Yeshiva University High School For Boys - Elchanite Yearbook (New York, NY)

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Man and Nature by ISAAC snARoN Man is no more than a tiny insect whose days are numbered and whose death is inevitable. ln spite of all heralded advances in the realms of science, the human race is. as it has always been. a mere tool in the hands of Nature, the Omnipotent Master. Man may dream of reaching the outer Universe, yet his delusions of grandeur are invariably shattered against the hard rock of reality. Ever since Man was created. he has aspired to break away from the confine- ments in which Nature has placed him. and to become the master of his fate. Many have been his efforts, yet all have been in vain. Every attempt has not only failed, but has also entailed heavier yokes and lower standards. Having failed to learn his lesson from Eve's Apple. the Human struggled to ascend the insurmountable mountain of Eternity by means of the Tower of Babel. and consequently found himself dispersed for ages to come. Even at the present time, mortals fancy that they have finally managed to overcome Nature-that the stage in which they would be able to dictate the course of their future has arrived. They point to soaring skyscrapers and mechanized inventions. and practically claimed that in a short time Man will be able to fathom the secret of the Creation, and rule the Universe. Man fails to realize that he is now subject not only to the rigorous rules of Nature, but also to his own impregnable standards. The fact is that Man is so enslaved. that he is unable to appraise his situation in its true light. Treatises and researches have concluded that he is gradually advancing toward eternal longevityg that his average lifespan has been increased nearly twofold during the past centuryg that octogenarians will soon become the rule rather than the exception. But what value will a hundred years have to a harassed individual in an ultra-modern urban society? He will live to have appre- hensions that his own wild progress may result in the release of uncontrolled power for destructive ends. He will think. and dread the thought. that he may someday be living in a society where he toils while machines command. lt is true that countless inventions, potentially benehcial to humanity, have been made during recent years, yet in most cases their net return has been negative, due to misuse. These inventions. if directed towards the right channels. in har' mony with Natures standards. can aid humanity to a great extentg yet if applied artificially and selhshly, they may harm mankind even more. Man was designed to play a part in creation. secondary to that of Nature. and he cannot rebel against his own destiny. The pinnacle he may attain is only that which his Creator grants him. Any attempt to surpass his ultimate may con! ceivably result in a perilous upheaval. By being satisfied with his lot and com' bining his feeble strength with the incomparable opulence of Nature, Man can enrich both himself and his surroundings. Through education and insight into Natures methods. he may be able to comprehend the wisdom of the position in which his Creator has placed him. and carry on his life in a worthy manner. 22

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Rhapsody in Blue and White by BARRY oR1NeER The clanging of the 9:00 bell resounded up and down the neighborhood- through 186th Street and across the Avenue. into the alleys and over the many roads leading to Talinudieal Academy. The early morning patrons of Morris 81 Harry's Luncheonette gazed discon- solately at the warning signal cast by the hands of the big electric clock on the luncheonette wall. Across the street a skirmish line of students was flowing through the welcoming doors and spacious halls of the Yeshiva. ln the T.I. office, the solemn and repeated intonation of 'ALO Nislach cast a temporary shadow of gloom over the gathered crowd. Downstairs, in the office of the Registrar, a helpful secretary offered spiritual solace to those waiting to venture into the interior. In the classrooms, the future of America and the shining hope of Israel pored over the teachings of the sages, while scattered groups of dis- senters absorbed themselves in the wisdom of those whose spiritual value repre- sented a point of vigorous debate. At last, the lusty resonance of the recess bells probed through every nook and cranny of the Yeshiva, and a mighty stream of students flowed into the streets. Stern's Cafeteria became filled with hopeful freshmen who viewed the seem- ingly low prices with boundless enthusiasm. Their delight cooled somewhat as they squinted and squirmed at the microscopic portions eye-dropped into their plates. The crowning blow was the hidden l0ljQ, clause, and rumblings of discon- tent resounded throughout the confines of the cafeteria. Across the street, little cliques of student revolutionaries crowded eagerly around the booths and tables, expounding wild and unrealizable plans to liberate their Iewish brethren from the yoke of scholastic tyranny. The luncheonette was divided along graduate lines, and the class of '53 stood out boldly in the second booth on the right-hand side of the store. Across the room, Harry snorted inco- herent epithets at zealous science students attempting to prove physical theories with flying bottles of Pepsi-Cola. Morris, whose cheerful temperament varied inversely with the number of unpunched checks tossed over the counter, zealously guarded the precious few copies of the N. Y. Post on the wooden stand near the exit. The iinpassive expres- sion of the counterman failed to reflect the trend of business at the food counter. while in the hack a woman stood jealous guard over the pile of potato latkes heaped high under the indifferent noses of assorted studentry. The hours passed. Up in the classroom the rumblings of history and mathe- matics blended rhythmically with the wails of suspended students roaming the halls in search of suitable sanctuary. The collected wisdom of a thousand years penetrated thc minds of the leaders of tomorrow, while others, whose place in posterity remains doubtful, concentrated on the new literary masterpieces of YVillie Sutton. School statesmen announced the coming affairs of student coun- cils to their enthusiastic bands of followers, while lower freshmen constructed paper memorials to those who died waiting for the bell to ring. 24