YU Commentator

Ava Eden (SCW ‘27) reflects on YU’s first year of “Great Conversations,” pointing out how the series could have been a space for far-reaching, thought-provoking interactions, yet has become self-promotional and seemingly inauthentic. yucommentator.org/2026/05/a-call…

Lots of people complain about the Stern cafeteria. But in an open letter, Eliana Waghalter expresses her gratitude to the Stern caf for working to accommodate her food intolerances, a solution that is available to all students. yucommentator.org/2026/05/thank-…

Graduating senior Brooke Kohl reflects on her two experiences with music at YU: The Music Community, formerly Music Club, where she played in several bands, and the Stern music major, which offers students the opportunity to study music theory, performance yucommentator.org/2026/05/my-ode…

Stealing people’s flex dollars has become a real problem in YU. Kovi Pahmer reminds students that using other people’s 800 numbers is clearly morally wrong — but if it’s become the baseline, then we need to change our system. yucommentator.org/2026/05/caf-ca…

On April 15, a delegation of YU students traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby for Israel. Over the course of their day, they met with and heard from senators and representatives and learned the importance of advocacy and community. yucommentator.org/2026/05/yupac-…

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will deliver the Yeshiva University commencement address on May 28 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Ambassador Huckabee will also receive Yeshiva University’s Presidential Medallion. yucommentator.org/2026/05/ambass…

In her final editorial for The Commentator, outgoing Editor-in-Chief Hadassah Reich reflects on what these past three years at Yeshiva University and working for the newspaper have meant to her. yucommentator.org/2026/05/in-ret…

Keira Kahn reviews “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans for A&C, examining the deeper meaning behind its idiosyncratic structure and the enduring power of letter writing. yucommentator.org/2026/05/a-love…

Allbirds is pivoting from footwear to AI infrastructure under the name NewBird AI, exiting retail to pursue data center and compute demand. The move highlights how legacy brands are chasing growth through artificial intelligence. yucommentator.org/2026/05/allbir…

Rep. Elise Stefanik spoke at YU’s Great Conversations event on April 22, addressing antisemitism on college campuses, university leadership and social media’s role in shaping campus discourse. yucommentator.org/2026/05/stefan…

Daniel Kohn (SSSB ‘27) will be the next editor-in-chief of The Commentator for its 92nd volume. Elza Koslowe (SCW ‘27) will be the paper’s managing editor. Outgoing Editor-in-Chief Hadassah Reich (SCW ‘26) and Managing Editor Rikki Zagelbaum (SCW ‘26) offe yucommentator.org/2026/05/kohn-s…

Professor David Glaser, chair of Stern College’s Music Department, is retiring after 30 years of teaching. Glaser received a B.A. from Hunter College, an M.A. from Queens College and a D.M.A. (doctor of musical arts) from Columbia University. yucommentator.org/2026/05/stern-…

Gavriel Sokolic (YC ‘29) reflects on how he came to YU expecting a robust music program and found a department that has been untouched since 2015. YU’s music program is now silent, but it doesn’t have to be. yucommentator.org/2026/05/music-…

Stephanie L. Gross, librarian of electronic reserves and scholarly communication at YU, interviews Hadassa Kosak on her views on various questions related to the state of Israel today. yucommentator.org/2026/05/lookin…

On April 27, over 700 YU community members gathered for Active Minds’ 16th annual Stomp Out the Stigma event. Three student speakers shared their mental health journeys, inspiring a community to listen and connect. yucommentator.org/2026/05/actv-m…

Is there religious value to learning Tanach’s historical context? Reflecting on her visits to the Bible Lands Museum, Talia Feldman argues that there is — history informs new readings that highlight Tanach’s conversation with the world around it. yucommentator.org/2026/04/when-p…

SM: After three years at Stern and The Commentator, Managing Editor Rikki Zagelbaum reflects on risk-taking, leadership, curiosity and the lessons that stayed with her. yucommentator.org/2026/04/three-…

Aviv Amar (SCW ‘27) argues the importance of a well-rounded, immersive Bachelor’s in early childhood education, highlighting that the more knowledgeable our teachers are, the more equipped and empowered our children will be. yucommentator.org/2026/04/my-maj…

Addressing the serious attendance problem in UTS, staff writer Eitan Barenholtz explains that if students were encouraged to join the program of their interest instead of defaulting to MYP, they would be able to learn a lot more. yucommentator.org/2026/04/the-re…

YU has released The Rav Legacy Project, a website that uses AI technology to give users access to recorded shiurim by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, along with transcripts and summaries. yucommentator.org/2026/04/new-ra…