I personally heard from an exceptional mechanech that only 5% of religious Jewish students have a strong working knowledge of Lashon HaKodesh grammar. I tell this to students who come to me with a “shvache kop” explaining they were just not taught how to decode the Hebrew text using the correct foundational skills.
I am currently working with an energetic frum man in his mid 70s who has difficulty learning and has not been able to do so independently for 50 years. In my first encounter with him, I immediately recognized his deficiencies in foundation skills, and why he suffered for 50 years. BH he now is grasping the techniques to break down words and concepts and can move forward independently when he gets stuck.
When I started yeshiva life 40 years ago, I was told that the more one learns, the better one becomes. Without hesitation, I accepted that. When I personally didn’t succeed in learning, I left yeshiva, went to work and discovered later on after I got married, that fundamental learning skills had not been taught to me. With a new found determination, I addressed my deficiencies, went back to learning and began teaching and have remained there ever since.
Conclusion
Roshei Hayeshiva, menahelim, rebbes and morahs have an achriyus to their talmidim/os and it is their responsibility to find out why their students have learning issues. Very often they feel “it is not my problem”, putting onus on the talmid and talmida’s previous school as to the reason why the child didn’t learn foundational skills. This reasoning could be valid, but now that the talmid IS part of the Roshei HaYeshiva/menahel’s institution, he becomes the yeshiva’s responsibility.
In my humble opinion, all educators should receive training in pinpointing students’ deficiencies. I have spoken to many Roshei Yeshiva and Menahelim over the years who are undiscerning in detecting students’ deficiencies, (which is completely understandable, since yeshivas do not give training in this area). The Rosh HaYeshiva, menahelim, rebbe or morah may themselves be great learners and have strong erudite skills, but lack the knowledge to pinpoint deficiencies in their talmidim and talmidos, therefore labeling them weak or lazy.
This is a pressing issue in today’s yeshiva world, and it needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
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Revised and expanded edition
Featuring more than 100 color pages, this book is a must-have for Parents, Roshei HaYeshiva, Kolleleit, Menahelim, and Mechanchim.
Struggling with Hebrew Reading discusses the educational crisis that our Jewish educators and talmidim are facing, and outlines solutions on how to fix it.
This book discusses the educational crisis that our Jewish educators and talmidim are facing today, and outlines solutions on how to fix it.
The book also discusses the current pandemic of rejection or expulsion of children from schools/Yeshivos, forcing them to go to public schools, anti-missionary strategies, kiruv techniques, and the viral “box child” series.
I appeal to all Litvish and Chassidishe Gedolim around the world to join forces and declare b’achdus, that rejection and expulsion from schools of our precious children must end once and for all.
Please click here for free hard copies and bulk orders with postage paid, or email if you would like a virtual copy.
Coming soon:
Reserve your copy of Rabbi Abenson’s new forthcoming sefer- “I Can’t Read and Learn” (Published by Feldheim Publishers). Click HERE.
For more information please contact
Rabbi Dovid Abenson
Evaluations / Upgrading / Training
Tel. 15147393629
Cell/Whatsapp 15149935300
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://shaarhatalmud.com