Not one word about Hashem

I just watched promotional videos for six BT schools. There was not one word about Hashem. It's all about Torah learning, textual skills, being Jewish, being a better person. Is this a religion? Is there a God involved in that? Here are guys who last year were cooking bacon on Shabbos and now are Torah observant. You'd think excitement about God and mitzvos would get a mention. I suppose when they say Jewish life they also mean mitzvos and maybe they mean God too. Would it be so terrible to say that?

Granted these are fundraising and recruiting videos where assumptions are made about the audience. Still, it's pretty weird. A religion shouldn't hide God. And the Jewish religion is built on mitzvos. 

Maybe the problem is the guys who make the videos. It's not the yeshivas. The yeshivas hire video guys for this. 

Some of the websites do have such references:

Hadar HaTorah is a yeshiva for students who did not grow up learning and came to it later in life. There are different levels of classes ranging from students who can’t yet read Hebrew to students who are learning Gemara/Rashi/Tosafos. Although everyone is on their own Jewish Journey, most students come from a similar background and are therefore able to serve as an amazing support network for each other through the journey. The students have a lot of energy and are very excited about trying to bring themselves and the people around them closer to G-d!

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At Orayta no question is out of bounds. Students are encouraged to ask any and every question necessary to forge their own unique individualized relationship with Hashem, Torah life and Eretz Yisrael.

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Shapell’s/Darché Noam prepares men in their 20’s and 30’s for a rich and multi-faceted Torah-centered life. Our educational programs facilitate direct encounters with classic, traditional sources, coupled with a focus on character refinement and spiritual growth, cultivating a lifetime love of Hashem, with the study and practice of His Torah. We inspire honor and appreciation of the range of Torah communities, guiding students to discover the fitting environment for them to raise their families and make their unique contribution to the Jewish people.

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CONNECT TO YOURSELF, EACH OTHER AND GOD. 

Sha’arei Shalom is a yeshiva where Torah study and prayer serve their main purpose: to cultivate a living relationship with Hashem.

In Jerusalem - a home and a community.

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For over 50 years, Diaspora Yeshiva has been embracing baalei teshuva seeking to return to HaShem and His Torah in accordance with the teaching of the Sages of Israel.

If you are a baal teshuva whose heart is for HaShem, and are seeking to delve deeper into His Torah than ever before, and to unite with the Jewish people in embracing your G-d given calling as His Kingdom of Priests and Holy Nation, welcome home!

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Our philosophy at Yeshiva Temimei Darech is that sincerity is valued above all – in our relationship with ourselves, with G-d, and with each other. This approach creates a healthy framework that fosters trust and camaraderie.

BT yeshivas for men

How do you tell one from the next? Here's a quick overview. But before I begin, let me say that sometimes it's the wrong choice to go to BT yeshiva at all. You have a job. You have an apartment. Sometimes, it's best to stay put and study at night. Some people don't like yeshiva at all. The environment is too intense, the focus is too narrow. You are not necessarily missing anything essential if you don't go. People fill the head with fantasies about yeshiva, like it's some magical place. It's not some magical place. It's a place that can be helpful, but it's not a place that you must go to. For some people, going to yeshiva works out well for them. For others not. It can be a harmful place. I have seen people get a good start there. I have seen people ruined there. Think it through carefully. Please note that no yeshiva is paradise. They all have human beings running and teaching in them and that means they are not perfect. Always maintain  your independence of thought and if things get weird, get out. 

A few other points. Many of these so-called BT yeshivas consist mostly of frum from birth guys that either were raised modern and now are trying to be 'frummer' or guys who left religion for a time. Many of them don't offer introductory classes. They just open up the Gemara and start learning. Most of them are yeshivish. Why is this so? It's because most Chassidic groups are insular these days, so they aren't opening yeshivas for BTs (except for Chabad and Belz). And the yeshiva world - since it has reduced life to Gemara study - has all these guys who can't earn a living, so they start a BT yeshiva since it's easier to fundraise for BTs then for regular yeshivas. They don't bother to figure out what the BT needs. They really just want to continue in their own studies, so they start you off with where they left off - Gemara lomdus. To them, that's all you need. It's magic. They don't realize they had a full childhood of religious life before they started Gemara. So watch out for all those pitfalls. Go to a place that has a true beginner's program.

And now the yeshivos. All of these have instruction in English except maybe the Belz yeshiva and Shavu Banim.

