Senior and younger American Roshei Yeshiva are holding meetings recently to discuss the future of sending Bochurim to learn In yeshivos Eretz yisroel and help with the shiduch crisis as well. In attendance were, the Novominsker rebbe, Rav malkiel Kotler, Rav Meir stern, Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, Rav Lipa margolis, Rav Yosef Eichenstein, Rav Kalman Epstein, Rav yossel Mermelstein, Rav Gershon Neuman, Linden, Rav Meir Heshkowitz, Stamford, Rav Yosef Frankel Vyelipol, Rav Eli Yagod, Rav Moti Dick, Rav Mendel Slomowitz, and others.
There is great debate over the pros and cons of Bochurim going to EY for a few years prior to getting married. While initially it was the norm and still is the norm to go learn in Eretz yisrael, many RY are of the opinion that bochurim experience a yeridah during their stay. The argument is this yeridah far outweighs the maalos they will gain while learning there as a bochur. Many factors contribute to this such as the lack of proper hadracha, and hefkeirus. The other issue is of course the shudduch crisis where bochurim dont return from EY before they are 23 years old causing them to start shiduchim much later.
However, there are no yeshivos in America that are set up for bochurim 20-23 year olds post Bais Medrash. Most Bochurim stay untill 3rd or 4th year in bais medrash and than go on to learn in the yeshivos of Brisk, Mir, Rav Tzvi kaplan, Rav Shalom Shechter and others.
With backing of baalei Batim a plan is in formation to open a yeshiva catering specificaly for Bochurim ages 20-23. It will be yeshiva with a structured environment a Blatt shiur, daily shiurim etc. Rav moti Dick was appointed by the Gedolim to take responsibility in finding a place for this new yeshiva. The Roshei yeshiva will then Push their bochurim to stay in America and offer incentives for after they get married if they choose to go learn in Eretz yisrael for Kollel. Time will tell if this will take off. Its hard to imagine not having a top bochur in Brisk.
Mir, TV, CB, BMG etc. etc. all have many Bochurim in the 20-23 year old range. Why must the Yeshiva be Davka only that age category?
ReplyDeleteMost Yeshivos end at the Bochurim still want to have a structured place with daily shiurim.
DeleteSomehow:
DeleteThe Yeshivos you mentioned do not have an attractive"program" and setting for a bocher who would like to deeply immerse himself in learning, in that age group, in a way that competes with Yeshivos in the Holy Land. A certain atmosphere has to be cultivated and maintained.
Anyone who wants to learn can find a Rebbe and a Shiur in any of the above mentioned Yeshivos. Of course, though, they can't compete with the falafel, schnitzel and yerushalmi kugel from overseas.
DeleteChazal felt differently. They taught us that "ain adam lomaid ela, b'makom shlibo chafetz u'berabo shelibo chafetz". That attractiveness has to be created.
DeleteOf course you can go the cynical route (rather than the logical) and say that the shiurim in TV are equal to that of Reb Avrahm Yehoshu etc etc, and that it's the falafel that brings our Bachurim to travel all the the way to the Holy Land (since they aren't readily available in Flatbush?????). You'll score some in the cynicism department, but not much in logical department.
Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin would be a perfect candidate for heading such a yeshiva.
ReplyDeleteThat would make him a Rosh Yeshiva of 3 Yeshivos including Telz and Lakewood mesivta.
DeleteYou would need somebody on the caliber of let's say for example, Reb Asher Arieli, Reb Nissim Kaplan, Reb Gershon Meltzer etc. I picked the Mir because my kids go there. The question is can any yeshiva duplicate what the Mir has? Add brisk and many others. It's a great idea but can it be done?
ReplyDeleteThis is long overdue. Two questions on this new yeshiva.
ReplyDelete1) Will bachurim be allowed to pursue shidduchim while learning in this Yeshiva? (I presume yes, if it supposed to do something about the shidduch crisis).
2? Will this Yeshiva be in Lakewood, or specifically not in Lakewood?
Obviously nothing can top certain aspects of being in EY but I think it's an excellent idea. It would be smart to make it out of town(out of the tri-state area) to give it the necessary appeal and feeling of entering a new stage of life.
ReplyDeleteThere are many boys for whom going to E"Y will cause a Yeridah while there are others for whom it will cause an Aliya. To make a general rule does not make sense. Each boy, his parents, and Rebbe has to make that decision. As for the shidduch crisis - why should boys be pressured to get married earlier than they are prepared to do so? Are we asking yet more couples to rely on govt programs to survive? If instead - the boys were encouraged to marry older girls who have already completed (or mostly completed) their education then instead of dooming couples to a life of poverty where they are tempted to act dishonestly in order to survive we can instead offer them a life of Torah and Parnassah B'Kovod. If a couple is not ready to make the tremendous sacrifice of the wife working full time - then obviously the Limud Torah life they are claiming to want - is not that much of a priority.
ReplyDeleteThis will never happen on American soil
ReplyDelete