2008 Woodie Awards
Where are the Roshei Yeshiva?
Immanuel Shalev
Issue date: 9/4/07 Section: Opinion
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I could have limited my article to a discussion about the lack of Roshei Yeshiva present during night seder, or to the fact that we don't all face the same way in the Main Beis during davening, but I decided to discuss a much broader, and more important issue. Where are the Roshei Yeshiva?
YU has over twenty Roshei Yeshiva on campus, and the number keeps on growing. But the YU rebbeim do not act in the traditional manner of the Roshei Yeshiva. Many of them do not act as a typical rebbe in the average Yeshiva - in fact, the RIETS Roshei Yeshiva, are much closer to maggidei shiurim. I have nothing but respect and awe for the tremendous sages who grace the halls of Yeshiva University. I do not mean to bash, or in any way disrespect the talmidei chachamim of Yeshiva and the broader Jewish community. I only seek to point out a particular weakness within our Yeshiva that I hope can be remedied.
Roshei Yeshiva in Israeli yeshivot that most YU students attend impart a particular message to their students. More than that, they believe their students have a purpose, a destiny, and it is their role as Roshei Yeshiva to make sure that every single one of their talmidim reaches their potential. One of my Rebbeim once told me that the key to becoming a great teacher or a Rebbe is to love your students. That love is the vehicle through which any idea or message can be communicated. Indeed, many of the Roshei Yeshiva in Israel are almost fanatical- in a good way- in their diligent care for their talmidim.
As a result, the yeshivot in Israel have a clear message that they either succeed or fail in communicating to their talmidim. But the yeshiva is internally consistent, operating with a synergy and an efficiency that is the foundation for the growth of its talmid. Sha'alvim is the Yeshiva for spiritual and Torah growth, KBY is the yeshiva for sitting and learning, and Gush is the intellectual yeshiva. Unfortunately YU lacks an identity, and the leadership required to form one.
The expectations of the Roshei Yeshiva have never been communicated to their talmidim. Many of the Roshei Yeshiva function as leaders of their individual shiurim, sort of like leaders of their individual tribes. They give regular mussar schmoozes with internally consistent themes and ideas. However, we need leaders to unite these tribes into a single nation. Only a handful of Roshei Yeshiva actually live in Washington Heights, and with the exception of Rav Yitzchak Cohen, there are no Roshei Yeshiva who have a consistent night seder on campus. There is a shiur klali given only once a year, and although there is a mussar schmooze given most Wednesday nights, the effect it has on talmidim is more that of a guest speaker than of a strong leader. A mussar schmooze is simply not enough. The love that is required of a Rebbe not only obligates him to communicate a clear message, but to see it through.
Where are the Roshei Yeshiva? There are only a few possibilities; I do not believe they are too weak to provide the leadership necessary to accomplish this task. Many of them are leaders of their respective communities, and some even lead major portions of Modern Orthodoxy. Maybe they do not see their role as the guides of Yeshiva's talmidim. Perhaps there are too many dynamic Roshei Yeshiva, and one or two cannot come out and claim the entire mantle of leadership. Another possibility is that their voice is being hampered by some outside factor, the college administration, or some other body.
Whatever the cause is, I beseech the Roshei Yeshiva. Talmidim are suffering from a lack of guidance. Can't the Roshei Yeshiva take a position on college issues? Who is our posek? Can't someone review the curriculum, or tell the talmidim who are interested which courses they can and cannot take? I recognize that sganei mashgichim have been appointed to look after the talmidim, but it is simply not enough. Sganei mashgichim cannot love the talmidim in place of their Rebbe. That love need not be personally conveyed to every talmid, but it should be recognizable to the average YU student. I do not mean that the Roshei Yeshiva should love their shiurim, they already do that, but if their title indicates their responsibility to the entire Yeshiva.
I sincerely hope that something changes. Though I have spent very little time on the limitations and constraints that prevent the emergence of strong leadership, I recognize that they are present. However, I do not see us reaching our full potential as a true yeshiva and as an atmosphere that allows talmidim to recognize and pursue their destinies. Worse than that, I believe that the absence of leadership during such formative years is terribly harmful.
I don't want to end negatively, nor do I want to undermine the extraordinary accomplishments of our Roshei Yeshiva. Yeshiva University is unique in its access to such valuable torah scholars. But never has there been an institution as ambitious and as multi-faceted as YU. I truly hope that our illustrious Yeshiva can live up to its tremendous potential.
