2025-11-01 12:45:AM <br/> Tags: #people #AmericanJewry ![[image-162.png|287x430]] # Richard Joel (1950-) - Richard Joel is a prominent American Jewish leader and religious Jewish scholar. - Joel began his professional career as a lawyer. - Joel is most notable for leading [[Hillel International]] from 1989-2003, and leading New York's Yeshiva University from 2003-2017. - Yeshiva University is an Orthodox-Jewish private college in NYC. #### Hillel - Joel became president of the [[Hillel International]] in 1989. - Hillel is the largest Jewish campus organization. - Hillel's budget increased from $14 million to $51 million under Joel's presidency. - Under Joel's leadership, Hillel separated itself from [[B'nai B'rith]], its parent organization since the 1920s. - As Hillel's president Joel courted the financial backing of Jewish megadonors including: - [[Charles Schusterman]] and [[Lynn Schusterman]] - [[Michael Steinhardt]] - [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]] - During Joel's Hillel tenure, Hillel became noticeably more pro-Israel, with little room for Israel-critical dissent. - Joel brought Hillel into the sphere of the Council of Jewish Federations, securing its endorsement defining Hillel as the "central umbrella organization on campus." - The Council of Jewish Federations is the precursor to the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]], which was founded in 1999. - Joel incorporated the [[Birthright Israel]] program as a core Hillel offering. - Birthright gives all Jewish young adults free ten day trips to Israel. - At a 2002 [[Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)]] event, Joel explained Hillel's involvement in coordinating pro-Israel programing on college campuses. - Joel described bringing "speakers and trained professionals" to push Israeli talking points at universities. - Under Joel, Hillel accepted #### Yeshiva University - In 2003 Joel became the fourth president of Yeshiva University. - Yeshiva University in New York City is the largest Jewish university outside Israel. - He was the first Yeshiva president who was not a rabbi. - Joel stepped down as Yeshiva president in 2017, becoming president emeritus. - In 2014, under Joel's leadership, Yeshiva brought on Jewish Senator [[Joe Lieberman]] to hold the unique position of "Lieberman Chair in Public Policy." - Lieberman's position was funded by Jewish billionaire [[Ira Rennert]]. - Two years prior, at a 2012 Hanukah dinner event, Joel praised Rennert for his "support of Israel." - At that 2012 event, Joel shared a table with: [[Ira Rennert]], [[Elie Wiesel]], and [[Leon Charney]] (and Charney's Israeli born wife Tzili). - At a 2013 Yeshiva panel-style event, casino magnate and Jewish megadonor [[Sheldon Adelson]] called for the United States to drop nuclear bombs on Iran. - Joel, the president of Yeshiva University and a co-panelist at the event, had nothing to say about Adelson's comments. - The panel included: Richard Joel, [[Sheldon Adelson]], [[Rabbi Shmuley Boteach]], and [[Bret Stephens]]. - In a 2016 article, Joel boasted that "Fifteen percent of our graduates move to Israel, while the rest are lifelong supporters." - Joel also noted, "all [Yeshiva students] are deeply and personally committed to the flourishing of Israel..." #RedPill *Tell me again how dual loyalty is an antisemitic trope.* #### References - "Richard M. Joel" _Jewish Virtual Library_. [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/joel-richard-m](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/joel-richard-m). - “Hillel International.” _InfluenceWatch._ [https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/hillel-international/](https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/hillel-international/). - Weiss, Phillip. “Yeshiva U President Joel Has Nothing to Say about Adelson's Nuke-Iran Recommendation.” _Mondoweiss_, November 7, 2013. [https://mondoweiss.net/2013/11/president-adelsons-recommendation/](https://mondoweiss.net/2013/11/president-adelsons-recommendation/). - Joel, Richard M. “Profile: Richard M. Joel.” _YU News_, December 10, 2003. [https://www.yu.edu/news/profile-richard-m-joel](https://www.yu.edu/news/profile-richard-m-joel). - Samber, Sharon. “Conference Focuses on Israel Advocacy.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, February 18, 2002. [https://www.jta.org/2002/02/18/lifestyle/conference-focuses-on-israel-advocacy/](https://www.jta.org/2002/02/18/lifestyle/conference-focuses-on-israel-advocacy/). - “A Life in Judaism, A Career in Public Service.” _YU News_. October 29, 2014. [https://www.yu.edu/news/a-life-in-judaism-a-career-in-public-service/](https://www.yu.edu/news/a-life-in-judaism-a-career-in-public-service/). *Context for Yeshiva, Senator Lieberman, and Ira Rennert*. - Leon, Masha. “Yeshiva University Hanukkah Convocation and Remembering Adrienne Cooper.” _The Forward_, January 8, 2013. [https://www.forward.com/news/168970/yeshiva-university-hanukkah-convocation-and-rememb/#:~:text=At%20the%20dinner%20in%20the,Wiesel%2C%20and%20Leon%20and%20Tzili](https://www.forward.com/news/168970/yeshiva-university-hanukkah-convocation-and-rememb/#:~:text=At%20the%20dinner%20in%20the,Wiesel%2C%20and%20Leon%20and%20Tzili). *Covers the 2012 Yeshiva Hanukah dinner.* - Joel, Richard M. “The BDS Movement Highlights the Need to Restore Civil Discourse in Higher Education.” _Inside Higher Ed_, March 31, 2016. [https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2016/04/01/bds-movement-highlights-need-restore-civil-discourse-campuses-essay#:~:text=I%20serve%20as%20president%20of,and%20sanctions%20movement%20is%20false](https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2016/04/01/bds-movement-highlights-need-restore-civil-discourse-campuses-essay#:~:text=I%20serve%20as%20president%20of,and%20sanctions%20movement%20is%20false) *Covers Joel's comments about Yeshiva students supporting Israel.*