he ommentator T The Independent C Student Newspaper of Yeshiva University

VOL. LXXXV MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 ISSUE NO. 6 Man Breaks into Schottenstein Hall, Sets Fires off the fire alarm, adding that “an the room, an all-clear announce- By Yitzchak Carroll arrest was made and Security is ment was issued.” According to the and Elisheva Kohn working with the NYPD on next email, the investigation is “ongo- steps.” The email also emphasized ing,” but the NYPD “concluded this The Schottenstein Residence that “there is no current threat to was not a hate crime.” It reiterated Hall on the Beren Campus was our residence hall or the campus.” that “there is no current threat to broken into in the early morn- YU Security sent another email our campuses.” ing hours of Friday, Dec. 20, and to YU students and faculty mem- On Saturday evening, the NYPD three small fires were set. Peter bers, as well as parents of under- Hate Crimes Task Force tweet- Weyand, 33, was arrested at the graduate students, on Saturday ed, “While the arson at Yeshiva scene by Fire Department of New evening at 7:41 p.m., clarifying the University is currently not believed York (FDNY) Fire Marshals on incident following the coverage by to be a hate crime, the NYPD and charges of burglary, arson, reck- media outlets that occurred over HCTF are staying touch with less endangerment and criminal Saturday. FDNY until a final determination trespass, though officials are not According to the email, an in- is made.” charging the defendant with a hate truder approached the Security Footage released by the FDNY crime at this time. team at Schottenstein Residence shows a person kick the bottom After kicking through the glass Hall asking for help, at which pane of the glass door outside of door of the dormitory, Weyand point the Security team “immedi- the dormitory building and then walked down the hallway of the ately called 911 and did not let him walk away, only to return and kick lobby and used matches left out into the building.” After kicking the door several more times. The in the open to start three small through the glass door, entering individual then pushed through the fires, according to an FDNY press the building and running to the pane and crawled into the dorm release. According to officials, the back lounge, the intruder “set a lobby, picked up a telephone at matches were intended to light small fire with toilet paper.” the security desk and put it back. Chanukah menorahs. Firefighters “The fire was extinguished im- According to multiple Stern arrived on the scene shortly there- mediately by the sprinkler system College students residing in after and extinguished the flames and the NYPD and FDNY were on Schottenstein, fire alarms went without injuries. site within minutes of the initial off in the dormitory early in the In an email to Beren students at call,” YU Security wrote in the morning and commotion ensued approximately 11:30 a.m. on Friday email. “A fire alarm went off and as students began to run down to morning, YU Security informed residents were instructed to stay Continued on Page 3 students of “an incident” that set in their rooms; after the intruder The front door was repaired on Friday. DANI LANE was arrested and the FDNY cleared

History Revisited: Over $5.6 Million Raised Controversy Over LGBT Clubs at at Hanukkah Dinner; YU Graduate Schools $18 Million Donation by generate awareness and sensitivity.” Azrieli Foundation Announced By Doniel Weinreich The developments of the past few years, however, are not the first time This year’s dinner also marked the inaugu- Much controversy and fanfare has controversy has been ignited over LGBT By Avi Hirsch ration of the Legacy Award, presented to the been raised this year over demands for groups at YU. Several of YU’s graduate Azrieli Foundation in celebration of “36 years schools have had LGBT clubs since the an LGBT club at Yeshiva University’s Over $5.6 million was raised from the 95th of transformative partnership with Yeshiva ‘80s, and in the mid-‘90s controversy undergraduate colleges. Students at- Annual Yeshiva University Hanukkah Dinner University,” and in honor of the foundation’s erupted over those as well, in one case tempted to officially form such a club and Convocation, which marks a 12% increase 30 years of philanthropy, according to YU garnering national media attention. last year, but they were rejected by the from last year’s dinner and the largest sum News. Dr. Naomi Azrieli, chair and CEO of raised from the dinner in at least seven years. the foundation, accepted the award. LGBT groups had existed at Cardozo and the Albert The Azrieli Foundation, honored at the din- The Yeshiva University Women’s ner with the inaugural Legacy Award, an- Organization (YUWO) was recognized at Einstein College of Medicine since at least 1987, but Kay’s nounced a gift of $18 million to the university the dinner as well. YUWO provides scholar- to support the Azrieli Graduate School of ships to YU students, sponsors educational graduation speech ignited a mass movement to ban them, Jewish Education and Administration and Shabbatonim (shabbat programs) for YU to contribute to undergraduate scholarships. undergraduate students, funds chesed (char- with particular focus on Cardozo. This year’s dinner was held at the New ity) programs and offers stipends for under- York Hilton Midtown Hotel and hosted graduate students in need. administration. This year a march and around 600 attendees. According to Adam “We’ve crafted an educational vision that One of the first such controversies oc- rally was organized in support of LGBT Gerdts, VP of Institutional Advancement … capitalizes on the opportunities of our era curred in 1993 over a meeting of an LGBT students at YU and in protest of the ad- at YU, the $5.6 million raised at the dinner by growing science, tech, innovation and en- group in the Wurzweiler School of Social ministration’s complacency. The rally “will be used across the university including trepreneurship,” said President Ari Berman Work (WSSW). Wurzweiler was founded and its aftermath led to media coverage scholarships.” in his opening remarks. He continued by in 1957 and in its early years was located outside of YU and a renewed discussion in Howard Jonas, founder and chairman of elaborating on the financial success that YU in midtown Manhattan. However, in 1982, the Modern Orthodox community about IDT Corporation, Genie Energy and IDW has seen in recent years. “But this does not Wurzweiler left midtown and relocated to LGBT issues. Earlier this year, President Media, was awarded an honorary doctorate speak directly to our fundamental purpose,” Belfer Hall on YU’s Washington Heights Ari Berman announced a new team led at the dinner. He serves as chairman of the by Senior Vice President Josh Joseph to Continued on Page 7 board of Rafael Pharmaceuticals, and he and Continued on Page 4 “work on formulating a series of educa- his wife have contributed to a wide array of tional platforms and initiatives that will causes in the Jewish community.

NEWS | 8 FEATURES | 15 OPINIONS | 19 BUSINESS | 23 Jewish Week Journalist Barred from Commentator Library Survey: And as the Credits Roll: 2019 IPO's Speaking at YU Shabbaton A Comprehensive Analysis My Top Ten Movies of the Year 2 From the Editor’s Desk Monday, December 23, 2019

The Commentator 2019-2020

Editor-in-Chief From the Editor's Desk AVI HIRSCH Managing Editor YOSSI ZIMILOVER

News A Letter to the Josh Joseph Committee Senior Editor Junior Editors YITZCHAK CARROLL JACOB ROSENFELD schools. How will you avoid the problem received religious exemptions from Title ELISHEVA KOHN By Jacob Stone there? Whatever means you are presently IX, but it remains unclear if YU would using will soon become obsolete, if you be able to secure such an exemption as a Features An extensive historical analysis of the are true to your duty as the head of a non- non-sectarian institution. When asked for Senior Editor Junior Editor discussions that surrounded the creation denominational institution to ‘conform to comment on YU’s Title IX status, Senior JACOB STONE YOSEF LEMEL of gay student clubs in the YU graduate the secular law.’” Vice President Josh Joseph noted, ”YU schools has been published in this issue. I must agree with Rabbi Keller. If has not to date applied for a Title IX ex- Opinions It chronicles the controversy involving President Berman is to be true to his duty emption. We work diligently to ensure as the head of this non-sectarian univer- compliance with all laws and regulations Senior Editor Junior Editor the gay clubs that were formed at Cardozo CHANA WEINBERG MICHAEL WEINER Law School, Albert Einstein College of sity, he cannot continue to discriminate while maintaining the environment and Medicine and other YU graduate schools against undergraduate students based culture that are core to our mission. Our in the 1990s. The discussions had during on their sexual orientation and gender policies prohibit any form of harassment Business that controversy maintain relevance to the identity. Many opinion pieces have been or discrimination against students on the Senior Editor Junior Editor current deliberations of the committee led written in the YU newspapers that discuss basis of protected classifications.” ELI FRISHMAN EITAN LAVIAN by Vice President Josh Joseph examining the interplay of halakha and LGBTQ is- But both New York state and city law the state of LGBTQ inclusion on campus. sues, and their conclusions have been have provisions banning discrimination After a student protest demanding the constructive and thought-provoking. But on the basis of sexual orientation. New Senior Layout Editor creation of a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) those discussions should be theoretical, York State’s human rights law explicitly ROCKY PINCUS and equal funding for LGBTQ-themed not practical, in nature. As a non-de- prohibits colleges from “deny[ing] the use events, the YU community and the com- nominational institution, our duty lies of its facilities to any person otherwise Social Media Manager mittee led by Senior Vice President Josh in accepting the multiplicity of narratives qualified, or to permit the harassment AHARON NISSEL Joseph should take a moment to consider that exist in our colleges, one of those of any student or applicant, by reason of the lessons that history has taught us. being that of the LGBTQ community and … sexual orientation.” If YU is working Website Manager its allies. to “ensure compliance with all laws and In the ‘90s, then-President Norman ELAZAR KRAUSZ Lamm elected to allow gay clubs in the regulations,” as Joseph claims, then why graduate schools to continue, claiming have LGBTQ-themed clubs and events that YU’s non-denominational status Thus, I request that the been suppressed by the administration? Business Manager required him to forgo his personal re- committee led by Josh Joseph In the ‘90s, YU made clear in a press Senior Manager Junior Manager ligious convictions. He was referring to release fact-sheet that student leaders, SAMUEL KATZ MEIR LIGHTMAN the secularization of YU that occurred in reflect on the history of not the administration, are in charge of 1970, in which YU separated from RIETS club approval and allocation of funds Programmer and became a non-sectarian institution LGBTQ inclusion in this for student activities. This could be ar- OMAR FARUK in order to qualify for government fund- gued to be a defense of the university’s ing. While YU continues to be rooted in university and consider practices; if it is the students who reject funding for LGBTQ clubs and events, Layout Staff Jewish values, its graduate and under- the hypocrisy that is ARIELLA BENOVITZ, MICHELLE NAIM, graduate divisions remain legally secular. then the administration is not acting in TEMIMA YELLIN President Lamm and the YU administra- inherent in this university’s a discriminatory fashion. tion, therefore, could not discriminate Efforts by student leaders, how- against gay students who sought equal current attitude towards ever, have shown otherwise. The stu- Staff Writers access to university facilities and student dent council presidents of the Yeshiva SARAH BEN-NUN, MAYER FINK, SRULI activity funds. undergraduate LGBTQ Student Union (YSU), the Yeshiva College FRUCHTER, NOAM GERSHOV, ZACHARY In the modern day, Yeshiva College, clubs and events. Student’s Association (YCSA) and Stern GREENBERG, NATHAN HAKAKIAN, Stern College for Women, and the Sy College for Women Student Council TEMMI LATTIN, JOSH LEICHTER, AVI (SCWSC) worked throughout the past Syms School of Business are all, as YU’s LEKOWSKY, DANIEL MELOOL, MICHELLE YU’s secular nature does not under- academic year with President Berman undergraduate institutions, part of the NAIM, DONIEL WEINREICH same non-sectarian charter that governs mine the Jewish roots of our school, and and other administrators to secure a GSA the graduate schools. Thus, the ques- the school may require religious classes on campus but it was not approved. They tion must be asked of the committee or offer Jewish holidays off, given that recounted that a club application for a led by Joseph: what has changed since such provisions are offered equally to all. GSA was submitted in the Spring 2019 The Jewish roots of our school do not, semester, but members of the Office of The Commentator is the student newspaper of President Lamm allowed the formation Yeshiva University. of gay clubs in the graduate schools in however, permit discrimination towards Student Life contacted them to inform the ‘90s? If the legal protections prevent- specific groups of students. them such a club could not be allowed on For 85 years, The Commentator has served ing discrimination against gay students More legal defenses of LGBTQ stu- the undergraduate campus. Clearly, it is students and administrators as a communicative have not changed since, then why does dents have evolved since the ‘90s contro- the administration, not student leaders, conduit; a kinetic vehicle disseminating versy surrounding the graduate schools. who are discriminating against LGBTQ undergraduate social, religious and academic the administration allow LGBTQ clubs beliefs across the student bodies; and a reliable at the graduate level but forbid them to Title IX, a prohibition against discrimi- students. reflection of Yeshiva student life to the broader undergraduates? nation based on sex at institutes that re- Erin Harrist, Senior Staff Attorney at Jewish and American communities. I am not the first to make the con- ceive federal funding, “protects students, the New York Civil Liberties Union, com- nection between YU’s non-sectarian un- employees, applicants for admission or mented on the current state of affairs at The Commentator staff claims students employment, and other persons from all YU, “The university — including the un- spanning the diverse spectrum of backgrounds dergraduate and graduate schools. At and beliefs represented at Yeshiva. the time of the graduate school contro- forms of sex discrimination, including dergraduate schools — is not incorporated versy, Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller wrote to discrimination based on gender identity as a religious entity, so it should need to We are united by our passion for living the President Lamm in The Jewish Observer, or failure to conform to stereotypical no- comply with the New York City Human ideals of Torah Umadda, and a commitment to journalistic excellence. “To borrow a phrase from your book, tions of masculinity or femininity.” YU Rights Law, in which case, it would be is subject to Title IX as a recipient of discrimination for the university to not Torah Umadda, the problem ‘will not Views expressed in The Commentator are those sneak away like a thief in the night.’ Are federal funding, yet the administration permit a gay club ... I would say with of its writers and do not necessarily reflect your undergraduate colleges, Yeshiva consistently hampers student activists’ fair confidence that they need to let the those of the editorial board or the student College and Stern College for Women, attempts to arrange events and clubs sur- club exist.” body, faculty, and administration of Yeshiva University. not under the same nondenominational rounding gender identity, among other Continued on Page 8 charter? Sooner or later you will have to categories of LGBTQ. Visit us online at face the problem of gay students in these Some universities have applied for and www.yucommentator.org. Monday, December 23, 2019 7 Up 7 Down 3

Uptown Observer/Commentator Shabbaton Turns out, the people I work with are actually kind of cool. 1 SCHOTTENSTEIN HALL, continued from Front Page

YU ranked one of the top five “most underrated colleges in the country,” the lobby. Students noticed the broken glass according to patch.com and overheard rumors from fellow residents that a burglar attempted to break into the 2 Agreed. YU would be 26th if it weren’t for swag day. building but were told by security guards to head back up to their rooms. Fire alarms continued going off as stu- The “I am just a minyan man looking for a minyan woman” mug on dents locked themselves in their rooms. Redbubble Nearly a half-hour later, FDNY firefighters accessed the dorm’s public address system 3 Great Chanukah gift idea! and notified students that the matter was under control. When students came down General Seating in the morning, they noticed the front door glass was shattered. The door was repaired They should’ve just called it Sy Syms Seating. #soldout later Friday morning. 4 Automatic sprinklers were also activated in the newly-opened Schottenstein communal kitchen. The kitchen is currently functional, Billy Joel according to an email Beren Campus Director of University Housing and Residence Life From “Uptown Girl” to “We Didn’t Start The Fire” — this guy shall henceforth be referred to as the Rachel Kraut sent to Schottenstein residents 5 YU Prophet. shortly after the incident was made public. Communication deficiencies exacerbated the situation. “The lack of information we Roomies of Commies received for the first 15 minutes was more alarming than what was actually happening,” Sorry all the major stories happen on Friday morning when you are trying to sleep in. Love you. said one Schottenstein resident, who wished 6 to remain anonymous. Resident advisers were not formally notified of the attempted Our very own YCSA President’s View From YU break-in. Shortly before Shabbat, Kraut sent an

Oh em gee! He davens and wrks out and studies scIeNCe and knows Zarrowe and uses email to Schottenstein residents to assuage

hashtags!!!!!!!! Good luck with gel electrophoresis <3 concerns. Kraut contended that the university

7 does not believe the matter was a targeted

hate crime, and that YU Security “worked to

make sure this was resolved quickly,” adding that guards “called [911] immediately.” No 7 DOWN students were in the lounge at the time of by Elisheva Kohn the incident, according to Kraut. 7UP Schottenstein resident Dani Lane (SCW ‘21) remarked, “the situation was really con- fusing and a little scary due to the lack of information but I really appreciate the quick response of YU’s security, the NYPD and FDNY.” YU admissions brochures: intellectuals vs. women According to the suspect’s LinkedIn page, Come on, you can do better! I want to grow as a Mommy, a Morah and an Eshes Chayil! Weyand was working as a freelance software #gobigorgohome developer prior to the incident. On Thursday, 1 Dec. 19, the day before the incident, Weyand posted on LinkedIn, “They're trying to make a martyr of me, but I'm no martyr. I'm a @realbriskarav on Twitter helper and a doer. I want to help people but I dont know how.” You like your own Tweets. Tragic. 2 Several hours prior to that post, Weyand wrote, “Killing is the old way. If you want to move forward in the world you must find a way to love and respect other people that Should you put ketchup in your chulent? doesnt involve violence. We need everyone to get together and realize that we are just a DID THEY HAVE KETCHUP IN THE SHTETL??? YOU TELL ME. 3 bunch of monkeys sitting under trees. And... just because you have more toys, that doesn't make you better than the little guy.” “Attacking any religious institution is a People who bring their shabbos bags to class on Thursdays serious crime and we have zero tolerance for acts of arson in this city,” said FDNY The ultimate way to signal to everyone how in-town-y you are. #escapeYU 4 Commissioner Daniel Nigro in a statement. “Thanks to the thorough investigative work of our Fire Marshals, a dangerous individual The Rolex has been quickly apprehended.” As of the time of publication, the FDNY’s A lousy timepiece, especially in comparison to the ORA Watch Watch Watch Watch. Office of Public Information and the NYPD’s 5 Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Public Information did not respond to The Commentator’s inquiries. The lamb at the Chanukah Dinner Jacob Rosenfeld and Avi Hirsch contrib- uted to this story. “Tbh, not even that great,” according to a person familiar with the matter. 6 Man attempts to set Schottenstein Hall on fire Eh... Have you seen all those brOkEn eLEvAtOrs though??? Count += 1 7 4 News Monday, December 23, 2019 Students Discuss LGBTQ Issues at YCSA Meet & Greet allies, and student leaders, will continue to students went to Senior Vice President Josh including the possibility of forming an of- By Sruli Fruchter work on promoting dialogue on the issue of Joseph’s office to try collaborating with him ficial YU Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club. LGBTQ+ rights in our institution. This is just on possible solutions to LGBTQ concerns. Although the GSA club’s initial application A Yeshiva College Student Association the beginning of our advocacy.” “The president has asked me to facilitate was approved by Stern College for Women (YCSA) “Meet & Greet” was held on the Wilf Formed in September, the YU Pride a number of meetings for the team with Student Council (SCWSC), Yeshiva Student Campus on the evening of Dec. 9. Although Alliance is an unofficial student group students — groups, individuals — as well as Union (YSU) and YCSA in the spring of 2019, the official title of the event was “YCSA Meet that does not receive funding from YU’s many others,” Joseph commented on that YU’s Office of Student Life denied the club’s & Greet,” YCSA President Leib Wiener ex- Office of Student Life (OSL). According to meeting. “Those are well underway, and application. plained that the purpose of the event was its Facebook page, its mission is “to foster we have had many learning opportunities Conversations about LGBTQ inclusion on to “show support to the LGBTQ community an environment of acceptance on [YU’s] through these conversations.” campus have resurfaced this year. Following at YU.” campus for the LGBTQ+ community and This was not the first time YU students the march for LGBTQ equality on campus on advocated for LGBTQ inclusion on campus. Sept. 15, the YU Pride Alliance was formed. “Creating dialogue about the grassroots LGBTQ community Last year, the YU College Democrats brought Former YU employees and alumni later or- Ben Katz (YC ‘11), an LGBTQ activist, to YU ganized a “#PledgeNotToPledge” campaign and its allies on campus was something that I thought was to speak about LGBTQ inclusion in religious leading up to YU’s annual Giving Day. Israeli communities. Before that program, “[YCSA is] trying to help an underrepre- incredibly important.” the last event at YU dealing with LGBTQ sented community start dialogue on cam- ___ issues took place in 2010, when a panel pus,” Wiener noted. Other students at the Leib Wiener, President of YCSA organized by the Tolerance Club and the event shared a similar sentiment. “LGBTQ Wurzweiler School of Social Work was held awareness is an important discussion to have 10 students came to the event, which was its allies — community is at the root of what on the topic of “Being Gay In The Modern on campus,” remarked SCWSC VP of Clubs only promoted through WhatsApp messag- we stand for.” Orthodox World.” Elka Wiesenberg after the event, “and I’m ing. At the event, which took place in YU’s “As President Berman and other ad- Over the course of the 2018-2019 aca- proud to be a part in making it visible by Furst Hall, LGBTQ students and allies from ministrators have noted, the students at demic year, The Commentator reported, participating in this event.” the YU Pride Alliance led a conversation Yeshiva University must create dialogue then-current presidents of YU’s student As of the time of publication, Dean of with other undergraduate students about for the issues that we think are important at councils met with President Berman and Students Dr. Chaim Nissel and Senior LGBTQ matters at YU. The attending stu- our institution,” Wiener explained. “To that other university officials on numerous oc- Director of Student Life Rabbi Josh Weisberg dents spoke about campus attitudes towards end, creating dialogue about the grassroots casions to discuss LGBTQ-related issues, did not return a request for comment. the LGBTQ community, ways to humanize LGBTQ community and its allies on campus the LGBTQ community at YU and how to was something that I thought was incredibly foster an LGBTQ-friendly environment. important.” “I wanted to give students the ability to Students at the event also expressed frus- voice their own opinions, struggles, and tration about the state of LGBTQ issues triumphs about being Jewish and LGBTQ in on campus. Among the topics raised were a safe and welcoming environment,” Wiener the inability to host LGBTQ events at YU, explained. disappointing meetings with YU officials “Having a small, yet diverse, group of about LGBTQ concerns and YU’s refusal to students meet to discuss how to better the sanction an LGBTQ club. lives of an underprivileged population gives Past and future efforts to work with YU me hope,” Molly Meisels, president of the administration on addressing LGBTQ issues YU Pride Alliance shared. “I, along with were reflected upon during the YCSA event. other members of the LGBTQ+ student body, At one point this year, a student shared, eight Yeshiva College Student Association’s Logo YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

