he ommentator T The Independent C Student Newspaper of Yeshiva University

VOL. LXXXVI MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020 ISSUE NO. 4 Undergraduate Students Return to Campus After Eight-Month Hiatus, Over 550 Expected to Live On Campus

termination of employment. By Elisheva Kohn On a twice-weekly basis, all students on campus — whether they live in university This article was originally published online housing or off-campus — will “participate in on Oct. 22. a saliva COVID-19 testing program,” which is being administered in partnership with Yeshiva University campuses reopened Cayuga Health Systems. “We also expect for undergraduate students on Wednesday, to have once-a-week testing of a statistical Oct. 21, after an eight-month hiatus prompt- sample of faculty and staff who are on cam- ed by the COVID-19 pandemic. pus regularly,” Nissel wrote in an email to The move-in process for on-campus the undergraduate student body on Oct.16. housing will run through Nov. 1. 550 stu- These tests, which are non-invasive and dents are expected to return to university self-obtained, will serve as additional pre- residence halls with “many more” com- cautions to the mandatory PCR swab test muting or living near campus, Vice Provost results that students must submit prior to for Student Affairs Chaim Nissel told The arriving on campus. Commentator. University facilities and Students are not allowed on campus services such as libraries, athletic centers, “without proof of a negative result from that minyanim and campus dining are operating [PCR] test,” wrote President Ari Berman in in a limited capacity and with strict adher- an email to the undergraduate student body ence to health policies. According to Nissel, on Oct. 1. Students who test positive must the university still has availability for more obtain a negative test and a letter of clear- students to dorm on campus. ance from their physician before returning YU outlined all health-related policies to campus. According to Nissel, campus test monitoring will begin Oct. 26, and results in a “COVID-19 Code of Behavior” guide; YESHIVA UNIVERSITY students, faculty members and staff who will be released on the New York School Marked spots indicate where students should stand in order to violate the code will be required to leave Report COVID-19 Tracker. adhere to social distancing rules. campus and subject to disciplinary actions Continued on Page 4 under YU’s policies, including expulsion or

YU Student Body Overwhelmingly Picks Trump Over Biden, Survey Finds: An Analysis

student. Overall, 160 (57%) respondents conclusions and extrapolations will not be political ideologies, 60% identified with the By Yosef Lemel are men while 119 (43%) are women. derived from the results of groups such as conservative movement, 18% considered Of the respondents, 72 (26%), are first- Syms-Women, Katz School, and fourth- themselves to be liberal and 17% identified Editor’s Note: For the questions dealing year students, 104 (37%) are second-year year students. as centrists. with approval ratings and other similar students, 83 (30%) are third-year students Continuing a trend observed during the questions, a five-point scale was used, al- and 20 (7%) are in their fourth year or more. Political Affiliations midterm election season, Syms-Men is the lowing the inclusion of a neutral option and 93% of respondents indicated that they most Republican-leaning undergraduate options such as “very likely” or “strongly are registered to vote and 90% say they are 47% of respondents consider themselves approve” when applicable. The findings of likely to vote in the coming election. Republicans, 15% as Democrats and 26% as Continued on Page 9 this survey may radically vary from the Due to their low sample sizes, specific Independents. When asked to describe their results of The Commentator’s 2016 elec- tion poll due to significant changes in our survey methodology since then. A more ac- curate point of comparison, when relevant, would be our 2018 midterm election poll.

The Commentator conducted a survey from Oct. 20 to 26 on the political leanings of the Yeshiva University undergraduate student body. The following article details the results and trends found in the survey.

Introduction

The survey polled 279 students, repre- senting 14% of the undergraduate student body. 110 of the respondents (39%) are Yeshiva College (YC) students, 108 (39%) are Stern College for Women (SCW) students, 50 (18%) are male Sy Syms School of Business (Syms-Men) students, 10 (4%) are female Sy Syms School of Business (Syms-Women) students and 1 (.4%) is a Katz School SURVEY MONKEY

NEWS | 4 FEATURES | 8 OPINIONS | 10 BUSINESS | 16

Redesigned Lamm Archives We Asked, Y(O)U Answered Why I Volunteered to be a Poll Worker Intro to 5G 2 From the Editor's Desk Monday , November 2, 2020

The Commentator From the Editor's Desk 2020-2021 Editor-in-Chief YOSEF LEMEL COVID-19: A Personal Experience Managing Editor ELISHEVA KOHN logic, would I have gotten sick had their experiences in these pages. By Yosef Lemel I stayed home on Yom Kippur? An The Commentator is open for well- interesting idea, I must say! The PA thought-out praises and critiques of Executive Editor “Vaya’avor Adonai al Panav tried to dissuade me from taking the the return to campus. Is the library YITZCHAK CARROLL Vayikra!” the maskless indoor crowd test, arguing that if I tested positive really a “ghost town?” How does the screams in unison, over 100 Jews “the numbers in Monsey will go up caf food compare to last year in terms worshipping their Creator on Yom and then the government will shut of price and quality? Is there any News Kippur, the holiest day of the year. the yeshivas down”; it was only after pre-election fervor (hopefully, this Senior Editor Junior Editor It’s impossible for me to know when I adamantly and repeatedly requested time, with a modicum of civility and SRULI FRUCHTER ELAZAR ABRAHAMS I got the virus, but I suspect it was the test that the PA relented. This no Confederate flag controversies)? Features around that moment. Sensing the PA was just one individual, though I I’ll hopefully be back on campus on Senior Editor Junior Editors unsafe nature of the location I left genuinely wonder if there is a trend Monday — I recently tested negative, JACOB ROSENFELD MITCH GOULSON shul early, feeling a small tinge of in the frum community of deflating thank God — but, at this point, I’ve TEMMI LATTIN guilt as I walked out of those doors, the numbers. been wondering for weeks what the feeling like I left my absolution from The two week-and-a-half following scene in the Heights is like. Opinions sin behind. the positive test result was mostly a What’s most important now is fol- Senior Editor Junior Editor AHARON NISSEL JOSH LEICHTER The PA repeatedly tried to dissuade me from taking the test, arguing that if I tested positive “the numbers in Monsey will go up and then the government will shut the yeshivas down.” Business Senior Editor Junior Editor EITAN LAVIAN YAAKOV METZ From the outset, I will mention as blur. My daily schedule: homework lowing the rules, as The Commentator a disclaimer that this editorial is not and “Commie” work when I had the focused on in its last editorial. Truth meant to evoke any feelings of sym- strength, and sleeping — or, more be told, as someone who views him- Senior Layout Editor pathy for my case; far from it. There accurately, trying to sleep — for the self as a relative outsider to the gen- MICAH PAVA are many other cases that deserve remainder of the day. There weren’t eral Modern Orthodox community, “feel better” wishes and kapitloch any major headaches or spikes in I’ve been very impressed with the Social Media Manager of Tehillim — besides, as a relative- temperature; the lethargy, however, response from communities such as SHIRA LEVITT ly healthy 21-year old, I never felt was draining. The worst part was the Teaneck, a locale where many YU any real personal danger from the isolation. The knowledge that for 10 students come from. At the very be- Website Manager virus. Rather, I wish to emphasize days, I would have to isolate from ginning of the pandemic in March, I JARED SCHARF the practical effects of the virus from society, a society that — as it is — isn’t heard a prominent rabbi in Monsey various anecdotal points; the virus is fully functioning, was a harrowing say that “The thing we need most Business Manager not something that we, as a society, experience, to put it mildly. During right now, to combat the magefah MEIR LIGHTMAN should take lightly. that time period, I heard uncomfort- (pandemic), is t’filla b’tzibur” (public For most of the pandemic period, able reports of other individuals in my prayer), a seemingly paradoxical ap- Video Editor I largely stayed isolated from gen- shul who tested positive soon after proach, though in line with standard JEREMY KOFFSKY eral society, other than the occasional Yom Kippur, at least one of whom is yeshivish dogma; to contrast, during outdoor minyan and walk. As the currently in critical condition. Since the same time period in Teaneck, the Layout Staff summer went on, and the pandemic Sukkos, my shul thankfully instituted shuls shut down, perhaps stopping a DEBORAH COOPERSMITH, seemed less threatening to me, I a mask-mandatory policy; however, disaster from developing into a catas- RAFAELA KAPITANKER, SHIRA LEVITT, started to attend indoor minyanim. there is no doubt in my mind that the trophe, or perhaps not. Who knows? TEMIMA YELLIN By the Yomim Noraim (High Holy minyanim on the Yomim Noraim But why take the chance? Regulations Days), it seemed that the threat was were “super-spreader” events. may reasonably morph as the situa- Staff Writers non-existent; there were barely any I expected, after a two-week pe- tion develops, in line with the advice DEBORAH COOPERSMITH, COVID-19 regulations in shul, and riod, to receive a negative test re- of medical, economic and societal SHLOMIT EBBIN, I felt comfortable joining an indoor sult, especially since, at that time, experts, and students should, at the ZAHAVA FERTIG, ZACHARY GREENBERG, minyan with a mask on that fateful I was asymptomatic. Since March, very least, abide by the university’s YONATAN KURZ, DANIEL MELOOL, Yom Kippur. I’ve been looking forward to return- minimum regulations while, at the JARED SCHARF, Just a few days later, on the second ing to Yeshiva University and hav- same time, enjoying campus life as ALEXANDER WILDES day of Sukkos, I started to feel a minor ing a real senior-year experience. I much as possible. headache, starting a trajectory that booked the first day available, Oct. 21, There is currently a major crack- defined my life for a month. to come back, with nostalgic dreams down on the Orthodox community By the time Yom Tov was out, I was The Commentator is the student newspaper of of the Shabbosim on campus, the beis from the New York State govern- Yeshiva University. out. I traversed from bed, to couch, medrash, the library, the ping pong ment, due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. back to the bed, and to the couch tables, the restaurants and the gen- However, we must not, under any cir- For 86 years, The Commentator has served again and finally to the thermom- students and administrators as a communicative eral social scene. Back then, I hoped cumstance, commit a chillul Hashem conduit; a kinetic vehicle disseminating eter — 103-degree fever! By then, I, to dedicate this issue’s editorial as a (desecration of God’s name) by vio- undergraduate social, religious and academic shivering, sweating buckets and beet- praise and/or critique of various as- lating reasonably-set regulations. As beliefs across the student bodies; and a reliable reflection of Yeshiva student life to the broader red-faced, didn’t have the strength pects of the university’s return plan. Rav Mayer Twersky, a RIETS rosh Jewish and American communities. to drive to an urgent care to receive Alas, that was not to be the case. Once yeshiva, put it, “Provocation does not a rapid test; well, that’s apparently again, I tested positive and my move- mitigate or excuse a chilul Hashem.” The Commentator staff claims students spanning the diverse spectrum of backgrounds what parents are for — gotta love ‘em. in date was delayed to Nov. 2, and yet Well, to my fellow students, here’s and beliefs represented at Yeshiva. The visit to the urgent care was another 10 days of isolation ensued. your chance; don’t mess it up. quite an eye-opening experience. Though I can’t evaluate the uni- We are united by our passion for living the ideals of Torah Umadda, and a commitment to The attending physician assistant versity’s plan because I haven’t journalistic excellence. (PA) emphasized that whether I got been personally affected by it yet, I COVID-19 or not is “all b’dei shamay- welcome any student, faculty mem- Visit us online at www.yucommentator.org. im” (in the hands of heaven), and it ber or administrator to describe “doesn’t matter what we do.” By that Monday, November 2, 2020 7 Up 7 Down 3

Welcome back to Wilf/Beren Campus!!! 1 Unless you’re one of the 1,500 students who will not be dorming.

Printing Money is BACK!!!

2 You get $60! And you get $60! Everyone gets $60!!! Now you can print this Commie PDF, those 50-page readings you weren’t going to read anyway, pictures of the bagpipe guy, Mesora notes and a life-sized colored photo of PRDAB to hang up in your dorm room.

