Yeshiva University Students Explore Jewish Heritage in Morocco During Global Citizenship Trip

Unforgettable moments in Morocco. At the initiative of the Office of Values and Leadership of Yeshiva University in coordination with the Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership, 31 first-year undergraduate students from Yeshiva University in Israel made a one-week trip to the kingdom as part of "Global Citizenship 2023" focused on the theme "Community and Responsibility", as reported on the university’s website. An opportunity for them to visit Jewish heritage sites, build cultural bridges with Muslim students, and broaden their leadership horizons.

They went to Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Ben Guerir, where they were welcomed by more than 60 medical and pharmacy students. They then headed to the Atlas Mountains to meet Yossef Ben-Meir, director of the High Atlas Foundation, who came to Morocco decades ago as part of a Peace Corps mission and returned to continue his work for social justice in rural areas. Eight of them spoke about the Moroccan origin of their family. "The streets, the culture and the heritage of my ancestors have not only strengthened my Moroccan identity, but have revived a connection with my roots that I never thought possible. Being the first Hazan to visit Morocco since my grandparents, Morocco has been more than an experience for me - it was a true return to my roots," rejoiced Avior Hazan, a student at Yeshiva College.

"The trip to Morocco allowed the students to grow and learn while absorbing their family’s culture and giving of their time and energy to help others," said Terri Herenstein, co-founder of the Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center. "The refinement and exempl