how Touro was instrumental in her professional success.
What led you to choose a career in health management consulting?
I started my career as an actuary, specializing in actuarial health consulting. After speaking with others in the field, I realized it would be a dynamic environment where I could work with talented people, stay challenged and apply my unique skill set. The actuarial profession is a niche field and less saturated than some others, indicating that I would be more in demand and have a higher level of job security compared to other professions, which I appreciated.
How did you transition from actuary to your current role as senior vice president, health management consulting at AON?
I started as an actuarial analyst at Aon nearly 13 years ago. Most actuaries work for insurance companies or consulting firms, and I knew I was interested in the consulting route given its fast-paced nature and the opportunity to have direct client interaction.
I gravitated towards a healthcare specialization, as both my parents work in healthcare, so it is familiar to me and has become a true passion. Soon, it was clear there is a lot of opportunity for actuaries specializing in healthcare, as the industry carries a lot of risk and uncertainty. Back when I started, the Affordable Care Act was just introduced and there were many questions around the financial impacts of the policy. Now, the discussion is focused on weight loss med-ications and the associated cost exposure for health plans that cover it. When there are new developments in healthcare, clients come to us asking, “How can I plan for this?” “How will it affect our business and how should I budget for it?” and these sorts of questions excite me.
Gradually, I took on more roles and responsibilities and now am a Senior Vice President in Health Solutions at Aon. I specialize in employer benefits consulting and get the opportunity to work with some of the largest and most complex clients including major hospital systems, investment banks and retail companies. Every major company has an employee healthcare program, and my work involves designing, budgeting and managing these programs across industries to ensure alignment with the client’s talent and financial strategy.
Can you share a day in the life of a management consultant?
I put together thought leadership for our practice and assess new products and services. I also spend time on new business development, identifying and acting on opportunities to work with new clients or engage further with existing clients. My day is filled with a lot of meetings, both internal and with external clients, to discuss project status and deliverables. I’m also constantly taking trainings and conducting research, as it’s crucial to stay on top of developments in the industry to understand trends and expertly advise clients.
What professional achievements are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of passing all the actuarial exams and earning fellowship (FSA) designation—even though it was at the beginning of my career, it was a great achievement. Now, I am proud of balancing two critical roles—senior leader at my firm and wife and mother to five children at home.
What do you love about your job?
This job is constantly challenging and keeps me on a path where I am constantly learning, building new skills and leveraging my creativity, as no two clients are the same. As consultants, we pride ourselves on knowing everything in the field to be able to expertly guide clients in a comprehensive and data-driven manner. It is truly a dynamic field that keeps me engaged every day.
How does your work impact healthcare delivery and access in the U.S.?
I work with employers on benefits they provide to their employees, which covers healthcare for more than 50 percent of the U.S. population. We help employers keep costs down while supporting their employees’ health and wellbeing. Our clients are generally early adopters of new technologies so we’re on the forefront of healthcare innovations. For example, one of the most transformative changes in healthcare delivery has been the emergence of virtual healthcare, including telemedicine and digital apps where you can chat with clinicians, mental health professionals and physical therapists. We were vetting this space on behalf of our clients years ago, but virtual healthcare only became mainstream after the COVID-19 pandemic. This is game-changing in broadening access, especially in mental healthcare where traditionally there have been provider shortages.
What advice do you have for other women who seek leadership roles in corporate America?
We are at an historic time in terms of opportunities for women, where many corporations seek female leadership and are willing to make accommodations to be flexible. My advice is, don’t be afraid of obstacles in starting a family and don’t feel that you need to cut corners with your professional goals because you have children. If you are qualified and you want to grow into a leadership role, you can and you will succeed. I have noticed a major difference in flexibility in the workforce even over the last decade, where now is a great time for talented women to rise through the ranks. When I had my first child, I took the minimum maternity leave of six weeks; upon my return to the office, there were limited accommodations for working mothers. When I had my most recent baby about a year ago, I was much more comfortable taking a longer leave due to more support for mothers and families. And with the rise of remote working, many companies offer flexibility and the option to work from home.
How did your Touro education play a role in your current success?
I majored in actuarial science at Touro at a time when very few local colleges offered it (most only offered a math major for those interested in becoming an actuary). I had an amazing professor who prepared us incredibly well for the actuarial exams—I credit him with enabling me to pass them on the first attempt.
Touro was visionary in allowing me to be, likely, the very first online student. During college, I moved overseas and did not want to switch schools, as I really liked Touro’s actuarial science program. I pitched the idea of using Skype to take class in 2009, well before it was widely used, and the dean agreed. Touro went out on a limb for me, even arranging a special computer setup. I remember telling the dean that this was going to open opportunities for others who needed flexibility, and that prediction has certainly come true. I finished my coursework abroad, thanks to Touro’s support, which made a tremendous difference in reaching my academic and professional goals.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/touro-alum-risesnaomi-shulman.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2025/NaomiSchulman.jpg
April 22, 2025
307308
Rachelle Halpert Named Valedictorian of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences
Aspiring Pediatric Medical Professional to Serve as Student Commencement Speaker
From an early love of science to an impressive academic career, Rachelle Halpert’s path to becoming the valedictorian of the women’s division of the Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush has been marked by passion, perseverance and a commitment to helping others.
A biology honors major, Rachelle grew up in Monsey, New York, attended Bais Yaakov D’Rav Hirsch in Spring Valley for high school, and studied at Bais Yaakov Machon Raaya in Israel. But she traces her interest in the sciences back to elementary school.
“In fifth grade, my teacher assigned each student a different organ system to present,” she said. “I was so excited to put it together. I still remember gluing kidney beans onto my poster board to represent the kidneys.”
That excitement for science grew even stronger over time, fueled by summer jobs as a lifeguard, CPR instructor, and volunteer counselor at Camp Simcha, an experience she called “very meaningful” in shaping her decision to pursue a career in the medical field.
Choosing Touro was a natural step, and not just because her grandmother, a judge, taught business and consumer law many years ago in Touro.
“As a frum Bais Yaakov girl, attending Touro wasn’t even a decision for me; it was a given,” Rachelle said. “I was drawn to the community of like-minded people, commitment to Torah values, and ambitious graduates.”
Her experience at Touro Flatbush exceeded her expectations, giving her both strong friendships and a solid foundation for her future career.
“Rachelle is graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She is truly a star, both academically and in the midos that she displays.“ said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, executive Dean of Touro Flatbush.
