Latest news with #YeshivaUniversity
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Simple, sexy move can help couples feel less stressed—3 ways to do it right
Move over, melatonin. New research suggests that couples who engage in one surprisingly simple nighttime ritual sleep more soundly, stress less and feel emotionally closer to their partner. And no, it's not sex. In the study, researchers at Auburn University cozied up to the bedtime routines of 143 heterosexual couples who'd been together for an average of 13 years. The lovebirds were surveyed on their sleeping habits and physical closeness once the lights went out. Couples who drift off while spooning, intertwined or snuggling face-to-face reported significantly lower stress levels and a stronger emotional bond than those keeping their distance. The best part? All that pre-snooze snuggling didn't lead to any sleep disturbances later in the night. 'Our study lends support to the idea that cuddling at sleep onset may be beneficial for physiological and relational functioning, but future research in this area is critically needed,' the authors concluded. Several questions remain, including whether physical closeness improves relationship quality or if more secure couples naturally sleep closer together. Turns out, cuddling doesn't just spark romance, it packs some serious health perks too. Cuddling triggers the flow of oxytocin — aka the 'love hormone' — known to boost feelings of comfort, safety and emotional connection. It can also lower your blood pressure, slow your heart rate and send cortisol, the body's main stress hormone, packing. That combination helps your body unwind and sets the stage for a deeper, more peaceful sleep. A 2022 study found that couples who share a bed tend to nod off faster and sleep more soundly throughout the night. They also reported less intense insomnia and a lower risk of sleep apnea than their solo-sleeping counterparts. It gets dreamier: a 2020 study found that sleeping next to your partner can boost your REM sleep by about 10%. This stage, where most dreams occur, is critical for cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Another 2022 study revealed that sharing a bed can also improve mental health, reducing depression and anxiety while boosting overall life and relationship satisfaction. This connection is no coincidence. Poor sleep quality is often a key symptom of mental health issues, according to Dr. Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University. 'Since sleeping next to a partner promotes better sleep, it reduces that symptom and, in turn, improves the disorder,' she told Verywell Health. Still, not everyone's dreaming of an all-night cuddlefest. For some, snuggling turns into a midnight sauna — all sweat, no rest. Others struggle with limited movement or partner restlessness that prevents them from catching ZZZ's. Experts suggest a pre-bed cuddle session to score the oxytocin rush, then roll into your preferred personal space. Separate blankets and dual comforters can also help keep the peace. 'The goal is to find a balance that makes both partners feel valued and comfortable without compromising intimacy,' Dr. Cheryl Groskopf, a therapist in Los Angeles, told Time. If you don't have a partner to snuggle up with at night, you can still reap some of the benefits of all that cozy closeness. 'A body pillow can feel very much like a human form,' Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist, told Greatist. 'Thus, when you can't actually hug, cuddle or sleep next to another person, a body pillow can provide a sense of comfort and security.' Research also suggests that sleeping with a pet in your bed can trigger the release of oxytocin. And for those who are really desperate for a snuggle, there's always the option of a 'cuddle therapist.' In New York, one popular cuddling salon has a waitlist for lonely souls craving safe, professional human contact. Don't expect it to come cheap. Australian cuddle therapist Missy Robinson charges $65 for an hour-long snuggle session. If you want the full experience, you can fork over $1,300 for an overnight cuddle session, where she'll hold you as you drift into sleep.
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Trump-pardoned real estate mogul Charles Kushner confirmed for key diplomatic post
New Jersey real estate developer Charles Kushner was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Monday for the ambassadorship to France and Monaco. He was confirmed by the Senate in a 51-45 vote. Kushner, the father-in-law of Ivanka Trump, was previously pardoned by President Donald Trump for federal tax evasion and Federal Election Commission violations from 2005, during the mogul's first term. In 1985, he founded the Kushner Companies and has long been a philanthropist, particularly to Jewish causes and institutions like Yeshiva University in Washington Heights, Manhattan. He has also donated to St. Barnabas Hospital in Essex County, New Jersey, which has a wing bearing his family name. During his May 1 confirmation hearing, Kushner acknowledged his past legal missteps, claiming they sharpened his judgment and better prepared him for both the ambassadorship and life. "I think that my past mistakes actually make me… better in my values to really make me more qualified to do this job," he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Kushner, who just celebrated his 71st birthday, was nominated in November after Trump called him a "tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our country & its interests." "He was recognized as New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, & served as a commissioner, & chairman, of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, as well as on the boards of our top institutions, including NYU," Trump said. "Congratulations to Charlie, his wonderful wife Seryl, their 4 children, & 14 grandchildren. His son, Jared, worked closely with me in the White House, in particular on Operation Warp Speed, Criminal Justice Reform, & the Abraham Accords." Trump added that Kushner will help strengthen America's partnership with "our oldest ally and one of our greatest."
