Bernard Lander, founder of Touro College, dies at 94

Rabbi Bernard Lander, the founding president of the Jewish-sponsored academic institution Touro College, has died at the age of 94. Touro College, founded in 1971 in New York, today has 23,000 students in 29 locations around the world. Lander was Touro’s president from its inception until his death, making him one of the longest-serving college presidents in the United States.

The Orthodox rabbi was born in Manhattan in 1915. After a career in academics as a sociologist, Lander founded Touro College, starting with a mere 35 students in 1971. The college today offers undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees to Jews and non-Jews alike in a range of fields, including arts and sciences, business, education, Jewish studies, law, pharmacy and social work.

Lander also served as an advisor to three US presidents.