tOfficial Undergraduatenmmentntnr Newspaper of Yeshiva College
September 21, 1993/ 6 Tishrei 5754 YFSIDVA UNIVERSITY,NEWYORK, NY Volume L VIII, No.2
fJlemorlal �tlgn .on.Rav.David Lifschitz, Pages"7-9 Marttila & Kiley ; ·, / ,... Release Survey by Ryan S. Karben program, said that while the reportcqntained "fewSUiprises," � A May 1993 survey of YC it is "extremely valuable as part [ students designed to shapenew of an ongoing effort to attract ;.:: recruitment techniques has more qualified students to the � Administrators expressing College." optimism about the school's The report recommends that FormerProfessor William Dean Schwartz of prospects for growth, and YU use a more "values confidence that they can oriented" approach to Boston U. Law overcomethe deepdissatisfaction recruitment, citing the 68% of with the University's respondents who said that ',)Raj A.ppointed administration expressed by completing their college (Ii� , MillerMei; G�uiwicht, Rav Dovid Lifshitz. zt"/ and D;, Israel education in an Orthodox /' ' , ' , , respondents. , . dancing in the Beit Medrash, Purim 1992 'Academic VP The. survey, completed by Jewish environment was the by Gene Alperovich 57% of the student body, was "most important" factor in their conducted by the Boston-based decision to come to YU. YC Cracks Down On In a long awaited decision, firm of Marttila and Kiley. It Thereportnotedgreatconcem YU President Norman.·H. poil\tsto the growing positive about YC' s academic program Lamm announced on influence of the Israel experience bystudents;one-thirdofstudents CLEPs September 8, 1993 the on YC's recruitment pool, and said academic concerns gave appointment of Dr. William reinforces the notion that the them greatestcause for hesitancy Schwartz as the new Vice school'svalues and philosophy, aboutatten ding YU. Ten Subjects to be Phased Out President for Academic Affairs. rather than its academic Administrators say those Dr. Schwartz, who will replace program or reputation, attract concernsare being addressed, by Sandor Bak background in the subject area, the retiring Dr. Egon Brenner, students to YC. and expect the hiring of a new and breezing through with will officially assume his post Associate Director of Academic Vice President to Ina move aimed at bolstering "twenty minutes of studying on October 11, 1993. Admissions Michael Kranzler, greatly aid the process. As part the quality of education at the the night beforethe test." Hecht The former Dean of the who is responsible for YU's of the effort,school officialsnote University, the Academic noted that "many students have undergraduate recruitment Boston University School of continued on page 11 StandardsCommittee has dErided come over to me after taking Law, Dr. Schwartz has served toreduce the number of College the exams and told me that the as counsel to the nation's oldest l.evelExaminationProgram(CLEP) tests were way too simple and law firm, Cadwalader, YU·APPOINTS DAVID testsfor which YC willgrant credit fell far short of college-level Wickersham & Taft, since 1988. Beginningwiththespringsemester, work." In addition, Dr. Schwartz is a GOTTESMAN CHAIRMAN OF CLEPexams in ten willsubjects no YC Dean Norman Rosenfeld University Professor at YU, a longer be recognized. affirmed Dean Hecht' s title which allows him to lecture YC Associate Dean Michael comments and explained the at any of the University's THE BOARD Hecht chaired the July 15, 1993 decision as a way to "protect affiliates, and an Associate meetingat which the new policy academic standards." Board Trusteeof the Rabbi Isaac by Yehuda Fruchter With his election, Gottesman was adopted.He explainedthat However, he did note, "The Elchanan Theological continues in his family's the Academic Standards reason forpermitting the CLEPs Seminary. A native of Over the summer, David tradition of holding leadership Committee reviewed the CLEP in the fall semester is so as not to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, who Gottesman, son of former positions at YeshivaUniversity. tests in all coursesand foundthat impose an undue burden on received his education at trustee Benjamin Gottesman, Mendel Gottesman, David only a few meet University students who were counting on Brooklyn's Torah Vodaath and himself a member of the Gottesman's grandfather, requirements. The College will these CLEPs for their Yeshiva and the Boston Board of Trustees since 1979, emigrated to the United States continuetorecognizetheGeneral graduation." University School of Law, Dr. was elected to the position of fromHungary in the 1880s. In Biology, General Chemistry, Dr. HenrySilvert, Professor Schwartz is a longtime resident Chairman of the Board of YU. the early 1920s, as Vice Introduction to Microeconomics of Sociology, believes the move of Newton, MA. He and his He succeeds the late Ludwig Chairman of the Yeshiva and Macroeconomics, Calculus, will work to the students' continued on page 13 Jesselson. College Building Fund, he and Foreign Languageexams. advantage in the long run. headed a group of leaders who The Administration'sdecision "Students who "CLEP" an F O C U S wished to move the University's hasbeenmetwithmixed reaction introductory course end up - 68% ofrespondents described themselves as "modemOrth odox". campus from the Lower East on campus, with many students hurting themselves," he - 26% described themselves as "right-wing Orthodox". Side of New York to calling the move long overdue. maintained. "In an introductory Washington Heights. At the Others,however, viewtheCLEP course, a student gains a - 63% of YC students have a family memberthat once attended the conclusion of thismove,Mendel exams as a legitimate way to foundation for all future classes University. Gottesmanfounded the Yeshiva bypass introductory level he will take in that subject. There College Endowment classes in subjects they know. is no way that can be learnedby - 37% of students applied only to YU. Foundation, and became its first Several students spoke simply preparing for a CLEP benefactorwithagiftof$50,000. candidly of having taken test." numerousCLEP exams with no - 73% of students spent one year in Israel; 35% sp.�nt two years. continued on page 13 - On a seven-point scale, 15% of students "stronglyagree" that they will encourage theirown ·children togo to YU; 59% were neutral, and ··· YC and SSSB Career - 24% "stronglydisagree" that they would do so. ·. Se,rvlces Merge - 60%of students said that YU was their firstchoice forcollege. •. lllant?fforttomolda more . effective.placement team, - 39% of students plan tomake 17% said that theywould not catering to both YC and · make and44% said thatthey aliya; were not sure. . .. SSSB students, aoombined aliya, careerservicesofficehasbeen - 63% ofthe respondents said that theAdministration ofYU doesnot created. care.abo ut them;60 % ofthe respondents said thatthe Administr ation does not understand them. · J,>age3 page 2 nmmttttnfnr1------·-5e�p _te_m_be_r_2_1_. _19_9_3 Welcome, Mr. Gottesman We applaud the choice of David Gottesman as the new Chairman of the Board of Yeshiva University. He and his family have long played an outstanding role in supporting the growth of this institution. 500 West 185th Street, New York, NY 10033, Telephone and Fax: (212) 740-2155. Published bi-weekly during the academic year by the Yeshiva College Student The unfortunate passing of many benefactors of Yeshiva University Council. The views expressed in these columns are those of the writers alone and has left the Board with the opporhmity to restructure itself. The do not neccesarily reflect the opinions of The Commentator, the student body, alumni base of YU is, in general, still too young to have profoundly the faculty, or the Administration of Yeshiva University. We do not endorse any made its mark in the world and the Jewish community. Yet, many of the products or services advertised in these pages. Copyright 1993 The of them are of substantial means and influence and could, if given the Commentator. chance, play an outstanding role on the Board. The University's SENDER Z. COHEN ROBERT B. FAGIN need to court outsiders for the Board is understandable and even commendable; but alumni of the undergraduate colleges have a Editors-in-Chief deeper understanding of, and commitment to, this University. At the outset of his tenure as Chairman of the Board, we urge Mr. D. ALEX BAILEY MOSHEI. KINDERLEHRER NOAM NOVICK Gottesman to create a Board in which the alumni are more involved. Layout Editor News Editor · Managing Editor The Board could be restructured to include a set number of alumni members and general board members. The alumni members would JOSEPH NUSSBAUM STEVEN TIGER be elected by their peers from a slate nominated by the Board, while Features Editor Copy Editor the general members would continue to be drawn from the communityas a whole. We feel that sucha board would bestbe able ASSOCIATE EDITORS to serve the University with theexpertis e, resources, and commitment Steven Ackerman, Copy that Yeshiva needs. Yisroel M. Holczer, Ryan S. Karben, Ari Listowsky, News Sid Singer, Features David Goldenberg, Adam Melzer, Sports
