Meet the New Mesivta: A Conversation with the Rosh Mesivta

Please tell us about yourself and your experience in Chinuch?
I grew up in Toronto, and learned there for most of my Yeshiva years. I would specifically highlight my years in Toronto Zal under my uncle, Rabbi Akiva Wagner A”H, where I was privileged to see what true care for each individual bochur looks like.
For the past eight years I have been in Tomchei Tmimim Ocean Parkway, as a rebbi in Kita Ches and the Mishnayos and Gemara curriculum developer for all grades. For the past two years I have also been a Mashpia in Oholei Torah Mesivta Shiur Alef.

What was the impetus for opening a new Mesivta?
As part of teaching Kita Ches, I have the experience of preparing my students for Mesivta, which includes placing each student in the Mesivta where he would BEZ”H do best, and helping them (and their parents) through the acceptance process.
The fact that we did not have our own Mesivta for our graduates was a big challenge, and we always knew that before long we would need our own. Not only for the technical part of making the process easier for our students, but more inherently, because we want our students to have a continuous path through the Intentional Chinuch that we provided them with in elementary.
This is not just a new Mesivta, it is the natural advancement of growth for our graduates from elementary into Mesivta, while opening that continuation of excellent Chinuch to out-of-towners as well.
Through Hashgocho Perotis and Achdus, the Hanhalas of ULY Crown Street and ULY Ocean Parkway got together to jointly open this new Mesivta.

What excites you about this Mesivta?
The mechanchim in this Mesivta are not newcomers to Chinuch. We each have many years of experience, both in elementary and in Mesivta. That provides us with a unique opportunity to understand a bochur’s life through that perspective of where they are coming from, what their needs are, and how to best help them grow on an individual level.
We are opening with a Shiur Alef, subsequently growing, BEZ”H, to all three Shiurim.

Who are the mechanchim in Mesivta?
Rabbi Mendel Scharf – with 15 years of experience as a Menahel in Mesivta and currently the Menahel of Kita Zayin and Ches in Lubavitcher Yeshiva Crown St. – will be the Menahel. By building relationships with the bochurim, Rabbi Scharf will BEZ”H guide them along their path of personal growth.
Rabbi Meyer Rodal will be the Maggid Shiur. Rabbi Rodal has over a decade of experience in both Nigleh and Chassidus in Mesivta and Zal, and is beloved by his students, known for his care and understanding of his bochurim.
As Rosh Mesivta, I will be directing the Mesivta’s vision and its implementation throughout the curriculum planning, professional development, and tracking the bochurim’s progress. As well, I will be the Mashpia for Chassidus.

Tell us about the learning program:
There is no need to reinvent the wheel. There is a need to make sure that the wheel is working.
The learning program for Tomchei Tmimim was meticulously curated by the Rebbe Rashab himself, as outlined in Kuntres Eitz Hachayim. Of course, factors such as the difference between Dor Chamishi in Russia and Dor Shvi’i in America play massive roles, as well as the fact that this is a Mesivta, not a Zal. But the outline is there, and the fundamental principles are clearly spelled out.
Through meticulous planning of choice of material learned and how it is delivered, learning a lot of Kammus (quantity) should not need to compromise on the Eichus (quality) of feeling a connection to what is being learned and remembering it long-term. We will focus on both, offering the bochurim an experience of Beki’us (fluency) in amassing material, as well as a deep appreciation for what is being learned.

Will there be extra-curricular parts to the program?
Yes. Yeshiva is a holistic experience, covering every part of a bochur’s day, and every element of a bochur’s life.
Just like one of the Chiddushim of the original Tomchei Tmimim was to offer a kitchen and a dormitory, ensuring that the bochurim can spend all their time within the framework of Yeshiva and not need to rely on outside resources and influences, every aspect of a bochur’s life must be attended to under the guidance of Yeshiva, and that includes extra-curricular activities.
In addition to the beautiful indoor gym and outdoor play area, we have many ideas for these activities and look forward to implementing them.

Is the dormitory mandatory for locals?
Yes. True growth as a bochur happens when one is completely immersed in the Yeshiva life, and living in the dorm is an integral part of that.
Our Yeshiva’s location – out of Crown Heights, but not too far – offers the unique opportunity of being able to be completely in Yeshiva, while close enough to go home when necessary.

Will the locals be able to go home each Shabbos? What about out-of-towners?
Shabbos in Yeshiva is a tremendous opportunity for a bochur to grow in his personal Avodas Hashem, and we intend on maximizing that opportunity.
Other than the scheduled off-Shabbosos, which will be every few weeks, the bochurim will be in Yeshiva for Shabbos, with staff and a proper program.
We will ensure that every out-of-town bochur has a place to be for an off-Shabbos.

Will you have bochurim-shluchim in the Yeshiva?
Yes, BEZ”H. A successful bochurim-shluchim program is an integral part of a Yeshiva’s success, and we look forward to having them play an important role in the bochurim’s growth.
The bochurim-shluchim will BEZ”H be on-site, and be present on Shabbos as well.

Will Yeshiva go through the summer?
Yes. Yeshiva will run through the summer months with a Yeshivas Kayitz program, details of which will be announced in due time.

How can bochurim connect to the Chassidus they learn?
The answer is: Chochmo, Bina, Da’as.
“Chochmo” is by making Chassidus the reality, the identity, and the essence (“Nekudah”) of a bochur’s life.
“Bina” is by learning it. Both in sheer volume and enormity, as well as in slow, patient, and gradual growth, cultivating a true understanding and grasp of the knowledge.
“Da’as” is by connecting to it. The Rebbe Rashab clarifies that because Da’as is inherently personal, it cannot come from the teacher, it needs to come from the student. At the same time, Da’as (like anything else) can be modeled, taught, and emphasized. Two primary times to instill Da’as and help the bochurim cultivate it are farbrengens and one-on-one conversations between a bochur and his Mashpia.

How do you plan on creating an atmosphere of Yir’as Shomayim?
By showing the bochurim what it looks like.
“Atmosphere” is “Makif”, which means that while it is extremely powerful and very much present, it’s hard to palpably identify it.
So how do you create an atmosphere? One answer is by emphasizing the importance of that given topic – by “Koching” in it.
When Yir’as Shomayim is real to the mechanchim, we can make it real in the bochurim’s minds and attention. At every opportunity, especially within Seder Chassidus, Yir’as Shomayim will be intentionally learned about, farbrenged about, and discussed both publicly and personally.

In your opinion, what messages should be most instilled in bochurim during the years of Mesivta?
Personal responsibility and ownership of Yiddishkeit’s value system.
We want our bochurim to ask themselves: What does Hashem consider important? What does the Rebbe consider important? What should I, therefore, consider important? Each of these topics needs to be learned, farbrenged about, and truly cultivated and inculcated into a bochur’s psyche, each bochur on his personal level, ready to own and be accountable for their connection to Hashem.
A bochur should also learn to ask himself, what are things that would distract me from this value system? How can these distractions be avoided and learned to be appropriately dealt with?

How can parents prepare their children for Mesivta?
By instilling the value system they would want their sons to have, to the exclusion of all others.
That can be done by being a living example to your child of what you care about, what you are passionate about, and conversely, what is unhealthy for such a lifestyle. Food, clothing, technology, travel, etc. need to be used in a healthy and positive manner, and should not be overly celebrated if they are not integral to the value system.
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With registration underway and limited spots available, families considering Tomchei Tmimim Mesivta are invited to learn more or to register, by visiting:
https://ttmesivta.com/