While at LAS, Rachelle seized every opportunity to deepen her knowledge. She collaborated on a research project with her chemistry professor, Dr. Eli Ron, sharpening her laboratory techniques, and gaining hands-on experience. She also took advantage of information sessions for pre-health majors, where she connected with deans of Touro’s graduate programs.
Outside the classroom, Rachelle has been working as a medical assistant in a pediatric office for nearly two years.
“My job entails taking patient vitals and performing diagnostic tests,” she said. “Working in this office made me realize I love pediatrics, and I hope to specialize in it in the future.”
Rachelle’s free time is filled with a variety of interests—spending time with family and friends, playing piano and chess, baking, sewing, swimming, and volunteering. And she is especially passionate about supporting children facing health challenges and has volunteered extensively for Chai Lifeline’s pediatric oncology unit. This summer, she will be volunteering for Birthright in Israel.
Looking ahead, Rachelle plans to work in Urgent Care next year. While she loves pediatrics, she is excited by the opportunity to learn about and experience a variety of specialties so she can explore her options before deciding on her career path within the medical field.
But wherever she goes or whatever she does, Rachelle believes she has the foundation for success.
“I feel that Touro has prepared me well for graduate school and beyond.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/rachelle-halpert-valedictorian-of-touros-lander-college-of-arts--sciences-.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2025/rachelhalpert.png
May 15, 2025
307307
Michael Weingarten Named Valedictorian of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush
Brooklyn Native Combines Learning, Scientific Research and a Legacy of Service on His Path to Medical School
Michael Weingarten, a Biology Honors major with a 4.0 GPA, has been named the 2025 valedictorian of the men’s division of Touro University’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush. Weingarten is driven by a lifelong desire to care for others—an ambition inspired by the chesed-centered home he grew up in, and by the example of his father, a physician assistant.
“I vividly remember the countless Shabbosim and Yomim Tovim when people in need would knock on our door, seeking his help,” Michael said. “Watching the impact he had, providing care and comfort, left a lasting impression on me and inspired me to follow in his footsteps."
That sense of purpose led him to Touro in Flatbush where he was drawn by the school’s dual emphasis on academic rigor and religious commitment.
“I chose Touro because of its unique commitment to academic excellence and its supportive structure, which allowed me to continue my Torah learning in yeshiva while simultaneously pursuing my bachelor's degree in science,” he said.
At LAS, Michael maximized his opportunities. He earned a Lander Honors Scholarship, became a tutor for chemistry and physics, and published an article in the Touro College Science Journal, later serving as an associate editor. He also conducted research at HASC Diagnostic and Treatment Center for individuals with special needs, exploring how diabetes medications affect individuals with mental illness.
Michael’s not the first in his family to graduate from Touro; His father is also a Touro graduate, and both of his older brothers attended Touro Flatbush for their pre-med studies before matriculating into Einstein Medical School and Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Raised in Brooklyn, Michael attended Yeshiva Toras Emes Kaminetz in Flatbush for high school and continued his Torah studies at Yeshiva Gedola of Elkins Park and Yeshiva Torah Vodaath. He credits his yeshiva background with helping him develop the discipline and perspective necessary to balance rigorous academics with meaningful personal growth.
Michael plans to apply to medical school this summer and matriculate in 2026, and in five years he hopes to be well into his medical training, continuing the journey he began at home and nurtured at Touro: a life of service, scholarship, and compassion.
“Michael is an outstanding student and a shining Ben Torah who, as a caring and compassionate physician, will create a kiddush Hashem in all his interaction,” said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Vice President and Executive Dean of Touro’s Lander College in Flatbush.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/michael-weingarten-valedictorian-at-touro-las.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2025/mw.png
May 15, 2025
307309
Touro Celebrates Achievements of 600 Graduates at 51st Annual Commencement
University Bestows Honorary Degree on Keynote Speaker Congressman Ritchie Torres
Touro University graduated nearly 600 students last Sunday at the 51st Annual Commencement Exercises, held at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center. It was a day to celebrate the individual and collective achievements of the graduates and offer hope for the future.
In his message to the graduates, Touro University President Dr. Alan Kadish shared his insight on the need to tap into two traits that have long characterized Jewish tradition—adaptability and resilience. “You have faced COVID, a rise in antisemitism, and the meteoric growth of new technology. Yet, you’ve all made it here today and that shows you are able to adapt to changes around you and that you are resilient and able to stand strong and rise to myriad challenges,” said Dr. Kadish.
“While the world may seem bleak today, pessimism is not a Jewish trait,” he continued , quoting one of his own teachers. “I have full confidence that the future will be bright and I look forward to seeing what each of you will accomplish. Wherever life takes you, you’ll always be part of the Touro family. We are all here to support each other and now, more than ever, we are counting on you—the 2025 graduates—to create a hopeful future.”
Numerous awards were presented for community service as well as high academic achievement in math, accounting, biology, finance, psychology, computer science, political science and more.
Speaking Up for Truth and Morality and Against Antisemitism
Congressman Ritchie Torres received an honorary degree and served as keynote speaker. He shared his views on the critical need to stand up for truth, justice, and morality in today’s world. He also urged graduates to infuse their lives with gratitude.
“One of the greatest honors of my life is to receive a degree from an institution I truly respect. Not every university lives up to the ‘higher’ in higher ed. Touro is an institution that does take that seriously. As a lifelong learner who considers words the most powerful forces on earth, I know they can create—but we’ve also learned from our post-October 7 world that words can also destroy. Words can be used to spread lies and incite hatred that hardens into violence and terror. Since October 7, we’ve seen the creation of an alternate reality. Evil has become good, wrong has become right and antisemitic terror has become resistance,” said Torres.
“In this age of lies and libel, we have no greater obligation than to speak the truth with moral clarity and courage. That is the burden that has been conferred upon you by your Touro education. We cannot remain silent, we must stand up and be revolutionary truth-tellers in a world of lies against the Jewish people and the Jewish state. In that effort, you will have in me a lifelong friend and ally.”
Torres also shared his thoughts on the virtues of gratitude. “Being grateful is not merely an emotion, it is a way of life, a way of viewing the world that has the power to transform how we experience life,” said Torres.
“It is human nature to obsess about what is missing in our lives, rather than appreciate what is present. For me, gratitude is the ability to see clearly and value deeply the blessings in our lives. Be grateful for the love and support of family, friends and educators, and for the power of Jewish tradition. Its staying power is a gift and a miracle, its structure is a deep foundation for living a flourishing life. Graduates, make the most of the gift and harness it in service of building a better world. I am rooting for you and beyond that, I now stand with you as a new, but proud member of the Touro family,” continued Torres.