Shkoy 3 To you it might be a peculiar word, but to us at the Commie, it means the world. #KGBlives Minyan Signup 4 Taking the time to check where everyone else will be davening before committing to your minyan. #MinyanHock Presidential Elections 5 Once every four years, PoliSci majors finally get a little bit more attention than PreMed.. You had legs this whole time?! 6 You know exactly what I am referring to, right? #ZoomUniversity

Your RA

7 Thank you to all the RAs and GAs who will most likely not be sleeping well until May 2021.

7 7UP by ZahavaDOWN Fertig

Saliva Tests1 I’m sorry but … THERE IS NO MORE SPIT LEFT INSIDE ME! Zoom Lyfe vs. Real Lyfe For many students and alumni, Facebook and the YU memes page are the only “touch” of YU they’re gonna get. Let’s not disappoint them. 2 #BringBackTheMinecraft

Do I Know You? … or do I just think I do because you’re wearing a kippah/skirt? 3

FTOC Students

A message to all you “First Years”: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away … people on campus used to smile. 4 Gottesman Library or Ghost Town Library The second floor is the new fourth floor. 5 Morning Routines

Glasses? — check. Mask? — check. Airpods? — check. Earrings? — check. Makeup on the top half of my face? — check. #HoneyWhere’sMyFace? 6

Midterms and Move-in in the Same Week Why do you hate us??????? (And why can’t we just have Shiriyah like Frisch?!) 7 4 News Monday , November 2, 2020 YU Launches Redesigned Lamm Heritage Archives

while that putting it up on that website was The first two categories are mainly from despite the change of era. The resonance of By Yonatan Kurz overwhelming and over 10 years ago with Rabbi Lamm’s time in the pulpit, and the the sermons to this day is uncanny, and this OCR [optical character recognition], and at third category is from his tenure at YU, enables people to experience or relive the This article was originally published online the time there were no aesthetics to match encapsulating the roles he played in each eternal relevance of Rabbi Lamm’s words.” on Oct. 28. the effort made by the library,” explained position. Rabbi Sinensky noted “three categories Rabbi Sinensky. “After Rabbi Lamm’s pass- In the old archives, some of the sermons of additional materials that may be added to With the new cycle of Torah Reading fol- ing, both the library and the family had in were untitled, so to provide greater ease for the archives in the future,” namely, “audio lowing Simchat Torah, Yeshiva University the back of their minds to give this project the reader and give a sense of the topic of files, both newly uncovered ones as well as launched a redesigned platform on its web- new life.” the speech, any derasha lacking a title was formerly private library archives,” videos site for an archive of over 800 speeches given The sermons are categorized on the given a title with Rabbi Lamm’s own lan- that have been digitized and are waiting by President Emeritus and former Rosh homepage by “Parsha,” “Holidays” and guage from the talk so it could be historically to be publicized and unpublished manu- HaYeshiva Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, who “Eulogies, Tributes and Special Addresses,” accurate, and it says “Editor’s Title,” giving scripts. “To see the exact words being said passed away this past May at the age of 92. has no comparison,” said Rabbi Sinensky, While there already had been a previ- “The resonance of the sermons to this day is uncanny, and this referring to the digitized videos, “like Rav ously archived set of sermons and speech- enables people to experience or relive the eternal relevance of Soloveitchik, seeing Rabbi Lamm’s speak- es given by Rabbi Lamm titled “Derashot ing the words off the paper is a completely SheDarashti,” digitally published several Rabbi Lamm’s words ...” different experience.” years ago by Pearl Berger, a former dean of ___ The manuscripts include unpublished YU Libraries, the redesigned website “now Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky, director of the Lamm Heritage Archives. correspondences involving Rabbi Lamm features all the sermons in the collection that may ultimately be made available to neatly organized by subject matter and date,” the public. “Rabbi Lamm was not a per- according to Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky, director which contain a list of speeches categorized people context of what the title is. son who needed much sleep, and in the of the Lamm Heritage Archives. by each occasion in chronological order. Additionally, each week, an email is sent time in the pulpit and presidency, he was Additionally, Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern, se- Each homily is a PDF of either a typed- out featuring several of Rabbi Lamm’s homi- able to maintain correspondences, many nior advisor to the provost at YU and editor up or handwritten speech of Rabbi Lamm, lies on the weekly parsha and holidays, as of which are in the YU library and are very of many of Rabbi Lamm's books, including and ranges from 1951 to 2004, between his well as addresses that “speak across the important material,” Rabbi Sinensky told the Derashot Ledorot series, was instrumen- time as rabbi at Congregation Kadima in decades to the challenges confronting us The Commentator. “It is a treasure trove of tal in helping to launch and shepherd the Springfield, Mass. to his tenure as chancellor today.” The weekly email series is called material, not only for the YU community, but project. Both Rabbis Sinensky and Halpern at YU, and including his time as rabbi of the “Timeless Torah,” according to Rabbi for someone who wants to learn more about are married to granddaughters of Rabbi Jewish Center on the Upper West Side of Sinensky, because “not only is the content of Rabbi Lamm, YU, the Upper West Side, or Lamm. Manhattan as well as his presidency at YU. extraordinary value, but it remains timeless even Modern Orthodoxy in America.” To promote the new website, YU sent “This entire project is a tremendous trib- out multiple emails to students and alumni, ute to Rabbi Lamm, who not only delivered and has also added several of Rabbi Lamm’s outstanding and pristine derashot.” Rabbi derashot to the weekly “YUTorah in Print” Sinensky added. “When Rabbi Lamm was in newsletter on YUTorah.org. the pulpit, he would type up his derashot ev- According to Rabbi Sinensky, the site ery Motzaei Shabbos, and he would say that saw 1,300 subscribers in the first 48 hours, a rabbi gives three derashot every week: the and over 10,000 views on social media, ex- derasha they plan to give, the one they gave, hibiting the “clear impact” of Rabbi Lamm. and the one they should have given. Rabbi Additionally, he remarked, “many educa- Lamm was assiduous in creating an exten- tors and rabbis are sharing this resource sive filing system, making sure these materi- with their communities, revitalizating Rabbi als were available for future generations.” Lamm’s works and creating a new genera- tion of readers.” “It was in the back of people’s minds for a YU has launched a redesigned website for over 800 speeches given YU by former President Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm.

CAMPUS REOPENING residents” who wished to reside there this brought 10 male students from the uptown significantly; libraries now close at 10 p.m. Continued from Front Page semester. Beren students who were planning campus — will not continue this semester, on weekdays and 12:30 p.m. on Fridays. As of time of publication, the tracker on moving into Schottenstein this week were but women’s tefilah (prayer) will be held in Students may frequent the athletic cen- indicates that one person has tested posi- offered to reside in Brookdale Residence the Koch auditorium. Director of Office of ters during limited opening hours, provid- tive for coronavirus, though the test was Hall or 36th Street. Beren Housing told The Student Life Rabbi Josh Weisberg expressed ed they sign up for a slot in advance. The administered off-campus. According to a Commentator that the university hopes “to in a recent email to Beren students that YU Brookdale and Wilf Campus fitness center, YU spokesperson, the person who tested reopen the Schottenstein Residence Hall for plans to “resume the [Shabbat] minyan as as well as the Max Stern Athletic Center positive is a YU employee. “We conducted the spring semester.” soon as possible.” Basketball Court, are available for student contact tracing and informed those who were Both Beren and Wilf batei midrash Dining services will be available every day use at 33% capacity, as per New York State in direct contact with the employee about are open for chavruta learning, and vari- of the week, and only students purchasing regulations. The reopening of the 35th Street next steps re quarantine and testing,” the ous spaces on the Wilf Campus, such as meals through one of YU’s meal plans or a fitness center has been delayed until Oct. 27. spokesperson told The Commentator. “Per the Heights Lounge, were converted into credit card may sit in the cafeterias. Pizza is Yeshiva University High School for Boys applicable laws, we cannot disclose any more batei midrash to follow social-distancing back on the menu, despite initial reports that (MTA), located on the Wilf Campus, also information about this case.” guidelines. that dining services would only offer takeout returned to in-person instruction on Oct. 21, According to the tracker, YU has 129 Some classes and shiurim are conducting meals on weekdays and that pizza would not after temporarily shifting to remote learning quarantine rooms available; currently, 48 in-person sessions. As previously reported be served to maximize safety. Food items in on Sept. 24. students from out-of-state or abroad — who by The Commentator, the vast majority of the cafeteria are pre-packaged, and tables Prior to students’ arrival on campus, YU plan on residing in university housing this classes will continue online. Some in-per- have been spread out to seat a maximum released numerous promotional videos, out- semester — are quarantining in a hotel near son classes are live-streamed over Zoom, of two students at a time. lining YU’s “COVID Code of Conduct,” wel- the Beren Campus. in classrooms equipped with video cameras, In his email to the undergraduate student coming first-yearstudents and broadcasting “Although being stuck in a room alone to students who are not able to personally body, Nissel announced that all cafeteria a welcome message from President Berman. for two weeks is far from fun YU has really attend. Zoom rooms are projected onto a payments would be “cashless” and requested “Yeshiva University remains always in tried to make the experience as pleasant as screen in the classroom to allow the instruc- students to bring their credit card or YU ID session,” President Berman said in the video, possible,” remarked Miriam Fried (SCW tor and students who are attending class card — which allows students registered “even if we do not return to campus in the ‘22), a student currently quarantining in the in-person and virtually to see each other. for the meal plan to pay for meals — to the conventional sense.” hotel. “From the awesome welcome packet "While it's jarring to be in a classroom cafeteria; however, students have reported and Shabbat bags to the meals and reading transformed by masks and social distanc- to The Commentator that their credit card Editor’s note: This article has been updated materials, everything shows that YU really ing, it's great to return to the familiarity of was not accepted in the cafeteria on the to clarify the status of the person who tested cares and wants to make sure we’re doing in-person learning after such an extended Wilf Campus. positive, as well as which students will be well.” hiatus,” said Naftali Shavelson (YC '22), who Libraries on Wilf and Beren Campuses participating in the self-obtained saliva On Oct. 16, just days before move-in day, is attending his Architectural Design Process — The Mendel Gottesman Library and the COVID-19 testing program. Beren Housing announced that Schottenstein class on campus. Hedi Steinberg Library, respectively — are Residence Hall would not reopen for the fall Numerous minyanim are organized on limited to current YU students, faculty and semester, citing a “number of cancellations the Wilf Campus, and students are required staff. Compared to last year, when the li- for housing for the fall semester,” which to sign up in advance. The regular Shabbat brary opened at 9 a.m. and closed at 1 a.m. resulted in a “significant drop in number of minyan on the Beren Campus — which on weekdays, opening hours have shifted Monday, November 2, 2020 News 5 IBC Rep. Wins Redo Election for Sophomore Rep., Sued in Student Court Adam Baron (SSSB ‘21) and Yeshiva College Canvassing Committee in preparation of him in no way compare to the amount of work By Raphi Singer Student Association President Ari Lowy announcing his bid to run. or authority a president has.” (YC ‘21) petitioned the court that night to In their petition to the court, Greenberg, Greenberg, Baron and Lowy are three This article was originally published contest Lerman holding both positions Baron and Lowy argued that although the of the five Wilf General Assembly mem- online on Oct. 25. simultaneously. constitution does not explicitly state that a bers — the other two being SOY President Isaac Breuer College (IBC) Rep. Baruch In the initial elections for sophomore student cannot hold two positions simulta- Akiva Poppers (SSSB ‘22) and Student Life Lerman (YC ‘23) won the do-over election representative on Sept. 15, Jacob Goldsmith neously and only forbids running for them Committee Chair Scott Stimler (YC ‘21). for Yeshiva Student Union (YSU) sopho- (YC ‘23) was declared the winner, but he more representative on Thursday, Oct. 22. was disqualified due to a lack of up-to-date “ I would like to express my gratitude to the sophomores for YSU President Zachary Greenberg (SSSB credits to be considered a sophomore. The ‘21), Sy Syms School of Business President runner up, Shay Fishman (YC ‘23), was choosing me to represent them, and to let them know that I am subsequently declared the winner but was looking forward to giving them the best year ever!” deemed ineligible because he was only a ___ sophomore for Fall 2020, becoming a junior in the spring. Baruch Lerman (YC '23) 106 Wilf Campus sophomores voted in the redo election, and Lerman garnered at the same time, a student holding two In a statement sent to The Commentator, 35.85% of the total with 38 votes. Goldsmith elected positions would inevitably lead to Poppers said that he is not part of the lawsuit was the runner-up and received 33.96% of a misuse of power. The three presidents against Lerman and supports him as the the votes, just two short of Lerman. Shai are suing Lerman in Wilf Student Court newly-elected sophomore representative. Rosalimksy (SSSB ‘23) obtained 22.64% of and are requesting an open trial. Greenberg “If the three members of the General the votes, and write-ins constituted 7.55% said that they want Lerman to explain how Assembly who signed this lawsuit dislike the of the votes. he can handle his course load and hold two clear wording — and/or lack thereof — re- “I put a lot of work into this campaign, different elected positions simultaneously. garding this matter in the Wilf Constitution,” along with several other people who have According to Lerman, holding both IBC Poppers said, “I implore all of them to go really helped me out a ton and support- and sophomore representative positions is the proper route and consider proposing ed me along the way,” Lerman told The not at odds with the Wilf Constitution. He an amendment to the Constitution next Commentator. “I would like to express my told The Commentator that while he cannot semester, as doing so this semester would gratitude to the sophomores for choosing run for two positions at the same time, he demonstrate a confounding disregard for me to represent them, and to let them know could constitutionally hold them both. the wishes of the relevant members of the that I am looking forward to giving them “I am sure that I have in no way violated Student Body — the Sophomores, who the best year ever!” the constitution and look forward to having elected Baruch.” In addition to his recent win as sopho- that affirmed by the court in the event the Greenberg told The Commentator that more representative, Lerman is also the case is heard,” Lerman said. “Firstly, before while he doesn’t think Lerman should hold Student Organization of Yeshiva (SOY) I ran for the position of sophomore repre- both positions, he is excited to welcome him IBC representative and was previously a sentative I made sure I had the approval of into YSU. “Baruch is the hardest working guy member of the Wilf Canvassing Committee, the Mashgiach of IBC Rabbi Beny Rofeh to on student council and I am so excited to be which oversees Wilf Campus elections. On do so. Secondly, the responsibilities I have working with him again in YSU,” Greenberg Baruch Lerman EZRA TROY PHOTOGRAPHY Sept. 27, Lerman recused himself from the as representatives have a lot of overlap, and said.

