Jun 18, 2009 By: yunews
Jun 18, 2009 -- 91黑料鈥檚 three undergraduate schools鈥擸eshiva College, Stern College for Women and Sy Syms School of Business鈥攈eld their first combined Undergraduate Dinner on June 17 at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in New York City. In the words of Marjorie Diener Blenden, chairman emeritus of Stern鈥檚 Board, the dinner was 鈥渁 celebration of four individuals who opened their hearts to YU鈥濃擝enjamin S. Chouake, MD, Suzanne and Miles Berger and Philip Friedman, all distinguished members of the schools鈥 Boards.
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Friedman founded Computer Generated Solutions, which has grown into a global company with 3,000 employees. A Board member of Sy Syms School of Business since 2003, the Livingston, NJ resident takes an active role in its growth and future. Friedman endowed the Alexander Friedman Scholarship Fund in memory of his father, the recipients of which are mentored by him personally.
鈥淥ur students are afforded the opportunity to learn from your experience and wisdom,鈥 President Joel said. 鈥淵ou cherish our students, and in turn, they cherish you.鈥
鈥淎t the end of the day we are all here because we are committed to this great institution,鈥 Friedman noted. 鈥淵U has an important role in making sure the Jewish future is secure and that our Jewish children are educated and take leadership positions.鈥
He underscored the continued importance of a YU education even in times of financial difficulty. 鈥淭he University plays a major role in partnership with parents in ensuring students become responsible human beings. No Jewish child should be denied an education because parents can鈥檛 pay tuition.鈥
That sentiment was echoed by Chouake, who called YU 鈥渢he single most important Jewish school of higher education.鈥
鈥淓ven in this battered economy, by coming out you have inspired others,鈥 he told the crowd gathered for the occasion. 鈥淵our leadership gives strength to all those involved.鈥
Chouake founded Emergi-Med, an eight-physician primary care practice in 1984, and holds certifications in internal medicine and emergency medicine. As president of NORPAC, the nations鈥 largest pro-Israel political action committee, he has become a nationally recognized advocate of U.S.-Israel relations. He sits on the National Council of AIPAC, among other boards, and received its Community Leader Award in 2008. 鈥淵ou have mobilized countless individuals to be ingrained with the same noble duty and ever-important responsibility you carry,鈥 President Richard M. Joel said at the dinner.
A resident of Englewood, NJ he has been a Board member of Yeshiva College since 2003. Chouake, who also serves on the Board of Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and his wife, Dr. Esther Hershenbaum, established the Esther and Ben Chouake Scholarship at Yeshiva College.
Suzanne Berger joined Stern College鈥檚 Board four years ago, a move precipitated by her commitment to Judaism, understanding of its underlying importance and value in a secular-dominated education system and her daughter鈥檚 attendance at Stern. She spoke at the dinner of leaving each of her board meetings, where students present their latest research or share their experience of studying at Stern, with 鈥渁 sense of exhilaration and pride.鈥
She and her husband, Miles, chairman of the Berger Organization, have been married for 30 years. 鈥淥ur students are inspired by you, by your dedication to their every pursuit,鈥 said President Joel. 鈥淵ou open your home to raise awareness for Stern College, to bring together men and women of conscience in the hopes of advancing our sacred mission.鈥