Future is Bright for Touro Grads
The Touro graduates are headed for careers in top firms in technology, finance, accounting, cybersecurity, and more. Many will enter graduate and professional schools in law, medicine, dentistry, and psychology, where they have acceptance rates of over 95%. Others will pursue health science careers as physical and occupational therapists, physician assistants, and pharmacists through Touro’s Integrated Honors Pathways.
One of the valedictorians, Rachelle Halpert of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, shared her thoughts on the unique experience at Touro as well as gave encouragement to fellow students as they enter the next stage.
“I believe that Touro has fostered the best possible environment for me and my fellow graduates to thrive. Touro has developed in us an enthusiasm and ‘fire’ for learning, while at the same time providing a calm, serene atmosphere, giving us the time and space to succeed. For those willing to put in the effort, Touro gave us the opportunity to truly fulfill our potential. My fellow classmates, we’ve faced deadlines, long nights, and hard choices, and we’ve made it here. We’re not just prepared for the future—we’re part of shaping it. The world is waiting!” said Halpert.
Other valedictorians included Yedidya Diena of Touro’s Lander College for Men, who is planning for a future as a wealth manager; Rachel Hanan of Touro’s Lander College for Women The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School, who is headed to Touro’s New York Medical College this fall; and Michael Weingarten of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, who is gearing up for a career as a physician.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/touro-celebrates-achievements-at-51st-annual-commencement.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-men/content-assets/images/featured-stories/2025/landergrad2025.jpg
May 27, 2025
307310
Touro Finance Alumni Network’s Third Annual Event Connects Generations of Finance Professionals
Night of Networking and Mentorship Brings Close to 100 Alumni and Students Together to Build Relationships and Careers
Touro University hosted its Third Annual Touro Finance Alumni Network (TFAN) event, drawing almost 100 students, alumni, and faculty for an evening of networking, mentorship, and career insight at Touro’s flagship campus in Times Square. What began just three years ago as a grassroots initiative sparked by Touro parent Audrey Weitz and alumnus Jason Appleson has since grown into a vibrant annual gathering—one that is fast becoming a cornerstone of Touro’s professional community in finance and accounting.
“This network was built to bring our alumni together to grow with, learn from, and support one another,” said Jodi Smolen, director of career services for Lander College for Men (LCM). Smolen directs TFAN and organized the event with the help of Rabbi Eliezer Feder, LCM’s director of special projects. “Whether you're looking for a new job, exploring new partnerships, or thinking about how to give back to Touro, this is the place to start.”
Real Talk on Faith, Work, and Balance
The night featured a panel moderated by Appleson, and included Audrey Weitz, managing director at Old City Investment Partners in midtown Manhattan, and Judah Sokel, Senior Vice President of Finance at Vialto Partners. Both shared candid perspectives on their career paths, current industry trends, and the delicate balance between professional success and religious values.
Sokel spoke openly about how his Orthodox observance has shaped his professional life.
“From day one, I made it clear to my CEO and CFO what it means to be religious—what Shabbos entails, when I’ll be offline. Communication and setting expectations are key,” he said.
Weitz emphasized the importance of knowing your priorities and maintaining integrity in the workplace.
“I am a wife first, a mother second, and a businesswoman third,” she told the crowd. “Being consistent with who you are earns you respect in any setting.”
Alumni Share Career Journeys and Advice
For students and young alumni navigating the early stages of their careers, the event was also a chance to hear directly from those a few steps ahead.
Jonathan Kurayev, a recent graduate of Touro’s Lander College for Men and soon-to-be consultant at PwC, credited both his Touro education and Touro career services with helping him land his position.
“I interned at four different firms, one of them being Old City with Audrey. Each role built on the last,” Kurayev said. “Jodi [Smollen] helped me get my first internship, which set everything in motion. I’m here to help others the way others helped me.”
Elleshevah Rybstein, a 2021 graduate now working as a senior audit associate at Forvis Mazars, also spoke to the value of the night.
“It was great meeting others in the audit world and even better to help students navigate the job market,” Elleshevah said. “I met a few who I’d be happy to recommend at my firm.”
For Sharon Botnick, a 2015 graduate and senior leader at Fitch Ratings, the event offered an opportunity to pay it forward.
“When I was at Touro, the finance major was small, especially among women. I love seeing how much that’s changed,” she said. “If I can give people advice and encourage women to go into finance, I’m all for it.”
Botnick, who now runs a global analytics team in Fitch’s risk department, spoke about how her Touro math and finance education laid the groundwork for her success.
“The analytical thinking and finance vocabulary I learned were key,” she said. “Now I help train entry-level analysts and watch them grow. It’s incredibly rewarding.”
Building Careers—and a Stronger Alumni Network
The evening ended with speed networking sessions organized by industry sector: asset management, capital markets, alternative investments, real estate and financial services, and others. Alumni swapped business cards and contact info, shared career advice, and perhaps even scouted potential hires.
And as always, the TFAN event highlighted not just individual success stories, but the power of a shared mission.
“This isn’t just about jobs,” Smolen told the attendees. “It’s about reconnecting to Touro, helping each other, and building a legacy of support and opportunity for the next generation.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/touro-finance-alumni-networks-third-annual-event.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2025/landeralumninetwork.png
May 30, 2025
307311
Governor Appoints Touro Graduate Mendy Mirocznik to NYS Court of Claims
Longtime Community Leader and Lawyer Reflects on His Journey from Yeshiva to the Bench
Menachem “Mendy” Mirocznik, a 1995 graduate of Touro University and a longtime civic leader in the Jewish community, was one of 17 people appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul as a judge to the New York State Court of Claims. Mirocznik’s nomination, which was confirmed by the New York State Senate on June 10, marks a significant milestone in a career defined by service, scholarship, and deep community ties.
“I feel honored and humbled that I’ve been nominated for such a high position,” said Mirocznik, who was formally sworn in on June 11. The news of his appointment came in dramatic fashion, delivered by a knock at his door on the second day of Shavuot.
“Former Assemblyman Michael Cusick came to my house to tell me the governor’s office had been calling to let me know I’d been nominated,” Mirocznik said. “It was a pleasant holiday surprise.”
