2008-09-25 - The Commentator - Yeshiva Values In The University

Yeshiva Values In The University - Transgender Professor Generates Discussion: What Are YU's Values?

by Noach Lerman, Mordechai Siev, and Daniel Kahn

September 25, 2008

Yeshiva University has long faced the paradox of its two halves - Yeshiva and University. And it has long faced the challenges of resolving the oft-conflicting values inherent to both bodies - issues including Torah u-Madda, emunah and academic freedom, and halachic commitment versus liberal openness have been debated for decades. This year, YU faced an unusual manifestation of that concern.

Two years ago, Dr. Jay Ladin served at Stem College as a professor of literature and director of the Writing Center. This year, as reported in the New York Post and recounted in her autobiographical memoir, Dr. Joy Ladin returned to work as a woman after a two-year leave of absence.

Two weeks after he had received tenure, Professor Jay Ladin informed the university that he was a transsexual and was in the process of becoming a woman. Professor Ladin was placed on an indefinite leave of absence upon breaking the news.

At the beginning of this fall semester, though, she returned to teach at SCW. Several sources reported that the university did not wish to engage in a legal battle over Professor Ladin's tenure and thus allowed Professor Ladin to return to work. The university did not comment on the situation.

The issue, though, raised a much broader question - what is the role of the Yeshiva values in the university? Should Torah ideals define, or impact in any way, the administration of the university; should faculty choice involve at all "rabbinic approval? Or should YU look to separate the two worlds - Yeshiva in the morning, university in the afternoon and never the twain shall meet? Is YU, in fact, even a Yeshiva?

Transgender Issues and Jewish Values
Rabbi Moshe Tendler felt that Torah values should play a major role in dictating who YU hired to teach their students. Rabbi Tendler noted that the connection between teacher and student has been a fundamental part of the Jewish educational scheme for over two thousand years. "Our whole tradition, the Mesorah, depends on teachers influencing their students" said Rabbi Tendler. He argued that if a teacher behaves in a way that is fundamentally antithetical to Jewish beliefs, they will have a deleterious impact on students.

And Rabbi Tendler strongly feels that Professor Ladin's behavior "represents a kind of amorality which runs counter to everything Yeshiva University stands for." Rabbi Tendler asserted that "our Torah is not gender neutral," and a man who behaves as a woman is not fulfilling his Torah obligations. Rabbi Tendler further stated that such behaviors are "psychiatric aberrations of self image," and should be dealt with as a medical problem, similar to anorexia.

Other Roshei Yeshiva take a more lenient view. Rabbi Schachter noted that many of the professors in the university are Jewish and are not observant. "Why is this any different?" Rabbi Schachter asked. Furthermore, there are professors in the college who are homosexual, which has not been a major source of contention for students. "This is an issue every Yeshiva that teaches secular studies has to deal with," said Rabbi Schachter. He felt that YU should not dictate that its faculty hold Torah perspectives. At the same time, he felt that students should be able to take students who share their values: "if students want to boycott the course, let them boycott the course."

Rabbi Herschel Billet, rabbi of the Young Israel of Woodmere and former president of the Rabbinical Council of America (RIETS '75, BRGS '80), largely agreed with Rabbi Schachter. He said, "SCW, like most Orthodox Jewish schools, never required its secular faculty to be halachically observant." So long as a professor was "respectful of the Orthodox Jewish character of the student body," Rabbi Billet did not feel they should alter this policy - regardless of the sexual orientation of the professor.

Professor Ladin felt she respected her students' beliefs. Professor Ladin asserted, in an email to The Commentator, "I respect the values of my students [and] the seriousness with which they wrestle with issues in their lives and in the world- a seriousness that is clearly a direct outgrowth of their engagement with Torah."

Furthermore, Rabbi Billet commended YU for keeping Professor Ladin and for displaying respect for human dignity. "Human beings are created in [God's] image and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," he declared. "To uphold human dignity [is] to uphold [God's] honor. The Dr. Ladin story is a Kiddush Hashem."

Professor Ladin noted that "institutions need to take the values of their members into consideration - if they don't, it makes for very unhappy institutions." She also acknowledged that this "general principle applies to all members. I know that I respect the values of my students."

