"For the first time in its storied history,
Times Square will be home to a flagship
university campus as Touro University
opens its new Cross River Campus at 3
Times Square. Nearly 3,000 students and
staff will call the new campus home.
Touro created the unified campus to
house its College of Pharmacy (TCOP), New
York School of Career & Applied Studies
(NYSCAS), Graduate School of Business
(GSB), Graduate School of Education (GSE),
Graduate School of Jewish Studies (GSJS),
Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW)
and Graduate School of Technology (GST). The 11-floor 300,000 square foot campus includes a student center, fully automated kosher dining
area, a full-scale in-store pharmacy as well as
state of the art classrooms, research labs and
some administrative offices."
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WOW! Mazel tov!!
But it is hard to find a more Tamei place than Times Square. What were they THINKING? Who wants Times Square to be home??? Like - if you are there, you want out as soon as possible. And I can't imagine how many tens of millions this cost them!! They couldn't find some land in Brooklyn or Queens or even a different part of Manhattan [I don't want to speak ill of a borough whose air I breathed so many times...]??
וְעֹצֵם עֵינָיו מֵרְאוֹת בְּרָע אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא זֶה שֶׁאֵין מִסְתַּכֵּל בְּנָשִׁים בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹמְדוֹת עַל הַכְּבִיסָה
“He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly; he that despises the gain of oppressions, that shakes his hands from holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil” (Isaiah 33:15). Rabbi Chiyya bar Abba says: This is referring to one who does not gaze at women while they are standing over the laundry, as it was common for them to stand in the water and raise the hems of their garments while laundering their clothing.
הֵיכִי דָמֵי אִי דְּאִיכָּא דַּרְכָּא אַחְרִיתָא רָשָׁע הוּא אִי דְּלֵיכָּא דַּרְכָּא אַחְרִיתָא אָנוּס הוּא לְעוֹלָם דְּלֵיכָּא דַּרְכָּא אַחְרִיתָא וַאֲפִילּוּ הָכִי איבְּעֵי לֵיהּ לְמֵינַס נַפְשֵׁיהּ
The Gemara clarifies: What are the circumstances? If it is referring to a case where there is another way by which the one walking could reach his destination, then one who walks past the women, consequently placing himself in a situation where he will be tempted to gaze at them, is wicked. Alternatively, if it is referring to a case where there is no other way by which he can reach his destination, then he is a victim of circumstance, so why is he required to shut his eyes? The Gemara explains: Actually, it is referring to a case where there is no other way by which he can reach his destination, and even so, he is required to compel himself to avoid gazing at the women. [Bava Basra 57b]
So to be in a place of immodesty when one doesn't have to be and one DOESN'T look - he is called a RASHA 😲😲😳😳. Did they consult with Rav Chaim Kniyevsky or another Gadol before making this investment?? Did they ask Dr. Lander ztz"l's son, HaGaon Rav Doniel Shlita, what he thinks??
The story goes that when R' Elchonon Wasserman was in NY in the 30's he was in a car that was traveling through Times Square. He wasn't looking but said that he has to get out of there b/c there is a terrible stench. And this was in the 30's when things were probably much more tame than they are today.
I give Touro a Bracha that Moshiach come and the campus is moved to Yerushalayim.
