(Courtesy of Bar Ilan) American Friends of Bar-Ilan University (AFBIU) recently hosted its first-ever in-person Circle meeting for its Northeast members and friends. The intimate gathering featured Professor Moshe Lewenstein, deputy president of Bar-Ilan, who described how the university and its staff held an emergency meeting on the evening of October 7 and prioritized outreach of calls to each of its 20,000 students. Lewenstein came to New York to raise awareness for “We Have Your Back,” a new Bar-Ilan student lifeline fund for over 5,000 students—now Chayalim—serving on Israel’s front lines in Gaza.
“From here on out, the American Friends of Bar-Ilan University is now the American Family of Bar-Ilan University,” said AFBIU CEO Robert Aronson. “To our family in this time of great need, we say these words from the depths of our heart: We Have Your Back.”
The event took place at the Fifth Avenue showroom of Norwegian Wool, with 10% of proceeds from sales of the luxurious line benefiting AFBIU for the campaign. Attendees also received 10% off their purchases at this unique AFBIU “fun-raiser.” AFBIU thanks Michael Berkowitz, CEO and founder of Norwegian Wool LLC, for his generosity and for hosting the event in the company’s beautiful space.
“As Israel faces some of the most difficult times in its history, it is incumbent on all of us to roll up our sleeves and help our brothers and sisters however much we can, in whatever ways we can,” said Berkowitz. “For me and Norwegian Wool, hosting and supporting AFBIU was a true honor, as Bar-Ilan is an educational institution that stands up for Jewish and Zionist values all the time, and is stepping up now to provide additional much-needed assistance during this time of crisis.”
Attendees included alumni of Bar-Ilan’s popular one-year program and regular degree programs currently living in the Northeast, including Rachel Raz, who traveled from her Boston home to participate.
“My father joined Bar-Ilan University after the Yom Kippur War. He recently shared with me how the university opened a special semester for the returning soldiers which helped him to move up in his career later on and support the building of the Israeli health system. It was an honor to follow in his footsteps and join Bar-Ilan as a student about three decades ago,” said Raz. “I came to the recent meeting to see what BIU is doing at this challenging time in Israel and Jewish history. I was so impressed by the level of care and support the university is giving to its students, faculty, and the wider community.”
Jen Zwiebel is the AFBIU associate director, Northeast Region.