USA:

Hadar HaTorah - Chabad Chassidus in Crown Heights. Smaller than Morristown, but hey, it's in Crown Heights and that's pretty wonderful if you are Chabad. https://hadarhatorah.org/  info@hadarhatorah.org No classes in Hebrew grammar.

Morristown/Tiferes Bochurim - Chabad Chassidus on a big campus that serves also as a yeshiva for FFBs. https://yeshivanj.com/ No classes in Hebrew grammar.

Shor Yashuv/the Shaar - BT program in a yeshiva for FFBs. Nice facility. In Lawrence, NY. https://www.the-shaar.com/, For Inquiries regarding the Introductory Program email Rabbi Mayer Hurwitz at mhurwitz@shoryoshuv.org. Class schedule is pretty broad but needs a class in mitzvos. 

Toras Dovid - Litivsh Yeshiva in Monsey. On Carleton Road. I don' t know the program so well, but it sounds like its fairly well balanced. They teach Hebrew/Ulpan for example and Mishnah, which means it's not Gemara only. https://torasdovid.org/

James Striar School, Yeshiva University - Torah u'maddah and the resources of the massive Yeshiva University.  https://www.yu.edu/academics/torah-studies/men/uts/jss Lots of classes in Hebrew grammar.

Torah Ohr - Chabad in North Miami. https://www.miamitorah.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/1232259/jewish/About.htm

https://collive.com/miami-new-baalei-teshuva-yeshiva/ Class in Hebrew grammar, probably not a major part of the program though.

Israel:

The Breslov Yeshiva, The Exploration Program-Program in English with two tracks, one for baalei teshuvah. Har Nof, Jerusalem. Featuring schedule of daily hisbodedus, classes on Likutei Mohoran amongst other classic Chassidic sefarim, and the advanced tools for learning Talmud.

The Breslov Yeshiva

Yeshivat Darche Noam/Shapell's - Right wing Yeshiva University style. It's even an official YU program. In Beit HaKaren, Jerusalem, an interesting, mixed community near the museums and government district. Mid-sized in a nice building. More personal than the bigger places but pretty big on its own. Describes itself as a "second stage yeshiva" that focuses primarily on Gemara -- so not for brand new BTs. But it does have a rich program in addition to Gemara. Claims to encourage each student to find his own derech. However, it appears that there's lots of pressure to move to Israel. Zionistic. Classes in Hebrew grammar. https://darchenoam.org/shapells/about-shapells/#vision

Ohr Somayach, Jerusalem - Used to be a traditional Litvish yeshivish place, but they have on staff now (he's the "Rav" of the community) a guy who pressures everyone to move to Israel. And that's not a goood choice for most BTs. It's a bigger kind of program in a new facility near Meah She'arim. Not so good for those with Chassidic leanings but appropriate if you want to be a Litvish yeshiva man whose main focus is 'learning.' Claims to have introductory courses including Hebrew grammar, but students have told me that it doesn't really exist.   https://ohr.edu/ohr_somayach/about_ohr_somayach/

Aish HaTorah - Good location in lovely facility. Broader and more flexible program. Generally more on the Litvish yeshivish side of things. Has branches in many cities that you can utilize to feel connected to the school. https://yeshiva.aish.com/. Introductory classes in Hebrew grammar and mitzvos.

Mayanot - Chabad Chassidus. In the center of Jerusalem, near Geulah in a charming older building. A big brand new center is being renovated. https://mayanot.edu/, Classes in Hebrew grammar. Chabad Chassidus in general, thanks to the Rebbe, is full of introductory material to the religion. 

Dvar Yerushalayim - Rabbi Horowitz, who helped to translate Rav Hirsch's Horeb, gives you freedom to study what you want.  Ulpan program. Big English library. The closest you'll find to a Torah Im Derech Eretz program. http://dvar.org.il/index.php?lang=en

Orayta - Chumash, Gemara, and lot of Kabbalah and singing. Carlebach style. In the Old City, connected to Isralight. https://www.orayta.org/about/about-oryata.html. Classes in Hebrew grammar.

Sha’arei Shalom - Chassidic yeshiva for BTs. In Nachalot, Jerusalem, which is an older neighborhood with lots of charm. For creative types. Might be defunct. 

https://www.shaareishalom.org.il/program

Machon Shlomo - Basic textual study of a few pages Gemara and Chumash with Rashi and an emphasis on musar then back to America to resume your career. Not for brand new BTs. Limited program. Hebrew grammar and language are not studied there. There's no class in mitzvos and only an hour a week in halacha. No guest speakers. Maybe 1 trip a year. 1st year students not allowed to date. 10-15 students total. Located in old apartment. Lots of career-oriented guys. Har Nof, Jerusalem.

