2008 Woodie Awards
The Sganei Mashgiach: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Daniel Zvi Loewenstein
Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Features
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Only a few years ago, several young, new faces walked into Yeshiva University with a vague mission and big plans to "Make things better for the talmidim." Now, with a whole host of accomplishments, including their recent negotiations for the hiring of new shiur assistants for the Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program, the Sganei Mashgiach have solidified their role as one of the key elements of student support and advocacy in Yeshiva.
There were several catalysts for the program's creation. First, the growing size of the student population provided a daunting task for Rabbi Yosef Blau, the Mashgiach Ruchani, overtaxing him and preventing him from making adequate time for every student.
"As talented as Rabbi Blau is, it is impossible for him to connect with the entire beit midrash and beyond," Dr. Hillel Davis said.
Rabbi Blau agreed with Dr. Davis' assessment, "It never made sense to have only one Mashgiach, even when the numbers were lower."
Dr. Davis added that with the Sganei Mashgiach in place, students now have a better opportunity to relate to the beit midrash administration on a personal level, which students who study in Israel have come to expect of their learning experience.
Rabbi Uri Orlian and Rabbi Ely Bacon, two of the Sganei Mashgiach, pointed out that the role the program fills also furthers the support offered by the shiur rabbeim.
"Shiurim were very large, and they didn't provide the ideal of each student cultivating a relationship with his rabbi," Rabbi Orlian noted. It is known that many of the rabbis of YU are very busy with other responsibilities and can give only a limited amount of time to their students.
"You can still reach your rabbi if it's a serious thing," said Rabbi Orlian, "but sometimes there are smaller issues. If there were smaller shiurim you'd be able to talk to your rabbi, but here you don't have that opportunity."
Additionally, Rabbis Orlian and Bacon emphasized the purpose of the Sganei Mashgiach are to serve a unique role "meant to underscore and emphasize YU's commitment to establishing a warm and embracing environment in the yeshiva and on campus that is attentive to the individual.
There were several catalysts for the program's creation. First, the growing size of the student population provided a daunting task for Rabbi Yosef Blau, the Mashgiach Ruchani, overtaxing him and preventing him from making adequate time for every student.
"As talented as Rabbi Blau is, it is impossible for him to connect with the entire beit midrash and beyond," Dr. Hillel Davis said.
Rabbi Blau agreed with Dr. Davis' assessment, "It never made sense to have only one Mashgiach, even when the numbers were lower."
Dr. Davis added that with the Sganei Mashgiach in place, students now have a better opportunity to relate to the beit midrash administration on a personal level, which students who study in Israel have come to expect of their learning experience.
Rabbi Uri Orlian and Rabbi Ely Bacon, two of the Sganei Mashgiach, pointed out that the role the program fills also furthers the support offered by the shiur rabbeim.
"Shiurim were very large, and they didn't provide the ideal of each student cultivating a relationship with his rabbi," Rabbi Orlian noted. It is known that many of the rabbis of YU are very busy with other responsibilities and can give only a limited amount of time to their students.
"You can still reach your rabbi if it's a serious thing," said Rabbi Orlian, "but sometimes there are smaller issues. If there were smaller shiurim you'd be able to talk to your rabbi, but here you don't have that opportunity."
Additionally, Rabbis Orlian and Bacon emphasized the purpose of the Sganei Mashgiach are to serve a unique role "meant to underscore and emphasize YU's commitment to establishing a warm and embracing environment in the yeshiva and on campus that is attentive to the individual.
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