RESPONSE: In Defense of Yeshiva University Basketball Players

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This is in response to the letter to the editor regarding the YU basketball team not wearing yarmulkas:

As a former student at YU I was extremely disappointed in the nature of this letter to the editor.

YU brands themselves as a modern orthodox university based on Jewish values. Connected to that is Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanon (RIETS), which is legally considered an affiliate of YU.

Not all the students at YU are part of this Yeshiva Program. There are many students at YU who are not religious and are part of other Jewish study programs such as the Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies (IBC), and the James Striar School (JSS).

These programs adopt a sense of inclusion and kiruv to these not religious students and enable them to be in an atmosphere of Jewish culture and observance for a portion of their day. The teachers and rabbis in these programs are incredible, and many teach in both these programs and the yeshiva.

All that being said, there are still many students who are not observant and who do not wear yarmulkas during secular classes.

Being an inclusive institution, YU cannot force students to wear yarmulkas, just like Fordham University cannot force the students to wear crosses. Neither can the administration of YU force the students to keep Shabbos or kosher.

The students are well above the age to make those decisions for themselves.

Seeing YU have students who stretch from the ultra orthodox to the non religious should be seen as a major accomplishment on their part.

The fact that they are able to attract students who would otherwise go to NYU or Columbia while at the same time having an affiliated yeshiva with some of best Talmidei Chachamim is a major testament to the success of their model.

Seeing players on the team who are both religious with yarmulkas and non religious without yarmulkas, is a sign of the beauty of the work they do in the thriving of the American Jewish community.

You may disagree with their hashkafah, but that is their hashkafah nonetheless. Instead of focusing on the players without yarmulkas, stress to your children the amazing players who wear yarmulkas (two of the best players on the team wear yarmulkas).

If all you can do seeing this is judge the players because of your personal feeling towards YU, then maybe look more into the structure and philosophy of why YU exists, and the large effect it has on world Jewry and world academia.

The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of VIN News. 


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56 Comments
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Emes
Emes
2 years ago

Thanks for a “dose of reality” and the explanation of the YU organizational structure for those of us who are not familiar with it.

Secular
Secular
2 years ago

Well said .

Liam K. Nuj
Liam K. Nuj
2 years ago

Very enlightening and well explained.
BTW, the views expressed by this author SHOULD “necessarily reflect those of VIN News.” I mean, why not?

shlomo zalman
shlomo zalman
2 years ago

I am a YU guy through and through. Discontinuing the tradition of the yarmulka on the basketball team is a serious and unfortunate mistake. ככל הגויים אשר סביבותיי is an indictment, not a badge of honor.

joselito
joselito
2 years ago

I played in Strasbourg France with the basketball team of the jewish community who was in the 60’s 70’s semi professionnal team. All the the youth team boys and girls were 99% jewish from secular to haridi and habad kids. We trained with a yarmulke even before the game but played without it. We never played any game on shabbes ( soccer or basketball) and Soccer youth teams who do not play shabbes is impossible outside Strasbourg. I am 100% agree with the writer

Yoel Silver
Yoel Silver
2 years ago

very true,maybe lubavitch should visit and help with the kiruv of these souls

Sara
Sara
2 years ago

Next time you are in a hospital and get help from a frum doctor ask him what high school, college , or medical school he attended. I bet one of those responses will be Yeshiva University High School, Yeshiva University, or Albert Einstein( a former Yeshiva University affiliate. You can try this with your frum lawyer, accountant, or investment adviser.

Opa J
Opa J
2 years ago

All Jews are your brothers and sisters – whether or not they wear a yarlmuka (especially in the case of your sisters) or agree with your religious philosophy. G-d destroyed the temple due to hatred amongst Jews. Stop hating and try to let a bit of the religion to which your purportedly ascribe sink into your soul. Start loving your fellow Jews and good things will happen fast for all of us!

Call it for what it is
Call it for what it is
2 years ago

In simple English, the Y and the U joined so now there’s less Y and more U.

Gemarakop
Gemarakop
2 years ago

Ha as if a non religious student who could go to nyu or Columbia would go to yu. Being not orthodox is not a reason those institutions accept.

Josh
Josh
2 years ago

YU is entitled to their hashkafa. And thanks for enlighting us why the Yeshiva velt is so anti YU

Modern Orthodox isn't orthodox.
Modern Orthodox isn't orthodox.
2 years ago

My biggest problem is them calling themselves The Maccabees.

Gggg
Gggg
2 years ago

So we should be happy yu is proud of their non religious students? Where do you think those students will end up after 120?

Shmuel
Shmuel
2 years ago

So, a written confirmation, as if anybody needed one, that YU is NOT a Jewish institution.
Thank you.

Anonymous
Anonymous
2 years ago

The organizational structure of YU, while interesting, is not all that relevant.

“Seeing YU have students who stretch from the ultra orthodox to the non religious should be seen as a major accomplishment on their part.”

In their mission of shmad, yes. “Ultra-Orthodox” should not intentionally be spending their formative years (socially and/or academically) with peers who are negative influences.

This (and the rest) is not a matter of YU having a different “hashkafa”, but rather being anti-Torah.

Triumpinwhitehouse
Triumpinwhitehouse
2 years ago

My rebbe said better to go a catholic university or CUNY than YU, the name of their basketball team should be hellenists not maccabees