Yeshiva is More Challenging Than Chanting Songs on Kingston

By Rabbi Avrohom Brashevitzky – Chabad of Doral, Florida

Dear Rabbi Leizer Kahn,

It is difficult to give a clear response to your observations and questions regarding our “system” oriented Yeshivah students in your article. Of course, in an ideal world, perhaps after Moshiach has finally revealed himself, all that you described in your article will come to fruition. Reality then, will be totally different than our current existence. Indeed we will wake up every single morning with renewed excitement and vigor, ready to take on another fantastically exciting day of Avodas Hashem. That’s if we will even ever go to sleep at all. After all, we may be so full of excitement that it will be impossible to fall asleep in the first place.

Still, I wish to share some anecdotes and perspectives. Perhaps, we need to look at our current generation of Yeshiva students with even greater admiration and awe. Personally, having somewhat of a better idea of “the world out there”, I’m full of adoration and reverence to our young men and women who are dedicated to staying in “The System” and sticking to Derech Yisrael Sovo. Living in the cocoon of Crown Heights doesn’t provide that perspective. Going “out on Mivtzoyim” once a week doesn’t do it either. We need to better appreciate the wonderful young generation we are raising. Could it be even better? Absolutely! But it could, and sadly considering what is going on in the world, almost should be much much worse. Let’s give them credit.

I grew up with the following story. My father A”H related how once sitting in 770 near a recent Bal Teshuva, who was an exceptional Masmid and had a wonderful head. He would literally sit and learn, making up for lost time, even during the lunch and dinner breaks. Once, a few Bochurim were chatting (yes, during Seder) and this Bochur turned to my father and remarked “I can’t understand HOW one can waste time from learning”. He really meant it. A year or so later, my father encountered this very same Bochur having a small conversation, during Seder. My father reminded him about his remark from the previous year. In my opinion, this Bochur wasn’t wrong when he made the comment, and he wasn’t so bad when he (R”L) spoke during Seder the following year. The difference is, the first episode happened when he just started getting into learning, while the second happened when he “came down to earth”… No worries, this Bochur is a great Masmid till today and a Gaon who spreads Torah and has had thousands of students over the years.

To share from my own experience. I worked in Chinuch for many years. I remember a particular episode, it happened during the second week of school. A new teacher was complementing me, the school and himself, on how great and smooth everything was running and how beautifly the students were involved. I told him “let’s talk in November and assess the situation then, that’s where we can get a true reflection as to how things are running”. Was I wrong for pouring cold water on his excitement? No, I was just being realistic. The fact is that the excitement of something new and fresh, is exactly that when it is new and fresh. Do you still feel the awe of Yom Kippur? Are you in a dancing mood right now like you were on Simchas Torah?

The great Gaon, The Rogotchover once shared with The great Gaon Rabbi Chaim Brisker, his opinion that the commitment of marriage which is made under the Chupah, is not a one time event which continues on throughout the marriage. Rather, it is a constantly renewed event, happening again and again every moment. meaning, the commitment is not recurring by default, rather it is a constant act of recommital. Reb Chaim immediately responded: Mazal Tov! Why do I get a Mazal Tov? asked The Rogotchover. Reb Chaim explained that according to his opinion he just got remarried, and at a wedding one wishes Mazal Tov. Let’s analyze this for a moment. Was the Rogotchover wrong in Reb Chaim’s opinion? Not necessarily. Perhaps he was pointing out to him that one needs to be realistic. Case in point, I’m sure at your wedding there was lots of dancing and singing. Do you still have an orchestra playing music in your home on a daily basis? The fact that you don’t does not mean that you are less happy to be married, than you were on the night of your wedding.

Have you ever been to Eretz Yisrael? Did you notice how excited and awed the tourists are? Did you ever encounter a Jew seeing the Kosel for the first time in their life? How come the residents of Eretz Yisrael aren’t as excited? Is there something wrong with them that they don’t seem to appreciate the Kedusha and history of the place? “Ta’anug Temidi Eino Ta’anug”. Chassidus explains (and it is a basic simple fact of life) that constant pleasure is no pleasure. The way Hashem created us, our natural being, we get accustomed to things and they become a little less exciting over time. Yes, we must constantly work on ourselves, injecting renewed excitement in our Avodas Hashem and Torah Learning. This however does not change the fact that we are Human Beings and as such our excitement does wear off.

By the way, all the excitement you saw in the CTeens, do you know where it comes from? From those former Yeshivah students with “the hollowed eyes and bent over postures, full of boredom and malaise”.

Yes, they are passionate about their Yiddishkite and Torah learning. They are very excited about it, to the extent of dedicating their lives to injecting it into others. They are passionate enough to go out on Shlichus and bring excitement to the entire world. They are also Human Beings. Not every day is a celebration, not every day is equally exciting. Indeed 10-11 hour Yeshiva days do wear one down and can be more challenging than walking up and down Kinston Ave chanting a few Jewish songs.