2008 Woodie Awards
YU vs. UMD, Part II
Yoni Lipshitz
Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: Features
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"There were a few factors that led me to the University of Maryland," said senior and state resident Shaya Katz. "First off, it's close to home and cheap for a student from Maryland. For an in-state student, YU is well more than double the cost of Maryland," said Katz who also listed the school's business program as a major draw.
Katz added that he's noticed that more Maryland students come without having considered YU as an option for college. Further, Katz asserted that in his view, Yeshiva doesn't recruit heavily enough in Maryland. "My perception is that they don't really recruit and they just think kids will just go there," he said.
Recent transfer student Jason Allen (YC '10) told The Commentator that he first attended Maryland for several reasons. Among the reasons Allen said many of his peers from Yeshivat Rambam in Baltimore selected Maryland over Yeshiva was because of location, legacy and "many of their fellow high school classmates are doing the same."
Allen explained that he transferred to YU in order "to engage in and be involved with a more serious Torah-learning environment" but said that other than its Torah programs, it is difficult to see how administrators can better encourage Marylanders to consider YU.
Although it would appear that with a rapidly growing Hillel Outreach Program, Maryland would be in direct competition with YU for students. However, Maryland Hillel Director Rabbi Ari Israel doesn't think that should be the case. "I would like to think that there is room for everyone. Each school has different things to offer and caters to a different type of student," said Rabbi Israel. "I myself have am a YU graduate and have recommended YU to many people."
Rabbi Israel went so far as to suggest that together, YU and Maryland help educate the broader Orthodox community. "YU is a great place. President [Richard M.] Joel is doing great things for the University, really steering it in a great direction," commended Rabbi Israel. "But, the fact is YU can't offer everything to every student. You can't have everything anywhere. You can't have everything at University of Maryland either, but for some people, Maryland has more of what they are looking for."
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 9
joel rich
posted 10/15/07 @ 10:57 AM EST
See discussion at http://adderabbi.blogspot.com/
Avi
posted 10/15/07 @ 2:41 PM EST
I am shocked and dismayed that UMD Orthodox rabbis defend and seem to support the idea of Orthodox Jews attending UMD or other secular colleges. Is not the job of these rabbis to stress Torah learning and life? It is because Orthodox Jews attend secular schools that we have the unfortunate need for internal kiruv. (Continued…)
Noam Weissman
posted 10/16/07 @ 5:41 PM EST
I just wanted to clarify my statement quoted at the end of the article. Reading it I realized it can be misinterpreted and not accurately reflect my views. (Continued…)
KC
posted 10/17/07 @ 9:35 PM EST
If YU has such a wonderful environment for orthodox Jews, why is it that UMD is flooded with YU boys on every chag? YU may be the ideal place for Torah learning, but UMD has a stronger jewish community. (Continued…)
Aaron
posted 10/25/07 @ 11:41 AM EST
To suggest, even in passing, that YU and Maryland offer comparable secular educations is truly deceitful. Just because YU has somehow miraculously maintained its position around the top 40-50 schools in the country, does not mean that its undergraduate program can be compared to others schools besides perhaps community colleges. (Continued…)
Manu
posted 11/13/07 @ 11:28 AM EST
I lived with Noam Weissman for an enjoyable semester- his gadlus is beyond question, and he is NOT a cocky jerk. Also, I think that the fact that YU feels compelled to defend its Torah quality against Maryland's is sad- Maryland is a state university, which doesn't profess to have any institutionalized Torah learning (this would probably even be illegal). (Continued…)
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