The Many For One

In Israel there is a large movement, spearheaded by a anti-religious political party with far too many seats in the Knesset, to close down the yeshivos. The way to do that is simply cut off their funding [and as one who has had "funding yeshiva" problems I know what that means]. No Kemach - No Torah. Starve 'em!!:)

Some people say: "Why does EVERYBODY have to learn in yeshiva? Just take 400 of the best boys and let them learn and send the rest to the Army and then to the workforce."

Some ask this question because they hate [or don't appreciate] the value of Torah. Others sincerely want to understand. In the history of our people there has never been so many people learning full-time, so why do we need it? [I once had a friend who was a colleague in a yeshiva where I taught who told me that if he could, he would close down 90 percent of all yeshivos. I was so TOUCHED by this expression of Ahavas Torah:). Wonder of wonders. He was a person who taught Torah but couldn't appreciate its value]. My answer is directed at the second group.

There are many answers to this question. Many. Here is one: The Alter of Slabodka, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, used to say that it was worth it to have the entire yeshiva of Slabodka just to produce one Rav Aharon Kotler. He meant that in order to produce a Rav Aharon Kotler, you need a whole yeshiva. Certain people thrive in a yeshiva atmosphere and need the accompaniment of a large number of boys in order to maximize their potential. It is definitely worth it to have a yeshiva of 400 boys in order to produce one Rav Ahron Kotler who was a leader of Klal Yisrael.