Mirocznik was born in Brooklyn and raised between there and the Rockaways, where his father served as a prominent rabbi. After studying at Yeshiva Darchei Torah and Yeshiva Chaim Berlin, he earned his undergraduate degree from Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, graduating summa cum laude and winning the Political Science Award. He later earned his law degree from CUNY Law School and spent more than 25 years in the court system, including 16 years working alongside Staten Island Supreme Court Justice Orlando Marrazzo Jr. on complex commercial and medical malpractice cases.
A Mission to Build Bridges
Now, as one of the only Orthodox Jewish judges in the New York State Court of Claims—a specialized court that hears cases against the State of New York—Mirocznik feels a responsibility not just to adjudicate fairly, but to use his position to develop relationships with different ethnic groups and community stakeholders, as well.
“The Jewish community needs to have relationships with everybody,” Mirocznik said. “If you don’t build those coalitions, you're deemed irrelevant. But having relationships can make a big difference and affect policy.”
A Record of Service
Mirocznik’s leadership résumé is extensive. He serves as president of the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island (COJO), executive vice-president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, and holds board roles with the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, and several interfaith and civic organizations. He is also a police chaplain, FDNY clergy council member, and serves on Mayor Eric Adams’ Jewish Advisory Council.
Mirocznik credits his time at Touro as foundational in shaping both his career and worldview. “Touro gave me that opportunity. They created a college experience that was doable for yeshiva students,” he said. “I was learning and studying for semicha at the same time I was at Touro. That flexibility made it possible for me to succeed.”
He is particularly grateful for the mentorship of Dean Robert Goldschmidt. “Dean Goldschmidt—God should keep him around forever—he’s a saint,” Mirocznik said. “He helped guide us, he understood where we were coming from. Touro transitioned us from the yeshiva into the real world.”
It was during his political science courses at Touro, under the guidance of professors like Norman Bertram and Alan Mond, that Mirocznik’s interest in public policy and law truly flourished. “As a little boy, I wanted to be a lawyer. I thought it was cool. Touro helped me see the pathway.”
Already assigned to the civil term in Kings County Supreme Court, Judge Mirocznik is embracing his new role with humility and resolve. “I’ve been a law clerk for 25 years, and it’s still a process to absorb what happened so quickly,” he said. “But I’m ready to serve.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/mendy-mirocznik-appointed-judge-nys-court.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2025/mendy.png
June 23, 2025
307312
Top 11 Scorers on CPA Exam Nationwide Include Touro Alum
Esther Drillick is Recognized by the AICPA and NASBA with Prestigious Elijah Watt Sells Award
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) announced this year’s winners of the Elijah Watt Sells Award and Touro alum Esther Drillick '23 was among the 11 outstanding performers who received this honor. The Elijah Watts Sells Award is granted to CPA candidates who obtain a cumulative average score above 95.50 across four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination.
The extraordinary individuals who met the criteria for the award were selected from 74,000 test takers who sat for the CPA Exam in 2024.
“The Elijah Watt Sells Award represents one of the highest honors in the CPA profession, and this year’s recipients are not only technically exceptional, they are also poised to shape the future of the profession. As the accounting landscape evolves, their leadership, integrity, and drive for excellence will play a vital role in upholding public trust and guiding businesses through complexity and change,” said Susan Coffey, CPA, CGMA, CEO of public accounting at the AICPA.
A Love of Logic Propels an Accounting Career
Esther Drillick earned her Bachelor of Science in accounting at Touro University’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences and is currently employed as a fiscal officer with YVY ECC in Brooklyn.
Drillick, a graduate of Bais Yaakov D’Rav Meir and Mesores Rochel Seminary in Israel, chose accounting because she loves logic and math. She chose Touro because she wanted a school with “a great academic reputation and a Jewish environment.”
Drillick’s father is a hedge fund manager, one grandfather is a CPA and the other held a PhD in mathematics and so coming from a numbers-driven family, it was no surprise that she took to the field right away. She appreciated the rigorous accounting program at Touro that ultimately prepared her for the CPA exam. She was amazed as she began studying for the CPA—a process that took her a full year—that there was very little new material on the test. “It was mostly a review of what I had learned at Touro,” says Drillick.
She took three months to study for each part of the exam and when she saw how well she did on the first part, she thought about trying for the award but at first, didn’t think she wanted the pressure. After taking the second part of the exam and scoring quite well, she thought “maybe I should go for it! I decided then to challenge myself to achieve this goal. At that point, I just had this feeling I could do it,” shares Drillick. “I had a lot of support as my whole family was rooting for me.”
One of the professors who used simulated CPA exams in his homework and classwork and truly prepared students for the high-stakes test was an Elijah Watts Sells Award winner himself. Professor Shulem Rosenbaum, now a partner at Roth & Co, was one of Touro’s previous winners of this prestigious national award over a decade ago.
According to Drillick, “Professor Rosenbaum and all of my accounting professors really cared about the success of their students. Not just in terms of learning the material, but also in terms of networking and finding internships and jobs and building our careers. They always offered students the opportunity to reach out and ask for help in any way they needed.”
Today, as a fiscal officer at YVY ECC, a nonprofit organization that receives many government grants, she ensures compliance with various regulations and performs monthly and annual reporting to government agencies. She’s learning to anticipate issues before they arise and to think like an auditor. As for the future, Drillick says she enjoys the private sector and will likely stay there.
"Esther’s stellar achievement on the Uniform CPA Examination is a reflection of her intellectual acumen and drive to excel, as well as the quality and rigor of the CPA program offered at Touro,” said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Executive Dean of Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush.
About the Elijah Watts Sells Award
The Elijah Watt Sells Award program was established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 1923 to recognize outstanding performance on the CPA Exam, as well as to honor Sells, one of the country’s first CPAs. A founding member of the firm now known as Deloitte, Sells was active in the establishment of the AICPA.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/top-11-scorers-cpa-exam-include-touro-las-alum.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2025/AICPAPlaqueEstherDrillick.jpg
June 26, 2025
307313
Six Steps to Securing the Internship You Seek
Discover Proven Strategies to Leverage Online Tools and Networking and Stand Out in a Competitive Internship Market
So, you want an internship. The perfect internship. That plum position that propels you into a full-time job at a company you love. Sadly, as you must already know, there are no guarantees in life. Internships have become harder to land, and the competition is fierce.
