Tuesday, November 06, 2007

When in Israel, Speak in Hebrew

The latest YU Commentator has a very illuminating set of articles (see Hirhurim link, requires free subscription) on the tensions between Torah study and academia. As I've mentioned before, there is nothing similiar for those of us that learn in Israel. Zilch. Gornisht. We have nowhere to turn for any kind of advice, or even informed debate and opinion, regarding academia and religion.
Note to Richard Joel: You want to make inroads here? Start by translating the Commentator into Hebrew (I also think that the Orthodox Forum needs to do the same with their books), or better yet - by establishing a journal that would include both Israeli and American students' perspectives on the conflict between religion and the university. The mutual translation of views from English to Hebrew and vice versa can make a real difference and lead to genuine cultural interaction. Otherwise, the YU presence here will amount to little more than just another American Jewish bubble in Israel, one of many.

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