By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com
Chanukah is fast approaching. Generally speaking, Yeshivos give a few days off on Chanukah. But should they?
For a number of years, Rav Gershon Edelstein shlita, the Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh has been encouraging Yeshivos to give off a few days after Chaukah, but not on Chanukah itself. His reasoning is that the Greeks desired to make us forget Torah study, as we say in Al HaNissim.
Thus far, there are about 30 yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel that have adopted Rav Edelstein’s model, according to one of Rav Edelstein’s gabbaim. The giving off of a few days after Chanukah should last up to five days – depending upon the particular needs of the bochur and his family.
**There is a Ponevezh yasom getting married shortly. The Gabbaim want to help upgrade his wedding, and need another $2000. If anyone wishes to assist please contact [email protected]**
Not everyone, however, sees this as entirely beneficial. With so much study in the Yeshivos and the rise in Yeshiva dormitories, some parents have voiced the idea that they do not see their children so much. Chanukah, in their eyes, is viewed as family time, in which the parents and all of the children can spend time together. Within Ponevezh itself, some five percent of the students do go home on Chanukah.
Someone had posed the question about the wording of the Rambam who writes that the Greeks also removed Klal Yisroel from observing their religion – which would include Kivud Av v’Aim. Rav Edelstein responded that the Gemorah (Shabbos 21a and b) mention’s only about Torah.
Indeed, the meforshim question the Rambam’s source for the Greek’s negation of other Mitzvos. Some have identified the source as chapter 18 of Yosipun.
Rav Edelstein shlita requested that this idea be promulgated in Chutz la’Aretz as well. This author suggested that it may be a hurdle on account of the fact that families look forward to Chanukah vacation together in chutz laaretz more so than in eretz yisroel.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
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4 Responses
There is no greater nachas for a parent than knowing his child is learning Torah especially in defiance of the promulgation against learning Torah by so many gentile enactments throughout our history. Having a son home during this time where he may be more likely to pursue secular endeavors than learning Torah is not something to feel good about. Kol hakavod to the Rav for having the courage to put this idea into practice!
I’m having a hard time understanding something. R’Gershon said something should be done and this author has the chutzpa to say something other than to accept it?!?
“This author suggested that it may be a hurdle on account of the fact that families look forward to Chanukah vacation together.”
Boo hoo! I’d love to spend chanukah with my family who live in chu”l, but since that would be doing EXACTLY what the Greeks wanted, R’Gershon suggested it may not be a great idea.
Rabbi h there are many times hurdles and our job is to overcome them
r Aaron kotler had a hurdle bringing Torah lishma to America didn’t he?
please leave your opinions bemokom harav Gershons to yourself
In Yeshivos Chanukah is so crazy anyway (do you learn 2nd seder? how much? there are all of these mesibos so night seder is gone, etc), so I think that the R”Y look at it as an opportunity to “cut their losses” when learning isn’t going to be so shtark anyway.