The good news is that there are ways to place yourself ahead of the competition. Avi Fertig, Director of Career Services at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, along with his Career Services colleagues at other Lander Colleges, compiled the following list of six steps to help you connect to the internship you need for the career you want:
1. Visit Career Services: Your campus Career Services office has one job: to help you succeed. Touro University’s skilled professionals are here to guide students into fulfilling careers. By maintaining a reservoir of resources and close employer relationships, they have access to listings you might never find on your own. They will also help you prepare for interviews and draft cover letters tailored to the specific positions you’re applying to. Put yourself on the internship track by scheduling an appointment today.
2. Polish Your Résumé : A well-written resume makes it easier for employers to see your potential. Conversely, no internship application is complete without a strong résumé . If your resume is thin, poorly formatted, riddled with mistakes, or non-existent, you risk being overlooked immediately. When applying to internships online, tailor your résumé and cover letter to the specific role so your application doesn’t get lost among thousands of generic submissions. Career Services can help you create and polish a résumé that presents you at your best.
3. Get to Know Handshake: Handshake is a powerful online resource that connects you to thousands of employers waiting to meet and hire you. Even better, every Touro University student has access to a free Handshake account. Creating a profile and uploading your résumé plugs you into a nationwide network of employers actively seeking college talent. It’s an invaluable tool—but only if you use it.
4. Create and Maintain a LinkedIn Profile: Think of LinkedIn as your résumé on steroids. It allows you to showcase not only your experience but also your projects, skills, and interests. Beyond creating your profile, you can actively engage by following companies you’re interested in and connecting with alumni in your field. Employers often look you up on LinkedIn before or after an interview, so make sure your profile represents you as well as your résumé does.
5. Do Your Research: Before sending out your résumé, learn everything you can about the companies you target. Know what they do, what they value, and whether their work aligns with your interests. Employers expect applicants to come prepared for interviews with thoughtful questions and informed answers, but many fail this crucial test. In addition, understand what the specific internship requires. Customize your application to highlight how your skills fit the role. Research makes you stand out from other candidates.
6. Network Broadly + Submit Selectively: Blindly applying to dozens of companies rarely works—especially with corporate hiring managers increasingly relying on algorithms and AI to sort through the thousands of résumé they receive for every open position. Career Services can help you identify the right employers, refine your applications, and potentially connect you to people within your target company. Personal referrals or introductions typically improve your odds of being noticed.
Following these tips proved effective for Penina Gold, a ‘25 Computer Science graduate from Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, who was awarded a fulfilling internship at PepsiCo, where she now works full-time as a Platforms and Solutions Associate Analyst.
“Career Services helped me create a professional résumé, build a strong LinkedIn profile and practice my interview skills,” says Gold. “That gave me the tools to interview successfully at PepsiCo, leading to an internship and my current full-time role.”
Dani Levin, a ‘27 Accounting major at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, credits Career Services for assistance in securing his Summer 2026 internship at PwC, where he’ll be working in Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services. "The preparation and advice I received from Career Services were instrumental in helping me secure my internship,” says Dani. "Their support gave me the tools and confidence I needed to succeed. I truly wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today without their help."
Chances to secure a summer internship at a major corporation usually end by mid-November. Some companies’ application cycles already close by October. Do not delay. Apply now! Using your campus Career Services resources prepares you for landing an internship that sets you up for long-term success.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/six-steps-to-securing-the-internship-you-seek.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2025/careerfaircms.png
October 14, 2025
307808
Creating a Perfect Smile
Dental Student Uriel Waldman Credits LAS With His Success
As a child, Uriel Waldman saw the joy and fulfillment his father felt from practicing dentistry. It made Waldman strongly consider the profession when thinking about his own future. “Choosing the field of dentistry was an easy choice. Observing my father from a young age had a strong impact on me, and I’ve always had an in interest in helping people,” he says.
Waldman was already familiar with Touro because his brother, David, graduated from Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) and went on to become a successful lawyer. Following in his footsteps, Uriel also attended LAS and credits the school for setting him up for success, as well. “I had amazing teachers at Touro, including Dr. Eli Ron and Dr. Evan Mintzer, who both prepared me thoroughly for my DAT (dental admission test) and for my didactic courses in dental school,” he enthuses.
Now a student at Touro College of Dental Medicine, Uriel says it was important to him to stay within the Touro family for graduate school. “The teachers are there for you. They give you the attention you need on an individual level. Just as important, the teachers prepare you for whatever career path you may choose. My experiences at Touro have only been positive and I feel they really know me and understand me, so staying was obvious,” he explains.
Between the rigorous academics and the personalized attention from the professors and faculty, Waldman is confident that Touro Dental will ensure he is well-prepared to enter the dentistry profession. “I may want to specialize. Observing Professor Reich utilize different techniques for periodontics was amazing to see,” he says. But for Uriel the main appeal of the field is creating that perfect smile and making people feel comfortable. “It makes me feel great to know that what I do day in and day out makes a difference in people’s health and overall quality of life.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/uriel-waldman.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2025/211018_Touro_Dental_0472v2UrielWaldman2.jpg
October 08, 2024
312877
New Partner at EisnerAmper Israel Got Her Start at Touro
Ayelet Duskis Uses Her Education to Build an International Career in Accounting and Leadership
When Ayelet Duskis reflects on her journey to becoming a partner at the Israel office of EisnerAmper, she sees a path guided by intention.
“I basically always knew that I was going to make aliyah,” she said. “So I chose to go into accounting because that was what was going to get me to Israel long term.”
Today, Duskis, a 2009 graduate of Touro University’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, is a partner in EisnerAmper’s financial services practice in Israel, advising global investors, multinational funds, and individuals navigating complex cross-border tax realities. Her work spans Israel, the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America and centers on the highly specialized intersection of international taxation and private equity.
“It’s a unique skill set,” she said. “I have both the international piece and the private equity language, and that lets me help people in ways that are really meaningful.”
Building expertise—and roots in Israel
After earning her CPA, Duskis moved to Israel and joined PwC in Tel Aviv, where she gained unusually broad exposure to corporate, partnership, and individual taxation.
“When you’re at the U.S. tax desk in Israel, you see everything,” she said. “I kind of had this very varied taste of accounting, even within the Big Four accounting firms.”
That range of experience prepared her for a far more entrepreneurial challenge: helping establish and grow EisnerAmper’s presence in Israel. Over nearly a decade, she played a central role in expanding the office from a small startup operation into a thriving professional team of more than 30 employees, contributing to client development, technical leadership, and the firm’s growing reputation in the region.
“Now I look around and see how much it’s grown, and it’s incredible,” she said.
