Hundreds Attend SOY Purim Haggigah

On Wednesday, March 11, Purim eve, the Student Organization of Yeshiva’s annual SOY Purim Chagigah drew close to 1000 students including highschool students and alumni to the main Beit Midrash where they joined their present and former Rebbeim in an incredibly festive celebration of Purim. Alumni ranged from recent graduates to those who graduated as far back as thirty years ago.

One of the more memorable highlights of the evening was the sight of over 300 students dancing up 186th Street and Amsterdam Avenue with Rav Baruch Simon and Rav Meir Goldwicht on their way to the Chagigah. Other Rabbeim making appearances included R’Schachter, R’Willig, R’Blau, R’Parnes, R’Ben Haim and members of the faculty of the various programs at YU.

The evening was greatly enhanced by the eight-piece band from Neshomah Orchestra as well as a seemingly endless supply of food and drinks provided by SOY. Furthermore, in a surprise change of SOY policy, this year’s Chagigah did not have an entrance fee. Menachem Luftglass, SOY President, reasoned that "to charge our own students for their own Chagigah seems absurd. Our goal through SOY is to promote a communal feeling among all our fellow talmidim and even such a small measure as removing the five dollar door fee makes a sincere attempt at making the chagigah feel as inclusive as possible." One IBC junior remarked that he "honestly felt this token gesture greatly increased my feeling of belonging."

The feeling of Yeshiva unity permeated the Beis Medrash when the band took their first break after three hours of music. "One Yeshiva, One circle," was announced as everyone parted to display one circle around the room while several students danced with a YU flag.

Though Burns Security attempted to usher the students from the beit midrash, the students continued to dance even after the lights were turned out until 2am.