December 22, 1998/3 Tewl 5759 Tim Ofricial N(1ws11a1iei· of Yeshiva Coilcgti . . ·. . Volume LXIII lss1ieJ'i . , Student Protest Forces Administration Into Course of Action PLANSNow UNDERWAY TO REDUCE SPEED OF MOTORISTS ON AMSTERDAMAVENUE
Chanukah Chagigah Draws Hund�eds of Spirited Revelers BY (HANAN HOSCHANDER of ta/midim with his renowned fiery and inspirational messages. On the evening· of December He stressed the holiness and th 14 , the second light of sanctity of the Beit Midrash as the Chanukah , the Student place where all the Yeshiva's Organization of Yeshiva (SOY ) events are held and the students held its annual Chanukah chagi gather. He implored the stu gah in the main Beit Midrash. A dents to run to the Beit Midrash joyous crowd, significantly larger for its primary purpose, Torah BY MORDECHAI FISHMAN t th 1a4 h and 186 Streets in the than in years past, attended the study, with the same alacrity and heart of YU's Uptown Campus. celebration, which included live zeal that they do for a celebra t t Goaded in o ac ion by a succes Three YU students were hit by vehi music, dancing, sufganiyot (tradi tion. t t sion of au omobile acciden s on cles over the span of a month; luck tional Hanukkah jelly donuts), There had been some ques t h Ams erdam Avenue, undreds of · ily, none suffered major injuries. and Dougie's wings. tion concerning the venue of this t t t t s uden s pro es ed on November Immediately following, a major The chagigah was preceded year's chagigah, which is tradi t 19, by blocking raffic on campus accident involving neighborhood th t t "mussar tionally held in the Harry Fischel h t by e radi ional while waving signs and c an ing residents occurred on the corner of schmooze," Beit Midrash. Yeshiva University's h t t t th given by Rabbi slogans demanding t a he stree Amsterdam and 1 as , resulting in t h Mashgiach t t t Yi zc ak Cohen, Depar men of Facilities be closed o serious bodily Ruchani t t h t t of MTA. Held in Lamport Managemen objected o t e use ensure s uden harm to fourpas h t auditorium, t e rabbi exhorted safety. Timed o sengers in the the gathered crowd of hundreds continued on page B coincide with a two cars. meeting of the Officially, Ex ecut ive Amsterdam VU Aligned Rabbis at Center Committee of Avenue between the Board of 1 a3rd and 186th of Wye Accords Fracas University Trustees, the protest was streets is supposed to be closed to organized by the collective stu vehicular trafficbetween the hours Rabbinic DebateEnters Political Arena dent leadership of YU spearheaded of 8 AM and 11 PM when students The Commentator BY YEHUDA BURNS t by and YCSC, are walking about and going to have been condi ionally approved and resulted in promises of con classes. Signs posted on light poles by the Israeli cabinet. crete action from the administra and traffic signs prominently Over the past few weeks, the Subsequently, letters by Rabbi t New York Post The ion. announce this fact, but in practice, pages of the and Julius Berman and Rabbi Tendler The impetus forth e protest was Jewish Week have played host to a in the Jewish Week served to keep a series of car accidents on heated debate over the validity of the issue alive. Berman noted that Amsterdam Avenue between continued on page 17 the recently signed Wye Peace "A more careful analysis would dis Accords. The agreements provid close that the ha/akhic principles ed for further Israeli territorial con involved are not in dispute at all." Stone Foundation Draws cession in return for Palestinian He suggested that the aforemen security guarantees. The debate tioned rabbis reconsider their the Line on Divisiveness itself centers on a Post advertise decision based on security con ment signed by several YU Roshei cerns. Tendler responded that, in Cleveland Charitable Group Yeshiva which, effectively, stated fact, their conclusions were based that the Wye agreement is on the security assessments of Cites YU as Funding Priority ha/akhical/y invalid. Though the Israeli cabinet minister Ariel t BY AARON KLEIN group did not represent the whole Sharon, an undispu ed Israeli secu American Greetings, said in a pub t h t t t h t h h th t h t t of YU or i s Ros ei Yeshiva, i s ri y exper . "T e sanc ity of uman lis ed report a is family's s a e t h h th t t t t advertisemen as fueled debate life," e added, was e sole basis The Sapirs ein-S one-Weiss men was promp ed by an incident t h halakhic t h h bo h on and offcampus. fort eir opinion. Foundation, a Cleveland-based las year in w ic a member of h t h th th th T e ini ial ad was sponsored by T e ad opened e doors to a family foundation comprised of e Aguda Israel of America's Council th h halakhic t t t h e group lc ud Harabonim, and deba e regarding land owners of he American Gree ings of Tora Sages, Rabbi Elya Svei, th t was signed by Rabbi Aaron for-peace dealings and e safety Corporation, recen ly released a publicly assailed Rabbi Dr. Norman h t th t t th t Soloveic ik, Rabbi Moshe Tendler, of Jews in Israel. Of greater signif statemen declaring at i will be Lamm, President of YU. A e ime, h h h h t h t and Rabbi Hersc el Reic man. icance, t oug , is the fact that it direc ing· its family's considerable Lamm ad gone on he record in th th t t t h t Calling e agreement a "life allowed fora public debate on e resources away from ins i utions suppor of t e recommenda ions h t t h t t th h t rea ening danger to all residen s met odology and some imes tha "sow divisiveness among of e Ne'eman Commission w ich t t t ha/akhic Jews," and toward those more was attempting to solve Israel's of Israel," the group determined poli ical na ure of he that"it is prohibited by Jewish law decision-making process. open to religious pluralism. pluralism and conversion crisis. t h h h h h th to participate in this ragic and ter Once debate on t is topic Accordingly, Yes iva University as Rabbi Svei, w o eads e t t h t th t th h h h rible agreemen . I is pro ibited seemed o be waning, a second been placed on e op of e Talmudical Yes iva of P iladelp ia, h t t t t t t t t "Sonai Hashem" by Jewis Law for i o be ra ified adver isemen found its way into Founda ion's list of ins itutions o called Lamm a or t t by he Israeli Government." Since suppor . h th t Mr. Irving Stone, the founderof continued on page 16 t en, e agreemen 's clauses continued on page 18 ..
Pqe2 December 22, 1998 ------�lwww.vucoMMENTATOR.coM�I------Students Must Speak Out _Against NYPD Blues COMMENTATOR Just recently, one of the most pressing issues to be addressed by The 500 West 185th Street,New York, NY 10033, Commentator was that of the danger of the traffic whichpasses through Yeshiva E-Mail: [email protected]. University's uptown campus. Telephone: (212) 740-2155,Fax: (212) 928-8637. In an unfortunateturn of events, this problem has spawned a much graver An independently operated student publication funded by the Yeshiva College Student circumstance. Law enforcementofficers have been involved in a questionable Council and published on a bi-weekly basis during the academic year. The views expressed incident of selective enforcementof a long-ignored statute. in the columns herein are those of the writersalone and do not necessarily reflect the opin Hundreds of automobiles that did not make any locals stops were permitted ions of The Commentator, the student body, the faculty, or the administration of Yeshiva to travel the avenue unhindered on the same day that a YU student was ticket- . University. We do not necessarily endorse any of the products or services advertised in these ed forthis long-forgottenregulation. pages. Copyright 1998, TheCommentator. One issue free, $1.00 for each additional issue. It has been suggested that a YU student was singled out forpunishment, MORDECHAI FISHMAN possibly as a result of his identity. . ADAM MOSES Even if the intentions of the officerswere not as nefarious as many students Editor-In-Chief Editor-In-Chief believe them to be, we must be alert to the ever-present potential forabuse of. power. CHANAN HOSCHANDER We call upon the New York City Police Department to explain their policy Executive Editor with regard to the closure of Amsterdam Avenue and we demand that they ... treat YU students in a fair and equitable manner. YEHUDA BURNS ALEX TRAIMAN As is oftenlamented,"lt is difficultto police the police," however, their actions Features Editor Layout Editor must not go unchecked. We must make ourselves heard in order to help the men in blue to realize that the slogan "to serve and protect" refers to the citizens YOSEF LEVINE YISHAI FLEISHER of this great nation and not to the blue wall of silence. Managing Editor Arts & Culture Editor To the administrators and students of this institution: Do not let the seeds of anti-Semitism be sown in the flowerbed of silence. BEN SANDLER JOSHYUTER Computer Operations Computer Operations Editorial ASSOCIATE EDITORS -Responsibility Defined Arts Culture& Mordechai Levovitz Any publication has a responsibility to maintain standards in adherence to Azriel Aspir Business the sensitivities of its readers. In doing so, it must provide ample material to Graphla Ephraim Shapiro satisfya broad-based audience. Similarly, by omitting various references or Layout Aylon Glaser topics, it ensures that even the most sensitive reader is not disenfranchised. It is a give and take: provide content and maintain limits. Mall Clerk Shaya Shtern TheCommentator has been criticized of late over the choice of opinion News Aaron Klein pieces and columns it solicits. In truth, much of the paper's content can only Jesse Mendelson David Mirsky be determined by those who submit articles,not those who solicit them. While it is certainly true that a few of the recent pieces have pushed the envelope, Photography Hadar Weiss and perhaps there are those readers who.believe that they have beenout of Research Chaim Woolf place, what is overlooked is the overall picture. A student newspaper does not sewCorrespondent Debbie Shofet belong to its editors or its staff;it belongs to the students. A.valid student opinion, regardless of its popularity,deserves the right to be published in a THE CoMMENTAT0R ONLINE: HTIP://WWW.\'UC0MMENTAT0R.OOM student newspaper. Associated ..., .., "' American If someone objects to or disagrees with what is being published,one may ,..... ' . ·:� counter by making their own opinion known. Only by actively writing letters Collegiate . ''· . Jewish Press �' i ·1 and columns can one influence the tone and substance·of the paper in order EP Pnss .�. ,.,o--'··.J Association to achieve a happy medium. Otherwise, the editorship only sees one side of every story.
Well it has been a stressful couple of months for all of us, but it is almost over. I write this � letterwith the knowledge that the next two weeks-will be ones filledwith late night study ing and mass doses of caffeine.Yes, although you may think it is only you, even the smartest guys in the class cram the night before, buthey, you didn't here it from me. So I get a call the other night from the editor-in-chiefof the Commentator asking me once again for a Presidential address. Well, it is not that easy coming up with these things. I was r thinking of writing about my happenstance meeting with a young couple at the side of the road, but I realized that it had been done already. I will not take a stance on the YCDS contro versy and no one, I mean no one, is going to "slap my#$% and call me Judy." A lot has been happening on campus since my last address so I guess I will begin there. We have had a number of YCSC events, spanning form"Visiting Mr. Green" to the David Letterman Show. I would like to thank the Junior Class Board as well as Student Services for entertaining us all with an extraordinary night at X-S New York. I hope that everyone will enjoy the upcoming Channukah concert, starring Avraham Fried and Yachad organized by NaftaliOlivestone and Howie Mazin. I guess it's now that time in the column where I address the big issue on everyone's minds (no, no, I told you already, not YCDS) and that is the joint YCSC/Commentator student demon stration. I am glad to informyou that after meetingwith Yeshiva University administration, we have secured assurances that the DOT will beinstalling trafficreducing strips to curb the flow of traffic.I would like to thank all of the students who came out to show their support of this Important issue. This was a very well planned protest orchestrated by the student leadership after thoughtfuldeliberation. However, I would like to encourage students to continue to use the proper channels in voicing their concerns about student issues. The student council is -•-- here to listen to your voices. We have taken a lot of your concerns to the administration, and . although it is a slow process (and sometimes a reallyslow process), things will get done. We will keep on their backs until all the problems are dealt with. We must remember in this time ofRabim B'yad Miyatim (and dare I say Administrators B'yodTultion Payers) that with enough faith In G-d and persistent nagging we shall prevail. Anyway, I will let you guys go and read the rest of the responses to the YCDS controversy (again!) and figure out your schedules for next semester. Have a very happy Chanukah and good luck with finals!!! Dror Barber YCSC President 3 Tevet 5759 Page 3 ------�lwww.YucoMMENTATon.coM�I------The Pollard Link Jonathan Pollard is in the news again. His peace process is a clear attempt to forge tragic story was once again thrust to the fore some sort of meaningful legacy and to score last October during the Israeli-Palestinian public opinion points at the end of a sub peace talks at the Wye Plantation in sta ntively bland and scandal-ridden Maryland. Presidency. At the tail end of the Wye negotiations, That's not to say that America doesn't Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted have' a general interest in world peace or that any peace deal be contingent upon that America should wholly abstain from the Jonathan Pollard's release. President Clinton, peace process. On the contrary. America's exercising his usual brand of beguiling polit willingness to moderate the peace talks is to ical savvy, mollified the Israeli camp and sug be applauded. But the pressure that America gested a last-minute compromise. Clinton, has placed on the Israeli side is completely bowing to the remonstrations of the intelli out of proportion with America's national gence community, promised to review the interests and flagrantly inconsistent with Pollard case at a later date. Netanyahu America's supposed position as an objective relented and the Pollard conviction will soon moderator. Realizing this, last summer over be under review. 80 U.S.s Senators signed a letter urging the Most in the media were shocked by President to ease his pressure on Israel. Netanyahu's sudden decision to link the Undoubtedly cognizant of this skewed peace process with the release of Jonathan situation (and, of course, eager to appease Pollard. American diplomats were confused hawkish elements in Israel), Prime Minister and Palestinian negotiators were upset at Netanyahu demanded the release of this seemingly needless impediment. Even Jonathan Pollard. The link was ironically just. those who had long advocated Pollard's The equation was beautiful. release were puzzled. Amnon Dror, who Perhaps Netanyahu got tired of watching used to run a Pollard advo- President Clinton exploit cacy group in Israel stat ""!"'!'!""!"'!'!""!"'!'!""!"'!'!""!"'!'!""""- the peace process for ed that, uvou can't put his own political gain. on the same level the Perhaps Netanyahu negotiations between was tired of repeat- Arabs and Jews about a edly hearing conflict that has been Madeleine Albright going on forSO years and the release of one mechanically urge the Israeli public to person." absorb horrific loss of life in the exalted Admittedly, the two issues do appear to name of Peace. Perhaps Netanyahu began be firmly disparate, and a connection, if any, to question the ability of the American gov hopelessly tenuous. But a lesson can never ernment to truly empathize with Israel's theless be culled from Netanyahu's eleventh security concerns and effectively moderate hour move. By demanding the release of the peace process. Perhaps Netanyahu felt Jonathan Pollard, Netanyahu, perhaps know that it was a little too easy for President ingly, forced Clinton to empathize with Clinton to insist that the Israelis release innu Israel's security predicament. merable suspected terrorists to satisfy The slightest amount of scrutiny will Palestinian concerns. reveal that America has very little economic Enter Jonathan Pollard. If the American or military interest in an Israeli-Palestinian government is to fairly moderate the peace peace deal. Given the present balance of process and understand Israel's security con power in the Middle East and the existing oil cerns, it too must sacrifice forpeace. and economic dynamic, one would be hard If the American government is prepared pressed to explain America's inordinately to forcefully push for the Israeli release of heavy involvement in the internal affairs of 1,000 Hamas terrorists, it must be prepared this tiny Jewish State. What about Cyprus? to release only one spy-a spy that the intel What about Kosovo? ligence community still believes poses a risk It is patently obvious that under the sur to American national security-as a gesture
