15 Master’s and Doctoral Students Matriculate at YU’s Premier Jewish Studies Graduate School

A new group of Jewish Studies experts graduated from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies on May 19, steeped in knowledge that only the flagship Jewish university can provide. Revel is crucial to training the next generation of Jewish Studies professors, scholars and rabbis, particularly now with antisemitism rising in the world and rational discourse based in facts sorely needed.

Dean Daniel Rynhold kicked off the event, talking about the importance of Jewish studies majors at this critical juncture in world history.

“What is special about this year’s class is the diversity,” Dean Rynhold said. “Our increased engagement with non-Jewish students is particularly significant. Right now, we are aware of protests at our once cherished academic institutions. But the vast majority of Americans are not engaging in antisemitic behavior and these are the Americans we ought to be talking to. That’s why branching out beyond our core constituency matters. Reaching out to communities that believe in peace and truth not war and destruction matters.”

Held at the Yeshiva University Museum in Manhattan, the event saw 14 master’s graduates and one doctoral student receive their degrees before an audience of family members, alumni and Revel faculty. Hillel Broder, one of the master’s recipients, spoke at the event, emphasizing his pride in graduating from Revel.

“I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for my time here with all the professors and in all the classes that I took,” said Broder. “The gift of a Revel education is one that keeps giving, it fueled my fire, deepened my understanding of our complex tradition and texts, and offered me an intellectual and academic framework for continued lifelong learning, which I have continued to teach and share with our community.”

The keynote speaker at the event was Moshe Sokolow, ’74 BRGS Ph.D. and current professor at YU’s Azrieli Graduate School Jewish Education and Administration, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of his graduation with a Revel doctorate.

“I thank the Bernard Revel Graduate School for what it gave me 50 years ago,” said Prof. Sokolow. “Revel is continuing to give opportunities to this current class of students, and perhaps more and different opportunities than the ones that I was able to experience. For that, we all have something for which to be grateful.”