Revamped Virtual Post Pesach Program Includes Women

This year, Yeshiva University’s Post Pesach Program, which began on April 20 and concludes on May 27, is completely online and, for the first time, open to women. These changes come as gap year yeshivas and seminaries that are partnered with the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program will be utilizing online resources for the remainder of the year.

Previously, the Post Pesach Program was only available to men who completed their second year in Israel and wanted to gain exposure to YU by earning up to six credits on campus in the condensed, one-month program. This year, due to COVID-19, the program is open to both shana aleph and shana bet students, even those already receiving the regularly-allotted 32 credits for their complete gap year program. There are 132 registered men participating in the program, 54 more students than the previous highest in 2017 and 71 more than last year.

Wilf students participating in the program can take a maximum of six credits from their choice of three Sy Syms School of Business (SSSB) courses and four Yeshiva College (YC) courses. Additionally, Wilf students have the opportunity to join a virtual Beit Midrash program with different three shiur options taught by YU rabbeim for their morning program. 

There are 18 women from seminaries including Midreshet Tehillah, Midreshet Lindenbaum, Midreshet Harova and Sha’alvim for Women enrolled in the program this year. Beren students in the program receive a weekly schedule listing dozens of shiurim available for them to join. Additionally, one SSSB course and three Stern College for Women (SCW) courses are being offered to Beren students. Commenting on the small program size, Naomi Fried (SCW ‘23), who attended the seminary Machon Raaya and is currently enrolled in the Post Pesach Program, said, “This is a huge advantage because with this class size we get to interact with the Professors a lot, give our opinion and ask questions much more than would usually be possible on Zoom.”

Alex Paul (SSSB ‘23), who finished his second year at the yeshiva Aish Gesher and is joining the Post Pesach Program, commented, “It’s definitely not going to be as exciting as actually starting college on campus, but it’s still really good that everybody still has the option to get a head start with the Post Pesach Program.”

“The beauty of being in yeshiva was the stress free environment surrounded by my Rebbeim and friends,” shared Ari Rosenthal (YC ‘23), who switched from Yeshivat Har Etzion to the Post Pesach Program after his yeshiva announced it was going online. “Seeing that the learning in both yeshiva and YU would be online, I thought this was an amazing opportunity to get a head start on Yeshiva University credits.”

Hundreds of students who were away in Israel for their gap year are now taking classes, shiurim and lectures virtually at home. While yeshivas and seminaries have been offering these opportunities primarily for current students, many have also offered alumni to join in on these virtual lectures, hoping to provide alumni-oriented shiurim over Zoom. 

“We are supporting our affiliate yeshivas and seminaries in Israel and have been working with them to migrate their courses online to allow students on the S. Daniel Abraham Israel program to finish their year of study to obtain their anticipated credits,” stated Chad Austein, YU’s chief enrollment management officer, regarding Israel credit for students currently enrolled in the gap year program. “In addition, we are developing supplemental instruction for students to take advantage of the many shiurim and programing available at YU in New York.”

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the duration of the Post Pesach Program. The article has been updated to reflect this correction.