face of President Clinton's peacew deal enthu of support. siasm-those •sleepless nights that he care Hopefully, in his review of the Pollard fully choreographed and spoke about with case, President Clinton will appreciate the equally staged relief at the signing ceremo juxtaposition of these two issues and will opt ny-lies an agenda of personal gain. to release this spy who has been imprisoned President Clinton's tenacious initiative in the for far too long-in the name of Peace. Sy Syms School of Business MAN 4931 SEMINAR: Contemporary Problems _in Business FRIDAYS.' 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.. BUS TO MIDTOWN
CENTER WILL LEA VE
AT 8:45 A.M., FROM
THE BOOKSTORE Page 4 December 22, 1998 ------�! W W W • Y U C O 1\1 1\1 E N T A T O R , C O 1\11-1------
I 'I I Getting Yo ur Money'sWo rth Limiting the Lab Oppoi1unity To the Editor: institutions. They are in college at a time To the Editor: Not doing so fuelsthe hopes of students who Recently, while riding the elevator in when graduate and professional school The Roth Institute Scholarship, a summer have little chance of being named a Roth Seifer Hall, I overheard the following conver admissions are highlycom petitive. The cul research program at the Albert Einstein Scholar. The scholarship should be labeled for sation among a group of YU students. One ture they come from places extremely high College of Medicine, offers students the , what it truly is. guy asked another what a certain class was expectations on men, in terms of profession opportunity to performadvanced biomedical Even if the scholarship is specifically like, what, in particular, it was like to be in a al and monetary achievement. Additionally, research in an academic setting. Eight YC and labeled forthose with previous research expe class that met once a week forthree hours as at other institutions, students taking Stern Juniors are selected from afield of near rience, and there is certainly nothing wrong straight. The student replied something to required courses oftentimesfind themselves ly fortyappl icants to receive the highly com with that, it fails on another account. The the effect of the following. "It's not so bad. enrolled in courses they are not interested in petitive and prestigious honor. Selection cri scholarship is an excellent opportunity for He gives us a break in the middle. I only go and therefore not inspired by. For all these teria include grade point average and recom those who cannot otherwise get lab jobs to to the first half of the class, and then I leave reasons, it seems reasonable that students mendations. gain the experience they are looking for. during the break." He was then asked how look for shortcuts or ways of alleviating Over the past years, a new criteria has sub Yeshiva College, through its association with grading in the class worked. The other some of the pressure they're under. tly been introduced. Students with previous Einstein, should provide other research oppor replied: "Well, there's no midterm and he's What bothers me, though, is when I hear research experience are given a weighted tunities to students who so desire them. trying to do away with the final." When those same students complain about the advantage in the selection process. This is not asked how he was then going to be graded, very situation they have helped to create fair on two accounts. If the program is Howard Mazin he responded:"Based on the group project. I and sustain. I hear students complain about designed for those with research back Vice-President signed up to be in a group with two smart YU's reputation within theJewish communi grounds, then it should be advertised as such. YCSC 98-99 guys. I'm in charge of typing." As I got out of ty, or about professors who give the same the elevator, I muttered softly, "I'm glad exams over and over, or about•easy A" cours Lack of Decency and Professionalism you're getting your money's worth." es that close immediately and are therefore To the Editor: Editors' Note: The Commentator seeks to I do not know whether thes'e students only open to seniors. But these are the same I appreciate Mordecai Luchins' letter in present a diverse array of student views in its heard me, or, forthat matter, cared about my students who put off particular require the last issue of The Commentator. To quote Forumsection columns. Thisis the nhigher value" opinion, but their conversation got me. ments until their senior year, so that they can a point from his letter: "The YU paper is sup to which wesubscribe when selecting opinion thinking. For years now, I have noticed a sign up forthe first-to-closesections, or who posed to be a newspaper, not the platform submissions fo r publication. IfMs. Roth finds kind of paradoxical attitude on the part of get upset when a particular instructor gives · from which to hurl invectives." I fully agree. Ninvective" in the encounter with views at vari some YU students. On the one hand, they a "new" final examination. But Mr. Luchins needs to be corrected ancewith her own, we imagine she leads quite a look for "easy A" courses, avoid professors As a faculty member, I care very much regarding one important point: he criticizes besieged existence. known to be demanding, and spend time about the students that teach and advise, I u�u•s• paper when, I'm sure, he only means to· We are puzzledby Ms. Roth'sintimation that photocopying Mesorah, rather than trying and I try to make sure that they are always criticize "YC's" paper. Let's not forget that The Commentator is not concerned to present to study the course material. Some seem to getting their money's worth. To me, a stu Yeshiva University has two undergraduate news. More puzzling is Ms. Roth's suggestion believe that grades can be earned or dent has been cheated, intellectually as well newspapers, one of which, namely. the Stern that The Observer "makes it its business to improved by schnorring, ,rather than by as monetarily, if a course he enrolls in does Coliege Observer, makes it its business to report news." Perhaps ignoring an employee studying. They seem frustrated or even not challenge him or raise his level of knowl · report news, not to •hurl invectives.• strike at AECOM, a student protest at Cardozo, angry when they must work hard, or do not edge. At the same time, Ibelieve that certain Stern students were the target of invec and a computer network shortcoming (p lease do as well as they wished, or cannot con students need to acknowledge the role that tives In the column "Stern Llfe"fromyour last refer to previous Commentator front page) in a vince the instructor to improve their grade. they play in the watering down of their own issue. The column was obviously written to single news cycle is what Ms.Roth envisions as But, at the same time, these same students education. I think they oughtto be embar offend, both in Its message and crude lan her newspaper'scharge. seem to lack respect for this institution's aca rassed by some of the comments I overhear guage. "Freedom .of the Press" might be the Broadly,it is our view that the exercise ofjour demic integrity. They don't feel pride as stu them make In the elevator. After investing "higher value• you ascribe to, b�t it would be nalisticrespo nsibilityof necessityen tails furnish dents, and they often complain about the three to four years of hard work, not to be ing students with an honest account of the quality of their seculareducation. able to graduate feeling pride In one's wise to consider the roles of decency and prof�ssionalism in journalism as �eil. Yeshiva experience rather than a bland rehash I believe there are a lot of legitimate rea accomplishments is, to me, a real shame. sons why students look forshortcuts or"easy ing of public relations press releases. While we A's." They are under tremendous time pres Gail Horowitz Deborah S. Roth recognize that unblinkingly bearing the truth is not alwayspopular with.those who would prefer sure, much more than at other academic Yeshiva College Chemistry Department sew '99 not to confront it, we are patently unwilling to The author is a staff member of The departfrom ourprincipled approach. Perhapsin WorkingLi shma Observer. this.commitment we differ fromThe Observer. To the Editor: generous contract? Besides, I like to Do you really think it's your business believe that there are still just a few pro The Silent Majority to criticize the salaries of YU's "unskilled" fessors and doctors out there who chose To the Editor: girl who thinksJackie Chan Is a genius. employees? As if to suggest that a vast their line of work forreasons unrelated to If we're venting about Stern life, I'll jump Yes, we do have our share of the academ- majority of the students here aren't dis salary. in. Do you know what really gets me? Girls ically-challenged students. But the silent proportionately preoccupied with mak (like Debbie Shofet) who are so superficial majorityare educated adults who know the ing lots and lots of money. Would you Chananya Weissman that they assume that any girl with a ring on difference between Beethoven and David feel the same way if you just signed a YC '01 her fing�r Is an idiot. Surprisingly, a large · Helfgott, and d9h't feel the need to wave percentage of Stern girls do NOT stand In the their hands in ttieair and yell, "Look at me, cafeteria passing out flyers forring designers I'm smart.• And if the movie tickets go up to Bump Offthe Speeders and bridesmaid's gowns. Most of us are too $15 - no matter, we'll Just hock our engage To the Editor: bumps (one on 185th and Amsterdam busy juggling ourjewelry and Macy's bags to ment rings. The recent controversy about the and one on 186th and Amsterdam) think straight. And whlle we do get son:ie Oh,and my jaw moves when I speak,Judy. closing of AmsterdamAve nue could eas would be the simple solution to the · funny stories regarding varying degrees of ily be resolved to the approval of all par problem. Idiocy, most do not Involve a girl in a head Tova Katz ties involved. If The Commentator's con band. I'm already telling the one about the SCW'99 cerns are truly about student safety then Avi Goldberg the simple placement of two speed YC/MYP '00 Observation. for the Observer To the Editor: It seems that Ms. Shofet feels that the Mesorah Equ·a1s Culture Regarding the Stern Life piece by stereotype of many Stern girls is partially Debbie Shofet, I have to ask what its place true. Personally I don't think the stereo To the Editor: fessors (among other factors, to be Is In The Commentator. I don't think there types are completely accurate, but I do Mesorah has become an integral sure). Is anything wrong with the content. It is tend to take to her side. part ofYU's culture. I think Its existence well versed, true and to the point. My ques in our school Is further perpetuated by Alan Epstein tion is, why didn't she submit it to the Simon Landsberg the teaching methods of certain pro- B. SSSB '99 Observer? YC '02 3 Tevet 5759 Page 5 ------11 W W W • V U C 0 1\1 M E N T A T 0 R • C O M 1-1 ------
"Misplaced'� Evaluation On Our Language To the Editor: interested in hiring consultants. They are cer BY YISHAI FLEISHER technocrats who innudate us with the party I was taken aback by Mike Zaidel's article tainly a leader in their field. Segal, a leading line at every opportunity. "Have you read all on the recent Career Fair. He quoted a stu actuarial firm that provides consulting ser In my years at the Frisc I Ye shiva High there is to read?" they smugly question any dent who complained, "There were no con vices, was also a popular company at the School, when a person asked another for one who dares think for himself. sulting firms worth their salt at the fair." This career fair. notes or old tests, they referred to it by just DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN!! Let us re-insti student obviously has perverse criteria for While there certainly are placement fields that name. "Do you have any notes or any tute the real meaning of mesorah, chiddush, evaluating consulting firms. Off the top of my that need further development, consulting is old tests?" a student would say. Upon my and /ishmah into our lives and our educa head, I can name several leading consulting pretty well taken care of by the Office of first experience in our university with the tion. When studying anything from Babba firms that attended the career fair. William M. Placement and Career Services, and the OPCS material in question, I was surprised to learn Kama to Fukiyama, from the Mishna Brura to Mercer, the world's biggest employee bene is always looking to expand its affiliations. that the common practice of handing over a M1,;slim Sura, try to realize that you are a fitsconsulting firm, had two representatives these precious documents had come to be part of the great tradition of knowledge of at the fair. Although I didn't speak to them, I Joseph Kra known as ... MESORAH!!!! At first, the humor humanity. Make learning the end game in assume that Andersen Consulting was also�. YC '00 ous dual usage of the word seemed innocu your life rather then educating yourself for ous. However a closer examination of the an meaningless ephemeral goal. Think for word's meaning uncovered a fiendish plot. yourself,and don't short change yourself by Passion for the Stage "Mesorah" literally means tradition. filling your mind with a pre-fab, second Tothe Editor: refusals, difficult halakhic questions and According to Webster's, tradition means: 1. hand, artificially flavored education. Make As both a formerStern College Dramatics struggles in addition to just trying to make it The passing down of a culture from genera the mesorah of the past be alive today. Society board member and a person in an impossible business. tion to generation especially orally. 2.a. A Pursue knowledge lishmah. Believe in your attempting to forgea career in the theater So I'll say It again - you're wasting your custom handed down. b. A set of customs ability for chiddush. world, I have been quite interested in the energy taking YCDS so seriously. YU is not a viewed as a coherent precedent influencing ••••••••••••••••••• YCDS controversy unfoldingin the pages of theater school. It is not a school with an the present. In the Jewish world the word It's Thursday afternoon. Your mind is The Commentator. Students have been writ important theater program. It can't be, for . mesorah is taken even more seriously. It thinking one thing: WEEKEND!! The clock is ing articles, letters and more letters postulat- there are too many issues that arise, too few means the passing down of the combined m-o-v-i-n-g... v-e-r-y... s-t-o-w-1-y. But, the . ing on and examining the merits and weak people who really care. That's fine. If you teachings and wisdom of the Gedolim from period ends and you run out of class happy nesses ofYU's dramatic societies. want a meaningfultheater experience in col the generations, straight from Sinai right and free as a gazelle in a national park. Without even attempting to go into the lege, you shouldn't be at YU, or you should into our laps. Both the Rambam and Pirke What's wrong with this picture? Yes, you details of the issue, I'd like to offer some seek it outside of school. Ifyou don't want to Avot list this passing of the baton of Torah guessed it, you forgot to say Shabbat insight on behalf of someone who has be restrained by mandates of the facultyand throughout history, while we earnestly Shalom. worked In professional theater for four the politics that control the YU community, study texts that are older then most civiliza This will come as a shock to most of you, years. I have this to say - lighten up, guys, don't join YCDS. tions. Even Topol sings proudly about it - but your teachers are actually human beings you're all taking this stuffWAY too seriously. I'm sure plenty of people will disagree "Tradition ....Tr adition.• (I was not aware of this development till YCDS (and SCDS) may be many things, but with my opinion and say YU should have You would think that by now the people recently myself). As much as you are dying they are just not all that serious. more respect for the First Amendment, be who look for mesorah in the library would to get out of class, the teacher is probably In his article,Mr. Levovitz states that "an less controlling, less homophobic, more figure out that its mostly up on the fifth thinking: "I cant wait to get out of this miser Orthodox boy in YU who. has a passion for open to artistic expression, blah, blah, blah. floor. Seriously though, here's my concern: able, esthetically challenged, Hanoi hell-pit." the theater ls already limited," and that "the But let me assure you - the Yeshiva I'm worried that the usage of the word Next time, before you run out of class, if YC dramatics student is most severely limit University dramatic societies are the perfect mesorah in the Torah world will become it's a weekday, just take a minute to say ed by the intensity of a YC double curricu intrc:>
