Comments on: Roosevelt: Bored lady complains about Yeshiva boys

By: Bert Ellentuck

Bert Ellentuck — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 16:21:33 +0000

I am amused by the comments recorded re: the article “Roosevelt- Bored Lady…” For the record, my wife is neither a spinster nor a widow. We do not own pets. We are not Goyim but Jews and Roosevelt is not an urban community but an exurb of fewer than 1000 people. The Yeshiva has over 60 students and is located next to my home in a residential neighborhood of single family homes. I can assure you that the boys play basketball on the street at various times from early morning until sunset. I would be happy to meet with any one who is interested in seeing present conditions rather then relying upon their preconceived opinions and prejudices.

By: neuroman

neuroman — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:14:05 +0000

I was in six seven yeshivas over the course of my (glorious) education, including St. Louis, Dallas, Denver, New Haven, and a few in Israel. I was also in a yeshiva elementary school. In most of them we would sometimes play ball after breakfast and before shiur or Bais Medresh. I’m surprised that none of you experienced this. In the more, ah, flexible institutions bochurim could be seen on the court, sometimes with a rebbe and sometimes without, throughout the day.

Seems to be like this is just a crochety old lady that has a bee in her bonnet. If there’s anti-semitism, I don’t know. What I do know is that crying antisemitism every single time someone is critical of a Jew or a Jewish institution compromises our credibility in the world’s eyes and take our focus away from ourselves, which is where we should be looking. What are we doing and is it correct and can we improve ourselves and our interaction with our surroundings.

Just my opinion.

By: KAHANAwasRIGHT

KAHANAwasRIGHT — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:42:52 +0000

THIS IS: Discrimination by an old Anti-Semite brought on by Boredom !

By: shul

shul — Wed, 30 May 2007 05:22:33 +0000

On the one hand, I agree that we should try to minimize antagonizing Goyim. If this Yeshiva is indeed an offshoot of Riverdale, than they should be aware of all of the issues involved with openinng a Yeshiva in a hostile urban area, and should have found a more appropriate place. It doesn’t really make sense to open a Yeshiva on a residential Goyish block.

But the woman’s complaints seem kind of odd. As others have mentioned which Yeshiva allows their boys to play Basketball before Shacharis? Does the Yeshiva even have 20-30 boys, it’s only a couple of years old? Is it a Yeshiva for ‘at-risk’ teens that might need the outlet of sports? Doesn’t seem likely if it’s an offshoot of Riverdale. And just OT, I wonder what niche does the Yeshiva fill?

What was in this ‘residential block’ before the Yeshiva? Look at Waterbury, CT. That was a declining neighborhood with a huge college campus that will only benefit by the Yeshiva, and yet there are still complaints and zoning issues.

So we really need to know a bit more background before knowing whether or not this is purely anti-semitic for no good reason or anti-semitism that we could have potentially avoided by more careful planning.

By: HonestAbe

HonestAbe — Wed, 30 May 2007 02:09:26 +0000

Look at the whole picture. this yeshiva has had trouble from the very beginning. The town fired their mayor (or something like that) because of it!! They are still annoyed and will do anything to get the yeshiva out. Esav soneh es yaakov.

By: sephardicpride

sephardicpride — Tue, 29 May 2007 03:59:52 +0000

iameckstein: you could be right- but I was just going according to the article. If the woman is lying then it very well might be antisemitism- but if it isn’t and they arte playing ball at 830 then its quite understandable to be upset.

It might not even be ball playing- I would love to have a yeshivah next door to me, but you must admit it must be annoying for some goyim to deal with these jewish schools that pop up overnight and it seems like they take over the block. I’m sure the parking situation isn’t ideal for this woman.

I love all the more yeshivot should open- but you gotta hear it from her standpoint as well.

By: Who knows

Who knows — Tue, 29 May 2007 02:49:40 +0000

@homeboy: A 50 mile radius gives you close to 8,000 square miles. After you take off a nice chunk for the Atlantic, you’re left with approximately 5,000 square miles, more or less the size of the State of Connecticut. If the ideal size for a BMG campus is half a mile by half a mile, that means there are 20,000 geographical spots. Of those 20,000, there’s gotta be dozens of places that can be converted into a yeshiva campus, without being “very expensive” for it’s size.

@y.k.: Thanks! All great people were innovators!

By: JJAMRI

JJAMRI — Mon, 28 May 2007 21:57:31 +0000

People who are complaining about the noise should be happy that theyre neighborhood is being filled with happiness and B”H not crime. They should complain about crime not about a bunch of bachurim playing basketball.
Aside from that what bachur plays ball at 8:30 AM theyre davening or eating etc.. as said above.

By: y.k.

y.k. — Mon, 28 May 2007 19:57:16 +0000

who knows,

your always on the mark with your great innovative ideas. You should be appointed as the Rabbon Shel Kol Bnei HaGolah.

Oops. Then we wouldn’t be able to follow your ideas, as that would constitute Daas Torah which in your opinion is unnecessary.

By: iameckstein

iameckstein — Mon, 28 May 2007 19:36:39 +0000

Dear Sephardic Pride,

C’mon! This yeshiva is an off-shoot (no pun in tended) of Riverdale Yeshiva. Do you really think they are playing basketball that time of the day? And forget about that – HOW MANY MESIVTA’S ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT PLAY BALL THAT TIME OF THE DAY?? HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT DURING THAT TIME YOU ARE EITHER: A. EATING BREAKFAST; B. STILL DAVENING; C. SLEEPING; D. ALL OF THE ABOVE!!