Yeshiva University has put a freeze on all undergraduate club activities until it can hammer out a legal strategy following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to lift a stay on a New York judge’s order to recognize an LGBTQ+ club.
The matter is so serious to YU administration that the university is considering dissolving all of its clubs and student organizations to avoid being forced to recognize the YU Pride Alliance.
An email to Yeshiva University students said: “Considering the upcoming Chagim, the university will hold off on all undergraduate club activities while it immediately takes steps to follow the roadmap provided by the U.S. Supreme Court to protect YU’s religious freedom.”
The move was received with backlash from YU’s own student body, including Stern College for Women Student Council President Meital Lindenberg, who told the YU Commentator outlet that “clubs are essential to building positive student life on campus.”
Another to criticize YU’s move was Yeshiva Student Union President Baruch Lerman, who complained that students “have not received any guidance about how we are to proceed with approving clubs, or having student council events.”
By a 5-4 vote Wednesday, the justices lifted a temporary hold on a court order that requires Yeshiva University to recognize the group, even as a legal fight continues in New York courts. Two conservatives, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, sided with the court’s three liberal justices to form a majority.
The disagreement among the justices appears to be mostly about procedure, with the majority writing in a brief unsigned order that Yeshiva should return to state court to seek quick review and temporary relief while the case continues. If it gets neither from state courts, the school can return to the Supreme Court, the majority wrote.
Following the ruling, the president of the university, Rabbi Ari Berman, said that faith-based universities have the right to establish clubs within its understanding of the Torah.
“Yeshiva University simply seeks that same right of self-determination,” he said. “The Supreme Court has laid out the roadmap for us to find expedited relief and we will follow their instructions.”
(YWN/AP)
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13 Responses
Reb Aharon was correct
good.
KOL HAKAVOD!
I am embarrassed to say I did not expect this move! I apologize. Kol hakavod!
Good Job YU!!! I am pleasantly surprised at the backbone that seems to have developed amid a country of spineless people
Amazing stand by YU. תבא עליכם ברכה
This is absolutely the correct thing to do. I am surprised and pleased to see that YU is doing this.
Yashar koach to the school. Thankfully, they understand what really matters and are remaining faithful to their values. That is the most important lesson. The students who oppose this have their priorities confused.
I will give credit where it’s due. YU is doing the best thing in the circumstances that they’re currently in. Is this the beginning of change there? I would be glad to accept them; no malice, no grudge holding. Will this “start a conversation” in YU about how they ended up at this point? Will they wake up and become a Landers yeshiva?
They’re actually sacrificing for Hashem and Torah. I honestly did not think they were capable of doing this… embarrassing themselves in front of the goyim and esteemed universities. They’re being brave. I commend them.
No, it is not the correct thing to do. The correct thing to do would be to reverse the decision made in 1967 to split YU from RIETS and turn it into a secular institution. That decision, made for the sake of money, was כתבו לכם על קרן השור.
Let YU re-merge with RIETS, amend its charter to declare that it is an Orthodox Jewish institution whose sole mission is to advance knowledge of Hashem, including (as is their shita) both Torah and secular knowledge, all for the same purpose of bringing kedusha to the world.
That’s how it was before 1967, and that’s how the Rav wanted it. He publicly criticized the secularization then, and his concerns have proved accurate. So let YU reverse this disastrous move, and then the problem will automatically go away. The NY law in question explicitly exempts religious institutions, so by becoming one YU will automatically be entitled to bar this club while allowing those clubs whose mission is compatible with halacha as decided by YU’s poskim.
So long as they refuse to do that I have no sympathy and no admiration for them.
Very positive outcome. Maybe the school limit itself to job preparation and Torah learning, and leaves the entertainment business. Hopefully, this will led to a decreased tuition and speedier graduations.
Forced submission to the mishkav zachar agena – this is just a taste of the unConstitutional Leftist tyranny that the rest of the US will face should Demo-rats establish permanent rule in the US.
No doubt that the “Ortho-crats” (Democrat Jews who attend Orthodox synagogues and whose real religion is “progressivism”) will no doubt be cheering from the side lines.
Thank you YU.
Don’t allow Yahoo run and intimidate Jewish religion.
The question must be asked why would a YAHOO wiuld want to be in a religious university unless the entitlement and silverapoon was not enough for him/her/she/shis/them,🤡
Loving the mental gymnastics of Milhouse, RightJew, and others who are thinking along those lines.