A graduating senior at Binghamton University in New York delivered the commencement speech via a prerecorded video since it fell on Shabbat.
Don Greenberg, of Teaneck, N.J., stood at the podium on stage during the Binghamton University’s Watson School of Engineering commencement on May 16, but did not speak live.
Orthodox Jews such as Greenberg do not use electricity on Shabbat, which begins at sundown on Friday night and ends after sundown on Saturday night.
Greenberg’s message was chosen several weeks ago to represent his fellow classmates at the graduation. It was recorded last Wednesday in full, along with an explanation why the audience is watching it on a jumbo screen.
“I’m reminded of when Sandy Koufax refused to pitch during the first game of the 1965 World Series, which coincided with Yom Kippur eve. His courage gave many Jews the strength to be unabashed of their Judaism,” said Rabbi Aaron Slonim, executive director of the Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life at Binghamton University, a Jewish campus organization where Greenberg is an active member.
Greenberg is graduating with a triple major in computer science, math and management.
