ITHACA, N.Y. -- A "Masters in Excellence" weekend, held May 6-8 on campus, featured a symposium commemorating 350 years of Jewish history in America (and 140 years of Jewish history at Cornell) and was capped with a regale May 8 that featured the chief rabbi of the State of Israel, HaRav Yona Metzger, as speaker. 

It is believed to be the first visit by an Israeli chief rabbi to a U.S. university campus.

The weekend events, sponsored by the Center for Jewish Living, with co-sponsors Center for Jewish Living Alumni, 104 West, Cornell Dining and Cornell Hillel: Yudowitz Center for Jewish Campus Life, included the symposium, a gala brunch, bus tours of Cornell and the black-tie awards regale.

The 2005 Masters in Excellence Award was presented to Irene B. Rosenfeld, B.A. '75, M.S. '77, Ph.D. '80, chair and CEO of Frito-Lay and a former Cornell trustee. Also honored was Cornell Provost Biddy Martin, who received the JSC (Jewish Student Community) Cornell Award and spoke on "Taking Cornell to New Highs in its Academic Mission."