future of our communities,” said President to fill the position in March. Since Seth which raised over $5.7 million for student HANUKKAH DINNER, Berman. “The Azrieli family is the gold seal Moskowitz resigned from the position the scholarships, brought in far fewer donors continued from Front Page in philanthropy, and this gift reflects their morning after the 92nd Annual Hanukkah compared to previous years, and over $4 mil- true partnership and commitment to the Dinner in 2016, no individual has held the lion of the $5.7 million raised was donated he added. “Why are we here?” essential work of Yeshiva University.” title of VP of Institutional Advancement for by 11 individuals. “Our goal and purpose is to transmit our This year’s dinner was the first in five two years in a row. Past honorees of the dinner include positive Jewish values to our children, to years to not feature a keynote address; the “This was my first Hanukkah Dinner at American politicians such as Adlai fill their lives with meaning,” he explained. last such dinner was the 90th annual dinner YU,” said Gerdts. “I am excited to keep the Stevenson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, “Very simply put, this is the purpose of a in 2014. When reached for comment, Gerdts momentum going and working together George H.W. Bush, Jack Kemp, Colin Powell, Jewish university today … Our purpose is emphasized Dr. Azrieli’s address in response with my colleagues to continue to support Joseph Lieberman, George W. Bush, Hillary to educate our students to internalize our to the Azrieli Foundation’s acceptance of the university’s efforts.” Clinton, John McCain, Mike Bloomberg, Al values and be successful role models and the Legacy Award. “[W]e were delighted According to Gerdts, “The Office of Gore, Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, Jack leaders in an ever-evolving world.” for her to share the announcement of this Institutional Advancement, the Marketing Lew and Andrew Cuomo; Israeli politicians According to YU News, the Azrieli transformative gift,” he said. “Featuring her and Communications Office, the University such as Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog, Chaim Foundation’s donation is “one of the larg- in this way was aligned with the design of Events Office, University Leadership, and Herzog and Nir Barkat; philanthropists such est gifts focused on Jewish education that the dinner.” lay leadership all had a role in organizing as Ghity Lindenbaum Stern (the widow Yeshiva University has received.” It follows Last year’s dinner took place on the heels the dinner.” of Max Stern), Sy Syms, Philip Belz, Ira their $10 million donation in 2012, which of shakeups in the Office of Institutional Other than the annual Hanukkah dinner, Mitzner, Stanley Raskas and Laurie Tisch; was at the time the largest single donation Advancement that resulted in Julie Schreier’s the Office of Institutional Advancement is re- as well as columnists such as David Brooks ever made by the foundation. appointment as Interim Vice President of sponsible for large-scale fundraising efforts and Bret Stephens. “This historic gift to Jewish education and Institutional Advancement. This year’s din- such as the annual 24-hour Giving Day fun- Jewish educators is transformative for the ner is the first since Gerdts was appointed draising campaign. This year’s Giving Day,

(L-R) Dr. Rona Novick, Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration; YU President Ari Berman; YU NEWS Dr. Sharon Azrieli; Dr. Naomi Azrieli, Chair of the Azrieli Foundation; Dr. Herbert Dobrinsky, Vice President for University Affairs Monday, December 23, 2019 News 5 Student Councils to Bring Back Chanukah Concert, New Programming Planned The results from the poll led him Students Chaim Nissel did not Aryeh Lebowitz, SBMP Mashgiach event that can cater towards the en- By Commentator Staff to select Shapiro and Friedman for respond to The Commentator’s Ruchani Rabbi Aharon Ciment and tire university, much like the Yoms the concert. inquiries regarding the event and MYP Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Elchanan and Purim festivities do,” he said. The Yeshiva University student “We are building the event in its budget. Sacknovitz declined to Adler will be giving shiurim. The “This concert is a chance for all of councils will be bringing back the a way that appeals to everyone on comment on budgetary matters coed option will be led by JSS our students to unite as a whole, annual Chanukah concert this year campus,” Sacknovitz said. “There is relating to donations from GMF Assistant Director Rabbi Jon Green and enjoy not only the entertain- after a five-year hiatus. The “GMF separate men’s and women’s seat- Capital and other sponsors. and his wife, Debra. Latkes, donuts ment, but also enjoy our peers who Capital and Yeshiva University ing as well as general seating. The Sacknovitz noted that he is and drinks will be available for stu- attend this complex institution that Chanukah Concert,” slated for Dec. performers appeal to a wide range fundraising to help defray costs dents in the Furman Dining Hall. we are a part of.” 23, will begin at 6:45 p.m. in the of people. The post-concert pro- and that with ticket sales, he Previously, Chanukah concerts Students are looking forward to Lamport Auditorium on the Wilf gramming has a range of options hopes to break even to what past were a staple of the holiday’s pro- this year’s event. “I've never been to Campus. that can be good for all of YU. All Chanukahfests have cost. He fur- gramming in YU. However, in 2015, a Benny Friedman or a Mordechai President Ari Berman will begin in all, we are excited.” ther emphasized that making tick- the decision was made to cease Shapiro concert before, so seeing the event with opening remarks, In an effort to make the con- ets free for students “will allow a running concerts, due to their cost them both in concert at the same which will be followed by a siyum time is going to be an amazing ex- (completion ceremony) on Shas by After four years of “Chanukahfests,” the YU Student Councils are perience,” said Ben Freund (SSSB Sy Syms School of Business (SSSB) ‘20). “There’s so much going on Dean Noam Wasserman. Singers reintroducing the annual Chanukah concert in an effort to reach “people from and I'm so excited to go.” Benny Friedman and Mordechai a wide spectrum of YU,” according to Syms Student Council President Shapiro will then perform with the Chaim Mahgerefteh (SSSB ‘20) Freilach Band. YSU President Ariel Sacknovitz (SSSB ‘20). credited Sacknovitz’s effort for After four years of planning and executing the event. “Chanukahfests,” the YU student cert more appealing to students, greater number of students to be and the need to pass the tab onto “Ariel is a true leader for taking councils are reintroducing the an- Sacknovitz decided not to charge involved and enjoy Chanukah on students. Additionally, attendance the initiative of bringing back nual Chanukah concert in an effort current YU undergraduate stu- campus.” was low at past Chanukah concerts, the Chanukah Concert,” he said. to reach “people from a wide spec- dents for admission. According Nevertheless, the concert’s cost with many attendees coming from “People should recognize how trum of YU,” according to Yeshiva to the concert website, tickets for sparked concerns among some stu- outside the student body. Student much time and effort he devoted Student Union (YSU) President YU faculty and administrators cost dents. “I have no idea what the leaders decided to replace the con- to making the concert a success Ariel Sacknovitz (SSSB ‘20). $15, tickets for alumni cost $20 and goal of the concert is, or why the certs with “Chanukahfest” events, and making it a special evening According to Sacknovitz, the general tickets cost $36. institution is investing so much modeling the Welcome Back Bash for all students.” event will be “geared towards ev- Multiple student council sourc- into it,” said one Yeshiva College and Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration. “I am so grateful for every eryone in YU, no matter which es, who commented on the condi- (YC) sophomore, who commented These events have been comprised person who worked so diligent- group you choose to identify with.” tion of anonymity, said the tab for on the condition of anonymity. of various arcade and carnival-like ly on this project,” added Torah To this end, Sacknovitz said he con- this year’s concert, food and post- Following the Chanukah con- games designed to foster socializa- Activities Council (TAC) President vened small focus groups to iden- event programming is expected cert, there will be several ac- tion among students, as well as Bella Adler (SCW '20). “Jewish en- tify possible performers. He then to amount to roughly $60,000. tivities for students. Leil iyun refreshments. gagement comes in many shapes polled over 100 students from the According to former YSU President learning-based events will be SOY President Yoni Broth and sizes in our diverse community four men’s Undergraduate Torah Nolan Edmonson (YC '19), last held in men-only, women-only (SSSB ‘20) touted the unifying na- and I’m thrilled to support and Studies (UTS) morning programs year’s Chanukahfest cost less than and coed formats. For the men- ture of the Chanukah programming help organize the concert. Music and from varying religious back- $20,000 — a third of the reported and women-only events, Young slated for this year. “By having a can be a uniting factor for many grounds on the Beren Campus to cost of this year’s event. Israel of Woodmere Rosh Beis concert, and a leil iyun, and a social people and I hope we allow it to select performers that would ap- YU’s Office of Student Life Medrash Rabbi Shay Schachter, reception, and Mordechai Shapiro be just that.” peal to a wide array of students. (OSL) and University Dean of RIETS Director of Semikha Rabbi and Benny Friedman, it is truly an

The flyer for YU’s Chanukah concert JOSEPH JACOBS ADVERTISING 6 News Monday, December 23, 2019 Jewish Week Journalist Barred from Speaking at YU Shabbaton interviewing workshop at Yeshiva University In December 2017, a request by the YU After Rabbi Dr. Reifman was approved as By Avi Hirsch High School for Girls (Central) on Oct. 31, Poetry Club to screen the film “Dead Poets a speaker following weeks of delays, a re- which was covered by YU News at the time. Society” was rejected by the OSL. Their rea- quest form for the event was submitted a Yeshiva University’s Office of Student Molly Meisels (SCW ‘21), editor-in-chief son for rejecting this request was that the week before the event was scheduled to take Life (OSL) rejected a request to bring Jewish of the YU Observer, was frustrated by the film contains “inappropriate material that is place. According to Doniel Weinreich (YC Week journalist Shira Hanau to speak at OSL’s decision. “It is evident that Yeshiva not in line with Yeshiva Universities halachik ‘20), at the time an Event Coordinator for a joint YU Observer/Commentator club University would rather avoid controversy and moral standards,” according to an email Kol Hamevaser, Weisberg finally informed Shabbaton on Dec. 14. Senior Director of amongst their rabbinic leadership and ad- from Weisberg to the president of the Poetry the club two days before the event that “the Student Life Rabbi Josh Weisberg explained ministrative body than provide students with Club at the time. According to Common proposed topic is not a good fit.” The event the decision by referring to the fact that diverse opportunities,” she said. Sense Media, the film is recommended took place only after it was sponsored by Hanau had reported on recent YU events. “For this Shabbat experience that we are being super sensitive about,” wrote Weisberg “Shira Hanau, an emerging leader in the world of Jewish journalism, has been on the forefront of in an email to the Student Council leaders issues impacting the Jewish community. For YU to reject her attendance at a student journalism organizing the Shabbaton, “I don’t think it makes sense to invite a speaker that has re- Shabbat for reporting objectively on the YU Pride March back in September is shameful..” cently been reporting on YU current events.” ___ Hanau was one of several options put for- YU Observer Editor-in-Chief Molly Meisels (SCW ‘21) ward by the student newspapers to be a guest speaker on the Shabbaton and was the only one denied. After Hanau was rejected, “Shira Hanau, an emerging leader in the by parents for kids ages 14 and up, and it YU’s Robert M. Beren Department of Jewish Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) Opinion world of Jewish journalism, has been on the has a PG rating from the Motion Picture Studies, which is not required to run events Editor Laura Adkins was invited and spoke forefront of issues impacting the Jewish Association of America. A censored version by the OSL. at the Shabbaton. community,” Meisels added. “For YU to re- of the film was allowed to be shown only the “It was ridiculously frustrating that after Hanau, a staff writer at The New York ject her attendance at a student journalism following semester, with one scene depicting following all the proper procedures and at- Jewish Week, reports on politics, religion Shabbat for reporting objectively on the YU the centerfold of a Playboy magazine — the tempting to work with them for months, we and the American Jewish community for Pride March back in September is shameful.” “inappropriate material” Weisberg had re- were hindered by OSL's incompetence and the paper. She covered the “We, Too, Are At the time of publication, Weisberg did ferred to — removed. proclivity for censorship,” said Weinreich YU” march for LGBTQ representation at not respond to The Commentator’s request This was not the only incident in which about the incident. “Unfortunately, this was YU in September, as well as the subsequent for comment. the OSL rejected a club event without any not an exception, but was characteristic of dissolution and reinstatement of the YU The OSL is responsible for approving specific written policy or guideline as a basis. nearly all my experiences with them.” College Democrats club. speakers and events at YU. Its decisions to In February this year, Kol Hamevaser invited A YU spokesperson declined to comment “Journalists provide a necessary voice in approve or reject speakers and events are not Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman, Rosh Kollel at on the OSL’s speaker and event approval any community,” said Hanau. “I would wel- spelled out in written policies, according to Drisha Summer Kollel and faculty member policies. come the opportunity to speak with Yeshiva sources familiar with the matter. Students at Drisha Institute in New York, to speak at University's student journalists about report- have occasionally expressed frustrations YU on “Tza'ar Ba'alei Hayyim and Factory ing on and being a part of a community.” with the OSL’s vague speaker and event Farming: Understanding the Roles of Legal Hanau was previously invited to give an approval process. & Moral Considerations in Psak Halakhah.”

Uptown Coed ‘Shabbat Experiences’ to Launch with Joint Commentator, Observer Shabbaton in coed meals and programming in a smaller the students participating in the Shabbaton. and foster our community is important and By Elisheva Kohn setting. This is in contrast to the major coed, Adkins, who previously served as Deputy essential for the continuity of our Yeshiva club Shabbatonim that have taken place on Opinion Editor at The Forward, will be University ecosystem.” A new initiative to bring a coed Shabbat the Beren Campus in the past. teaching an advanced writing seminar titled Last year, the announcement of the first experience to the Wilf Campus is launch- The Observer/Commentator Shabbaton “Columns and Editorials” at Stern College uptown coed Shabbaton in decades led to ing this weekend with a joint Observer/ will take place as a parallel event to the main for Women in the spring. Approximately controversy after Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Eli Commentator Shabbaton. As part of the Shabbat meals and activities on the Wilf 20 editorial board and staff members from Baruch Shulman encouraged male students effort to expand the “Community Shabbat” Campus that are open to men only. Meals The Commentator and The Observer are to leave campus for that weekend. This year, model to the uptown campus, student lead- will be held in the Yeshiva Community Shul expected to attend. Accommodations will “the OSL met with different Roshei Yeshiva ers and the Office of Student Life (OSL) have at Shenk, and JTA’s Opinion Editor Laura be provided for any students who need in to discuss future shabbaton programming on created a framework to invite clubs to run Adkins and RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Washington Heights. Wilf campus,” explained Wiener. According Shabbatonim where students can participate Jeremy Wieder are scheduled to speak to The first of its kind, the Shabbaton is the to Wiener, the Roshei Yeshiva are constantly product of cooperation between student being “updated” on new Shabbat program- leaders and the OSL. OSL Senior Director ming ideas. Rabbi Josh Weisberg, TAC President Bella Upon hearing about the initiative to bring Adler (SCW ‘20), SOY President Yoni Broth smaller coed groups uptown for Shabbat, (SSSB ‘20), TAC VP of Shabbat Ariella Eliana Lindenberg (SCW ‘21) commented, Etshalom (SCW ‘20) and Wiener aimed to “I am happy to hear they are expanding the find a way to make the Shabbat experience community uptown for the women as well. on campus more appealing to a wider range It is our university, our campus, too. We of students. Taking student feedback into should feel welcome here.” account, they concluded that to accomplish The upcoming Observer/Commentator this, it would be necessary to offer a “normal Shabbaton was also very well received by the social coed environment for people who newspapers’ staff. “After the controversies want to be in that environment,” according surrounding women on the Wilf Campus to Etshalom. Unlike previous major coed for Shabbat arose last year, I am proud that Shabbatonim on the Midtown campus, this student leaders are taking the initiative this new model will focus on individual clubs year to provide the YU undergraduate stu- and allow them to expand their regular coed dent body with diverse Shabbat experiences,” programming to the weekend while avoiding commented Molly Meisels, editor-in-chief of an overwhelming social experience for the The Observer. “YU is not one thing. Its stu- rest of the students on campus who prefer dents do not belong to one religious subset. to remain in a non-coed environment. These Allowing students to choose their version of new Shabbatonim will effectively bring the a meaningful Shabbat is an integral aspect new Beren “Community Shabbat” model to of their experiences on campus.” the Wilf Campus. According to Etshalom, When reached for comment about keeping the meals and activities “normal- the new Shabbat programming, Dean of sized” will “make sure that everyone feels Students Dr. Chaim Nissel said, “The Office comfortable on campus.” of Student Life works closely with student “Yeshiva University has a diverse stu- leaders and YU administrators to create dent community,” said YCSA President Leib programming that meets the diverse needs The Wilf Campus THE COMMENTATOR Wiener (YC ‘20), “and providing different of our student body.” shabbat options to keep students on campus Monday, December 23, 2019 Features 7

