Approximately 50 people met in person, with another dozen on Zoom, on Motzei Shabbat, February 1, at Congregation Ahavas Achim in Highland Park to hear Dr. Rebecca Cypess, the Mordecai D. Katz and Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of the Undergraduate Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Yeshiva University (YU) in a presentation held by the Jewish Community Forum of Raritan Valley.
Following an introduction by Rabbi Ronald Schwarzberg, director of Jewish career development and placement at Yeshiva University and rabbi emeritus of Congregation Ahavas Achim, Cypess began her presentation entitled “Great Things and Small Things: A Vision for Yeshiva College and Stern College” by stating appreciation for the special opportunity to present the “first draft” of her ideas.
Cypess noted that it is no surprise that higher education is in crisis, with many universities permitting and supporting anti-Israel propaganda that is often antisemitic in the name of free speech. She said “we should all be up in arms” when medical journals such as Lancet promote misinformation and target Israel, as they did in a recent article about public health crises in Gaza where they accept as fact the inflated and distorted numbers provided by Palestinian leaders. The doctrine of the late Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis would have had the errors pointed out, cultivated fact-based discussions, and made corrections. “With few exceptions, university leaders have failed to do so and have thereby failed Israel, Jews and their fundamental mission as educators.”
Since the economic downturn of 2008, parents have questioned the cost and value of a college education and the concept of education for its own sake and have encouraged their children to take the most expedient path towards a degree and a lucrative career path, albeit at the expense of their “children’s full growth and development,” according to Cypess. Prior to her work at Yeshiva University, Cypess served as associate dean for academic affairs and professor of music at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, and after October 7, 2023 she found it difficult to “serve as an ambassador for that institution” and chose to return to a faculty position at the expiration of her term as dean. When offered the position as dean at YU, she felt it was an opportunity to do the type of work she wanted in an environment that fully embraces Orthodox Judaism and can serve as a model for a university to espouse learning, open-ended inquiry and intellectual honesty.
Creation of the model of learning to learn cannot be accomplished only within the campus setting. It takes the entire Jewish community to support the mindset—from community rebbeim to parents to elementary/high schools and beyond. The goal of synthesizing Torah studies with arts, humanities, mathematics and sciences has its roots in Gemara Sukkah 28A, where Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai is described as a life-long learner of all topics, “great things and small things” of Torah, Halacha, mathematics and so on.
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai is credited with reinvigorating and restoring Judaism after the destruction of the second Temple by focusing Judaism on Torah learning rather than the services and sacrifices performed in the Temple. The Gemara is intentional in showing that learning is inclusive of all subjects, focusing on Tanach, Mishna, aggadah and then moving to the other areas and showing openness and curiosity to the world and how people lead their lives. It has been said that Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai understood the value of learning from other people and other cultures by engaging with them. Cypess noted Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm’s statement in 1969 that Yeshiva University’s commitment to Torah U’Madah is not just for learning of skills but to understand the world in an entirety.
At YU, the “pursuit of knowledge is intrinsically valuable, not as a means to an end and not as a weapon to be wielded against other people cynically. But as part of a project to be attentive, to be curious, to be compassionate and to understand Hashem’s world and contribute to it in a spirit of good will and fellowship. At the same time we acknowledge that education is a process—not a diploma, a piece of paper—it is a path to a successful life that includes a successful career, but is not reduced solely to a profession or a vocation.” Rav Yochanon ben Zakkai felt it was his job on earth to learn about the world and use the knowledge to present a Torah life. It is that curiosity and openness that is cultivated at YU, concluded Cypess.
The Orthodox Forum is a grassroots organization and relies on community donations to fund its programs. For more information go to www.jcforumrv.org. Zoom recordings of recent events are available on the website.