Visions and Limitations R-E-S-P-E-C-T BY BEN SANDLER College program is set up; students have no BY YosEF LEVINE indicative of success ·i� life nor is a sign of choice but to focusall their creative energies intelligence. It merely means that Hashem Much ink has already been spilled dis on finishing. Think about it: most students Vinny Testaverde is the quarterback for has deemed him to acquire wealth. cussing why Yeshiva College students come in with thirty-two credits from Israel. the New York Jets. Bill Parcells is the coach of An individual who chooses to be a man of choose the courses they do, and approach They now need ninety-six credits, spread out the New York Jets. Testaverde throws the trade capitalizes on a special ability that G-d their education the way they do. The com over three years, to graduate. Of those, there football,and once in a while runs with it. has given him and should be treated with mon complaints have all been addressed: are thirty-five credits of general require Parcells writes plays on a greaseboard and utmost respect. I have heard people turn people just go for the easy "A," people just ments, and an additional twenty credits of sometimes throws tantrums and headsets. down possible marriage partners because want to get the degree and get out, etc. As Jewish studies requirements, this coming Both try to win footballgames. the fatherof the girl or guy was not wealthy. much as I've heard these complains in these after already having thirty-two Jewish Yet Parcells needs Vinny to win, and This is totally preposterous. The main con pages and amongst students, I've heard a lot Studies block credits, plus transferred credits Testaverde needs Bill to succeed. The quar cern of any potential in-laws is that they of the complaining coming fromthe Deans' from morning programs. That leaves a mere terback cannot-script plays and co-ordinate should be mentchen, decent human beings. office. forty:onecredits, and we haven't even start defenses, while the coach cannot toss the Dollar signs are always a benevolent asset to You see, the three deans of Yeshiva ed to think about a major yet. Majors range pigskin downfield (although the thought of any marriage, but it should in no way be a College share a vision of the way a liberal arts from thirty to forty-five credits, with the_ the Big Tuna huffing his big-boned chassis deciding factorin dating. education should be. And for those of you more technical or scientific ones being at the into the end zone is appealing.) Both need It is very easy for a person to be judg have never spent time talking to the Deans, high range. Many students, and wisely so, to respect each other's capabilities and dif mental and jump to his own incorrect con except when you needed to get signed into elect to have a minor. That will usually set fering positions in order to get to where they clusions in virtually · any matter of signifi a course, you don't know what you're miss you back another eighteen credits. Thinking wish to be. cance. Human nature tends lead to ing. Some day when you're bored, go in to of pre-med? That's forty-six credits, plus your The relationship between the two illus-. unfounded and false criticism about peo Dean Joyce Jesionowski's officeand ask her major or minor. Finishing in any reasonable trates a fundamental concept in human ple and actions. We are not the only ones what her vision for Yeshiva College is. She'll amount of time usually requires taking sum interaction. The river of what we call life who can be guilty ofthis trait, our rabbis be more than happy to share it with you. If mer courses, CLEPs, and still loading up every takes us to many differentports introducing can also err. you're lucky, maybe Dean Norman Adler will semester with 17 credits. Is it any wonder us to diverse individuals. These individuals Like in the partnership between the quar come in and they'll start discussing the simi why people look foreasy courses, loopholes, embody different character traits and have terback and the coach, we must respect one larities between computers and biology. and shortcuts? Need anyone even bother unique abilities. A rabbi of mine once told another and val1.:1e each others judgement. And on a really good day, maybe Dean asking why people aren't "broadening their me, "A person can be a doctor, a lawyer or Hashem has created different people to Michael Hecht will stop by to swap stories horizons" with liberal arts electives? Elective even ·an Indian chief but he/she should be accomplish different tasks in life. The best until the wee hours of the afternoon. isn't a word that is even in most students' the best in whatever he does;" biblical example that comes to mind is that But to get to my point: as the deans will vocabularies at Yeshiva College. Not everyone is meantto be a profession of Yissachar and Zevulun, one works to sup be happy to tell you, the point of a liberal arts So how to encourage people to take lib al; G-d created some people with a gift of port the other's Torah learning. However, education is to learn things you otherwise eral arts electives when their schedules are craftsmanship. Just because a fellow Jew is a both eqllally share in the rewards - Zevu/un wouldn't learn while broadening the scope so packed? Dean Adler has been encourag plumber, electrician, or artist, doesn't mean in the financial profits earned by Ylssachar, and breadth of your knowledge into areas ing people to stay a fifth year on campus. To that they are less successful they their while Yissachar benefits from the spiritual you may never have even heard of. sweeten the deal, he'll even give it to you for wealthy neighbors. Financial success is not wealth of Zevulun. Whatever you decide to do fora living after free. This is indeed a tempting, if under pub .:.-- you graduate, you'll have more than enough licized offer. But anyone who's been. around of. But when will you have the chance to here a while can tell you that it will never be study the architecture of New York City or successful. It's not just YU- students around the sociology of organized crime? When will the country are focusingon how to get into you have the opportunity to discuss philoso- · the best graduate schools or the highest lflHDE (C())M[MllEMrAlrCO)lR phy with Dr. Johnson or medical ethics with . paying firms, all with the shared goal of hav Rav Tendler? The deans would like you to ing a fat paycheck. ·rm not· passing judge: see your time at college as a series of these ment on this goal; I'm merely saying that this is currently soliciting submissions opportunities just waiting forpeople to hear is the trend. People, especially in our com them knocking. munity, are looking for success, �nd that is As you may have guessed, the deans are unquestionably meas1.:1redin the size·of your fo r the Student Soap Box, feeling frustrated. At least 40% of the school income and the number of cars in your has completely given up the liberal arts in garage, not by how well-versed you are in order to pursue a business education. Of. Kierkergaardian philosophy or how . many those who are left, a large percentage are Far-Eastern languages you speak. In addi a recently launched feature
,..,;:.·. completely focused on getting · just the tion, many people feel they are ready to grades and requirements they need to get · move on after four years, and so it is YU's into the best medical schools. Everyone is responsibility to make those first fouryears devoted to shari ng student viewpoints always looking for the easiest way to fulfill count. their, requirements, and using all their cre How do we do this? There are many ative energies to come up with new ways of optionsto be explored, and I don't have all with the broader Univers ity con1munity. getting out of requirements and graduating the answers. But I'll make a few suggestions. a semester early. Dean Jeslonowski tells me If the goal of Yeshiva College is a broad liber that the average student spends 2.7 years on al arts education combined with Torah Preliminary drafts may be sent to: campus. How's that fora broad liberal arts study, why do we count a year ofTorah study education? in Israel as a full year of college? Now, I rec I understand why they're frustrated, but ognize that people will scream bloody mur The Commentator I've noticed that there seems to be a com der at any suggestion of cutting· down on munications gap between students and the Israel credits,but we have to think about it. deans. The deans don't understand why stu As Dean Hecht likes to point out when dis 500 W. 185th St. · dents aren't sharing their lofty goals. cussing Shana Bet, uyou are already getting Students don't understand what planet the credit for the year," as he points towards the deans are living on. "Don't they realize that heavens. The year in Israel is important, and we don't even start classes until one or three, YU should encourage it. Give creditto peo New York, NY 10033 and go to class until eight or nine at night?" ple who go. Encourage people to go by So I ask: if the deans feel so strongly about helping to defray Israel tuition for students this ideal, why aren't they more successful in who continue in YU. But can we really call it [email protected] selling it? a full year of a liberal arts, Torah U'Madda The reason is In the way the Yeshiva education? 3 Tevet 5759 Pap 7 ------i!w w w • v u co 11 11 E N , A , o a • c o 11!1------
,
Career Guidance Pamphlet The Stove BY BORIS GELFAND Mr. Rosengarten's argument, I strongly dis for Prospective Employees agree with the administration's position. By My landlord assumes I don't know how to denying the IHP students use of their stoves, BY (HANANYA WEISSMAN shows confidence, energy, and attitude. operate a stove. Persuaded that I would set Yeshiva University fails to treat the residents Even rabbis need firm handshakes to be my apartment ablaze, the insightful owner as responsible adults. The argument that the The job market is highly competitive and successful. A wimpy handshake immedi disconnected the stove's gas pipe, blocking students, by operating their stoves may set students can spend many commercial ately disqualifies anything else you might my access to this dangerous cooking device. the apartments ablaze, flies in the face of the breaks fretting over their futures. The bring to the table. However, be careful not My landlord: Yeshiva University. My resi fundamental principle that society entrusts Yeshiva University Harry Metzenberg and to be too firm. A squeezer demonstrates dence: an Independent Housing Project's its responsible individuals to use the mecha Sheila Gugenplast Office of Placement and lack of proportion, and is likely to scare off (IHP) apartment. nisms which may frequently pose a signifi Career Services (YUHMSGOPCS) has there- your interviewer. Mastering the handshake The YU administration views the IHP cant danger. If society followed YU logic, fore prepared a comprehensive pamphlet is critical to your success in life. apartments as a necessary evil, insisting that then the Motor Vehicle Department would of tips and advice for students about to Make sure to look your interviewer in they simply compensate forthe lack of the have to close because the probability of a car enter the work force. the eye when performing the handshake. dorm space on Main Campus and don't accident increases once an individual Appearance is absolutely critical to Your glance should be friendly, but not too serve as an alternative to the residence halls. obtains a driving license; medical schools securing any job worth talking about dur- emotional. Display confidence and The administration argues that as a direct would have to shut down, since the second a ing Chazaras haShatz. When interviewing self-esteem, but don't appear arrogant. extension of the dorms, the IHP apartments person becomes a doctor and gets a hold of ·for a job, you must wear professional attire. You're still nothing. have to closely resemble the dorm rooms in a scalpel the likelihood of damaging some Men are strongly urged to wear a tie. Not Appear relaxed_ when speaking to your their facilities. For example, the apartments' body's health soars, and the police depart wearing one conveys insecurity about your interviewer. Both of you know that you're furniture and ceiling lamps parallel those in ment should vanish, since the probability of abiUty to fashionably complement the rest on trial, so what's the sense in showing it? Rubin Hall. shooting someone by mistake increases of yourwardrobe. If you can't even do that, Mention the highlights of your resume, However, no matter how hard the admin once a policeman receives his gun. Society, how will you fit into a company? speak about your accomplishments and istration tries to "dormatize" the apartments, therefore,either verifies the qualificationsof ·The.tie you choose should be conserva- goals, and crack an occasional joke (no they would always differfrom the residence those individuals who want to operate dan tlve, but not dull. · ft should be unusual, but Seinfeld, no Dilbert, no corny stuff, no radal halls in two aspects: bathrooms and gerous devices, or simply sets a legal age not flashy. Engaging, but not distracting. stuff,no stories, nothing long, nothing orig kitchens. In regards to the bathrooms, the requirement, like in the case of acquiring Bold, but not reckless. The tie makes the inal). administration had no choice but to let the alcohol. man, so choose it carefully. Your very future If you once dumped a stack of The IHP students use the facilities in their apart The YU administration has to recognize may hang in the balance. (We will be Commentator on some security desk, say ments. Yet when it came to the kitchens and that almost all of the IHP students have scheduling seminars·•·on this, so don't you were an associate manager of distribu hence the stoves in them, the YU manage reached the legal age when they can rent an worry.) . tion. It doesn't matter who you are or what ment decided to prohibit the residents use apartment and, hence, use the stove. If the Shoes should be polished, non-squeaky, you've done, but what you can make it of the stoves, again operating fromthe prin landlords followed YU's logic of increasing and should at least appear to be uncom-. seem like you've done. Internalizing this ciple that the apartments must be identical danger, they would have to prohibit the ten fortable. Ostensibly comfortableshoes por- concept can be the single most important to dorms. The administration, waving the tri ants use of their stoves. It is understood that tray laxness. · thing you ever do. color of equality, claims that it would permit an average person with normal mental Don't get any · crazy ideas about your When wrapping up the interview, thank the apartments' residents to cook only when development, especially a student of one of hair. Keep it simple.. . A minimal amount of . the interviewer for spending his time with their fellow students In the dorms can enjoy the finest American colleges, knows how to gel Is acceptable. If you don't have any hair, you, and ask forinformation on how to stay the same privilege. The Yeshiva completely operate the stove. The administration you don't stand a chance. Unless you have . in _touch with' the company. If the inter disregards the fact that, unlike the dorms, should permit the IHP residents to use their one hell of a tie. · · viewer-declines to gjve it to you, beg. They the apartments feature either separate stoves. . me · like to feelJn control. A friend of mine called me recently. u1 Cologne is acceptable, and for so . . kitchens or kitchen areas, which obviously people mandatory. Some Calvin Klein fra- , Wait no longer than a week beforesend the residents should use for cooking. The heard you live in the apartments this year. Ing a thank-you note to your interviewer. That's great! Now, you can cook for yourself! grances have come to be known as #sexual · IHP students live in the buildings where all harassment scents," so beware. · Don't tell them that you passed up seats at other residents cook in their apartments on I have an excellent cholent recipe from my · Wearing a kippah is optional, but, quite a Yankee game to attend the interview, but a daily basis. baby."I did not want to disappoint my friend frankly, not a very good idea. Your new God make It seem as if you enjoyed the experi In the middle of November, Jeffery and wrote down the recipe. I hope I will get a ls the green guy. If you need help rational- ence. Again, the key is making it seem. Rosengarten, Director -of Supporting chance to tryit. izing, see a YUHMSGOPCS advisor as soon Your interviewer will ev.aluate your per Services, explaining to the IHP student com Baby's Cholent: as possible. Rabbis generally don't make a formance based on the above qualifica mittee the reasons behind the ban, stating 1. Saute one large onion till brown and lot of money, so you shouldn't take advice tions. In the event of a tie between you and that the stoves pose a threat to "safety of a put it on the bottom of the pot. in these mattersfrom them, anyway. another prospective employee, the winner facility [an IHP apartment]." He also pointed 2. Add half a cup of beans, one cup of bar • Women should take between two and of the job is chosen by actual ability. out that the administration favors the Stern ley, one kishka, a lot of honey, and one pack four hours to dress for an interview. If you have any questions, feel free to set students over the IHP residents in allowing age of cholent meat. Whatever's in is out�and whatever's out is up an appointment at the YUHMSGOPCS. · the females to use their stoves because 3. Add water until an inch to the top of career-suicide. Mak�Jhat fourfo six _hours. Also, be on the lookout for our upcom- "women are more responsible"than men. the pot. Afterthe water boils, let it cook on A firm handshake: Is fundamental. It ing·pamphlet on dating-- and...... marriage.------Not commenting on the feminist twist of the low flame till it's ready. Enjoy!