and criticized Dr. Lee’s conception of Yeshiva separating its yeshiva — RIETS — into an else counter to Torah is “based on bigotry LGBT CLUBS, University. In his essay, Rabbi Kahn laid out independently incorporated sectarian in- and should be rejected as mere homopho- continued from Front Page a vision of YU in the spirit of Volozhin and stitution. According to the New York City bic rationalization.” Another objected to contended that YU cannot abide by stan- Human Rights Commission, YU would lose Schwartz’s comparisons equating homo- campus. Its new location on the same cam- dards contrary to Torah or halacha, even if its tax-exempt status if it were to ban the sexuality with bestiality and satanic worship. pus as the yeshiva would exacerbate fu- it would cost the institution its accreditation gay group. The American Bar Association Some students worried that banning the ture tensions. On Nov. 21, 1993, a group or government funding. “Ossur is ossur,” he also said that it ordinarily would revoke the gay club would have a deleterious effect on of Wurzweiler students began advertising wrote, even if it has financial costs. Kahn accreditation of a non-religious institution Cardozo’s reputation and standing in the an event to discuss LGBT issues, placing then explicitly addressed the contemporane- that refuses to sanction gay groups. legal community. One gay Cardozo profes- signs on the floors of Belfer frequented ous controversy over the gay groups in the Rabbi Lamm told The Forward, “To deny sor wrote that even if the detractors were by Wurzweiler students. At the time, The graduate schools, remarking, “If gay groups gay clubs the right to function would be to legally correct, if YU was to ban the gay Commentator reported that the flyers were are abhorrent to us as Torah Jews, we have deny Yeshiva University its right to exist. group, “Cardozo School of Law would then torn down, and many Yeshiva College (YC) to be willing to sacrifice everything to reject We have no intention of closing our doors publicly stand for discrimination.” Several students voiced concern about such an event them and refuse them a forum in our midst.” over this ... It is more important [to keep the YU faculty members and rabbis likewise taking place on the same campus as the ye- This tension between “the yeshiva” and clubs so] our school stays open.” The Dean of voiced concern that banning the club would shiva. One student remarked that while such “the university” would set the stage for many Students pointed to a recent case involving jeopardize YU’s ability to attract professors, a meeting doesn’t belong in any Orthodox more controversies in the coming years. Georgetown University — a Catholic institu- students and donors. institution, “their audacity to have it on this Later that year, President Norman Lamm tion — where the District of Columbia Court Karen Marcus, the president of the campus where the Beit Midrash is located addressed the issue of homosexuality in a of Appeals ruled that the university must Cardozo Lesbian and Gay Student Alliance, is even more troubling.” In response, YU forum with students. Rabbi Lamm distin- provide its gay student organization with the also weighed in on the controversy. In a released an official statement saying, “We guished between “being gay and doing gay” same services as any other student group. letter to the Cardozo Law Forum, Marcus understand that a small group of WSSW and between people “born that way” and Some rabbis were undeterred by the pos- emphasized the unique function of the al- students plan to meet Sunday to discuss what those “who seek to legitimize their choice sible consequences, saying YU should “take liance as a medium for support in a hostile they have called gay and lesbian issues. Our [of lifestyle] in public.” Lamm also empha- the high road” anyway. Several board mem- environment. Marcus described the events legal counsel advises us that we are required sized that what people do in private is no bers agreed that a gay club was incompatible at Cardozo as a “microcosmic example of the to permit the meeting to proceed. We will one’s business and condemned “gay bash- with YU’s mission. pain and oppression lesbian and gay people do what the law requires and nothing more.” ing.” Lamm confessed that he did not know A small group of students kept the issue must face every day in the larger world.” She The meeting proceeded on Dec. 5, 1993. what he would do if confronted with a gay alive and attempted to prompt the univer- further discussed how the club had had its The controversy over the Wurzweiler professor. sity into taking action. Jeff Stier, a vocal bulletin boards vandalized, as well as some meeting happened within a general con- At this same time, there was a focus at student and editor-in-chief of the Cardozo of the double standards it had been subject to text of a recent focus on LGBT issues and Cardozo School of Law on diversity of the Law Forum, took a stand against the club, when advertising their events. The previous increased debate about the place of the ye- student body and faculty. On March 3, 1994, claiming that Lamm was allowing “the po- year, the alliance hosted a student-alumni shiva and the university at YU. That same the president of the Student Bar Association litically unpopular position of banning gay networking event, which they advertised month, controversy ensued over the Yeshiva — Cardozo’s student government — pub- social groups and letting Torah principles as a “mixer.” The administration, however, College Dramatics Society (YCDS) produc- lished a column in the Cardozo Law Forum central to the University’s essence fall by the requested that they instead brand the event tion of “Lips Together, Teeth Apart,” which decrying the lack of diversity at Cardozo. wayside.” Stier agreed with the rebbeim who as a “reception” so as not to offend any stu- some students and rabbis felt was too ap- In the column he mentioned that “certain argued that government money was not a dents. According to Marcus, it was clear that proving of “the homosexual lifestyle.” The homophobic individuals whisper about run- good reason to compromise on Torah values. this request would not have been made of a Commentator reported that their flyers were ning the Gay and Lesbian Student Alliance Moshe Schwartz wrote another column in heterosexual group. also torn and were defaced with epithets off campus.” which he disputed the illegality of banning “[The controversy] was very upsetting such as “fag play.” In response to the con- Another student, Moshe Schwartz, the gay club, warned that accepting a gay to the gay students at the time, but they got troversy, the YU administration formed a penned a response to this column. Schwartz club would run afoul of Torah Umadda and support from many professors at Cardozo,” new committee the following semester to objected to classifying those who object to condemned those “smear”ing him with accu- Marcus recalls now. “It was viewed as an af- approve scripts for YCDS productions and the presence of a gay organization on campus sations of bigotry and homophobia. Schwartz front to basic equality and civil rights. People recommend revisions. as “homophobic.” “Labeling someone homo- pointed to the presence of mezuzahs, exclu- were outraged by it.” According to Marcus, The previous year, there had been contro- phobic is a personal smear aimed at squelch- sively kosher food, and the library closing on there was never a chance that the dissenters versy over the participation of Congregation ing opposition to the homosexual lifestyle,” Shabbat as clear evidence that Cardozo was would be successful in getting Cardozo to cut Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) — an LGBT he declared. Schwartz claimed his opposition an Orthodox institution. the funding to the club. synagogue — in the Salute to Israel Parade. to the organization stemmed from the Bible Many objectors to the presence of gay The controversy reverberated in the un- In response to their prospective inclusion, and his understanding of YU as an Orthodox clubs pointed to an article by Rabbi Lamm in dergraduate colleges. The Commentator many yeshiva high schools withdrew from institution based in “Torah values.” Schwartz the 1974 Encyclopaedia Judaica Yearbook. In covered the controversy extensively, and the parade. As late as two weeks before the asked several YU rabbis their opinion, and the 12-page article, Rabbi Lamm attempted several undergraduate students wrote letters parade, it was still unclear whether YU would they agreed that the presence of a gay group to engage in a full legal and philosophi- against the club — all invoking the biblical participate. A compromise was thought to on campus was antithetical to what YU stood cal analysis of homosexuality, laying out word to’eivah (abomination). be reached wherein CBST would march in for. Schwartz was clear that he didn’t object several possible Jewish approaches to the The YU administration did not budge in the parade under the same banner as the to the presence of gay students at Cardozo, issue. His conclusions noted that “certainly, their refusal to take action against the club. Association of Reform Zionists of America but rather only to “administrative policies there must be no acceptance of separate The Cardozo Law Forum wrote on Nov. 7 that but would not be explicitly identified as an that foster their activities.” Jewish homosexual societies,” and “under both the Dean of Cardozo and the YU Dean LGBT group. This, however, was still unac- The controversy over the LGBT group at no circumstances can Judaism suffer homo- of Students affirmed that “there is no contro- ceptable to many Orthodox parties. Some Cardozo reached a peak the following year, sexuality to become respectable.” versy.” Multiple YU administrators said that YU rabbis expressed the opinion that march- catalyzed by a comment at the 1994 Cardozo taking action against the club would be illegal ing in the parade violated precepts against commencement. At the ceremony, one of discrimination and would compromise YU’s condoning sinners, and one said it was even the student speakers, Michael John Kay, “Have Lamm and his rabbis government funding. Based on Georgetown’s yehareg v’al ya’avor (one should be killed exclaimed “Michael Joseph, I love you,” in no shame or scruples?” experience, The Dean of Students voiced rather than transgress). Participation of reference to his same-sex partner with whom ___ concern that waging a legal battle would Orthodox groups was only secured three days he had exchanged rings and vows during the lead to “gay-rights groups staging rallies on before the parade, when CBST was expelled previous summer. Rabbi Mordechai Gifter the Yeshiva College campus, and an enraged by the parade organizers, who claimed that LGBT groups had existed at Cardozo and faculty at the graduate schools.” a feature on CBST in the New York Times the Albert Einstein College of Medicine since Other students rejected these arguments, The issue began to garner significant violated their agreement. at least 1987, but Kay’s graduation speech claiming that unlike YU’s undergraduate outside media attention. In addition to The Also during the same semester as the ignited a mass movement to ban them, with colleges, Cardozo was merely a law school Forward’s coverage, an article appeared Wurzweiler event, there was a major con- particular focus on Cardozo. The Forward and was not specifically dedicated to “Torah in The Chronicle of Higher Education in troversy over the censorship of YU’s under- reported that in the aftermath of the speech, values.” After all, most students at Cardozo November, and in January, articles ap- graduate literary journal for what some felt President Lamm’s office was “blitzed with were not religious; they went to Cardozo peared in Ma’ariv and The Jerusalem Post. was vulgar language and sexually explicit phone calls and faxes.” Many were upset at only because it was considered a good law In response to the Ma’ariv article, the roshei content. This led to vigorous discussion of Rabbi Lamm’s initial silence regarding the school. Some students claimed the non- yeshiva of RIETS published a quarter-page the relationship between the yeshiva and the incident. Moshe Schwartz told The Forward sectarian status of Cardozo was specifically advertisement in a subsequent issue, de- university. In response to the debacle, Dr. that he had a petition to form a “family- emphasized and reassured in recruitment. nouncing the gay clubs and disavowing any Will Lee — then an English professor and fac- values club” which would invite speakers Had Cardozo been unequivocally commit- affiliation between them and the yeshiva. ulty advisor to the literary journal — penned and distribute literature “criticizing the gay ted to Orthodoxy and “Torah values,” these They lamented the decline of morality in a lengthy op-ed in The Commentator, outlin- lifestyle.” (The petition was never submitted, students claimed they would not have en- America, that the law forced them to recog- ing his vision of Yeshiva University and ob- and Schwartz later claimed that it was never rolled. Students involved in the gay club nize these groups and that they even had to jecting to the censorship, which he deemed meant to be.) were perplexed as to why there was a con- write a letter regarding what they thought antithetical to the values of a university. To many, the heart of the controversy was troversy at all. should be obvious. “We express our deep Rabbi Aharon Kahn — a Rosh Yeshiva at the the religious status of YU itself. In order to Schwartz’s columns provoked many nega- Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary continue to qualify for government fund- tive responses. One letter in the Cardozo Continued on Page 8 (RIETS) — then wrote an equally lengthy ing, YU revised its charter in 1970, legally Law Forum alleged that the selective focus op-ed in which he defended the censorship becoming a non-sectarian institution and on homosexuality as opposed to anything 8 Features Monday, December 23, 2019

LLP. The two attorneys present — includ- true to Torah U’Madda.” According to Rabbi Blau, gay pride was seen LGBT CLUBS, ing current YU Board of Trustees member The Haredi world continued to criticize as a celebration of that choice, which is what continued from Page 7 Philip Rosen — explained that New York law YU over this issue. During the summer was perceived as a problem by the roshei requires educational institutions to provide of 1995, Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller — Rosh yeshiva. Rabbi Blau confirmed that today he distress and protest with all our might over protected groups with equal access to facili- Yeshiva of Telshe in Chicago and a promi- would not stand by the content or rhetoric this painful and disgraceful situation which ties. A religious exemption is only possible nent critic of Modern Orthodoxy — pub- of the letter. is to the disapproval of our Torah tradition,” if the institution defines itself as religious. lished a letter to Rabbi Lamm in The Jewish Exacerbating the controversy that sum- they wrote. YU had legally separated from RIETS and Observer criticizing him for his previous mer was a syndicated article by JTA, which In The Jerusalem Post, Rabbi Lamm pub- became a non-sectarian institution 25 years statements on the topic and for not trying to reported that Yeshiva College undergradu- licly commented for the first time since the earlier. During that period, YU had filed for fight the legality. “When the very life prin- ates were now also trying to start a gay club. September article in The Forward, stating, government aid numerous times, specifically ciple of a reputable educational institution According to an anonymous student, this “As a rabbi I cannot and do not condone declaring itself a non-religious institution. is threatened, it does not hire counsel to was actually an attempt to force the admin- homosexual behavior, which is expressly According to the attorneys, arguing for a justify its compliance with the threatening istration to “take a stand against the club.” prohibited by Jewish Law. But as president religious exemption would be “an impos- legislation, but to fight for its principles,” he The Commentator, however, reported that of a nondenominational institution that sible task,” and might compromise tens of wrote. Keller accused Lamm of dispensing no such petition was submitted, and the must accommodate people who reflect a millions of dollars that YU receives from with the Torah part of his Torah Umadda student council president claimed students wide range of backgrounds and beliefs, it the government. philosophy. only entertained the possibility as a joke. is my duty to [ensure] that the policies and At the start of the school year in 1995, procedures of Yeshiva University conform YU’s Director of the Department of Public to the applicable provisions of secular law, “The university — including the undergraduate schools — is Relations circulated a 4-page fact sheet to even in the rare instances in which these answer some common questions and deflect may offend my own religious beliefs and not incorporated as a religious entity, so it should need to some of the criticism they had been receiv- personal convictions.” comply with the New York City Human Rights Law, in which ing. In the sheet, he reiterated that the un- The Haredi world got wind of the contro- dergraduate colleges were unaffected by the versy, and the ultra-Orthodox began using case, it would be discrimination for the university to not permit clubs in the graduate schools, and that YU the presence of a gay club in their critiques does not endorse homosexual activity. He of YU and their efforts to delegitimize its a gay club ... I would say with fair confidence that they need to let explained that the human rights ordinance philosophy of Torah Umadda. Rabbi Elazar of the City of New York prevented YU from Shach — one of the most prominent ultra- the club exist.” ___ taking any action against the clubs and that Orthodox rabbis in Israel — issued a cherem their lawyers concluded that YU would not (formal ban) against YU over the presence Erin Harrist, Senior Staff Attorney at the be eligible for a religious exemption given its of gay clubs. Another leading ultra-Ortho- New York Civil Liberties Union non-sectarian status. They further concluded dox rabbi, Mordechai Gifter (Talmudical that even if YU was a religious institution, Academy ’33), remarked, “Have Lamm and they would still likely be unable to ban the his rabbis no shame or scruples?” The meeting, however, did little to quell Rabbi Keller also warned, “Are your un- clubs given the conclusion in the Georgetown This “public relations nightmare” and the the dissidents. Stier, who was at the meeting, dergraduate schools, Yeshiva College and case that allowing clubs to exist and receive onslaught from the right was felt by under- wrote a letter to The Commentator disputing Stern College, not under the same nonde- money from student activity fees does not graduates at YU. The media attention was the attorneys’ opinions and claiming that nominational charter? Sooner or later you legally constitute an endorsement or support covered in The Commentator, which printed the religious exemption was much broader. will have to face the problem of gay clubs by the university. an editorial lamenting the publicity. The Similar opinions were advanced by RIETS in these schools. How will you avoid the As the school year began, the contro- editorial denounced those using the small Rosh Yeshiva and Cardozo professor J. David problem there?” versy and publicity seemed to die down. club at a graduate school in their efforts to Bleich, as well as former Assistant to the On June 30, nearly all of the RIETS ro- Some of the chief agitators at Cardozo had delegitimize YU’s entire institutional phi- Solicitor General Nathan Lewin (YC ’57). shei yeshiva signed an open letter to Rabbi graduated, and the ire of the traditionalist losophy, and it accused the outsider critics The controversy might have died down, Lamm, published in The Jewish Press and undergraduates turned to the newly estab- of not understanding the details and nuances but for a new wave of media coverage — the Algemeiner Journal. The 24 rabbis wrote lished Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity chapter of the situation. The Commentator com- this time by national newspapers. The that the controversy has “besmirched the at Yeshiva College. mended Rabbi Lamm’s “tactful” handling Washington Times ran an article in April, name of our yeshiva” and that they “regard When asked about the relevance of the of the issue, even though they would also followed by The New York Times in May and [gay organizations’] very existence as distinct Cardozo controversy to the current situa- prefer it legally and financially possible to the New York Post in July. Stier remained groups an offense against all that we and the tion in YU’s undergraduate colleges and the take action against the club. adamant that “the second you allow gay clubs institution stand for.” The roshei yeshiva legality of disallowing undergraduate LGBT One undergraduate wrote a lengthy ar- at Yeshiva University you are degrading the endorsed the content of Rabbi Lamm’s 1974 clubs, Senior Vice President Josh Joseph ticle in Hamevaser — a publication by the Torah U’Madda symbol.” He made several article, and while acknowledging the legal replied, “Our team is currently meeting with Jewish studies division of YU — attempt- statements to the media criticizing YU for hurdles, urged him to “explore every pos- students, groups and a range of people in- ing to take a nuanced stance. While not in choosing “political correctness” over “Torah sible avenue to obviate this blemish.” “What volved, focusing on ways to make our campus favor of the gay club, describing it as “an values.” YU also began to come under at- Judaism tells us is an abomination should culture more inclusive. We are looking into organization where the members involved tack from an organization called the Family find no welcome in our institution,” they the areas implied by your questions but at endorse and support a lifestyle which com- Defense Council. declared. this point we are still in the middle of our pletely opposes halakhic norms,” the author Today, Stier emphasizes that his primary According to The Forward, Stier inter- discussions.” distinguished between homosexual activity grievance was with Yeshiva University’s un- preted the letter as a reason to withhold The American Civil Liberties Union and gay people and noted that “to find a spe- willingness to engage with the issue and donations from YU and publicly called on (ACLU) was more definitive. After reviewing cifichalakhic infraction incurred by Yeshiva define what it stood for. The club that existed “Yeshiva University supporters to send their the case, Erin Harrist, Senior Staff Attorney University’s handling of the situation would at Cardozo at the time was totally secular in money to ‘real Yeshivas’” instead. at the New York Civil Liberties Union, con- be difficult.” According to the article, the nature and gave no consideration to halakha. Rumors spread that the letter was actually cluded, “The university — including the un- dominant issue was not one of a formal Stier wanted YU to pick a side and reconcile written at the behest of Rabbi Lamm and in dergraduate schools — is not incorporated as proscription, but rather of chillul hashem. In its institutional schizophrenia. “I think the conjunction with him, in an effort to help a religious entity, so it should need to comply order to minimize chillul hashem, the author university missed an opportunity to include preserve the yeshiva’s reputation. Such was with the New York City Human Rights Law, said someone “sensitive to Torah standards” various stakeholders in an open and re- reported as fact by the Jewish Telegraphic in which case, it would be discrimination should refrain from reacting in lieu of pub- spectful dialogue, and doing so would have Agency (JTA) and the Algemeiner Journal, for the university to not permit a gay club licly condemning the club. He warned that led to a better outcome for Yeshiva. I hope based on “a high-level YU administration ... I would say with fair confidence that they “challenging gay organizations would pro- they don’t make the same mistake today,” official” and “highly reliable sources.” need to let the club exist.” voke protest on campus,” which would result he reflects. “It’s important today — more so One of the signatories of the letter, Rabbi in an even bigger chillul hashem. than at the law school — that the university Yosef Blau, today emphasizes that a lot has On Feb. 24, 1995, YU organized a meeting have an open and welcoming environment changed in 25 years. “At that point everybody between student journalists and YU’s law- for all students, and to struggle with the assumed that being gay was a choice. No one yers from the firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges challenge of doing it in a way that remains thought of it in terms of nature,” he recalls.

