Yeshiva University - Masmid Yearbook (New York, NY)

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life at yeshiva is filled with conceptual conflicts and dilemmas. This is typefied by the very name yeshiva college , can one institution be both a yeshiva and a college? thus the yeshiva experience is permeated with the tension between torah and madah. a student is not only required to combine an intensive Jewish studies program with a bulk load of college courses but is also expected to synthesize what he learns, students who succeeded on organizing their work properly and utilizing available time wisely attained the synthesis, it is they who derived the maximum benefit from the yeshiva experience. oh, but a man ' s reach shall exceed his grasp, or what ' s a heaven for? — robert browning for the average student, however, the concept of synthesis was just a pious dream, with only 24 hours a day, one couldn ' t devote himself fully to a double program and still have time left over to eat and sleep, students were therefore forced to establish a set of priorities, though some stressed judaic studies at the expense of their college courses, most individuals succumbed to ' the pressures of getting into graduate or professional school, before major exams, a student would rationalize that success in his future career compelled him to ' cut Jewish studies courses, this rationalization took many shapes — from cutting a rabbi ' s shiur to stabbing a classmate in the back, the system not only tolerated but also- encouraged these atti- tudes, the absence of proper spiritual and educational guidance contributed to an atmosphere of aimlessness. as a result, the once exalted ideal of a synthesis of torah and madah was, in reality, meaningless, exalted ideas of fancy require to be clothed in a suitable vesture of phrase. — aristophanes

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eless school, where we must , es that we may learn to live! : is he who memorizes s that leave no time for prayer. — thomas hardy basic dilemma facing the yeshiva stud .. . I he should direct his energies, in addition to the pro poning time to both talmud torah and college cou pt was faced with a myriad of extracurricular and corri les. one group of students, known as joes | Ives from everything but the academic experienci ited their entire being to studying so as to be abl ?good law or med school, it was truly a rare occurren| I lift his nose from books so as to involve himself | lurricular activity. | I I Irence, clad in wisdom ' s guise, | [titude of mind supplies. 1 ; — Jonathan swift | t the other extreme were those students who didnj very seriously, for the jocks , the primary aspectl f experience was the opportunity to ' shoot the hool art in wrestling intramurals. a more idealistic | [Tits manned posts in various youth organizations. a| ihder the auspices of dirshu, seminar, or n.c.s.y., y tudents would travel throughout the country rekindling t| if yiddishkelt. some became so involved in the cause of J ■»e world that college became merely a part-time endeavor! i easy solutions to the many conflicts and dilemmas iri biva ' life. . . J isssaiaassiiSgfessMtfrfj ' M