Beren and Wilf Batei Midrash Re-Open for Undergraduate Students

By David Schmidt

Yeshiva University’s batei midrash on the Wilf and Beren Campuses reopened for undergraduate students on Wednesday, Oct. 21, after a nearly eight-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several new regu- lations have been implemented to ensure a safe return for many students. While the beit midrash in the Glueck Center on Wilf Campus was open to Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary semikha students before the holiday break, starting Oct. 21, YU opened it to undergradu- ate students, as well as opening up several expanded locations. Additionally, the Klein Beit Midrash opened for Wilf students and the Beren Beit Midrash for Beren students. Undergraduate students also moved into residence halls on campus on Oct. 21. Out of the 39 shiurim between Stone Beit Midrash Program (BMP) and Mazer Yeshiva Program (YP) for Wilf students, 26 of them are in person for at least part of the week. Due to social-distancing measures, many temporary batei midrash have also been set up across Wilf Campus to accommodate chavrusa learning for all YP and BMP shi- urim. Makeshift locations include the Shenk Shul and the Heights Lounge, among others. Some of these additional locations also act as lecture halls for in-person shiurim. Along with the mandatory wearing of masks, other unique restrictions have been put into effect, such as plexiglass between chavrutot and not returning books to their location immediately but instead placing them on a cart for two days. These measures

Continued on Page 6 Several new regulations have been implemented to ensure a safe return for many students. YESHIVA UNIVERSITY 6 News Monday , November 2, 2020 YU Stands with Uighurs Holds First Event

By Jared Scharf

Editor’s Note: Sruli Fruchter and Elisheva Kohn, the main organizers of the event, are editors for The Commentator. They were not involved in the editing process of this article.

The newly-formed “YU Stands with Uighurs” committee hosted its first event, Uighur and Jewish Action Against Uighur Genocide, via Zoom on Sunday, Oct. 25. RIETS’s Senior Mashgiach Ruchani Rabbi Yosef Blau and Uighur refugee and activist Tahir Imin spoke during the one hour pro- gram which drew 88 attendees. The event was organized by Sruli Fruchter (YC ‘22) and Elisheva Kohn (SCW ‘21). Fruchter and Kohn founded “YU Stands with Uighurs” in Sept. 2020, after Fruchter wrote an article in The Commentator discussing how the “Chinese Communist Party has forcibly detained over one million Uighur Muslims in internment camps,” and the re- sponsibility that Jews have to speak up. The two subsequently created a WhatsApp group which has reached almost 190 members with the goal of “[sending] details and relevant articles to educate [on] this genocide in the making,” according to the chat description. With the help of Yeshiva Student Union President Zachary Greenberg (SSSB ‘21), as well as a handful of student activists, an official student government committee was formed. The other committee board mem- bers included Deborah Coopersmith (SCW ‘21), Josh Leichter (YC ‘21), Avigail Winokur

(SCW ‘22) and Sara Schatz (SCW ‘20). YESHIVA UNIVERSITY The event began with Rabbi Blau discuss- The poster for the first “YU Stands with Uighurs” event. ing the Biblical and traditional imperatives for Jews to help others. “It is built into our and traditions, subject to weekly tortures Consequently, the Chinese government but more enlightened to share with other DNA, or should be built into our DNA to and forced to publicly denounce himself for forced his wife to divorce him and speak people about this terrible circumstance be concerned with the welfare of everyone betraying the Chinese nation. out against him for betraying China and his and wanting to do more to help the Uighur in the world and not to tolerate injustice,” After his release, Imin founded a fashion entire family was arrested, and presumably people. Never again,” reflected Greenberg. remarked Rabbi Blau. Adding, “In the par- company and a consulting group, which he sent to either jails or labor camps. Imin has “There was a great necessity for the ticular case of the Uighurs, there is a cor- ran from 2007- 2017. During that time, he lost contact with all of his family, including event,” said Akiva Levy (YC ‘23). “Not only relation to our experiences that should alert also founded the Help Uighur Children orga- his nine-year old daughter. can we just sit by and passively disagree with us to how critical it is that we respond fully. nization, The Uighur Knowledge Forum and Imin continues to write, lecture, and or- what's going on in China, but we need to take We have a special responsibility because it's Uighur Doppa Cultural Festival, a festival ganize protests in front of the UN embassy an active role. I admire Sruli and Elisheva for part of our identity and we must take this celebrating and publicizing Ughur culture. and the White House advocating for the starting the groupchat and the movement.” role as seriously as we can.” In 2017, Imin was advised by friends and Uighurs. Imin said ways in which the YU Kohn was pleased with the event. “We did Imin spoke next, sharing his life story. advisors to leave China due to recent crack- community can help is by boycotting the have more than 80 participants which was Imin was born in Kashgar, the hub of Uighur downs by Chinese government officials, and 2022 Beinjing-held Olympics, joining pro- quite a success,” shared Kohn. Adding, “We culture. Imin attended an underground re- he immediately fled to Israel. Eventually, the tests and by simply spreading the word. are also very open to hearing from students, ligious school, where he learned and later Chinese government discovered his location Imin also took time to answer questions faculty members and administrators if they taught Uighur history and national ideology, and Imin fled to the United States to seek from the audience. would like to collaborate, if there is anything until being discovered by the government. political asylum. “I was shocked how little the rest of the we can do together, because this is just the Imin was arrested twice and sent to a labor In the United States, noticing the lack world is doing to help the Uighur people. start of the conversation.” camp for 14 months. There, Imin was fed one of Uighur awareness or advocacy, Imin be- Tahir shared with us horrific details which bun a day, forced to study Chinese politics gan writing about the plight of the Uighurs. are going on today. I left the event disturbed,

inspired by the students themselves who the Beis Medrash and growing in Avodas campus and having the ability to learn both BATEI MIDRASH REOPEN refused to stagnate but grew in their learn- Hashem and learning together with Rebbeim in person and on Zoom has been an exciting Continued from Page 5 ing despite the challenge and, indeed, by and friends,” shared Yoni Laub (YC ’22), a experience for all of us. We look forward come as part of YU’s comprehensive re- very dint of rising to the challenge,” shared student in YP. to continuing to learn together and spend opening plan that began as undergraduates Rabbi Eli Baruch Shulman, a YP rosh ye- Similar protocols have also been put Shabbos together to use the campus for all moved on to campus. shiva and the Rabbi Henry H. Guterman in place for undergraduates on the Beren that it offers.” Rabbi Dr. Yosef Kalinsky, dean for mens’ chair in Talmud. campus, where the Graduate Program In Many students have recognized the bit- Undergraduate Torah Studies, shared the tersweet nature of returning to such a regi- process of preparing for this reopening and “ Being back on campus and having the ability mented campus. “I don’t think [the safety the challenges that were associated with the measures] are great, but I think they are planning. “We have been planning for the to learn both in person and on Zoom has been an trying to be as safe as they can in a chavrusa reopening since June in conjunction with learning environment,” said Chemda Weiner the efforts of the ‘reopening task force com- exciting experience for all of us.” ___ (SCW ‘21), a student who is learning in per- mittee’ and a number of offices including son in Beren's beit midrash. “It has been facilities, events, registrar, housekeeping, Rabbi Jacob Bernstein really nice to see each other's faces and be IT and others,” Rabbi Kalinsky told The able to learn together." Commentator. “The main objective was to Many students returning for in-person Advanced Talmudic Studies For Women “Hundreds of hours went into planning encourage as many talmidim as possible to shiur were excited that YU put this amount (GPATS) had already been making use of and implementing our reopening,” Rabbi return safely to campus by providing socially of effort into reopening the beit midrash. the space since Labor Day. Kalinsky shared, “and we hope that the distanced learning in [the] Batei Midrash “While the yeshiva did a great job staying “It has been very exciting to be back on talmidim who return will find the experi- and classrooms.” connected to the talmidim over the last seven campus, learning together with students ence gratifying and that it enhances their When presented with Rabbi Kalinsky’s months through ‘bima klap’ and many other while others watch through Zoom,” said learning — being able to learn in-person appreciation, some roshei yeshiva in turn programs and shiurim, nothing compares to Rabbi Jacob Bernstein, who is the Campus again with chavrusas, with their Rebbeim, praised the students. “The rebbeim were being back in the kol Torah environment of Rabbi at the Beren Campus. “Being back on and with the chevre.” Monday, November 2, 2020 7

Never. Stop. Commentating.

Got something to share? Email [email protected] 8 Features Monday , November 2, 2020

We Asked, Y(O)U Answered Your Vote, Your Voice

By Deborah Coopersmith

Editor’s Note: Due to the divisive nature of this election, and with the goal of ob- taining an substantive sentiment of the current student body’s opinions on the presidential election, The Commentator granted respondents the ability to submit reasonable responses, under anonym- ity, provided they privately submit their names and contact info to the author. All respondents, aside from one, chose to sub- mit their responses anonymously.

The upcoming presidential election has sparked countless reactions, thoughts and feelings in the minds of every American. For this article, The Commentator reached out to the student body to see what they felt about the choices in the presidential campaign, who they are voting for, how they feel about the other candidate, and the key issues they care about when voting. The responses of six students are provided below. For a more comprehensive analysis on YU sentiment on political issues, read our latest survey results.