Such debate goes well beyond the classroom. Even if one is to claim that the Yeshiva's morals should play a role in university decision-making, there are practical and legal aspects to consider. President Richard Joel remarked that we must never forget "that we live in [an] American society of law." The president further asserted that we can abide by those laws within our framework of Torah u-Madda.

From a theoretical standpoint Rabbi Shalom Canny noted that a balance must exist between the ideals of a yeshiva and the legal responsibilities of a university. Does the college, as a religious institution (if we so choose to define it) have the right to reject applicants or fire staff based on principles rooted in religious belief? When does a university's right to follow a code or credo become bigotry? Where do we draw the line?

Student Voices
Many students voiced forceful opinions on the relationship between Yeshiva values and university practice but did not wish to be quoted for fear of negative social and academic consequences. Most of the students who spoke to The Commentator felt that the Yeshiva Derech and the corpus of University policy are two separate entities. "We have two separate transcripts for MYP and YC, with different faculty, staff and supporting services it would seem that these two institutions just happen to share a building" noted one MYP student. He further maintained that any interactions that occur seem to be more products of circumstance and proximity, as opposed to a principle that the Yeshiva have a guiding influence on the University.

This attitude is not merely present among the uptown Yeshiva College students. A number of students in Stern believed that a concern for Torah values should not prompt Professor Ladin's dismissal. While these students admitted that they are uncomfortable with the knowledge that such an individual teaches in Stern College, they remained adamant that the university must act as a university and not all religious concerns to be governing factors in university matters. "I don't think that an intimate metamorphosis should be a subject public discussion," explained Jane Kitaevich (SC '10).

Some have gone so far as to criticize those who judge Professor Ladin, claiming that any individual who is not transsexual lacks the proper experience and viewpoint to proclaim verdicts of any sort. Professor Ladin argued that "most people - and this not a criticism, merely a fact - know nothing about transsexuality in general, what it is, how it feels, its medical and psychological impact, what it does to a soul and to a life."

Others claim that Yeshiva University is not just a fused name but a fused institution, and serves as a place of higher education whose path is dictated by Torah values. They believe that a synthesis should exist between the Beit Medrash and the science lab; the ideals from the former should influence the latter. One particularly vocal YC sophomore, a New York native declared "there is a reason we are in Yeshiva University. In this situation, Rabbi Aaron Lichtenstein or Rabbi Schachter should be consulted. Would something like this happen in a Catholic school like Notre Dame?" He further declared that "this is antithetical to the Yeshiva's values, and is just wrong. Is it too much to ask to have a minor sense of Jewish values in Yeshiva University?"

Several students maintained that this overlap of Yeshiva ideals and university policies is not limited to the institution of YU itself. They ague that YU is more than just a university; it serves as a symbol to the Jewish world at large, and should behave as such. "As long as YU markets itself as an Orthodox Jewish institution, there are certain standards it must adhere to for its public image," says Moshe Gelbtuch (SSSB '10).

Moving Closer
Some thought that improving relationship between the faculties and administrators of RIETS and YC indicates an ever-growing synthesis of the two. Roshei Yeshiva clearly do not hold veto power over university policy, a reality that has existed since Yeshiva College's inception. However, now more than ever, there is dialogue between both the yeshiva and university staffs. Rabbi Ezra Schwartz, member of SMBP faculty pointed out that Dean Srolovitz's residence on campus truly allows for a dean that lives the yeshiva culture. In fact, it is no secret that he is frequently seen in the Beit Midrash. President Joel remarked that "nobody is brought onto the faculty without full understanding of the cultural goals of YU and an appreciation that they are coming to a distinctive place." Furthermore, Provost Lowengrub noted that the university actively attempts to educate all members of the faculty about the Yeshiva lifestyle. This is accomplished, in part, by guided tours of the Beit Midrash.

The question of Yeshiva values and their place in the university is complicated and controversial. The storm surrounding Professor Ladin serves as a starting point for serious intellectual debate and consideration as to identity of the entity called Yeshiva University.

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