On the evening of September 29th, 2025, World Emunah and Yeshiva University in Israel came together to host an Evening of Unity and Emunah - a meaningful and inspirational Aseret Yemei Teshuva event for gap-year women students enrolled in Yeshiva University’s S. Daniel Abraham Israel program.
The event was held at the Nefesh B’Nefesh Aliyah Campus in Jerusalem and was also sponsored by KKL.
The evening was opened by World Emunah President, Tema Klausner, who shared words of wisdom with the students as they embark on this year of learning and journey into the next stage of their lives - not just as students, but as women and the future leaders of Am Yisrael.
Stephanie Strauss, Executive Director of Yeshiva University in Israel then spoke about the shared values of World Emunah and Yeshiva University in promoting religious - Zionist activity and women’s leadership - both in Israel and in Jewish communities around the world. She then introduced the event’s keynote speaker, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin who was murdered in Hamas captivity after being kidnapped from the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023.
Over an interview conversation with Estie Hess - a Yeshiva University student, Rachel reflected on what Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and prayer mean to her, in spite of everything that she has been through over the past two years and how despite the pain of feeling broken, she still holds on to hope. Rachel has become a national emblem of resilience in the face of loss and grief, and a source of inspiration for what it means to be a Jewish woman, a mother and leader in the Jewish and Israeli community.
To close the evening, singer Avigail Scheinfeld led the room through songs of meaning, hope and prayer for the safe return of our hostages and soldiers. The students sang along with Avigail in a moment that was made even more impactful by the news rolling in simultaneously from the Trump-Netanyahu press conference about an approaching hostage deal.
The event, a partnership between Yeshiva University in Israel and World Emunah,the umbrella organization for the global Emunah Religious Women’s Movement, was inspirational and transmitted to the students a message of faith in our people and in G-d. Stephanie Strauss said, “These students are the women leaders of tomorrow. They are here in Israel to immerse themselves in a year of learning, and to strengthen their connection to Israel and to their nation.” Meira Lerner, Director of World Emunah shared, “What better way for these young women to begin their journey here in Israel than to hear from Rachel Goldberg-Polin - someone who united a nation with the cry of a mother fighting for her son and who continues to fight for her people.”