INSTRUCTOR M�L.ibowltz.. STAFF C.Zackheim STAFF STAFF 'STAFF Page 8 December 22, 1998 ------11 w w w • y UCO. \I E N T A T O R • C O M 1-j ------
Chaba� Club ShabbcJton B,ig flit . . BY JoN�THAN RUBIN others were In shock. . .· ...· After the evening • service (Maariv), . stu_- · On Shabbat Parshat Yayl�hl��h, twenty dents _went to th.eir respt:?ctiye hosts.Joy a s n to ·· Chabad. style dinner.The alc:oholflow�d along Yeshiva University .tudents headeci dow_ . . . · . . · · . · ith . e assid ic tuhef the \ higguriirn. · rown eights . ·r· e. ann. ua .ha . .' ubT.•. · . 'N • th J:l · _ · lh. . . ··· I)h· ·pi. .. . ,·· u,·. c. ·.·•· b:�d•· ·. c... . . ·.. cs habbatH. o· n·. . ·. ..e. ige>r ·.···.•.l•., t u.· · .e. .ft..Y .. at. . o.. .. �_ PM. . LS .. . · ··Students _had. .• ·the itiance tcf'ask thei( hb�ts .. ,· . . .· . · · · �· ··
Students and Rabbeim 'da,_1cing in the newly refurbishedMain Beil MidrasH Chanukah Chagigah Continued from page 1 . g ? . "TheStia bl:>at of the main Beit Midrash this year, since it ly from his shop and danced energetically 11Ilk f• , · �,a. vbs�t [itif./ had just undergone refurbishment includ in his trademark red and white striped .. . s a afterkedusfia, was �lul:{"It fii�JUt�ted\Jb ing the installation of new carpet. shirt. The celebration continued for more ti u However, the SOY administration, led by than three hours. It could be heard as far ii:l'.ii:rr�nzy,,cJii'.)i!:�a1;�w1�;�,:t�l�-�IQ President Michael Gewirtz, was adamant away as the sixth floor of the Morgenstern i ����ri... ;'tk�ldi11.1;�b1�/; tGbavitctiEirs';start�
i i. ! NOWIS TH.E T#:Mlj �J ••·--j>:.,. ., ,_��, J '.. \ :.'-::. - iii,iri:: 'fi, · 'S<· fl, .-:-. >': ' ,,'.\t:IiJif\ i;]:if!i,:t:\t}>_<· . . .:}\·· . ..J.· 3 level 5759 h� 9 rl ------1I www.vuc0MMENTAT0n.c0M ------Rabbinic "Confidentiality" Exposed Special Productions: Keepin' it Woman's Lawsuit Against Rabbis Real in Be.lfer's Basement Alleges Improper Breach of Privacy
BY ROBERT GUTMAN as possessing an inviolate confidentiality in EMPLOYEE PROFILE: DAVID DIAZ the priest-penitent relationship. This special BY CHAIM WOOLF he works closely with the various student Recently, a maelstrom of controversy has relationship is not, however, extended by the organizations on campus. When every courts to Protestant ministers nor, to this been whipped up by a Long Island woman's Getting things done around YU can be one else is in a rush and seems confused, area point, Orthodox Jewish rabbis. accusation against two Orthodox rab a nail-biting, frustrating experience. Diaz says he enjoys helping out The over Rabbi Dr. Moshe David Tendler, a RIETS bis the issue of rabbinic confidentiality. GeUing things done in the Productions Commentator and even YCSC. When it Rosh Yeshiva, had extensive contact with the The woman, Chani Lightman, consulted the Department can be a bit easier. Students comes time for The Commentator to pub rabbis issue of confidentiality in the early BO's. He while going through a divorce several and faculty know that, come crunc time, lish and printers are calling back and forth As a believes that the issue of rabbi-congregant h years ago. result of her conversations .David Diaz . ""illbe th�re • to make sure with deliveries, Diaz remains calm about subsequent confidentiality is a multi-textured one, and . . and the Rabbis' actions, ever}'thing is ru nning smoothly. his role. HI just hold the newspaper for a nurse there should be no hasty rush to judgement . Lightman, and mother of four, has · · Mr. Diaz began his tenure at YU inaus them and call them up.H in the case of the two rabbis. Rabbi Tendler . become the focal point of a battle in which pifiously. T.hirteen years ago, looking for a Sruli Tannenbaum, former YCSC cites the Ta rasof case in which a psychiatrist the nature of Orthodox rabbinic interaction ,job, h� came acro.ss a "Help Wanted" ad in President, dealt regularly with Diaz. "He was repeatedly told by his patient that he with congregants has become a matter of th� lof .1 paper> CalUng, he was pleased to always went out of his way to make sure would kill his wife. There, the counselor, � contention. ?�tthatw�. offe�ing was at Yeshiva. the students were happy. Rather than just albeit in a secular setting, was held liable by �nd Mrs. Lightman claims that while arrang "t.-, mot��r, has peen working here for18 doing his job, he was willing to work a lit husband to with the courts for not preventing a crime despite X ing for her provide her a y arsJn ie>usekeeping," e reflects· now, tle more, just as a favor. Not everyone is bill of divorce, she with the existing rules governing confidentiality. 7 + h Get, or Jewish met looking bac�. "She told me this was a willing to do that for us. It's special." rabbis were Similarly, in the rabbi-congregant setting, i two community who acquaint g·o<>d place to. \V?rk,lt A team, of sorts, Waxing philosophically about the stu ed wit� position not only criminal behavior but serious viola her husband and his in the Davi� creciits e relaxed working atmos dents of YU, Diaz said, •1 like the students case. separate meetings, tions of halakha may similarly necessitate . m During the two phere formaintaining h.is family's strong here. Most of them are polite." For the Mrs. l the breach of confidentiality. Nonetheless, . Lightman confided that she no onger connection:toYU; •. • i ·••• •• ..···•· • average student, Diaz is not much of a practiced taharat {family Rabbi Tendler cautions that if the woman ·· · · . ·· hamishpacha puri In. Pr<>qU(:tions, Diaz< acts. as .a llfront savior, keeping in the background most of as she was intimate was not planning to have marital relations ty laws) no longer with foan,11 .. ��t!.pin.g tabs i <>n •. w.hat's where, the time and observing. "Over the years spouse. Subsequently, the two rabbis, with her husband, there was no violation of · her v,,,tle.n, ancj wh}'.. > In s ort, /UPS, Fed•• Ex, I've seen a lot of them come and go." In Dovid Weinberger of Congregation halakha, per se, if she did not go to the mik h I · Rabbi pac:�ag�s,>cc:,pyi g, a.nci ev�ryt�ing •.· el.se terms of deep philosophical reflections, Lawrence and vah, or ritual immersion bath. However, Rav n . Shaarei Tefilah of Rabbi Tzvi that .•• gge� .. ill and out That.'s my. job/' ·•.In though, he was quick to note that he e Rockaway, . . . Flaum of th White Shul in Far Tendler says that he does not know enough . · affidavit in support e •·th.is. c:�.pacltyr htn.el.psimove things .alqng, doesn't interact with enough students. filed an of Dr. Hylton about the specifics of the case to d finitively ·. e "Mostly I just find packages that were sent Chani's soon to e ex-husband. esp; ial.l}' \\I.hen tu en s see to n ed Lightman, b state that the rabbis were unjustified in . el g \ d t . m· e affidavit that the · •• · · · ·· · .· • to the wrong addr ss and help the stu Their concluded courts breaching confidentiality. � pi <'··•.·· •·· .. •··• <• ii ·•··i•. -•· · · .· • · i . . should be sympathetic Dr. Lightman's i.
BY CHAIM STRAUCHLER For that matter, they will not guarantee an A or any other grade. Tutors will never Nestled in the corner of Furst Hall's sec evaluate a paper and give their own opin ond floor, the Yeshiva College Writing ion on its prospective grade. Whether Center is a valuable resource for students their recommendations are useful in rais looking to improve their writing skills. At ing the grade is up to the individual writer. the Center's heart lies the peer tutoring Fundamentally, the Writing Center can halakha program, where budding writers receive be said to hold in high regard the assistance with their papers from teachers of perika-teina, the dictum that a Jew must and fellow students. The Writing Center's help a person unload his over-burdened warm, carpeted atmosphere affords stu donkey. Still, this applies only where the dents a comfortable place to write and ox's owner also participates in the unload study. More than just pens, pencils and ing. Writing Center tutors will never write erasers, the ongoing conferences offerstu or edit a student's paper, a fundamental dents, despite the sometimes rambunc rule being that the writer always holds the tious environment, the important pen. The paper will always be the work of resources they need to improve their writ the student; the tutor is simply an advisor ing skills. and assistant. In taking advantage of the peer tutor A prospective tutor need not achieve ing program, students may "drop in" during an SAT verbal score of 800 or receive an "A" special tutoring hours, or they can sign up in Freshman Comp. The Writing Center for semester-long weekly sessions. These simply seeks students who can carefully "drop in" conferences help those just read a paper and offer positive sugges beginning an essay as well as those in tions for improving it. While YC pays the need of last minute assistance on a paper. tutors a small amount for each session, The tutors, while critical of the due-in-two most tutors work at the Writing Center to hours, hot-off-the-printer essay, neverthe give something back to their school. Eddie less make the effort to help no matter Dj ouejati explains that he tutors because what the situation, though they clearly "God has blessed me with the ability to recommend stopping in at draft time. The write and I'd like to share that talent with lesson is clear: prevent students from writ others." Not all tutors are born with the ing papers the night before they are due, innate ability to write, though. Many giving them time to integrate their tutor's tutors once used and in some cases con suggestions into the paper beforehanding tinue to use the services of the peer tutor it in. ing program. The weekly appointment system allows Miriam Ben-Ezra, a Stern Writing Center the tutor and student to work together tutor describes the personal satisfaction over the course of a semester. The goals of she gets from tutoring. #Last year, one of these sessions are to develop quality writ my classmates from a literature class asked ers, not to specifically improve a paper. A me to tutor her, so that when it came time tutor can point out the areas in which a to write her term paper, she would know writer needs improvement and focus on what the professor expected. We worked each one individually as the student's writ faithfully forhalf of the semester. When it .. ing improves. Many times, the tutor and came time to write the paper, she did not writer will develop friendships that extend come here [ the Writing Center], forshe felt beyond the Writing Center's walls. confidentenough to write it on her own. Both weekly appointments and "drop She did show me the finished product, and in• conferences last approximately an hour. I felt so proud. I had nothing to do with Tutors focus on many aspects of an essay the paper, but she handed me a work that including its logical argument, the presen was well done. She wrote well, and if I only tation of evidence and the clarity of the helped to give her the confidence to do work as it develops ideas. When grammat that, I did my job well: ical problems arise, the tutor will work The Writing Center offers training forits through the grammatical rules and teach tutors throughout the semester. Dr. his/her charge how to avoid similar prob Lauren Fitzgerald, the director, and Steven lems in the future. Torres, the assistant director, have intro Similarly, the Writing Center offers all duced many innovative programs to the types of help to foreign students for whom Writing Center. Tutor staff meetings teach English is a second language. Many func new approaches to reading, analysis, and tion as the requisite weekly ESL tutors commenting on students' writing. This (English as a Second Language). semester the Writing Center took part In a Both before and after the biannual special tutoring conference along with "Grammar Test Massacre," the Writing Barnard, Stern, and Stony Brook. Center floods with Comp I victims. The Additionally, Dr. Fitzgerald was Instrumen Center offers practice grammar exams tal in creating an e-mail list-serv that with solutions; and tutors are available to allows tutors to discuss tutoring and writ help them when questions arise. Still, Ing with other tutors. most tutors are reluctant to pinch hit for a The Writing Center Is always looking for computer grammar and spell checker; they new tutors, and it's not too late to sign up prefer to explain the rules and to teach for a weekly appointment fornext semes students to spot their own errors. ter. Those who need help get the obvious The center is unique in that two tutors assistance of an experienced writer who Is will rarely approach a paper in the same looking to help Improve their writing. way. Not only do writers have their own Those who volunteer to work In the Center styles, but tutors also approach writing get the personal satisfaction In addition to with Individual tutoring techniques. While the adulation of their fellow students. they encourage writers to find their own From Composition to application essays, style, they are quick to point out the differ short essays to creative fiction, the Writing ence between style and Incorrect English. Center has the #write" stuff. 3 Tevet 5759 Page 11 ------il w ww.vucoMMENTATOR.COM�I------
u111t? . R·,•..·. ·.· "'.·•..···.· , ';.·. . · -_. ,.. ·_ ;'•;·• :.·1� · .·. ·: .·.· 1•.· .. ·.·. . . ·.. . ·•.·.· ... '•··..· ·. Page 12 December 22, 1998 ------1jw ww.YUCOMMENTATOR.COM1� ------
AnIn terview: Benji Joffe BY ADAM WEIDER Besides the music, the festival will display paintings and drawings;readings of stories and I was running late. It was a little afterthree, poetry will be held, and a play will be per so I rushed over to the apartment building. formed. (Separatefrom the YU dramatics soci Lets see ... Joffe, Joffe... ah, there it is. Buzz. I ety.) Basically, fourareas are being showcased: walked up the stairs to his place, gave a knock visual arts, music, literature, and performing at the door, and was greeted by a warm hello arts. Yeshiva Boys Gone W�ld: fromBenji Joffe. Bothered by the factthat he had not been The interview was set for threeo'clock, so able to publish everything submitted to him we kept the schmoozing short and got started forSpires because of limited space and his very "Lord of the Ries" almost right away. He took the couch and I busy schedule, Joffewanted to make up forit in BY YISHAI FLEISHER soon after, he gets his butt kicked forit by the pulled up the La-Z-Boy. The tape recorder went part through the Arts Festival. As a kind of resti more militant factions amongst the youth. on. tution to all the talented artistsout there, and In the dungeons of Schottenstein Center Aryeh Baronofsy (Eric) and Eric Norman (Sam) Benji Joffe, a student at YU, is the head of to up and coming artists, Benji and his staff there exists a desert island populated by wonderfully portray two endearing and Spires magazine. Sometimes on the second worked very hard to make this fair about par young savages with no supervision. Running infantile brothers who complete each other's floor ofthe library, you'll see it lying there. Or, ticipation, not just observation. Joffesaid, "The water, palm trees, and wild animals adorn the sentences and huddle together in their mutu you'll se an announcement aboutit on one of biggest thing about the artsfestival is involve uptown YCDS archipelago, swallowing you al fear. They are the innocent and powerless the bulletin boards, if bored dormmembers ment. Wffre giving everyone a chance to say, ' I up upon entrance. Soon we are introduced to and appropriately hide behind the theater's with an "appetite for destruction" haven't do art_ too.'" He. went on to say,"We'll have an audition. People can come in with their guitar, this band of yeshiva boys, clad in ripped railing for protection. Ellie Lamm's (Percival) already torn it down. with their voice[ and try to earna performing clothing with some oozing blood. They split claim to fame, is being a vessel for Beukas' Spires is a magazine presenting different obsession with blood. He staggers on stage types of artwork fromstudents at a handfulof role in the fair]. Thereare so many peopleon along sectarian lines - the civilized, the campus who do their own thing, but don't with more holes then a sponge, but luckily for colleges. It has also has readings of poetryand pathetic, and the downright violent. Some have a venue. We want to give them a venue." fight for power, some for their life. Shortly, us, he recovers and later mystifiesthe crowd short stories. It's a good magazine to checkout if you get the chan_ce. But my interview was When asked what other roles the Festival two groups emerge from the struggle - the with his fascinating oral maltreatment of plays,he a-nswered,"The purpose of the Arts Simon's corpse. The supporting ensemble not aboutSpires. hunters and the builders, who treat each I had come to see Joffe because of the Festivalis to promotearts on campus. It should does justice to the sense of sway and confu other with all the friendliness of Congress. upcomingarts