The Beginning Of Judgement

The Rambam says in Hilchos Talmud Torah [3/5] that the beginning of Hashem's judgement of man is Talmud Torah and then the rest of the mitzvos.

Rav Shach in his Avi Ezri asked, what is the nafka mina whether one is first judged on Talmud Torah or on other mitzvos?

He answers that Talmud Torah is the basis for all other mitzvos. Hashem judges us first because the means which enable us to keep all the mitzvos is Talmud Torah. If one doesn't learn he is sure to do a lot of aveiros and miss many mitzvos. That is a great impetus for a person to learn.

One of the most common and painful phenomena that I have seen over the years is students who become very passionate about Judaism and keeping mitzvos lose their passion after leaving yeshiva. The commonly asked question is "How does one remain remain firm in his commitment?"

My experience has taught me that the more a person is connected to learning [and his rabbeim], the more he is likely to keep other mitzvos. Once he stops learning many other halachos fall by the wayside.

My experience has also taught me that the vast majority of post Israel students lose it to a smaller or greater degree. I often ask boys "What are you learning these days?" Many of them aren't.....

I have already written about this extensively in the past but this trip has put me in contact with boys who were once so excited about learning and now have no time [meaning no desire - everybody has time. Exactly 24 hours a day] to learn. Not surprisingly, the yarmulke also shrank as did kiyum hamitzvos in general.

Does these type of posts help anyone or is it just ranting. If it is the latter I should really stop and get back to my learning.....