I would like to open with a profound statement from a revered Torah giant, Reb Leib Malin, zt”l, whose words on the Yeshiva system are both powerful and timeless. He famously wrote in his Hakdama to HaTevunah Journal: “הַיֵּשִׁיבָה הַקְּדוֹשָּׁה, בָּהֶן הָיָה כָּל הַרְכּוֹש שֶׁל הַכְּלָל יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּגָּלוּת. בָּהֶן הִשְׁתַּמְּרָה הַתּוֹרָה וְיִרְאָה בְּכָל טָהֳרָתָה, כַּאֲשֶׁר מִלְפָנִים. בָּהֶן הִשְׁתַּמְּרָה הַעֲמָלָה שֶׁל תּוֹרָה וְהַעִיּוּן בִּפְנִימִיוּת תּוֹרָה. בָּהֶן הָיְתָה נִכֶּרֶת מַלְכוּתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹש-בָּרוּך-הוּא. בָּהֶן הָיְתָה הַתּוֹרָה שׁוֹלֵטֶת וְגְבִירָה וְאֵין עוֹד מִלְבַדָּה. כַּשֶּׁהָיוּ נִכְנָסִים לִכְתוֹלֵי הַיְּשִׁיבָה, הָיוּ מַרְגִּישִׁים אֵיךְ שֶׁכָּל הַחָלָל מִמּוּלָא מִתּוֹרָה, בָּהֶן כָּל הוֹן וְיָקָר נִמְצָא.” In these words, Reb Leib Malin, zt”l, has expressed, in the clearest and most powerful manner, the centrality of the Yeshiva to the survival and flourishing of the Jewish people. The Yeshiva is not simply an academic institution; it is the heart and soul of the Jewish world, the place where Torah and Yiras Shamayim are transmitted from generation to generation. It is the place where Hashem’s kingship is palpable, where the labor of Torah study is central, and where the light of our faith shines brightest. Now, with all due respect to the writer on YWN, to suggest that Yeshiva is no longer worth it, or to imply that we should reconsider sending our children to Yeshiva because of certain challenges, is not only mistaken—it is profoundly dangerous. The idea that we should question the very institutions that have preserved Torah for centuries, through every trial and tribulation, is something that no true Torah Jew should entertain. The letter states: “Can we really teach ואהבת לרעך כמוך while turning a blind eye to self-inflicted and socially harmful addictions that begin in the very halls of Torah?” and later questions: “Are yeshivos really a place that our sons can learn Torah? Or are they just there for an academic Judaism, devoid of any real Torah growth?” I could not disagree more with such sentiments. Yes, smoking is indeed a serious issue that must be addressed in the Yeshiva system. But the problem with smoking is a symptom, not the disease. The issue is not with the Yeshiva system itself—it is with individuals within it who may stray from the path of perfect righteousness. The solution is not to throw out the entire institution, but to fix what needs repair and continue to uphold the Yeshiva as the central foundation of Torah life. The Yeshiva has always been a place of Torah growth—of deep, sincere connection with Hashem. Every single Great leader of our people, were products of the Yeshiva system, albeit different intricacies in every generation, which molded them into leaders who upheld the Torah’s highest ideals and were committed to a life of purity, holiness, and service to Hashem. Did any of them ever question the institution of the Yeshiva, despite its flaws? No. They worked to elevate it, to correct its issues, and to keep its sanctity intact. To suggest that the Yeshiva is no longer the proper place for our children is to suggest that we abandon the very means through which our children inherit their Jewish identity. There is no greater tragedy than to question the value of the Yeshiva. Where else would we send our children to grow in Torah and in their relationship with Hashem? To Columbia University? To a […]  | Read More The Yeshiva World