festival. In February, YU will be be demonstratingover the course of the two Instead of uniting under one banner, the two sion that is necessary for the play's progres hosting its third annual ArtsFestival. With Joffe weeksthat arts... , they do go on in this school camps clash in a battle for ideological sion. Their mob-like chants have a forceand as its head, the festival has been organizedpre in a lot of different places. There are a ton of supremacy, democracy or anarchy, winner vehemence that bring dread to the soul and dominantly bystudents as opposedto beinga peopleworking on arts functions throughout take all. makes the evening worthwhile. functionof the Deans'office. "Theadministra� campus, bothcampuses, and the ArtsFe stivals The action of the play is not limited the One watching the performance cannot to tive staffthis year who come to meetingscon purpose isto show that off.0t' s]8 one big adver stage. Dr. Anthony Beukas, faculty advisor help but be struck by the parallels between sists of,I think,nine or ten students with less tisement forwhat's going on. He continued, and artistic directorof YCDS, once again uses the action on stage and our society at large, faculty[than in earlier years]� he said. "All the uit's almostan artsdirectory on campus: the whole theater as the forumfor his vision. especially our Jewish one. As you well know, appropriate peoplewho are already doing art Benji told me of anotherconcern of his that the ArtsFestival addresses . He said,•it annoys Theactors move with ease through the aisles Lord of the Flies8 is a translation of the Hebrew things through YU at clubs,activities and func uBa'al Z'vuv, a reference to the pagan deity me when the faculty says,'The kids can't do and in between the seats to engulf# the audi tions [are running the festival.] It's sortof like ence and create a usaliva-on feel. The sur Beelzebub. It followsthat many of the refer saying, 'You guys are the people who know this.' The word 'kids'; at Stem they hate being round-vision effect is particularly successful ences in the play serve as Jewish symbols as about arts on campus,-you know about the called'girls' and they'reright aboutthat To be in this production for it keeps the crowd well. The conch foundat the onset of the play areas youwork with. We want you to be apart called kids is ridiculous. We're legal,we can guessing as to the source of the next peril. is the symbol of democracy and order. This . of decidingwhat goesinto the artsfestival.' " vote. It promotes this Idea that we can't runthe The lighting was particularly impressive, wind instrument heralds civility and serves as What will the festivalconsist ofl •ot will be] Festival ourselves ...We are adults, younger truly giving one the sense of changing times the shofar of the Island. Indeed; when the twoweeks of activities. A big part ofit will be adults than the faculty, but we are adults." He of day. Moreover, the set and the lighting shofar's message is disregarded, chaos and the opening concert It is different than the concluded by saying, •1t's a student pride were used ingeniously to maximize the varia death ensue. Similarly, Piggy, (brilliantly por classical music and jazz ensemble,which we thing ...everyone's happy, [they can say],'look tion of scenes and speakers. The effect was trayed by Uriel Weisz), represents the ironical will have again," Benji said. at what we did.' • not lost on the poetic monologue of the ly named, stereotypically zaftig,glasses-wear schizophrenic Simon (well played by Dov ing Jew. His stutter-filledspeech (like that of Pickholtz), who suddenly seems to be Moses) is the voice of reason, yet he is ignored removed from the world of reality as he and killed by the violent hunters - his death speaks of the stars' beauty. Later, Simon dies symbolizing the sacrificeof Isaac. impressively from a gangland-style stabbing. The hunters, lead by Jack Merridew Another successful effect was the use of {played by the energetic and ferocious Aaron smoke and lighting to create a mock bonfire. Ganz - at times so realistic, that I thought he This firesy mbolized the hope forrescue , but would bite into a member of the audience), when it goes horribly awry, the hope dies and supported by the weirdly evil Roger with the flame. {Jesse Miller), are motivated by the hunt fora Yaakov Silberman does a fine job as Ralph, pig. Once it is captured, the animal's blood is the spineless "elected official"of the bunch. smeared on the facesof the hunters and its His character vacillates between powerful flesh is consumed by them all. The head of and impotent; in a sense, a caricature of lead the beast becomes the group's graven image; ership today. the death chant"kill the beast, spill his blood," When we are firstacquainted with Ralph becomes their mantra. This crass image of when he promises "Piggy" not to reveal his the pig as a god is the epitome of the group's nickname to the others, yet he quickly non-kosher behavior. Their circular dance reneges on this promise, and just as quickly juxtaposes the Hora on the primitive and Dr. Ruth Bevan's Post-Modernism classesof apologizes. His speeches are flowery and unruly dances of a war party. sew modernismtries to understand what exactly Is promising, but he cannot handle the awe The sell-out audience was taken aback by and YC visited the Uptown Guggenheim naturallyhuman and what is human nature. Museum to seeart with their newly-acquired some force of a genuine bad guy. Sound the incredible set created by Shalom Bersson Viewing works of great artists such as • post-modernglasses. Theclasses were accom familiar? and the props men, the cast, and the musical Matisse, Picasso, Mondrian, Klee,Wa rhol and panied by Deans Adler and Jesionowskl,escap others, students receiveda first-handlesson on Yariv Frankel deserves praise forhis minor score. It was also witness to the savagery that ing fromtheir officesto see post-modemart. how aesthetics and artisticvalues change and role as Maurice, the only guy on the island occurs when too many boys are cooped up Post-Modernism tries to show alternative are influencedby their surroundings. What one with a sense of humor. His is a David Spade together foran overextended period of time. sav understandings, readings, and perspectives. It person may findugly , another findsbeautiful, like performance in which he mocks the Indeed, it was an all-too-real portrayal of what has a relationship with pluralism, relativism. neatly Illustrating the point ofpost-mode rnity age talk of the others. This wise-guy could happen here at our very own scenic Striving to eradicate self-imposed structures that here are no absolute truths, rather only demeanor does not fare well for long, and and secluded Yeshiva University. and perspectives,biases and paradigms; post- subjective viewpoints. - David Hain 3 level 5759 Page 13 ------1jw ww.vucoMMENTATOR.COMrj------
TheJe w In TheLotus 1 BYZEV STUB I had sought t o understand had not been properly ;� h t t t t th t ',�t���£�,i answered. W at is i abou his ale at had s ruck a nerve h t t t with entire communities of Jews? W hat is this Buddhist As an Ort odox Jew, i may be hard to unders and he th effect that Roger Kamenetz's book, The Jew In The Lotus, approach to Yiddishkeit that is causing the buzz on 95 has had on the world of unaffiliated Judaism. It is trou and Broadway on a Thursday night? Armed with a tape bling to delve into the issues the book raises and examine recorder and the authority of a YU Commentator reporter, I the impact and influencet hat it has had on a generation of took to the street. Jews looking for a sense of association. More disquieting "There certainly Is a tremendous Jewish interest in can be contemplating it's messages and comparing th�m Buddhism, " one woman proclaimed anonymously. "The to our o�n religious orientation. appeal for me ... is that [Judaism] is centered on an Roger Kamenetz had reached the nadir of his life, hav omnipotent deity who ...has power over you. [Buddhism] t t t h t known ing suffered the loss of a child and serious professional gives you he con rol o c ange your own life and he �lllUp§f stars js n<>twell outsidetheir t h t power to be happy or unhappy, without this external .spgi�ityC>fJ c1l(n,,usic,butin :th!sgenre ·they rejec ion, when a close friend offered im the chance o gre�f \Villlams,· Lucy join a delegation of Jews meeting with the Dalai Lama, the force... " �ffJfl� ,ones. . . Dar spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, in Dharamsali!,India. "I was influenced by that book," says Azriel Cohen, who l
s BY VAIR OPPENHEIM BY VA IR OPPENHEIM
life is Beautiful Gods and Monsters Starring Robert Bengini StarringIan McKellen and Brendan Fraser On any given year, there are comedies and there Most independent films, to the common film-goer, saturated by commercialism, tend to be bland; are comedies, and then, there are Comedies. For the subject matter is weird, the actors and plot may be quirky, and the endings are almost always anti example, last year showed audiences base, lowbrow climactic. An even greater bias extends to the indies that are period pieces or biographies. However, 6r humor with The Wedding Singer, and on the other and ironically so, the best, or rather, most successful independent features, are those that play to all end of the spectrum, As Good As It Gets, an example audiences, In which case, they're not really branded as independent. "Gods and Monsters" gets pretty of biting sarcasm and sharp wit. This year, though, will be marked by a film that close. shall remain a classic within the annals of cinematic history. Simply put, "Life is The film's unique title is derived from a line of one of the filmsit mentions. Who and what are these Beautiful" achieves what no other film would dare to even try: make a comedy mythological beings? Humans, in fact. The filmtells us the story of James Whale, the director respon about the darkest period of the century, marked by a world taboo to poke fun at sible forFrankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, and Showboat. The biogra- - The Holocaust. It not only does that, but it manages to perform above and phy is viewed from the focalpoint of his old age; with bittersweet nostal- beyond expectations and the risk pays off. gia and an eye forsarcasm. His final days are a fictional account, in that The filmstarts in 1939, where Guido Orefice finds work by his uncle as a waiter. there is no doubt that anybody could possibly relive an entire life-span He soon meets, through a number of hilarious sequences, Dora, a schoolteacher, and comment about it conveniently, piece by piece. who is engaged to another man. He attempts to court her every time they meet, The context of all this lies in Mr. Whale's desire formore attention. He C and she soon falls forhim. Five years later, the film shiftsto a darker tone and the hires his gardener, Clayton Boone (played remarkably well by Brendan family is soon carted off to a concentration camp where Guido and their young Fraser), to suddenly pose for him, as he likes drawing the human figure. son are separated fromDora. Soon, the film's stunning plot kicks in. In order to The audience soon realizes that Mr. Whale is gay, which leads to some save his son from the emotional trauma at discovering the truth, Guido convinces funny, yet tasteful jokes, regarding how Clayton adjusts to that fact. Soon, his son that this setting is all a game, a contest to win a prize. Clayton and Mr. Whale's lives become entwined and Clayton's life · Through a simple breakdown, the film can be cut into two parts: the first half is becomes more and more amusing. James suffers a terrible stroke and comedy, the purer formof the in which Guido plays a "cinematically stereotypical" can't control his body. Most notably, he loses his artistic flair. But what · . bumbling clown (not literally). The style in which it proceeds Is a pure fantasy; soon plagues him Is even worse; he involuntarily gets relapses of memo- ry u absolutely nothing goes wrong. There are sight gags, running gags and slapstick, where his eyes bleed history. Here we see his early years fromthe van- which are accompanied by great lines. The element that is relied upon for the suc tage point of today, a focused, but tinted lens of haunting and vivid cess or failure of all the humor involved is the timing, and it thankfully never falls. images. What is perhaps even more fascinating is that the execution of the comedy is star From his early childhood, disappointment can be sensed. His family tlingly uncanny to Charlie Chaplin's routine, which was in a class of its own. lived on the streets, and he was treated as the family freak;he was talent The second half of the film can be seen as an application of the way Guido ed and smart,a fluke in their genetic line. World War One had it's own deals with life, living in a concentration camp. What were soon jokes now become share of memories, which leftan indelible impression about the nature of L a means of survival; witty anecdotes retain their wit and soon contain depth and death on his life - giving it a sarcastic, sadly humorous tone. This end of meaning as well. This half of the film contains it's most startling and touching his life was rather depressing, but these events led him to shape the moments, most notably, the haunting conclusion of the scene where Guido waits Frankenstein films, which begin the second act of the film.What is inter- on tables at the officers' residentialsuite. Another scene, though a bit too similar esting about this segment of his life is that Is not only can it be easily com- to one from uThe Shawshank Redemption• involves a piece of music being played pared to his films, but In a cinematic moment of clarity, Gods and over the camp/prison loudspeakers, and it is quite affecting. Monsters' writer and director, Bill Condon, found specific segments of To its credit, the film's end is shown through the child's eyes and It's a magical those films which Whale directed, and crosscut the Imagery with not only presentation, not unlike a Spielberg ending of a film; an overpowering set of cam Whale's life; but of the story· currently being told - that of the relationship T era shots that will let loose the tears in your eyes. More specifically, the ending is between James and Clayton, ofa •god" and his •monster." Thus,the three quite similar to John Boorman's Hope and Glory, a film, in which World War Two Is spiked story has a focal pointof Frankenstein. It should be noted that as seen through a child's eyes. "Life is Beautiful," however, is not light cinematic fare. far as documentaries go, it's rather difficultto make them artsy. Finding In terms of acting, there Isn't much to say actually, as the concept driving the such a common link to the story is a great stroke of luck. film is the full force. Robert Benigni, who directed and co-wrote the film is superb With regard to its accessabllity by an audience, "Gods and Monsters" in playing the role of the tragic clown. NicolettaBraschi, who plays Benigni's wife is rather entertaining for a film of its nature. As it really Isn't a biogra eyes gives a rather stoic performance; you can tell what he feels by looking at her phy, we get to see. the minor· points at the end of Whale's life . . At this the whole time. Sergio Bustric, playing Benignl's son, gives an average perfor point, the film is driven by the acting. Ian McKellen, straight offof "Apt mance. If you're looking for a great kid's performance in a film, which lets him Pupil," plays Whale, and does a magnificent job. He has already won bring out the full range of emotions, check out Henry Thomas' role as Elliot in uE.r- awards and praise from major film critic circles and is likely to win this ln terms the Impact of the film and its controversy, there may be many that year's Best Actor Oscar. What is so special? His character, (not only write the film "makes fun of the Holocaust.• That statement Is Incorrect. The film, being difficult to play, being a twisted and decaying man), thanks to through humor, shows how a man saved his son, and by doing that retained his reliving every type of emotional event, Is able to play through a full dignity as an individual. As opposed to Schindler's List, this film doesn' t portray range of emotions - we see him happy, sad, melancholy, depressed, a macrocosmic view of the Holocaust. Rather, It is even more compelling in that angry and retrospective. McKellen basically recreates a life in two short R it zeroes in on an individual story. It is rare that a film as controversial as this hours; you feel as though you've met the man. Brendan Fraser pulls off turns out to be so rewarding. "Wag the Dog• Is chicken feed compared to this. no less a feat himself - he Is able to finally show his colors after having To truly canonize this film is to place it among the classics of this type,alongslde gone through bomb after bomb of teenager films. James Whale has films like Stanley Kubrick's uDr. Strangelove: It is the film event of the year, and certainly had an interesting life, and you'll be entertained, Involved and perhaps can be more spiritually rewarding than Spielberg's usaving Private absorbed so that you'll truly understand who these Gods and Monsters Ryan." You'd be doing yourself an injustice by not seeing this film. Oh, and by really are. For those who only hold out for Oscar quality material, the the way , the film Is In Italian, but don't worry, you'll forget that afterthe first five filmIs certain to receive nominations, after having won the National minutes with the subtitles. Board of Review's Best Film of the Year. 3 Tevet 5759 Page 15 ------�l w ww.vucoHMENTATOR.COMI-� ------