Machon Yaakov - Similar to Machon Shlomo, it's sister school, but more structure, staff, and students. Judging by some of the staff biographies and alumni biographies, it has, like Machon Shlomo, a palpable identification with conventionally prestigious credentials, careers, and pursuits. This is not necessarily a bad thing. There are many parents who are very caught up in careers and fear their sons going to yeshiva as there are many stories of Wharton graduates and such abandoning their careers for full time study. So the fixation on that stuff at these two schools presents an option that serves a purpose. Nevertheless, these two schools are not for Charedim, Chassidim, artists, or true intellectuals but are not for typical Modern Orthodox either. MS and MY are their own animal. Hebrew is studied at MY. Har Nof. https://www.machonyaakov.org/ 

Belz, Torah v'Emunah. 11 Moshe Khagiz St. in Zichron Moshe, Jerusalem. - Program for BTs in genuine Chassidic environment. https://worldofbelz.org/ Might be Hebrew only.

Ohr Temimim - Chabad for beginners in Kfar Chabad. Currently, online only.   https://www.ohrtmimim.org/learning_program

https://collive.com/ohr-tmimim-end-program/

Diaspora Yeshiva - Great location in the Old City. "If you are a baal teshuva whose heart is for HaShem, and are seeking to delve deeper into His Torah than ever before, and to unite with the Jewish people in embracing your G-d given calling as His Kingdom of Priests and Holy Nation, welcome home!" Yeshivish - their goal is make gadolim (their words), which doesn't sound so realistic to me. But maybe that motivates some people. Programs for Baalei Teshuva | Diaspora Yeshiva | Mount Zion, Jerusalem   https://www.diasporayeshiva.org/

Yeshiva Temimei Darech - Chabad in Sefas. "YTD follows the holistic Chabad approach to Torah study that students find both satisfying and energizing: Classic Talmudic and legal study is integrated with the study of ancient Kabbalah, Chassidic thought, and contemporary mysticism. Students tackle Jewish law with the same vigor with which they embrace spirituality, and apply logical analysis to the study of metaphysics." Class in Hebrew grammar.

https://thewayinside.net/

Machon Meir - Religious Zionist, in Givat Shaul. Classes in Hebrew grammar.

https://en.meirtv.com/page/learn-live-connect

Shuvu Banim. Breslov, Old City, Arab quarter but supposed to be safe. It's hard core Breslov Chassidus. Very passionate. For some people it's the way to go. 

https://ravberland.com/

Now let me say a few words about study in Israel. I personally believe that a person should hesitate before studying in Israel. As a BT, you are going through enough changes. Israel has a very different culture, plus you don't know the language so it's hard to navigate the place. You don't have your support system in Israel. In my view, most people, if they are going to go to yeshiva, should study in the USA. You don't need the culture shock of Israel on top of the culture shock of becoming Torah observant in the USA.

I want to add another point. Try not to trust strangers. There's so much blind trust in the frum world. It's very dangerous. Don't trust people you don't know. Get to know them before you start innocently accepting what comes out of their mouths. Watch them. Make sure they are moral, make sure they have common sense, make sure they have a heart. It can even be a mistake to go to a stranger's house for dinner. You do that and the next thing you know they have you getting involved in things that are not good for you. Be careful with people, even Jews, even frum people. Actually you should be extra careful around frum people because so many of them are selling something, so many of them want to tell you how to live and what kind of person you should be. There are many dominating personalities in the Orthodox Jewish world. Combine that with this notion that you are supposed to turn off your brain and obey, and you get some real problems.  Look out for your dignity and don't shut off your brain no matter how many people tell you to.

Keser Torah

THE PARASITES ARGUMENT

“This shall be the law (toras) of the metzorah” (14:2)

The commentators struggle to explain the rationale for the commandment requiring the leviyim to shave their hair. However, “the Torah of the metzora” teaches us that a ben Torah must be willing to be treated like an outcast. Even when he is derided for living a supposedly unproductive parasitic lifestyle, or pressurized to learn a trade, he should not let this make any impression on him. He must be willing to endure humiliation like a metzora and not let this affect his pride at being a soldier in Hashem's army. The kohanim also did not "work for a living" and owned no property. In fact, they were totally dependent on others for their livelihood. For basic food they received terumos, for meat zro’ah lechayayim and keivo, and reishis hagez for clothes. They were complete “shnorers”. One might have expected shevet levi, the elite of the nation, who were chosen for avodas hakodesh because they did not participate in the chet ho’egel, to have enjoyed a more respectable material status, but their main reward is set aside in the World to Come, and their material situation in this world is only for their benefit, allowing them as it does to dedicate themselves to ruchniyus and avodas Hashem.

