New York—Mental health workers who are part of the international Nefesh network will be the beneficiaries of a new fellowship created for them by the Touro College Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW). The announcement was made by the School’s Founding Dean, Dr. Steven Huberman, at the 18th Annual International Nefesh Conference held recently on Long Island.
The “Annual Nefesh Fellowships” were established in memory of Touro’s founding president, Dr. Bernard Lander and his wife, Sarah Lander, to support those committed to serve the most vulnerable and at-risk population in the Orthodox Jewish Community.
In announcing the fellowship, Dean Huberman said “Tikkun Olam was always a cornerstone of Dr. Lander’s vision… In reaching out with financial support we are helping to further this goal…”
In attendance were approximately 300 mental health professionals from the Orthodox community worldwide. Nefesh attracts the largest gathering of Orthodox mental health professionals in the world, including the top experts in the field, who debate and address the challenges facing the observant Jewish community and discuss cutting-edge solutions.
“We applaud Touro’s generosity in investing in future Jewish social workers with this scholarship,” said Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW, President, Nefesh International. “Through its trainings, conferences, and networking events, Nefesh International encourages and supports the professional development of Jewish social work students into future leaders in the field.”
At the conference dinner event, David Mandel, CEO of Ohel and chair of the Touro College Graduate School of Social Work Professional Advisory Committee, was presented with the Esther Solomon Award by HaRav Dovid Cohen, rabbinic authority for both Ohel and Nefesh.
