Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Raising Good, Ehrlich Children

Today I was listening to a conversation between two men, both graduates of the great Chevron Yeshiva. One, wearing no Kippah on his big [almost completely] bald head. The other wears a Kippah, but the thoughts that take place under the Kippah are veeeeeery far from what he was taught in Yeshiva....

In contrast, I know people who went to schools like U. of Michigan, Columbia, Brandeis and MIT who are tremendous Bnei Torah. I enjoy forming my all time "Camp Lavi Tzadikim" team. Kids who went to that camp which was, let us be kind and say, "less than the frummest camp around" who turned around to become Tzadikim Gedolim. 

Ponovitch and the Mir have graduates who are Reshaim par-excellence. עוכרי ישראל. While Ramaz, Yeshiva of Flatbush and HAFTR [to give just a few examples] have graduates who are GREAT Talmidei Chachomim and נשים צנועות וחסודות.   

ללמדנו - To teach us: A good education is no guarantee of anything. OF COURSE one should strive to receive and give one's children the best education possible, but there is nothing that can absolutely ensure a good final product. And having received an inferior Jewish education is no real obstacle to greatness. 

We need a LOOOOT of tefillah, good modeling, love and warmth. It is not enough to believe in Torah [both of these aforementioned men believe in Torah - they were actually talking Torah]. One must also have a large measure of AHAVAS TORAH, excitement and enthusiasm for learning, davening and Avodas Hashem in addition to Emunas and Kavod Chachomim!!! 

In Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach's home, his children were taught less how important it is to be a Talmid Chochom but more what a disgrace it is to be an Am Ha-aretz. He did quite well with his children. Like, each one a MASSIVE Talmid Chochom and beyond.