On Clobbering the CLEPs PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF: Kudos to the College for eliminating all of the the easier CLEPs. To Benjamin Aronoff, Richard Soclof put it bluntly, these CLEPs were a joke. For example, it was not ART STAFF: uncommon for students to take the psychology or sociology CLEP Daniel Baron, Daniel Sentell without having studied, and still receive full credit. CLEPs such as TECHNICAL CONSULTANT: these hurt the reputation of the College. Many students have relied Joshua Guedalia on these CLEPs as a means of spending less time on campus so that they might spend more time in Israel learning, and that is certainly • M-ember: understandable. But other, more beneficial, options for graduating Associated AMERICAN JEWISH I• Collegiate � �! .,..,.,l• PRESS quickly do exist, such as summer school. Inevitably, this decision is Press ASSOCIATION going to cause much grumbling, but on this matterwe stand behind the College. Taking an easy CLEP is a penny-wise and pound foolish approach to education. Yet, I too can put my opinion in fact form. P. I C 1� 0 R I A L Two Sides to Fact: Yitzchak Rabin received the majorityof votes from the Israelipublic and thus has a mandate from them to �-'4.Pooo Every Story act as he seesfit. SE�\l\<:.EE> Fact: More'Israeli boys, aged PMSeflTS: To the Editor, die fightingto controlGaza and Jericho18-21, than Yeshiva College . boys This letteris being written in response dempnstrating not to returnGaza and to the very vocal anti-peace movement Jericho. taking place on the Yeshiva College Fact: The PLO not make peace campus. The anti-peace movement unless they have somewill land they can call FREE!. ' *.:a.' currently has two flyers flooding our their own. hallways. One flyertells us the "real Fact: It is immoral to keep people deal" about peace with the P.L.O. It livinginrefugeecampstheirentirelives. informs our studentbody of little known Fact: The Yeshiva College boys who facts about the peace treaty, like ·the · hung upthose flyershave not visited all P.L.O. won't settle for just Gaza and of the Palestinianrefugee camps. Jericho and that we are abandoning Fact: There are two sides to every Jews. Theother flyerlists a number issue. 100,00of "facts" and calls on us to ga'ther and Fact: People �ie in a timeof war. demonstrate against this peace treaty. Opinion: this great opportunity I do not claim to know any sensational forpeace \VeInshould not fightthe peace "facts,"(like the flyerwhi ch stated it's movement, but rather embrace it with minutes from Jericho to Jerusalem)18 open arms. however, I feel thatI have the rightto express an opposing opinion without Shmuel Herzfeld succumbing to cheap propaganda tricks. YC '96
1\,:-th �o"rea;& $ 300.00 Tonight: The Hausmar1/Stern Kinos Teshuva Lecture ,. monies Y\ot exc,,�t,:on&:,te sren-t..\:, '1 wi\\ no� Rabbi Meir Goldwicht ·a:oo pm oo�u"de� Weissberg Commons/Seifer Hall �. CCl.r&\"'tot va.l.& Of\ 11\t-"con To.c.o or'°'owelliQn tfle.o.t.\,o.\\ n�'nts. C' le\��d) J:!�/ ��??) jr _6 _T, _is_l11_· ei_5_75_ 4______�_e_J_ ---1ij!4£ OJ:nmm£ttfttfnra------___,__a___ Y C and SSSB Career OBITUARIE S Ja. cob ;Burns, Benefactor of Syms, Services Merge :Cardoza, Einstein by Ari Hirt popular faculty of both centers. Dean s e o 1h; );fI,{J��9�;'.�� i,;:�Btt?.cl.� }V Y ;� . City attomey�w ·Chairman oEmeritus of of Students Dr. Efrem Nulman ;;;_··',\,tBot' ..,,• '9fs9f;tite ar,fo School 9 La ,artist, and art patr n, passed: J2 f After years of autonomouso existence, wcommented that, "the intent here j the Career Services woffice f Yeshiva as to demonstrate commitment in College has merged ith the SSSBo Job responding to students needs and Placement office in an effort to mo ld a desires." more cohesive team catering t both Kapp Hired Full Time Yeshiva College and SSSB students. o Such an undertaking, involving an Theo combinedw fficeo requires increase in officehours and necessitatingo additi nal staff as ell as l nger hours an additional staff member, will pr vide from the current faculty members. To ., � , ' ' . w . }" "- Gershon Seiferas all undergraduate students ith the resolve the additw ional burden; Naomi opportunity to take advantage of a fully Kapp has no been hired as a full-time ·,�teti.)Pltilbhthro ist equipped career services team, located employee, making her guidance r , ,\:: > ·,; · p , · . in Belfer Hall, ready to assist in career counseling more accessible to students; J\f? , · t ::t,,,,· o> w russ n July 4,.·1993 at the Fifth counseling and job placement. Dr. she ill share her time between the ·:, ph �;::<.; __ w w w �� �asa twerity�three yearmember of the Harold Nierenberg, Dean of SSSB, upto n and do nto n campuses. In to o o ' ''?• ·<''' " " . ,!� i_l�ci,f benefa� � of Jewish educati nal remarked, "for career services t be addition, the University is currently in A w .. ,: _ -·rlyin tn� l,!nitedStates and Israel. It is estimated that located in an area here job placement the process of adding a fourth member ...... o J:1_ '§��tj ns' tofaled �ore than $300 million. •Gruss··wa.s information is available is a major to their career services staff, primarily ·:t��, ,;u,y. . ��itr�,J.mardinl 969 and was a member until1992, when · . . advantage." to guarantee daily availability of at least �.,c... . t ...... The Career Services office,established two members on the Yeshiva College ,;{�� :l:I�ijp�ijl1�1115 ee . o. · . . . o d . -·- ,, , - • ,. ·' berg (LV" v)/P lan (now called Lviv and part eight years ago in Furst Hall, has been and on the Stern College for Women �:W��_: )2Q-::,�i7in.:!la.4.E�lll o �e tltirdo largest P lish bankingbusiness when the primary place to go for students in campuses. ,,, ,;'. �$.fef(t,h� age f 37 to escape Nazi persecutionand move YC seeking career advice. However, o W w Constant Availabilityto Students ''iwft�, -)AfferW rld ar H,·he foundedhis . all Street students seeking guidance ould very ivif� rlw d o w \\\'�s�
w o w o o o by Stuart Milstein h as eager to begin the summer YC juni r. An ther student of students ch osing easy schopls forthe o o "It w courses, on wted that the c mmented,o allo ed me.to finish summer." Cwilich said that "medical This pasto summer, Yeshivao College Admio nistratio n oas afraid that there all of my sciences at one university schools prefer if students take all theiro w uld n t be en ugh interest, and and Stem C llege for Women reinstated o bef re my MCATs."w w sciences at one school. Summer scho l their summer school pr gram, offering that Yeshiva C llege waso too Professor C ilich as also makes this advantage possible." chemistry and physics courses taught expensive as compared to ther pleased that he covered more o w Mixed Classes by Yeshiva University pr fessors. college summer programs.w o material than he ould have during Overall, the faculty,administration, and Aftero the session as ver, everyoneo oa regular semester. He explainedw that A unique characteristicw about the YU students, deemed the summer school hado p sitive feelings about the pr gram. wne of the reasons this as possible summer program as that the Yeshiva program a success. o w B th professors Viswanathan and as because ohe "made sure that wCollege men and the Stern College When the pr gramw as first Cwilichw proclaimedw that the courseso studentsw did n t fall behind because omen had classes together. Regarding proposed, professors ere skepticalw as " ent extremely ell." A total f forty it ould be too difficult to catch the co-ed classes, Cwilich remarked that to howw successful the classes ould be. studentso participated in the two classes. up." w the class became very friendly, mainly Dean R senfeld explained that this They ere concernedo about the time The summer school session as a because of the long hours that everyonew number exceeded expectations. constraintso w that the sh rtened summer o o w revival of a summer session that existed spent together. He also said, "I as Pr fess r C ilich was also pleased, sessiw n ould pose. Dro Raji o w during the mid 1980s. The purpose of interested in seeing if the boys get more "c nsidering this as the firsttime in a Visw o anathan, the chemistry pr ofessor w o the summer session that existedo then,w attention because they are more hile that summer scho l has been and this past summer's sessi h taughtw the summer c urse, o n, as oinsistent, but I felt that this did not re111arked,"I as apprehensive because ffered." "mainly for pre-med students to be ccur." Viswanathan added that she of the limited time." Dr. Gabriel Cwilich, The students attending the summer able to take their required sciences noticed no difference having a mixed the professorw of the physics class,wo said sessiono felt that, despite the , time in YeshivaUniversity without staying any class. c nstraints, they accomplished just as that he " as afraid because wthey uld w extrawsemesters," Deanexplained Rosenfeld. Regarding next summer, Dean much as they ould have in a regular w need to rush a year into ten weeks; each t Vis anathaw naddedthatasurnmer session Rosenfeld, and Professors C ilich e semes er course, and found it to be "allo s the University to insure a day of the summer is like a eek in th w w w and Viswanthan expressedw hope that orth hile. "It allowed us to take · sufficient kno ledge of chemistry so regular semester." wthe summer program ill continue, w From the administrative side there courseso o inw a familiarw ow place with the student can proceed to take organicw ith the possibility of adding biology ere also concerns. Professor Cwilich, pr fess rs ho e kn ," said one chemistry. It also eliminates the orry to the list of available courses. September 21, 1993
