New York–Former President George W. Bush was the special guest and keynote speaker at Yeshiva University’s 90th Annual Chanukah Convocation and Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on December 14. More than 750 people came to show their support for the University and to witness YU President Richard M. Joel confer an honorary doctorate upon the 43rd U.S. president. The convocation and dinner, the University’s main annual fundraising event, raised more than $4.2 million.
In his keynote address, President Bush said, “Yeshiva University is a prestigious university and I am proud to accept this degree.” He added, “Students leave Yeshiva with, not only a fantastic education, but as better citizens of the world.”
President Joel also awarded honorary degrees to Michael Gamson of Houston, TX; Judith Weiss of Cleveland, OH; and Anita G. Zucker of Charleston, SC.
Gamson, is a member of YU’s Board of Trustees and Board of Overseers. With his wife Barbara, Gamson has endowed the state-of-the-art Dr. Bernard W. Gamson Computational Physics Lab and the Dr. Bernard W. Gamson Physics Teaching Lab at Yeshiva College, both in honor of his late father. Weiss and her husband, Morry, have supported a large number of Yeshiva University programs and initiatives, including the establishment of the Stone Sapirstein Center for Jewish Education. Zucker, chair and chief executive officer of The InterTech Group, Inc., a global holding company with investments in aerospace, advanced chemicals, financial services, consumer products, sports teams and arenas, location-based entertainment, real estate and alternative energy.
President Joel also paid tribute to eight Points of Light–students, faculty and alumni who exemplify the mission of Yeshiva University–inviting each one to light a symbolic candle on a large menorah.
The Points of Light were Stern College’s Kayla Applebaum; Dr. Susan Bendor, professor at Wurzweiler School of Social Work; Toby Golick, director of clinical education at Cardozo and the Founding Director of Cardozo’s Bet Tzedek Legal Services Clinic; Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Chelsea McGuire; Willie Roth; Shoshana Schechter, assistant professor of bible at Stern College, and Amanda Esraelian, for the Mechina Pathways Program; Ike Sultan, creator of Halachipedia; and Sam Weinstein, Amalia Weinberg and Devora Schloss, in recognition of the Counterpoint Israel program.
