Marbeh Torah

I admittedly don’t know that I can properly answer your question about the Yeshiva being “respected”. I can tell you that from what I’ve seen that the Israeli Bnei Brak community is ‘impressed’ with what comes out. That said – though not to chas v’shalom take away from anyone – that same community doesn’t have an incredible amount of exposure to Americans let alone American ba’alei teshuva.

It’s a big thing for your average person let alone Bnei Brak Israeli Chareidi to see a person go from not frum or somewhat frum or even “dressing the part” but having little to no relation to a given hashkafa – make large transformations in his life.

Within the world of ba’al teshuva education I’m not sure how many are aware of this yeshiva, and of those that are familiar, I don’t know if there is/what is the general consensus. I’m not so connected to that oilam.

I will say that when it comes to the example of what rebdoniel mentioned, that guys from Ohr Somayach go there after a few years, that seems to be the case for those who want to continue their learning and go somewhere mainstream but wherever they’re holding at that point it’s not suited to go somewhere like the Mir, etc. Marbeh Torah appears to give them the tools to fit themselves into those kinds of yeshivos and be able to keep themselves up in learning.

It’s not for everyone because there are many approaches to how one should educate – especially ba’alei teshuva. Sometimes if a person’s decided they would like to further explore a certain hashkafa or has even decided that they would like to involve themselves in a certain community it’s best to go to a place that portrays and directs them there. Sometimes it’s better to, in spite of having made those decisions, put yourself in a place that’s more neutral or open hashkafically so you can grow in a way that allows you to grow a little bit more naturally (even if it means a bit of a rough ride along the way).

For example, I’ve seen guys who decided they were/wanted to be chareidi go to places like Shapell’s in order to optimize their growing experience. From what I know of it, it’s very mixed there (both staff and student body), but bochurim come out really knowing how to learn and really living their hashkofos as opposed to perhaps mostly looking the part or having simply been absorbed into the part. But then there are those that go to Machon Yaakov/Shlomo that by and large seem to want you to continue your life working but fit the yeshiva-ish glove. And then further those who go to Marbeh Torah which seems to do something of both.

Hatzlocho with the decision and feel free to ask anything else. I hope I’ve been a help.

I didn’t mean neutrality in that sense; I meant that the program balances teaching you to learn as well as involving a much more “all in” chareidi hashkafa, and not that it was mixed but wanted you to fit in. Sorry about the confusion.

The point was that each person has a different role in their lives; and as the goal of yiddishkeit is one of productivity and not “religiously doing actions like everyone else” (i.e. not mitzvos anshei melumada) – everyone needs different environments and influences to help them bring out what they’d be most productive doing.

Don’t have too much time now (though I have what to say)as I’m off to kollel again in a few minutes, but sorry again for the misunderstanding in being a balance.

This is where I’ll have to disagree with you. Mitzvos anshei melumada is a problem that exists left and right, no matter what tzibur/community, no matter how much Torah they know. There are unfortunately not so many people who really think about what they are doing actively. Even in something as “small” as making an asher yatzar, a good chunk of the population (yes, Chareidi too) do not take the time to think about what they’re saying or doing.

Rashi says that iyun tefillah is osur; you’re not supposed to say “because I davened really well, I wonder if Hakodosh Boruch-hu listened to my tefillah”. The very fact that Rashi has a hava amina that a person would have such a thought spells out just how far we are from being machshiv our thoughts, words, and actions.

I’ve heard people say that Rav Shach used to bench out of a siddur/bencher b’shita. The reality is, Rav Shach only did that about once a week – and outside of that it wasn’t a “magical segulah”, it was in order to help concentrate on what he was doing. Today, solely because Rav Shach did it, that are those that flock to benching with an open siddur – but not as an avoda, just to do the same.

It was challenge in previous generations, and it’s a greater challenge in this generation. Nobody is immune. It is a challenge that each individual, regardless of what city they live in or how much time they do or don’t spend with their heads in a gemara, must face; Bnei Brak is no different. I’d even venture to say that I find working people on the whole tend to ‘think’ about their Torah more than your average avreich – and I think that’s because they are machshiv the short time that they have to learn. Their whole day leads to it. In the yeshiva/kollel world, where “everyone does the same thing”, the challenge is much greater (I’m me’id on myself).

Regardless, hatzlocho. B”H whichever environment you’re in you’ll know to use it to be mechazek you and help you grow.