The Rambam notes (at the end of Shmita Veyovel) that someone who dedicates his life to learning and avodas Hashem acquires the status of a levi and becomes kodesh kodoshim. His main reward is in the World to Come. As for this world, although he is assured that if he has the appropriate level of bitochon, he will not want for anything, there is no promise that his parnosso come honorably, and he may have to suffer disgrace and be taunted for scrounging off others. The possuk tells us that such is the Torah of the metzora, someone who wants to earn the Crown of Torah must be willing to suffer disgrace like a metzora, and the Torah becomes most entrenched amongst such people.

Ba’alei teshuva who have become bnei Torah, rejected by their families and treated as outcasts, should also be inspired by the knowledge that they are fulfilling the instruction of this possuk literally. By being willing to undergo such humiliation for the sake of Hashem and the merit of serving Him, they acquire the keser Torah, become close to Hashem and receive His blessings in the merit of their willingness to live like a metzora.

Based on droshos by Maran HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita, raavad of Yerushalayim. To receive these weekly divrei Torah email benipray@netvision.net.il.

Yeshivish

Some observations about yeshivish people that I have met of late:

Their only concern is being a genius. They never mention Hashem. And don't even say amen to other people's brachos. Ironically, they don't even talk Torah at the Shabbos table. That's in part because they can only talk from the daf and know no halacha, hashkafa, or commentary to Chumash (they do only marbeh sedra). They also don't talk about chesed and don't seem impressed by stories of chesed. If they value good middos, it's only in that a gaon is supposed to have good middos for whatever reason so the good middos are only relevant in that they are the sign of a gaon. Actually, the middos are something of a condescension to the little people. It's not middos really. It's a kind of regal class that a CEO might even have. There are many middos and they display only a small portion of them. 

I spoke of one rabbi's great humility and that didn't seem to impress any of them. They seemed almost to laugh at it as if obviously then he isn't a great scholar. 

What impresses is wealth. I mentioned that the MDY center is near me. "Isn't he rich?" said one guy with eyes glowing. I mentioned that the place where we stayed was owned by a guy who lived elsewhere. "You mean he's rich," he said with eyes glowing. Such excitement. 

I showed them a rabbi who is very impressive in his davening and one went by his table to see what sefarim were there. 

The ones from the NY area are very closed off. They don't share. They don't inquire. The walk to shul is in silence. They seem angry and easily break into argument. A tension surrounds them. I was reminded of most of the women I met on dates, every one of them a Litvak, all tense and closed. 

I proposed to one who mentioned that Torah study is the greatest mitzvah that it isn't actually and that threw him as if I had denied the existence of God. This puzzled me. And I suppose the answer is that his feeling of superiority is based on his dedication to study, and I was depriving him of that. 

They seem to replace devaykus with superiority. That's their service to God that they are in the elite group. 

They go to Brisk. I asked how they arrived at Brisk assuming it was because of Brisk philosophy. No, they went to Brisk because it is seen as the elite place. 

The attitude of superiority was pervasive. They look down on Sephardim and Chassidim. "Oh that's Sephardim." Modern Orthodox are viewed as traife. The usual jabs at Chassidim were found: davening times, etc.

At least one of them even looks down on most of the yeshiva world. "They aren't really yeshivish." 

They actually view themselves as superior in mitzvos but I believe their observance consists of obsessing over details. One said, my rebbe is great with mitzvos. He makes sure his matzos are exactly the right shiur. 

I mentioned the superiority of Chassidic tznius, but that was ridiculed as being excessive over what's in the Shulchan Aruch. I countered that tznius has no limits and tznius in particular is not easily codified. It's dependent on time and place. The Mishneh Torah and the Shulchan Aruch were criticized at first because they turned halacha into technicality. 

Their mitzvah observance isn't concerned with devaykus or making the world better. It's all worry over details and feeling superior because of stringencies. 

Argument isn't scholarly or logical. It's largely bullying, particularly with the threat of ostracization. 

