HaGaon Harav Gershon Edelstein, Shlita, and HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Shlita, Offer Guidance for Success in Yeshiva
It was two days before Tisha B’Av, bein hazemanim had not yet started… but some 2,000bachurim who will transition from yeshiva ketana, (high school aged yeshiva) to enter yeshivagedolah (beis medrash level), gathered in the Armanot Chen Hall in Bnei Brak to hear guidance from Rav Gershon Edelstein, senior Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, on how to properly make the transition.
The event, organized by Dirshu, also featured HaRav Uri Weisblum, shlita, Mashgiach of Yeshiva Nachlas Halevi’im and HaRav Yehoshua Mishkovsky, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Imrei Moshe. In addition, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu, delivered an inspiring address.
The transition from yeshiva ketana, a very regimented system – to yeshiva gedolah, which offers much more independent learning is truly significant. It can literally mean the difference between a lifetime of success in learning or challilah the opposite.
A highlight was Rav Edelstein’s address. He said, “The way to acquire Torah in yeshiva gedolah is with sevarah, to find the underlying logic and premise behind the words of the Gemara andRishonim. Understanding a sevarah gives a taam in learning, a geshmak in learning.”
Rav Gershon then added a forceful caveat. “It is impossible to really understand sevarah without yedias haTorah, without knowledge of the Torah. Every bachur must make it a high priority to acquire yedias haTorah. It is not as hard as one might think… For example, morning seder is primarily designed for bachurim to prepare for the shiur. For many bachurim, preparation does not take an entire seder. They are left with extra time. Every bachur should undertake at least to complete the entire masechta that the yeshiva is learning.
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch said that yeshiva gedolah is a fresh slate! Even someone who was not so successful in yeshiva ketanah is empowered to make a fresh start.
Rav Moshe Hillel cautioned, “Not all bachurim feel the sweetness of learning right away. For some it takes time. No bachur should become bothered when it doesn’t happen immediately. If he perseveres, eventually he will have true satisfaction in learning.”
These wonderful bachurim who are so intent on achieving hatzlacha in yeshiva next zeman that they took time at the very end of their zeman to listen to guidance from Gedolim, are the greatest proof that Klal Yisrael has a bright future.