S.O.Y. Hosts Elul Minyan OnThursd ay,September9, 1993, over Tuesday, September 21 200 students turned out for a 7:40 "Elul Kinas Teshuva Lecture, Rabbi Zman Shacharis Minyan" sponsored by S.O.Y. in the main ·Beis Medrash. Meir Goldwicht, Weissberg Dr.· AveryHor owitz explaining his plans Commons, Belfer Hall, 8:00 PM. Attendees of the minyan were treated to a freebreakf ast ofdoughnuts and orange for the Assistant Dean's ofi ice Wednesday, September 22 juice. Horowitz Named Torah U'Madda Project In the days prior to the minyan, signs A Study in the Interface of the }ti went up in the dorms inviting all students Assistant Dean at YC History of Halacha and Medicine � from YP, IBC, and JSS to attend. Last "The Anatomy of Halacha" � semester, a number of similarminyanim Dr. A very Horowitz, a former Dr. Edward Reichman had been held. The idea behind the professor of economics at YU, has been SCW, Room 306, 2:30 PM. Dr. Lucjan Dobroszycki is scheduled to previous minyanim and this most recent appointed the new Assistant Dean at lecture at the Holocaust Conference one, explained S.O.Y. President Lavi Yeshiva College. The position of Friday, September 24 Holocaust Greenspan, is "to try to create a unity in Assistant Dean became available late JJC Residence Halls YornKipp ur the yeshiva." He went on to explain that last semester, when formerAssistant to D 'rasha: Dr. Norman Lamm, Symposium to davening together in the main Beis the Dean David Rosenberg decided to President of YU, speaker. Medrash is one way in which this unity vacate the administrative post after six Tanenbaum Hall Beit Medrash, could be achieved. years of service. "It :wassimply time for 7:00 PM. Feature Rare A "Decent Turnout" a change," said Rosenberg. Rosenberg Greenspan went on to note that he is now the Assistant Dean at Eugene Saturday - Friday, September 25 Materials was pleased with the "decent turnout." Lang College, a division of the New - October 8 Other students at the minyan voiced School of Social Research. YornKippur - Sukkot From October 17 through October 19, similar positive sentiment about the In describing his qualifications for 1993 Yeshiva University will sponsor a . minyan and what it hopes to achieve. the job, Assistant Dean Horowitz noted, Friday, October 8 unique Holocaust conference to MYP /YC junior Jonathan Rosenbloom "having taught here makes it easier to JJC Residence Halls Isrn Clzag be held at Stem College. The distinctive added, "I feel that it is important, W1derstand problems that might arise." Simcl1nt Torah Tish:, Rubin Hall, nature of this symposium comes from especially in Elul, that there should be As Assistant Dean, Horowitz hopes to 8:45 PM. its exclusive use of material that was more of a yeshiva atmosphere. This make the Dean's office more created by Jews and non-Jews during minyan is a way to do that." approachable. "Students are users of Friday, October 15 the Holocaust. On the downside, however, this office," he said. "Hopefully, I would JJC Residence Halls Shabbat Dr. Lucjan Dobroszycki, Visiting Greenspan did note that S.O.Y., in like to make students comfortable Program: Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen, Professor of Jewish History, explained organizingtheevent,didnot coordinate coming and coming back. ..the term TMST A, speaker. Rubin Hall, 8:30 that, "there are hundreds, if not the planning of theminyan with theJSS 'user friendly' comes to mind." PM. thousands of diaries and memoirs student body, whichhasitsownmoming Toward this goal, Horowitz has plans written by Jews in the ghettos and even minyan offering free breakfast to all . to make the information students need Sunday -Tuesday, October 17 -19 the concentration camps, as well by non- who attend. He promised that next time more readily available. For instance, he YU Eli and Diana Zbrowski Jewish partisans and observers of the suchaminyanwouldbeplanned,S.O.Y. has consolidated the data on courses Professional Chair in Interdisciplinary Holocaust". would coordinate with JSS and thus and majors f01ind in the YU Holocaust Studies International Dr. Jeffrey Gurock, Libby M. enable the JSS students to attend the Undergraduate Catalog. The Conference: Individualizationof the Klaperman Professor of Jewish History minyan. requirements and courses offered in each Holocaust: Diaries,Memoirs,Personal and Academic Assistant to the President, More Minyanim In The Future major are now listed together. For first Accounts, Belles Lettres,Pa intings and who is also a conference organizer, said Greenspan pledged to organize other year students, Horowitz compiled a list Drawings Written and Created that among thematerialstobepresented minyanim at regular intervals over the of all introductory level courses and a During the Shoah,, Dr. Aharon will be "wartime diaries and letters just course of the next two semesters. Most · scheduling grid that shows the hours of Appelfeld, Ben-GurionUniversity, uncovered from the archives of the likely, he asserted, they will occuronce a typical YU work week. ''Theseare not keynote speaker, SCW, Sunday 'former USSR. Until now, access to amonth,possiblyoneachRoshChodesh. major changes," he admits, "but 2:00-8:00 PM, Monday 9:00 AM materials reflecting the Soviet Signs promoting the minyanim would hopefully more things such as this will 9:30 PM. perspective had been prevented. Thus · be put up in all the dorms to ensure that follow." the historical record was incomplete." all students would be aware of them. -- Jonathan Schloss Tuesday, October 19 -- Sender Cohen -- Moshe Kinderlehrer RIETS Yorn Iyun: Belfer Hall Weissberg Commons, 9:00 AM. A.S.A.P. Thursday, October 21 · comes to YU YU's Torah U'Madda Project On Wednesday September 8, 1993, "Halacha, History, and Us" members of American Students to Rabbi Micheal Rosensweig and Dr. Activate ·Pride (A.S.A.P.), a division of David Berger AishHaTorah,metwithYeshivaCollege JJC, Rubin Shul, 2:45 PM. iill�ua o IB.\ ilitervie"18,:�a1 � llli'�-•·icleiitifi��:..· ••·• students to discuss events in Crown Friday, October 22 Heights. A.S.A.P. memb�r and YC student Avi Roth explained that, "as the JJC Residence Halls/ YC Student leaders of Jewish students in New York, Council Freshman Class Shabbat YU students cannot sit by and let the Program: Rubin Hall, 8:30 PM. riots be painted a Lubavitch issue and Sunday, October 24 not our concern. For if we do, the next time might be at our footsteps." YCSC YC Cross Country: Poly Tech president Danny Gurell agreed to help Invitational, Van Cortland Park, c A.S,A.P. Director Rabbi Dovid · 1 12:00 PM. Qpp9rtuitltyto jl.i�t·�ftiafic.(t�U witll:trt•· •····::f:sf· Felsenthal arrange a seminar at YU on hienasfof a11tt1�w1ttie1:��,: #� fOb�!?;SdJi · · Monday, October 25 . . October 18, 1993. Invited speakers include Alan Dershowitz and . Curtis SSSB Career Fair: Belfer Hall Sliwa. Weissberg Commons, 8:00 PM. !�it%iiitli�liiff!Itll -- D. Alex Bailey ------4 ffll. 6 Tishrei 5754 I Hr , ...,_. page 5 'l.J,�ce �nmmenuu.11,1-______.___..___ Rabbi Miller ·:}l Students Continue Recovering from [�ii�ffiiz\V1:�Jt�f if.I o�er••· Effortsto Enhance Heart ·Attack • MVP, RIETS ,.!.,,Btn�s�!D-;Y€ Last year, a number of individuals Rabbi Dr. Israel Miller, Senior Vice took it upon themselves to evaluate the PresidentofYeshiva University, suffered various issues perceived to affect the a heart attack early last July. The attack performance of the Mazer Yeshiva came suddenly and unexpectedly, Program c1.nd RIE}'S. A major part of according to his secretary, Ms. Vivian this effort was a survey conducted by Owgang. He is reported to be recovering students Eitan Mayer · and Yitzy quickly, and is expected to return to Schechter. work later this fall. The survey, designed to identifyand Dr. Miller supervises most non bring to light certain possible academic offices at YU, including troublespots in the Yeshiva Program, Student Services, the Dean of Students, dealt with such topics as attendance in the Medical Office, and alumni shiur and seder, the level of personal organizations. In addition, he has many involvement of the rabbeim with their responsibilities outside of Yeshiva; he is talmidim, and the students' opinion on a recognized leader in the Jewish certain programs that might enhance community, and has headed various the quality of the Yeshiva. Designed to committees, such as the Conference of be user-friendly, the survey received a Material Claims Against Germany. respectable 67% return from the Owgang stated that "heis progressing students. nicely", though she warns that As of yet, the official results haven't recuperation from the kind of surgery been released to the administration or Miller underwent takes time. She S.O.Y. However, the conductors of the continued, "He is making a full recovery, survey have had numerous discussions and plans to resume all formerpositions. with Rabbi Blau, Rabbi Charlop, and He is currently working from his home, S.O.Y. leaders. and is expected to return after the Benji Taragin, S.O. Y. Treasurer, claims holidays." Owgang added that, ''he has thatthesediscussionsareplayingamajor no intentions of giving anything up. He role regarding S.O.Y. policies and graduated and received hiss 'micha here. projects planned for this year, such as Yeshiva is his firstlove." the sichot mussar, special tefillottogether -- Dov Simons as a yeshiva, and a greater emphasis on shabbos in yeshiva. Rabbi Blau commented that it is impossible to say Dean of whether the survey, or its organizers' conversations with the Administration, Students' Office has brought about any tangible results. Rabbi Blau pointed out that an analysis ofthesurvey'simpactatthispointwould Introduces be premature, due to the fact that the YCISSSB Boast results have yet to be released. Student -Ilan Haber Sourcebooks HighPla cement Rates Students at In years past, informational resources such as the "Neighborhood Guide" and Rally Oppose a pamphlet describing student services for '93 have been. given out at Student Orientation. This year, however, the by Yosef Bednarsh develops the analytical skills and Peace Plan Dean of Students office employed a sensitivity to text that is needed for the different medium to informstudents of With a demand for fewer and more LSAT.Wedon'tlearnintheBeitMedrash On Sunday afternoon,September 19, services provided by the university. The talented workers, as well as a in preparation forthe LSAT, but it is a 1993 approximately 25 YU students small, user-friendly format of their new stagnant job market, college students real consequence, and we will take joined hundreds of other Jews at a rally "sourcebook" includes a calendar, a list face more competition for jobs than advantage of it." to protest the