On March 18th, 2015 President Joel met with a group of Stern College students to discuss the future of Yeshiva University, and specifically Stern College. At the meeting, President Joel emphasized the vital role that the traditional style yeshiva, with Roshei Yeshiva at its leadership, plays within Yeshiva University. He stressed that it is the heart of the university.
As a Stern College student, I found this comment very dismissive of a female’s experience at YU. I am sure that in an overarching sense both the traditional yeshiva and Roshei Yeshiva impact my college experience. Yet, on a day to day basis, I, as well as all Stern College students, come in contact with neither of the two.
At that same meeting, President Joel announced the merging of the Stern College and Yeshiva College faculties into a single Undergraduate Faculty of Arts and Sciences. One purpose of this development is to create a more expansive and inclusive model of learning for all Yeshiva University students. However, what was not mentioned at the meeting was a merging of the Judaic departments of Stern and Yeshiva College.
The reasoning behind why this option is not on the table is logical. Though both the students of Yeshiva and Stern College have a dual curriculum, the nature of the two Judaic curriculums is currently very different, and a merge between the two departments would be highly incongruous. However, in light of the changes and spirit of inclusiveness taking place within the secular departments of the University, I think it is time we revisit the way we approach the Judaic departments as well.
The Judaic classes at Stern do not function like a traditional yeshiva. Unlike at the men’s college, where the morning is devoted to Torah learning exclusively, Stern’s Torah classes are dispersed throughout the day. Nevertheless, this difference should not translate into viewing the Torah learning that takes place at Stern as insignificant.
Typically, when people speak of the yeshiva aspect of Yeshiva University, they refer to the mens’ yeshiva with the rabbinical school, RIETS, at its core. The names that immediately come to mind are those of the YU Roshei Yeshiva. The Roshei Yeshiva are based in the mens’ beit midrash and spend the vast majority of their time with the men. Of course, the Roshei Yeshiva are responsible for the entire university, not just the men. In fact, every Monday night, a different Rosh Yeshiva teaches a class at Stern College. Though these shiurim are deeply valued, they do not provide an opportunity for the Stern students and Roshei Yeshiva to forge relationships with one another.
The current attitude at Stern College is that the heart of the yeshiva exists on the men’s’ campus, and that sometimes a Rosh Yeshiva comes to visit us, bringing YU’s female students a taste of the “yeshiva” experience. While increasing the contact between Stern students and the Roshei Yeshiva would be extremely beneficial, it is not enough to change this attitude. To empower the Torah learning of Stern students and create more of a “yeshiva feel” we need our own Roshei Yeshiva based in Stern College. We have a prized and beloved faculty at Stern comprised of Torah scholars specializing in many different areas ranging from halakha and Talmud, to Biblical exegesis and Jewish thought. GPATS, the masters program of intensive Talmud study, lies at the center of our beit midrash. As such, members of our faculty, both male and female, should be awarded a title of recognition for the integral role they play in the “Yeshiva” part of Yeshiva University, specifically at Stern College.
This change in attitude need not only affect the women. Just as the current Roshei Yeshiva come to share their Torah with Stern students, the students of Yeshiva College could benefit from learning with the Torah leaders based in Stern College. The title need not be specifically that of Rosh Yeshiva, but it is important to acknowledge that the faculty of Stern College also plays a crucial role in creating the sense of “Yeshiva” within Yeshiva University.
I feel privileged to attend Stern College and learn Torah every day from an excellent faculty. Let us now all acknowledge this incredible privilege. Though the structure of Judaic courses at Stern College is untraditional, it is time we embrace it as an important part of the yeshiva in its own right, with its own Roshei Yeshiva. It is time we expand our associations with the word “yeshiva” and recognize that the Torah learning of both Yeshiva and Stern College comprise the heart of Yeshiva University.