Student Refuses to Deliver Grad. Speech on Shabbos

Binghamton University graduating senior Don Greenberg, was looking forward to addressing his fellow students as a commencement speaker at Binghamton University’s engineering school when his friend broke the bad news: May 16, graduation day, falls on a Saturday.

A triple major from Teaneck, N.J., with a 3.93 GPA, Greenberg is an Orthodox Jew who observes the Shabbos.

But when 2,500 students and their families gathered on the upstate New York campus for the Watson School of Engineering graduation last Saturday, the twenty two year old was there at the podium, but did not speak. Instead, on jumbo screens on either side of the stage, he watched himself deliver the graduation address he taped in the university’s video studio three days earlier. Here is that video.

Don Greenberg explains the unique circumstances surrounding his selection as the student speaker at this year's commencement ceremonies for the Watson School of Engineering.

HT: ColLive.com