Dear Members of the YU Community:

I am pleased to announce that after many months of discussions, interviews and evaluations, the Presidential Selection Committee of the YU Board of Trustees is advancing the candidacy of Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman. Over the coming weeks, Dr. Berman will meet with trustees, faculty and other key university stakeholders and acquaint himself with the University, after which it is anticipated his nomination will be forwarded to the full Board of Trustees.

Rabbi Dr. Berman is a dynamic and inspirational leader, scholar and educator. He is currently the CEO of Hechal Shlomo – The Center for Jewish Heritage in Jerusalem. His responsibilities include overseeing the divisions of the institution – Operations and Budgeting, Public and Leadership Programming, the Wolfson Museum of Jewish Art, and Development, where he is heading a major capital campaign. He is also an executive council member of Herzog College in Israel, where he works on academic standards, admission policies, recruitment, new initiatives and online programming, and fundraising.

Prior to moving to Israel, he was Rabbi of The Jewish Center in New York City, a major institution of Modern Orthodoxy. In addition to his congregational duties, he led the Center’s transformation by upgrading the financial systems and budgeting processes, successfully completed a capital campaign, and enhanced programs and outreach.

Rabbi Dr. Berman is a four-time alumnus of YU – Yeshiva University High School for Boys, Yeshiva College, Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary – and earned a PhD in Jewish Thought from Hebrew University.

The Selection Committee looks forward to seeing this process move toward its successful conclusion.

Moshael J. Straus

Chairman, YU Board of Trustees