Center for Jewish Life at university praised during Sunday ceremonies.
By: Jeff Milgram
Princeton University’s Center for Jewish Life celebrated its 10th anniversary at a Sunday brunch by honoring "the three Davids" who helped found and fund the campus organization.
"David Feinberg, David Mandelbaum and David Manischewitz are the heart, soul and backbone of the center’s lay leadership," said Arlene Pedovitch, president of the center’s board of directors.
Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman praised William Bowen, the former president who committed the university to create the center, and Harold Shapiro, her immediate predecessor, who helped organize "this wonderful, beautiful building."
She joked that the center became instantly known for serving the best food on campus.
The center is "an historic partnership between Princeton University and Hillel International," the Jewish campus organization, Rabbi James Diamond, the center’s director, said.
The center is not the first Jewish organization on campus. Hillel ran a program in Murray-Dodge Hall from 1948 to 1993. A kosher dining hall was set up in Stevenson Hall from 1971 to 1993.
Astrophysics Professor David Spergel, who graduated from Princeton in 1982, credited former President Bowen with invigorating the campus Jewish community by recruiting Jewish academics. He said the Jewish population on campus is very diverse.
Ms. Pedovitch said the center gives non-Jews a positive introduction to Jewish life.
"It’s been a wonderful place to bring people together on campus," she said.
"The CJL is as much an idea as it is an institution," Rabbi Diamond said. He said it has become a place were Jewish students can practice dietary law, study, pray and "repair the world," the Jewish concept called "Tikkun Olam."
"The CJL needs to be a place where the doors are open to the entire campus," Rabbi Diamond said.
In fact, the center falls under the aegis of the university’s Office of Religious Life.
"The center is very integral to my work here," said Dean of Religious Life Thomas Breidenthal. "And as a matter of fact, I’m a member of their board."
Rabbi Diamond said the center gives students a place to ponder the "differing and conflicting ideas of what it means to be a Jew in today’s world. It’s a job not for the faint of heart, but I think we’re up to it."
He compared Mr. Feinberg, Mr. Mandelbaum and Mr. Manischewitz to the first Israelite who crossed the Red Sea.
"It was each of these Davids who jumped in and made it a reality," Rabbi Diamond said.
Mr. Feinberg, who graduated in 1963, remembered that the university’s chapel requirement helped fill Friday night Jewish services in Murray-Dodge Hall.
"Bring back the chapel requirement," he urged Dr. Tilghman.
"I’m grateful I had the opportunity to be part of this," Mr. Feinberg said. "Just being able to do it was a pleasure and an honor."
Mr. Mandelbaum, who graduated in 1957, remembered how proud his parents, who had never gone to college, were when they came to visit him at Princeton.
It was Mr. Mandelbaum who gave the center a stained-glass window that had been part of a synagogue in Haarlem, Holland. The synagogue was destroyed by the Nazis.
Rabbi Diamond praised Mr. Manischewitz, who graduated in 1959, for his good counsel and high intelligence. "David cuts right to the core of the issues," Rabbi Diamond said.
For his part, Mr. Manischewitz cut right to the core. "The CJL is a wonderful place," he said.