"Release 2.0 : A Design for "The All-True Travels and Living in the Digital Age" Adventures of Lidie Newton" By Esther Dyson By Jane Smiley BY YITZCHAK INSELMANN amongst America Online chat rooms BY YITZCHAK INSELMANN when it comes to drama and narrative the knows quite well that the frivolous enter first half of the novel comes up almost utter 'Release 2.0' by Esther Dyson, a well tainment-based use of a technology can It has been a long time since Mark Twain's ly empty. known Internet figure, is a chatty, fairly quickly come to outnumber the construc 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' was The core of the conflict is meant to begin simplified series of discussions on the tive results-oriented version of that same first published and today we know it as an with the murder of the husband Lidie was human role in the online technology. Today there are a variety of American classic. Almost all of us have read never sure if she really loved, when Lidie communities of the Internet. Heavily forums and methods which allow multiple �r at the very least know the plot of the dresses as a man and goes to hunt for the loaded with anecdotes and personal remi groups of people to meet and talk. Such book. Mixing boyhood adventure, a dark killers of her husband. This too rapidly ends nisces, Release 2.0 nevertheless manages groups often become regular sessions cre cynical view of society and a voyage along up going nowhere. Up till now, Lidie has to convey some very important ideas ating online communities. An online com an artery of slave America, Huckleberry Finn been presented as an observer, not an active about how human beings interact with munity is a social structure and any social managed to arrange disturbing and contro participant, and although it is conveyed to us the technologies they create. structure quickly brings up issues of versial material under the naive perspective over and over again that Lidie is exciting and Release 2.0 lacks real organization and power, abuse and freedom, which are at of an ignorant young boy to achieve a adventurous, her response to most situa focus, and much like the Internet discus the core of any community. Release 2.0 strange mixture of cruelty and innocence tions is passivity. Where dressing up as a sion groups, was spawned from dozens of looks at online communities and the that in many ways symbolized the America man and going to kill the murderers of her important concepts and ideas like a fire Internet not simply as a set of problems of that day. In "The All-True Travels and husband is meant to be an action that works display, and yet fails to follow most and solutions but as a mirror of who we Adventures of Lidie Newton," Jane Smiley springs naturally from her bold and adven of them up. The prose is often clumsy and are as people and what can be expected seems to be trying to create a female coun turous character, it is in fact out of character the examples are irrelevant, but despite all from us. terpart to Huck Finn. Her main character, with her pervasive indecisiveness and confu this the book is invaluable in explaining The creation of new technologies is not Lidie Newton, is older than Huck; old enough sion. Unsurprisingly, it takes very little time the Internet in such away that the average simply a one-way process, as we modify to be a woman and experience marriage and before the indecisiveness and confusion person can· grasp an idea of the progress the technologies, the technologies also the duty of being a wife and prospective become dominant again. of its evolution. 'Nlth the c::urrentgrowth modifyus. Through using them, we form mother and yet young enough to be naive This might be somewhat more tragic if and constant evo'.ution of the Internet and new patterns of social organization. With and adventurous and to do the impulsive we had the faint notion that the main char the publishing prllr.essbeing what it is, it the Internet, we have reduced issues of things that no rational adult would do. acter thought this was tragic or cared about is impossible to expect any book to be distance and effortto a near-zero. Smiley, famous for her modern day it in any real way. Where Huck Finn was full timely and technically up to date. But In what ways will that technology Midwestern narratives, goes back in time to of energy, curiosity and passion, Lidie apa Therefore, Dyson's focus Is not so much change us? Where digital visionaries sug Kansas Territory when the future of America thetically makes her way through the novel the specifications of current technologies gest that the Internet will radically trans was being decided in pitched political and as if she'd rather be somewhere else. By the or the latest Internet gadget from recent form our society and us, Dyson suggests physical combat between pro and anti-slav time the reader is finished with the novel, he three day wonders, but the way in which that the changes are not likely to be very ery forces. Lidie Newton grows up as the or she generally wants to be somewhere else ordinary people live day after day with dramatic. Citing mostly the experiences of unwanted daughter, unfit for anyof the tra too. their online communities. her and her friends, Dyson suggests that ditional female roles until she meets and 'The All-True Travels and Adventures of When we think of the Internet, we very people will behave online much as they marries an abolitionist and follows him west Lidie Newton'makes vast claims foritself and often think of web pages, which are in the would behave in the real world, but fails to to the frontiers of the conflict. From there, a for its character and delivers a lackadaisical end about as interactive as a phone mar offer any real evidence to support her significant portion of the book is dedicated narrative that is well researched and ulti keting system. Dyson does not see the ideas. Her vision is a fairly conservative to a detailed description of the daily proce mately as interesting as an encyclopedia Internet simply as a giant information one of a world where the Internet is a lot · dures of life, which can best be described as entry. The novel intones darkly about horrif vending service or a global shopping mall like a phone data bank, but a friendly a very long-winded and well researched ver ic violence that forever scars the characters, where orders and catalogs fly from one phone data bank. While the vision of sion of "Little House on the Prairie" without and while the violence may be impressive by end of the Earth to the other. The Internet many techno-gurus is rooted in the future, the dynamism. Despite violence constantly modern Midwestern standards, it's quite silly is also a human community, and beyond Release 2.0 is rooted firmly in the present being foreshadowed and talked about, life by the standards of modern day New York or the business and corporate layers there is and In how people behave and think, and goes on and very little happens. Realistic, the actual Kansas Territory of the day. It sets the vital human layer in which people use while in time, Dyson will likely be proven but again, not very interesting. The running out to parody a style of fiction and instead the Internet to interact with others. wrong the book remains an interesting commentary placed in Lidle's mouth ala only copies its most annoying qualities, dis Anyone who has ever used the YU sys read and an effective introduction to the Huck Finn is meant to shed light on the pensing with its positive aspects in a way tem for chatting on IRC or floated issues and ideas of the Internet today." world around her, but in Smiley's hands the that does not amuse or reveal. The book commentary keeps coming offas either too bases itself around one main character on knowing or too naive. Where Mark Twain whose merits the novel succeeds or fails and managed to create the illusion of a boy see proceeds to craft a character with all the GMNDNIA!S,,QQJ!llll1lt,JI-\R· Ing the world forthe first time, Smiley is far dynamic qualities of drying paint. In short, ·· ·'. · · · too heavy handed, and line afterline clunks The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie -kos11iii4:J·': •. ._.,:: ·,· like extracts froma technical handbook. We Newton has few merits and many flaws, sug do learn many interesting facts about the gesting that writing historical fiction is not period and place but historical pop sum quite as simple as just having all your facts, maries are not the goal of literature, and themes and directions set up all in a row. JAY KIERMAN
2551 AMSl:'ERDAM AVE. Engagement Parties - BarMitzvahs NEW TOR�,, N·v· 10022 Weddings- PartiesFor All Ages (212) 5118-4855 (973) 731-4513 West Orange, NJ. Page 16 December 22, 1998 ------�lw ww.vucoMMENTATOR.COM��------The Intifada: Lessons for To day Stone Foundation Weinberger Speaksto YC Students Continued from page 1 BY SHAYA !SH-SHALOM leftward shifting attitude of the body politic, "hater of God." "That bothered me terribly," munity. The Torah community cannot under was on the defensive. Settlers turned to vigi said Mr. Stone. "Our people is too stand how rabbeim, who are supposed to be lantism while the hard-handed policy advo The Intifada,the Palestinian popular upris small ...Nobody should attack the other. If harbingers of peace, can publicly sow such cated by the right was spurring international ing of 1987-92, reshaped traditional Israeli seeds of disunity." criticism and jeopardizing U.S. aid and sup you are going to fight with others, we'll cut military thinking and political attitudes, and you way back." Since the Sapirstein-Stone-Weiss continues to exert influence over the current port. Extremists became more willing to The Stone family's statement reads, Foundation supports several hundred Israeli-Palestinian peace process. In light of employ undemocratic means to achieve their "Regretfully in our times, we have heard Orthodox institutions around the world, the this, the implications of the Intifada should be security and idealistic goals, epitomized by many voices that are deeply troubling to us. move could affect scores of institutions. The taken into serious consideration by Israel in the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin in They serve more to divide our Jewish people Stone family underwrites the widely known determining her policy toward 1995. than to unite us. Effective immediately, we Stone edition of the Torah, published by Israeli/Palestinian territorial concerns, sug But what contemporary lessons are we to gested Dr. Naomi Weinberger in the second of learn from the crisis? Weinberger invoked the have chosen to provide financial support Artscroll/Mesorah and found in Orthodox a series of talks presented by The Middle East principle of ka/ va-homer."If it was difficultto exclusively to those individuals and/or insti synagogues throughout North America; the u Society. The lectures are intended to sensitize suppress the Intifada in the circumstances of tutions whose public views encourage unity Sapirstein family f nds the publication of Yeshiva University's undergraduate students the late 1980's, ka/ va-homer it would be diffi among Jews ... We expect all those who Artscroll's edition of Rashi. Morry Weiss, the to Middle Eastern issues. cult - even more difficult - to suppress a pop accept our contribution and financial sup CEO of American Greetings and son-in-law of Yishai Fleisher, president and founder of ular Palestinian uprising of the late 1990's." port to share our concern and join us in Mr. Stone, declined to name the institutions the society, states that his goal is to "bring The main reason for this, Weinberger con speaking out against those who attempt to that might be negatively affected by his fam home Middle Eastern issues into something tends, is that the expectations the Palestinians divide us." The statement represents a bol ily's statement on Jewish unity. Instead, in a tangible forYU students." Dr. Weinberger, pro have of their future territorial acquisitions stering of Modern Orthodox institutions and published report, he emphasized the organi fessor of political science at YU and Columbia have been raised due to the gains they made a warning to some of the Ultra-Orthodox zations that would be helped. Named as top University, offered a penetrating and thor through the Oslo Accords. voices that have sought to attack Judaism's financial priority is Yeshiva University, which ough analysis of the events leading up to the Weinberger warned that the threat of a modern and non-Orthodox movements. "We Mr. Weiss suggested "is setting a wonderful Intifada, its immediate and long term impact Palestinian popular uprising is no illusion. She have been supportive of Jewish education tone forYiddishkeit, a centrist Judaism." on Israeli/Palestinian society, and its message directed the attention of the listeners to the within all denominations throughout the The family has already made tangible its fortoday. Weinberger focused on the military, May 4, 1999 deadline, the date by which the world," the statement says. "Our belief is that support of Yeshiva in a number of ways; moral, and political dilemmas that the Intifada five-year transitional period dictated by the Jewish education should be available to all among them the establishment of the Stone poses forIsrael. Oslo Accords is to be complete. Yassir Arafat our children." Seit Medrash Program and the Irving Stone The Israeli military, known as the IDF (Israel has warned that if by that date no negotiated Rabbi Lamm was unavailable for com Distinguished Professorship at the Azrieli Defense Force), overconfident about its capa settlement is reached by the Israelis and ment, but Dr. Herbert C. Dobrinsky, Vice Graduate School of Jewish Education. bilities due to its impressive victory and sub Palestinians, he will unilaterally declare President for University Affairs, proclaimed The family also supports Ohr Torah Stone, stantial territorial gains during the Six Day Palestinian statehood. "The outrage expressed [by the Stone family] an institution in Israel headed by RIETS mus War, was leftstupefied by its inabilityto sup Weinberger asserted that if a settlement at the manner in which Dr. Lamm was pub makh Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. Mr. Weiss also press the Palestinian uprising. The IDF's cannot be reached by the upcoming deadline licly described by a famous rabbinical leader, mentioned "Edah," an organization directed "acknowledged failure to cope with the chal and Arafat follows through with his threat, without repercussions from any of the thirty by RIETS musmakh Rabbi Saul Berman, as an lenges posed by the Intifada led to a lot of confrontation is virtually unavoidable. "Israel's five-hundred people present reflects a senti organization deserving of support for its soul searching," explained Weinberger. choices are not between good and better but ment widely felt by the general Torah com- "positive outreach." As a result, "the Intifada triggered a psy between bad and worse," concluded Dr. chological turning point forthe IDF, "provid Weinberger. It is not only necessary to avoid ing impetus for a hitherto nonexistent mili war but absolutely imperative for the Israelis tary policy. Yitzhak Rabin's thinking best to make peace, not only with the Palestinians, exemplified this emerging attitude." Rabin, but also with each other. who was then the Defense Minister in Yitzhak This, in Weinberger's view, requires a return Shamir's Likud Government, began by advo to the attitudeprev alent when Israel was still cating a policy of"force,might , and beatings" a fledglingstate and which continued as the but soon realized its ineffectiveness and sub modus vivendi until the Intifada. Then, the sequently adopted a more dovish approach. Likud party was more willing to sacrifice the The IDF followed suit. fulfillment of some of its idealistic goals for The moral dilemmas posed by the Intifada the benefit of internal peace. Weinberger further contributed to this emerging attitude. suggests that the Israelis deal with the The prospect of having to forcibly expel Palestinians in a similar way. Palestinian civilians from their homes made While acknowledging that the Palestinians the Israelis more willing to take on a concilia are unreliable, Dr. Weinberger asserted that it tory stance. According to Weinberger, these is much more risky to sacrificepeace than it is