Anonymous (SCW ‘23)

Party Affiliation: Independent WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Method of Voting: Mail in/Absentee Donald Trump and Joe Biden will face off in the 2020 presidential election. Ballot "Both presidential candidates are really opposite of what foreign policy ‘experts’ Democratic party. I am not convinced they not that good. Biden has more class and is have said for years. will not push through more radical policies "Neither candidate is ideal. However, more unifying than Trump, but Trump has "Joe Biden is forgetful (or a liar), a under him that could be bad for America, I will be voting for President Trump. De- a better record of accomplishments and waffler, a career politician, (40+ years in and Jews in particular. While Biden may spite his inflammatory personality, I agree better policies. We need a president with the Senate and eight years in the White have a nicer personality, the important with most of his policies and believe he ac- both. House), and he did not accomplish any- thing is policy, and his record does not in- complished a lot over the past four years. "I am voting for Donald Trump because thing of what he proposed to do (just ask spire the same confidence Trump has. I also feel very safe with him as president he has delivered on the promises that he Bernie Sanders). He is a puppet for his par- "I care about all issues, but obviously in regards to Israel. Most of the negative made four years ago, instead of being like ty, unconcerned for the good of the country issues that hit closer to home are a high- consequences of him being president have other politicians who lie. Although he real- and the American People. er priority, as I believe they should be. In already happened and can’t be taken back, ly doesn’t have class and is not very unify- "I care about policies more than charac- practice, this means I primarily care about so keeping him for another term for the ing, his policies are good for America. Also, ter. We barely know Biden’s policies, and Israel and the protection of religious free- positive opportunities makes sense. he is a strong leader and other countries what we do know is he is bad for our in- doms. I fear that at this time, the Demo- "I don’t trust the Democratic Party, are scared of him. We need a president dustry. (He is on record saying he will ban cratic party, which controls Biden, will not since they don’t seem to know what they who is able to stand up to China and Iran; fracking.) Trump has four years of great pursue policies that favor Israel and the are standing for (how far to the left they Donald Trump definitely scares them. He economic growth behind him” Jews nearly to the extent that Trump has. want to go). I think it comes from trying puts America first and doesn’t let our coun- However, my vote for Trump is not simply to appeal to many different groups. I don’t try get played around with. As Jews, it is Anonymous (YC ‘22) for what he will do in the future; it is a ba- feel comfortable with the party, and Biden also important to vote for Trump since he Party Affiliation: Independent sic expression of hakarat hatov for what in particular (Iran Deal), in regards to Is- is SUPER pro-Israel, and has done so many Method of Voting: Mail in/Absentee he has done in the past. Some may ques- rael’s security and its relationship with the things for Israel that no other president has Ballot tion whether hakarat hatov is an appropri- U.S. relationship. I also don’t agree with been able to do. ate factor in choosing who to vote for, but many other key policies such as raising cer- "Joe Biden stumbles over his words and "The presidential candidates are obvi- considering that I don't live in a swing state tain taxes, moving towards more socialized is too weak to be president. He’ll allow the ously a disappointing result of extreme and my vote doesn’t matter anyway, I think medicine, etc. And in terms of ideology, I other countries to push America around, party polarization, but more than that it it is a nice token gesture and, in any case, would be worried that things might prog- and he clearly has some sort of pre-demen- reflects Chazal’s statement that a genera- I don’t feel Biden is a stronger candidate." ress from anti-Zionism to anti-Semitism, tia. In numerous interviews he mixes up tion only gets the leader it deserves. It’s up and from the PC [politically correct] cul- so many terms! In terms of accountability, to us to support moderate, smart, problem- Elazar Abrahams (YC ‘22) ture to suppression of free speech. Donald Trump has done more in four years solving voices. Party Affiliation: Democrat "Israel is the key issue I care about be- than Joe has done in 47. Biden is so old, "I voted for Trump. While we can widely Method of Voting: In person cause it’s our safety zone as the Jewish and if elected, it is very likely that Kamala agree that we don't like his personality, and people and if it isn’t secure we aren’t safe. Harris will be president. She is a radical so- I strongly disagree with certain policy de- "Trump was never a consideration for Health care and taxes are important be- cialist and that is very scary for America. cisions, particularly immigration, I think me. Joe Biden was not my first choice — far cause it affects me and my family person- "I care most about Israel, and law and that Trump is villainized far more than from it. But the more I see of the man, the ally (paying for yeshiva day school edu- order. Donald Trump is clearly a better he deserves. The vast majority of his poli- more I actually hear him speak in full, the cation, having the ability to have private candidate for these things." cies, if seen from an objective standpoint, more I like him. He's a truly kind person, healthcare and my parents being small are hard to feel strongly against and often and represents the kind of leadership we so business owners). I am also invested in the Anonymous (YC ‘24) are very good. Partisan politics have made desperately need. I wish we had someone a general safety and well being of America — Party Affiliation: Democrat people much more passionate about the lot younger though. I am thankful to live in the U.S.A. and want Method of Voting: Early Voting president than they should be; to love him "I’m voting for Biden. As Vice President, the best for its citizens. The atmosphere is and defend every one of his policies is just he resurrected our economy after the 2008 now descending perilously close to anar- "The election should be clear cut, but at as foolish and close-minded as hating him crash and can do it again. Common sense chy, and the general unrest we have now this point, it’s anyone’s game. and putting down every one of his policies. gun control, addressing climate change, a needs to be dealt with for us to function “Donald Trump’s economic, foreign, Overall, I think he’s the better candidate, federal response to COVID-19, protecting safely and properly as a country." and defense policies have been great. He and his track record of pro-Jewish and a woman’s right to choose, and attempt- has made this country energy independent, pro-Israel policy deserves bipartisan rec- ing to repair America’s partisan divide Anonymous (SCW ‘23) and a larger oil exporter than Russia and ognition. are some of the reasons I’m voting for the Party Affiliation: Republican Saudi Arabia. He has pulled our troops out "Biden is overall a decent person and Democratic ticket this year. Not being hu- Method of Voting: Mail in/Absentee of needless wars, and given the military the is less polarizing than Trump. However, it man garbage like our current president is Ballot budget it needs. He has brought peace be- is clearly evident that he is not as sharp as tween Israel and its neighbors, doing the he once was and is being controlled by the Continued on Page 9 Monday, November 2, 2020 Features 9

WE ASKED, Y(O)U ANSWERED "I feel that both candidates are pretty would act with dignity and restraint when tive, and that is what is causing me to vote Continued from Page 8 underwhelming. On one hand, you have leading this great nation. However, I am a for him.” also a huge plus! the incumbent, President Donald Trump, bit concerned by his own lack of confidence "It has been heartbreaking to see much whose morals are greatly in question, and in his opinions. He is a classic politician; Editor's Note: There were many responses of the Orthodox community throw them- his IQ may be lower than a high schooler’s. therefore, he plays the fence and the situ- that were not included in the column. An selves at the feet of Donald Trump like a On the other hand, you have Joe Biden, a ation which removes himself from contro- overwhelming majority of the students — modern-day Egel Hazahav. Anti-Semi- classic politician and great guy. However, versy. I’m a bit afraid he'll give in too easily even those not included here — wrote that tism and all forms of hate have increased I am skeptical of his leadership and defer- to the radical left, which to me is infectious they were going to be voting for President in these last four years, as the worst of ence to the far left. and terrible for society. I am nervous that Donald Trump. In a survey conducted by humanity feels emboldened by his vile "The political parties of said candidates the left would push him and this country The Commentator, it was found that the remarks. President Trump is a menuval show vastly different policies and opinions into chaos. Some may call it irrational, but student body supports Trump over Biden with no redeemable qualities. Some things on a wide array of issues, including my if the Democrats win the Senate, it could 60% to 23%. Thank you to everyone who transcend politics. Voting him out is one of most weighed issue, Israel foreign policy. happen. responded to the survey! them. I’m so happy that many of the con- I will be voting for President Trump. Al- "The key issues for me are Israel, the servative YU students I’ve spoken to feel though his methods are unorthodox, to economy, coronavirus and taxes. The the same way, choosing to either vote for be put gently, his administration has done Trump administration totally bungled the a third-party candidate or support Biden more for Israel and this country than any virus, but I believe the other three issues even if they disagree with some of his other administration in my lifetime. Since were better during the last three years. stances." there are issues bigger than all of us (Isra- Although I did not pay any taxes, and the el), I cannot push them aside just because economy does not really affect me, it af- Anonymous (YC ‘23) he is immature and acts like a child. I have fects many around me and my family. Is- Party Affiliation: Libertarian to take into account his administration's rael holds a very special place in my heart Method of Voting: Mail in/Absentee effectiveness and that propels me to vote and it’s the most important to me. I believe Ballot for him. But, I’m not voting for him. I’m that Trump has done more for Israel than voting for his administration. his predecessor, and I want it to continue. "Joe Biden is a great candidate and He may not be traditional, but he’s effec-

SURVEY ANALYSIS stated they were unsure of the outcome. wrong track and 20% were unsure. 56% of support court-packing, 68% oppose it and Continued from Front Page Republicans, 90% of Democrats and 63% of 9% were unsure. Of Democrats, 20% would support packing the court. program in the university with 71% identify- A plurality of students would like to see ing as Republicans, 4% as Democrats and the Electoral College system remain in place. 13% as Independents. 83% of Syms-Men 49% support the Electoral College system, consider themselves conservative, 15% as 26% would like to see it replaced with a centrist while only 2% identify as liberal. popular vote system, 3% preferred another Regarding YC, 47% identify as Republican, system and 21% were unsure. When broken 8% as Democrat and 31% as Independent; down by party, 70% of Republicans, 15% of 64% are conservative, 16% are centrist and Democrats and 39% of Independents would 11% are liberal. At SCW, political affiliation prefer to keep the Electoral College system, is more evenly balanced, with 37% identify- while 9% of Republicans, 60% of Democrats ing as Republicans, 26% as Democrats and and 35% of Independents would like to see 27% as Independents. 46% of SCW students the implementation of a popular vote system. are conservative, 18% are centrist and 32% When students were asked whether they are liberal. “approve or disapprove of the Black Lives A previous trend in 2018 that found older Matter movement,” 50% noted their disap- students tending to lean more liberal did proval, 29% indicated their approval and not hold true for this survey. In fact, third- 16% neither approved nor disapproved of year students were the most conservative in the movement. 73% of Republicans, 3% the student body. 59% of first-year, 57% of of Democrats and 36% of Independents second-year and 68% of third-year students disapprove of the movement, while 10% of identify as conservatives while 11% of first- Republicans, 82% of Democrats and 35% of year, 19% of second-year and 16% of third- Job Approval Independents say America is on the wrong Independents approve of it. (What exactly year students identify as liberal. track. the “movement” represents was left up to Overall, 68% of respondents believe 54% of students polled approve of the the respondent to decide.) that the YU student body, in general, leans overall job performance of the Trump The Issues What almost all students agreed upon Republican while only 12% believe it leans administration, 13% neither approve nor was the idea that Israel is an important Democrat. 20% were unsure of which politi- disapprove and 30% disapprove. Trump’s Students were asked whether they ap- factor when considering who to vote for. cal direction the student body leans. approval rating jumps to 82% among prove of Amy Coney Barrett being appointed 92% stated that it was an important factor Republicans, sinks to 5% among Democrats to the Supreme Court. (The survey closed (of that number, 64% indicated it was very The Election and sits at 39% among Independents. before Barrett was confirmed by the Senate.) important), while only 7% said it was not an More of the respondents disapproved 56% indicated their approval, 18% disap- important factor. 95% of Republicans, 95% If the presidential election were held to- than approved of the Trump administra- proved, 17% neither approved nor disap- of Independents and 70% of Democrats in- day, 60% of students would vote to re-elect tion’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. proved and 9% were unsure. dicated that a candidate’s policies regarding Donald J. Trump, 23% would vote for Joseph Overall, 33% approve, 17% neither approve Overwhelmingly, respondents stated Israel is an important factor in their decision. R. Biden, 5% would vote for a different can- nor disapprove and 45% disapprove of the that they would prefer to not add justices didate and 12% were undecided. 55% of administration’s response to the pandemic. to the Supreme Court if their preferred party women and 64% of men indicated that they However, 59% of respondents say they think wins the White House and the Senate; 23% Continued on Page 10 support Trump while 30% of women and a Biden administration would have handled 18% of men said they would vote for Biden. the pandemic worse. When it came to who students believe Trump’s economic and foreign policies, would win, the results were more evenly in contrast, received large support from split, with 29% believing Trump will respondents. 68% approve, 9% neither ap- win,30% believing Biden will win and 41% prove nor disapprove, and 14% disapprove stating that they were unsure as to who will of Trump’s economic policies over the past win the election. When broken down by four years. 70% of respondents believe that party affiliation 36% of Republican, 5% of Biden’s economic policies, if implemented, Democrats and 29% of Independents said would not have been better than Trump’s. they think Trump will win, whereas 27% of Regarding Trump’s foreign policies, 70% Republicans, 45% of Democrats and 29% indicated approval, 10% neither approved of Independents think that Biden will win. nor disapproved and 15% disapproved. Overall, 34% of respondents think that When asked whether Biden’s foreign poli- the Democratic Party will retain control of cies would have been better than Trump’s, the House of Representatives, while 22% 70% responded in the negative. believe the Republican Party will gain con- Overall, Republicans, Democrats and trol; 44% stated they were unsure about the Independents believe this country is head- outcome. The opposite was true regarding ing in the wrong direction. A mere 18% of the Senate: 42% believe the Republicans will respondents say this country is headed in retain control of the chamber, 16% picked the right direction, while 62% say it’s on the the Democrats to flip the Senate and 43% 10 Opinions Monday , November 2, 2020 Why I Volunteered to Be a Poll Worker on Election Day

