Every Bochur Must Remember This

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Elimelech Zweibel, Head Mashpia of Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Morristown, NJ, says that the ideal summertime order is when Yeshivos continue as usual and students don’t go on vacation.

“That a Yeshiva is closed for 2 to 3 months in the summer is a new custom,” says Rabbi Zweibel, who is one of Chabad’s most influential thinkers and has raised a generation of rabbis and Chassidim.

In his earlier years, Rabbi Zweibel was a member of the “choizrim” group who transcribed the discourses of the Lubavitcher Rebbe before they went for official editing to the Rebbe himself.

Found in those talks is the repeated displeasure of the Rebbe of the lengthy summer vacations and the call that since it is already a fact of life, the summer should be used wisely and correctly.

“The importance of a restful vacation is obvious,” the Rebbe wrote in a letter dated Sivan 5712 (May, 1952). “However, certain aspects of vacation time should be examined carefully. Is vacation time a stoppage of study, or is it a transition from one form of activity to another?”

“In all living forms, there is no such thing as a stoppage of life, followed by a completely new start, for a stoppage of life is death, and cannot serve as a temporary rest period. There can be a transition from one form of activity to another, but not a cessation or stoppage,” the Rebbe wrote.

Rabbi Zweibel says that the only justification for bochurim leaving yeshiva for the summer is the Camp Gan Israel network or the Mivtzoim outreach activities, often done as part of the Merkos Shlichus visitation to small Jewish populations.

“The Rebbe wanted bochurim to stay in Yeshiva,” he says in an exclusive phone interview with COLlive.com. “It is just that bochurim are needed in different places, so we let them out. The Rebbe likened it to a fire burning, so we got out and help. Yet, in essence, a bochur should be been staying in Yeshiva.”

With so much material distractions and time wasting activities available today, Rabbi Zweibel offers a most crucial point that a bochur must remember so his summer won’t end up becoming a downward spiritual spiral.

“There’s no such thing as being out of Yeshiva,” he states. “Just because you are physically not in Yeshiva does not mean you are not a Yeshiva bochur with all implications and requirements.”

In specific, he recommends that a bochur adhere to the daily ‘sedarim’ routine that was kept in Yeshiva. “As much as his summer responsibilities permit or if he has free time in camp, a bochur should be doing exactly what he would have been doing in Yeshiva at that time. Seder is something that connects him with the Rebbeim and draws from them strength.”

The Morristown Mashpia says that this includes “going to the Mikvah, learning Chassidus in the morning and in the evening, davening, learning Gemara, Halacha and not to mention Chitas and Rambam. A bochur should remain a Ben Torah because that is his essence.”

Rabbi Zweibel adds, “I know of a married man who has a family and a job, but when he had spare time or was on vacation, he would come to Yeshiva and keep the same seder as if he never left Tomchei Tmimim. Bring the ruach of the Yeshiva to wherever you are.”

Faculty members of the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Morristown will be remaining in their educational positions for the duration of the summer, just alternating their brief vacations.

Rabbi Moshe Herson, Dean of the Morristown Yeshivah and Head Shliach of New Jersey, said that bochurim from other yeshivas who wish to spend at least part of the summer learning in Morristown are likewise welcome.

Enrollment in the 6-week summer Yeshiva program is done on a weekly basis for a reasonable fee and will begin on 6 Tammuz (June 23), Rabbi Herson stated. The minimum age for this group is 17 years old.

This program is run separately independent of Morristown’s highly successful Yeshivah Summer Program (YSP) for Bar Mitzvah age boys. This program will be also starting on Tuesday, June 23, but has already closed registration in February and is completely full.

The regular yeshiva zman will begin on Sunday, 8 Elul (August 23) under the new menahel Rabbi Chaim Schapiro. Part of the recent revamping of its leadership is the addition of the experienced and respected mechanech, Rabbi Laime Wilhelm, formerly of Detroit. He will be giving shiurim in Nigleh and Chassidus.

Rabbi Herson stated that the recent changes –while not completed as yet– are necessary and, thank Hashem, are generating a lot of enthusiasm on the part of Tmimim throughout the world.

For more information and for applications to the Yeshiva or Smicha divisions, call 973-267-9404 or visit rca.edu.