JOSH JOSEPH COMMITTEE, In the '90s press release, YU drew a distinction between at the university. They then released a pastoral plan which continued from Page 2 itself and Notre Dame, a school that had banned LGBTQ “allows for the creation of a recognized Student Organization clubs at the time, claiming that Notre Dame was able to designed to provide peer-to-peer support, direct service op- Thus, I request that the committee led by Josh Joseph discriminate based on sexual orientation due to its location portunities, and friendship for GLBTQ students and their reflect on the history of LGBTQ inclusion in this university in a different state. I ask that the Joseph committee look at heterosexual allies.” and consider the hypocrisy that is inherent in this univer- the Notre Dame website in 2019, which proudly states that I hope that we do the same. sity’s current attitude towards undergraduate LGBTQ clubs upon prompting by their President, the Division of Student and events. Affairs reviewed the services provided to LGBTQ students Monday, December 23, 2019 Features 9 FROM THE COMMIE ARCHIVES Editor’s Note: After the ban of “Kol,” the literary journal of Yeshiva College, in 1993, Dr. Will Lee wrote a response arguing for freedom of expres- sion within a university environment which was republished in the Issue 85.5 of The Commentator. Rabbi Aharon Kahn, a rosh yeshiva in RIETS, penned a response in which he argued that the yeshiva aspect of Yeshiva University should be emphasized over the university aspect. From the Archives (December 22, 1993; Volume 59 Issue 7) — Perspective: Yeshiva, Yes…

By Rabbi Aharon Kahn

Ad Mosii Atem Poschim al ShTei haSe’ipim. “How long will you straddle two opinions?” How long will you halt between two value systems? — I Kings (18,21) (Dr. Lee began his thoughtful, well- written and caring essay with a quote from the Catholic writer, G.K. Chesterton that there cannot be a Catholic university. If it is Catholic it is not a university, if it is a uni- versity it is not Catholic. The assumption is that Chesterton would have made the same observation about a Yeshiva University. I agree with the Chestertonian observation. Still, I suppose it is more appropriate, con- sidering my position, to cite Eliyohu HaNovi.) Dr. Lee’s essay is a carefully wrought anal- ysis which, with a yeoman’s craft, attempts a “Yeshiva, yes; University, yes” argument. Of course, he is completely wrong. Dr. Lee argues that it is possible to have a YU, a Yeshiva University. He argues that this indeed is the whole vision of Torah U’madda. I would not like to get fastened on the sticky slogan of Torah U’madda. What, you might counter, would a university be without a slogan? And why not then also a mascot? If we have managed without a mascot all these years, we probably can manage without a slogan, too. Besides, all the good ones, like Urim VeThumim, have already been copy- righted by the Yales of this world. Columbia’s emblem even has the Shem haMeforash on it. (A curious aside: Columbia’s emblem, with its Shem haMeforash, is finely engraved on the floor of Low Library. There the Shem haMeforash is stepped on quite regularly by all the devotees of higher learning, all the The Commentator archives THE COMMENTATOR apostles of modern and arcane wisdom, who cross Low Library’s threshold. Perhaps a real same question as: Why do we need a Yeshiva Wolozhin, inspired by the Gaon’s words teachers of all subjects should have accredita- university has to do just that.) University, nor is it the same question as: and stimulated by his brocho did not start tion (that is, should hold diplomas); 2) that As slogans go, my tastes incline me more Is Yeshiva University a legitimate enter- a Yeshiva University. He started a Yeshiva. the secular subjects be studied from 9AM to towards those ancient, well-worn expres- prise. (Perhaps I should have written: Why The Yeshiva of Wolozhin was the brainchild 3PM; 3) that there should be altogether no sions which marshall instantly our attention is Yeshiva University a legitimate enterprise.) and the legacy of the Vilna Gaon’s greatest more than ten hours of instruction each day; and our allegiance. We would do nicely with Here I address only the first question. What disciple, and he did not dream the dream of and 4) that the yeshiva should be closed at slogans such as Na’aseh Venishma, Zochor is YU? a Yeshiva University of Wolozhin. night. I have no doubt that if our YU would VeShomor, Emes VeEmunah, or Ahavah Let us once and for all put to rest this One of the great Roshei Yeshiva of be faced with such a regime, Rav Dr. Lamm VeYir’ah. To me, these slogans seem to be mantra-like recitation of the words of the Wolozhin, the Netziv (Rav Naftoli Tzvi would also close our doors. most appropriate to the purposes of our Gaon of Vilna: “There is a tenfold lack of Yehuda Berlin), wrote a responsum (Sho’el Let us examine a document from that institution, most suitable to reflect its mes- Torah comprehension for every measure of uMeshiv, I, 44) in which he describes the period. It is signed by all the Torah giants sage. “Nishma” would refer to the Torah ignorance in the secular wisdoms.” Some caveats of a secular studies program which of that era. This document was signed in learning at YU, and “Na’aseh” to the appli- have denied that the Gaon ever said it. Others might be required by the government to be Adar of 5647, that is nearly five years be- cation of that Torah learning to life (or, as resent such an allegation, call it revisionism, established at a yeshiva. fore the yeshiva was forced to close. The our talmidim call it, to life out there). Why and insist that the Gaon did say it. But, even I paraphrase as I translate: “If the govern- yeshiva in Wolozhin was then in its most not “Ahavah and Yir’ah?” “Yir’ah” — our if he said it, what did he intend to convey? ment requires a secular studies program, brilliant period. Over four hundred outstand- rebounding in ultimate self-reduction (see It is clear to all who have studied seriously make sure that it is supervised by Torah ing scholars studied Torah day and night. Rambam Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah ch.2) even some of the many writings of the Gaon scholars and rabbinic authorities and that But the winds of secularism and haskalah from that unbounded “Ahavah” for HaShem, of Vilna that he could never have condoned a the teacher of such secular studies be a G-d were blowing fiercely and, in Poliakoff’s at- a love which has been nourished by a discov- great deal of what college professors regard fearing Jew.” tic in St. Petersburg, all these Torah giants ery of HaShem, in Torah (Rambam, Sefer as chochma. Moreover, no one who remains (Parenthetically, in the same responsum, gathered to discuss the plan, proffered by Hamitzvos) and in the world (Rambam, Yad, true to the tradition of the Gaon and to his the Netziv argues that no one can become the Russian government and supported by Yesodei HaTorah). All these ancient phrases legacy, can deny the Gaon’s insistence on the a great Torah scholar unless he immerses Jewish maskilim, to introduce secular studies would seem to serve us very well here at YU. total immersion in Torah learning as the ideal himself totally, with absolute dedication and into the yeshiva. Still, chacun a son gout. And some like the way of life. Nor could anyone imagine that a unflagging concentration, in his Torah stud- Concerning the yeshivos they concluded: taste of Torah U’madda. But, all that aside, I budding talmid chochom should spend very ies. The Netziv continues, “And all the Torah 1) Although most students coming to the do not feel that slogans will help us here, for major portions of his day preparing himself greats who also were scholars of secular sub- yeshiva already know how to read and write we are seeking to discover and to describe the for the study of Torah, thus leaving him- jects, either studied these secular subjects Russian, still the Rosh Yeshiva is obliged to essence, the neshomo, of Yeshiva University. self little time to study Torah itself. Yatziva before they immersed themselves completely maintain a teacher in a separate facility if the And slogans will not do that for us. So I do Be’Ar’a veGiyora BiShmay Shemaya! And in Torah or after they were already accom- Yeshiva appropriate for such lessons. The not intend to refer to Torah U’madda again if the sciences were included (as the text plished Torah scholars. (Torah and secular teacher is to have an appropriate diploma and in this essay. was a translation into Hebrew of Euclid’s subjects studied simultaneously cannot pro- license from the Russian authorities; 2) The I wish to address one question and only Geometry, which the Gaon had encouraged), duce the ultimate in Torah knowledge.”) teacher of Russian at the yeshiva is forbidden one question. What is Yeshiva University? literature was certainly not included. Indeed The Yeshiva of Wolozhin closed its doors to keep with him any free-thinker’s writings More precisely, how does the university of it is inconceivable that the Gaon would have on the second of Shevat, 5652 (1892), rather nor can he have with him any “Romanen” Yeshiva University relate, conceptually, to condoned the study of anything that even than institute the Russian government’s plan (Novels), for these are alien to the Torah, the yeshiva of Yeshiva University? intimated heretical opinions. for the yeshiva. This plan had four major Continued on Page 10 What is Yeshiva University is not the The fact remains that Rav Chaim of points. 1) that the Rosh Hayeshiva and all the 10 Features Monday, December 23, 2019

YESHIVA, YES, Nearly every Jew who emigrated here at of kedusha. Torah demands the academy stubbornly persisted in my presumption that continued from Page 9 the turn of the century and was compelled of yiras Shomayim, of the fear of heaven. I was in fact doing something, for myself, for to support his family by taking a job which Raishis Chochmah yiras Hashem. For Torah society, for my people and for the world. I and they are not to be brought upon the required Shabbos work, felt the terrible pres- there is no other way. And yiras Shomayim also felt I was part of that great ecological holy altar of the yeshiva. Nor is the teacher sure of the bedi’eved. And succumbed. He is not fostered by “Romanen.” effort in which yeshivas have always been to engage the students of the yeshiva in any did not ask poskim, he did not feel compelled Perhaps Dr. Lee would argue that an engaged, an effort to preserve an endangered discussions which would introduce them to live on bread and water. He did not deal introduction to “Romanen” might benefit species: the Jews. to free-thinking thoughts or to stories of with the unacceptable, and historically and the student of YU by reducing his Yetzer But the point, essential and telling, which “Romanen.” juridically untenable, be’dieved which he Hora. He writes: “This desensitization (to Dr. Lee makes, lies at the end of the para- Prominent among this document’s signa- had created. Sometimes mesiras nefesh of foul language and sexual literary content) graph. He speaks, of course, of academic tories are the Netziv, the Bais HaLevi and the highest order is needed to reject an un- has some positive consequences. Language freedom, of “the unfettered pursuit of knowl- the namesake of our yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok tenable bedi’eved. Most were not zocheh to which might have triggered the ‘evil inclina- edge and truth, including truths about hu- Elchonon Spector. achieve that level. And it is hard to judge tion’ in a student of the forties, and which manity.” The “unfettered” pursuit of truth. The Commentator ought to publish the them. Truly hard. But they were wrong. that same student might have found viscer- “From a secular faculty member’s point of entire text of this document. It is a sad docu- Because human nature abhors guilt, ally offensive, might carry no sexual charge view, freedom of thought, inquiry, study, ment and leaves one with a heavy heart. It soon the Jewish immigrant’s bedi’eved was for most students today.” speech and writing weigh in heavily; they fights mightily for what should have been transformed, by a series of justifications and There’s the rub. It is precisely that sensi- help take the measure of a true university.” patently obvious. And it reflects the views exculpations, into a plausible lechatchila. tivity which is the hallmark of the ben-Torah, But YU is not a siamese twin with two of the gedolei Yisroel whose opinions we America was different. The old rigor was of every pious Jew. Lashon Kodesh has no heads and one heart. YU was a yeshiva first revere because they are so steeped in Torah suddenly no longer relevant, no longer real. explicit references in its vocabulary. That and, after the advent of the college, contin- and righteousness, in ahavas Yisroel and Why suffer? makes it kodesh. Desensitizing our students ues to be a yeshiva foremost. Rav Dr. Lamm ahavas HaShem. Not every bedi’eved is acceptable. is the beginning of the end, not just the end insists that the yeshiva is the heart of YU. It is important for us moderns to remem- Furthermore, the problem with accepting of the beginning. Then he is the keeper of our heartbeat. YU ber also that in their day the argument of the a gay society as part of YU, on the YU cam- Something as delicate as sensitivity would is a yeshiva at which there is a college. maskilim included the need to respond to pus, goes a lot deeper. The fundamental seem to be a hashkafic matter, not a hala- YU has many branches, like a tree. And, “modernity.” And such were the arguments question is: can a yeshiva ever be a bedi’eved chic one. It is not so. But were it to be so, it like a tree, it has a history, it has roots. In the of the Hellenistic Jews a very long time ago. circumstance? would be a terrible mistake to think that the Chapters of the Fathers (3,22) it is written: Our Yeshiva was called, at its birth more This question pops out of a pandora’s box enterprise of a yeshiva can restrict itself to “He (Rabbi El’azar ben Azariah) used to say: than a hundred years ago, Yeshiva Etz of bilious perplexities. the halachic realm. Yeshivas foster hashkofo, He whose wisdom exceeds his deeds is like Chayyim. In honor of Rav Yitzchok Elchonon The fundamental issue is this: Should our they offer their talmidim a vision of life. a tree whose branches are many but whose who was truly loved by all, the yeshiva YU teach a student about life after YU, about It would also be a serious error to imagine roots are few. The wind comes and uproots was named Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchok it and overturns it upon its top. Of such a Elchonon. Whatever its name, our yeshiva Let us declare what the yeshiva is not. It is not the street, the man it is said: ‘He shall be like a lonely man was to be a continuation of the legacy of the in the wasteland and shall not see when Wolozhin Yeshiva Etz Chayyim. Our strength world, it is not America, it is not a place for women or for free- good comes…’ But he whose deeds exceed lies in our ability to preserve that legacy. We his wisdom is like a tree whose branches are Jews were never given the charge of keeping thinkers. It never was. It can never be. few but whose roots are many. Even if all the the torch of the university ideal. We were winds of the world come and blow upon it, charged with the keeping of the Torah. the “world out there,” by gently introducing that hashkofo is more arbitrary than hala- they cannot move it from its place…” As far as the accreditation argument goes, him into that world? Is the environment cha, more relative. Often the Rav would say We at YU want to remain connected to I for one fo not understand it at all. It is provided him to be a half-way house or is in the name of his grandfather that aggadah the stream of running waters, we want our simply eminently illogical. If the standards it to be a tower of ivory and iron? Should was also halacha, the halacha of how a Jew tree to bear the very best fruit. We want a of the evaluators are contrary to Torah stan- the student/talmid be exposed to the world should think. tree whose branches are few and whose roots dards, we cannot and dare not abide by them. with its weaknesses and its enticements, its How a Jew should think! How reactionary are many and deep. We want to guarantee If these experts get their values elsewhere compromises and its bedi’eveds, its here- can you get, how unlike a true university?! that no matter how hard the winds blow, the and their vision of the good and the great and-now reality? Or should the environ- This then is the crux of the matter. tree will remain true, steadfast in its purpose is not rooted in Hashkafas HaTorah, then ment be pure and holy, where the sacred Dr. Lee introduces a significant argu- and confident in its vision. they cannot be, dare not be the arbiters of is protected, the profane rejected? (Not the ment. The university tradition. He writes: YU may have many populations, but it our values and our vision. If their sense of secular, the profane.) “Although not nearly as ancient as the Jewish has only one Torah. It may have many sub- right and wrong, or of true and false, is not What is the model, the simile? “Sugah tradition, the university draws on its own communities, but it only has one halacha. predicated on the halachah and contradicts bashoshanim” - hedged in by roses. Is it ancient roots and adheres to ideals which it YU may seek to make the halacha relevant halachah, how can we do right by them and the horticulturist’s English garden or the has evolved over centuries. Foremost among to all, but not at the expense of redefining still remain true to our Torah? rougher survival-of-the-fittest (or the fastest, those ideals in the modern American uni- and thereby narrowing the parameters of As to the question of state funds, ossur is or the feistiest) wildflower field? versity are the development of individu- halachic relevance. And Torah provides YU ossur. Does anyone claim that for the sake Dr. Lee writes: “A Jew should learn the als who think for themselves, contribute with its weltanschauung, not Proust or Kant of monies from anywhere ossur become ideals of the Western World uncensored in in some way to society, and participate in or Bach or Mahler or Berenson or Shelley. muttar? order to be able to say that he rejects those the unfettered pursuit of knowledge and And not even Albert Einstein or Shimon To the Protestant Henry of Navarre is values but he understands them.” This then truth, including truths about humanity.” An Peres can lend us their world-view. Subjects attributed that cynical remark that Paris is the dialectic: learn, understand, reject. The impressive paragraph, and, as the strains of they provide, world-views they cannot. is worth saying mass for. Are we then to product is expected to come out stronger, Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture waft I am reminded of the intense disappoint- say: Paris vaut bien une messe? We do not more fit to function in the Modern World, over my sensibilities, I can almost declare: ment of two writers who had undertaken justify the dereliction of religious principles to resist its temptations, which he already Gaudeamus igitur, let us therefore rejoice. a study of the Rav’s philosophical essays for the sake of material gain or of social and knows first-hand. He has tasted of the poi- Some of our recent college graduation in search of a revolutionary thought. They cultural acceptance. soned fruit and he has come out whole. True exercises leave me thinking that a good part concluded, instead, that the Rav was merely I believe that we had no right to box our- the angel of Eisav may have smitten him of the university tradition can be summed old wine in new bottles. The Rav was a de- selves into the government funds corner, here and there, but the sun shines and lo, he, up in three words: In vino veritas. Perhaps canting of the very same Torah-wine which that we should never have created structures Yaakov, is whole and well. So this bedi’eved I am too harsh. But there is too much of the he inherited from his Brisk forefathers. What which so depend on government funds that turns out to be actually a lechatchila. After herd instinct in what goes for individualism. a frustration for those who were looking for we have to compromise our attitudes and the fashion of all vaccines, a little intro- Iconoclasts are exercises done all too often something really new, really insurgent. They postures. If gay groups are abhorrent to duction to the disease, in a controlled way, by many “individuals” acting always together had wasted their time. us as Torah Jews, we have to be willing to and the antibodies build up, immunities are and in exactly the same way. Had they come to me first, I could have sacrifice everything to reject them and re- formed and the disease no longer reigns. I am not so sure about universities breed- saved them both time and frustration by fuse them a forum in our midst. At the very One might wish to carry this argument ing students who are fiercely individual telling them that it could not have been least, the question requires serious halachic even further. Perhaps, the argument would and who learn how to think for themselves. otherwise. The Rav’s Torah was authentic, analysis by the greatest poskim of our time. reason, the millions we, klal Yisroel, have Frankly, I think an argument could be made so it had to be the same Torah. In all the Certainly we cannot say the contract we have lost to this western world, might not have that the yeshiva historically did a better job languages which the Rav had mastered, it with the government demands that we allow been lost if we had developed these vaccines in producing such individualists. And clearly, was the same Torah. In the prisms of all the it even minimally, that we tolerate it even much earlier. Halvay, the argument would every yeshiva prides itself on the develop- philosophies which the Rav had studied, the minimally. continue, there would have been a YU avail- ment of the clearest, most incisive thinking Torah still refracted Abaye and Rava, Rav The argument has been proffered that able to all those kids who got lost. Halvay, in the pursuit of the truth. Saadya and the Rambam, the Ketzos haCho- the halacha acknowledges the special needs the vaccination process had been available Dr. Lee writes that it is in the university shen and the Nesivos, the Gaon of Vilna and of the after-the-fact bedi’eved situation and to all those who had nothing in Yiddishkeit tradition to produce students who will con- Reb Chayim of Brisk. The Rav had a masorah that halacha allows greater leniency after to nourish them save for the hard, extreme, tribute, in some way, to society. True, I have of Torah erudition, of lomdus. It was the the fact than it might allow before the fact. and unyielding lechatchilas of the right-wing been asked in my formative, prefatory years same masorah which he had inherited from And isn’t a classic example of this principle intransigent model of Yiddishkeit. by well-meaning family members and avun- his father and his grandfather. Actually, the the instance of great loss of monies, what is I do not believe in the theory of Yeshiva as cular patrons, as to the precise nature of what Rav was much less “revolutionary” than his called “hefsed merubah?” Of course it is, and vaccination. Because the Yeshiva historically I do. I would invariably answer that I studied of course there are differences in thehalacha has been a place of intense Torah learning it Torah and would invariably be asked again, Continued on Page 11 between lechatchila and bedi’eved. But not has also been a place of profound holiness, “Yes, but what do you do?” Nonetheless, I every bedi’eved changes the halacha. Monday, December 23, 2019 Features 11

