From the Commie Archives: (August 30, 1995; Volume 60, Issue 1) — YU Invests $200,000 in Shabbos Program
Editor's Note: As Yeshiva University students jump into a new semester, we take a look at The Commentator’s 1995 Back to School Edition in which Meir S. Zeitchik reports of a new program designed to revitalize Shabbat life on campus. Included in the discussion are meal fees, additional programming, and skepticism that attendance numbers will change unless we allow for co-ed shabbatonim — reinforcing Ecclesiastes’ declaration that “there is nothing new under the sun.”
The Shabbos program at Yeshiva College has been totally revamped in anticipation of the coming semester. A committee, made up of student leaders and administrators, met several times this summer to iron out the details of a plan which they hope will draw record turnouts of students for shabbosim at Yeshiva. Among this year’s innovations are a reduced meal fee and culinary incentives.
“It’s about time we changed the Shabbat program,” said YCSC president Josh Fine.
With a budget “somewhere in the area of $200,000,” according to YU dean of students Efrem Nulman, the program introduces several changes.
A summer mailing sent to all YC/SSSB students touts eleven of these new features of the “Shabbat Enhancement Program.”
One of the most appealing features of the new program is the low cost. The University plans to make shabbos available to any student for only $5, and to any guest for only $10. Although some students were able to take part in a special $5 Shabbat program last year, this year’s program will take place on a much larger scale, and students will no longer be required to obtain a letter from the Residence Halls office asking for the discount.
The quality and variety of the food has also been greatly improved, and students are already beginning to anticipate the prospects of “Cholent” at the traditional Friday night ‘tish’.
But many of the changes represent more of a shift in marketing tactics than in actual substance, raising the question of where the ample funds will be spent. “Ask the Rebbi discussions,” for example, have been in place for several years, as was the opportunity for “friends from other colleges” to be “your guest for Shabbat,” both features listed in the mailing.
Still, the enthusiasm exuded by the administration and student leaders signifies their keen interest in revitalizing the Shabbat program.
“I’ve always had a dream of making Shabbos available to more students,” said YC dean of students Efrem Nulman.
They are optimistic that numbers will rise as a result of these changes, although Fine cautions “we must not stop here.”
In that vein, a plan for Simchat Torah at Yeshiva is in the works for next month, and Rabbi Cheifetz was very optimistic about the prospects. Cheifetz recalled memories of years ago when Simchat Torah at YU drew large crowds.
One student, however, voicing an opinion that is held by many, said that “You’re not going to have a consistently large turnout as long as it remains an all male experience.” At Stern College for Women, he pointed out, attendance rises substantially when a co-ed shabbaton takes place.
Fine refused to comment on the possibility of creating similar programs on the uptown campus, but pledged his continuing support for the events at SCW.
All who were involved in the planning of the Shabbat program stress the special significance of the first shabbat to give the program a “jump start.” On the schedule are shiurim from Rabbis Yitzchak Cohen and Baruch Simon, divrei torah from Rabbis Hershel Schachter and Hershel Reichman, and a tish with Rabbi Meir Goldvicht.
Photo Caption: The Commentator Archives
Photo Credit: The Commentator