Israeli-PLO peace of the University's standing committees, ever before. If the past is any Even in today's economy, where the agreement. The rally, held at the Israeli and a directory of student services. indication of the future, YU students number of jobs in the business sector is Consulate on Second Avenue and 42nd "The intent of the sourcebook is to will continue to have little to worry decreasing as companies downsize, the Street, was sponsored by several groups, provide a resource book for about. In his 1993 pre-law advisory Sy Syms School of Business still has a including Kahane Chai, Israel Action undergraduate students that is clear and report, Dean Michael Hecht states 100% job placement rate. The twenty Alliance, and the United Jewish concise," said Dr. EfremNulman, Dean that fifty-five out of fifty-eight YC two accounting majors and eleven Coalition. The keynote speaker was of Students. The creation of the students that applied received at least business majors who graduated in the Councilman Dov Hikind, who stressed sourcebook is partially a result of last one acceptance into an ABA-accredited spring of 1993, are all working for large, that "if Israel allows Palestine to form a semester's studen t-Adminis tra tion law school, which he says is, "consistent well-known firms. "There is no question state, there will only be tragedy in the retreats, where student leaders with the better than ninety percent that our students are outstanding," future." suggested a more complete and versatile acceptance rate we have come to expect." remarked Assistant Dean of SSSB Ira YC Junior Zev Frankel, who catalog of services administered by the In fact,twenty out of these fifty-eight Jaskoll, "when firmslike Goldman Sachs organized YU' s participation in the Dean of Students. "All of the students placed in the 95th percentile and Morgan Stanley tell you that the event, commented that "everyone wants recommendations made at the retreat nationally on the LSAT. That is, better best students they received were from peace, but abandoning 150,000 Jewish about written communications between than one third of our pre-law students Yeshiva University." settlers into Arab hands will not achieve administrators and undergraduate scored in the top 5% of the country, with This past year, when seven out of anything positive ...lt falls upon every students at Yeshiva University have been two students receiving a perfect score of thirty-six liberal arts majors were not Jew to be concerned. It should also be fulfilled, in terms of both layout and 180 on their LSATs. The acceptance rates able to find jobs, the Deans helped out. kept in mind that Yasir Arafat is not content," Nulman said. to prestigious law schools fromYU was By the end of the summer, three more exactly known for his integrity." Noting. Nulman also noted that the exceptional last year. Four YC graduates students had found work. Hal the low YU turnout, Frankel felt that sourcebooks were distributed by dorm were accepted to Harvard, twelve Tannenbaum, placement coordinator at peopleareconfusedaboutwhythepeace counsellors rather than at Orientation, students got in to Columbia, ten to YU, commented "that' san amazing thing plan is not destined for success, and thus insuring that students and their N.Y.U., eight to Penn, and one to Yale. "I when a firm calls with a job opening and there will be greater student interest dorm counsellors would meet within can only att::ibute these results to one I say, 'thank you, but keep us in mind.' when the negative effects of the plan the first two weeks of school. thing," commented Dean Hecht, because we have placed all of our become more apparent. -- Robert Fagin "extensive talmudic studies certainly students." -- Yisroel M. Holczer 6 ______, lllll111tn September 21, 1993 P. _,;;ag_e �IFdr bdnrJ
PERSPECTIVE: Safety on Campus. Sassoit lfr lsaac . �ecurity. because.the t:llll\Pll� w��-ri.p.t
· .. . ,N�igJ1borhood unrest fopg\Virig ..• .t�e •·;:�;:.�;;;� ii½ ��t��iti �taJ; Time, Light, and Tremors · thepc:,licetll�11�a,fk.cm the fij:�J�-�;, vi?lent death of a comn:m· rutymembe� · : tQ . by Judah Levine m a li ig t · He s of Colorado, which is nearby. My work h�s',� e· fmµ cll'.cl#gfr � �n.iriS . :: J��� s�t���l.hi(���sta��mi:q�:··• ·· '"'•·· .. · .....• . sth iiri Washin ton: i-Iei ·hts> This .• ... ·th�cornerof189thari'd:Q ' . is supported by various Federal agencies I graduated fromYeshiva HighSchool (in addition to support fromNIST), and r, in 1956 and Yeshiva College in 1960 with I spend about 25% of my time writing a major in Physics. I chose to attend the proposals and reports to raise money. Graduate Schoolof New York University I have worked in may different areas because they offered me a twelve month of physics. My firstproject at NBS was extin 'shiri burrun automobilesarid ->.usedlthe ·. teaching assistantship, while most other to work on a new measurement forthe �, velocicy of light. One of my current !�: schools offered only nine month ililt�]; · ·�J�ii��l�Wf{;i��. � appointments. I received a Ph.D. from research interests. involves measuring 181st Streetan dAudoooi{Avenue ha'd ' • NYU in 1966. Six years is a typical time small motions of the earth near plate · interval for an experimental Ph.D. both boundaries such as the San Andreas then and now -two years of course work Fault Zone of California. These and fouryears for dissertation research. measurements are useful for ilflt!�iil,,�!,� Most Ph.D.'s who are interested in a understanding plate tectonics and may corner of 187th artd, A11dobon\arid>/:noJ career in research or in university-level be helpfulin predicting earthquakes. teaching look for a post-doctoral In addition to myworkin geophysics, �'��t,., �t! appointment after they complete their I am also involved in operating the Ph.D. degree. I had two such ensemble of primary time standards at appointments - one year at Oxford NIST and in devising better ways of University and a second two year measuring time and frequency, and of appointment at the University of disseminatingthese quantities to users. Colorado. I have worked on a system to transmit I was offered a permanent position at time digitally using dial-,up telephone the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) lines, for example, and I am currently in Boulder, Colorado in 1969 afterthe working on a similar system that uses conclusion of my second post-doctoral wide-area computer networks. appointment. The NBS,which was later ltisdifficultto predictwhatthescientific renamed the National Institute of job market will belike six or eight years ·j•\ix:;:,:, 0;;::::: . Standards and Technology (NIST) in fromnow, when many of you will have PQli��:C' 1988, has programs ranging frombasic completed graduate school. There will research on new standards to alwaysbejobsforthebestandthe brightest, calibrations and other services for of course, but the general outlook at the industry and the general public. I have moment is not good. The current been at NBS /NIST ever since, and I also Administration is proposing substantial teach and do research at the University increasesin many areas of science,but itis tooearlytoknowwhateffectthesechanges may have. · · while. chat>s . ruled the stre�ts of ''.ad :,.s Judah Levine is a Physicist working at I wish you all the best of luck in your H s the National Institute of Standards and careers, and I will be happy to reply to r���fi : r!l��tlftr'_:' �:J#"&i.tlj¢:f�'.:Ji( Technology and at the University of Colorado any questions you may have about a . . . . rete1vefr�itj..t��.�!¥� normal; .· ·.,, · .. l in Boulder. career inscience. :·, of t�e gtiard!> iav,�:�n, ' · ...... • t · in the DolllinicaifRe .ublicf · . .. , . , · , ·. not cap}' ;ij�e,Jfltgf ;'•• Two New Sephardic Rebbeim .· ·. ·· .. . · .···, ·...... � � � . Nfany .·�f the .. stiiden!s. :interyi�l-Ved \·.••.CO tl' �t mth\:t · .. ·s;,,,,· . .. ,.: · t � :; ;!;t11 t �§ i;�,.,Q . Appointed � �t�!�; �;�� :··:,\� if . �.... result. of the recentunrest. Yet;:some: never,:too , by David Schertz had originally come for a Bar Mitzvah and was asked to speak sine� the shill In the past few months, Yeshiva had no rav. That speech eventually led University has added to its ranks two to an offer to become the shul's rav. new Sephardic rebbeim. Rabbi Zevulun Despite having to "learn everything all Lieberman has been appointed to the over again" according to Sephardi patt,<>! wa� more tqat could be .4<>ne/(_acl
In Memoriam: Rabbi David Lifshitz, 1906-1993 MY FATHER· (IN-LAW), Mv REBBE
