Couple donates to Yeshiva program

Yeshiva University (YU) celebrated Ann and Hyman Arbesfeld of Kew Gardens in their endowment of the school’s Sunday learning programs in a ceremony honoring the memory of Hyman Arbesfeld’s parents.
The Kollel Yom Rishon program for men was named the Abraham Arbesfeld’s Kollel Yom Rishon program, and the study group for women was named the Millie Arbesfeld Midreshet Yom Rishon program at the dedication, which took place on Sunday, March 18.
“It’s a perfect fit,” said Arbesfeld. “My father always had a sefer [Torah study book] in his hand and he always spoke about the importance of learning.”
The Arbesfelds have had a long relationship with Yeshiva University as Arbesfeld attended high school, college and three years in the semikah [rabbinical ordination] program at YU. He is also a longtime member of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Board (RIETS) board. Arbesfeld’s wife served as president of the Yeshiva University Women’s Organization for a decade. The couple’s children are all alumni of the institution’s undergraduate and graduate schools.
The three-year-old Kollel Yom Rishon and Midreshet Yom Rishon programs are likened to having “started on a street corner” by Phillip Moskowitz, program coordinator for the Department of Community Initiatives at Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future.
According to Moskowitz, Rabbi Meir Goldwicht, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva University’s Mazer School of Talmudic Studies, made a passing suggestion to his RIETS colleagues to create learning programs to re-engage former students.
“Word spread quickly and we started to attract all those thirsty for YU’s branch of Torah,” said Moskowitz.
The programs now host hundreds of intrigued people every Sunday morning including alumni, students and visitors from all over the metropolitan area. They boast an e-mail base of 4,000 names, feature weekly presentations by RIETS Roshei HAYeshiva, members of YU’s faculty and other Torah luminaries.
“Everything from the quality of the speakers, to the people who attended, to the parking arrangements and the food they served was unbelievable,” said Arbesfeld, who hopes the gift will allow an expansion and exposure of the two programs.
The Sunday programs meet on YU’s Wilf Campus located in Washington Heights and schedules are available at www.kollelyomrishon.org and www.midreshetyomrishon.org