HE OMMENTATOR T The Independent C Student Newspaper of Yeshiva University VOL. LXXXVI TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021 ISSUE NO. 11 NYC Vaccine Site Opens on Wilf Campus as NYS Eligibility Expands By YOSEF LEMEL This article was originally published online on April 7. A New York City vaccine site, offer- ing the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, opened on Yeshiva University’s Wilf Campus on Wednesday, April 7 following the expan- sion of vaccine eligibility to all New York residents or workers above the age of 16 on Tuesday, April 6. The site is located in Weissberg Commons — on the ground floor of Belfer Hall — and will be available to the public through June 2021, according to an April 5 email from the university announcing the site’s opening. The times of operation are from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday; the location will be closed for Shabbos and Jewish holidays. “As part of our mission, we are always looking for ways to help the community at large, especially during these unprecedent- ed times,” expressed President Ari Berman in a statement to The Commentator. “This includes opening our campus to the city's historic COVID vaccination effort and contributing to greater vaccine access and health equity for Northern Manhattan residents.” The April 5 email, which first notified YOSEF LEMEL Belfer Hall, where the vaccine site is located Continued on Page 4 Hedi Steinberg Library Set YU Planning to Eliminate to Undergo Renovations In-Person Hebrew Programs, Over the Summer Move to Completely Asynchronous lighting, as well as a range of seating op- Model Beginning in Fall 2022 By RIKKI KOLODONY tions, including lounge seating. “The reimagined space will greatly ben- The Beren Campus' Hedi Steinberg efit student learning,” said Rina Krautwirth, coursework and managing their busy aca- Library will be undergoing renovations, a research and instruction librarian at the By SRULI FRUCHTER demic schedules.” which are expected to begin and be com- Hedi Steinberg Library. “I feel that rede- Botman charged Dr. Aaron Koller, pleted this upcoming summer, according signing the reference desk will provide This article was originally published online coordinator of the Wilf Campus Hebrew to Paul Glassman, director of Scholarly and the students with enriched access to ref- on April 14. Language Program, and Dr. Zafira Cultural Resources, and Edith Lubetski, erence services [and] I expect that more Lidovsky-Cohen, chair of the Stern College head librarian at the Hedi Steinberg students will use the library because of Plans are in motion to eliminate the in- for Women (SCW) Hebrew Language & Library. these changes.” person, undergraduate Hebrew programs Literature Department, with developing a As per Glassman and Lubetski, Hila The reconstruction is being paid for by and move them to a completely asynchro- fully online Hebrew program for Fall 2022. Stern, an architect and designer of Tel Aviv a $250,000 grant from the State of New nous model beginning in Fall 2022, The Koller and Lidovsky-Cohen have already University, is in charge of redesigning the York's Dormitory Authority (DASNY), as Commentator has learned. contacted a course designer recommended Hedi Steinberg Library. A new research per Glassman and Lubetski. DASNY is the “The work to move our Hebrew language by Botman about her proposal. Botman has instruction lab, which will be subdivided, state government's financial and building courses online is designed to improve our not been in direct contaighlct with Hebrew will be included in the redesign. The lab will regulator. DASNY invests in, plans for, and students’ academic experiences in Hebrew faculty about these plans. act as a classroom for the use of essential builds health and education programs that language,” explained Provost and Vice “[T]here are many bridges to be crossed on-site research instruction. It will be open support inclusive, long-term communities. President for Academic Affairs Dr. Selma and uncertainties to be resolved before to the entire Beren Campus. The lab can Glassman proposed the renovation de- Botman, who first proposed the changes in specific plans can be finalized,” Koller said. be used as a group study room when it is sign plan to Assembly Member Nily Rozic's the early weeks of Spring 2021. At this point, it is unclear how many, if not in operation by classes and there will office before submitting it to DASNY liai- She added that this was “[i]nformed any, Hebrew faculty will be rehired after be newly-renovated group study rooms son, Jon Greenfield of Government Affairs. by feedback from students who have tak- Spring 2022. with flat-screen TVs and improved screen- The renovation will most likely begin in the en Hebrew language online here at YU” In the current model for Wilf Campus, sharing technology. There will also be new summer of 2021, he