Soon after I began working with the Yale Club in 2002 I asked myself why a university club in Israel?  There are so many demands on everyone's time, including mine.  During the subsequent years, that question has been repeatedly answered, including at one of our annual Yale Club planning meetings where we set the agenda for the upcoming year.  Nine club members gathered at the home of Bill JD '59 and Lila MA '58 Cohen in Hertzilya Pituach.  The evening very much reflected why the club exists…and thrives.  Sitting in the Cohen’s lovely garden were alumni spanning both generations and areas of the country who remarked that each club gathering allows us to step out of our usual pattern of life and enjoy events and activities most of us would probably never get around to doing. They also commented that the club offers the opportunity to meet people who are at once diverse and unified by a shared and in many cases seminal period in our history – our Yale experience. 

The Yale Club of Israel also affords the chance to welcome and host Yale undergrads, graduate students and faculty during their visits to Israel.  We enjoy holding club events for them as well as hosting them for Shabbat meals and weekends.  The club members take great pleasure in sharing our local culture with the visiting Yalies.

During that meeting we discussed everything from filling the Yale boat at the U-Penn sailing regatta and organizing a Succoth family tiul to our list of alumni performers for our annual Yale Club of Israel Alumni Concert where our multi-faceted doctors, lawyers and Indian Chiefs reveal their musical talent, performing for an all Ivy audience at a concert hall in Tel Aviv.  

It was noted that while everyone in Israel is overwhelmingly busy, somehow people take time out to initiate, organize and participate in Yale Club of Israel events throughout the year – even summertime when clubs worldwide are usually 'closed'.  There’s something about the positive feeling, the genuine interest and historical connection that keeps it going.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to enjoy the unique club gatherings with so many wonderful people.

With Thanks,

Carice Witte '83

President, Yale Club of Israel