Yeshiva University Suspends All Student Clubs As It Appeals Case Against LGBTQ Alliance

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A pedestrian on the campus of Yeshiva University in New York City on Aug. 30, 2022. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (adapted from JTA) – Days after the Supreme Court ruled that Yeshiva University must allow an official LGBTQ pride club on campus, the administration suspended all student clubs for the time being.

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The Friday afternoon email to undergraduate students was brief. “Considering the upcoming Chagim [holidays], the university will hold off on all undergraduate club activities while it immediately takes steps to follow the roadmap provided by the US Supreme Court to protect YU’s religious freedom,” read the email, which came from Student Activities.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court denied YU’s stay motion in its ongoing efforts to block the LGBTQ club, meaning Y.U. would have had to recognize the YU Pride Alliance while litigation continues in lower courts. The Modern Orthodox university appears to prefer that none of the campus’ 90 or so clubs function, perhaps until the case is resolved.

In a Friday afternoon email, YU announced to undergraduates that it would suspend all student clubs for the time being.

Undergraduate clubs and organizations across both the Wilf and Beren Campuses in Washington Heights and Murray Hill include intramural sports teams, Students Against Sexual Assault, the Rubik’s Cube club, surfing club and more.

The YU Commentator reported swift backlash from student leaders. “Clubs are an essential aspect of the YU experience and putting them on hold interferes with all of the positive opportunities and experiences that students gain from clubs,” said Meital Lindenberg, the student council president of Stern College, Y.U.’s affiliated all-women’s college.

In its charter, Yeshiva University is incorporated as a secular institution, a change made in the late 1960s in order to receive government funding and public grants. It was on this basis that a New York court ruled that Y.U. violated the New York City Human Rights Law by not allowing an LGBTQ pride club on campus.

Y.U. claims that as a religious institution it should be exempt from the Human Rights Law, and that the state’s ruling was a violation of its religious liberty under the First Amendment.

When asked for comment, Y.U. referred the New York Jewish Week to a press statement made by President Ari Berman on Sept. 14, in reference to the Supreme Court’s latest ruling.

“Every faith-based university in the country has the right to work with its students, including its LGBTQ students, to establish the clubs, places and spaces that fit within its faith tradition. Yeshiva University simply seeks that same right of self-determination,” Berman wrote.

“The Supreme Court has laid out the roadmap for us to find expedited relief and we will follow their instructions. At the same time, as our commitment to and love for our LGBTQ students are unshakeable, we continue to extend our hand in invitation to work together to create a more inclusive campus life consistent with our Torah values,” he added.

Some observers suggest that the case may soon be headed back to the Supreme Court, whose conservative majority has been sympathetic to religious liberty appeals.


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kehati
kehati
1 year ago

This is YU’s finest hour – it has been around for 136 years, and is literally risking everything to take a stand in defense of our Mesorah!

Rrr
Rrr
1 year ago

The students should be mad at the lgb community for trying to force the yeshiva to go against halacha. We support and love the individuals but the torah says this is unacceptable we follow it. Would yu allow a jews for j group or hare krishn a group in its ranks?

Emmmmz
Emmmmz
1 year ago

I used to attend stern (about ten years ago) and knew that it was only a matter of time before activist left-wing students brought the university to their knees. YU and Stern allowed a large number of SECULAR students to attend. The only reason they attended was because they wanted the “NYC experience” and couldn’t get into another NYC school. The entire time these students complained how the mean ‘ol administration was too religious and were determined to force the school to conform to their worldview instead of the other way around. Like an unruly guest that refuses to follow the house rules. They are secular entitled spoiled JAP’s that refuse to leave anybody alone.

Sara
Sara
1 year ago

Simple the Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke about people that consider themselves LGBT. He said it is An Illness! And must me treated by a Dr. END OF STORY! The world has to learn the 7 Nohide laws!! We need Moshiach to set this world right.

MO! Choose: secularist or orthodox. Can't be both.
MO! Choose: secularist or orthodox. Can't be both.
1 year ago

YU and the Modern Orthodox has been trying to be “diet secularists”, and following all the latest secular society’s trends for decades. Finally, this approach has been demonstrated to lead to a dead end. The only question remains: are the Modern Orthodox going to abandon the secularist path, or will they continue running towards the cliff. Either way, there will not be Modern Orthodoxy as an organized movement in less than a couple decades from now.

Phineas
Phineas
1 year ago

right move

Judith
Judith
1 year ago

Sadly , the university has no choice but to implement that step .

lazy-boy
Active Member
lazy-boy
1 year ago

The LBTQ community is set on doing what it can do to topple religious beliefs since the Torah is against it.
I hope YU is able to continue with out recognizing these wicked people.

judgedayan
judgedayan
1 year ago

YU should offer the m”z students the availability of psychological treatment for their illness.

Yitz
Yitz
1 year ago

YU was right. They are not discriminated as they are allowed to attend.
As long as they are non practicing and celibate “gay” people they are not violating halacha merely missing out on the mitzvos to have children and to educate them.

A yid
A yid
1 year ago

What happened to the story with the ” female” teacher?

Sara
Sara
1 year ago

I guess my comment was to radical to post

Triumpinwhitehouse
Triumpinwhitehouse
1 year ago

Let’s hope this entire YU closes next my rebbe said better 2 go 2 a Akum college than step inside this zionist place

Moshe
Moshe
1 year ago

I was in one of the big groceries in Flatbush where I had a verbal debate encounter with a guy who claimed he was gay. I told him it’s a serious sin. He asked me what to do. I told him to stay away from places or people that lead to such evil behavior. He said he can’t. I said then learn Torah and fill your head with Torah. Otherwise it’s better to commit suicide as that would be an option to save your soul from gehenim.