Yeshiva University Commentator -- Special Edition; September 12th 2001

Student Body Mobilizes in Solidarity
By Jason Koslowe

On September 11, at 2:30 PM, more than 425 students convened in the Danciger Quadrangle outside Rubin Hall for a demonstration of solidarity, in response to the devastating attack on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Impelled by an enormous effort on the part of student leaders on the Uptown Campus and adroitly organized by Yeshiva's administration, the rally consisted of a mincha prayer service and recitation of tehillim, followed by an address to the students by Yeshiva President Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm and Yeshiva College Student Council President Lou Shapp.

Both speakers stressed the need to demonstrate unity with Yeshiva's American brothers and sisters who suffered this calamity. Many students at the rally articulated their tremendous appreciation for the Yeshiva administration's reaction to the crisis, particularly the posted emergency notification that updated all members of the Yeshiva community as to the status of operations on both campuses.

Student leaders took the initiative in organizing the gathering, as even non-elected officials proved influential in the rally. "Our student body owes its gratitude especially to those organizers who do not have any formal responsibility, as they took it upon themselves to help us in responding to the horrendous terrorist attacks," remarked Yeshiva College Sophomore Josh Strauss. Shapp, one of the rally's organizers, said that he felt the need to actively provide the student body with an outlet to manifest their emotions and to pray to God for peace and understanding.

After deciding upon a plan for the rally, the student leaders involved went to Mashgiach Ruchani Rabbi Yosef Blau and Dean of Students David Himber, both of whom responded swiftly. Blau moved to prepare for the religious aspect of the rally, at the same time preparing for Rabbi Lamm to be brought uptown through the chaotic streets of Manhattan. Every department within the university assisted in any way they could, and Yeshiva's offices were practically empty by 2:30 P.M. The Office of Facilities Management rapidly readied the grounds, deconstructing the perimeter and wiring the area for the podium, sound system, and video equipment; the Office of Safety and Security assisted vigorously in preparing for the event. It seemed, in the eyes of Sy Syms School of Business Junior David Turk, that "each individual, both here at YU and throughout the city, personally living through the horror with those around him, has responded by helping others."

All who attended the rally seemed immersed in their own prayers and thoughts during the mincha service and tehillim recital. The extent to which those attending felt connected with the devastation only 10 miles south of YU's main campus was palpable in the fervor of the prayers being said. Rabbi Lamm, in his speech after the prayers, echoed the uncertainty expressed by many students, and perhaps voiced in their prayers concerning the situation. "What should I feel is the purpose of my dejection, my pain, my suffering and my tragedy?" he asked.

Lamm further emphasized our need as Jews to respond on two fronts, spiritually and practically. "We must continue our tefillos with deep kavonoh and with emunah and with bitachon," he stressed. "But we also must remember to give blood and to write to our government officials two different kinds of letters, one to congratulate them for what they did in Durban-- and one to demand an aggressive policy on terrorism."

Shapp focused upon the moral incumbency upon people everywhere to not only recognize the need to react, directly and harshly, against the terrorist enemies of civilization both here, in Israel, and around the world, but to actualize their sentiments without hesitation. He further expressed the necessity to understand and proclaim in all public forums that the terrorism responsible for yesterday's heinous acts is identical to the terrorism that Israel and the rest of the world face. Overall, the demonstration proved, in the words of Syms Sophomore Yair Amsel, that "Yeshiva's student body really cares about other people. This tragedy hit home for everyone who showed up to the rally, a large percentage of the undergraduates."

Speech Given By Dr. Lamm at the Rally
Speech Given by YCSC President Lou Shapp at Rally