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Yeshiva University to Celebrate 94th Annual Commencement on May 22
Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Unifying Voice of Courage and Strength, to be Conferred Honorary Doctorate and Deliver Commencement Address with a Message of Hope and Resilience to YU's Class of 2025 Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to Receive Presidential Medallion for Global Leadership in Recognition of Her Dedication to Strengthening the United States, Supporting Israel and Defending the Jewish People NEW YORK, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Yeshiva University will proudly celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2025 at its 94th Annual Main Commencement Ceremonies on May 22 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, NY. This momentous event will bring together more than 5,000 students, faculty, alumni and families to honor our graduating undergraduate class defined by academic excellence, driven by purpose and grounded in timeless values. The commencement address will be delivered by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, a universal symbol of courage, hope and fierce determination. The mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American hostage murdered in Hamas captivity, has become a voice of conviction and spiritual resilience—embodying the aspirations, conscience, compassion and faith at the heart of the Jewish people. Her words will serve as both a personal testament and a guiding inspiration for this generation of YU graduates. Yeshiva University will also present its highest honor for global leadership—the Presidential Medallion—to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, recognizing her strong leadership for the United States, bold resoluteness in the fight against rising antisemitism and her outspoken support for Israel and the Jewish people in the wake of the October 7 attacks. Past recipients include Senator John Fetterman, Dr. Danny Gold, inventor of the Iron Dome and Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt. "We are deeply honored that Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik will address our graduates—two extraordinary individuals whose leadership has inspired strength, unity and moral clarity at a defining moment in Jewish history," said Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University. "This year's Commencement is more than a celebration of academic achievement—it is a powerful affirmation of the values that define our community and our Class of 2025: courage, compassion and a lifelong commitment to truth, faith and service. It also reflects our unwavering belief that especially in moments of darkness, we have the power, and the obligation, to bring light." As the nation's flagship Jewish university, Yeshiva University empowers its students to live out their personal mission as leaders in the world of tomorrow. The graduates of its undergraduate colleges represent the leadership of the pro-Israel community of the future —a mission reflected throughout the day's events. Goldberg-Polin, who has inspired millions with her tireless advocacy, expressed deep appreciation for the YU community's ongoing support. "Throughout our personal quest to save our beloved Hersh and all the cherished hostages, the valiant Yeshiva University community was by our side holding us up," she said. "After suffering our crushing blow, YU has remained with us as we navigate through our valley of pain, while we all continue fighting for the remaining 59 treasured hostages' freedom. The YU student body's tenacity and steadfastness gives my family motivation, inspiration and hope. I am endlessly grateful, humbled and honored to participate at the commencement ceremony for the class of 2025." Both speakers will bring powerful perspectives to the ceremony—one shaped by personal loss and unshakable faith, the other by national leadership and an enduring commitment to combatting hate at all turns. "I am humbled and honored to receive the Presidential Medallion, Yeshiva University's highest honor for global leadership, and I look forward to joining this year's graduating class to celebrate their remarkable achievements," said House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik. "I have been proud to serve as the leading voice in Congress against the rise of antisemitism on university and college campuses across our nation, holding those at the very top accountable for their failure to protect our Jewish students and communities, but the work has only just begun. President Berman's leading voice and Yeshiva University's powerful example has been a bastion of light in the battle for the souls of American universities and I am grateful to Yeshiva University for this tremendous honor." About Yeshiva University As the flagship Jewish university, Yeshiva University is animated by its five core Torah values: Seek Truth (Torat Emet), Live Your Values (Torat Chaim), Discover Your Potential (Torat Adam), Act With Compassion (Torat Chesed) and Bring Redemption (Torat Tzion). Founded in 1886, Yeshiva University brings together the ancient traditions of Jewish law and life, and the heritage of Western civilization. More than 7,400 undergraduate and graduate students study at YU's four New York City campuses: the Wilf Campus, Israel Henry Beren Campus, Brookdale Center, and Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus. YU's three undergraduate schools – Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women, and Sy Syms School of Business – offer a unique dual program comprised of Jewish studies and liberal arts courses. Its graduate and affiliate schools include Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, the Katz School of Science and Health and Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. YU is ranked among the nation's leading academic institutions. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Yeshiva University
Fox News
19-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Trump-pardoned real estate mogul Charles Kushner up for key diplomatic post
New Jersey real estate developer Charles Kushner will be considered by the U.S. Senate on Monday for the ambassadorship to France and Monaco. Kushner, the father-in-law of Ivanka Trump, was previously pardoned by President Donald Trump for federal tax evasion and Federal Election Commission violations from 2005, during the mogul's first term. In 1985, he founded the Kushner Companies and has long been a philanthropist, particularly to Jewish causes and institutions like Yeshiva University in Washington Heights, Manhattan. He has also donated to St. Barnabas Hospital in Essex County, New Jersey, which has a wing bearing his family name. During his May 1 confirmation hearing, Kushner acknowledged his past legal missteps, claiming they sharpened his judgment and better prepared him for both the ambassadorship and life. "I think that my past mistakes actually make me… better in my values to really make me more qualified to do this job," he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Kushner, who just celebrated his 71st birthday, was nominated in November after Trump called him a "tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our country & its interests." "He was recognized as New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, & served as a commissioner, & chairman, of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, as well as on the boards of our top institutions, including NYU," Trump said. "Congratulations to Charlie, his wonderful wife Seryl, their 4 children, & 14 grandchildren. His son, Jared, worked closely with me in the White House, in particular on Operation Warp Speed, Criminal Justice Reform, & the Abraham Accords." Trump added that Kushner will help strengthen America's partnership with "our oldest ally and one of our greatest."