by Chaim I. Waxman many letters which were received after the levayah was a very emotional one It is difficult to even attempt to from the director of an institution in characterize my late father-in-law and Israel who emphasized the personal rebbe, zt"l, especially in a brief article. interest that my father-in-law took in Neverthless, it occurs to me that it would every one of the recipients of funds from be quite accurate to say that he was an Ezras Torah. I remember very vividly extremely rare individual who had the many letters he received before Rosh internalized and operationalized the· Hashana and Pesac/1 requesting help, and entirety of what is written in the first how he would follow up on each of Mishnah in Masechet Pe' ah, and is recited those requests with a detailed list thathe every morning at the beginning of the kept. I also remember the many times birc/10s hashachar: "These are the words that he helped others by writing letters that a man can't reap the benefits in this of recommendation on behalf of world ..." individual needy scholars to Jewish zt"I, Rav Dovid Lifshitz, pictured here at home with his wife. foundations, and how he followed those letters up with calls to the foundations Bikur Cholim difficultiesin order to attend the funeral of simple lay people. He was also Kibud Av V'aim imploring them to make the grants. Whenever he heard of an ill person, frequently called in the middle of the My father-in-law always spoke with . my father-in-lawwould firstspeak with night by colleagues, students, friends, great love and reverence for his parents, Hashkomas Beis Hamedrash a close family member of the person to and even casual acquaintances for and it was obvious both from how he ShacharisV'Arois inquire about their condition. If at all guidance and assistance in funeral spoke of them and from the way his possible, he would then visit the person arrangements. He never stood on sisters spoke of their relationship, that Coming to the Beis Hamedrash early and call them frequently. He would ceremony, and he always felt it an he fulfilled the mitzvah of kibud av v' aim for t'efillah was almosta "fixation" with always ask the person's full Hebrew oblig�tion to give kavodhames just as he to its fullest. He also treated his mother him. He was always the first one to get name and that of his or her mother, so always felt it of primaryimportance to in-law with great love, great care, and up, and he was ready to leave the house that he could say a mi sheberach and pray respect the living. respect, and went as far as humanly long before was actually necessary. I for their recovery. Most notably, he possible to save her during the war. His always knew that whenwe stayed over, would issue very firmhalachic decisions kavod for his father-in-law was evident I had to be up extra early in order to to the ill persons and their family Concentration T'fillahon in the way that he guarded his accompany him to the Beis Medrash. members in matters relating to the manuscript throughout his. wartime During the early stages of of his recent person's condition and their recovery. His concentraton on the tefillahwas ordeal, and then spent many years in illness, he would get up in themiddle of Just as he adopted a stringent stance in obvious to _anyone whosaw him during meticulous editing, so that he could the night and try to get dressed in order other areas, he always adopted a.very t'fillah,and was a source of inspiration publish Sefer Minchas Yosef and know not to be late for t'filah. stringent position in matters relatingto to generations of students. Who can that it was as perfect as could be. health. For example, if there was even forget his awesome rendering of Avinu the slightest suspicion th�t fasting on Malkeinu on Yorn Kippur, or his Hachnosos Orchim any fast day might beinjurious to one's Na'anuim on Succotwhen he shook his Gemillas Chesed health, he ordered the person to eat and lulov with every fiberin his body? Even Whenever he saw a guest, be it in the assured themthat theywerenotsinning, during histerrible illness, he made every His whole life was devoted towards Beis Medrash or elsewhere, he would . but performinga mitzvah by not fasting attempt to davenevery day foras long as this end. Need I indicate more than his invite that person home for a meal. I under the circumstances! possible. Last Yorn Kippur, when he selfless devotion to the work of the recall many times when my father-in was already · quite sick, he spent the organization, Ezras Torah? Among the entire day in the Beis Medrash and law completely. surprised my mother- in-law, she should live HachnasosCallah followed along with me as I sat next to · and be well, with a him and said the t 'fillos aloud forhim. gu�stor two on Shabbos Every talmid who was considering or YornTov, or during becoming eng.i.ged accompanied his the week. More than prospective callah on a visit to ''Rebbe," once, part of our meal where she was greeted with deep went to the comp1etely personalinterest. Ifandwhenthecouple I can't imagine a person more unexpected guest. The became engaged, they would come to • dedicated to this end. It_would literally fact that there was no receive ab'rochoh, andthey would drink pain him to hear of a conflict between time to prepare food or a L'Chaim with myfather-in-law and he two people. Even when he strongly that there was simply would discuss their future plans with disagreed with someo_ne; he did no room for the guest ,them. He always urged every chosson to everything in his power not only to was simply not a factor be very sensitive to the feelings·of his avoid conflict, but even to remain on to be considered for my callah, and he would maintain a strong good terms with that person. My father-in-law;z" ti. My personal interest in the couple's welfare mother-in-law says that in the 60 years mother-in-law, she until the �edding and after. He went to they were married, she doesn't recall should live and bewell, such great lengths to insure that the himeversayinghe"hated" another Jew. would joke about their material, emotional and spiritual needs Not only was the term not in his home being like that of of the bride were tended to, that I vocabulary,theemotionwastotallyalien the woman who would sometimes joked with him that although to him. awaken their children he did not have tileprofessional degree, saying: "Get up. Your he was a first classfamily social worker. LearningTo rahAbove All bed now has to be used as the table." She would Every one of his talmidim can testify - always remind us to be Respect forthe Dead that this was the case for him, especially prepared to say that those who suggested that they were we're no longer Anyone familiar with Rav Dovid z" ti . going into a profession other than the hungry, in case "der as an orator immediately thinks of his Rabbinate or Jewish education. Papa" brought home hespedim. He was the ideal-typical However, as my wife and I indicated in unexpected guests. classical maspid. But he did not only go the hesped at the levaya, even though he to a funeral when he was called upon to may have given some a difficulttime, he be maspid. I recall numerous occasions wasalwaysproudoftheirachievements. The author's son, Rabbi Ari Waxman, eulogizes his when he overcame great personal grandfather in Jerusalem. Photo by Judah S. Harris Continuedon page 9 page 9 6 Tishrei 5754 � ------41 �� J..re HJ�nmmentatnr •1
In Memoriam: Rabbi Dovid Lifshitz, 1906-1993 e e Continued from page 8 imm diatly aft r ma'ariv. He also had an incredible sense of e e e e e e r sponsibility forthe ntir community. H would b am wh n he said, "This e e e e � had pl ad d with my moth r-in-law doctor" or "This lawy r was my e e e e many tim s to s t hours for visits and In t rms of my own p rsonal e e etalmied."e e e e e e calls, but sh said that h would not xp ri nc , h ncourag d m to e e e e e allow such limits. He f lt that he had to ent r ith r or th Rabbinate, e e e e e e e echinuch e b available wh n v rneed d. Lik wis , but when h saw that I wanted to b e e e e a sociologist, he encouraged me to although most p opl b gin th Pesach undertake my graduate courses and my dissertation seriously. Throughout the course of the writing "He also had an of my dissertation, he would frequently ask me about my progress. incredible sense of He took interest in in the subject matter e e e responsibility for the . with which I was involv d, ven if h E didn't always quite understand all of its entire community." � intricacies. Tome and to all of his e e talmidim � who w nt into oth r fields, his questions ,:; were always the same; "Are you Kovea e e e Ittim L'Torah," and "What are you Sed r as soon as th y r turnhome from i e learning now?" His dedication to shul, h always took a relatively long e e e e Rav Lifshitz, being carried to his finalresting place in Jerusalem Talmud Torah also manifested itself in tim until h b gan. For y ars I thought zt"l, e his committment to giving even it was a matter of his p nchant for shiurim, e e e when doing so caused him hardship. I p rfection in preparing for th Sed r, e e e e e remember numerous occasions when it but I th n cam to realiz that h f lt that he had to wait to begin later just in case was difficult for him to say a shiur, and I there would be someone in the neighborhood with a question for him. The dictum, "Havai This was probably a carryover from his days as the Rav ofSu walk; itis mentioned zahir b'mitzva kalah in the halakha that the Rav waits until everyone else begins their Seder in the · k'bechamurah" ... event of a question. was also one which Andwithallofthat,therewashisincredible humanity.H e was notonly exactingin the he internalized to its observance on mitzvot. He was also meticulousin rememberingth e birthdayof fullest. each of his children and grandchildren, in :·�i::::. f::. W0 ••. ��g, 1 �/p:liila ...· �· > blessingevery Fridaynight, in beinga father . •· ..... �{ • .• .. .-�� s����f'-1ij rac:ticE?f or e •• and grandfather to them according to th i:�i1�(:t�itvt�ll1 t e appropriate age-level t!�t:� ... suggested that he canc l it that day, but He was a rebbe-fatherfigureto several he wouldn't hear of it. Even duringhis generations of students. He established illness, he garnered every ounce of a unique, personal relationship with each strength in him and gave until shiurim talmid which extended long beyond the last year when it finally became clear e e years in Yeshiva. On v ry Chol ha-moed that it would no longer be possible for and Purim, the house was full of former him to continue. And even then, he kept who came with their spouses hoping that the illness would pass, and talmidim and children, and sometimes even he would be able to returnto his shiur. grandchildren, to visit And On numerous occasions, he urged Rabbi Rebbe. Rebbe .'t:�t\fuiie�·Thr�c R spoke with each one, man, woman, and . Charlop and abbi Bronstein to make child, on a very personal level. He was a sure that his talmidim keep up with their learningand preparefor the forthcoming Shiur which he hoped to give. ti�. fjlr#ll�t liil�tewith,S{no "He wasa ,. . i•f.f topi�ilVitllus.· de.scribeRav LiOOrltz . It is impossibl Photographs by Judah S. Harris l n i . to cap�. in \VOl'ds how Reb Dovid ::ij��Q�Jq ·s,t?ft:/thf:� q�� ()nhs t? :J4i>�);�Wy�;���'..ljg.m #;i tl:te �inging. of Wetsable restore the fl.ag�g! pirits Judah S. Harris, photojournalist and Y. U. alumnus,_ t he ofa by admomshmg, ,{ft�y�y:\�tl�i �n.t.h.�1nhp_� }llUC� tfllm1d R assur, photographs assignments in the U.S., Israel, Europe, and J��fa;-'.I-I�Qll.�t?i PW��ed our , 11 . eb.··.Dovid was in�istent Jgy.�ct: lenity_aesh. e d,J>,y·•·• ...• ���teachperson thinkpositiv lyabout the Carribean Islands. His fine art B&W imagery is ,'�.Q�?B�Yi�*;tl:l�ij.J�1.J.r•Y��J'S·()� · · e :t�!lJ�g::1ttmf iff¥YJfi,�mf:Jf also one's self and ·on 's ·abilities. His represented both in the U.S. and Japan. J.?ayidl�':JlVAiiJcl so�.t��t Rav presencehadanalmostmagical quality e t�µ IrlY e e Strongly committed to documenting Jewish life, Harris has Lif'sll;ittJ�pr�s rt�di�Jadiilg'..#a and which.d fi s written description. His )J:iefsh
