(Courtesy of Touro University) Touro’s Lander Colleges graduated more than 600 students last Sunday at the 49th Annual Commencement Exercises, held at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center. Families, friends and faculty came out to honor the graduates and celebrate their individual and collective achievements.
“The Torah-rich settings at Touro have provided a superb education that you will use to continue expanding and deepening your knowledge as you move on to graduate work, or enter the workforce,” said Touro University President Dr. Alan Kadish. “Your experiences here have taught you the values of balance and dedication, which until now, have existed within a bubble. In your parents’ homes, you saw tradition and learned Torah values. At your yeshivot and day schools, the values that you learned at home were continually reinforced. And in Touro’s unique programs, these values were shared and expanded. But now, upon graduation, they will be put to the test… I have been in education long enough to know that no one is ever thrilled to hear the word ‘test.’ But I am also here to tell you fear not—because you’ve done great thus far. And you will continue to succeed.”
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.
Zvi Ryzman, chairman of the Touro University Board of Directors, received an honorary degree and served as keynote speaker. A true Renaissance Jew, Ryzman is a respected Talmudic scholar and international teacher of Torah as well as founder and CEO of American International Industries, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of beauty products in the world. He served in the Israel Defense Forces, received rabbinic ordination from Rav Yechezkel Sarna of the famed Chevron Yeshiva and earned a degree in political science and economics at Tel Aviv University. For Touro students, he is a role model for integrating a life of Torah study and stellar career achievements.
“No matter the path one takes, our calling is to make a Kiddush Hashem,” said Ryzman. “We can show the world that Hashem is found not only in the Beis HaMedrash and Beis HaKnesses, but also in the lobbies of businesses, halls of government and corridors of hospitals. Our timeless Torah provides timely context and framework for every new dilemma posed by modern science and technology. I encourage you to delve deep enough, learn diligently enough and I am sure you will find it.”
Future Is Bright for Touro Grads
The Touro graduates are headed for careers at top firms in computer science and technology, finance, accounting, cybersecurity, marketing, business 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 pathway.
In looking to the future ahead, one of the valedictorians, Dovi Teigman of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, shared his personal wisdom. “It is only the Torah values we hold dear, such as honesty, humility and compassion, in combination with the knowledge we have acquired, that truly define us as individuals and shape the impact we will make on the world.”
Chana Rosenbluth, valedictorian at Touro’s Lander College for Women, who is headed to Columbia Law School this fall, urged her fellow graduates to step up and become leaders, “Wherever you are headed next, take charge of it. If you, like me, are going on to further education, form relationships with your teachers and take an active role in your class culture. And if you are entering the workforce, seek out connections with role models and colleagues, embrace the opportunities that come your way, and continue to develop yourself. … Use the skills that you have gained in college to take active roles in your communities as well. Continue to volunteer, give, educate and lead.”
Other valedictorians included Daniel Sokel of Touro’s Lander College for Men, who is planning a career as a clinical psychologist; and Aliza Peikes of Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, a software engineer at Goldman Sachs.
For more information visit www.touro.edu
