tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13326001.post3414565105479397130..comments2024-03-02T03:29:09.759-05:00Comments on SerandEz and Friends: Finding a Center: The Role of Yeshiva UniversityEzziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12494592434522239195noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13326001.post-78425960059038000042009-07-01T23:54:33.920-04:002009-07-01T23:54:33.920-04:00as a college student, straight from high school (d...as a college student, straight from high school (doesn't want to go to israel at this time).fudgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15770176520308242233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13326001.post-34928461531031142402009-07-01T15:10:47.164-04:002009-07-01T15:10:47.164-04:00Fudge -
Is he going as a college student or for ...Fudge - <br /><br />Is he going as a college student or for smicha?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13326001.post-55036013705483247382009-06-30T23:45:03.496-04:002009-06-30T23:45:03.496-04:00I realize I'm a little late to this party, but...I realize I'm a little late to this party, but as someone whose younger brother is hoping to become a part of MYP after four years at Chafetz Chayim - what would you recommend? Were there any rabbeim you felt were more amenable to being involved? Was this truly across the board in the higher shiurs? <br /><br />My brother's a middle-of-the-road kind of guy, and he's going to YU rather than a CC beis medrash because his values (like our family's) are somewhat more modern than CC. But your post has me worried that he will feel neglected or out-of-place for believing in the same values YU usually highlights: Torah u'madda. Is it possible to belong to one of the more advanced shiurs and still hang with a "normal" crowd, placing equal emphasis on secular studies?fudgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15770176520308242233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13326001.post-51362277333789214212009-06-24T18:08:42.476-04:002009-06-24T18:08:42.476-04:00Twenty years ago, bachurim had the option of learn...Twenty years ago, bachurim had the option of learning in a variety of yeshivos and attending college at the same time. Quite a number of young men in Far Rockaway learned in YFR in the day and attended Queens College at night. However, with the general trend to the right, this was discontinued. As a result, those who wanted to combine learning with college had far fewer options. We'll see if this takes off.Ariella's bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409352047101582583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13326001.post-45647464825700887012009-06-24T17:46:53.200-04:002009-06-24T17:46:53.200-04:00Re: DRS - I think it's great that they're ...Re: DRS - I think it's great that they're having this program. As one of the Rebbeim there said, yeah, it's cheaper than YU, but for the near 50% or students who don't choose YU, it's a great option. Those kids should be able to have at least one Modern Orthodox learning program instead of their only options being programs that are more yeshivish. I don't think it will take boys away from Lander. The ones going to Lander probably wouldn't consider going to a program run by DRS (or very few, anyway). Not to mention that programs like this already exist, just not MO ones.<br /><br /><i>In Lander, by being there alone one self-defines as being "more frum" (as compared to YU et al).</i><br /><br />True. Although what about within Lander itself? There isn't that same competition?Erachethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00660802321998349072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13326001.post-32571662394386845662009-06-24T17:14:31.985-04:002009-06-24T17:14:31.985-04:00Also, great comment by Ari as well.Also, great comment by Ari as well.Ezziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494592434522239195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13326001.post-58960357248546228112009-06-24T17:14:18.617-04:002009-06-24T17:14:18.617-04:00I have so many thoughts on this (excellent) post t...I have so many thoughts on this (excellent) post that I don't where to start.<br /><br />Regarding DRS's idea... it sounds like it is a low-cost alternative that would negatively impact places like Lander and YU. Smart on their part; not necessarily great in the overall picture, but that's a different point.<br /><br />I never really viewed YU as an option while in HS, simply because it was ingrained into me that it was less "frum"; this, despite my sister and brother-in-law having been in YU/Stern. (Stern, for whatever reason, did not have that stigma.)<br /><br />Only when I went to visit was I impressed by their full BM; on the flip side, the guy who showed us around had just woken up and his chavrusa was sleeping. (It was 1030am.) Moreover, there were 5-600 guys learning. There are 1,100 in YU, as pointed out by a Rebbe of mine.<br /><br />The Torah-centric point is a fantastic one and aligns well with a few other discussions I was having recently (some after this post was written). To super-over-simplify a much longer conversation, it's not surprising that it exists in YU, but not in Lander. If someone is MO or MO-background or "flipped", there is often a need to ensure that one is perceived as being the proper level of frum. In Lander, by being there alone one self-defines as being "more frum" (as compared to YU et al). In YU, because there is a large chunk of people who could not care less, those who do feel a pressure to 'show' their frumkeit by bringing Torah everywhere (as opposed to understanding that Torah is part of everywhere). The same person in Lander doesn't have this pressure; they are already "frum"; they can simply focus on their secular studies at their time and learning at its time.<br /><br />I personally didn't find the Rabbeim in Lander to be much better than what you described, but then again, I was used to WITS and OJ, two places notoriously good about it; it was substantially better in LCM than in other Yeshivos I was in, so give it that. Certainly they made time if approached.<br /><br />Lost track of all the thoughts, but excellent post. Lots of other discussions that can come from this.Ezziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494592434522239195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13326001.post-18910515808132817702009-06-24T15:11:10.699-04:002009-06-24T15:11:10.699-04:00Interesting post.
The idea of spiritual growth,...Interesting post. <br /><br />The idea of spiritual growth, balance, and the role of post-high school study relates a little to the conversation that Bad for Shidduchim had a few days ago, where she discussed how women dating for marriage are sometimes asked about their "spiritual" pursuits.<br /><br />Completely absent in the responses was pushback on what should be defined as spirituality. Mostly, people dutifully defined it as engaging in torah study or attendance at shiurim.<br /><br />I think that too many post-high school programs -- for both men and women -- define spirituality wrongly...as a mostly solitary activity done mostly to enrich the belief or knowledge of the student. (yes, yes - i know the world is dependent on Torah study, but let's face it; most practitioners are doing it because of peer pressure, and are not doing it to save the world or to get a spiritual high)<br /><br />I humbly suggest that public service / tircha d'tziburah be promoted as a legitimate expression of spirituality by the Judaic studies portion of these programs or yeshivas and seminaries. This sensitivity to the spiritual, emotional and phsycial needs of friends, neighbors and families might inject a little balance into the curriculum.Arinoreply@blogger.com