By Dr. Jeffrey Freedman because of COVID-19. Poll workers tend to be older and as such are more vulnerable to Presidential elections in the U.S. occur the risks of contagion. This combination of every four years, but this is no ordinary elec- circumstances prompted me to volunteer: tion. It is taking place in the middle of a I’ll be working the scanning machine at my pandemic and against the backdrop of several local polling station in New York on Election major efforts at voter suppression by officials Day this Tuesday. affiliated with the Republican Party. We’ve On a normal Tuesday, I’d be teaching witnessed, in Georgia, the purging of voter classes at both Stern and Yeshiva College — rolls; in Texas, the reduction of drop-off sites one class on The Enlightenment, the other on for mail-in ballots to just one per county; and, the history of Media Revolutions. I will not in Wisconsin, a legal challenge by the state’s be holding those class meetings on Tuesday. Republican Party — upheld yesterday by the Instead, I will prerecord and post lectures Supreme Court — to a ruling that would have on Canvas. It’s my hope that this small dis- allowed the counting of mail-in ballots post- ruption of our normal routine may serve to marked before election day and received up to remind students of the importance of exer- six days afterward. Meanwhile, the president cising our voting rights as a lynchpin of our himself is trying to undermine confidence in democracy. the election and rather openly encouraging Earlier this year we lost John Lewis, a the intervention of heavily armed right-wing congressman from Georgia, who, in his youth, militias (“stand back and stand by”) such had participated with Dr. Martin Luther King as the one that occupied the gallery of the in the struggle to extend voting rights to Michigan statehouse in April. In the light disfranchised populations. It is a bitter irony of such developments, it is hard to avoid that precisely in the year of his death, the ac- the conclusion that American democracy is complishments of his life’s work are under hanging by a slender thread. renewed threat. I can think of no better way What is a concerned citizen to do? One to honor his memory than by affirming our way to counter the president’s repeated ef- belief in the value of an inclusive democracy. forts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the PEXELS.COM election is to vote in person. In order to main- Dr. Freedman is a professor of history One way to counter the President’s repeated efforts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election is to vote in person. tain polling stations, however, we need poll at Yeshiva College and Stern College for workers, who are in short supply this year Women.

SURVEY ANALYSIS each student an individualized copy of the that this may have contributed to sampling though it is the second-largest undergradu- Continued from Page 9 survey via SurveyMonkey. Of the 305 stu- bias — in that only people who regularly ate program in the university, comprising dents who received a survey, 274 responded check their emails, who may have different 26% (517 students) of the undergraduate Methodology in full, and five partially answered the survey. political leanings than the overall YU popu- student body. In contrast, YC students com- Students were incentivized to participate lation, would respond — the only available prised 39% of our survey’s respondents while The methodology for this survey most- through a raffle for a $25 Amazon gift card, platform available for us to accurately survey comprising 25% (512 students) of the stu- ly followed that of previous surveys The among other prizes. All responses were com- YU undergraduates was via email. dent body. Commentator has conducted for the past pletely anonymous. A factor that may have contributed to an The Commentator received the enroll- two years, including the 2018 Commentator Unlike previous surveys, we were not imbalance in the survey results was the rela- ment numbers referred to in this article Midterm Election Poll. We first collected the able to advertise the survey using posters tively low percentage of Syms-Men and high from YU’s Office of Institutional Research names and emails of 305 students through in buildings, such as the batei midrash and percentage of YC students who responded, and Assessment. the Wilfevents and Berenevents email ser- the libraries; rather, we relied purely on as was the case in previous surveys. Only vice for YU undergraduate students. We sent emails to spread the word. While we realize 18% of respondents are in Syms-Men, even Monday, November 2, 2020 Opinions 11 What is Originalism?

requires such high heat to photosynthe- also pushed his fellow Justices to overrule applies to the states — Scalia chided attorney By Daniel Melool size. As such, a warrant was obtained to cases: “When faced with a demonstrably Alan Gura for arguing that the amendment search Kyllo’s garage where marijauna was erroneous precedent, my rule is simple: We could be applied through the Privileges or On Oct 26, the Senate confirmed President Immunities Clause: “why are you asking us Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Many of the criticisms of [Amy Coney Barrett’s] judicial to overrule 150, 140 years of prior law, when Judge Amy Coney Barrett. During the Senate — when you can reach your result under hearings, she professed to be an original- philosophy have been an inaccurate account of what originalism substantive due — I mean, you know, unless ist, the same judicial philosophy as the late you are bucking for a — a place on some law Justice Antonin Scalia, who Barrett formerly actually professes. school faculty[?]” The Court ultimately held clerked for. Her jurisprudential beliefs led to that the Second Amendment applies to the an outcry from many who opposed her nomi- states through the Fourteenth Amendment’s nation. Hillary Clinton, for example, tweeted found; he was subsequently arrested. The should not follow it.” Due Process Clause. Justice Thomas, how- in response: “At the time the Constitution Supreme Court ruled that the use of thermal The divide between Scalia and Thomas ever, wrote a separate concurrence agree- was ratified, women couldn't vote, much imaging devices against a home violated the over the application of stare decisis is appar- ing with the outcome, but argued that the less be judges.” Former CBS News anchor Fourth Amendment’s clause prohibiting ent in their views on the Slaughter-House Slaughterhouse Cases should be revisited: Dan Rather tweeted: “If you want to be an “unreasonable searches and seizures.” The Cases. The cases were a consolidation of “the right to keep and bear arms is a privilege “originalist” in law, maybe you should go all Court’s opinion, delivered by none other many cases challenging a Louisiana law of American citizenship that applies to the the way. Cooking on a hearth. Leeches for than Justice Scalia, explicitly stated that new that granted slaughterhouse operations to States through the Fourteenth Amendment’s medicine. An old mule for transportation. technologies are not outside the realm of the a single company, this giving that company Privileges or Immunities Clause... With the Or maybe you can recognize that the world changes.” Both of these comments caricature originalism and inaccurately explain what it really is. So, what is originalism? Dare to know! As Scalia explained in a speech at Catholic University of America: “The theory of origi- nalism treats a constitution like a statute, and gives it the meaning that its words were understood to bear at the time they were pro- mulgated.” In essence, what did the words mean at the time they were written? When the Eighth Amendment prohibits “cruel and unusual punishments,” what is a cruel and unusual punishment? To interpret those words, an originalist would look to their defi- nitions when the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, not which punishments today are considered “cruel and unusual.” This clause in particular was a pet-peeve of Scalia who vehemently disagreed with those who con- tended the death penalty violated this clause. Scalia thought this notion was “absurd,” He firmlybelieved that the death penalty did not constitute a “cruel and unusual” punishment since it was given for every felony at the time the Bill of Rights was adopted. Since it was not unconstitutional then, “it isn't now.” This should not be construed to mean that we are forever stuck in 1787 or 1791. Originalists recognize that laws can and do change. Should an amendment that changes the text of the Constitution be ratified, that amendment shall reign supreme to what the text said previously. No originalist will tell you that slavery is legal because it was allowed when America was founded. The Thirteenth Amendment changed the law UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME to clearly prohibit slavery. Additionally, no Judge Bork and Justices Scalia, Barrett and Thomas (clockwise from top left), judges LAW SCHOOL, THE UNITED STATES originalist will tell you that women can’t who are known for their originalist jurisprudence. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE vote since they did not have that right at SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES the time the Bill of Rights was ratified; that too is absurd. The Nineteenth Amendment Fourth Amendment merely because they a monopoly. The plaintiffs challenged that inquiry appropriately narrowed, I believe clearly states that the right to vote shall “not did not exist at the time it was adopted: “It by granting a monopoly to one company this case presents an opportunity to reex- be denied or abridged by the United States or would be foolish to contend that the degree and preventing others from engaging in the amine, and begin the process of restoring, by any State on account of sex.” Both of these of privacy secured to citizens by the Fourth operations, the law violated the Privileges the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment amendments, ratified through the amend- Amendment has been entirely unaffected or Immunities Cause of the Fourteenth agreed upon by those who ratified it.” ments process, changed the law of the land by the advance of technology.” The advent Amendment, which reads: “No state shall Another point of difference between and are currently binding upon all citizens. of new technologies poses no difficulty to make or enforce any law which shall abridge Scalia and Thomas is their views on the Still, some may wonder: could people originalism. the privileges or immunities of citizens of Fourth Amendment in criminal cases. Scalia writing in 1787 have really accounted for ev- It is important to note that not all origi- the United States.” The Supreme Court de- tended to side with the defendants, while erything? Is it possible to properly interpret nalists reach the same conclusions in every cided, among other things, that the Privileges Thomas often sided with law enforcement. the Constitution in the modern day with an case, nor do they necessarily all think alike. or Immunities Clause did not apply to the Two high profile cases display the differing originalist interpretation? Here too, original- The differences between Scalia and fellow states, but rather only to the federal gov- views of the two originalists. ism recognizes that new technologies come originalist Justice Clarence Thomas illustrate ernment. This decision has been severely One such case is Maryland v. King. In into being, and must be properly adjudicated how originalists can differ in their jurispru- criticized in legal academia. Harvard law 2009, Alonzo Jay King Jr. was arrested on according to the original meaning. dence. Scalia was an adherent of stare deci- professor Laurence Tribe has said: “the assault charges. Pursuant to the Maryland A good example of applying original sis, the doctrine that precedent commands Slaughter-​House Cases incorrectly gutted DNA Collection Act, a DNA sample was taken meaning to new technologies is found in the that a new case with similar circumstances the Privileges or Immunities Clause.” Despite from King using a cheek swab. His DNA was case Kyllo v. United States. The Department to a previous case be decided the same way. the criticism that the decision was incorrect, matched to an unsolved rape case from 2003, of the Interior used a thermal imaging de- This often led to Scalia refusing to overrule Scalia refused to overrule the cases and apply and he was subsequently charged. King then vice outside Danny Lee Kyllo’s home in cases he believed were decided incorrectly. the Bill of Rights to the states through the moved to have the DNA evidence suppressed Oregon. The device detected an unusually Justice Thomas takes a very different ap- Privileges or Immunities Clause. on the grounds that the DNA Collection high amount of heat emitting from his ga- proach to this matter. The fact that a case is In a notable exchange during oral argu- Act violated the Fourth Amendment. The rage roof. The assumption was that there precedent fails to have any sway on Thomas’ ments in McDonald v. City of Chicago — a was marijuana being grown since the plant judgement so long as it was incorrect. He has case deciding that the Second Amendment Continued on Page 14 12 Opinions Monday , November 2, 2020 ‘Countryside, The Future’: A Review

