Modern Orthodox rabbinical school YCT welcomes new board chair Dr. Steven Laufer and board members Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus, Dr. Jeremy Novich and Ariela Rosenberg-Brafman.
Laufer is currently a researcher at the Meyers-JDC-Brookdale Institute in Jerusalem. He previously worked as a principal economist at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C., and served as board president of the Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital. Laufer holds a B.A. in physics from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in economics from New York University.
YCT President and Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Dov Linzer shared his enthusiasm about Laufer’s new role: “With his professionalism, expertise and wisdom, Steven has already had a profound impact on the board and its work. We are confident that with him at the head of our lay leadership team, YCT’s current growth and expansion will pick up even greater force and momentum in the months and years to come.”
Laufer said: “I’ve always been inspired by the vibrant Torah leadership of YCT and by the transformational work our alumni are doing. I’m thrilled to take on this position and play a larger role in helping support and strengthen the yeshiva through this exciting period in its history.
“Under the visionary leadership of Rabbi Linzer and Executive Director Ruthie Strosberg Simon, we have increased enrollment in our CORE semicha program; introduced JEWEL, our certificate program for educators and leaders; launched our new kollel; and welcomed a third cohort to Rikmah, our training program for Israeli rabbis. As board chair, I hope to harness this new energy to attract board members from diverse backgrounds and find opportunities to partner with a broader range of supporters who share in our excitement of the yeshiva’s new direction.”
Marcus, a certified sex therapist, is the clinical director of Maze Women’s Sexual Health, the largest independent sexual health center in the country. She is one of the founders and a past president of JOFA, the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance and, for many years served as the chair of the International Association of Women’s Tefillah.
Novich, Psy.D., is a psychologist at the Center for Motivation and Change. In addition to his clinical work relating to sexuality, identity and LGBTQ issues, Novich specializes in helping people with problematic substance use. Rosenberg-Brafman is the executive director of the Reinvention Foundation and has over a decade of experience in nonprofit management with previous experience in leadership positions at Read Ahead and at the Taproot Foundation.
With its expanding range of programs here and in Israel; growing student body and communal impact; enthusiastic support of funders; and the lay leadership provided by its new board chair and new and existing board members, YCT is poised to fully realize its vision as the flagship institution of vibrant Torah leadership for the Orthodox and broader Jewish community.
To learn more about our work, visit www.yctorah.org. For more information contact Nava Grant at [email protected].