Her elevation to partner reflects not only technical mastery, but years of building client relationships, expanding business, and shaping strategy—milestones that mark one of the profession’s highest levels of trust and responsibility.
Education as a foundation
Duskis enrolled at Touro after spending her gap year in Israel, completing her degree on an accelerated timeline while preparing for the CPA exam. She credits the rigor of Touro’s accounting program and the close mentorship of faculty with preparing her for advancement in a demanding global field.
“The accounting program at Touro is next level,” she said. “It’s a very high level of education, and the professors were able to mentor us and really pay attention to each student.”
That preparation became the intellectual and professional base on which she built her international career and eventual partnership.
Achievement and gratitude
For Duskis, professional success carries meaning beyond title or position. Her work enables her to guide clients through complex financial realities while supporting her family and contributing to the broader economic and professional landscape connecting Israel and the United States.
“I’m supporting my family, Baruch Hashem,” she said. “The fact that I’ve been able to do that is just a miracle, and I’m very grateful.”
She traces that success back to the opportunities she received at Touro, including the Dean’s Scholarships that helped make her education possible.
“We’re here because I got those Dean’s Scholarships, and because I came out of Touro with an amazing education,” she said. “It made all the difference.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/new-partner-at-eisneramper-israelayelet-duskis.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2026/AyeletDuskis.png
February 22, 2026
313821
"I Had a Strong Sense of Justice"
Now a Lawyer at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Touro Helped Gittel Fekete Turn a Childhood Dream into a Career
From the very beginning, Gittel Fekete knew what she wanted to do for a living.
“Even as a child, I always wanted to be a lawyer,” she said. “I was drawn to the idea of using words, logic, and structure to solve real problems, but even more than that, I had a strong sense of justice.”
Her reasons evolved as she got older, and she believed that the law gave her a framework to take control over uncertainty and to advocate for herself and others, turning intellectual curiosity into practical action.
Growing up in Borough Park, her choice of profession was unusual, as few women in her community went to college. But, determined to follow her passion, she enrolled at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) in 2010 and found a supportive academic home, including political science professor Tom Rozinski, who would become instrumental to her journey.
“Professor Rozinski’s mentoring guided me throughout my entire college and law school experience, even beyond the academic part,” Gittel said.
Other members of the faculty were instrumental in landing her an internship with then-Councilman David Greenfield, a Touro alum, an experience that sparked Gittel’s interest in legislative work and helped build her professional network.
“Everything was through Touro,” she said. “The connections I made through Touro set the stage for everything that came next.”
Setbacks and a second chance
The path forward wasn’t easy. In 2013 Gittel was put on bed rest due to pregnancy-related complications, leaving her no choice but to withdraw from Touro mid-semester. She assumed her academic journey was over at just a few credits shy of graduation.
It wasn’t. In 2018, she reached out to Prof. Rozinski and to Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Touro’s vice president for planning and assessment and the executive dean of LAS, and told them she wanted to come back. She was able to start from where she had left off five years earlier. Despite the challenges of raising two children, she resumed her coursework, taking two classes per semester and steadily working toward her degree.
“Touro made it so easy to come back,” she said. “I didn’t have to reapply or jump through hoops. I just reached out to them and registered for classes.”
Gittel graduated Touro in 2019 and enrolled in Brooklyn Law School where she thrived, making law review and graduating magna cum laude and ninth in her class. She was ultimately hired by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, the largest law firm in the world by revenue, and began working there this past fall in their restructuring group, a legal field that touches on a little of everything: bankruptcy, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, secured transactions, corporate governance, and tax and regulatory issues.
“I’ve always thrived in fast-moving, high-pressure environments that demand both structure and creativity. Restructuring gives you both,” she said. “I’m grateful to be part of a team that’s known for being sharp, solutions-oriented, and fearless—and I’m excited to contribute to matters that have real impact, not just legally, but commercially and strategically, too.”
Setting an example
Gittel is now raising her daughters with the mindset that education is non-negotiable.
“I worked hard to get here, and I hope that, in doing so, I am setting an example for my daughters,” Gittel said. “I want them to know that, with hard work, they can take on the world.”
With a niece and a nephew currently enrolled at Touro and a daughter looking into taking computer science courses through the university, Gittel’s story has become part of a growing family legacy.
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all those who were part of my village along the way,” she said. “A fundamental part of my village was Touro University. They exemplify everything an institution of higher learning should be.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/strong-sense-of-justicegittel-fekete.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2026/gittel-fekete.jpg
March 09, 2026
314185
A Closer Look at Medical Careers
Touro Undergrad Students Connect with Deans of Touro’s Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, and Podiatry Schools at Annual Info Session
Undergraduate students packed into Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) campus in Flatbush for its annual information session for students interested in graduate and professional education in medicine, dentistry, podiatry, and pharmacy. This event is designed to demystify the journey to these schools and introduce undergraduates to the full range of health-professional opportunities available across Touro University. The program also provided essential advice on successfully navigating the admissions process. Representatives from both the Schools of Medicine and the Graduate Biomedical Sciences of New York Medical College (NYMC), Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM), Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM), Touro College of Pharmacy (TCOP), and the New York College of Podiatric Medicine met with students in small-group sessions and one-on-one conversations throughout the evening.
Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Executive Dean of Touro’s LAS, welcomed the students to the session, which is one of several events geared to help guide students with through the application process. He was followed by Rabbi Moshe Krupka, executive vice president of Touro University, who highlighted the mentoring and support Touro undergraduates enjoy when applying to its medical, dental, podiatry, and pharmacy schools; or in attending graduate school to bolster their credentials for an application to professional school.
“If you’re qualified and have attended one of Touro’s undergraduate colleges, then it is our view, at Touro, that we will try and smooth-the-pathway for your application to Touro’s graduate and professional programs,” Rabbi Krupka said. “This evening, we will provide you with the information you need to maximize your chance of success. All of the deans and directors who have come to this event tonight have plenty of top students to choose from. They came here tonight specifically to help you.”
Edward C. Halperin, MD MA, NYMC’s Chancellor and CEO, explained how to compare and contrast the health professions schools of the U.S. and Canada, how to use available databases that would aid students, and how to prepare for and conduct oneself during the application and interview process.
Dr. Halperin also discussed considerations for observant Jewish students entering the health professions, and gave practical advice about professionalism, scheduling, and interview etiquette. As for choosing the right school, he advised students to think about their personal preferences when researching potential programs. Will patients be treated in a public or private hospital or clinic? What is the geographic location? Is the health professions school part of a comprehensive university?
