NYC Gazette

Vika Bekker's path to Stern College for Women was unconventional. Growing up in a secular Jewish household in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, she first connected with Judaism through NCSY during high school, despite her parents' hesitance. Upon transferring from the University of Illinois to Stern, she faced the challenge of catching up with peers who had years of Jewish education.

The Mechina Pathways program offered a solution. It is designed for students from non-traditional Jewish backgrounds and provided Vika with the foundation and community needed to thrive. "Being 'out-of-the-box' is difficult," says Vika, a 2023 graduate of the Sy Syms School of Business. "But Mechina made me feel included within the Torah environment I longed for."

Established in 2004 by Shoshana Schechter, associate dean of Torah Studies and Spiritual Life, the Mechina Program addresses gaps in Jewish education that many young people face. Dean Schechter noticed these gaps as a student at Stern and later as an educator beginning in 1998.

"I met young women who had overcome incredible odds to get to Stern," recalls Dean Schechter, also known as "Mechina Mom." She noted that while Yeshiva University has the James Striar School (JSS) for men, there was no equivalent for women.

The four-year Mechina program supports around 30 new women annually from diverse regions such as Tahiti, South Africa, Ukraine, South America, Morocco, Europe, and Australia. It offers beginner and intermediate Judaism classes alongside Stern College's curriculum. Beyond academics, it fosters belonging through shared events like Shabbatonim and Purim celebrations hosted by YU President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman.

Mechina's impact extends beyond its students; it enriches the YU community with fresh perspectives on Torah study. "Mechina students bring something unique to our community," Dean Schechter states. "They remind us that there isn’t just one way to connect to Hashem."

For Leah Schewitz from South Africa, Mechina was transformative. “It was the first time I felt part of a community that shared my thirst for growth,” says Leah, valedictorian of the Sy Syms School of Business Class of 2023.

Esther Serfaty from Caracas shares a similar experience. Raised traditionally but feeling intimidated by Yeshiva University’s environment initially, Esther found her place within Mechina. “You grow in knowledge and experience,” says Esther who graduated in 2024.

Dean Schechter sees Mechina’s mission as showing students Judaism's beauty while raising their level of Jewish literacy and understanding of Torah: “We aim to show our students the beauty of Judaism...seeing how far many go fills us with pride.”