decades out of the rural and into the urban. Great Man-Made River, a massive venture Wright’s magisterial Guggenheim building By Naftali Shavelson The main question of the exhibition, then, to irrigate the Sahara Desert and the world's and its beautifully undulating rotunda. is really this: What happens to the country- largest irrigation project to date, opened “Countryside, The Future” is built for the Walking down the “Museum Mile” section side as people slowly leave it, and what could my eyes to aspects of a country and an era Guggenheim, and would be unable to hold of Fifth Avenue, a stretch of Upper East Side a meaningful return to rural areas possibly with which I was previously unfamiliar. The visitors’ attention at all without the help of asphalt billed as “one of the densest displays look like? To find answers, Koolhaas looks exploration of contemporary Pixel Farming the landmark building’s timeless grace and of culture in the world” and undoubtedly at a cornucopia of case studies across dozens techniques was similarly informative. perennial upward gesture. one of its priciest, you’d expect to see cabs, of countries, peoples and eras. He tracks These case studies through time are eas- However, my problem with the exhibition Cadillacs and cyclists fighting for attention the ways governments, societies and inde- ily the strongest part of “Countryside, The goes further than its ambiguous identity. and lane real estate. What I found when I Fundamentally, it presents a vision of the reached the Guggenheim Museum’s block, Fundamentally, it presents a vision of the natural world that natural world that seems stuffy, theoreti- though, was a Deutz-Fahr 9340 Warrior TTV. cal and needlessly academic at the best of In layman’s terms, a massive, green tractor. seems stuffy, theoretical and needlessly academic at the best of times. It’s not Koolhaas’s fault, but now, in That 30,000-pound farm tool hadn’t the age of pandemic-induced lockdowns and just taken a wrong turn somewhere near times. unprecedented urban flight, his ivory-tower Mifflinburg. It was part of an exhibit at project isn’t just gratuitous but unbearable. the Guggenheim called “Countryside, The pendent actors attempted to tame, develop Future.” If you’re patient, you’ll learn a lot City dwellers don’t want romantic pictures Future” by Pritzker Prize-winning architect and exploit nature based on their unique from them. Unfortunately, the same can’t of “the wild” — they want to terminate their Rem Koolhaas, his associate Samir Bantal needs, wishes and desires. The case stud- be said for other elements of the exhibi- Brooklyn leases and move somewhere with a and their think tank AMO. By taking over ies follow a loosely chronological format, tion, which raise the all-important “what’s backyard where their kids can actually stretch the museum’s entire rotunda (and much starting with ancient Roman and imperial next” question without providing a satisfying their legs. And rural residents don’t want to of the sidewalk outside, apparently,) with Chinese approaches near the bottom of the answer. Gesturing back towards the case philosophize about their supporting role in their ambitious installation, they hoped to Guggenheim’s grand, spiral ramp before studies’ historical precedents only goes so contemporary urbanism’s story — they want “explore radical changes in the rural, remote, ascending through Manifest Destiny and far — and there are so many of them that infrastructure and investment after years and wild territories collectively identified… Chairman Mao’s Great Leap Forward towards any retrospection leaves one confused and of governmental ambivalence and neglect. as ‘countryside,’ or the 98% of the Earth’s even more contemporary examples from disillusioned. It’s a shame. I love Koolhaas’s work, from surface not occupied by cities.” Kenya and Qatar. Ultimately, that sense of confusion be- the flagship Seattle Central Library to the This was an interesting pivot for one of Each case study comes with illustrations, comes the dominant theme of “Countryside, unprecedented Casa da Música in Porto, the most famous architects in the world charts and archival footage (when available) The Future.” By the end, you’ve seen a life- Portugal. The architect has an uncanny ability who has spent most of his career bringing that tell the story of that specific attempt to size sculpture of Stalin and a collection of to design breathtaking spaces, spaces that to life grand, expensive commissions in relate to the countryside in a new way. The plastic Barbie dolls without much explana- make us question the very definition of built major urban centers. Koolhaas’s portfolio main element, though, is decidedly text. A lot tion as to how either one relates to the central environment in the modern age, but he’s includes projects in Beijing, Berlin, Chicago, of text. Hundreds of words per presentation theme. (No, the Stalin statue is nowhere somewhat out of his depth in “Countryside, Seattle and Seoul, to name a few, and he’s are broken up into various colors, fonts and near the Soviet case study.) More broadly, The Future.” I admire his efforts to shift our currently working on some luxury condos in sizes for easier consumption, but there’s no you’ve just spent three-plus hours in an art focus towards the “other” 98% of our planet Manhattan’s own Gramercy Park. Why would getting around the sheer amount of reading museum looking at an installation that has and applaud the work he’s done in develop- an icon of urban architecture abruptly shift necessary to effectively take in the exhibi- nothing to do with art. Its visual presenta- ing such a colorful collection of case studies. to talking about farming? tion, especially considering the dozens of tion, while sometimes aesthetically pleasing, Nevertheless, I think he’s the wrong man for Turns out, Koolhaas’s relationship with stops viewers must make in their quest to isn’t trying to be artistic, and the artworks the job. Coupled with the exhibition’s strange the city has long been love-hate. While main- ascend the museum’s quarter-mile of sloped it incorporates as part of its case studies are choice of venue and exceptionally poor tim- taining that “the city is all we have,” he also ramp. This isn’t some cutesy museum vanity all reproductions. ing, “Countryside, The Future” ultimately feels that many of today’s cities are “deeply project. It’s a lot of work, for both Koolhaas As such, I can’t help but wonder what falls flat as the noble social commentary Rem tragic,” with poor planning (and bad architec- and anyone who dedicates their Sunday to Koolhaas’s historical-philosophical instal- Koolhaas so wanted it to be. ture) leading to modern metropolises’ recent tackling the installation. lation is doing in an art museum at all. It The tractor’s still cool, though. decay. “Countryside, The Future” doesn’t Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the would almost definitely find a more themati- “Countryside, The Future” is on view propose any solutions — Koolhaas & Co. have case studies, which served as eye-opening cally appropriate home in a place like The at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum tried that in the past — but instead aims to history lessons about diverse societies’ vi- Museum of Natural History, or even The through Feb. 14, 2021. Timed tickets can be explore alternative ways of living that have sions for their natural landscapes. For ex- New York Historical Society. Of course, that purchased here. been sidelined by a rush over the past few ample, the section on Muammar Gaddafi’s would rob it of its greatest asset: Frank Lloyd

Installation View: Countryside, The Future, February 20–August 14, 2020 DAVID HEALD © SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM FOUNDATION Monday, November 2, 2020 Opinions 13 Oh, to Open the World and Send it Reeling

California represented other new opportuni- an embodiment of the saying “Nice place to hurricanes or waking up in the early hours By Josh Leichter ties, in many ways a New World within the visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.” That of the morning to go salt driveways. “Sure, New World of America. Going back even at a certain point, tapping into the perks of a you have fires,” they say, “but are they ever As the plane took off, I watched from the further, there was the great Gold Rush of state causes it to run dry of any uniqueness really near where you live?” And it’s true window as the buildings got smaller, the 1849, perhaps a twinkling precursor to the it had when I first arrived or perhaps this is that my area of southern California is seldom famous City of Stars twinkling out of sight studio stage lights that would eventually because of a broader problem of the idea of bothered by the environmental eradication as their celestial counterparts are prone to replace them a little over seventy years later. a Nomadic spirit. We look at our hometowns that our northern counterparts often endure, do in the face of morning sunrise. I watched While there has certainly been this ro- and at some point, look toward the window save for the long-term effects that forest dam- until there was nothing more to watch to the manticizing of Los Angeles, I’ve always found and wonder “What’s beyond that horizon age brings to the world at large. But even so, point that the structures outside were not there’s a sort of dusty dullness that falls over structures at all but puffy wisps of air and We look at our hometowns and at some point, look toward the the city when I think about it, that the stars gases, delicately cut by the butter knife wings others chase, the ones they hope to attach operated by fine engineering and mechanics. window and wonder “What’s beyond that horizon line?” We themselves to, are the same ones that long It was at this point that I closed the window ago burnt out trying to win me over. and drifted peacefully, floating as though I crave to see the rest of the world, to chase the dreams that so I think about the past three years I spent was as weightless as the jet fuel and exhaust many others are looking for just like us. So we leave. in New York and with it the overhyping of being expelled from the engines or wherever Manhattan. Though not the place of my it comes out of. youth, its fulfillment as a (thus far) temporary I’ve been interested in the concept of hometown has been met with mixed success. hometowns for quite some time now. We While I would never be caught defending hear of these ideas of state pride and flaunt- the city, after spending so much time here, ing a state’s perks such as produce, natural some of the natives have knighted me as an resources or no income tax. States market Honorary New Yorker which just means that themselves to us throughout our lives like I’ve ridden the subway enough times without it’s “The Bachelor.” Our blueberries tell us getting mugged. This is in sharp contrast to they come from New Jersey and our apples the leadup of my arrival in August of 2017 are “proud New Yorkers” as if it means some- when I watched too many films that paint the thing to a shopper. Or every few years we hear city as the sprawling cosmopolitan metropo- about a new tourism campaign highlighting lis — the original that can’t be beat — and the splendor of vacationing somewhere like was dumbstruck with a sense of confusion Arizona or Vermont. In a way, people see at the rather drab brick buildings still bear- their hometowns as an extension of them- ing the nuclear fallout shelter signs on their selves like they are a part of some tapestry chests like hearts worn on sleeves as some that has ceased to exist in an increasingly sort of eerie foreboding that in a moment’s commercialized world. notice a blast is on its way condemning us I come from Los Angeles, one of the most to a life of basements, canned food and ir- popular tourist destinations in the world radiated water. when the industry isn’t ground to a halt, and I can recall a time in the winter that I there are plenty of reasons that I should be stood in Times Square, the epileptic lights fascinated by the city. From the seedy nature As the plane took off, I watched from the window as the buildings JOSH LEICHTER flashing above the stores branded and em- of Hollywood Boulevard to the countless got smaller, the famous City of Stars twinkling out of sight. bossed with iconography from all areas of movie studios, the allure of Beverly Hills and culture, stalls selling the familiar “I Love its endless array of palm trees and never- it to be rather underwhelming. Maybe it’s line?” We crave to see the rest of the world, NY” shirts get rained on and color fades ending sunshine peeking its way through because after spending nearly my entire life to chase the dreams that so many others away like the ability to have a clear night the now fire-kissed skies, it’s the stuff of in the same spot, it’s not excitement I feel, are looking for just like us. So we leave. We sky above the LEDs or my desire to remain. dreams. For those who are familiar with the but a sense that, like a mime, I’m stuck in a move to cities across the country and take So I leave again. Dust Bowl era and John Steinbeck’s “The box trap with no way out. Sure, I spend fewer trips to anywhere but our starting point. We Maybe there really is something wonder- Grapes of Wrath,” they’d know that beyond and fewer months there nowadays, but the stare in befuddlement at the people that pep- ful about it all. Or maybe it’s just one more the silver screen glamour and hopes of hav- idea that another place will replace it isn’t per us with questions or enviously bemoan dream from which I cannot wait to awake. ing it made in Hollywoodland, the state of freeing. It’s as though every place becomes the fact that we never have to worry about

