Redefining the Term “Out-of-Towner”

By: Josh Portnoy

Often at TABC, I notice people throwing around the term, “Out-of-towner”. I certainly have no problem with the term in and of itself; it’s just used to describe those not living in the Bergen County area. 

However, in my opinion, the way it is often used is a little bit off.

When using the term, many people will use it in the context of dividing those who are and are not out-of-towners. We can use one of TABC’s most enjoyed programs, night seder, as an example. Even though there is a possibility of doing it at home, students from Bergen County are clearly the desired demographic to go to a night seder in school. 

As an out-of-towner myself, I can attest to the fact that, when I occasionally attend a night seder at TABC, I get asked questions along the lines of “What's the point of coming if not to get credit?” 

If you look past the surface meaning of the question, a problem becomes obvious. Do I really go to a night seder for no purpose? Of course, one of the reasons is to learn Torah with friends. 

However, the assumption that out-of-towners will usually not be able to get enough credits to meet the quota is simply wrong, as many out-of-towners do end up getting enough. 

The underlying point of this can be applied to many situations at TABC, but the main idea is clear. Many assume that those who are out-of-towners have a completely different experience than those who are not, but that could not be farther from the truth. 

The problems with the term, however, go both ways. As any TABC student could tell you, there is a massive culture centered around attending sports games. While it is not expected for out-of-towners to come, there is normally a lot of pressure put upon students who live close by to come. 

I personally know many people who live near TABC who would rather watch from home than attend the game. Many of them even claim that there is immense pressure to go to games even on a night when they may have an event or a lot of homework. 

While it is commonly known that out-of-towners struggle to go to games, many do not realize that there are some who simply do not want to go to games.

So what do these points ultimately mean? “ Out-of-towners” is often used in negative ways, as stated above, but we can use it to strengthen our community, too. To do this, we can shift the meaning, not using it to point out who is different, but to spark empathy and connection. 

This means recognizing that at TABC, we are all one family, whether in school or out of it. By doing this, it will strengthen our connection between all students.