Need to Unite not Fight

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to David Anziska's article, entitled "Controversial 'South Park' Minyan Divides Student Body" (Sept. 8^th issue). It appears that a much greater problem exists then that of whether or not a particular show should be watched and the correctness of the minyan which precedes it. The problem has only been exacerbated and made as clear as day through the comments of individual students quoted in the article, and the remarks of the reporter himself. This problem is the great rift which divides the YU student body.

We, at YU, are not living a reality. Although YU is a top-tier national university it remains very different from its peers, simply because everyone at YU is Jewish. For the majority of students at YU, the years spent here will be their last spent in an entirely Jewish environment. Whether continuing on to graduate school or going out into the work force we will soon have to adapt to people of other races and cultures.

How can we expect to do this if we can't even get along amongst ourselves?! We don't realize how fortunate we are to be in YU, to live on a daily basis in the Jewish community which YU provides us with.

It is not my place to say whether or not it is proper for one to watch a particular show, or what is the proper way to daven. We have at YU the most prestigious compilation of rabbeim found in a single yeshiva. This being the case, if there are students who feel that certain actions are problematic, speak to the rabbeim about it, and they will address the issue in the proper fashion.

If those complaining about the show and the people who watch it are doing so out of concern for their fellow Jew - which is the only acceptable reason - calling them "disgraces" and saying that they are not part of the yeshiva (or that they are on a lower level) and other disparaging remarks are certainly not going to help the issue. On the contrary, these type of comments turn a small disagreement into a civil war.

The reporter made it his point to constantly stress that the people who were against those watching the show were from the "yeshivish," "black hat on head and Gemara in hand," "chareidi," more religious looking students." While there is no way to justify the the comments which were made by individual students, they don't represent the entire MYP program or the religious student body of YU. We are fortunate here at YU to have Jews of all backgrounds coming together. To have people on a regular basis make it their point to clearly label the differences which exist within the student body is a crime. We should, during this important time in which we live, be focusing on the similarities that exist among us and doing things to bring everyone closer together. YU gives us a tremendous thing providing us with the environment that it does. To not appreciate and take advantage of it is simply a "disgrace."

Jason Orenstein
YC/MYP '01

Related Stories:

• Controversial South Park Minayn Divides Student Body