YESHIVA, YES, course, there is the flip side, the problems It never was. It can never be. Nor can Yeshiva look up at the banners with YU’s logo, danc- continued from Page 10 and the headaches and the heartaches, of- College be a “supermarket” of possibilities ing a wild dance to a windswept tune. And I ten of unendurable proportions. But there or a shopping mall super-store of ideas and notice that the banners are full of tears, full grandfather, Reb Chayim Brisker. How many is no connection whatsoever between the alternatives. Not if YU still wishes to lay of rips which allow the wind to pass through. times did I hear, in the almost twenty years yeshiva and its students and the medical claim to the yeshiva tradition. It makes me wonder. in which I heard the Rav’s shiurim, that Reb school at Einstein in the Bronx. The Cardozo Insofar as the beauty of Yefes (Greece) There are two ways you can secure a can- Chayim was the trailblazer who had “paved law school downtown is under YU auspices in the tents of Shem (Yisroel), it is clear vas in the face of a powerful gale wind. You a path through the jungle.” and is part of the university, but it is remote that there was never any thought given to can tie down that canvas so securely, so The Rav clarified and demonstrated, and unconnected. The Wurzweiler School of the erection of a tent of Yefes in the midst well, that no wind can move it. Or you can elucidated and expounded, dissected and Social Work is on the very same campus as of the encampment of the tents of Shem. rip holes in the canvas so that the wind can reconstituted, asked and answered, queried the Yeshiva College, to our great distress, It is the Torah that may be translated into pass through. But if you do that the canvas and protected the very same Torah which he but it too is not part of the Yeshiva College Greek, so long as it remains the Torah. It is is torn. Since a torn canvas is not a pleas- received from his father and grandfathers. identity. It is under YU auspices and is part the beauty of Yefes that is accepted, not her ing thing, the tears are carefully prepared He may have used in his shiurim phrases of the university, but it is not integrated with subject matter. in such a manner as to be aesthetically ap- that no other Rosh Yeshiva used: willy nilly Yeshiva College nor integral for it. YU provides a college education. But it is propriate, even pleasing. The holes seem to (the Anglican cousin of the Latin wolens Yeshiva College is a yeshiva and bears the a yeshiva which provides a college education. fit, to belong. nolens), mutatis mutandis, reductio ad ab- standard of all yeshivos since Wolozhin. As Awake or asleep, summer or winter, today But there will always be that innocent, surdum, imitatio Dei. But in the end it was a yeshiva it carries the torch of Torah and or tomorrow, it can never not be a yeshiva. who will look up at the banners unfurled all gavra and cheftza, ahava and yir’ah, of Yiras Shomayim, as a yeshiva it is the We look to the guidance and the lead- and cry out: Look, mother, the banners are Rambam and Ra’aved. bastion of Jewish identity and of ahavas ership of our Rosh Yeshiva to guarantee full of holes! No wonder those two writers in search of yisroel, as a yeshiva it stands for intensity always, as he has once again done recently We want our banners whole, not full of a brave new Torah were so disappointed in of commitment and for the fine-tuning of with the Kol affair, that the kol of YU remains holes. We want our Yeshiva to be a yeshiva, what they found in the Rav’s pouch, no won- ethical commitment and moral behavior; it Kol Yaakov and does not become, choliloh, to be Torah’s home and not its motel. We der they were so disillusioned with the Rav. is a haven in which Torah values and Torah the Kol Eisav. want the Torah to address the modern world, It is critical to distinguish here between ideals are given reign and flourish. This is I was bracing myself against a very harsh but we want Yeshiva University’s address to the university complex and Yeshiva College. historically the Jewish Torah academy — wind, a heady harbinger of winter weather, be the Torah. And we pray that the wonderful The university complex is under Jewish the yeshiva. the kind of wind that seems to notice you and and caring Dr. Lee understands. auspices. There may be advantages to the Let us declare what the yeshiva is not. It is that will not let you go. It is a Washington Rav Aharon Kahn is a Rosh Yeshiva in Jewish community in having such a uni- not the street, the world, it is not America, it Heights kind of wind, pushing at me with RIETS and the Rosh Kollel of the Gruss versity complex, there may be opportunities is not a place for women or for free-thinkers. its mocking howl just as I pass Belfer Hall. I Kollel Elyon. for the students of Yeshiva College. And, of

Chinese-Jewish Program Encourages Cross-Cultural Conversation

and Chinese philosophy and really from thousands of years ago as well Jews who settled in Shanghai dur- this initiative, currently in its By Temmi Lattin interesting to be able to share a as the struggle to balance those ing WWII, and perhaps an intro- early stage, is “like other YU pro- space with a demographic within traditions with modernity. duction to Jewish music — which grams, such as the Rabbi Arthur Launched in February 2019, the YU community who we might The Chinese students involved was requested by our Chinese stu- Schneier Program for International the Chinese-Jewish Conversation not necessarily have contact with in the program are graduate stu- dents. If people have other sug- Affairs. It isn’t tied to any specific (CJC) is a landmark program at on a day to day basis to hear about dents studying at the Katz School gestions, I’m open to them! You YU school. It’s independent, with Yeshiva University. Opening strong Judaism from their perspective.” of Science and Health who are never know where the next good its own website, activities and bud- this semester with two lectures by Dr. Mordechai Cohen, a profes- studying subjects such as math and idea for an interesting CJC pro- get.” Whether furthering education Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen, the CJC sor at Stern College and Associate economics and are participating in gram will come from.” Dr. Cohen about Holocaust survivors’ experi- partnered with Bernard Revel Dean at Revel, spearheaded this program in an extracurricular explained that there will be future ences escaping to Shanghai, com- Graduate School of Jewish Studies this program after teaching in forum. But, as Dr. Cohen explained opportunities for undergraduates paring ancient Chinese and Biblical and The Katz School of Science and Shandong University for the last about this emerging project: “A to participate in this emerging archeology or exploring similarities Health to present “Introduction to with Sefer Ezra and Confucius, Jewish Thought from Beijing and Dr. Mordechai Cohen, a professor at Stern College and Associate Dean at The Chinese Jewish Conversation Shanghai” and “To Do and To Be: is poised to have a significant im- Judaism’s Integration of East and Revel, spearheaded this program after teaching in Shandong University for pact on global conversations while West,” which took place on Oct. 24 furthering YU’s mission of Torah and 28, respectively. Both seminars the last four years and seeing the shared values, traditions and challenges of U’Madda. embodied the goal of this new proj- Chinese and Jewish communities and cultures. During the inaugural event in ect, which is to “increase mutual February 2019, Shang Guan Shun, awareness between Chinese and a student studying Quantitative Jewish communities and cultures” four years and seeing the shared lot of different things can be done program, including more informal Economics at the Katz school, and to “provide a welcome space values, traditions and challenges within the CJC framework. In the get-togethers with both groups of spoke about a teacher from China for Chinese students at YU.” of Chinese and Jewish communi- spring we’re planning a lecture students as well as the potential for who “always taught that philoso- After attending the event on the ties and cultures. These include on environmental protection — in new courses if students show inter- phy helps us live a better life and 28th, Adina Bruce (SCW ‘21) said, valuing family, education, com- modern-day China and as mandat- est, including a language course in when it comes to Chinese philoso- “It was fascinating to see the axis munity and a historical tradition ed by Torah law. We’re also looking Mandarin Chinese. phy like Confucianism ... we should of overlap between Jewish texts that stems from textual sources into hosting an event about the Dr. Cohen pointed out that develop what’s useful and healthy and discard that which is not and we should not ignore Western phi- losophy. His words remind me of our university’s motto: Torah and secular knowledge, combining aca- demic education with the study of the Torah.” She described leav- ing her home in China to come to America and craving “the tra- ditional spirit that is part of [her] blood” but also getting involved in a different world and becom- ing more tolerant, open-minded, and respectful of the differences between different people and cul- tures in a global society. Shang Guan Shun ended off with a wish for intersection without conflict and discrimination but with love and respect. “No man is an island entire of itself, that’s why we have this Chinese Jewish Conversation.”

For more information and to Dr. Mordechai Cohen, Ms. Shun Shang Guan and Dr. Roger Ames with students from the Katz CJC get involved, students can reach School of Science and Health and Stern College for Women at a CJC event. Dr. Cohen at [email protected]. 12 Monday, December 23, 2019 Monday, December 23, 2019 13 Bob Dylan: A League of His Own

communicated or even attempted. After all, this is a man who won the By Yosef Rosenfield Is Dylan one of the best singers of Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016 all time? No, not even close. Being — as a songwriter. Still, watching I needed a reminder. We all do. a skilled singer is distinctly dif- Dylan in person, I welcomed the Because it’s easy to get lost in 21st- ferent from being an iconic one, reminder of how poetic his lyricism century pop music and forget that and even I — a singer-songwriter has always been and just how much Bob Dylan is the most influential who idolizes Dylan’s work — would I owe to his influences on my own solo artist of all time. On Dec. 5, never look to his vocal style for songwriting. I attended a Dylan concert at the useful singing techniques. But that For me, the greatest moment Beacon Theatre in New York City. shouldn’t detract from Dylan’s leg- of the entire show was witness- True to his ever-changing perfor- endary songs and how his uniquely ing Dylan come back on stage to mance style, in a 19-song set that Dylanesque vocal approach has play two encores, “Ballad of a Thin predominantly drew from albums canonized those songs in the an- Man” and “It Takes A Lot to Laugh, “Time Out of Mind,” “Tempest” nals of timeless music. It Takes a Train to Cry,” both from and “Highway 61 Revisited,” Dylan The other aspect of Dylan’s per- “Highway 61 Revisited.” Putting repeated only three songs from formance that impressed me to the nostalgia itself aside, knowing that when I last saw him in 2016. point of surprise was his poetry. I grew up on these songs just the It was during this concert During a few of his songs, namely same as the couples in their 50s, that Dylan reminded me of my “Things Have Changed” and “Make 60s and 70s who surrounded me perhaps-unpopular opinion that You Feel My Love,” it seemed like — and now, together with these he is among the greatest singers one lyric after another just blew people from a completely different in the history of recorded music. me away — including lyrics I an- era of music and history, seeing During songs such as “It Ain’t ticipated and was almost singing Bob Dylan play those very songs Me Babe” and “Not Dark Yet,” he along with him. I would hear an ex- — fueled a moment of incredible showcased his signature spacing quisitely arranged string of words awe and admiration that will likely of words and syllables, articulation come out of his mouth and think: last longer than any of my other and intonation, adding meaningful man, I wish I wrote something memories of Bob Dylan, both from nuance and detail to his vocal per- that clever... This, of course, is an the past and those I anticipate ex- formances that I would argue few irrational fantasy; the truth is Bob periencing in the future. — if any — other singers have ever Dylan is in a league of his own. Promotional poster for the concert LIVEMUSICBLOG.COM 14 Features Monday, December 23, 2019

Bioethics in Practice Can Producers Leave Out Details to Gain Consumers — The Effects of Juul’s Marketing therapy. Another study published in the which means that smokers who were only Administration show that one in four high By Shlomit Ebbin Harm Reduction Journal found that three going through a couple of cigarettes a day schoolers and one in 10 middle schoolers months after adult smokers purchased a are consuming more nicotine on a Juul de- vape. Some claims include that Juul vio- We’ve all heard of the Juul, whether Juul vaporizer, 28.3% reported having not vice. On top of that, the National Center for lated consumer protection laws by failing to we’ve seen the flash drive-like product on smoked a cigarette for at least 30 days. They Health Research reveals that the nicotine disclose material facts about the health and the streets, the murky vapor produced by also found that the rate of quitting was no- that Juuls use are “nicotine salts,” as op- safety risks Juul consumers are exposed to, someone in our dorm, or we own one our- tably much higher for people who used the posed to the chemically modified form called and failing to disclose how much nicotine selves. While Juuling was created to wean Juul vaporizer daily, as well as those who “freebase nicotine” that other brands utilize. its products contain. Many consumers feel adult smokers off of cigarettes, there are typically used a Juul vaporizer containing Nicotine salts “more closely resemble the they were led to believe that Juul products those that claim that it, in fact, wasn’t mar- mint and mango flavored pods. The Juul natural structure of nicotine found in tobacco could be used without any negative health keted that way; rather, it targeted teens and website includes many stories of people who leaves. This makes the nicotine more readily consequences. The flavors, some of which young adults who weren’t already smokers. have been banned in certain states, are ap- Additionally, they claim that the true health pealing to young adults and teens. An article cost of Juuling wasn’t sufficiently publicized, While Juuling was created to wean adult smokers off of published in the New York Times claimed causing many people to get sick and even that “Juul’s remarkable rise to resurrect and die due to vaping related diseases. Is Juul cigarettes, there are those that claim that it, in fact, wasn’t dominate the e-cigarette business came after directly responsible for these deaths, and for marketed that way. it began targeting consumers in their 20s and causing a generation of teenagers to become early 30s, a generation with historically low addicted to nicotine? smoking rates, in a furious effort to reward Juul is a vaping product created by Adam have successfully used the Juul to stop smok- absorbed into the bloodstream and makes investors and capture market share before Bowen and James Monsees as an alternative ing. Former smokers talk about how much the vapor less harsh so that it is easier to the government tightened regulations on to smoking. Both were smokers themselves, the Juul has improved their lives, whether it inhale more nicotine for longer periods of vaping.” James Monsees, the co-founder of and decided there had to be a safe and easy be that they don’t have to be self-conscious time.” The higher dose of nicotine increases the company, insisted they “never wanted way to stop smoking. Their website states about smelling like smoke anymore or that the risk of addiction, not to mention that any non-nicotine users and certainly nobody that their mission is to “[improve] the lives they don’t have to interrupt their workflow to it increases blood pressure and heart rate. underage to ever use Juul products.” But the of the world’s one billion smokers by elimi- step outside for a cigarette. Users are excited In rare cases, this can lead to heart failure, facts point out that in the blink of an eye, nating cigarettes.” They realized that the about how easy the Juul product is to use but a person who vapes long term may be Juuls have become ever-prevalent among Juul had to contain a higher percentage of and are grateful for the impact it has had looking at serious medical problems, such teens and have hooked a new generation of nicotine than other products claiming to help on their journey to abstain from smoking. as lung disease and chronic bronchitis. With people on nicotine. people abstain from smoking to wean people While the use of Juul has been proven this product being such a new phenomenon, The Juul Company is trying to save face off cigarettes. Some benefits of the Juul in- beneficial to some cigarette smokers, the it’s hard to say exactly what the long-lasting amid all the allegations placed against it, clude the fact that it’s odorless, in contrast product itself is not entirely danger-free. effects are; however, new research is show- claiming that Juul is doing more good than to the stench associated with smoking, as Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H., the director ing that there is more danger than the Juul harm. The prohibition of geneivat da’at well as a 99% reduction of formaldehyde of clinical research at the Johns Hopkins Company is letting on. includes deception, cheating and creating a and carbon monoxide particles in second- Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart The Juul Company is currently facing false impression. While they might be safer hand vapor, compared to that of combustible Disease, shares that “vaping is less harmful numerous lawsuits in several states based than cigarettes, Juuls are certainly not harm- cigarettes. than smoking, but it’s still not safe.” Juuls on allegations of deceptive marketing. The less. And the “coolness” factor of Juuls looks A study printed in the New England have 5% nicotine in their e-liquid, which is plaintiffs allege that the Juul Company uti- an awful lot like a stumbling block placed in Journal of Medicine found that e-cigarettes more than double the amount of other vap- lizes flashy marketing techniques targeted front of blind, naive teenagers. are nearly twice as likely to enable a person ing products. Each Juul pod contains the at teens. The Centers for Disease Control to quit smoking than nicotine replacement amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes, and Prevention and the Food and Drug

