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On Sunday, just before the graduation ceremony, Lander College for Men hosted an awards reception to celebrate the occasion. Dr. Mark Hasten, Chairman of the Board at Touro College, gave a warm welcome; Rav Yonason Sacks, Rosh HaYeshiva of Beis Medrash L'Talmud offered divrei bracha and using a debate in the Talmud about Pesach Sheni, Rabbi Dr. Moshe Sokol, dean of Lander College for Men, explored the three great challenges of leadership and responsibility Lander graduates will be called upon to meet as they leave the halls of Lander and go out into the world. Roles and responsibilities he knows Lander College for Men has prepared them for well.

And remind the graduates that while they should take what they've learned at Lander College for Men with them, hopefully they will never truly leave the yeshiva and will be back often to keep in touch.

With sunny skies, a clear basketball court, plenty of green grass for football and soccer and pool ready and waiting, how could anyone not enjoy the shabbaton. Rabbi Shmulewitz, as usual, was parked by the lake, “fishing, not catching.” Students stopped by to throw out a line.

The guys played their hearts out each Wednesday night, leading up to the intramural championships last week. Irv Bader, Touro College’s Director of Athletics, oversaw the games and handed out trophies to the winning team at the banquet.

The students agree. That’s why it’s with a heavy heart that everyone said goodbye and wished him well at the end of this year as he takes retirement.

Rabbi Sacks spoke about how Rabbi Berzon is a living example of someone who loves to learn and who is relentless in his pursuit of knowledge of Torah, spending day and all night in the beis medrash. A real role model for the guys, it’s a bittersweet tzeitchem l’shalom.

The Music Vs. hit the high notes at the Margeret Teitz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica, Queens, to bring the holiday spirit to its young-at-heart residents. They sang favorite Chanukah and holiday songs for Jewish and non-Jewish patients, putting smiles on the faces of all around. Singin’ and schmoozin’, the eight Lander College and Yeshivas Ohr HaChaim men had a fantastic time at the first-ever Music Vs. event.

On Wednesday, the Lander College Bioethics Society held its inaugural lecture called “M.D.: To Be or Not to Be. A Halachic Perspective.” Rabbi Dr. Howard Apfel, a board certified pediatric cardiologist at Columbia University Medical Center and an expert in the field of medical ethics, spoke about whether a Jew is allowed to become a doctor. As Rabbi Apfel said at the beginning, it’s pretty obvious how he holds given that he’s a doctor, but the issue isn’t so cut and dry.