The Cuban government },as, fo r the first The Co111me11tator: What makes them now I'm here. time, granted a l'isa to a Jewislz Cuba11, Ashkenazic? The Commentator: Why YU? David Said LL'vy, to come to America and Levy: They were founded by Levy: It was Barry Katz who decided, study rabbi11ics. Tlze fo llowing ism, i11teroiew Ashkenazim, but now pray nusach and he made a very good choice; I'm witlz Levy, curre11t/y a student at YU, Sephard. veryhappy here. translated from Spanish by Avraham Tlze Commentator: Are the shuls close The Commentator: Had you heard of Benhamu. The interoiewwas conducted by to each other? YUbeforehand? Commentator Associate News Editor Ari Levy: Two are in one zone, andtwo in Lem;: I never thought that I would be Listowski. another; [both are] in cities. studying at a yeshiva, let alone here. The Commentator: What are the The Commentator: Did you have The Commentator: Approximately how occupations of most Jews? apprehensions about leaving? many Jews are there in Cuba? Levy:Them.ajorityof them are doctors Levy:Since it took so long to work out Levy: 1200. and professionals. the details, my parents [had time to get] The Commentator: Is the community The Commentator: Is there a Jewish used to the idea and they realized that it made up of Sephardim or Ashkenazim? hierarchy, a chief rabbi or leader of the was for the benefitof the community. It Levy: Mostly Sephardim; there are community? wasn't a quick decision; there was· time both types, but most of the youth is Levy: There is no hierarchy, no chief to sort things out. Sephardic. rabbi or anything. In .my shul, TheCommentator: What has made the The Commentator: How did Jews particularly, it's mostly [the] older greatest impact on you? originally come to Cuba? people who rule. Many [of them] are in Levy: It wasn't until I was 21 that I Levy: They came during the time of my shul, and my shul is the one that hasci:: started to do shechita. [I've been involved Columbus and at the beginning of the a minyan every day. Out of the four � with shechita for] a year and a half; they twentieth century. Then Syrians and shuls, my shul has the older peopl� who � made me watch for half a year and after Turks came, and at the beginning of the help teach. Before I left, I left the few 1. that the let me do the shechita. It was a Second World War, there was ijewish] books I had in Spanish to the DavidSaid Levi, the firstCuban Student very serious thing. It is possible that had immigration from Poland. youth because they were leaning at YU it not been for- [the] shechita [process] I The Commentator: Why did the Jews towards Judaism. So I left them in wouldn't be as involved as I am now; I remain in Cuba? charge, [to] learn how to be shlichai though the older generation was wouldn't be here [in YU]. All of the Levy: They liked it there. tzibbur, [and] to learnhow to pray. reluctant at first,they now accept me.. responsibility that they placed on my The Commentator: Of the Jews that The Commentator: Did you have a TheCommentator: WhattypeofJewish shoulders m�de me feelthe importance remained, how many still know that problem with kosher food? education did you receive? and the need for [the continuance of the they're Jewish? Levy:We hadPesach productsshipped Levy:We have Sunday school and at customs]. Levy: They all knew that they were to us and that lasted for the wl)oleyear. Sunday school they teach davening, TheCommentator: Did you have·any Jewish but did not know what it meant The Commentator: Do a lot of people dancing, Hebrew, customs, and songs. expectations regarding what America to be Jewish until about three years ago keep kosher? TheCommentator: How many people or YU would be like? when the Argentineans and Mexicans Levy: They are reviving that, but in attend this school? Levy:It's notreallywhatpeoplethink. started coming in to help them and to these places you buy simple foods Levy: About 50 every Sunday... now It's almost the same here as it is there, give them a little "chizuk." anyway; they don't have snacks. If you there should be more. especially now that I moved to this The Commentator: Were they shlichim? want milk, you milk a cow. The Commentator: Is there only one neighborhood;esp ecially here [itis] even Levy: Not shlichim. They came out of The Commentator: What is the school? more like [it is] there. They tried to concern for the Jews of Cuba. Some of goverment' s relationship with the Jews; Levy: Yes, they were thinking of dissuade me and [they] told me that them were not religious; they came to are there restrictions on religion? expanding to two days a week; now New York is dangerous and a [that I teach Israeli dancing, Hebrew. They Levy:The governmentisn' t involved; [class is] from 9:00AM to 1:00 PM on would have a] hard time. [They told me brought clothes, food, [etc., it was] just it's not like they allow shechita... it's like Sundays. that] I wouldn't like it. For the two years concernedcommunities that sent people in all [of] Latin America -the government The Commentator: When did you start that I was in limbo I didn't waste my over. doesn't get involved because [with] attending this school? time thinking about what it would be The Commentator: Is there a Chabad shechita there is no problem because Levy: When I was 19; [I went ] for 3 like [in America]. I took the time to learn house in Cuba? everybody kills their own animals ... they years; the school has been around for 8 what was necessary to come here to Yll Levy: They have a school which was kill animals for all reasons, like the years. [I spent my time on] tachlis. begun by Chabad. The Cubans began a Santeria ceremonies. The Commentator: Did you do this The Commentator: What are you doing Sunday school and they [Chabad] come Tlie Commentator: Is the Jewish while attending regular school? at YUnow? to visit. population assimilated into the Gentile Levy:No I started afterI [had] finished Levy: [I am] studying hard ... JSS, The Commentator: Is there a new community? school. computers, math, English, Hebrew. beginning of Jewish awareness now? Levt;: There is no Jewish ghetto. The Commentator: What schooling did The Commentator: Do you plan on Lem;: Yes. TheCo mmentator: Where did youlive? you receive? returningto YU after your visa of two The Commentator: Is it a visible Levy: Havana. Levy: First I went to high school and years is up? change? The Commentator: What were your then I got a degree in Levy:I can go home two times [under Levy:Before I left, I realized that there motivations to become a shochet? telecommunications. the conditions of my visa], for Pesach was a revival of Jewry, especially among Levy: They asked me to do it. The Commentator: Did you perform and at the end of the year; then I will the youth, and I realized that it's in the The Commentator: What previous other services besides being a shochet? come back until I finish my goal..to get youth where the force of the yiddishkit involvement did youhave in the Jewish Levy:I wasn't the only ba'al t'fila [but] semicha. stands. community? they pushed meto [daven] more because The Commentator:Is there anybody in The Commentator: Do people go to Levy:I was the one who was the most they were getting old and tired, but we particular that you want to thank? shul more often? involved withyiddishkit; I was a serious tried to have rotations. One of the older Levy: I want to thank YU; I am very Levt;: They had a hundred [people] in boy and was [the] most involved with people taught me to be a ba'alkorei. happy here. I would also like to thank shullast YornKippurand RoshHashana. the shul, so they asked me. The Commentator:Were you theshochet Rabbi Serels, and the students forbeing You can see the revival on the chagim; The Commentator: Was it your for all of the kosher meat in Cuba? so friendly. Shana tova. [people] come more often to shul. As far initiative to get involved? Levy: Yes as the daily minyan, that's still a problem. Levt;: It was self-motivated. My family The Commentator: How did you get But as far as chagim, they come and they tried to stop me; tney said I should take the idea to leave? also are more involved in the parties my time and shouldn't rush into Levy: A businessman, Barry Katz, Attention they have, and whatever yiddishkeit yiddishkeit, so it was self-motivation. came to Cuba for the Pan-America [there is]. Six months ago, before I left, The generation before me did not get Games and he went to visit the shul. Alumni/ - [on] Shabbat afternoon there were a involved [in the Jewish community], so When he was in the shul he asked theold hundred people. when I started to get involved, even people ifthey needed a rabbi and then The Commentator: How many shuls though it was [just] in the synagogue, he met me and wondered ifthey would If you have moved are there? the older people were a little reluctant give me up for a couple of years to go to recently -- please contact Levy: Four. because they weren't used to having New York or Israel to learn.They were TheCommentator: Are they Ashkenazi young people around them; in their willing to let me go and I was willing to the Alumni Office or Sephardi? generation, the parents didn't force their come. It took a whole year for Barry with your Levy: Two Ashkenaz and two children to go [to synagogue] so they Katz .to work out [the details] �d then new address Sephard,and the Ashkenazic ones have lost a generation there.My generationis it took a while to straighten out the the Sephardic nusach. trying to regain what they lost. Even paperwork, with RabbiSerels' help, and page 11 6 Tishrei 5754
