(Courtesy of YU) In an era marked by a lack of thoughtful discourse in the public square, Yeshiva University’s Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought aims to cultivate Modern Orthodox intellectual leaders who are well versed in both Torah and the Western canon, and ready to assume the mantle of Jewish thought leadership in America. Thanks to a significant grant from The Paul E. Singer Foundation, the Straus Center’s Impact Office has greatly expanded professional mentorship opportunities for Straus students and alumni in the fields of politics, policy and journalism to further equip top YU students and graduates with the tools for impactful engagement in the public sphere.
The Straus Impact Office, supported by this grant, aims to foster the growth of the Straus students, known as Straus Scholars, and other YU students outside the classroom, and maximize their impact as emerging Jewish leaders. Led by Senior Scholar and Impact Office Director Dr. Tevi Troy and Straus Impact Officer Sarah Wapner, the Impact Office plays a critical role in facilitating internships and job placements for these students and alumni at leading think-tanks, publications, political offices, graduate schools and other leading institutions.
At YU, Straus Scholars head several clubs and societies, hosting widely attended events and programming. Clubs like the Alexander Hamilton Society, the J.P Dunner Political Science Society, the Yeshiva University Political Action Club (YUPAC), the Pre-Law Society and the YU Philosophical Society all have Straus Scholars at the helm. This year, several Straus Scholars oversaw the YUPAC trip to Washington, DC, leading over 150 Yeshiva University students in meetings with lawmakers and Israeli diplomats in the nation’s capital.
Straus Scholars also take leading roles on the staff of the campus newspapers, with several students serving in editorial positions at the YU “Commentator” and “Observer.” Through these various activities, Straus Scholars model impactful leadership and drive serious intellectual engagement on both campuses.
The Impact Office also regularly hosts prominent journalists, academics and thought-leaders who share their insights and professional experiences with the Scholars, such as “Tablet Magazine” Staff Writer Armin Rosen and “The Wall Street Journal” Features Editor Adam Kirsch. Several scholars have gone on to be personally mentored by these important individuals and others, relationships facilitated by the Impact Office.
In addition to the ongoing Impact programming on campus, Straus scholars have completed summer internships at the Hudson Institute, OpenDor Media, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, the American Enterprise Institute, the Hertog Foundation, the Fund for American Studies, and the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, all with the help of Impact Office mentorship. Their writing has been published in leading publications, including “The Wall Street Journal,” “National Review,” “Tablet Magazine,” “The Boston Globe,” “Mosaic Magazine” and “The Jewish Review of Books,” and they serve in key student leadership roles across both of Yeshiva University’s campuses.
Upon graduation, Straus Scholars have pursued a variety of impactful professional opportunities, including jobs at Goldman Sachs, the Tikvah Fund, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. With the support of this grant, Straus Scholars and other student leaders at Yeshiva University continue to receive invaluable mentorship and support post-graduation as they navigate these fields as emerging Jewish leaders.
This grant extends beyond the Straus Center, as it will also benefit undergraduate scholars at Yeshiva University’s newly established Senator Joseph Lieberman–Mitzner Center for Public Service and Advocacy. Named in honor of late Senator Joseph Lieberman, a distinguished statesman and former vice-presidential candidate renowned for his commitment to bipartisanship and public service, the Lieberman-Mitzner Center embodies YU’s dedication to preparing Jewish students for roles of political leadership and advocacy in the public sphere.
The Paul E. Singer Foundation’s support will help significantly in advancing the mission of Yeshiva University and its programs to launch future leaders. The grant not only enables our students to become influential leaders in politics, policy, journalism and academia but also reinforces Yeshiva University’s commitment to nurturing future Jewish leaders grounded in the great dual inheritance of the Jewish and American traditions.