As he finished his remarks, Dr. Halperin reminded the attendees that the goal of the evening was to empower them by providing honest information and real opportunities.
“It’s your evening,” he said. “Talk to as many leaders as possible and ask what you need to ask.”
Students gain clarity, and confidence
Undergraduates were grateful to have so many representatives from various schools to answer their questions about the application process, and to offer concrete guidance.
“I don’t think most college students have an opportunity like this to talk to so many medical school deans and faculty members,” said first-semester student Orly Verschleiser, who hopes to pursue a career in medicine or nursing. She said that it was helpful to learn about some of the potential challenges for religious Jews in medical schools. “Honestly, I didn't think about it so much until Dr. Halperin brought it up, but as a frum Jew, it’s obviously important to consider that when deciding where you want to apply.”
After Dr. Halperin addressed the students, Orly approached orthopedic surgeon Dr. Marc Silverman of NYMC and asked him questions “about the MCATs, medical school, how it works, the hours, residencies” and other information she realized she’d need along her journey.
Second-year biology major William Teigman said that he particularly appreciated the advice Dr. Halperin gave him during a one-on-one conversation they had following the formal presentation. He told William that while he obviously needs to get good grades and do everything it takes to get into medical school, it’s also important to stay passionate about the parts of your life outside of medicine.
“He said to keep doing things that you enjoy and don’t lose the parts of yourself that are unique,” William recounted. “If there’s an extracurricular activity that you’re really interested in that doesn’t have anything to do with the medical field, and it is important to you and you’re passionate about it, do it. Because all those experiences shape who you are and will ultimately make you a better doctor.”
Alumni perspective: From Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences to New York Medical College
Besides the undergraduates and the representatives from several of Touro’s medical programs, the event was also attended by Eva Kowalsky, a Touro LAS graduate and current NYMC medical student. She said that as an Orthodox Jewish student, NYMC’s environment has been a good fit.
“I feel very comfortable. I never have to worry that we’re going to have a test on the day before Shabbos or a Jewish holiday,” she said. “There’s a sense of camaraderie. It’s like a family.”
The annual information sessions Eva had attended during her undergraduate years played a significant role in helping her chart her path.
Even so, “Medical school is a big commitment, and you have to be 100,000% invested,” she said. “But if you’re ready to give it your all, then it’s a really awesome opportunity.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/closer-look-at-medical-2025.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2025/medeventdental_edited.jpg
December 16, 2025
314293
Record Attendance at Annual Touro Career Fair
Undergraduate Students Connect with Top Employers in Multiple Fields
With resumes in hand, Touro University students turned out in force for the Undergraduate Spring Career Fair last week. By every measure, the event exceeded expectations and created new opportunities for students preparing to enter the workforce.
This year's Career Fair brought students together with representatives from organizations spanning computer science, accounting, finance, healthcare, social and human services, and careers across the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Students also had the opportunity to have professional headshots taken on-site, free of charge, for use on their LinkedIn profiles.
“This was our best attended Career Fair, in person or virtual, on record,” said Chaim Shapiro, Executive Director of Undergraduate Career Services. “There was a real buzz in the room.”
Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike, Dean of Lander College for Women and Vice President of Online Education, noted the broader context that makes events like this especially meaningful. “During this somewhat uncertain time for entry-level positions because of a challenging and changing marketplace, the value of the career fair is ever more important for our students,” she said.
The event was the culmination of extensive outreach and preparation by Touro's Career Services team. Throughout the year, team members from each of Touro's undergraduate programs—LAS (men's and women's divisions), LCM, LCW, and NYSCAS—work with students on resume reviews, interview skills coaching, and connecting them with internship and entry-level opportunities across industries, while also building the employer partnerships that bring companies back to campus each year.
Opportunities for Employers and Students Alike
Many employers attending the Spring 2026 Career Fair were actively recruiting for internships and entry-level roles and welcomed the opportunity to meet students from across Touro’s various programs.
Amanda Canell from the Cross River talent acquisition team, said “It's always great to talk and meet with students from all different backgrounds and experiences, and get to learn about them and also share with the students more about us and what we can offer them.”
Lauren Bashary from Premium Health Center said, “We loved the fair! It was so organized and lovely. We found great candidates and took their emails and phone numbers to add them to our talent network. If you leave a fair with one potential hire, it was worth it, but we have three! We are so excited to attend again next year.”
Reilly Eager, a recruiter from CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) said, “It was a really well-done event, and the students were impressive across the board. Every single one was well prepared, clearly had researched CLA before approaching our table, and came in knowing what they were looking for.”
For many students, the Career Fair was their most substantive contact yet with the professional world.
“Touro’s Career Fair made me feel like I am a professional preparing to enter the workforce,” said Steven Bondy, an accounting major at LAS. “The conversations I had with the recruiters helped me to feel more prepared for the next steps in my career.”
Esther Aufrichtig, also an accounting major at LAS, pointed to the one-on-one access as particularly valuable. “The opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with recruiters allowed me to learn more about various internship opportunities and gain a better understanding of what employers look for in potential employees,” she said. “I left the fair feeling more confident about the next steps in my career.”
For Shlomo Ross, a computer science major at LAS, the breadth of conversations exceeded expectations. “Coming into the Career Fair, I thought I would only end up speaking to four employers in my major’s industry,” he said. “I ended up speaking to around ten.”
Ross also came away with a grounded perspective on a topic that dominates conversation in his field. “It’s nice to get industry info about how AI and LLMs are impacting the industry,” he said. “The tech is not replacing professionals at the pace the media says it is.”
The annual Career Fair is a featured component of Touro University’s Career Services efforts to help students connect with employers and begin building professional networks. For many undergraduates, the event represents a first direct step into the professional world—and, in many cases, the start of new opportunities that begin before graduation and continue for many years to come.
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/record-attendance-at-annual-touro-career-fair-2026.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/touro-college/communications/images/featured/2026/careerfair.png
March 19, 2026
314596
Learning What It Takes to Enter the Health Field
Students at Lander College of Arts and Sciences Met with School of Health Science Deans to Learn About Career Options
Students at Touro University’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Flatbush gathered this week for an information session highlighting the many career pathways available to them through Touro’s School of Health Sciences (SHS). Faculty and admissions representatives from several SHS programs came to campus to introduce students to career options in physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, pharmacy, nursing, and behavioral sciences.