The Lakers’ Challenges to Narratives

Lebron — but one which Colin Cowherd, of reasons over the two decades the world Following a three month hiatus of the By Netani Shields among others, declared would not result in has known him, sometimes legitimately and season, the NBA continued the season in a championship. The team had just come off oftentimes wrongfully. And as Lebron’s game limited capacity, wherein the Los Angeles By now every sports enthusiast has prob- of a mediocre 37-45 record, and the Western has matured, his attitude regarding people’s Lakers again were faced with jabs from the ably consumed an ungodly amount of media Conference, mainly the L.A. Clippers, was perception of him has as well. He approaches media. In an article for USA Today, the team related to the recent, spectacular NBA play- just too stacked. The addition of a top ten the game the way he wants to and his media was branded as a “loser” of the Bubble seed- offs and the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory. I player in Anthony Davis would certainly ing games by Scott Gleason. At the time, it would even go so far as to say that folks are help, but the venture wouldn’t end in a pa- All season long there was was indeed a fair criticism because losing the probably getting weary of hearing about the rade. The team was simply one piece from majority of any set of games, no matter how gold and purple championship. glory, and until it procured a proper third always a negative comment insignificant they were, was not the kind of Well, get excited, cause here’s another fiddle for James and Davis, the title was production typically demanded of an orga- piece! out of reach. to be addressed to the Lakers, nization that could win a ring. They would In my view, this recent Finals series Many of the team’s players had been yet the team’s absolutely quickly dispel the notion that they were not spades far deeper than many of the summa- immaturely categorized by the basketball ready for a championship run. rizing tropes in circulation. Many analyses community, which assumed a recency bias phenomenal outing gave them The team from L.A. was presumably of the last six games of the season are true: regarding the limitations of said players. aware of all of the different tropes uttered small-ball was exposed; Anthony Davis is Dwight Howard, for example, was deter- the final say on their legacy. regarding them, they just didn’t care. Their the most impactful and versatile defender in mined to be too old, too paint-centric and too playoff supremacy was remarkable to see. the league; “Playoff Rondo”; the list can go much of a locker room cancer to be any help They decimated the Trail Blazers. They evis- on forever. The most important takeaway to for the aspiring team. Rajon Rondo seemed presentations are often regarding details cerated the Rockets. They steamrolled the be had, however, is that the Lakers perfectly to share similar characteristics, in addition much more significant than stuffing the Nuggets. And they handily beat the Miami embodied what it means to stand in the to having an obsession with dribbling out pumpkin into the net. Heat. All season long there was always a face of negative portrayals and completely the play-clock until he could pass the bad Anthony Davis too had to answer some negative comment to be addressed to the disregard them. shot off to a teammate. No one considered tough questions. He was obviously a remark- Lakers, yet the team’s absolutely phenom- Preceding the most tumultuous year in that leadership from the King could force able talent, but his team had missed the enal outing gave them the final say on their NBA history, the players employed by the the players around him to maximize their Postseason for five out of the seven years that legacy. League’s most storied franchise faced tre- impact by specializing their roles. he had been operating as lieutenant. Would mendous amounts of collective deflating After all, swallowing pride and facing he be able to extend his impact to the levels press. The Lakers were predicted to have criticism was nothing new for Lebron. He of a Kevin McHale, or was his destiny to be a phenomenal season — after all, they had has been criticized heavily for many myriads this generation’s Charles Barkley? 14 Opinions Monday , November 2, 2020 Complex Torah for the Serious Student — A Review of 'Cornerstones: the Bible and Jewish Ideology'

School Curriculum” and “Traditional and By Aharon Nissel Academic Tanakh Study.” The title of the book is “Cornerstones,” but the book itself is The articles are written in the clear and The contemporary world of Tanakh study not an attempt to set forth a comprehensive methodological accessible English that has come to define is perhaps as diverse as it has ever been. Rabbi Angel’s style. Rabbi Angel is not one There’s a tremendous outpour of Tanakh- program of study. That being said, readers will be quick to note to go on irrelevant tangents or obscure his related publications from every possible insights in unnecessarily flowery or impen- lens and ideology. When the contemporary Rabbi Angel’s consistent methods and approaches that point etrable language. With a few exceptions, Orthodox Tanakh learner encounters these he presents the ideas clearly and simply, publications, there can often be some confu- towards a larger program of Tanakh study. while still maintaining the complexity of the sion. For example, there is scholarship about topics at hand. But there were a few times Tanakh coming out of academic institutions lesser-known commentaries, in particular very much in this style as well, summarizing when I thought a conversation could have that seems to be at odds with traditional Sephardic commentaries that are underap- and synthesizing a broad array of approaches been taken further or explored a bit more Jewish approaches to Tanakh. Additionally, preciated in normative Tanakh study. Rabbi to different Biblical books and passages in a in-depth. there are a host of issues and dilemmas Angel also draws from a well of academic clear, accessible way. Thus, within his own Each of these essays, besides one, has that religious readers of Tanakh encounter knowledge and scholarship and quotes from essays, Rabbi Angel is practicing what he been published elsewhere before the pub- that have little to do with academic study. academic Bible scholars (of various religious preaches in articles such as “Tanakh and lication of this volume, in journals or other How, for example, are we meant to approach orientations). The classes he gives in IBC are Sephardic Inclusion in the Yeshiva High books. Only the first essay, “The Land of incidents in Tanakh that appear to rely on Israel in the Bible,” which is the longest in superstitions? How are we supposed to relate the book, has not been published in print to laws that clash with our moral compasses form elsewhere, but was given as a four-part today? How are we meant to understand series of shiurim for the Institute of Ideas Midrashim that seem to have little in com- and Ideals, for which Rabbi Angel serves mon with the p’shat of Tanakh? as National Scholar. While this means that These topics, and many more, are dis- none of the content is new, it does not take cussed in “Cornerstones: The Bible and away from the wonderfully illuminating Jewish Ideology,” a quick new book from content of the essays. Kodesh Press by former Commentator edi- The essays themselves do not relate to or tor Rabbi Hayyim Angel. Rabbi Angel, who reference each other in any way. The result is serves in a number of pedagogical capaci- that the same ideas are in a few instances re- ties, including teaching at YU, presents 12 peated in different articles. For example, the compelling and insightful essays on a range machloket between Rambam and Abarbanel of topics related to Tanakh study. regarding monarchy (whether it is the pre- Let me state my biases clearly. I am a big ferred government structure, or simply a fan of Rabbi Angel and his work, and am tolerated one) is discussed in both “Ideal currently enrolled in three of his courses in and Evolutionary Morality in the Torah” the Isaac Breuer College (IBC). But please and “Where the Rules of Peshat and Pesak believe me when I say that this book deserves Collide.” And we find the same exact quota- all the praise it will receive and I am not tion from Rabbi Yom Tov Lipmann Heller simply pandering for extra credit. (Tosafot Yom Tov on Mishnah Nazir 5:5) Of course, one needs to understand the about interpreting p’sukim differently than genre of this work. The title of the book is the Gemara does, in two consecutive essays. “Cornerstones,” but the book itself is not an But this is really only an issue for some- attempt to set forth a comprehensive meth- one who is reading the book straight through odological program of study. That being said, (which is fairly doable — the book runs a readers will be quick to note Rabbi Angel’s little over 200 pages, and the font size is consistent methods and approaches that rather large). If one is taking breaks between point towards a larger program of Tanakh essays, then the repeated content is helpful. study. It is one that is deeply religious, hon- Further, individual essays can be revisited est and respectful of both classical mefor- or shared independently, without a need to shim and the contributions of contemporary reread earlier parts of the work for context. scholarship. In short, the format is appropriate for the Some essays summarize Biblical passages book's purpose. And regardless, the repeated and commentaries, some add new insights ideas are interesting and bear repeating. and analysis and some editorialize. Rabbi Rabbi Angel has once again produced a Angel’s sources are just as diverse as his collection of essays that is relevant, engaging subject matter. Everyone is fair game for and accessible. The reader is left wanting Rabbi Angel. Of course, we find the clas- more, not because the essays are unsatisfy- sical commentaries, but Rabbi Angel is ing, rather because of just how satisfying they are. sure to also include some more obscure, “Cornerstones: The Bible and Jewish Ideology” book cover KODESH PRESS

ORIGINALISM took the unusual step of delivering his dis- stated that the opinion evaded the essential and registered Democrats.” Originalism is Continued from Page 11 sent from the bench, a move that signaled meaning of the Fourth Amendment: “This in no way confined to political ideology. deep disagreement. is not my concept, and I am sure it would The recent confirmation of Amy Coney Supreme Court, with Thomas in the ma- The other case that contrasts their views not be the Framers’, of a people secure from Barrett to the Supreme Court has caused jority, upheld the act and the usage of the on the Fourth Amendment is Navarette v. unreasonable searches and seizures.” a stir around her professed adherence to DNA since: “When officers make an arrest California. The Court was asked to decide if Likely the greatest misconception about originalism. Unfortunately, many of the supported by probable cause… taking and there is enough reasonable suspicion for po- originalism is that it is interchangeable and criticisms of her judicial philosophy have analyzing a cheek swab of the arrestee’s DNA lice to stop a vehicle after receiving a single associated with conservatism. In actuality, been an inaccurate account of what original- is, like fingerprinting and photographing, a anonymous tip. The driver in question was nothing could be farther from the truth. ism actually professes. I have attempted to legitimate police booking procedure that is stopped by police after his vehicle matched Originalism is a judicial philosophy that can explain the idea of originalism, demonstrate reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.” a complaint for reckless driving, and was be practiced by all political stripes. As Yale that not all originalists apply it the same way Conversely, Scalia penned a scathing dissent found to have marijuana in his vehicle. The legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar has observed: in all cases, and show that one can adhere to where he warned: “Make no mistake about Court answered in the affirmative, this time “Originalism is neither partisan nor outland- any political belief and still be an original- it: As an entirely predictable consequence with Thomas writing for the majority: “the ish. The most important originalist of the last ist. Although I have sought to clarify what of today’s decision, your DNA can be taken stop complied with the Fourth Amendment century was a towering liberal Democratic originalism is, there are still many points and entered into a national DNA database because, under the totality of the circum- Senator-turned-Justice, Hugo Black…” Black that I have not addressed here. While honest if you are ever arrested, rightly or wrongly, stances, the officer had reasonable suspicion was the first appointment to the Supreme people can disagree in good faith about the and for whatever reason.” He then concluded that the driver was intoxicated.” Once again, Court by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. philosophy and application of originalism, his dissent with a polemic: “I doubt that the Scalia did not hold back his discontents with Amar along with fellow Yale legal scholar I hope to have given the subject a reason- proud men who wrote the charter of our Thomas’ opinion, and delivered a fiery dis- Jack Balkin happen to be the most cited orig- able overview. liberties would have been so eager to open sent that asserted the opinion “serves up a inalist scholars by the Supreme Court, and their mouths for royal inspection.” Scalia freedom-destroying cocktail.” Scalia further still, they are both “self-described liberals Monday, November 2, 2020 Opinions 15 We Feel Threatened, Too: The Universal Danger of YU’s Continued Ambiguity

