Growing as a Poet

By Joy Ladin

I started writing what I thought of as poems as soon as I learned to write. I have no idea why. My family wasn’t literary, and I don’t think we had any poetry (other than Dr. Seuss) in the house. But from the first, I wanted to put words into patterns, and my favorite patterns were those that ended with full rhymes. To me, when a word rhymed with an earlier word, it seemed like something incredible had happened. If I had known such ideas at the time, I might have said that it felt like a reunification of sparks of the Divine, or the bringing forth of order out of chaos, or the ringing, through my words, of the great bell of time. But I was six or seven, so all I knew was that my rhymes seemed to be magically changing a world that otherwise felt completely out of my control.

I never stopped writing poems, and as I grew up, I learned to write  poems that aimed for more than my personal satisfaction. But the root of my poetry has always been that primal childhood mixture of pleasure and power, the sense that the words I put together somehow changed the world.

I went to poetry workshops throughout high school and college, and after graduation, I kept on writing poems. I hadn’t published anything; my writing hadn’t won any prizes or fellowships; in fact, no one knew I was a poet unless I told them so. But that didn’t matter. I could feel something happening, something changing, something growing, as I wrote and rewrote my poems.

I now know that I was right. Something was indeed happening, changing, growing through my writing process. But that something wasn’t “the world” in general; it was me. 

MC Escher, Drawing Hands, 1948 Lithograph

When I was in college, many college dorms were adorned with reproductions of M.C. Escher’s works. The one that struck me most was the etching in which a hand emerges from a blank surface and draws another hand, which in turn is drawing the first hand. 

That is what happens when I work on poems. As I write and revise, the process of writing and revision changes me. As I grope toward meaning and beauty through the words of my poems, the ideals of meaning and beauty turn me into a person who can bring them into the world. 

Professor Joy Ladin is faculty advisor of YUJA.

Letter from the Editors: Issue NO. 4

Welcome to our first issue of the Fall 2020 Semester. This semester began in an unusual way due to COVID-19 and all of its ramifications. As a result of COVID-19, we all find ourselves in some very unique spaces — physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and beyond. This issue considers the notion of THE SPACES IN WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES.

This issue features works from an array of artists in a range of creative disciplines, all of whom are YU students. The issue is split into two sections, entitled THE PHYSICAL and BEYOND THE PHYSICAL.

THE PHYSICAL explores physical locations, with an emphasis on the city. Urban life encompasses a much greater and diverse population than country life, yet people tend to feel alone and lost in great big city, despite the crowds and hullabaloo. This especially came to the fore in recent months as people were forced to stay at home, being alone despite living in cities with millions of people.

Of course, the physical spaces we inhabit are deeply connected to the non-physical spaces we inhabit, and the second half of the issue explores those less defined areas. In BEYOND THE PHYSICAL, we exhibit works that explore different non-physical states of experience such as emotional, intellectual, mental, virtual, social, and fantastical spaces we inhabit. These worlds can sometimes be confusing to navigate, can change at a whim, and can be deeply personal and are therefore difficult to experience. The works in this section are diverse, in form and content, as they try to grapple with some of these themes.

What exactly do we mean by all this? A good example is this work from Chana Weiss:

Chana Weiss | Realities and Individualities | Background: pen on paper; windows: gauche on water color paper

The artist portrays a wall of windows, each window opens to a different scene. At times, the viewer is looking out the window, but at times the viewer is looking at the window. Each environment carries with it a certain emotional or conceptual aspect as well. In this issue we’ll be considering this interplay — between the physical and non-physical.

It is our sincere hope that you enjoy this issue, and that it encourages you to think about the spaces in which you find yourself, either intentionally or circumstantially. We invite you to consider in new ways what those places mean to you and how you relate to them. Despite the physical distancing that has become necessary in our current climate, hopefully we can all come together in sharing the creative endeavors of our fellow students.

On behalf of the entire YUJA team, we thank you for perusing this first issue.

All the best,
Aharon Nissel, Editor-in-Chief
Sarit Perl, Managing Editor

Note: This was originally posted to the YUJA website on 10/30/20. It was added to the YUJA blog on 2/8/21. The full issue can be viewed here.

