2008 Woodie Awards
Who Are We?
Issue date: 9/4/07 Section: Editorials
- Page 1 of 1
In the beginning there was just Torah. Then along came Madda. The struggle to synthesize the two was lost to a creation of bombastic Centers and Programs. Does YU really have an identity? There are so many different ideological groups on campus, not only amongst the students, but amongst those who run Yeshiva. So, who are we?
There are administrators and deans who push the College towards an academically elite direction. Professors are gathered from ivy league universities and touted before the Yeshiva community. RIETS Roshei Yeshiva do the best they can to mimic the great yeshivot of Europe and rightfully boast a level of Torah study of the highest level. Night seder has been relentlessly advocated this year. Students in this sector of Yeshiva search for spiritual growth during their stay at YU, and see this as Yeshiva's true purpose.
There are students and professors who look to improve the culture at YU. Poetry readings and art festivals are what define the college experience for them. They are the ones who most sorely miss a green campus and a tree under which they can read a good novel. Another major section identify with the CJF. Student activism is greatly promoted as many students make YU their platform to try and make waves in the Jewish community. Yeshiva is the bastion of idealism and its students seek to implement their values. Their humanitarian and charitable goals are what define their experience at YU.
This is not to say that the average student is not a mixture of these different cultures. However, there are very few leaders and students who promote a clearly outlined combination. Indeed, many students may value one culture, but only succeed in implementing another. Rabbinic faculty and administrators acknowledge the value of both Torah u-Madda but fail to implement a healthy synthesis of the two.
It is difficult for us to come to a conclusion about Yeshiva's identity. We can only hope to stimulate conversation on the topic. But as Yeshiva's identity is so greatly confused, one must reflect: Do students accomplish their individual goals as they see and choose them, or are they too culturally torn by an institution that is seemingly unfocused to accomplish any one of them?
There are administrators and deans who push the College towards an academically elite direction. Professors are gathered from ivy league universities and touted before the Yeshiva community. RIETS Roshei Yeshiva do the best they can to mimic the great yeshivot of Europe and rightfully boast a level of Torah study of the highest level. Night seder has been relentlessly advocated this year. Students in this sector of Yeshiva search for spiritual growth during their stay at YU, and see this as Yeshiva's true purpose.
There are students and professors who look to improve the culture at YU. Poetry readings and art festivals are what define the college experience for them. They are the ones who most sorely miss a green campus and a tree under which they can read a good novel. Another major section identify with the CJF. Student activism is greatly promoted as many students make YU their platform to try and make waves in the Jewish community. Yeshiva is the bastion of idealism and its students seek to implement their values. Their humanitarian and charitable goals are what define their experience at YU.
This is not to say that the average student is not a mixture of these different cultures. However, there are very few leaders and students who promote a clearly outlined combination. Indeed, many students may value one culture, but only succeed in implementing another. Rabbinic faculty and administrators acknowledge the value of both Torah u-Madda but fail to implement a healthy synthesis of the two.
It is difficult for us to come to a conclusion about Yeshiva's identity. We can only hope to stimulate conversation on the topic. But as Yeshiva's identity is so greatly confused, one must reflect: Do students accomplish their individual goals as they see and choose them, or are they too culturally torn by an institution that is seemingly unfocused to accomplish any one of them?
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