Often touted as a poor excuse for the Purim experience in Yeshiva in Israel, Purim at Yeshiva University was certainly not as bad this year as it is often cracked up to be. Overall, students greatly enjoyed the chaggigah, chesed opportunities, and genuine yeshiva atmosphere.
As a precaution for the annual on-campus Purim frivolities, Yeshiva hired extra security throughout campus. As the entire yeshiva engaged in drinking and dancing, Burns Security was checking bags and confiscating alcoholic beverages.
SOY organized Megillah laining in every dormitory. The Megillah reading in the Main Beis Medrash was rumored to be long and tedious, so many avoided it at all costs. The other readings, however, were not much better. Although they were generally quicker, they were also bland and emotionless. "Being in YU for Megillah reading was depressing; the readings did not provoke a sense of thrill for the miraculous day," recalled one YC junior who preferred anonymity due to his extreme opinions. "It was the worst I've ever heard." Some students also expressed frustration at the readings' limitation upon the traditional noisemaking during Haman's name. Even when there was noise - the gabbaim allowed it at the beginning and at the end of the reading - it was not loud enough to drown out the sound of a screaming child. "It was a smooth reading, but without the noise, it just didn't feel Purimdik," observed a surprised Yehuda Shmidman, YC sophomore.
Many students went elsewhere to hear the Megillah. Some were recruited to participate and even assist in other readings. Jeremy Hartstein, another YC sophomore, stated, "My shiur [Rav Boruch Simon's] went to assist in making a minyan at the Hope of Israel Synagogue. Our shiur has been doing this for the past three years, and this was a nice way to spread the joy of Purim to others."
Many students went to help the less fortunate on Purim. Shaya Shtern, an SSSB Senior who went with Yeshivat Ramaz to Lennox Hill Hospital, explained that he was ecstatic to have "helped the sick be yotzei their mitzvah of Megillah." These good deeds really reflected positively upon Yeshiva.
Back in Yeshiva, after the readings ended, everyone returned to the Main Beis Medrash and danced the night away at the annual Purim Chaggigah. The rebbeim and students joined together, "celebrating the chag the way it should be," according to Yair Sturm, a YC Junior. The chaggigah lasted until the wee hours of the morning, as students held back little in honor of the holiday.
The next day, many students made their own Purim seudos in the local apartments. Others went home and ate the seudah with their families. Some went to kollel families for the meal. As YC freshman Yair Amsel observed, "Although everyone probably had a place for the seudah, a sense of achdus was clearly lacking.... The unity of the Holiday was most obviously displayed at the chaggigah."