BLOG

Growing as a Poet

By Joy Ladin I started writing what I thought of as poems as soon as I learned to write. I have no idea why. My family wasn’t literary, and I don’t think we had any poetry (other than Dr. Seuss) in the house. But from the first, I wanted to put words into patterns, and…

by Yeshiva University Journal of the Arts February 11, 2021

Letter from the Editors: Issue NO. 4

Welcome to our first issue of the Fall 2020 Semester. This semester began in an unusual way due to COVID-19 and all of its ramifications. As a result of COVID-19, we all find ourselves in some very unique spaces — physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and beyond. This issue considers the notion of THE SPACES IN…

by Yeshiva University Journal of the Arts February 8, 2021February 8, 2021

Letter from the Editors: Issue No. 3

By: Elazar Krausz and Rocky Pincus, Editors-in-Chief It’s clear that our lives right now are very different than they have ever been. With the spread of COVID-19 essentially bringing the entire country to a halt, all of our lives have been rattled, our routines disrupted, and our fortitude tested. But, as we resume classes online…

by Yeshiva University Journal of the Arts March 22, 2020March 23, 2020

EVENT: Yosef Rosenfield’s Back-to-School Concert

By: Elazar Krausz, Editor-In-Chief Much of what music majors at Yeshiva College do is study music academically, taking music history and music theory courses to deepen their understanding of music’s intricate workings. But arguably the more exciting side of YC’s music program is the various opportunities to perform, which include, among other offerings, the chamber…

by Yeshiva University Journal of the Arts January 20, 2020August 18, 2020

Letter from the Editors: Issue No. 2 – “Here”

By: Elazar Krausz and Rocky Pincus, Editors-in-Chief In late September, just after the now-famous LGBTQ march that took place on the Wilf Campus, a friend of ours approached us with an idea. “As a gay student at YU,” he said, “I’ve never felt more unsafe on my own campus.” The publicity of the march had…

by Yeshiva University Journal of the Arts December 23, 2019March 22, 2020

Letter from the Editors: Issue No. 1

By: Elazar Krausz and Rocky Pincus, Editors-in-Chief Today we released the first ever issue of Yeshiva University Journal of the Arts, a new iteration under a new name, following in the spirit of YU’s Journal of Fine Arts before us, and seeking inspiration from the arts journals and literary magazines YU students have produced over…

by Yeshiva University Journal of the Arts September 22, 2019January 20, 2020

Letter from the Editors: Issue No. 3

By: Elazar Krausz and Rocky Pincus, Editors-in-Chief

It’s clear that our lives right now are very different than they have ever been. With the spread of COVID-19 essentially bringing the entire country to a halt, all of our lives have been rattled, our routines disrupted, and our fortitude tested. But, as we resume classes online and settle down into new routines at home, one thing becomes clear: life goes on.

In the chaos of a worldwide pandemic, we can seek solace in the fact that we still have a capacity for creative expression. And with the multitude of emotions that can come up in times of uncertainty, social distancing, and quarantine, that creative expression grows only more valuable.

In this stressful time, take a few moments to peruse this newest issue, and remember that the creative spirit is still strong at Yeshiva University, whether we’re all located on campus or spread throughout the world.

In this issue, we’ve added two new sections we haven’t seen before. Take a look at short films from Jeremy Koffsky and our film editor Tamar Ciment, and design pieces from Baruch-Lev Kelman and Natan Pittinsky. And be sure to check out the rest of the issue, where we feature great fine art, photography, music, performing arts, poetry, and fiction from Yeshiva University students.

Along with creative pieces, we’ve included some critical essays in various sections. Check out Sarit Perl’s analysis of early American theater, Yosef Rosenfield’s assessment of irony and music in the 2014 film The Interview, and CJ Glicksman’s essays on antisemitism and religion in music.

We hope this issue provides a much-needed reprieve from the ever-changing situation around us. Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep making art.

< Issue No. 3

EVENT: Yosef Rosenfield’s Back-to-School Concert

By: Elazar Krausz, Editor-In-Chief

Much of what music majors at Yeshiva College do is study music academically, taking music history and music theory courses to deepen their understanding of music’s intricate workings. But arguably the more exciting side of YC’s music program is the various opportunities to perform, which include, among other offerings, the chamber ensemble course.

The word ‘ensemble’ implies having a group of musicians performing music together, but when Yosef Rosenfield, a YC music major and music editor for YUJA, found himself the sole student in the chamber ensemble course, he wouldn’t let a small linguistic detail get in his way. Rosenfield decided to perform solo, and this coming Thursday, January 23, marks his second solo show at YU.

In a departure from his first solo show, last semester’s tribute to the works of Maroon 5 and Panic! at the Disco, Rosenfield will perform a concert of original music, under a stage name he’s carried for years, Joe Rosenbran. He’s titled the show “This Is Satire,” a reference to the satirical and cynical elements that mark his songwriting. The songs Rosenfield will perform, he says, “[cover] a wide range of topics such as abuse of power, betrayal, systemic evil, and loss.” He’s even produced original artwork to serve as the backdrop for the show.