transfers "represent a hyperactive yetzerhara to compromise. With this perspective, unreal of the extremist right; a perverse and chau istic demands should not be made of the vinistic nationalism inconsistent with Jewish Palestinians. A civil discourse should be main ethical values. It would mean that Jews, his tained by Israelis with the Palestinians, but torically victims of the Gentile oppressors more importantly,amongst themselves. would become victimizers." Weinberger concluded that uthe overall Weinberger explained that while its rum message is clear, incorporating the lessons of blings were taking an unsettling toll on the the Intifada and of Israel's history in general: Israeli military and psyche, the lntifada's most We need to have better dialogue among Jews seismic shocks were feltin the political arena. beforewe can even begin to negotiate effec The Israeli radical right, which was wary of the tively with the other side." Students Anticipate Chanukah Concert BY COMMENTATOR STAFF show to the Uptown campus with years of solid hits under his belt, and he will undoubt Chanukah at Yeshiva University is never edly favorthe crowd with his dazzlingreper complete without the big event students toire. look forwardto with eager anticipation - the Ya chad is the synergistic creation of annual Chanukah concert. This year's Yerachmiel Begun, of Miami Boys Choir fame. Chanukah Concert Extravaganza promises to Dachs, Willlger, and Wald, each already estab be the best one to date. lished in their individual careers, will sing Produced by the respective Student together, as well as performing several solo Councils ofYC and sew,the concert is sched renditions of their latest hits. The singers will uled to take place this Thursday, the fifth light be accompanied by members of the of Chanukah in Lamport Auditorium. renowned Neshoma Orchestra, who are mak Featuring Jewish music superstar Avra ham ing their second YU appearance In one week, Fried and rising stars Shloime Dachs, Ylsroel after playing the SOY Chanukah chagigah. Willlger and Mendy Wald In a new act called As always, the Chanukah concert will be "Yachad," the entertaining lineup has stu one event not to miss, both forIts exhilarat dent afficlonadosof Chassidic music salivat ing entertainment and the intense social ing. Fried brings his tried and proven road scene, always a popular draw. 3 Tevet 5759 Page 17 ------tlw ww.YucoMMENTATOR.coM�I ------Student Activism Results in University Action Continued from page 7 the ordinance has not been enforced by the street before it's too late;""Don't make me a resume its normal, unimpeded flow down One senior administrator, who wished to police department for a decade or more. victim;" and "Safety first!!" Totally disrupting the street. remain anonymous, rushed out to see the Drivers regularly speed through the campus traffic, the students only parted in order to "We needed to rattle their cage," said one protest and said "It's a pleasure to finally see while throngs of students are crossing the allow a city bus to pass through. of the protest's organizers. "Legally, the students become pro-active. Now you street, creating a situation that Dror Barber, President Barber addressed the assem Amsterdam is supposed to be closed, but the guys might actually get something done." President of YCSC, called "ripe for disaster." blage, telling the students that"We are here administration is sitting idly by while our Results Called for 3:45 PM, word of the protest to make ourselves heard, to make sure that lives are at risk here. It is unfortunate that in The protest had an immediate impact. spread across campus. Organizers contacted they [the administration) hear our voice. YU, student concerns tend to be last on any University Dean of Students Ef rem Nulman fellow students by phone and in person, How many accidents will it take until the list of things the powers that be may care called student leaders directly following the while Th e Commentator'stechnical staff sent University wakes up? Amsterdam Avenue is about. Let this serve warning to them that demonstration to convey the administra out over three thousand e-mails to the entire supposed to be closed to ensure our safety." the students are not going to be quiet, are tion's request that students cease and desist YU community. Other students created ban Ten minutes after it began, the protest not going to be docile while they stonewall from taking any further "radical measures" ners, placards, stickers and fliers bearing var was over. The leaders of the protest told the and feed us bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo. until after the Thanksgiving break, when a ious slogans expressing the students' students to disperse, and they did, peaceful This Is our school, our yeshiva, and we are Student Life meeting would be held to demands. ly returning to class and allowing traffic to going to take it back." address the issue. The students agreed. The actual protest followed what is quick The meeting was attended by Nulman, ly becoming a YU tradition - the club-hour Jeffery Rosengarten, Director of Supporting footballgame on the lawn in the Danciger Services, Bernard Pittinsky, Associate Quadrangle. A crowd gathered as the game Director of Finance,.and various other admin started, and quickly began to swell. Student istrative luminaries. Student representatives leaders recruited their constituents passing were present in large numbers owing to the by to join in and help "make the students' gravity of the matter at hand. voices heard." The football game, coupled Rosengarten explained to the students with the scheduling of the protest when stu that the University was in discussions with dents were on their way to their respective the Department of Transportation to deter classes, resulted in over three hundred stu mine what steps could be taken to remedy dents congregating outside on campus. the situation. He spoke in length about the At precisely a quarter to four,the students history of the issue and explained that the surged into the street, blocking all traffic at street would never be totally closed, owing the intersection of Amsterdam and 185th. to community considerations and the need Waving signs and chanting"close our street," to allow emergency and snow navigation they created a wall of sound heard all across vehicles to pass through. The students coun campus, as they blew whistles, banged on tered by explaining that they understood it drums, rang cowbells, and shouted them was impractical to expect Amsterdam selves hoarse. Drivers traversing the campus Avenue to be shut to all traffic, but that the faced a seething student ·mass in the street, intent of the protest was to get something and had 1no ch0ice but to turn off done to slow down reckless drivers who Amsterdam or turn around. YU's speed through the campus. Rosengarten Department of Safety and Security, led by agreed that something had to be done, and Chief of Security Don Sommers, quickly discussed options such as speed bumps and mobilized to direct traffic elsewhere. "rumble strips," traffic reducing strips Windows popped open as curious teachers embedded in the pavement in order to slow and administrators heard the noise and the flow of traffic. He also stressed that stu looked down to see what was transpiring in dents need to be more conscientious about the street below. Others rushed qutside to their own safety while crossing the street. see the commotion firsthand. The students imparted to the administra Some students sat down in the street, tion that they desired something to be accom while others began to clap and dance while plished as soon as possible. Rosengarten singing the traditional Passover song explained some of the bureaucratic issues "Dayenu," translated as "We have had involved in negotiating with a city agency, but enough already." Signs bore slogans such as assured the students that something would "How many more will it take?;" "Close our be done in the near future. December 22, 1998 Page 18 ------ti W W W • Y U C O M II E N T A T O R • 0 0 11 jL------Rabbinic Peace Politics Continued from page 1 the pages of TheJewish Week. Sponsored by agreements were motivated by outside the group Shvil Hazahav, and signed by concerns. "Economic considerations have another group of Orthodox rabbis, the ad taken precedence over protecting people/ was clearly designed to counter that of the he claims. The Arabs, he maintains, realize lchud HaRabonim. Additionally, some of the that pressure on Israel comes from the new signatures came from rabbis with United States. That allows them to take lib direct YU affiliation. Thead maintained that erties with Jewish lives withoutthe risk of a "J ewish law permits territorial compromise stoppage to the peace process. Because the if such actionswill ultimately lead to greater concessions of the Wye Agreement do riot safety and security for Israeli citizens." . amount to a true peace, he insists, "The The questions that the public exchange halakha says that it is assur to gamble -Oil-· presents forYU students are both halakhic security." and political in nature. Amid the public dis In this week's Jewish We ek, Rabbi Shmuel cussion, R' Yosef Blau, MVP Mashgiach · Goldin, Chair of Shvil Hazahav, responded to Ruchani, noted the lack of overt student attacks on his organization. "Since our interest in recent Israeli events. "The fervor inception as a rabbinic and layorganization with which students approach the issues of within the Orthodox community, Shvil the day is no longer present: he noted, Hazahav has never directly supported a alluding to the student protests which char political party or political position ...We also acterized previous student bodies. continuously have maintained thathalakha R' Blau also noted that, in and of itself, a should not be used in an arbitrary fashion." halakhic denouncement of the peace Attempting to distance themselves further process is not inappropriate. He warned, from the political arena, he maintained that however, that the current arguments are their statement was not a "politically inherently dangerous. As Tendler noted, the inspired tactic" nor was it bankrolled by current argument against the accords is those with a political agenda. based on security concerns, namely, For Rabbi Tendler and others, claims that whether or not they will save Israeli lives. such denouncements of the peace process The cutoff point between safety and the are more politically motivated than halakhi lack thereof,howev er, is very much a politi ca/ly valid, are incorrect. "Pikuach Nefesh, the cal point. "When halakhic decisions are saving of Jewish lives, is a halakhic issue." based on these [security] issues, they are Because the accords are proven unsafe, in easily confused with political stands," R' Blau Rabbi Tendler's view, it is unacceptable to cautioned. How people view the decision give up Jewish lives for them, no matter making process of the lchud HaRabonim is how politically incorrect it may seem. "The what has caused the recent accusations. distinctions made exist only in the secular It is regarding this point that the Shvil world. Halakhically, we have no distinction Hazahav group takes issue with Rabbi between morality, ethics and halakha." Tendler's conclusions. The ad stressed that The remaining claim, namely that taking Jewish law allows for varying views and the issue to a public forumrevea_ls t�� polit approaches to the ha/akhic process. In dis ical underpinnings of the argument, is agreeing with the lchud HaRabonim they invalid, according to Rabbi Tendler. Echoing hoped that public statements would not the sentiments of R' Blau, he insists that "marginalize the Orthodox community and "halakhically, someone must say something. the Jewish nation as a whole." We cannot sit idly by while Jews are being Rabbi Tendler, however, maintains the murdered. We have now done what we had validity, and the consistency, of the group's to do." Those who refuse to stand up, he arguments. He was part of a rabbinic fac adds, "those same rabbonim who came out tion that similarly protested the signing of in public support of Oslo, the blood of Jews the Oslo accords. He maintains that both is on their hands."
Morg Mart: Chinese night YUDS: Hashem granted YUDS Howie Mazin @927-2715 with Robbins @ 795-5771. every Wednesday! Open from success. Congratulations to your flightinforma tion, or email Sponsored by Shabbat Bikur 8pm-2am every Sunday Uriel Cohen fort aking home a Fall's Final Colloquium: mazin@ymail. Cholim. through Wednesday in the cor- second place Impromptu Wednesday, December 16 at ner of the Morg basement award, and congratulations to Stern College. Bena Schwartz Want to get involved? Students SOY SeforimSale needs people lounge. Steve Bernstein and Rebecca will be giving a talk on needed to serve on Food to assist in-a variety of jobs, Eisenberg forwi nning third and "Peek-a-boo: . Studying working Services committee. If you especially if you will be in the YESHIVA UNIVERSITY'S TORAH second place speaker awards memory in 9-month-old . think the Caf sucks, this is your NY area during-winter Vc)cation.- U-MADDA PROJECT invites all respectively. infants" on Wednesday at chance to make your voice Please Contact Chaim loikie @ students to the Final Fall 1998 10:25-11 :25am at Stern College heard. Contact Dov ·927.;1436 · Evening lecture "Issues of Course schedules forthe Spring (Room715). You are cordially Brandstatter@74. . 0-1413;. nd Hanukkah: What Makes a 1999 semester can be seen invited to attend. Mo223. Chabad Club: The 2 Annual . Philosopher Jewish? The Case· online at Yud Shvat Concertfeaturing the of Rabbi Israel Salanter,"wi th http://www.yucs.org/spring99/.. Graduating Seniors!!: If you are · Aspiring Actors: YCDS is looking Diaspora Yeshiva Band will take Professor Mark Steiner, Currently only YC and graduating this January and fortalent forthe Spring '99 place on Thursday January 28, Professor of Philosophy Hebrew SSSB-Uptown are available, but you have not had your year- production. Contact Aaron 1999 in the Weissberg University, Jerusalem. Monday, the rest should be following book portrait taken, you must Zerykier @781-0364;Mo 211. Commons. Doors open: December 21, 1998, at 8:00 shortly. Thanks to Mel Davis for contact Daniel Drabkin @543- 7:30PM. Contact Tzvi Chefer @ p.m. Main Campus-Rubin Shul. his help in the early release! 9662, Mo 211, no later than MitzvahMen Wanted -The fort 568-0060. st Co-sponsored by YCSC, SCWSC, December 31 . If you are Tryon Nursing Home needs vol· SSBYC, SSSBSC, SOY,IBCSC, Israel Club: Thursday, December graduating in May, the dates for unteers:to·help themwork with Hamevaser Purim.Issue Contest! JSSSC, TAC, SBMPSC, and 17, 1998 during club hour (2:45 the second and final portrait patients during the week. This Submissions Due by January Hamevaser. For furtherinfor • to 3:45 PM) there will be a sitting will be announced soon. · is a tremendous chesed oppor� 25, 1999. Funniest entry will mation contact: Joshua Cypess speech in Rubin Shul given by tunity. If anyone is willing to receive $100. Please direct all at (212) 927·6692. Rabbi Alan Schwartz, on the leaving forVaca tion? YCSC is devote a few free moments of submissions to: topic of: The future of arranging shuttle rides. Contact time, please contact Daniel [email protected]. 3 level 5759 Page 19 ------�1 w ww.YUCOUMENTATOR.COMj1------
The Chabad Club of VC/SCW presents AVRAHAM ROSENBLUM &DIASPORA
,n• a Vuo .SHVAT CONCERT Thursday January, 28 1999 , .featured Speaker: Rabbi Levi Gorelick, to Discuss the ·. - · ·_Significance of. Vud Shvat .Prio� to the Perfortnance. Doors Open at. 7:30 PM -Location: Belter Hall 2495 ·Amsterdam Avenue . NelNYo rk,.NY • -., ; • f ;:' _ _ Cost: $10.00 for YU Students a $15.00 for the General Public STERN lzvi Cheffer (212)-568-0060 RU 313 Aura Brandwein (21 2)-689-4702 WC 25A Brian Glass (21 2)�568--5918 MO 203 Chaya Asplr (21 2)-252-8673 SH 747 Daniel Decker (212)-795-7498 189th 4F Melissa Bruckner (212)-689-7183 SH 315 Zvi Shapiro (21 2)-781 -5596 MO 425 Orly Elisha (212)-683-6766 BR 15C Vo sef Levine (21 2)-568-01 12 RU 21 5 Ta_mar Poupko (212)-686-4221 BR 18H QUEENS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Sharonah Habshush (718)-793-4694 . Rabbi Vo na Blum (21 2)-531-3999 Page 20 December 22, 1998 ------;jwww . vucoMME NTAToe . coM�I ------f\ud ition! @\lnd0y J0n\l0r)" 24 �erf orm in t½e mu5 ic 5½0WcG\5e t½G\t will be t½e fe5tiVG\l' 5 op eninp concerti (�lG\ce G\nd time to be G\nnounced.)
for more inf ormG\tion contG\ct 1 Y onG\tG\n t5end½eim G\t 9 27-2-€) 12. l½e 1999 Ye5½iV6'�o lleje f\rt5 f e5tiVGl /jud ifion Even <§}oonerl
@undG\yh>ec ember 20. 1pm EG\t49 5 W186t½ @t f\p t 2d�
�erf orm in t¾e drG\mG\tic 5¾0WcG\5e t¾G\t wi_ll rG\i5e eyebroW5 G\nd G\5toni5¾ t¾e crowdl �ontG\ct @¾G\lom L5er55on todG\y G\t 543-947_9I
...:a. �·· ... �•• is ... f\nd don·t for�etl
Vi5ue.l G\rt5 G\nd LiterG\ture 5ubmi55ion5 will be· 50\icited until t½e end of t½e 5eme5terl
for Vi5UG\l f\rt5, contG\ct f5enjG\min @½iller G\t78 1-6988.
