Volume 67, Issue 3

Karduner Captivates Campus

by Jeremy Mazurek

This past Monday night, October 7th, the Yeshiva Student Union drew nearly 400 students from the Wilf and Midtown Campuses to Weissberg Commons for a school-wide Yosef Karduner concert aimed at supporting Israel and providing musical entertainment at the same time.  Karduner, the immensely popular guitarist and singer – and a Breslover Chassid – performed in front of a crowd eager to dance and to demonstrate solidarity with Israel.  Despite short notice, quick planning, and resistance from the Office of Facilities Management, all in attendance deemed the night a huge success.

The Israel Emergency Solidarity Fund, along with the help of many Yeshiva and Stern College students, organized the concert.  Tables were set up at the entrance to the room, and volunteers collected the suggested minimal entrance fee of five to ten dollars.  All proceeds from the concert were intended for families victimized by Arab terror.  In fact, Karduner performed gratis, donating his time and talent for the sake of all those suffering in Israel.  Buckets, much like the ones used to collect funds at the mass rally in Washington last April, were filled to capacity, while bracelets were handed out, each engraved with a name of one of the murdered victims.  The new Shalsheles single, “Dreaming,” produced and recorded by the Israel Emergency Solidarity Fund, was on sale for only five dollars, in order to bring much needed support to the victims.

For the ten days prior to the concert, Yeshiva Student Union President Shai Barnea and Vice President Yaakov Green worked tirelessly to orchestrate the event.  “They certainly worked hard, and the event was a huge success, so their efforts paid off,” said a Yeshiva College senior.  “We should give all the organizers a huge yasher koach.”  Additionally, Student Organization of Yeshiva Vice President, Yummie Shachter, Yeshiva’s Israel Emergency Solidarity Fund Representative; Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary student Tulie Weiss; and Yeshiva College junior Richard Silverman, the concert’s proceeds and collections organizer, were all instrumental in coordinating the event.

Without disclosing the exact amount collected, Silverman noted, “The night was a huge success both for Israel and the students.”

This accomplishment came despite the “usual YU run-around” when YSU attempted to secure a venue for the event, said one student leader.  In general, Facilities requires a seven-day advance notice for reserving rooms on campus.  Although the Karduner concert was only scheduled six days prior to the occasion, the unnecessary resistance provided by Facilities perturbed the student leader.  However, he noted, the issue was raised at the recent Student Life Committee meeting, where an understanding was reached for future events.

At ten o’clock the doors opened, and the night began with a large Maariv minyan.  After Maariv, Karduner and his bongo drummer took over, rousing the audience to its feet.  “It was great to be able to dance to Karduner’s great melodies and to also lend support to Israel,” exclaimed one Yeshiva College junior.  Although the room was initially too cramped to dance because chairs were set up, students managed to squeeze out an area where, captivated by Karduner’s intensity, they danced and sang along.  “The concert was really, really excellent.  Karduner’s new material is very inspiring, especially this niggun he sang from the Maggid of Mezrich,” commented YC sophomore Aaron Roller.  “Although there was some noise from intermingling students in the back, Yossie’s Divrei Torah were quite amusing and uplifting,” he added. 

“Yosef Karduner truly believes in what he is singing, and his lyrics are extremely moving,” noted YC Junior Mark Kurzman.  “Karduner isn’t just a regular performer, he really gets into his music; the concepts he sings about really make an impact.”

The music lasted straight through midnight.  By the end of the evening, those who participated felt spiritually uplifted.  Not only did they enjoy the performance, the music, and the Divrei Torah – they also felt accomplished.  “We really helped Israel, and that’s the important thing,” Kurzman explained.

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