The Folly of our Ways

Once again Yeshiva University has the opportunity to assert itself for the benefit of Judaism and failed miserably in the process. Instead of attempting to create peace and equanimity, YU has only furthered the rift between the Orthodox and Conservative movements.

This year several Solomon Schechter highschools, Conservative highschools, requested entry into YU's Red Sarachek Tournament. YU said no and cited a simple cost benefit justification - YU utilizes the Red Sarachek tournament as an admissions recruiting event and very few Solomon Schechter students have attended YU, so why invite them to participate in an event that is aimed at garnering admissions?

Error number one: thus far, YU has only admitted one Conservative highschool, for one year, to its tournament, and cites this as evidence that students of these Conservative schools will not attend Yeshiva University. Is it truly possible to extrapolate a general rule from this isolated event, that students of Conservative highschool will bear no interest in YU? Perhaps if we invited them and showed them Yeshiva University, they would change their mind and decide to attend YU. Just imagine the kiruv opportunities (please note the sarcasm).

Error number two: even if there was no possibility of a single student, from these Conservative day schools, attending YU, the administration should attempt to widen their extraordinarily narrow vision and see this opportunity for what it really is. This is an possibility for reconciliation. There is a great rift within Judaism and it only becomes larger as time continues. The Conservative and Orthodox movements only grow away from each other and now YU has an opportunity to lead Modern Orthodox Jewry in the attempt, albeit in a small way, to bridge this gap and create some sort of harmony by extending a simple invitation to the students of these Solomon Schechter highschools.

The time has come, an unparalleled opportunity has presented itself. No more rhetoric, no more apologetics, stop paying lip service to the problems. Seize the opportunity, extend an invitation to these students and begin the healing process.