those who oppose it, and even those who fundamental dispute about where to draw the table, that is a battle many have fought By Yehuda Dov Reiss demand a more progressive approach have the line that is not going away and is only and I don’t expect to win in an article for the criticized the ambiguity of this statement. becoming exacerbated as elements of the school newspaper. For years, I eagerly anticipated joining It can be argued that in a theoretical world, secular and religious worlds continue to shift However, I think that the administra- the ranks of the YU undergraduate student such an explicit affirmation would be out to opposite extremes. This is an issue that the tion needs to carefully consider just how body. I yearned for the day when I would be privileged to learn from YU’s many outstand- ing roshei yeshiva and explore countless I am beginning to see more and more how other students confronted with the ambiguous messages fascinating subjects and courses with YU’s stellar faculty. I could not imagine being YU currently sends, especially regarding contentious issues such as addressing LGBT matters, anywhere but YU; perhaps no other place in the world better offers both uncompromising would lack confidence in YU’s strength and integrity, and I recognize the danger that this poses to Torah learning and values while confront- YU’s long-term viability. ing and engaging with the complexities, challenges and ideas of the modern world. I see this as an important and noble ideal of place and should be taken for granted, students need to hear YU address, or they much they’re losing with their ambiguity. deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, and YU but public reaction and the social context will, as they have begun to do, abandon the Is it worth estranging so many students and is uniquely suited to help properly imple- surrounding it clearly indicates that we do YU community for communities that take faculty members? Is it worth compromising ment that ideal and equip its students to not live in such a world. This is ultimately a far more liberal or stringent approach on the future of YU’s vision? Surely whatever do likewise. just one manifestation of a growing unrest towards Jewish law. The ambiguity is not edge is gained in court with ambiguity is While YU was a dream come true for me, not worth the sacrifice of so much of what I was deeply saddened to discover how many YU’s fighting for. Instead, YU should pur- students did not share my positivity. It was a sue other avenues to help ensure victory in revelation to me that many students, across court. And if YU still can’t win in such a case the full breadth of the ideological spectrum, and simultaneously remain non-sectarian, felt highly frustrated, or, more accurately, I wonder whether it will truly be any more apathetic towards YU and what it stood for. viable in carrying out its mission than if it I myself, being part of a vibrant and involved lost government funding. YU family, naturally have a different per- YU is widely perceived as one of the spective. I see the balanced and nuanced, most influential and authoritative voices yet firm, Torah values YU embodies and I for Centrist Orthodoxy. A broad community believe that YU will remain committed to depends upon it for guidance; YU cannot those values. But as the weeks and months simply expect the students to ultimately rise pass, I am beginning to see more and more up and forge an ideal future on their own. how other students confronted with the In order to build tomorrow today, Yeshiva ambiguous messages YU currently sends, University must first build today, today. especially regarding contentious issues such As previously noted, most of the difficult as addressing LGBT matters, would lack issues YU has to navigate require extensive confidence in YU’s strength and integrity, nuance and sensitivity, and I think that on and I recognize the danger that this poses a practical level the administration has been to YU’s long-term viability. pretty good at doing that. At the same time, While YU’s policies have more or less a strong message of abandonment is being remained firmly committed to Torah values, felt by much of the student body as they the communication of that commitment has contrast the strong voices of some with the been far less clear, thus estranging much apologetic-sounding or nonexistent voice of of the student body and causing YU to ap- the YU administration. I have heard numer- pear, across the board, as ideologically weak. ous faculty members and administrators Perhaps one of the most poignant examples question the continued viability of the YU of this phenomenon is the recent statement model within a framework that refuses to by President Ari Berman’s committee (previ- clearly distinguish itself from the way other ously led by former Vice President and Chief President Berman addressing YU students YESHIVA UNIVERSITY originally religiously-oriented universities Operating Officer Josh Joseph) to address have gone, such as Yale and Harvard. This LGBT issues in our community. While there across the entire YU community as a result of preventing polariza- sense of frustration can clearly be felt by was nothing in the statement that I dis- YU’s failure to firmly and explicitly articulate tion; it is feeding it as students feel that the the lack of confidence or pride that so many agreed with –– as I have written previously, its positions, making it appear incapable of YU world is ill-equipped to pave a path for students feel in their institution or its vision, I strongly agree that these issues must be addressing the challenges that plague it. the Orthodoxy of tomorrow. On the other as well as the relatively small size of our dealt with the utmost sensitivity, love and There is little room to wonder why YU has hand, a firmer and more explicit infrastruc- community sandwiched between a booming nuance and am glad to see the administra- taken the approach it has. One reason could ture of values will cause many more people right and a boisterous left. tion taking action to promote that –– the be that the university leadership does not both from within and outside the community I believe YU has vision, and I believe statement failed to unambiguously affirm want to cause unnecessary polarization or to gain a greater respect for YU and help it that vision is fundamental to the future of where Orthodoxy draws a red line, namely, alienate any segment of its broad-spectrum continue to maintain and attract a larger Orthodox Judaism. I believe that, but fewer that acting on homosexual urges are strictly community. This is very understandable. following. and fewer people share that belief, and if forbidden, and that any blurring of this line, We do not want to push people away, and There is another, perhaps primary, reason YU fails to emerge with a decisive voice, in theory or in practice, will not be tolerated. it’s tempting to use words that won’t offend that YU has taken the road of ambiguity. I fear that the vision will become a fading The statement did include the following anyone too much, while adhering firmly to The reason is the courts. It is no secret that dream. I urge the administration to carefully clause: Torah values on a practical level and hoping YU, as officially a non-sectarian institution, reconsider how it responds to the difficult The message of Torah on this issue is nu- for an organic imbibement of these values must cloud aspects of its religious character challenges of the community it represents, anced, both accepting each individual with and a stronger community. There is some- to continue to receive government fund- and recognize the awesome responsibility love and affirming its timeless prescriptions. thing wonderful and idyllic in assuming a ing. Especially with an impending lawsuit that lies in its hands. While students will of course socialize in model where the students, inspired by the by members of the Pride Alliance, YU may gatherings they see fit, forming a new club larger, more abstract values of YU and the feel that sending a message that plays down as requested under the auspices of YU will resources within its community, ultimately aspects of halakha that clash with certain cloud this nuanced message. come together and formulate a clear and ide- progressive sensibilities will help it continue However, this statement is too ambiguous alistic plan for Orthodoxy on their own. Yet to win the court’s favor. The administration for an issue that is so important to the entire practically, this approach makes an impor- may feel that if the choice comes between YU community, avoiding any explanation tant assumption that is highly questionable. the financial viability of YU in the future or on what this “message of Torah” is while The fact is that polarization is already less ambiguous communication about values simultaneously underplaying how essential happening in the YU community –– it’s while largely preserving the implementation that message is to dealing with these issues. I inevitable. While I think that even the bat- of those values, then it may very well make have heard multiple concerns that the state- tling moral forces within YU ultimately sense to choose ambiguity. While I would ment represents YU’s fear to openly affirm agree about far more than that with which question whether making the undergraduate their commitment to halakha or condemn they disagree about, there is ultimately a schools more sectarian should really be off 16 Business Monday , November 2, 2020 Intro to 5G implemented commercially. mmWave is a obvious application of the technology is to 5G connectivity, dropping Intel, whom they By Max Ash spectrum that allows for larger bandwidth, mobile devices. Unanimous among indus- had relied on for 4G along the way. thereby offering faster speeds. What makes try experts, Samsung is the clear leader in Before anything is rolled out, though, Imagine if Alexander the Great had ac- mmWave so important is that they require this category, as it was the first to ship out there needs to be a viable infrastruc- cess to a telegram machine when he was a considerable amount of engineering and 5G-enabled phones. What separates them ture in place to carry the new spectrum. fighting his battles. Imagine if Eisenhower’s are very difficult to implement into mobile from the pack is that they shipped prod- Infrastructure is split into two categories: army had cell phones during the Second devices. Qualcomm has been a leader in ucts in multiple geographies on multiple single-purpose and multi-purpose infra- World War. Different outcomes, right? The both, as it was the first to introduce 5G carriers with both Sub-6GHz modems and structure. Single-purpose refers to com- power of communication, and how its evolu- panies that have cemented themselves as tion has changed society throughout history, producing supporting equipment for wire- is overwhelming. As 5G takes the world by storm, telecommunication less network build-outs. Multi-purpose If you were to compare current network infrastructure refers to various enterprise speeds to ones in the early 2000s, the dif- companies are scrambling to stay ahead of the pack. technology companies that have packaged ference would be glaring. That being said, But what is the industry made of? and certified their own offerings (hardware, if one were to experience both 4G and 5G etc.). Within single-purpose infrastructure, bandwidth speeds, they wouldn’t neces- there has been a tremendous amount of sarily notice such a dramatic increase in modems and ship them out in commercial mmWave. In the U.K., their Galaxy 5G of- activity within the industry. Samsung and performance. The incremental contrast be- devices. Right on Qualcomm’s heels are fers over Sub-6GHz. Surprisingly, Apple Ericsson have been the consensus industry tween one generation to the next will not Samsung and Huawei, who have both shown has remained pretty quiet considering the leaders. Where it gets interesting is where be as stark as the comparison between 5G substantial growth and innovation as the dynamism of the industry; they have only Huawei, a Chinese company, comes into and, say, 2G. So, while this difference isn’t technology standard evolves. just introduced their first 5G-enabled phone. play. Recently, there has been a resound- that noticeable to the average consumer, While 5G has many uses, the most Apple also picked up Qualcomm for their ing global backlash over Huawei regarding society’s growing demand for instant gratifi- security concerns. In the U.S., Huawei ac- cation has been a major driver of innovation cess has been restricted under the Trump within the world of network speeds. administration. In the U.K., the government What is 5G? 5G, 4G’s successor, is the has initiated a process that would effectively fifth-generation technology standard for erase Huawei’s presence in 5G connectivity broadband cellular networks. First intro- there. Recently, BT, the leading telecom duced in 2019, it boasts greater bandwidth provider in the U.K., has announced deals which allows for faster download speeds. with Nokia and Ericsson to provide 5G con- What’s unique to 5G is that it not only ben- nectivity throughout the country, replacing efits mobile; it also offers beneficial op- Huawei. portunities to cloud technology and data The world runs on connectivity — one centers. 5G use varies by country, as each minute without Internet globally would country is approving a specific spectrum throw the world into chaos. With advance- on its own timetable. With its implementa- ments in technology moving at paces quick- tion comes a host of factors involved as it er than ever thought, 5G is only expected to becomes more widely used. be here for the next 10 years. After that, it Focusing on technology, 5G chipsets, will be replaced by 6G, then 7G, and so on. which are used in 5G consumer mobile The future of this generational technology devices, have seen their market become only makes the mind spin at its potential. increasingly consolidated in recent years Could we keep up? as numerous competitors have dropped out due to high research and development costs. Major players focus their energies on manufacturing 5G modems (Sub-6GHz) and RF-front-end-components. When com- paring companies within this industry, the key differentiator is normally seen as to whether they have mmWave capability or not, and more specifically, whether it can be 5G, the future of technology PIXABAY

Let’s Talk About the Ant in the Room

platform, and Yu'e Bao, formerly the online shopping industry. There was a market funds. By Nachum Leibman world’s largest money-market fund. It also persistent issue of the only viable option An important thing to note was Ma’s runs Zhima Credit, a third-party credit for most consumers and business owners remarks at a recent business conference Six years ago, Jack Ma made history by rating system. Ant is the world’s largest being inefficient state-run banks with poor in Shanghai. “It’s a miracle,” said Ma, that raising the largest initial public offering fintech firm, with a sky-high valuation of customer service. For example, a small shop the pricing for the IPO was determined (IPO) ever with the e-commerce conglom- up to $320 billion. Let’s put that number owner who would only need a few hun- in China, not the typical New York’s Wall erate, Alibaba. Now, the billionaire tech Street route. He indicated that there is tycoon is rewriting history once again with a shift in China’s major cities that are his newest venture, Ant. Many successful businessmen would have been satisfied with becoming an alternative to Wall Street. The culmination of Ma’s first IPO took Especially with the tensions between the place on Sept. 19, 2014. Alibaba, the world’s breaking one of the most impressive records in business; Ma was United States and China at the moment, largest retailer and e-commerce company, Chinese companies may follow suit and opened on the New York Stock Exchange not one of them. He managed to top his old record, and Saudi begin taking this alternative path. The Ant with cheers erupting from the trading Aramco, breaking the IPO record not once, but twice. IPO will certainly increase the Chinese floor and a wave of money flowing onto stock markets’ credibility and pave the way the company’s balance sheets. After Ma for more local IPOs. raised a record $25 billion with Alibaba, in perspective for a minute — Industrial dred dollars to make it through the month As far as Ma’s personal wealth is con- then the largest IPO of all time, the oil and Commercial Bank of China, the world’s would feel as if the loan process was not cerned, due to his 8.8% stake in Ant, the titan Saudi Aramco beat his record with largest bank by assets, still has a lower worth the trouble. This was clearly a seri- IPO will catapult him to a net worth of $71.1 a $29.4 billion public offering last year. valuation than Ant. This incredible success ous problem for a large number of China’s billion, placing him 11th for the wealthiest Many successful businessmen would have has allowed Ant to raise nearly $35 billion citizens and, ultimately, the economy as a individuals in the world. With more eye- been content with breaking one of the most in the most highly-anticipated IPO of the whole. Therefore, Ant was a game-changer popping valuations and money flooding impressive records in business one time; year, which will be a dual listing on both the for an industry desperately in need of an into the tech industry in recent years, one Ma was not one of them. This month, he Hong Kong (priced at $10.32) and Shanghai efficiency boost. Now, because of Ant, the cannot help but wonder if this time next managed to top his old record, along with (priced at $10.27) exchanges. To further loan process is easier than ever before. year there will be an even higher IPO, shat- Saudi Aramco’s, breaking the IPO record continue illustrating the massive inves- People can quickly apply for and get deci- tering records yet again as the wheels of not once, but twice. tor interest, the stock’s order books were sions on small loans. Additionally, they can the economy continue to spin. Ma’s latest venture, Ant Group, oper- oversubscribed only one hour post-launch. pay for items with only the tap of a button ates Alipay, a “digital wallet” that is the Alipay was merely started by Ma as a (similar to Apple Pay), and invest as little world's largest mobile and online payment side-project with the intent to aid China's as the equivalent of 15 cents into big money