Co11ti1111edfr om page 1 DavidMerklin,aresidentofCopenhagen, it is not what would be called a Yeshiva they had to go back to the house. They -----··------··------is the firstDanish student enrolled at Yeshiva here in the states, because it has all kinds tried a couple of days later, and Socol Has Role in Implementing University in fo rty-five years. His fa mily of Jews attending it. There is no Jewish succeeded in getting to Sweden, where Survey Recommendations high school, so everyone must attend my father was born. Other members of was rescued from the Nazis, along with Lamm's Task Force on Undergraduate public high school. The community is my family were in a boat that sunk but 7,200 other Jews, in the historic evacuation Male Enrollment, which was formed in shrinking because many people are they managed to get to Sweden anyway. of Denmark which took place fifty years ago, response to a drop in YC enrollment. making in October of aliyah. Marttila and Kiley also conducted focus 1943. Tell us about the The Commentator: groups with selected students, and Whatmotivated you evacuation from theNazis. TheCom mentator: surveyed all incoming students during to come study at YU? Most of what I know was Merklin: orientation. I was an exchange student in told to me by my grandparents and their Merklin: Nulman says he and University Vice Memphis four years ago, and I heard relatives who were part of the President Dr. Sheldon Socol will be very about YU. In my senior year in Danish evacuation. The Nazis occupied engaged in implementing the report's high school I applied to Brandeis and Denmark on April 9, 1940. Since the recommendations, and also intend to YU, but I chose YU because I heard that Danes weren't particularly fond of the conduct a survey of individuals who Brandeis isn't that "Jewish." Germans, the Jews were relatively safe chose not to attend YU. Does your family under the occupation. However, in late. The Commentator: YCSC President Daniel S. Gurell said have any prior connection to YU? September, 1943, the Germans arrested the survey was a "good idea because it None at all. the entire Danish police corps, and Merklin: � gave faculty and administration Do you know the started to enforce more German policies. � The Commentator: information about what students feel." last Dane to have studied here? People started to get nervous, and there ; Gurell says he hopes greater efforts will Yes. He is a rabbi here in was a rumor that spread to all the Jews � Merklin: be made to attract students with weaker New York, Rabbi,Bamberger. He came that they would be deported. People � religious backgrounds to the school. here at about the same age as I did. He started to take fishing boats to Sweden -! is a neighb_or of Rabbi Israel Miller. and others went to the US and UK; the Conti11uedfrom page1 The Commentator: Do you plan to majoritywenttoSweden. It all happened David Merklin, the firstDani sh student at very fast, but many members of my CLEPDeadline: End of FallSemester returnto Denmark upon graduation? Yeshiva in 45 years Merklin:! really don't know that yet. I family had scary experiences that they A total ofthirteen ofmy relatives were The Academic Standards Committee, have all my family in Denmark, but at still remember. When they heard the evacuated. The bulk of the Jewish while defeating a proposal not to offer the same time I wouldn't mind making rumors, the majority of my relatives community was evacuated on the credit for any CLEP exam, directed the went to live with in the outskirts 3rd and 4th of October 1943 and less aliyah. goyim relevant departments to review the The Commentator: Tell us about the of Copenhagen near the ocean. My than 500 Jews were sent by the Nazis remaining credit-bearing exams to Jewish community in Copenhagen. grandf�ther' s brother had married a to the camps. One member of my ensure that they meet University Merklin: There are approximately Danish girl, and her brother was one family died on the way to standards. 6,000 Jewsin Denmark, with almost all of the leaders of the Danish Terezinstatdt. My family· returned Credit will no longer be given after of them situated in Copenhagen. The resistance movement. He arranged to Denmark in May, 1945. The Danes the fall semester for the CLEP test in community in Copenhagen is just like . for a fis�ing boat to take them to were retaliating against the Nazis American Government, American the rest of the communities in Sweden. Whennightcame,theywentto for the years of suffering; but the History I, American History II, Western Scandinavia; struggling against thepier, but the guy who ownedthe boat Jews were welcomed back. Some Civilization I or WesternCivilization II, assimilation. There are only two had beenpaid in advance, and he tookthe goyim took care of my family's General Psychology, Human Growth synagogues. One Modem Orthodox, money and got drunkso he couldn'tfind stationary store while they were in and Development, Educational and one that is more right-wing. There is thepier. Myfamilycouldseeandhear the Sweden, and my grandfather got it Psychology, Computers and Data one Jewish day schoolwith 250 kids, but boat, but they couldn't get to it, so back when he returned. Processing, and Introductory Sociology. TO AI,T-, CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION JAN '94 MAY '94 SEPT '94 Commencement exercises will be held on Thursday, May.26, 11:00am in The Paramount at Madison Square Garden Have you returned your completed graduation kit to the Office of the Registrar?
If your name is not on the Registrar's computer listing: • Cap and gown will not be ordered for you • No tickets and instn1ctions will be issued • Yo ur name will not be listed in, the Commencement program a e e p_ g;._ 12______arnnuntntatorl S ptember 21, 1993 --= _ _, m1ie On the 18th of Nissan 5753, Maran HaRav Yo sef Baer Soloveitchick, zt"l was taken from us, leaving a tremendous void in Torah leadership. The Student Organization of Yeshiva, as part of its effort to perpetuate the Rav's memory, has commissioned the writing of a Sefer Torah to be placed in our Beis Medrash. We invite you to participate with us in this meaningful endeavor. The Ta lmud · (Menachos 30A) · states that one who writes· even one letter of the To rah is regarded as ifhe has written the whole !o rah himself.
The writing has already begun. The sefer will G-d willing be coinpletedin tiinefor the first yahrzeit. r------TORAH------DEDICA TION------FORM ------,
Your Name: D Pasuk in Bereshis or Shemos $10
Address: D Two P'sukim in Bereshis or Shemos $18
Phone Number: ------'------D Seven P'sukim in Bereshis or Shemos $54
Preference (if any - not guaranteed): ___ D A Perek in Vayikra, ,B'midbar or D'varim $180
Please make checks payable to RIETS; please send checks as soon as possible. Please send to: Student Organization of Yeshiva, 2525 Amsterdam Avenue, Room 221, New York, NY 10033. Receipts available upon request. Certificates will be issued for any donation over $100. For more information, please call (212) 781-7971. Excess fundswill be used for SOY activities. L------� ------1 \U, ... .e \U-nmm.enuw�- ,...... 6 Tishrei 5754 c f ______._...... __page I 3 I �Ito 1-(f 1 Gottesman and YU: ERNST & JULIO DowN BY THE SCHOOLYARD A Family Tradition Continued from page 1 n n n n 'Why do 't you start the column with , seve times now ... but I ca stop at any · It was the custom of Mendel from Trinity College in 1948, he we t on some nice quote or something?" time. Gottesman to visit the College every to Harvard Business School where he --My mot __. tist wittily peppered the Sundayn to converse with the students, received his M.B.A. in 1950. In 1964, he arp quips like ''You're a d to assess the conditions of the foundedthe FirstManhattan Company, an m teeth,"n and ''This Yeshiva. investment research and management dt "This doesn't David Gottesman's father, Benjamin company,andhasbeenitsmanagingpartner Sing, oh Muse, si to pull." He Gottesman, was a member of the Board ever since. In addition to· his being the Chairman me sing. Sing oft it rriay have of Trustees from 1925to 1979.Asaresult of Yeshiva University's Budget and and a member oh Muse, sing t his biting of his interest in the University's library Finance Committee of Yesterday hp ed. s he had system, Benjamin Gottesman, along with the Executive and Investment Count 'em: my earlier th, the other family members, endowed the Committees, David Gottesman has been cheeks hav , and while whole tooth,n an ading University' sMendel Gottesman Library. a member of the Board since 1979. His of pain involved, this line) othing In 195_9, Benjamin Gottesman was most recent contribution to the urt. Butthen, some of Why are they called awarded an honorary Doctorate of University financed the construction of gs in life are difficult. In anyway? I fail to see th Humane Letters as a tribute to his many the Benjamin Gottesman Pool. Mr. her day, a homeless person between the hallowed ideal years of service to the University, Gottesman's wife, Dr. Ruth (Levy) y challenged) accosted me and the notion of pain or extra including his thirty year. presidency of Gottesman, a widely recognized et and exclaimed,1 "Shalam. I heard fr suggested that they the institution's Endowment authority on learning disabilities in .111,i1�pt_.11just a bum on the street, but wisdom teeth because one o Foundation. children and adults, is currently an Hebrew." It's tough them when he or she is ol David Gottesman was bornon April Associate Professor of Pediatrics and · t' s gotten to the point consequentlywiser. Followingt 26, 1926, the second son ofBenjamin and Director of Psycho-educational Services Deill8&l�.an't drink a cup of couldn't they just as easil Esther Gottesman. After earninghis B.A. at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. without some do- teeth" or ''bald teeth?" d go n 9.uarterin it. Why I am sitting on a park do ' ore, when you're as the cool breeze tous buyin put the change am filledwith a dee HELP WANTED right in eworld gone and fall asleep . . "YI!