Happenings at the Yeshiva

Two weeks ago, our Beit Midrash moved temporarily to the second floor as repairs were being made in the downstairs beit midrash.   After having been in the 2nd floor Beit Midrash for a week, many of us felt that it was a better location - the room had large windows and plenty of natural light, its size and configuration were more conducive to learning, and it pulled the various components of the yeshiva -the Beit Midrash, the administrative offices, and the classrooms together.  After having considered the matter carefully, and having a special meeting so that we could hear the input of the students (who were almost unanimously in favor), the administration decided to move the Beit Midrash to the second floor.   We have been working out some of the details over the last 2 weeks - location of the copier, student lounge, and so on, and hope to have them all resolved soon and to make our move official. 

Students have been very flexible during this transition period-  which has been greatly appreciated - and have dealt well with the minor inconveniences that this move and this transition has entailed.  The space is great and the learning and the kol Torah have been intense.  We look forward to soon having all the kinks worked out, and to really making this new Beit Midrash our home.

On the learning front, first- and second-year students continue to learn bishul in Hilkhot Shabbat, and third- and fourth- year students finished learning the topic of things that are not batel, nullified, turning from devarim chashuvim, significant items, to the category of davar she'yesh lo matirin, forbidden foods that will be permissible in the future.   Dan Perla gave his ben adam li'chavero dvar halakha on the concept of hasagat gvul, encroaching on one's territory, and the issue of protectionism and free market.  I remarked at the end that while many of us are strong believers in a free market (and for the most part halakha has also been in favor of a largely free market, and has defined hasagat gvul very narrowly), we should be particularly sensitive to these issues in an era where Starbucks or Barnes and Noble come in and run local coffee shops and bookstores out of business.