From the YCSC President

By Lou Shapp

There were 2 seminary girls on a bus riding through the streets of Brooklyn.  One was named Avigail and the other was named Devorah.  In the middle of the ride, Avigail nonchalantly said to Devorah, “Did you hear the news?  The latest shidduch in town is so not kedai!”  Avigail asked, “Why not?  The two of them seem perfect for each other.”  Avigail answered, “Oh no.  The kalla’s parents aren’t frum and the chassan’s parents are extremely Orthodox and the chassan’s parents don’t even know it.  If they knew her parents weren’t frum, the wedding would for sure plunder.” 

“Oh my.  That does not sound kedai at all.” claimed Devorah with look of agreement on her face.  Just as the two girls began to indulge in more dialogue, a woman who was sitting behind the girls, who appeared to look in her mid 40’s, exclaimed, “I happen to be the mother of chassan and I am so glad I overheard this conversation.  I must immediately take action and stop the wedding.”  The two girls’ eyes swelled up with tears as they begged the mother to reconsider the match based on, that they didn’t think it actually so crucial to the shidduch.   They cried, “We were just trying to offer constructive criticism to one another.”  The mother then calmed the girls and admitted, “I am really not the mother of the chassan, but I very well could have been.  And you girls, through constructive criticism could have been responsible for ruining a perfectly shayach marriage.  Now you realize what kind of an effect even constructive criticism can have on someone.”

I am not a Rav and I am not in the position to judge anyone.  But the past couple of weeks, in retrospect, I feel could have been handled differently.  Freedom of speech is crucial to society, but at the same time is limited by Chazal and the Torah.  Allow me to explain this scenario: I was handed two fliers that read as follows: the first one says derogatory characteristics about a Jewish and prominent political figure, trying to convince the reader that their ultimate goal was to unite the students and to push for the ensured future of the Torah U’Madda hashkafa; the other one is a signed document by the Hanhalas Ha’Yeshiva, declaring a public fast day with the words Acheinu Kol Beis Yisrael streaming across the top of the page.  The odd thing is that I was handed these 2 fliers by the same person.  I think the paradox is quite apparent. 

We, as the students of Yeshiva University, who hold the Torah U’Madda hashkafa to each of our own extents, are truly the leaders and role models of YU.  There is only one President and Rosh HaYeshiva.  There are 1500 of us students who carry the YU name with us on a daily basis.  While the hierarchy of our University takes turns and spins, we have the obligation as a student body to constantly remain on track.  It is our behavior and etiquette that truly determines what YU stands for. 

Granted that decisions being made at the present time may seem unsettling to many, but I do not think that it is an excuse for malice, slandering and yes, not even constructive criticism.  We are above that, and especially when times get tough, we need to be even more careful to not let our “not so pleasant” impulses get the best of us. 

However, as the saying goes, “In every dark cloud, there is a silver lining.”  Over the past couple of weeks I have seen students raise their heads upwards for a cause.  I have seen ambition and motivation spread through students like a wildfire.  Suddenly students from all learning programs are working together ke’eesh echad be’lev echad.   There is a refreshed care for the continuity of the University that I have never seen so many students portray.  Most importantly, we all see now how much we so dearly care about Yeshiva University and its future for our children and generations to come.  The love and admiration for our college is shining brighter then ever. 

If there is anything we can take from the past couple of weeks, besides correcting our misdoings, it is that Y.U. is so delicate and fragile.  We don’t take enough time to always appreciate how blessed we are to be in the situation we are in now; to have leader like Rabbi Lamm who is a Lamdan in so many fields and understands our needs and priorities; to be able to learn in a Bais Medrash for a few hours, and cross the street to attend a physics class; to be among peers who share the same values and beliefs as one another.  I think taking the last few weeks into account, especially alone with the situation in Eretz Yisrael, we have a lot to be thankful for being at Yeshiva University.  We should never take that which we are so privileged to have for granted.  Let us learn from the past and excel in the future.  Let’s take this lesson and eem yirtza Hashem, peace will prevail both in the land of Israel, and in ultimately in our own University.