They only want to daven or study in a yeshivish shul. Everything else is viewed as a bad influence. They are consumed with the idea of the bad influence. The moment you appear as such in any way they are done with you.

I mentioned that Sephardic minyanim contain all kinds of people, shtark guys and those who pull their kippah out of their pocket. I said this as a complement. This didn't seem to impress any of them. Quite to the contrary, it goes against their whole philosophy of not allowing oneself to be dirtied. One described kiruv as ruining your broom with dirt. I say, what's a broom for?

They view the Mesorah as what they heard from their rebbe. Who is their rebbe? He's a guy at their yeshiva. I think this is childish and lazy.

Their approved list of rabbis is small. Anybody who differs from them in any way is out!

Their entire philosophy of religion is contain in the Vilna Gaon's handful of sentences about the superiority of study in Shnos Eliyahu on Peah 1:1. That this contradicts his statements about the superiority of deeds in Even Shelaimah isn't considered in part because they don't know about it. 

It's not just the people I have met of late. I believe all yeshivish people are like this. It's the entire society. It probably started with the Vilna Gaon but over the years became worse and worse. 

The VG is looked at like Moshe Rabbeinu only infallible which Moshe wasn't. You are absolutely not allowed to argue with him.  

But true to yourself.

 

Each branch of Torah Judaism emphasizes different things. Since some things come at the expense of others, you can’t be a full-blown participant in every group. However, you don’t have to jam yourself into one group. You can connect to different parts of different groups. Maybe you like Yekke organization and Chassidic warmth. Maybe you like Manalist Gemara lomdus and Chabad mysticism. But just as you don’t have to jam yourself into one group, you might confuse yourself if you make a full identification with multiple groups. You might and you might not. You have to figure that out. A good approach is to identify with one style but amend it with what you like in others. Rabbi Avigdor Miller identified as a Slobodka musarnik, but he gained also from Satmar, and a variety of musar schools. I don’t think he grabbed onto Satmar thought as much as the shtarck culture. Rabbi Soloveitchik was a Brisker Litvak but he gained also from Chabad, Berlin Orthodoxy, and even secular philosophy. You don’t have to identify with one approach, but usually that works best. Some succeed with a dual-identity like Chabad-Breslov. There might be parts of a group you don’t like. You can ignore it. But true to yourself. Maybe you like Modern Orthodoxy but not the Zionism or feminism. Maybe you like Chabad but not the limiting itself to only the 7 rebbes. Yes, you have every right to put together your own thing.

a Jew shouldn't rush

Reb Moshe of Kobrin zt'l and some of his chassidim were once guests at the home of the daughter of Rebbe Boruch'l of Mezhibuzh zt'l. At the end of their stay, they were in a rush to leave. The chassidim were busy packing up and preparing to leave. At this time, Rebbe Moshe of Kobrin asked the rebbetzin to repeat something she heard from her father, Rebbe Boruch'l of Mezhibuzh. She replied, "My father would often say, 'A Yid tur zich nisht yugen,' a Jew shouldn't rush. He mustn't ever be in a confused, rushed, panicky state. He should always be calm and patient." Upon hearing that, Rebbe Moshe Kobriner instructed his chassidim to stop rushing. Everything will work out well. The atmosphere in the home changed immediately. They calmed down, and it took them quite a while before they left the house.

Rav Elimelech Biderman

“Da'as Torah”

by Rabbi Chananya Weissman

“Da'as Torah” is an oft-cited term, but it is not a Torah concept. There is a mitzva to follow some rabbis under some circumstances, but it is nothing like this. “Follow the rabbis” is a Judaized version of “just following orders”.

Jews do not just follow orders. We follow Hashem. We engage in critical thinking. We put every instruction by every person under serious scrutiny, and if something is off we do not obey. We are expected to know if something is off – especially when they make it so easy for us by trampling all over the Torah and tradition.

A Jew will never get closer to Hashem by blindly following someone without engaging in critical thinking. At the very best he will be unwittingly doing the right thing like a monkey. Not only does this path impede a connection with Hashem, it will inevitably lead him away from a true connection with Hashem, which must always be personal.

A rabbi is a guide to aid one in his personal journey to connect with Hashem, not the actual destination, nor a substitute for the taking the personal journey. A rabbi who demands that you blindly follow him or anyone else is demanding you disconnect from Hashem and your personal journey.

https://chananyaweissman.com/article.php?id=352