A man using a Juul device WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Monday, December 23, 2019 Features 15 Commentator Library Survey: A Comprehensive Analysis

library; 56% Syms-Men feel com- 83% of YC students, 70% of Syms- expressed overall satisfaction. 73% Around half, 51%, of students By Yosef Lemel fortable and 33% feel neither com- Men students believe that women are satisfied with the conduciveness have taken a book out of a YU li- fortable nor uncomfortable. generally visit the uptown library for study in the Wilf library. Only brary. 68% of YC students, 42% Editor’s Note: For the purposes Women generally feel comfort- to study. 6% and 5% of students expressed of SCW students and 30% of of this article, “satisfied” refers to able with men studying in the Hedi 63% of students frequently use dissatisfaction with the Wilf library Syms-Men say they have taken a students who indicated that they Steinberg Library. 54% of women the Wilf library to study alone, 51% computers and printers, respective- book out. Only 13% of students are either “satisfied” or “extremely feel comfortable with men study- to use library printers, 25% to study ly. 92% of men expressed overall have used YU’s Interlibrary Loan satisfied,” and “dissatisfied” -re ing in the downtown library and in groups, 21% to socialize, 11% satisfaction with the Wilf library Service. 15% of SCW students, 13% fers to students who indicated that 31% feel neither comfortable nor to use library computers and 6% compared with 70% of women. of YC students and 7% of Syms- they are either “dissatisfied” or uncomfortable. Last year, 81% of to take out a book. 79% of men 78% of men are satisfied with the Men have used the Interlibrary “extremely dissatisfied.” Likewise, women indicated that they were say they frequently visit the Wilf conduciveness for study in the Loan Service. “comfortable” refers to students comfortable with men studying in library to study alone compared to Wilf library compared with 64% who indicated that they are either the library on the Beren Campus. 29% of women who say similarly. of women who thought similarly. METHODOLOGY “comfortable” or “extremely com- 21% of men see women in the li- Compared to 22% of men, 19% of Overall, 16% of undergradu- We mostly followed the meth- fortable,” and “uncomfortable” re- odology of the surveys conducted fers to students who indicated that last year by The Commentator. they are either “uncomfortable” or The Commentator recently conducted a survey on a variety of issues relating As before, we reached out to “extremely uncomfortable.” students via ystud/sstud emails to experiences of students in YU’s two libraries on the undergraduate and posted flyers in both the Wilf The Commentator recently campuses, the Mendel Gottesman Library on the Wilf Campus and the Hedi and Beren libraries encouraging conducted a survey on a variety students to sign up for the sur- of issues relating to experiences Steinberg Library on the Beren Campus. vey, gathering a total of 357 in- of students in YU’s two libraries terested undergraduate students. on the undergraduate campuses, We conducted a raffle with a $75 the Mendel Gottesman Library brary as distractions to their study- women frequently visit the Wilf ates visit the Beren library at least Amazon gift card as the first place on the Wilf Campus and the Hedi ing. 18% of YC students see women library to socialize. a few times per week, while 74% prize to motivate respondents. We Steinberg Library on the Beren as distractions, compared with 28% 47% of all undergraduates visit visit once a month or less. 60% also confirmed that respondents Campus. This article presents a of respondents from Syms-Men. the Wilf library at least a few times of students never visit the Beren were current undergraduate stu- detailed breakdown of the results. 27% of MYP students saw women per week, while 30% visit once a library. While 53% of women visit dents with YU’s Office of Student as distractions. Only 5% of women month or less. While 72% of men the Beren library at least once a Life. Unlike last year, we did not INTRODUCTION saw men in the library as distrac- visit the Wilf library at least a few week, only 2% of men do so. 90% send out emails to professors ask- Overall, the survey of the YU tions to their studying. times per week, only 5% of women of men have never visited the Beren ing them to encourage students libraries polled 309 undergraduate 46% of women expressed that do so. 70% of women visit the Wilf library. to sign up. The survey was con- YU students, or 16% of the total they have avoided studying in the library once a month or less, with The most frequently visited floor ducted through SurveyMonkey. undergraduate student body on the uptown library due to the fear of 28% saying that they never visited in the Beren library is floor 2, with All responses were completely Wilf and Beren campuses. being objectified. 39% of female the Wilf library. 33% of respondents frequently vis- anonymous. 137 respondents (44%) are first-year students have avoided The most frequently visited floor iting it. 32% and 29% frequently There were several confound- Yeshiva College (YC) students, 95 studying in the uptown library due in the Wilf library is the 4th floor, visit the reserve library and the 1st ing factors that could have skewed (31%) are Stern College for Women to fear of objectification compared with 28% of respondents frequent- floor, respectively. the results of the survey one way (SCW) students, 57 (18%) are male to 49% of second, third and fourth- ly visiting it. The least frequently 51% of students expressed over- or the other. For example, while Sy Syms School of Business (Syms- year students. visited floor is 5a, with only 11% all satisfaction with the Beren li- students in Syms-Men comprise Men) students, 18 (6%) are female Overall, 92% of students believe frequently studying there. 33% brary. 59% were satisfied with the 27% of the undergraduate student Sy Syms School of Business (Syms- that men generally use the uptown of men frequently study on floor conduciveness for study. 20% and body, 18% of our respondents were Women) students and 2 (1%) are library to study, compared to 82% 4. Floor 2a is the most frequently 25% of students were dissatisfied from Syms-Men. Similarly, while Katz School students. who believe the same about wom- visited floor by women, with 16% with the library computers and students in SCW comprise 39% of 102 respondents (33%) are in en. When broken down by gender, of women saying they frequently printers, respectively. the undergraduates, 31% of our their first year on campus, 92 (30%) 93% of men and 91% of women study there and 16% saying they 54% of students frequently use survey was comprised of SCW in their second year, 84 (27%) in believe that men generally use the visit floor 2a neither frequently nor the Beren library to study alone, students. YC students were over- their third year and 31 (10%) in uptown library to study. 79% of infrequently. 43% to use library printers, 16% represented in our survey with 44% their fourth year or beyond. men and 89% of women believe Students were generally satis- to study in groups, 4% to socialize, of respondents being students in Of the male respondents, 126 that women generally use the up- fied with library services provided 10% to use library computers and YC, while only comprising 24% of (65%) attend the Mazer Yeshiva town library to study. Compared to in the Wilf library. 85% of students 8% to take out a book. the undergraduate student body. Program (MYP), 32 (17%) attend the Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program (SBMP), 29 (15%) attend the Isaac Breuer School (IBC) and 6 (3%) attend the James Striar School (JSS). Specific conclusions were not drawn from the results of some groups in YU with a low sample size, such as respondents from Syms-Women, Katz School, SBMP, IBC and JSS.

SURVEY RESULTS Both men and women are gen- erally comfortable with students of the opposite gender studying in the library on their respective cam- pus. 65% of men feel comfortable and 17% feel neither comfortable nor uncomfortable with women studying in the uptown library. Last year’s Commentator Spring Survey also found that 65% of men feel comfortable with women studying in the uptown library. This year, 56% of MYP students expressed comfortability with women in the uptown library and 23% feel neither comfortable nor uncom- fortable. 69% of YC students feel comfortable and 15% feel neither comfortable nor uncomfortable 46% of women expressed that they have avoided studying in the uptown library due to the fear THE COMMENTATOR with women studying in the uptown of being objectified. 16 Features Monday, December 23, 2019 Year in Review of Commentator News: 2019

as a professor at Harvard Business School $18 Million Donation by Azrieli By Yossi Zimilover and publishing two best-selling books. Dean September 22 - Third Giving Day Foundation Announced Wasserman is also slated to make a siyum Raises $5.7 Million Despite Steep Drop Over $5.6 million was raised from the As 2019 winds down, The Commentator on Shas at this year’s Chanukah concert. in Number of Donors 95th Annual Yeshiva University Hanukkah has compiled a list of some of the most im- YU’s third annual Giving Day raised over Dinner and Convocation, which marks a portant and popular stories we reported April 14 - “Volozhin Yeshiva” $5.7 million from 1156 donors, exceeding its 12% increase from last year’s dinner and on this year. Survey Email Ruffles Feathers $5 million goal. However, the total number the largest sum raised from the dinner in Hundreds of male students received of donors fell 61% from last year’s campaign. at least seven years. The Azrieli Foundation, February 14 - Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz emails from a group of anonymous students honored at the dinner with the inaugural Hired as RIETS Director of Semikha called the “Volozhin Yeshiva” asking them September 26 - Student Council Legacy Award, announced a gift of $18 mil- Program to fill out an anonymous form regarding Presidents Reinstate YU College lion to the university to support the Azrieli It was announced that Rabbi Aryeh potentially “objective halachic or hashkafik Democrats Graduate School of Jewish Education and Lebowitz would become the Director of issues found within courses.” The course The YU College Democrats were originally Administration and to contribute to under- Semikha at RIETS beginning this fall. Rabbi evaluation form was sent out without any rejected as an official club for the 2019-2020 graduate scholarships. Lebowitz is the rabbi of Beis HaKnesses of knowledge from the RIETS administration academic year by the Yeshiva Student Union North Woodmere and a popular educator. and was met with particular disapproval (YCU) and Stern College for Women Student In Memoriam: He has over 8,000 shiurim uploaded on from the YC Deans. Council (SCWSC) student governments, but YUTorah, the most of anyone on the site. after a joint statement was issued by all the April 4 - Sherwood Goffin, Before returning to YU, Rabbi Lebowitz most August 25 - University Sued by YU student council presidents, the decision Renowned Cantor and Educator, Dies recently held the role of Senior Magid Shiur Nearly 40 Former Students Alleging was reversed. at 77 at Lander College for Men. Abuse Cantor Sherwood Goffin, a teacher of After New York State passed the Child November 29 - Meal Plan Changes Jewish Liturgy and Folk Music since 1987 at February 16-17 - Uptown Coed Victims Act, 38 former students sued YU for Reverted Following Student Backlash Yeshiva University’s Belz School of Jewish Shabbaton Takes Place on Wilf allegedly turning a blind eye to sexual abuse The restructuring of this year’s dining Music, died on Wednesday, April 3. He was Campus that took place at Yeshiva University High plan was undone after students expressed also the cantor of Lincoln Square Synagogue For the first time in nearly 40 years, School for Boys, between 1955 and 1986. their displeasure with the changes and the on Manhattan’s West Side from its founding a coed Shabbaton took place on the Wilf administration admitted their failure at in- in 1965 until 2016. Campus, despite a statement from Rosh September 9 - YU Drops to 24-year formational meetings on the Beren and Wilf Yeshiva Rabbi Eli Baruch Shulman that en- Low in U.S. News and World Report campuses. May 19 - Leah Adler, Beloved and couraged male students to leave the campus Rankings Respected Head Librarian, Dies at 72 in protest of the event. In a thorough feature, YU dropped to 97th place in the U.S. December 5 - University Cited Leah Adler, the Head Librarian of The Commentator helped clarify the details News and World Report Annual Rankings for Dozens of Building, Elevator Hebraica and Judaica at Yeshiva University’s of what took place and what went on behind of national universities. Last year, YU was Violations Over Past 3 Years Mendel Gottesman Library for over 33 years, the scenes in the planning of the Shabbaton. ranked 80th. The rating marked a 24 year The Commentator learned that dozens of died on Saturday, May 4. low for Yeshiva. building code violations have been issued to March 4 - Dr. Noam Wasserman YU in the past three years, largely stemming October 4 - Bob Tufts, Syms Appointed Dean of Sy Syms School of September 15 - Students, Allies and from elevator issues on both the Beren and Professor, Passes Away at 63 after Business, Effective May 2019 Activists March for LGBTQ Equality Wilf Campuses. Long Cancer Battle Another substantial administrative ad- A group of over 100 YU students, alum- Several of the violations are classified Former Sy Syms School of Business dition was announced in early 2019. In an ni, LGBTQ allies and activists marched in by the New York City Dept. of Buildings as Professor Robert “Bob” Tufts died on October email to the student body, President Ari Washington Heights and in front of the “Code 1 — Immediately Hazardous” mat- 4. A former major league baseball pitcher, Berman stated that Dr. Noam Wasserman Gottesman Library in support of LGTBQ ters, and a number of the citations are still Tufts served as a clinical assistant profes- would become the Dean of the Sy Syms equality and representation on campus. pending resolution. sor in the Strategy and Entrepreneurship School of Business (SSSB) starting in May. The march was organized by the YU College Department and was named the Lillian and Dr. Wasserman has an impressive back- Democrats club without official YU approval, December 12 - Over $5.6 Million William Silber Professor of the Year in the ground in academia that includes serving together with Eshel and JQY. Raised at Hanukkah Dinner; 2017-2018 academic year. Monday, December 23, 2019 Features 17 The Art of Being Invisible

Always Adapt. When Charlie Casserly was the general manager in By Mayer Fink The NFL is a league of trends. Whether it’s the no-huddle Washington, he would only draft players that he knew Joe offense or the 46 defense, the league is full of innovators Gibbs wanted to coach, the result was three Super Bowl On December 3rd, in the midst of the football season, and copycatters. The coaches that last in the NFL are the championships in nine seasons with a group of players that the Carolina Panthers fired head coach Ron Rivera. Ron ones who not only outlast the trends but are able to adapt were capable of playing not only with coach Gibbs but with Rivera is the second coach to be fired before the end of the with them. each other as well. season (Jay Gruden lost his job following an 0-5 start to What makes Bill Belichick's 19 year tenure with the Now, most coaches don’t have complete control of who Washington’s season) and is expected to be one of many Patriots so impressive is that throughout his time in New they bring in. Part of the difficulty in being a head coach is coaches that will be fired by the end of the season. England many trends have come and gone, yet he remains. having a strong chemistry with the player hierarchy on the We hear a lot about coaches on the hotseat. After every Belichick has not only withstood some of the trends that team. A common phrase heard in the sports world is that a Sunday, we hear on sports commentaries which coaches are other coaches have tried to implement, he has also started coach “lost the locker room,” meaning they lost the respect expected to be fired and which coaches should be in fear of some of his own. Belichick will probably go down as one of and control of their team. New coaches have the extra dif- losing their jobs. One thing we don’t hear often is which the greatest preparation coaches the league has seen, and ficulty of winning over the players who not only have been coaches are on the “cold seat;” which coaches have the saf- the idea that you win a game in practice has been embodied playing football their whole life but have likely been in the in New England. organization for longer than the coach who just got hired. Last year, John Harbaugh had to make a gutsy decision This has resulted in searches for coaches who can understand One thing we don’t hear often is which that resulted in him securing his job for the foreseeable fu- and relate to the players on the roster. Pete Carroll is most ture. He was faced with the dilemma of keeping traditional notable for being a successful “players coach” in recent years. coaches are on the “cold seat;” which pocket-passing quarterback Joe Flacco as the starter or going While he has let his players be more vocal and independent, with the young, raw dual-threat quarterback in rookie Lamar he has had the final say in team actions and team activities. coaches have the safest job security and Jackson. The decision to switch to Lamar Jackson changed Coaches have the extra difficulty of dealing with the don’t have to worry about getting fired. the Ravens offense and since the change at quarterback the owners and management of the team who are above them Ravens have been one of the best teams in the NFL. in power. A good relationship with an owner can be the The great coaches not only know what trends to follow, strongest component for a coach being able to keep his job. est job security and don’t have to worry about getting fired. but also are the innovators of the league. The coaches that Marvin Lewis coached the Bengals for 16 seasons and never There’s an art to being on the “cold seat”. An art to being are two, three steps ahead of everyone else are the ones that won a playoff game, while Jim Harbaugh went to three NFC invisible. The average tenure of an NFL head coach is only keep their jobs. Great coaches also know when to make a Championships in his first three seasons with the 49ers three seasons. There are a handful of coaches that have risky decision and when not to. Many coaches are considered only to be fired after his fourth season with the team. Both been in the league for a long time and while their names risky when they go for it on fourth down or surprise the coaches had to deal with different owners; one was patient may surface every few years as a coach on the hotseat, they other team with an onside kick in the middle of the game, and had a good relationship with his coach and the other are consistently able to avoid the pressure of coaching for a but many risky decisions are also made off the field with got into a power struggle with the general manager and the job. The five coaches that have mastered the “cold seat” are the staff and personnel. owner. Just like every locker room is different, every owner Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, Sean Payton and general manager is different. The coaches that last are and Pete Carroll. Many would point to the Super Bowl vic- Have good relationships not only with the owner- able to figure out how to win over both. tories as the thing that these five coaches have in common, ship/management but also the players It’s hard to know the exact science behind the ideal coach. claiming that is why these coaches are on the “cold seat”. Don’t let the sideline look of Bill Belichick wearing a One thing is common, though — winning makes everything A Super Bowl victory does bolster job security among head hoodie and sweatpants fool you. He is a football genius but better. The teams that will begin their coaching searches this coaches, but a Super Bowl victory can only last so long. Mike he also runs the team like a CEO runs a company. Everyone offseason will hope to find the next great coach. They should Mccarthy was fired last season despite winning a champion- who goes to New England knows that they are playing for look into the coaches that have been great in recent years ship in the 2010 season. Bill Belichick and his system, not for themselves. to find commonalities that make coaches great. Why are some coaches able to remain invisible? How are they able to avoid the pressure from the media and fans and keep their jobs for as long as they have? There are three common tendencies within the five coaches mentioned above. There is no exact science to success in the NFL, but there are some common trends which can go unnoticed by the common fan.

Never tank; always be competitive. It’s a cliche in the NFL to always be competitive. Every coach will say that they are trying to win every game. Few coaches can remain competitive regardless of the circum- stances. It has been common in the NFL for teams to “tank” or purposely lose for draft position. The best head coaches will never relay that message to their team, even one with a depleted roster. In an era of “selling out”, the teams that are “buying in” are winning. Last off-season the Seahawks lost some key players from their Super Bowl team in the 2013 season. Most fans expected the Seahawks to bottom out and finish last in the division in hopes of being a better team in the future years. Not Pete Carroll. Carroll made sure the Seahawks were competitive that season. Despite a roster stripped of its championship talent, the Seahawks managed to make the playoffs last season. Pete Carroll has kept the Super Bowl mentality in Seattle and the Seahawks are back to being contenders as they boast one of the best records in the NFL this season. Similarly, this off-season can be classified as the worst in the Mike Tomlin era in Pittsburgh. The team lost All-Pro running back Le'veon Bell, All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown, and other key pieces of what has been part of the Steelers success in recent years. To make matters worse, fu- ture Hall-of-Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered an elbow injury in the second game of the season to sideline him for the year (the team fell to 0-3 the following week). Many thought the Steelers would finish last in the division. Mike Tomlin dismissed any thought of that following the week two loss as the team traded their first round draft pick in exchange for defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. Mike Tomlin has proven in his tenure in Pittsburgh that it’s not in his mentality to lose, leading the Steelers to a .500 record or above every season. Mike Tomlin has not only guided the team to an 8-5 record (as of Tuesday night 12/10/2019), he has done so with a third string quarterback , Delvin Hodges, and a third string running back. Texans player kneeling PIXABAY 18 Features Monday, December 23, 2019

Faculty Spotlight An Interview with Dr. Dara Horn By Michelle Naim

The Dara Horns of this world don’t come around too often. As the Straus Center’s Distinguished Visiting Scholar for the 2019-2020 academic year, she teaches a course called “When Bad Things Happen to Good People: Divine Justice and Human Creativity,” which meets for four hours every week and spans two full blocks on the schedule. She has eight people in the class. Horn doesn’t plan her books; “I’m writing them the way you’re reading them,” she said. She may write up to 1500 words a day only to throw out the whole lot afterward (it’s a skill she said she’s honed over the last 20 years). The five-time novelist was sharp and honest when she said, “writing is not a career choice, it’s a chronic illness.” It doesn’t matter to her if the work is good or not, but only that she is generating words. “That happens,” she said. “That’s part of the creative process. Not everything works out the way you’d hope it would.” “You were hoping for a little quote where you could say ‘she went to Ramaz,’” she told me when I interviewed her. I actually wasn’t. Hearing that Dara Horn had gone through the public- school system and then took time to educate herself in ulpan classes at a local JCC (she was the only one not retired, and her nickname in the class was tinoket), was a breath of fresh air. She is the “weird exception to the Pew survey.” Horn cur- rently lives in Short Hills, New Jersey, where she also grew up. She has reached dozens of readers from various backgrounds and her informal Jewish education gave her the tools to package Jewish ideas for anyone. Unlike other children who attended synagogue Hebrew schools, Horn actually learned something from the one she attended, she said. Dara Horn lecturing at an event on the meaning of YU NEWS Horn graduated with a PhD in comparative literature from Jerusalem. Harvard University in 2006. She studied Hebrew and Yiddish literature, and although her class at Stern College for Women is listed under the English department, most of the works she teaches are in Yiddish or Hebrew (one was originally written in German). It’s a Queens Thing Horn has previously taught classes at Sarah Lawrence College and City University of New York in Jewish literature and Israeli History. She was also a visiting Professor at Harvard University where she taught Hebrew and Yiddish literature. Earn the Credits You “I’ve taught in many different contexts — adult education, high school, graduate studies — this is the best class I’ve ever Need This Summer taught!” she said about the class she teaches at Stern. But these intellectually rigorous institutions have got nothing on YU. Summer Session at Queens College “I’ve felt that at other places I’ve taught, the seminar discus- sion is about people trying to impress me. No one is trying to ■ Four sessions: four, six, or ten weeks impress me here, or if they are, they’re just succeeding and I’m ■ Earn as many as 15 credits a chump,” she quipped. ■ Hundreds of undergraduate and graduate classes, including hybrid She also added that the mere fact that she is teaching at and online options a Jewish college means that many students understand the ■ Free on-campus parking permit biblical/prophetic references in the literature they discuss. ■ Low-cost on-campus housing available “YU students are the readers who these texts are meant for,” she continued. Horn comes from a long line of Jewish educators. Her Visiting Students May Register Now mother got a doctorate in Jewish education and her family www.qc.cuny.edu/summer • 718-997-5600 grew up bringing the holidays alive — acting out the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim by redoing their house on Passover into a “Plague House of Horrors,” which takes participants through the Horn’s papered basement. Her son pops out and slaughters the first born, then participants go through and “there’s 500 yards of blue yarn hanging from the ceiling and one of my other sons is there and he’s dressed as Moshe and he’s leading you through the red sea as you part this yarn,” she explained with excitement. Horn always thought about Judaism through the prism of creativity — whether that be the plays she and her family enact or their “Plague House of Horrors.” When she read books with references to Tanach and Gemara, she was amazed at their depth. “Now I think it’s different,” she said. “But there was this thinness to the American Jewish literature that I grew up with which was all about Judaism as a social identity, it was not anything about the content of this tradition and I was like ‘wouldn’t it be cool to have this in English.’” So that’s what she wrote her novels about. Judaism, to Horn, is the opposite of the American dream. Judaism is not about the individual, no matter how many lines of “If I am not for myself, who will be for me” lines exist in Jewish literature. “Actually, the most important thing in your life happened thousands of years ago, there’s nothing you can do about it … Everything about Jewish life is about reliving the past and that the past isn’t even the past. Everything is this endless spiral.”

