2008 Woodie Awards
BMP: The B Stands for B'Dieved
Eric Adelman
Issue date: 3/8/05 Section: Opinion
I applaud Avi Shteingart's recent article relating to the divisions between MYP and its distant cousin SBMP. I was enrolled in YP for three semesters before switching to BMP. I hadn't yet found exactly what I was looking for in the Yeshiva Program, and it seemed logical to try BMP, which was billed (to me, at least) as having an agenda similar to YP. On paper, everything but the schedules seemed equivalent. But I quickly found that the talmidim in BMP were not, in general, as serious as those in YP. Like every generalization, mine has its exceptions. I am not writing to defame any talmid who whole-heartedly delves into his learning, regardless of which program he attends. But there were times when my chavrusa and I were two of only five or six other talmidim in our shiur of 30+ to attend seder. Many students apparently lost their way somewhere between Furst Hall and the Schottenstein Beis Medrash after the 9:00-9:50 halacha shiur.
In my opinion, under-emphasis on seder is BMP's Achilles Heel. My rebbe did little more than pay lip service to the importance of seder, and I know of many talmidim in BMP who receive high grades as a result of good-attendance to shiurim, despite spotty seder attendance. To be sure, the same problem exists in YP, but it does not appear to be built into the system. Structuring the program in a manner that supposes talmidim will be in Furst Hall at 9, Shottenstein at 10, and then move back to Furst Hall at 11:50 is ludicrous. Aside from the lack of continuous learning, precious time is wasted walking between different buildings. Additionally, when presented with a glaring opportunity to duck out of obligations, those lacking complete internal motivation will take advantage of the system's flaws. Yogi Berra is famously quoted as saying "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." Many BMP talmidim adhere to his maxim far too stringently, taking numerous forks in numerous roads over the course of each morning. You don't have to take my word for it: stand outside Furst Hall at 9:55 and watch BMP enrollees stream towards Amsterdam Avenue.
In my opinion, under-emphasis on seder is BMP's Achilles Heel. My rebbe did little more than pay lip service to the importance of seder, and I know of many talmidim in BMP who receive high grades as a result of good-attendance to shiurim, despite spotty seder attendance. To be sure, the same problem exists in YP, but it does not appear to be built into the system. Structuring the program in a manner that supposes talmidim will be in Furst Hall at 9, Shottenstein at 10, and then move back to Furst Hall at 11:50 is ludicrous. Aside from the lack of continuous learning, precious time is wasted walking between different buildings. Additionally, when presented with a glaring opportunity to duck out of obligations, those lacking complete internal motivation will take advantage of the system's flaws. Yogi Berra is famously quoted as saying "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." Many BMP talmidim adhere to his maxim far too stringently, taking numerous forks in numerous roads over the course of each morning. You don't have to take my word for it: stand outside Furst Hall at 9:55 and watch BMP enrollees stream towards Amsterdam Avenue.