�� ess mad?! _ ..,.�t imes, is has fallen,�iC'!Blilf : tering n .. Growing Company Needs Campus Reps For othing coff:e"1",'ffot�,t,dQ��'ffl! is fear,n wishing we and pa ic Project. Excellent Earnings. Gain Valuable Getting ha member that surgeon who p for repentance, Experience and References. Work at School or extractions admin e, and this thought Home. Flexible Hours. and proved a fineadm oly trembling to a dreamed that I would egree. I leave you with the experience. Sufficeit to say, I've r s that this street-person friend Send Resume to: have my wisdom teeth pulled six or spoke, in the hopes that they will uplift 1 you as they did me: "L'shana tova CAREER ADVANTAGE Alternatively housed person. Tikatayvu V'taychataymu." 2 P.O. Box 82 Howell, NJ 07731 Nitrous oxide. All the best. Attn: Personnel JOIN THE OHEL CHILDREN'S HOME AND FAMILY SERVICES STAFF · WE ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYING: •FULL TIME/ PART TIME COUNSELORS - DAY & EVENING COUNSELORS •WEEKEND / SHABBAT COUNSELORS POSITIONS AVAILABLE fN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS
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Dear Students, On. behalf of the Office of the Dean of Students, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome new and returning students, and offer our sincere wishes -for a happy and healthy new year. While all beginnings are difficult, they are also exciting and full of potential. The staff of the Department of Student Services shares a commitment to assist s_tudents through this challenging period. Whether you require assistance through the co�plexities of registration and academic life; guidance or advice _re�arding career opportunities, graduate and professional schools, or development of job search techni·ques, take advantage of our expertise. If you are in need of personal counseling or, ev·en, a reassuring hand, we encourage you to meet with our professional and caring staff to discuss with them your needs and concerns. Do not wait until you feel frustrated or overwhelmed. Please feel free to come by Furst Hal I room 416 or contact us at 960-5330 or 960-5480 to schedule an appointment. We are here to help! As the-new academic semester begins, we wish you success in your endeavors-this year and throughout your education at Yeshiva University. . . L 'Shana tova tikata vu
t;e m Nulman Jeffrey Chaitoff Dean of Students Assistant Dean of Students
Rabbi Yosef Blau Mr. David Himber Mrs. Vivian Owgang (General Guidance) (Academic Guidance) (International Student Advisement) FH-413 FH-41 3 TH-1 06 Rabbi Joshua Cheifetz Dr. Avery Horowitz Rabbi Dr. M. Mitchell Serels (Dormitory Concerns/ Assistant Dean, YC (Sephardic Student Advisement) Personal Guidance) (Academic Guidance) FH-419 MO-104 FH-103 Mr. Hal Tannenbaum Rabbi Yehudah Fine Prof. Ira Jasko II (Career Placement) (Academic Skills/ Assistant Dean, SSSB BH-419 Personal Guidance) (Career Services Director) FH-413 BH-421 Dr. David Weisbrot (Pre-Health Advisement) Dr. Michael Hecht Ms. Naomi Kapp FH-41 3 Associate Dean, YC (Career Counselor) (Pre-Law/Aca demic Advisement) BH-419 Ms. Adrienne Wolff FH-104 (Career Placement) BH-419 page /6 lfmmtttittfnf1------S�ep�t_e_,11_h_' er_2_1_, _1_9_9 _3 Five New Players Join YU Macs
by Adam Melzer 2.Ari Ciment - (Miami-Hebrew Academy-He played forMitch Means so This year, the Y.U. Macs were out watch out!) A tall forward with a fine for freshblood to add to their roster. · shooting touch. "Scary Airy''will add to On September 13, 1993, a tryout was the Macs perimetergame. held, and after the smoke cleared, 3.Jacob Rosenberg - (H.A.F.T.R.) A five new players were-added to the small forward who can hit the "three" basketball team. Herewith, a list of consistently, and could potentially help IntratnuralTe atnsDrafted · the chosen: the Macs with their rebounding. 4.Yehuda Halpert - (M.T.A.) A smart Captains: by Adam Melzer 1.Arkady lbragimov - (H.A.F.T.R.) shooting guard with a good shooter's 1. Brian Kardin; Eli Weiss (1st) A quick point guard with a good touch and sound defense. The Y.U. Basketball Intramural Draft 2. Richie Sokolov; Hillel Olshin (2nd) shooting touch; he will add the fast 5.Steven Kupfennan - (H.A.F.T.R) A was held with the season set to begin 3. Barry Aranoff;Shlomo Kimmel (3rd) break to the Macs offense. big manwho works well in thelow post. right after the Sukkot break. The 4. Donny Davis; Ranan Well (4th) following is a list of commissioners, 5. Daniel Lerer; Jeremy Fox (5th) advisers, and captains with their first 6 Ronan Zour; Asaf Tzur (6th) round picks. , 7. Jon Fisher; Avi Roth (7th) Intramural Adviser: Stan"X-Man" 8. Adam Melzer; Wes Kalmar (8th) Watson 9. Avi Greenbaum; Avi Lyons (9th) Commissioner: Adam Melzer Jason Horowitz and Andrew Height: 6"1 Weight: 169 Assistant Commissioner: Barry Leibowitz forfeitedtheirfirstround pick Aranoff since they are co-captains and are both Hobbies: Avid Sports Fan, Bagel Runs, Head of Officials: Yoni Epstein first round picks. Road Trips.
Young Appointed Jason Horowitz graduated fromHAFfR High School in 1990. He played two years of varsity, culminating in a trip to Madison Square Garden for the championships. He averaged llppg, and 4.5 blocks per game, and was named Athletic Director to the 1990 All Star Team. Following his graduation from HAFfR,Jason entered YU as a freshmanin the fall of 1990. In that year, he was drafted in the first round by Erez Gilad Rosengarten, Dr. Jeffery Gurock, Dean of intramurals, which is not usual fora freshman. In his sophomore year, he was EfremNulman, Coach Jonathan Halpert, drafted #1 in the overall intramurals draft. He was the MVP of the spring Stephen Young, former Athletic and Dean Karen Bacon. semester, averaging 18ppg, 1 lrpg and 3.5 blocks per game. He was named t!)the Director and Chairman of Physical Following Dr. Shevlin' s resignation 1991-92 All Star Team as well as to the 1991-92 AllDefensive Team. He was also Education at Columbia Grammar and in early June, the committee advertised the one-on-one champion and teamed up with Andrew Leibowitz to win thetwo on-two championship. In his Junior year, Jason led his team in most categories Preparatory School,has beenappointed the position in The New York Times. Athletic Director of the Yeshiva ·Seven candidates were considered for including points, rebounds, and shot blocking. Jason has always been labeled as University Undergraduate Schools. He the post. an aggressive defender and a team leader. replaces Dr. Gil Shevlin, who recently Dean Rosenfeld says Young was Taking all of that into perspective, I asked Jason to overview the upcoming retired after six selected because season. He is an intramural co-captain with Andrew Leibowitz, and together years in the post. of hisimpressive they are looking to win a championship. They are looking forteam players as well Young will be credentials and as blue collar players, and they hope that talent and desire, combined with a few responsible for background. shrewd draft picks, will lead them to that elusive title. running Y o u n g -- David Goldenberg intramural graduated from athletic programs, Clark University as well as with a Bachelor instructional of Arts degree Qt4e500 We C!!nmmettfahtrst 185th Street programs in and received a physical Master of New Yo rk, NY 10033 education at both Sciencedegree in undergraduate Physical colleges. Young Education with a hopes to arrange concentration in m o r e Athletic intercollegiate Administration games, possibly cross-country, and from Western Illinois University. Mr. create new teams and clubs. Says Young, Young also serves as Assistant Camp "my goal is to see things expanded; see Director of the Riverdale YM-YWHA. where it's been, where it can go, and YC Dean Rosenfeld believes that Mr. what improvements can be made." Young's prior experience will help him In the brief time that he has been at acclimate to YU, and claims that YU, Young has found that the conditions at a private school such as University's athletic program was well Columbia Prep closely resemble those maintained over the last several years. at YU. He is impressed with the high level of Reaction from the current facultyto student interest in the intramural the change in administration has been program, and praised Stanley Watson, very positive. Stanley Watson,Assistant Assistant to the Athletic Director, as the to the Athletic Director, believes that driving force behind the successful thus far the transition from Shevlin to program. He also gave high marks to Young has been a smooth one, and that coaches, faculty and students. he will do everything possible to keep it Mr. Young'sappointmentcomesafter that way. Watson added that he will a selective process involving a search "miss Dr. Shevlin's humanity and committee, chaired by YC Dean Norman professionalism. I wish himwell as I do Rosenfeld and composed of Mr. Jeffery Mr. Young."