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Yeshiva University Reverses Itself and Bans L.G.B.T.Q. Club
Two months after Yeshiva University said it would recognize an L.G.B.T.Q. student club on campus, bringing a yearslong legal battle to an end, the school has reversed course and banned the organization. The school said the club, once known as the Pride Alliance but renamed Hareni earlier this year, had violated both Jewish principles and the legal settlement. But lawyers for the students said it was leaders at the school, a Modern Orthodox Jewish institution with campuses in Manhattan and the Bronx, who had violated the agreement with hostile religious rhetoric. In a letter to the community on Friday, the university repeated an argument it made unsuccessfully in state court in 2022, saying its undergraduate programs are 'fundamentally religious.' The school said that 'recent actions and statements' from the student club had led administrators to believe that it was 'operating as a pride club under a different name and as such is antithetical to the Torah values of our yeshiva, as well as in violation of the approved guidelines and of the terms of the settlement agreement.' 'There is no place for such a club in yeshiva,' the letter continued, using the general term for a Jewish educational institution. Yeshiva's decision in March to recognize the club had seemed to end the legal battle, which had plunged a university in one of the country's most liberal cities into a nationwide debate over religious freedom, civil rights and whether houses of worship, religiously affiliated organizations or even pious individuals could be compelled to provide public accommodations to people with differing views. The dispute had been closely watched by religious organizations and religious freedom groups. While many Jewish congregations support L.G.B.T.Q. rights, many Orthodox leaders interpret the Torah as promoting traditional ideas of gender and sexuality. Throughout years of legal wrangling, Yeshiva went to great lengths to deny the club official recognition, including briefly banning all on-campus clubs. As the case worked its way through the courts, it also drew the attention of state lawmakers, who criticized the university's position and suggested it might have imperiled its ability to access public funds. The official dissolution of Hareni comes at a time when the rights of L.G.B.T.Q. Americans appear under threat from the Trump administration, which has attacked elite universities and mounted a campaign against the participation of transgender people, in particular, in public life. In a statement, the club said its members were 'deeply disappointed by the announcement of Hareni's cancellation,' which it said came one day after their lawyers sent a letter to the university objecting to 'ongoing displays of animus and hostility' from university leadership. The lawyers, Katherine Rosenfeld and Max Selver, said in their letter that those statements included university guidelines released last month that said the club would not be permitted to host social events, must not use 'Pride flags, symbols and emojis as well as the term 'Pride Club,'' and must include a 'sexual morality' disclaimer on all its printed materials. The students' lawyers also said they were alarmed by hostile public statements from senior rabbis at the school, including a letter printed in a campus newspaper from Rabbi Hershel Schachter, who said he 'emphatically rejects the ideology, lifestyle and behaviors which the L.G.B.T.Q. term represents.' In another statement, a second senior rabbi, Mayer Twersky, said 'the L.G.B.T.Q. acronym' represented 'a heretical, nihilistic philosophy which champions and celebrates all forms of sexual deviance.' 'We must unconditionally reject their demands and can never settle,' Rabbi Twersky wrote. In response to the letter from Hareni's lawyers, Yeshiva lodged its own complaints against the student club, which it said had 'repeatedly second-guessed and opposed Yeshiva's spiritual leadership' since its approval in March. The university's lawyer said Yeshiva had not intended the legal settlement to amount to official recognition of the Pride Alliance, and that administrators were alarmed when the new club, Hareni, simply rebranded the Pride Alliance's social media accounts. After the March settlement, posts were made on those accounts that said the Pride Alliance 'will go forward using the club name Hareni' as 'an official club at Y.U.,' the Yeshiva lawyer said. The university also objected to the use of Pride flag emojis and the word 'pride' in posts on those accounts, and the fact that Pride Alliance posts were still visible on them. Officials appeared to be particularly incensed by an event they said the club held on May 7 and an opinion piece published in a campus newspaper the day before by the club's co-presidents, Hayley Goldberg and Schneur Friedman. In that essay, the students said they planned to hold social events despite the university's prohibition, and that they would not affix a morality disclaimer to the club's printed materials. They said such a statement would be 'egregious.' The student leaders also said that questions about the interplay between L.G.B.T.Q. rights and Jewish religious law, or halacha, 'are valid, but they are not the issue at hand.' In reality, they wrote, universities, clubs, presidents and Yeshiva leaders 'do not determine how individuals, straight or gay, trans or cis, approach halacha.' They added, 'The individuals themselves do.'
