The Commentator

Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Features

Related Articles:

[Click to enlarge]

On August 29, at the beginning of the current school year, a video was posted on YouTube and quickly became infamous as it spread throughout the Yeshiva University community. The video culminates with a student rappelling down the side of Belfer Hall during a school day in broad daylight.

Soon after the video was posted- and subsequently taken off- YouTube, The Commentator interviewed student daredevils, who are trying garner support and publicity for their new venture. The non-profit venture will feature the same students involved in larger scale stunts, in an effort to "revitalize the next generation of Jewish students and reignite passion for appreciating G-d's world."

SHYSMA is currently planning an expedition, set for September 2008, to sail a 35 foot sailboat to Australia. "We intend to broadcast weekly videos by satellite internet to Jewish schools around the country interested in showing the ten or 15 minute video to their students," says the group. "The purpose of this expedition and the videos is to drive home the same point made with the rappelling videos: that you can be both a frum Jew and a passionate lover of life." Interested sponsors, partners, schools, or interviewers can contact them at shysma@gmail.com.

The following are some excerpt from the correspondence:


The Commentator: Can you describe in detail the group's preparation on the day you rappelled down Belfer?

Rappellers: Belfer was really a case of everything just falling into place. We needed access to a construction worker's hardhat and clothing; we needed a strong anchor on the roof of Belfer to where we could attach the rope; we needed decent weather. We looked at the structural plans of Belfer months earlier. According to the plans, the building was 235 feet tall, so we got a 250 foot rope. It came as quite a surprise when we found that after lowering the rope it was hovering about four feet off the ground. We realized that Belfer was actually well over 250 feet. To get around the problem, the rappeller decided to land on a window washing station that was sitting on the sidewalk.

The day of, we found a construction man's hardhat and clothing lying around and the window washers had left a strong anchor system on the roof of Belfer. When we got to the top, there wasn't even a "No Trespassing" sign on the exit door.

Continued...

Page 1 of 4 next >

Article Tools