said, pending approval and the new model will “provide students based on a placement test taken before with greater flexibility in completing the support and information desks, carpeting, Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 4 NEWS | 5 FEATURES | 11 OPINIONS | 15 BUSINESS | 18 Rabbi Dr. Bernard Rosensweig z'"tl Ending the Agunah Crisis Where Will We Be For Commencement '21? Hasty Highlights 2 From the Editor's Desk Tuesday , April 20, 2021 THE COMMENTATOR FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK 2020-2021 President Berman, What Happened Editor-in-Chief YOSEF LEMEL to Being the “World’s Premier Jewish Educational Institution”? Managing Editor ELISHEVA KOHN a convincing enough reason to sustain convincing enough to stop the univer- By THE COMMENTATOR EDITORIAL the Hebrew program with normal, in- sity from moving the course drop date BOARD person classes. without a “W” five weeks earlier than For a university that prides it- usual, a change students were vocally News “By offering in one institution a self on being the flagship of Modern against. Senior Editor Junior Editors comprehensive, integrated educational Orthodoxy, these changes speak vol- The administration may think it fair SRULI FRUCHTER SHLOMIT EBBIN program that produces the Jewish lead- umes as to where YU’s priorities lie, to presume that the average student JARED SCHARF ers of the next generations ... Yeshiva and Jewish studies are not among them. wants a lighter mandatory college work- University is the world’s premier Jewish Of course, this is not the only disci- load with “greater flexibility.” Perhaps Features educational institution.” pline taking the backseat at YU. Indeed, that is the case, unfortunately, but why Senior Editor Junior Editors These words were spoken by liberal arts departments are also feeling would the university endorse that? We ELAZAR ABRAHAMS DANIEL MELOOL President Ari Berman in his 2017 in- the brunt of faculty cuts and feelings of need a Jewish studies curriculum that NETANI SHIELDS vestiture speech, along with his other second-class status from the univer- challenges us and hope YU has not giv- high praises of YU as “an institution for sity. However, can Yeshiva University en up on its mission to be “the world’s Opinions the Jewish community and the broader honestly say its Jewish curricula were premier Jewish institution,” a state- Senior Editor Junior Editors society.” He lauded YU for what it had meant to be treated as if they are just ment that does not imply mediocrity. AHARON NISSEL ARIEL KAHAN another academic specialty? At this point, these suggestions can done and would do for the Jewish com- NAFTALI SHAVELSON munity and the world at large. Now, only remain general, as the university however, in contrast to this optimistic If YU does not stop its has shied away from concrete expla- vision, we fear the future is dark for YU. nations for its actions. If specifics are It is failing its students and the com- onslaught on Jewish needed, however, then here are a few: Business munity as a Jewish institution. studies — decimating Keep the Hebrew program in-person, Senior Editor Junior Editors This decline and fall of Jewish stud- re-hire adjuncts of SCW’s Jewish YAAKOV METZ MAX ASH ies at YU goes back to at least 2015, the university’s Hebrew Studies Department and bring back a ALIZA LEICHTER when the Sy Syms School of Business revamped Intro to Bible requirement (SSSB) changed its policies to scrap program, cutting its faculty to YC. the traditional Jewish studies course and limiting course offerings In December 1991, The Commentator Senior Layout Editor load, including Jewish History and learned that the university was plan- MICAH PAVA Bible. Four years later, in 2019, Yeshiva — we fear that it will ning to shut down the Bernard Revel College (YC) scrapped the requirement Graduate School of Jewish Studies. In Social Media Manager for students to take an “Intro to Bible” meet the point when Jewish response, over 1,000 students signed SHIRA LEVITT course, causing a plummet in enroll- studies will be completely a petition and hundreds showed up to ments of a course necessary for a well- protest, marching to President Lamm’s Website Manager office and demanding the university rounded Jewish education. Professor forgotten. RAPHAEL ALCABES Moshe Bernstein, a longtime Bible pro- reverse its decision. “Jewish School, fessor at YC, said at the time that the Jewish Studies!” they chanted. Facing new requirements are “but one more Jewish studies are struggling to heavy pressure, the university eventu- Business Manager manifestation of a watering-down of the survive with an ever-declining pool of ally reversed its decision. MEIR LIGHTMAN Yeshiva College liberal arts education.” faculty and academic class offerings, If YU does not stop its onslaught Now, YU has expressed several other and YU is continuing to suffocate them.