2008 Woodie Awards
Yeshiva University or Kollel University?
A Plea to Our Roshei Yeshiva
Effie Richmond
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Opinion
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Unfortunately, we often hear about a student returning from yeshiva in Israel, filled with the excitement for Torah study. However, once he arrives at YU, he seems to cool off. Seemingly, if YU is just another yeshiva, why can't this student keep his passion and enthusiasm which he obtained in Israel? Besides for the temperature change, why is our yeshiva different from any other across the Atlantic? Many have recently discussed the issues facing the university aspect of YU, but how about the Yeshiva itself?
I must admit that I am quite biased. I was spoiled by my rebbe in yeshiva who, despite the fact that he lived 45 minutes away, stayed in yeshiva three nights a week, always available to answer questions about the sugya we would be learning. He would also make sure to spend time with us to talk about general or specific life issues.
Very often, yeshiva is compared to a family. Every family has a house, parents and children. The house is the beit midrash. The parents are the rebbeim and the children are the talmidim. Thus, Hazal write that if someone teaches his friend's son Torah, it is viewed as if he gave birth to that child. No child can grow properly without the direction and guidance of his parents. In addition, to send a child out into the real world prematurely, without the proper preparation and tools, ensures that he will surely not succeed with life's challenges.
YU is more like one big kollel than an actual yeshiva. A kollel is for people who are already mature and often already married. Kollel students have already moved out of the home, and as such, don't need as much guidance from their parents. They are able to deal with life's issues on their own. In addition, their entire exposure to the rebbe, if there is one, is the once or twice a week shiur he delivers to the kollel.
Here at YU, we sit and learn in the beit midrash as we would at any other. We listen to shiur delivered by our rebbeim for a maximum of two hours daily; all too often, that is all we see or hear of our rebbe for the entire day. Even in those two hours, rarely do we hear about his views on life, how to cope with life's challenges, or how to deal with theological issues.
I must admit that I am quite biased. I was spoiled by my rebbe in yeshiva who, despite the fact that he lived 45 minutes away, stayed in yeshiva three nights a week, always available to answer questions about the sugya we would be learning. He would also make sure to spend time with us to talk about general or specific life issues.
Very often, yeshiva is compared to a family. Every family has a house, parents and children. The house is the beit midrash. The parents are the rebbeim and the children are the talmidim. Thus, Hazal write that if someone teaches his friend's son Torah, it is viewed as if he gave birth to that child. No child can grow properly without the direction and guidance of his parents. In addition, to send a child out into the real world prematurely, without the proper preparation and tools, ensures that he will surely not succeed with life's challenges.
YU is more like one big kollel than an actual yeshiva. A kollel is for people who are already mature and often already married. Kollel students have already moved out of the home, and as such, don't need as much guidance from their parents. They are able to deal with life's issues on their own. In addition, their entire exposure to the rebbe, if there is one, is the once or twice a week shiur he delivers to the kollel.
Here at YU, we sit and learn in the beit midrash as we would at any other. We listen to shiur delivered by our rebbeim for a maximum of two hours daily; all too often, that is all we see or hear of our rebbe for the entire day. Even in those two hours, rarely do we hear about his views on life, how to cope with life's challenges, or how to deal with theological issues.