For Rosenfield, performing in public can be nerve-racking,  but it always pays off in the end. “Post-concert highs are beyond amazing,” he says, “there’s nothing I enjoy more than others telling me they love my songs and my artistry.”

Catch “This Is Satire” at the Schottenstein Theater (560 W 185th St.) on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 8:00pm. Admission is free.

Letter from the Editors: Issue No. 2 – “Here”

By: Elazar Krausz and Rocky Pincus, Editors-in-Chief

In late September, just after the now-famous LGBTQ march that took place on the Wilf Campus, a friend of ours approached us with an idea. “As a gay student at YU,” he said, “I’ve never felt more unsafe on my own campus.” The publicity of the march had set off a rumble of discourse across the Yeshiva University community. Many people were supportive, but others voiced their political and religious opinions opposing LGBTQ rights on campus. Those people assumed that they were doing only that; expressing a detached political or religious opinion. But our friend experienced what felt like a barrage of personal attacks, an overwhelming message from those around him who did not know he was gay: “you do not belong here.” 

“We need to do something about this,” our friend told us. “People need to know that when they talk about LGBTQ people, they are talking about their classmates, their roommates, and their friends. They need to know that we are here.”

That is the point of this issue. To let the YU community know that LGBTQ students are here, in every class and every shiur. To share their stories, because were they to get up in public and do so, they could face immeasurable consequences. The arts are a medium for empathy. That is our goal. Not to make political or religious or ideological statements, but to share, openly and honestly, the experiences of LGBTQ students at YU, in the hopes that the YU community will recognize the humanity in these stories.

We reached out to friends within YU’s LGBTQ community, and, with their help, were able to compile an entire issue featuring only the art and writing of LGBTQ students and alumni. Braided throughout the issue are quotes taken from online interviews we conducted, asking students about their experiences, from growing up, to coming out to themselves, to coming out to their family and friends. Most of our contributors are not out publicly, so we chose to keep our entire issue anonymous. Unfortunately, we have no way of sharing the stories of those who are still completely closeted. We can only hope that they see this and can find some inspiration, some comfort, in it.

A lot of dedication went into the compilation of this issue, and though we cannot thank them by name, we’d like to express our gratitude to all the members of YU’s LGBTQ community to helped make this issue happen. This is your project, these are your stories, and we feel lucky to have been able to help facilitate it.

To the reader: Go into this with an open mind. These are the stories of LGBTQ students, but they are also just the stories of everyday people. These are stories about growing up and finding your place, and about the all-too-familiar feeling of realizing you may not know where that place is. We hope, with continued efforts, that for all of us, that place can be right here.

Free resources are available for LGBTQ people at YU and otherwise:

– The Trevor Project Hotline – 1-866-488-7386
– National Suicide Hotline – 1-800-273-8255
– JQY Warmline – 1-551-579-4673

If you want to reach out to current YU students to get involved on campus or for support, email the YU Pride Alliance at yupridealliance@gmail.com.

< Issue No. 2

Letter from the Editors: Issue No. 1

By: Elazar Krausz and Rocky Pincus, Editors-in-Chief

Today we released the first ever issue of Yeshiva University Journal of the Arts, a new iteration under a new name, following in the spirit of YU’s Journal of Fine Arts before us, and seeking inspiration from the arts journals and literary magazines YU students have produced over many years.

This issue marks a pivotal change in the way students at YU will be able to express themselves and their creative talents. As the first edition of a YU arts journal to be published digitally, we were able to include works from students who would have found trouble sharing their work in print. Our music section features “Prove Myself Wrong,” an original song by Yosef Rosenfield. For the first time, the journal can include not only text and images, but audio and video as well. In our performing arts section, we’ve included Shayna Herszage’s “Yours Always,” a full-length play that would have taken up the entirety of a printed journal. Our digital format has no length restrictions, and can showcase student work that just wouldn’t fit into a print publication.

We’ve chosen Lily Betesh’s oil painting, “Bloom” as our featured artwork for the issue. Though we’re publishing in the fall, “Bloom” reminds us of spring and new beginnings. We’re excited to be part of a new beginning for the journal, and we hope that we can help foster a newfound appreciation for the arts on campus.

Thank you to our faculty advisor, Professor Joy Ladin, to our editorial board, and to all of the students who submitted their works to the journal. Our digital format will allow us to publish more frequently and feature the works of more students, so please continue to submit.

We’re excited for the future of this journal, and for the future of the arts at YU. This is just the beginning.

< Issue No. 1