Adm_YeshivaUAd_11_22_19.indd 1 11/18/19 4:37 PM Monday, December 23, 2019 Opinions 19 Assessing the UK Election and its Significance for Jews Everywhere

the January 31 — no ifs, no buts, Press TV, and speculated that the Auschwitz to Gaza,” that compared become the next prime minister, By Daniel Melool no maybes. Leaving the European “hand of Israel” was involved in a Israel to Nazi Germany. In 2017, and responded with, “of course.” Union as one United Kingdom, terrorist attack in Egypt in which it was discovered that Corbyn was Indeed, a poll commissioned by On Dec. 12, the United Kingdom taking back control of our laws, sixteen policemen and border a stalwart supporter of an anti- the Jewish Leadership Council held a general election for the third borders, money, our trade, immi- guards were killed and seven were Israel campaign group, Deir Yassin and shared with The Times of time in just five years. The elec- gration system, delivering on the injured. Corbyn said about the at- Remembered, which is chaired by Israel found that 47% of Jews in tion resulted in the Conservative democratic mandate of the people.” tack, “I’m very concerned about notorious Holocaust denier Paul the U.K. would “seriously con- Party, led by incumbent Prime The election result also proved it [the massacre] and you have to Eisen. Eisen wrote an essay in 2005 sider” emigrating if Corbyn won, Minister Boris Johnson, maintain- to be a victory for investors. As look at the big picture: in whose detailing his support for a jailed and 87% considered Corbyn anti- ing its status as the largest party in soon as an exit poll showing the interests is it to destabilise the new German ­Holocaust denier, and Semitic. The current Chief Rabbi parliament and increasing its seat Conservative Party would win a government in Egypt? In whose insisted being a ­Holocaust denier of England, Ephraim Mirvis, in count with a net gain of 66 seats to significant majority was published, interest is it to kill Egyptians, oth- was an “entirely ­honourable thing.” an unprecedented move, warned secure 365 out of the 650 seats in the British pound jumped two per- er than Israel, concerned at the that the “very soul of our nation the House of Commons — nearly cent against the euro, and 2.3% growing closeness of relationship is at stake.” Assessing the way 40 more than the necessary 326 re- against the U.S. dollar. Throughout between Palestine and the new Without any doubt, Labour has handled allegations of quired to form a government. The the election, markets improved Egyptian government?” When the biggest winner anti-Semitism, Rabbi Mirvis said, opposition Labour Party, led by whenever Conservative Party poll asked by presenter Lauren Booth “The way in which the leadership Jeremy Corbyn, suffered a net loss numbers increased and dropped if “a Muslim would go against his of this election is the of the Labour Party has dealt with of 42 seats, decreasing its share of whenever there was a chance Egyptian brother and open fire?”, anti-Jewish racism is incompatible seats from 262 to 203 in the party’s that Corbyn’s Labour Party would Corbyn responded, “It seems a bit Jewish community, not with the British values of which worst performance since 1935. For form a government. Neil Wilson, unlikely that would happen during we are so proud - of dignity and the Conservatives, this election was an analyst at Markets.com, re- Ramadan, to put it mildly, and I just in England, but respect for all people. It has left the party’s biggest victory since the marked about the election, “The suspect the hand of Israel in this worldwide. many decent Labour members and re-election of Margaret Thatcher exit poll shows a whopping vic- whole process of destabilisation.” parliamentarians, both Jewish and in 1987. tory for the Conservatives and the In 2014, Corbyn traveled to Tunisia non-Jewish, ashamed of what has The election was a victory perfect result for the market and and participated in a wreath-laying The controversy surrounding transpired.” for supporters of Brexit. The for business. Markets hate uncer- ceremony for the terrorists who Corbyn drew comments from With the results of the latest Conservative Party, under the tainty, but they would have hated murdered eleven Israelis at the people who usually refrain from election, the Jewish community leadership and direction of Boris a Corbyn government a lot more.” 1972 Munich Olympics. At the speaking about politics publicly. can breathe a sigh of relief. Not Johnson, had made leaving the However, without any doubt, time, then-Labour MP Luciana Former Chief Rabbi of England only will Jeremy Corbyn not be the European Union a big part of their the biggest winner of this election Berger called on Corbyn to apolo- Jonathan Sacks said in an inter- next Prime Minister of England, campaign — to the point of making is the Jewish community, not just gize: “Being ‘present’ is the same view with the New Statesman he will no longer lead the Labour their official mantra “Get Brexit in England, but worldwide. as being involved. When I attend in 2018 that Corbyn is “an anti- Party. Following his electoral de- done.” Although a majority of the Outgoing Labour leader Jeremy a memorial, my presence alone, Semite” who has lent support to feat on Friday, Corbyn announced British public voted to leave the Corbyn has been plagued by nu- whether I lay a wreath or not, “racists, terrorists and dealers of he would step down as leader. European Union in June of 2016, merous anti-Semitic scandals. demonstrates my association and hate.” The comment was the first The election results in Britain are the parties have failed to reach Corbyn referred to Hamas and support. There can also never be time Rabbi Sacks has issued a po- good news for Jewish communi- an agreement on what the leave Hezbollah as “friends,” despite a ‘fitting memorial’ for terrorists. litical statement in his 30 years in ties around the world, and indeed should look like. At a victory speech both groups being designated ter- Where is the apology?” Last year, public life. Rabbi Sacks was also for all people who oppose bigotry. to supporters, Johnson said, “I will rorist groups by both the European Corbyn was forced to apologize asked on the BBC if he knew any put an end to all that nonsense, and Union and the United States. In for attending an event in 2010 Jews who were seriously consider- we will get Brexit done on time by 2012, Corbyn appeared on Iran’s titled “Never Again for Anyone: ing leaving Britain if Corbyn would

And as the Credits Roll: My Top Ten Movies of the Year

semi-autobiographical film directed by By Josh Leichter Noam Baumbach shows us a couple played by Scarlett Johansen and Adam Driver going It’s that time of year again. As the seasons through a brutal divorce. What they sought begin to change and turn more subdued, the to keep civil soon devolves into a bitter and films released seem to mimic this pattern. hostile affair that draws out the worst in Following those thrilling days of the summer both of them. The film’s strength is in the that brought us enjoyable popcorn flicks dialogue, performances and the way that like “Spider-Man: Far from Home”, “Toy it helps us relate to both characters, inten- Story 4” and of course “Avengers: Endgame”, tionally making it unclear as to who we are there is a noticeable lull. Moving into the supposed to be supporting. Playing support- winter months, the movies that come out are ing roles are Ray Liotta (“Goodfellas”) and calmer, quieter, more intimate films that pull Laura Dern (“Big Little Lies”), whose turns on our heartstrings and keep us warm as the as two high-energy attorneys provide both snow falls outside. And another year fades perspective and humor on just how intense to black, we find ourselves sitting around the divorce process can be. It is currently with friends, discussing what our favorite streaming on Netflix. movies were this past year, which brings “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” me to the point of this piece. Here are what (Sony): Another big-name director mak- I felt were the ten best films released over ing his return to the big screen this year, the course of 2019: Quentin Tarantino cast A-list stars Brad “The Irishman” (Netflix): A story that Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in his latest love spans five decades, this film takes us through song to the golden days of Hollywood, with the life of Frank Sheeran, a mobster from DiCaprio portraying an actor struggling to Philadelphia, and dives into his relation- find work and Pitt as his loyal stuntman and ship with the mafia and influential union best friend. The film takes us through those boss, Jimmy Hoffa. Beautifully shot by the “good old days” of Hollywood and features legendary Martin Scorsese and populated cameos from many real-life celebrities of with screen legends Robert De Niro, Joe the time, from Bruce Lee to an incredible Pesci and Al Pacino acting together for the supporting turn by Margot Robbie as Sharon first time since they all got their starts almost Tate. It’s the kind of movie only someone 50 years ago was a sight to behold. While the with such a love could make and Tarantino film runs long at 3 hours and 30 minutes, shows he’s the one who could pull it off. not a moment feels unearned as Scorsese “1917” (Universal): Not since 1998’s chooses to show us a different side of the “Saving Private Ryan” has there been a war mafia life, showing us a man who must live movie so captivating, visceral and gripping with the sins of his younger days. It is cur- Continued on Page 20 rently streaming on Netflix. Martin Scorsese’s latest film, "The Irishman", WIKIMEDIA COMMONS “Marriage Story” (Netflix): This has an all-star cast and is generating Oscar buzz already. 20 Opinions Monday, December 23, 2019

TOP TEN MOVIES, brilliant shots of the space odyssey, but never Shelby, a car designer and engineer to play characters to new heights and development, continued from Page 19 loses sight of the message at its center: the alongside Christian Bale, who portrays rac- actually providing a satisfying conclusion timeless story of a son that wants nothing ing driver Ken Miles. The two play off of to what are now some of the most iconic in showing the horrors of the battlefield. more than to reconnect with his father. each other in a way that makes it a delight superheroes in history. To say goodbye to Taking place over the course of a single day “Joker” (Warner Brothers): If there was to watch, while also having the reader feel these modern myths can only be said in the and focusing on two soldiers who must give ever an actor that can transform into a like they are there during the famous 1966 same words we heard in the film. We love orders to stop an attack that will lead to role and truly make it his own, it would be Le Mans race, where Ford sought to design you, 3000. devastation for the British troops, director Joaquin Phoenix. In his turn as Joker, he a car that could beat the legendary Enzo “Knives Out” (Lionsgate): An ensemble Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger allows himself to contort his body into a Ferrari. The movie takes us back to those murder mystery, “Knives Out” never takes Deakins shot the film to appear as one long masterclass of method acting that I dare say days when the engineers did not have the itself too seriously, allowing itself to have fun take, allowing for the film to have a hypnotic upstages Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning role modern technology we have nowadays and and riff on the old Agatha Christie novels in hold over the audience. It never breaks for in “The Dark Knight”. We, as the audience, had to rely on their wit and inventiveness to what I found to be one of the most surpris- even a moment, making you feel like you see how one man who actively seeks out get the job done. ingly enjoyable films of the year. As soon as are standing on the battlefield, uncertain of treatment for his neurological conditions the movie ended, I was eager to watch it all where danger might strike next. It’s an im- can be completely kicked around in society And as another year fades over again to catch everything I missed on pressive feat that I think will change the way to the point of breaking. While some were the first viewing. we see films like these, just like how “Private critical of the violence in the film, it opens to black, we find ourselves “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” Ryan’s” famous D-Day scene changed the up the door to having an actual conversation (Tristar): In a role that seems as tailor- genre over 20 years ago. about mental illness and what we can do to sitting around with friends, made as his recognizable sweaters, Tom “Ad Astra” (Fox/Disney): With a plot help. At the same time, the film breaks the Hanks transforms into Mr. Fred Rogers and that can be described as Apocalypse Now conventions of what a “comic book movie” discussing what our favorite draws out the kindness and gentle warmth in space, we find ourselves observing a can be, by elevating its source material and movies were this past year. that he brought into the world in real life. more quiet and contemplative side to Brad translating it into the real world, one devoid Unfortunately, the rest of the film struggles Pitt’s acting in a radical departure from his of caped crusaders and flashy armor, where to find its footing when Hanks is not on the role in Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time… the only heroes are the ones that we allow “Avengers Endgame” (Disney): 22 mov- screen. I still recommend it because of the In Hollywood”. The film takes us through ourselves to be. ies, 11 years and the highest gross ever has excellent job Tom Hanks does, but much space focusing on the bleakness of being so “Ford V. Ferrari” (Fox/Disney): Leaning shown that Marvel Studios really did ac- preferred last year’s documentary, “Won’t far from humanity and simply allows us to in to the conversation on celebrity acting complish the impossible. No one would have You Be My Neighbor”, which is about Mr. join Pitt on his mission to discover whether pairings, James Mangold perfectly nailed it believed that they would be able to start Rogers and how he became such an icon. his father is still alive. The film showcases in this film, casting Matt Damon as Carroll off in 2008 with “Iron Man” and take the

Who Should Fight Global Warming? that every candidate agreed must and an implementation of the am- lot of money on public problems. create compatible charging outlets By Noam Gershov be addressed is that of climate bitious Green New Deal, a plan Across the aisle, Republicans and use the Tesla superchargers. change. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, for introduced by Congresswomen also believe, at least in part, that the This self-sacrifice demonstrates the The Democratic Party’s fifth instance, described this crisis as a Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and climate is changing. A Monmouth company’s genuine drive towards presidential debate was held on “national emergency,” and Senator Senator Ed Markey that aims to University poll suggests that 64% achieving a zero-emission future. November 20 in Atlanta, Georgia. Bernie Sanders coined it “an exis- bring carbon emissions to zero of Republicans believe in global In his spare time, Elon Musk Not surprisingly, every candidate tential threat to our country and and invest in projects that protect warming, but only 25% think it is participates in other ventures on stage agreed that President the entire planet.” The proposed the environment. These proposals a very serious problem. Whether that also reduce global warming. Donald Trump must be ousted solution by most candidates in- align with the Democratic ideology climate change is a pressing issue SolarCity, which Tesla purchased from office in 2020. Another issue cludes a combination of increased of a big, involved government that that needs immediate attention in 2016 for $2.6 billion dollars, taxes on greenhouse gas emissions regulates businesses and spends a or can be put on the back-burner, manufactures a variety of so- conservatives generally oppose a lar panels that convert sunlight powerful government that inter- into clean energy. One version of venes to solve our country’s issues. these panels is standard and can Instead, Republicans encourage be installed directly on top of an individuals and private industries existing roof. However, acknowl- to pursue efforts at stabilizing the edging that these panels are an environment. eyesore, Tesla recently unveiled its A prime example of a private Solarglass Roof, which brilliantly company and specific individual replaces traditional roof shingles successfully tackling the problem with beautiful, seamless solar tiles. of climate change is Tesla and its The clean energy produced by these founder, Elon Musk. Established panels must be stored, so Tesla in 2003, the mission of Tesla has provides a Powerwall that mounts stayed consistent throughout: “to to the side of one’s house and keeps prove that electric vehicles can the generated power for later use. be better, quicker, and more fun Elon Musk’s incredible inven- to drive than gasoline cars,” and tions have already contributed simultaneously, that “the faster so much to the environment, and the world stops relying on fossil they will surely continue to reduce fuels and moves towards a zero- greenhouse gas emissions and mit- emission future, the better.” Over igate climate change for years to the years, Tesla has put its money come. His electric vehicles, super- where its mouth is, and as of the charger network and solar panels end of the second quarter of 2019, have become the gold standard in 720,000 electric vehicles have sustainable energy technology and been sold globally. This number innovation. is quite staggering and is pro- Many other private businesses jected to rise exponentially with are also innovating in these fields. the recent announcement of the And not only are these companies Tesla Cybertruck, which received not taxing U.S. citizens or placing 146,000 preorders just two days restrictions on fossil fuel emissions, after its reveal. but they are concurrently creating To meet the energy demands great products with the positive of its electric vehicles while on the side effect of fighting global warm- road, Tesla created a vast super- ing. Perhaps the Democratic candi- charger network that spans roads, dates should observe the success of highways, rest stops and malls, so Tesla and other similar companies the driver never has to worry about and realize that under a free market running out of battery. Although economic system with the proper Tesla is a for-profit business that incentives in place, individuals and wants as many people to buy its private businesses will do the job of Elon Musk’s electric vehicles, supercharger network and solar WIKIMEDIA COMMONS vehicles as possible, the company solving climate change better and panels have become the gold standard in sustainable energy has generously offered to allow faster than government ever can. technology and innovation other electric car manufacturers to Monday, December 23, 2019 Opinions 21 Seeking Transcendence, Finding Ourselves: A Review of SCDS’s ‘Defying Gravity’

Many of the characters initially seem to fit specific tropes, but upon closer inspection, reveal deeper complexities. STERN COLLEGE DRAMA SOCIETY