for LiterG\ture, �ontG\ct Jo5½ f\brG\½G\mG\t 568-0396, Yi5½G\1 flei5½er G\t 928-7996. 3 Tevet 5759 Page 21 ------�l www.vucoMMENTATOR. coMIL------Questionable Ticketing Dorm Ta lks Continued from page 24 Continued from page 24 and had proceeded north toward 186th St. suggested that he will claim that the regu the gay counselor "Carl" as all the laws of ed that there is no learning that consti where he made a right turn and parked lation was unfairly and selectively yichud (the statute which generally pro tutes a colossal waste of time. "One has to across the street from the dormitory. enforced. There is also a question as to hibits one from being in an isolated situa learn about the world around him," assert While waiting for his friends to emerge, whether or not his actions were, in fact, in tion with a member of the opposite gen ed Lamm. two police officers knocked on his window violation of the statute since he was mak der, in order to avoid the temptation of Pointing to the first sentence of the and demanded his license and registra ing a local stop. Additionally, he could not illicit relations) apply. However, since To rah, Lamm argued that there's a reason tion. When Adler inquired about the have reclaimed his car from the "Cari" realizes his halakhically problematic the Torah started with the phrase b'reishit nature of his infraction, the officer stated Amsterdam Ave. lot without in some way orientation and has been able to control barah Elokim. "God is responsible for this that Adler had driven on a street which is driving on the forbidden length of the his actions, "Craig" should continue to be world. Everything is his handiwork. How only open to city buses. thoroughfare. friendly with "Carl" and treat him with could we ignore it?" The officers took Adler's license and Many students have expressed their care. When asked about the validity of some headed to their cruiser where they fear that Adler was specifically targeted Lamm also thought "Craig" should rec literature courses that require students to remained for the next twenty minutes. because he was a YC student, possibly in ommend a therapist to "Carl," making sure read books that are sexually explicit, When they returned, they handed Adler his retaliation for the November 19th protest. that the therapist's views are in accord Lamm, echoing Rabbi Shmidman, ques license and a ticket recording the viola Others have suggested that these law with ha/akha. Most importantly, Lamm tioned, "is not masechet ketubot quite sex tion. The officers had never sounded their enforcement officers abused their power remarked that such knowledge of anoth ually explicit? Even sex is a part of life." siren nor made any effort to pull Adler over in an incident which may have had anti er's homosexual orientation should Lamm advised students to take advan while he was driving, but instead came Semitic overtones. always be kept private as this information tage of their college years to gain an edu right up to his car after he parked. Yossi Blum, a YC senior who was among may be used against the homosexual by cation, not to race out of Yeshiva as soon Therefore, it was possible for Adler to be those Adler was picking up, expressed his insensitive individuals. Lamm urged those as possible. To this end, Lamm recom definitively identified as a YU student since concern, "It is difficult to understand how in attendance to say nothing if they find mended taking a wide array of courses. he was wearing a yarmulke and had officers entrusted with enforcing the law themselves in a situation which they do He pointed to the fact that "one needs stopped adjacent to the residence hall. can allow through traffic to proceed not know how to deal. breadth in Limudei Chol to have breadth in Adler suspected that there may have been unhindered while ticketing a YU student In a scenario involving a non-affiliated Limudei Kodesh." some measure of selectivity involved in just because he was a YU student. The reg co-worker, Lamm's responses were similar. Torah U'Madda does not deny the con the issuance of his ticket. ulation was created to protect YU students. He noted that according to most halakhic cept of To rato Umnato, but this under Voicing this sentiment, Adler told the How can we be protected from those who authorities, sleeping with another man standing was not meant for the majority officer,ul' ve been in this university forthree would enforce it in an unfair manner?" falls under the rubric of the arayot of people, according to Lamm. He noted years and it is well known that this traffic The officers who issued the ticket (promiscuous acts), one of the seven that most of the Ta naim and Amoraim held restriction is not enforced. I suspect that belong to the local 34th Precinct. The Noachide laws. Lesbians, as well, breach a jobs, as did many great later scholars such racism [anti-Semitism) may be involved." Community Affairs Officer at the 34th Torah commandment, although of a lower as the Rambam. "A Torah society cannot The officer abruptly responded that Adler explained that "if there's a [traffic regu level iniquity, said Lamm. exist with everyone learning full time," he was the third to be ticketed for the same lation] sign that is posted, it has to be Prefacing his response to the question asserted. infraction that evening. One student enforced." He added that he could not of homosexuals holding jobs where they Lamm made it clear that the reason we reportedly witnessed the ticketing of a address a specific incident and refused may influence society, Lamm maintained study Madda is not in order to obtain an to comment further. Representatives at non-student, but that report could not be that we should not deny homosexuals occupation to sustain us but because it confirmed. the Department of Transportation and civil rights. Commenting on the long his possesses innate value. Emphatically Adler plans to plea not guilty to the vio the New York City Police Department tory of nastiness towards homosexuals to stressing that Torah U'Madda, if lation and intends to contest the sixty-five . claimed that they were not familiar with the point where some have been mur approached with the right attitude, is not dollar fine and the points in court. He has the situation. dered for their practices, he emphasized a compromise but rather a path to a deep that we must distance ourselves from er appreciation of God, he advised stu such abominable actions. dents to be tolerant of both the left and In Lamm's view, a gay teacher should the right but never to feel inferior. not be permitted to discuss morality in When addressing the question of the classroom. Lamm claimed that under whether it would make God happier if normal circumstances it is not problemat thousands of students were taken out of ic to hire gay teacher. He made the .M,\.� 4931 S1•:�f1'\'.U: (:UN'l"KMl'OHAIU' l'HOHl,KllSI.S Bl 'SJ�ESS a· point the Mirrer Yeshiva and sent to college, that within the confines of a classroom, Lamm admitted that To rah U'Madda might Friday,; 10:0011.m. • 12:30 p.m. (3 cteditli) one is expected to behave appropriately. not be for everyone. However, he won In the same way that a heterosexual man dered whether "God may gain some Seniorli\CICllli\·c�, C l:O' sand tntrepreueurs will prcscll[ issue�and challenges thnr confronttheir industry would be permitted to teach women, a nachat if the talmidim in Mir were not and�bare their v.ews on bow tomalmalu n co111petlti\=eadvantage. Dr. HaroldNiett11berg and Dr. homosexual man should be able to teach l...a\VrcnceBellman wUI coo1'dinatcthe class. Among the corpi>raeteiecoth ·rs scheduled1,, appearart: ignorant about the world around them men. Lamm asked, "Would it be rational to and were no less knowledgeable than ,VR. GEORGE ;,\W:'iioz, CEO fire all our male professors at Stern their non -Jewish neighbors." 0ViiRSEA,t; >J llll':1 1B INYliST,VE:VT COJll'. College for Women?" Qualifying his asser Although agreeing that it is a lot easier tion, he said this would not be the case CEO to focusonly on Torah, Lamm repeatedly MR. JO.�EPH F1RES1'0NE, though, for hiring a gay youth group emphasized that "the prize is worth the ELECTRONICS BolJTl(JUE leader since such an advisor gets to know struggle." the children in a less structured and more MR. MIC,.,IAt:1.Gou,.rrn1,"i, Afterwards, Shmidman appealed to cr-:o. intimate setting. ·m1•.t; ''R " lJ.ti; f,v(,". students to be honest with themselves by Lamm emphasized the use of common realizing that more could be gained by sense when dealing with these matters. If MN. MOIIRl!i 0J.'1''1'1; P111,:.'im1t'l\"f lengthening one's stay in Yeshiva and eas OFPlrBANK .,,a homosexual is not trying to preach ing the burdens instead of trying to cram his/her way of life, Lamm advised uisolat everything into three years. Ms. JIARCY SY.lfS, PRESIDENT ing his activities but treating him as a per Messianism Sl:YS CORI. son." He also expressed his view that in Confronting the question of moshiach order to preserve self-respect and for edu and the messianic zeal that has captivated ,"rls. RO.'U SrRffif.Ji'N, l'JtKWJK,".T cational considerations, homosexuals many in recent years, Lamm distinguished H.. �. STRmLER & CO. should not talk about their orientation between "hoping for moshiach and wait R,.:ss CEO openly. ing impatiently for him." Although belief MR. BERRIE, From a philosophical perspective, Russ BERRIE & Co., INC. in moshiach is a central point in Judaism, it Lamm was asked to explain the account is not the essence of spirituality. MR. AIAN LF.l'l-� PRE.,fflE,\7 ability of a homosexual assuming that his Answering the question of whether or ECONOPHO:\'E, INC. preference is due to his genetic makeup. not one should put on tefillin in order to Lamm made an analogy to a mass rapist, bring moshiach, Lamm said, "of course MH, M,fff//P.W />ll"f/1\JSKY, C'!l.4.IRMAN Hl.. 4( .'KllfJARIJ IN(.', who although he too may be guided by not." Rather, he suggested, tefillin should 1 his violent genetic makeup has free be donned because God so commanded. Nn prcre11uisi1c�: Open 1.0al l bu�incs� 11ml liben1l Hrls stude11tswith upper elm �randingwho are choice and has no excuse for not control Noting his respect for the Lubavitch int1.Tcs1llllin lt.'llrningwht1111 hu�inc.�� trom key bl•�illeti�lenders of today.(){lier.� may obtain pennission ling his genetic impulses. movement, Lamm asserted that the move fmm onicc ol' the Dean Sy Sym� Schm,l t1f Hu�inc�s. To rah U'Madda ment is going through a difficult period "The prize is worth the effort" was and that its Messianism poses a great dan To 3cconm11)da1eall sntdents. lhc- ch�I.�will hl'ol'foti:tl 111. �11:l1 lllLC,\\·nCampu�. Vau TrJn�purwlitin b111h ways will beavailable l'rom Ull'.Mtdn Ciunpu�. Lamm's main message to the second ger. Lamm explained the concept that the question dealing with the struggles of greater an idea, the more prone it is to t'Olt ,WDJ'llONAL ['�.-0.RJ\UTIO�CO:'\TACT: ),foiri Cw,Fu�, �(il),(ll\-15, HH· 4 l'l To rah U'Madda. Despite making it clear corruption by extravagance and gave as Mld!OIVl\Cemet. '..\40-778L MID-904 that there is no mitzvah to enjoy every examples love, democracy, peace, religion, thing you study, Lamm emphatically stat- and the idea of moshiach. Page 22 December 22, 1998 ------1lw ww.�uc0MMENTA TOR,COM�I ------
You 'I I find us consulling lo global and nalion al r ortlJne .:;no companies providing an array of t H�Jman Rcsourt·cs Scrvkc�.Yo u ll find U!;usi ng cutting €dgc lcchno log}t lo uestserve our cl icnt.s. And }''OL1'I I fin \.'Vhether irs fjcnefits Solutions or Hun1an Resource� Consulli ng Sl•rvices, Kv,,tashJ HR Solulions has an i ntcgrc1.l<."<.i lea an of prc)i�(.ic. 1 n�I� and sc rvit·c:s ror every HI{need . Our entry le,vel opporluniti<.�s iududt"; • Acluari"I Analyst� • He,1lth Care Consultants • Defined Contribution Proc:e!;�ing Special isls • Defined Benefits Ana lysts • Health & \.'\/�lfare Anal).. Sts • Cornpcnsalion Ani:ll}tSL!:i • S}··stern:;& Te rhnology ,l\:;;�oc:iaLc.'s • Benefits Service R,�µrcsl�nltltives Please visit our website at www.pwcglobal.com 3 Tevet 5759 Page 23 ------jwww . vucoMMEN TAToR.coMl�------ BY COMMENTATOR STAFF Other key players for the Macs include Yoni Zadok and Avi Karesh, two experienced guards who pride themselves on their The Yeshiva University Macs have impressively battled their way quickness and defense. Do not be shocked to see either cause the to a winning record of 6-3 thus far this season. They have shown opposition to err in key moments. They both have the ability to their commitment to winning in whatever ways necessary, knock down the occasional jumper, and handle the ball effective whether gracefully, as in their game against John Jay, or in #ugly ly. David Battalion and Steven Hershmann round out the guard style," most apparent against Brooklyn Coll�ge. Led by their cap position forthe Macs. tain and seasoned veteran David Neiss, the basketball team Is Adding size to the center position offthe bench are Tuvy Meyer proving to the home crowds why they should continue to cheer and Shane Rabin. Meyer, a sophomore, brings a tree-like presence for the team and make some noise. to the middle throughout the game, while Rabin adds a mammoth The team is coached by long time coach Jonathan Halpert, and intimidating body to the court in key defensive situations. assisted by Evan Goldstein (also the Lady Mac's women's tennis Former intramural standout Uri Yudewitz presents the opposi coach). Coach Halpert also gets moral coaching support from his tion with a true three-point threat off the bench. His graceful shot brother (you know him - the man screaming directions from the and court awareness should buy him a good deal of playing time bleachers such as: •play like a team!!" or "cover that guy!!"). throughout the season. Asaf Hod brings a well rounded game to Lacking the on-court presence of some of last year's members, the floor and gives the Macs additional depth at the forwardposi such as Steve Martinek and Marc Naidrich, as well as transfer stu tion. dent 6'7" Alex Shakhmurov sitting out due to NCAA redshirt rules, Thus far the Macs have shown the ability to mentally outmatch other team members are effectively picking up the slack. Thus far teams physically bigger and stronger through defense and transi the team has picked up exactly where they left off last season, tion. The Macs effectively spread the floor with their typical 2-1-2 putting a quality product on the floor game in and game out. set and their pass-oriented offense. When keeping composed, the Sophomore Dov Weiner, a former high school standout, has Macs are a true forceto be reckoned with in the ECAC. taken over as starting point guard in Martinek's absence. Weiner The Macs however, have beaten themselves on a couple of has done a tremendous job thus far with his remarkable court occasions. The team has let t_hemselves lose their composure in awareness and an ability to penetrate the opposing team's certain situations. Against teams that pursue the full court press defense with grace. He rarely makes mistakes on the floor, and his on defense, they have shown much frustration which has led to presence is sorely missed while he catches his breath on the their downfall in two of their three losses. In addition, the Macs bench. have been caught worrying about the officiating more than their Senior guard Joel Kruger plays a leadership role both on and off own play. This was especially apparent in the Maritime home the court. Kruger is a smart player who has the knack for being In game, when the Macs debatedly lost the game due to three tech the right place at the right time. Many times the voice of reason on nical fouls called against them. the court in pressure situations, he offers Coach Halpert a veteran Overall, the Macs are a quality team that only looks to improve sportsman when the game is on the line. over the course of the season. The team hopes for great success Sophomore guard Nachum Palefski is arguably the most exciting and an EC AC playoffbid . Constantly putting on an exciting show, player on the roster. His explosiveness is key in faster paced games, they look forward to playing in front of progressively larger while his ability to finish when driving to the basket is a must in the crowds. Crowd support could prove to be a deciding factor in transition game. Look for Palefski to be amongst the high scorers home games down the stretch of the season. when the Macs are playing their best. Twenty-four year old sophomore Yossi Gev, the new import straight out of the Israeli Army, offers the small team some size at 6'4� The starting forwardadds a large body and an instant scoring ability. His line drive three point shot can Instantly change the face of a game. Senior captain David Neiss rounds offthe starting five. He Is the focalpoint of the Macs thus far this season at the other forward spot. At 6'3� he makes his living In the low post, placing the biscuit In the basket without for getting to make frequent trips to the foul line. His effectiveness throughout regulation, and especially In key minutes, Is frequently the deciding factor as to the outcome of the game. D1�cm�b.er 22, 19H8/3 Ternt 5759 · Volunm LXIII Issue 5 Homosexuality, To rah . , ') ;i Spiritual Solace and Vodka U'Madda, and the M.,$siah·<· CftaoJ/Jty(�(�� Sponsors Chassidic Gathering e r ····•·• > ••... . . , BY ·sE�iA!M�LER\;: . . .· ., ,, ����:���t s Lamm Conjro ntsth ecl$St.le�,;tliafMQVe .. .• · .. .. ::���; ��; �:�;�� ��:��h��:� . \pn �.er,d·�� �cem��r s�venth, most bf ;��fl;lO..f ! e final niggun soared into the Darm · >c � .: � YU Studentsat···,=a/l Ta lks:..>;<• e ms s n cr s n i l 11�J.:�0 AM. :t h YU co,.ntnumt}',,.b_y�i�dthe ely� goif g i p g,.,f!�,,f' BY ETAN MINTZ the b�n�fi(}o(J� eJip��'bt to oriewh )( through the ll1�tlorf� assqdat;,d ritf'their The speak�'f;Rab�iYelvet�anikov (Cantor lnf � ., .. at a ed attenipts suicide withthe a ssumpt\911that' ,·, . obser.yance of&ionday �teMh�r· seventh': \of Ah�y for h, Engi;it,:oo:NJ){�lso prov p e en ed a On December7, a packed crowd filled he y.,o,uld n ot a ct this .way unless unde Howev�r/for{1,tjny,beaHiJ'd contibg�rit '1fi ' to q� a worthyJpv �tm t. He tfum i tely , r . e a s r d e e ea e e d a e t extreme stres s.,which tonstitutes ?�O�f�pr,);< ipg in a ifferenfworld,J"'r,.for away;(b�hind.: touch d on o t:i'polnt.bi d n;ihth h rts th Rubin Shu I for th secon inst llm n . .. d a A d dn a a e e ea d e s rs nda o t d i t�'.attempt to of F ll Dorm T lks. The v nt f ture th ,d,�re �, . ,<·•·<>•;J ••·;;;t: •> ;. ' •'fH:tig.fi,!ll.!��� �?.o ofD:i il