Immanuel Shalev (History ‘08) is Opinions Editor for The Commentator
YU has over twenty Roshei Yeshiva on campus, and the number keeps on growing. But the YU rebbeim do not act in the traditional manner of the Roshei Yeshiva. Many of them do not act as a typical rebbe in the average Yeshiva - in fact, the RIETS Roshei Yeshiva, are much closer to maggidei shiurim. I have nothing but respect and awe for the tremendous sages who grace the halls of Yeshiva University. I do not mean to bash, or in any way disrespect the talmidei chachamim of Yeshiva and the broader Jewish community. I only seek to point out a particular weakness within our Yeshiva that I hope can be remedied.
Roshei Yeshiva in Israeli yeshivot that most YU students attend impart a particular message to their students. More than that, they believe their students have a purpose, a destiny, and it is their role as Roshei Yeshiva to make sure that every single one of their talmidim reaches their potential. One of my Rebbeim once told me that the key to becoming a great teacher or a Rebbe is to love your students. That love is the vehicle through which any idea or message can be communicated. Indeed, many of the Roshei Yeshiva in Israel are almost fanatical- in a good way- in their diligent care for their talmidim.
As a result, the yeshivot in Israel have a clear message that they either succeed or fail in communicating to their talmidim. But the yeshiva is internally consistent, operating with a synergy and an efficiency that is the foundation for the growth of its talmid. Sha'alvim is the Yeshiva for spiritual and Torah growth, KBY is the yeshiva for sitting and learning, and Gush is the intellectual yeshiva. Unfortunately YU lacks an identity, and the leadership required to form one.
The expectations of the Roshei Yeshiva have never been communicated to their talmidim. Many of the Roshei Yeshiva function as leaders of their individual shiurim, sort of like leaders of their individual tribes. They give regular mussar schmoozes with internally consistent themes and ideas. However, we need leaders to unite these tribes into a single nation. Only a handful of Roshei Yeshiva actually live in Washington Heights, and with the exception of Rav Yitzchak Cohen, there are no Roshei Yeshiva who have a consistent night seder on campus. There is a shiur klali given only once a year, and although there is a mussar schmooze given most Wednesday nights, the effect it has on talmidim is more that of a guest speaker than of a strong leader. A mussar schmooze is simply not enough. The love that is required of a Rebbe not only obligates him to communicate a clear message, but to see it through.
Where are the Roshei Yeshiva? There are only a few possibilities; I do not believe they are too weak to provide the leadership necessary to accomplish this task. Many of them are leaders of their respective communities, and some even lead major portions of Modern Orthodoxy. Maybe they do not see their role as the guides of Yeshiva's talmidim. Perhaps there are too many dynamic Roshei Yeshiva, and one or two cannot come out and claim the entire mantle of leadership. Another possibility is that their voice is being hampered by some outside factor, the college administration, or some other body.
Whatever the cause is, I beseech the Roshei Yeshiva. Talmidim are suffering from a lack of guidance. Can't the Roshei Yeshiva take a position on college issues? Who is our posek? Can't someone review the curriculum, or tell the talmidim who are interested which courses they can and cannot take? I recognize that sganei mashgichim have been appointed to look after the talmidim, but it is simply not enough. Sganei mashgichim cannot love the talmidim in place of their Rebbe. That love need not be personally conveyed to every talmid, but it should be recognizable to the average YU student. I do not mean that the Roshei Yeshiva should love their shiurim, they already do that, but if their title indicates their responsibility to the entire Yeshiva.
I sincerely hope that something changes. Though I have spent very little time on the limitations and constraints that prevent the emergence of strong leadership, I recognize that they are present. However, I do not see us reaching our full potential as a true yeshiva and as an atmosphere that allows talmidim to recognize and pursue their destinies. Worse than that, I believe that the absence of leadership during such formative years is terribly harmful.
I don't want to end negatively, nor do I want to undermine the extraordinary accomplishments of our Roshei Yeshiva. Yeshiva University is unique in its access to such valuable torah scholars. But never has there been an institution as ambitious and as multi-faceted as YU. I truly hope that our illustrious Yeshiva can live up to its tremendous potential.
Immanuel Shalev (History ‘08) is Opinions Editor for The Commentator