The program, coordinated and led by the SHS associate dean, Dr. Rivka Molinsky, provided an overview of the programs, their admissions requirements, and the professional opportunities they offer. Representatives from each program remained afterward to answer questions and meet with students individually.
“This evening is really about sharing information,” Dr. Molinsky said. “We want to make sure you understand what the different professions are, what the admissions requirements look like, and what the career paths can be so that you can make informed decisions about your future.”
Exploring career paths in health sciences
During her presentation, Dr. Molinsky explained the roles professionals play across a variety of health-related fields and how students can prepare for graduate study in those areas.
“We really do have a wide range of programs, and each one provides an opportunity to do meaningful work and make a difference in people’s lives,” she said.
Dr. Molinsky emphasized the importance of preparing early for graduate applications by maintaining strong grades, completing prerequisite courses, and gaining exposure to the field students hope to enter.
“You want to know what the field is and why you want to do it,” she said, adding that preparation and professionalism are especially important during the admissions interview process.
A closer look at pharmacy
During the program, Heidi Fuchs, assistant dean for admissions and enrollment management at the Touro College of Pharmacy (TCOP), briefly addressed the students to discuss opportunities in pharmacy (TCOP is not part of SHS but representatives from the program were invited to participate in the session).
“Pharmacy is a four-year doctoral degree, and pharmacists play a vital role in healthcare as the medication experts,” said Fuchs.
In addition to discussing the process of applying to TCOP and earning a degree, Fuchs described the range of career paths available to pharmacy graduates, from hospital and community pharmacy to positions in research and the pharmaceutical industry.
Pathway programs already guiding students
For some students, the event reinforced plans they have already begun pursuing through Touro’s pathway and linkage programs, in which students applying for undergraduate degrees choose an accelerated track toward a degree at an SHS program. Applicants who meet certain criteria can do so by streamlining prerequisites for both undergraduate and graduate programs, or even by taking classes for SHS programs as they are completing their respective undergraduate degrees.
Sarah Enayatian, a first-year student who will begin Touro’s accelerated nursing program in the fall, said the session demonstrated how clearly structured the pathway can be.
“The pathway program is really incredible,” Enayatian said. “They tell you exactly what classes you need to take and guide you through every step of the process.”
Helping undecided students find direction
For other students still considering their options, the session provided valuable insight into possible careers.
Freeda Ziegler, a biology major who is weighing several health-related professions—for the moment, she seems to have narrowed it down to pharmacy and physician assistant—attended the event to learn more about the programs available after graduation.
“It was informative,” Ziegler said. “Having someone explain the prerequisites and what the programs involve was really helpful.”
And did she have any more clarity after the information session?
“The truth is I always seem to lean toward whichever program I talk to last, so right now it’s pharmacy, but that could change if I talk to someone from the PA program tomorrow.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/learning-what-it-takes-to-enter-the-health-field.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2025/ResizedLAS.jpg
March 30, 2026
314617
A Career Built on Code, Confidence, and Support
A Touro Computer Science Graduate Shares How Small Classes and Practical Projects Prepared Her for the Tech Industry
As a software engineer at Bank of America, Chaya K. spends her days building automation tools that support accurate and compliant regulatory reporting. Working primarily in Python and Java, she also writes SQL scripts to identify and resolve data issues, helping ensure the firm’s submissions meet strict regulatory requirements tied to the Consolidated Audit Trail, known as CAT.
That work reflects the kind of hands-on, applied education she received at Lander College for Arts and Sciences, where she earned her undergraduate degree .
“I was looking for a school where I could get a strong education and also be supported as an individual,” said Chaya, who graduated in 2024. “The smaller class sizes really stood out to me, because I knew I’d have more opportunities to ask questions and get help when I needed it.”
She also appreciated the program’s practical focus. Rather than learning theory in isolation, students were building projects and gaining experience they could apply directly in the workforce. That hands-on approach and the support made it the right choice for her.
Computer science was not Chaya’s original plan. She initially thought she would follow hesister into the medical field, hut her interests, and her family’s influence, pulled her in a different direction. She had always enjoyed math, and her older brother, who enrolled in Touro’s computer science program two years before her, encouraged her to take a closer look.
“When I started researching computer science, I realized how much it involves math and logical thinking,” she said. “I love math and critical thinking, so it felt like a good fit.”
Once enrolled, she found the coursework challenging but rewarding. Two classes in particular stood out to her: database systems and an advanced C# course focused on object-oriented programming. Coming into computer science, she said, meant learning multiple programming languages at once, including C#, Java, Python, and SQL. While demanding, the process helped build confidence and fluency over time.
An important step in her professional development came through Touro’s Lander College for Women’s Hack It Together 2024 hackathon. One of the event’s co-sponsors, 400 Capital Management, gave participants the opportunity to learn about the firm and apply for internships. Chaya was selected for an internship there, where she gained hands-on exposure to real-world systems and data. That experience became a major stepping stone and helped prepare her for her current role at Bank of America.
Her transition to Bank of America was also supported by a Touro connection. A classmate she contacted through LinkedIn was interviewing at the firm and offered to refer her. After that classmate was hired, the referral followed.
Today, alongside her full-time role, Chaya is completing a master’s degree in data analytics at Touro’s Graduate School of Technology. She also serves as a teaching assistant for Professor Yitzchak Novick, grading multiple computer science courses in her spare time. Faculty support has continued to be a constant, particularly from Dr. Shmuel Fink, who has advised her both as an undergraduate and during her graduate studies and has helped reinforce core concepts throughout her education.
Unlike many other programmers, Chaya isn’t sweating the AI revolution. Bank of America has enabled the use of AI within its development environment, allowing engineers to streamline coding and work more efficiently. “It basically assists you,” Chaya said. “It saves time, and you’re able to do a lot more work when you have AI helping you code.”
For students interested in software engineering, she emphasizes that technical ability alone is not enough. “Communication skills are a big thing,” she said. “When you’re working on a team, you really have to be able to communicate well.” Time management and productivity are also essential, particularly when balancing multiple responsibilities. “Sometimes you’re given a lot of tasks at once, and you have to learn how to manage that,” she said. Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail, she added, are critical. “You’re constantly running into problems with your code, and you have to be able to work through them.”
Lander College of Arts & Sciences
https://las.touro.edu/stories/a-career-built-on-code-confidence-and-supportchaya.php
https://las.touro.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/lander-college-for-arts-and-sciences/images/stories/2025/story-thumbnail-mar-26.jpg
March 26, 2026