SBMP Moves to Schottenstein Facility

Move Marks First Consistent Use of Shenk Shul Since its Restoration

The Stone Beit Midrash Program has been given a new home, albeit temporarily. While air conditioning is installed in the Morgenstern Basement, where morning seder was held until now, SBMP has moved to the Shenk Shul, located in Schottenstein Center.

Rabbi Yosef Blau, Mashgiach Ruchani of MYP and RIETS, in addition to being in charge of all daily minyanim on campus, commented on the move, "The Yeshiva has always wanted to use Shenk shul, but it was too far; the students do not want to walk that far on a regular basis."

Andrew Goldberg, SSSB ’99, echoed a similar sentiment saying, "The learning is the same, although everyone gets there ten minutes later than before because going to the bodega and then all the way to Shenk takes time!"

"I believe that even though the shul is beautiful, the travel time disrupts my learning a little," added Avi Popack, SSSB ’00, "I prefer Morg."

Brian Goldwasser, YC ’00, minimized the travel time involved. "Shenk shul is a beautiful room which is also very conducive to learning. It is spacious and comfortable, and although the walk through the innards of Washington Heights can be trying at times, it is well worth it."

Overall, the student body has been receptive to the move, although in the past, Rabbi Blau said, the negative student response was the primary reason for Shenk being underused. "The world is still standing even though BMP is in Shenk."

In the recent past, Shenk shul has been used primarily for storage and was last utilized for a lecture series and a Parent’s Day Program in 1989. In the May 11, 1993 edition of The Commentator, it was reported that Shenk shul was "unused due to an accident….a section of the ceiling plaster in the synagogue de-laminated" and fell into the women’s balcony. At that time, it was reported that the University would repair the shul during the summer of 1993 with a plan to reopen the shul that fall. At the time, the University planned to possibly use the shul for Torah lectures, becoming an auxiliary beit midrash, or accommodating the minyan now held across the street (the "Soloveitchik minyan").

The November 15, 1994 issue of The Commentator, reported that the Shenk shul remained closed to the students and utilized as a room for storage. Eventually, after a grant from the board of trustees, the University gave the shul an entire renovation, seemingly readying it for consistent use. And even though there is ample space to accommodate student learning, as proven by SBMP now, it still remained untouched.

Last year, the Committee to Reopen Shenk Shul was established and they petitioned both then YCSC President Jason Buskin and Dean of Students Efrem Nulman to reopen the shul. The Dean answered that the University must formulate an official policy on the issue before being able to use Shenk Shul on a regular basis. The shul, however, remained unused for the remainder of the year.

Upon being asked whether SBMP’s usage now is a sign of further use for Shenk, Rabbi Blau answered, "The bottom line is, we moved there out of necessity and convenience. If air conditioning would not have been installed in Morg, Shenk would still be used for storage."