We have the soft-spoken and eloquent And of course there’s the man who opens script weaves together a complex tapestry By Aharon Nissel Teacher (Chana Weiss, who just so hap- the play, the French Impressionist painter, of themes and motifs: God, science, art, the pens to be teaching about churches and Monet (a delightful Leah Schewitz), who cosmos and most importantly the interplay I could start this review by saying that reliquaries), who has been chosen to be anachronistically — but delightfully — joins between them all. It is no coincidence that the Stern College Drama Society’s (SCDS) the civilian representative sent up on the us throughout the play, interacting with the Teacher’s projection of the stained glass production of “Defying Gravity” really Challenger space shuttle. Despite being a characters who lived decades after his death. rose window from Chartres Cathedral hovers takes off, or that it was out of this world, or teacher, she herself has what to learn, espe- The play seeks to draw a parallel between above one scene like a planet or that she talks I could make a bad “Wicked” joke (despite cially about parenting. Her young daughter Monet’s artistic pursuits and NASA’s scien- about how the invention of flying buttresses the title, this play had nothing to do with Elizabeth (the powerful Sarit Perl) attests tific pursuits. In this play, Monet’s sublim- allowed Cathedrals to be built higher than the Broadway smash hit). Instead, I’d like to this with visceral, emotional expressions ity goes beyond his paintings of cathedrals ever before (look out for the many clever to move past all that and get to what's really that are powerful in the way that only a and lilies. He is everywhere he needs to be, references and call-backs within the play). going on here. The SCDS production of Jane child unadulterated by apathetic adult life simply trying to create beauty and see the The play as a whole is very much an exercise Anderson’s “Defying Gravity” is simply a or a Monet painting can be. While she may world “from God’s view.” in taking metaphors and really hashing them delicately durable performance about the out to find the truths that lie within them. vastness of the universe, the tininess of hu- The play challenges us to relate to these mankind and the beauty we create despite Whether you’re a science person or an art person, it's well worth bigger themes, and ultimately to each other. that bifurcation. The play is about reaching God and clinging The play runs in a free-structured style, your time to head over to Schottenstein Theater to see this to God’s world. Whether you’re a science oscillating between the 1986 Challenger mis- stellar (sorry, I had to) performance about “space, time, and person or an art person, it's well worth your sion and the present. Non-linear plays are time to head over to Schottenstein Theater to often hard to follow, but that wasn’t an issue human emotion.” see this stellar (sorry, I had to) performance here (and anyway, time is relative in space). about “space, time and human emotion.” Many of the characters initially seem to fit realize how influential these people were specific tropes, but upon closer inspection, just seem like an ill-tempered child at first, Rocky Pincus and Sara Pool’s set is sooth- in many of the things we take for granted reveal deeper complexities. For example, Elizabeth really struggles to understand the ingly delicate. The walls and floor of the stage today, such as the communities we live in, when we first meet the old traveling couple pressure her mother is under just as much are painted in the harmonious, tranquil the schools we go to and the shuls we pray Betty (a tender Shayna Hain) and Ed (Mikki as Teacher fails to understand the pressure blacks and purples of outer space blended at. There needs to be some type of written Trietel — with incredible eyebrows), who Elizabeth is under. in Monet’s signature style, with fairy lights work or class that can preserve their his- actively seek out adventures, they seem to We have the gruff but deeply human that shine like stars between scenes. The tory to ensure that their legacies will be be just a quarreling couple going camping. NASA engineer C.B. (Eli Azizollahoff), who furniture hovers on the back wall as if float- remembered by future generations. Also, But Betty’s naive innocence is more than a drinks a little more than he should, and his ing in antigravity. The efficacious props and their sefarim should be made more easily silly personality trait. It inspires us to con- girlfriend, the motherly nurturer Donna costumes are thoughtfully curated by Head available so that we can learn the Torah of template the beauty that exists in the world (Tamar Guterson), who operates a bar near of Props, Yael Nissel, and Head of Costumes, the people who have indirectly influenced — both natural and manmade. This is won- the NASA facilities. Throughout the play, she Gabriella Koege, and their teams. where we are today. Yeshiva University has derfully complemented by Ed’s laid back, comforts the characters that need comforting Director Reuven Russell artfully nav- wonderful traditions from these incredible somewhat skeptical demeanor. Despite the (it's no coincidence that her name is a play on igates the complexities of the play as he rabbis and there needs to be a greater effort fact that they provide levity to an otherwise Madonna), and eventually she herself must blurs the lines between past and present to spread the Torah, stories and character heavy script, they still speak to a very hu- face her own challenges with heights, which, to emphasize the eternal truths that per- of these great people so we can keep their man desire to connect to something greater. while smaller in scale, are no less important. vade the work. Jane Anderson’s meditative tradition and the tradition of YU alive. 22 Opinions Monday, December 23, 2019 The Flu Vaccine: Fighting Complacency with Convenience flu vaccination trends of some of the Yeshiva By Avigail Goldberger and In a 2017 survey conducted by the NFID, 70 percent of college University student population. Rachel Retter Out of the 111 participating students (ap- students in the US reported that they believe it is important to proximately half female and half male), 95 The availability heuristic is a mental get an annual flu vaccine, while only 46 percent stated that they percent believed that it is important to get shortcut which allows us to dwell on fears a flu vaccine, and 41 percent had been sick that are statistically less likely to hurt us than typically get vaccinated. with the flu before. However, 26 percent ones we ignore. For example, a person may said that they did not receive a flu vaccine last year, and 21 percent said that if free feel more anxious on a plane than in a car, who see no reason to get vaccinated and in Disease) provided free flu shots right on flu shots were not offered on campus, they even though more people die every year in facilitating a more comfortable and conve- the Beren and Wilf campuses to students would not have gotten vaccinated. car crashes than in planes. In a similar vein, nient vaccination process for those who are who presented health insurance information. Students’ responses varied in regards while much recent media attention has been merely reluctant. Along these lines, the NFID One student commented that the nurses to why they may have gone a year without devoted to documenting anti-vaccination concluded that some likely ways to increase from Rite Aid were “so incredibly nice, as- getting a flu vaccination. Among those who groups with regard to the measles virus, participation might include decreasing the suring me that it would barely hurt — and reported missing a year of vaccination in the flu vaccination rates have not been as fre- financial burden and offering small tangible it was true!” The student added that they past, the largest percentage (31.5%) said that quently discussed. Of course, the potential benefits, such as food or monetary incentive. even gave out small chocolates at the event. it was because "there was no convenient way dangers of a measles outbreak are not to In September 2019, Yeshiva University's Surveys distributed to the students who to get a flu shot." Others (11%) responded be minimized. But the fact remains: tens of chapter of UAID (United Against Inequities partook in the event provided insight into thousands of Americans die each year of the that they "didn't feel the need." Less than one flu according to the CDC while thankfully, percent avoided it, respectively, because of no measles deaths have been recorded in the fear of side effects, discomfort surrounding US since 2015. In fact, according to a survey needles, or belief that it does not work. conducted by the National Foundation for It seems that, at least in the population Infectious Diseases (NFID), 60 percent of surveyed, the main obstacle towards stu- Americans “[agree] that flu vaccination is dents getting vaccinated is not wariness the best preventative measure against flu or fear. Rather, it is a lack of sufficient related deaths and hospitalization.” Despite motivation, comfort, or convenience that this, the CDC reports that less than half of drives lackluster flu vaccine participation. Americans get the flu vaccine in any given Of course, this survey population was lim- year; it is even possible, based on data from ited to those who attended the 2019 flu shot recent years, that this number could be on clinic and therefore will not be representa- the decline. tive of global student attitudes, whether at Because college students represent the Yeshiva University alone or in the broader up-and-coming members of society, public US college student population. Specifically, health workers often turn to college cam- it would likely not represent the attitudes of puses to investigate and initiate change re- students with pre-existing strong opposition garding critical health attitudes. In a 2017 to flu vaccinations. survey conducted by the NFID, 70 percent Flu shot clinics such as the ones organized of college students in the US reported that on the Yeshiva University campuses this fall they believe it is important to get an annual represent a significant stride toward ad- flu vaccine, while only 46 percent stated that dressing the element of convenience, both they typically get vaccinated. in terms of monetary relief and logistical Among reasons cited for not getting vac- ease. In order to find out if objections to cinated were doubts surrounding its effi- the vaccine itself exist within the overall YU cacy, confidence in one’s own health, needle population and to investigate the nature of aversion, financial hesitations, and fear of these hesitations, a more widespread can- side effects. While several of these reasons vassing could be conducted. This would pro- account for the percentage of the population vide insight into whether the student body who do not believe it is important to get could benefit from an educational initiative vaccinated, others provide insight into why to combat misconceptions about the flu vac- people may believe it is important yet still cination. It is critical to seek an understand- fail to vaccinate. In other words, there are ing of our health behaviors and attitudes, so two necessary avenues of attack to increase we can implement appropriate changes that flu vaccine participation — educating those UAID works to make getting a flu shot easier. NEEDPIX will move us forward in a positive direction.

Orthodox Jews and the Political Process The substance of the allegations and immoral behavior. Whether and the vulnerable. No Orthodox Jewish compliments was that By Rabbi Yosef Blau is seen as irrelevant. The leaders reflecting a cynical attitude about rabbi would disagree, but function- one is a “yoshor,” a person who have demanded loyalty from their politicians in general or accepting ally this focus defines only part is straight and has unquestioned Orthodox rabbis play a promi- followers. that these leaders demand total of Orthodox Judaism. In Israel, integrity. It is paradoxical that nent role in Israeli politics and In Israel, a prominent Rosh loyalty and cannot handle any criti- where Jews have sovereignty over anti-Semites characterized Jews often openly support candidates Yeshiva attended a rally where the cism, the impression exists that non-Jews for the first time in two as cheaters and manipulators. in American elections. Since I attorney general and police com- Orthodoxy doesn’t care about eth- thousand years, ethical standards Maimonides, in concluding his question the connection between missioner, both Orthodox Jews ics or legality. for treating non-Jews, who are of- Guide to the Perplexed, quotes and halakhic expertise and political appointed by the Prime Minister, amplifies Jeremiah 9:23 “Let him acumen, I have refrained from were denounced. All the reli- who glories glory in this: that he expressing my political views to gious parties support legislation Judaism doesn’t tolerate corruption. No political understands and knows Me, that the students in Yeshiva. However, that would immunize the Prime I am the Lord Who exercise faith- there is value in analyzing the ba- Minister from any prosecution. gains are worth losing ethical sensitivity. ful love, justice and righteousness sis used by many Orthodox Jews, If one reads Orthodox media in in this earth: for in these things including rabbis, in taking public America, one gets the impression that I delight says Hashem.” For political positions. that Orthodox Jewry is totally What has differentiated ten hostile, are more complicated. Maimonides, the goal of knowl- In parallel but differing -nu supportive of the President. His Orthodoxy from other Jewish These and other factors have edge of Hashem translates into our ances, the heads of government demeaning, name-calling of op- streams is a full commitment to led to ethical concerns becom- emulating Him by pursuing faithful in America and Israel are facing ponents doesn’t even require being halakhic observance, which is ing of marginal significance in love, justice and righteousness. serious charges of corruption and/ defended. most clearly reflected in ritual Orthodoxy. In the complex world Judaism doesn’t tolerate cor- or abuse of power. The Orthodox Support for both leaders can be observances. Any differences in of politics, these considerations ruption. No political gains are community perceives both leaders justified in terms of protecting the standards of interpersonal be- are rarely mentioned. This is a ma- worth losing ethical sensitivity. as having policies that are favorable community’s self-interest, though havior are relatively minor. The jor mistake pragmatically in pro- Without integrity our religious to its interests. While differing that would not necessarily lead to Reform movement, having aban- moting Orthodoxy to the broader identity is hollow. Silence may in detail the leaders’ defense has such extreme demonstrations of doned observance of Shabbat and Jewish and non-Jewish commu- seem to be a clever strategy but been to claim that their enemies, loyalty and attacks on opponents. Kashrut, focuses on quoting the nities, and more importantly as demonstrating ethical concerns is political and in the media, have What appears to be lacking is any statements of prophets criticiz- not being true to our basic values. being authentically Jewish. orchestrated a coup against them. concern about illegal, unethical ing the mistreatment of the poor Traditionally one of the highest Monday, December 23, 2019 Business 23 Crash Landing 2019 IPO’s

orders and deliveries of its A320 an average of 40 planes a month By Max Ash By Nathan Hakakian plane. The grounding and produc- in their Seattle facility with the tion halt of the 737 MAX have al- hope of receiving the green light 2019 was a tumultuous year in all regards and the stock On Monday, Dec. 16, Boeing an- lowed Airbus’s A320 to overtake from regulators. But, in early market was not excluded. A host of unicorns went public and nounced that they would suspend the 737 MAX as the world's most December, FAA administrator endured quite a bumpy ride. Here’s a look at some of 2019’s the production of the 737 MAX Jet popular plane – receiving 120 Stephen Dickson rejected the pos- most high-profile IPOs. beginning in January. Many ques- orders for A320 variants follow- sibility of renewing the 737 MAX In the gig-economy sector, we had Uber (UBER) and tions regarding the safety of the ing the grounding. Boeing is no operating status before the end Fiverr (FVRR) making their debut on the public stage. Valued plane have arisen since two dev- longer the market leader, as both of the year. This announcement at $82 billion, Uber was one of the biggest tech IPOs ever. astating crashes took the lives of That didn’t last long, though. Investors still had a bad taste 346 passengers. Although the 737 in their mouths from the underperformance of Lyft (LYFT), MAX was once viewed as the gold Uber’s competitor, and Uber went public at a lower-than- standard in commercial aviation, expected price of $45. Since then, it has hovered around the these two events prompted experts $30 range, well below its initial price. Fiverr (FVRR), a Tel to question the overall safety of the Aviv-based online marketplace connecting freelancers with plane–ultimately ordering their companies, went public at a price of $21 and skyrocketed immediate grounding. Boeing 90% before the end of the day. Fiverr is a rarity in that it has been the industry leader in was one of only a handful of companies to undergo a Series the transportation industry for D funding round. It’s rival, Upwork (UPWK) debuted at $15 decades, but its failure to produce and has steadily decreased since. an updated 737 MAX could com- Moving on to Food & Beverage (because who doesn’t like promise both their reputation as food), humans weren’t the only ones being represented on well as their profitability. this year’s list. Chewy (CHWY), an e-tailer in the growing Founded in 1916 in Seattle, pet products industry, went public on the NYSE at an initial Boeing began as strictly an air- price of $21 and barked all the way to $34.99 by closing. Since craft manufacturer. But they soon then, it has traded exclusively above its offering price. Because began to expand their reach into of its dual-class share structure, though, Chewy is unable to a number of industries through be included in any ETFs or mutual funds that track them. LEEHAMNEWS.COM acquisitions. In 1960 they bought Back to human food, Beyond Meat (BYND) has pioneered Vertol Corporation, which was the the rise of plant-based meat substitutes in the broader econ- largest helicopter producer at the the popularity of the A320 and the caused Boeing’s stock price to fall omy, selling their “ground beef”, “chicken”, “pork sausage” time. Boeing saw this purchase as uncertainty regarding the safety of 4% within hours. and other products in supermarkets and restaurants such as their ticket to diversify their inter- the 737 MAX have allowed Airbus The financial impact on Boeing TGI Friday’s across America. Offered at $25, BYND soared ests, entering industries such as to narrow that lead. has been significant and will con- to $234.90 a few months later before returning to Earth and marine craft, energy production The constant pressure to win tinue to worsen. The 200 already has traded above its offering price since. Its rival, Impossible and transit systems. In 1995 Boeing airline accounts created much in- produced planes must all be indi- Foods has been on the fences for an IPO but does not have led a conglomerate of European ternal chaos. In order to be effi- vidually inspected by the FAA –– any concrete plans to go public anytime soon, opting instead companies to form Sea Launch, cient, Boeing believed that they had further delaying their delivery and to raise more capital in means other an IPO. an avenue to enter the satellite and to cut costs and time. They tried causing Boeing’s cash shortage to space travel fields. The continued their hardest to retain the design worsen. Additionally, the company interest in satellites provided the of the older planes, and accord- has been further leveraged as they Surprisingly, Pinterest is the fastest framework for Boeing’s 2000 ac- ing to a New York Times Article, prepare to pay high production and growing website by overall member quisition of Hughes Electronics engineers were pushed to submit compensation fees, allotting $3.6 satellite division, which is known sketches of the plane at double the and billion $6.1 billion respectively growth, surpassing Facebook and today as DirectTV. In 2017, Boeing normal pace. Although Boeing ex- in anticipation –– amounts that was the fifth-largest defense con- ecutives were confident that the may need to be more than dou- competing with Tumblr along the way. tractor. Boeing soon established redesigned 737 MAX planes had bled in the coming months. As itself as a main player in a variety passed the required internal safety a result of the 737 MAX setback, of industries. regulations, “The company was Luke Tilley, the Chief Economist of With all that veggie burger eaten, our health-conscious Despite having a presence in trying to avoid costs and trying to Wilmington Trust predicts that the consumer is obviously going to want to burn off those calo- numerous industries, Boeing’s contain the level of change. They lack of production of the 737 MAX ries. In comes Peloton (PTON). With their technologically main focus will continue to be in wanted the minimum change to would reduce the quarterly annu- enhanced stationary bikes and treadmills, they were lifted commercial aviation. They have simplify the training differences, alized GDP growth rate by 0.3%. to an initial valuation of over $8 Billion. Peloton is following worked tirelessly to win over ac- minimum change to reduce costs, When looking at Boeing’s fu- the ever-growing trend of subscription-based services and counts from airlines worldwide, and to get it done quickly,” accord- ture, there is still reason for opti- provides fitness classes through those endeavors. and have worked equally as hard ing to veteran Boeing engineer Rick mism. Despite the large looming In a completely different sector, social media was rep- to retain those relationships. But Ludtke. One of the results of ne- losses, Boeing announced that it resented by the offering of Pinterest (PINS). Surprisingly, in 2011, American Airlines pre- glecting to ensure proper safety did not plan to lay off any of its Pinterest is the fastest growing website by overall member sented Boeing with an ultimatum: protocols was the failure of their 150,000+ employees. Because growth, surpassing Facebook and competing with Tumblr improve the 737 MAX or lose their MCAS software. The MCAS system of Boeing’s importance to the along the way. Its stock has remained slightly volatile — re- account. Opting for a short-cited was created to counterbalance the American economy, the govern- cord highs and lows in the process, and is currently trading approach, Boeing scrapped plans plane’s tendency to move it’s nose ment will likely assist them to just below its initial price of $19. Underneath the same tech for a new passenger plane that up. But instead of creating balance, return to stability, whether it be umbrella was a lesser-known, but an equally as important would have been ready by 2017. the MCAS system malfunctioned in the form of loans or extended company called Zoom (ZM). One of the few profitable com- Boeing figured that in order to stay and the pilots were unable to over- deadlines. Boeing must look to panies that IPO’d in 2019, the cloud-based videoconferenc- at the top, complying with the cus- ride the system, causing the plane capitalize on their other markets, ing company still did not garner the tremendous attention tomer’s request was essential. to crash in both incidents. which will allow them to stabilize from the media and investors that other, more “famous” The main cause of this pressure While the two crashes caused their revenue stream in the inter- companies did. To add insult to the ignorant investors, Zoom was the resurgence of European the grounding of the 737 MAX in im. Regardless of their storied his- has been trading exponentially higher than its offering price rival Airbus. In the last few years March, Boeing had yet to halt pro- tory, Boeing will have to compete and looks to continue its growth with the rise of its product Airbus has seen an increase in duction. They were still producing with Airbus in order to preserve its usage across all industries. status as the Aerospace industry Closing it out is Smile Direct Club, with its direct-to- leader. The success of Boeing is consumer business model which utilized licensed ortho- strongly predicated on its ability dontists to act as “brokers” in its battle with Invisalign in to revamp the 737 MAX plane and the clear aligner wars. While there are extremely promising remind customers worldwide that growth expectations for this ever-expanding industry, new they are still the gold standard in regulatory concerns have increased investor anxiety about commercial aviation. rising expenses. This has caused its stock price to fall over 50% from its initial price of $23. All in all, 2019 was a year in which a plethora of over- valued, loss-generating companies went public. Over time, thankfully, investors have corrected their mistakes and have calculated correct valuations.

REUTERS.COM 24 Monday, December 23, 2019

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