YWN NOTE: The following letter was written by a prominent and well-known Baal Haboos in Brooklyn. It was written for YWN following the recent debacle that hundreds of Rabbeiyim and Morah’s were informed – via a letter on YWN – that summer vacations would be shortened, and that the Yeshivas would be starting earlier than it had been for the past 60 years. The letter was released by Torah Umesorah, and signed by the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva.
In the town of Brisk, where the great Reb Chaim Brisker presided as the Rav, there was an orphanage which served any child whose parents couldn’t provide for. Many a time Reb Chaim would open his front door only to find a small package wrapped in a towel or a sheet with a paper pinned to it, identifying it as an abandoned Jewish child. Reb Chaim would then hire a wetnurse to feed the baby, until he could join the Brisk orphanage.
Once while Reb Chaim was sitting and learning, one of those nurses stormed into the house, irate. It had been a full week since she was last paid, and she’d had enough. Reb Chaim begged her to wait a few minutes, and within 15 minutes he returned and handed her three coins – one for the past week and the other two to compensate the upcoming two weeks. Mollified, the woman picked up the baby and left. As she was walking home, she noticed Reb Chaim chasing her, trying to get her attention. When Reb Chaim caught up to her, he apologized profusely, and begged her to refrain from feeding the baby for the next half hour. He explained to her that the nature is that when someone is angry, their milk becomes sour. This causes pain to the baby, and leaves him unsatisfied. Reb Chaim said, “I feel bad for the baby to suffer just because I was late in my payment. Hopefully, in a half-hour, when your anger subsides, your milk will be sweet once again”.
This lesson has application for those who nourish our older children as well. When talmidim are sitting in class with their Rebbi, they are drinking the sweet milk of Torah, which satiates and sustains them for life. So much care must be given that that milk remains sweet, and not come from a provider who feels misused or taken advantage of.
If the milk is sour, the talmidim will not be satiated – at best. At worst, their relationship with their Rebbi and the holy Torah is impacted negatively חו”ש. It goes without saying that the Rebbi must exert superhuman effort to leave any personal pressures or concerns outside the classroom; whatever may be going on in his own life, his teaching must be from a wellspring of pleasantness and menuchas hanefesh. Only then can the sweet taste of Torah quench the child’s thirst, and leave him looking forward for more.
In our own interactions with the Rebbe, we must be mindful of this as well. The tzibbur recognizes this – in fact, this is what really underlies the beautiful initiatives that are out there to not only alleviate Rebbeim’s financial burdens, but also to express our appreciation for the critical role they play. Of course, Rebbeim are far from the only ones who need financial assistance and appreciation. But in his case it’s more than just helping out; the appreciation itself is an investment in our children’s chinuch. A less financially or emotionally stressed Rebbe will naturally provide sweeter milk.
When Chasdei Lev lightens the stressful burden of making Yom tov for the rebbi, he is able to maintain the sweetness and the joy of Torah. Their primary mission isn’t just to help the Rebbi, but to create an environment in which the Talmidim are learning the Torah which is מתוק מדבש. When a parent gives an envelope to the Rebbi with a note expressing appreciation, it’s not a mere gesture of Hakaras Hatov, but a vehicle to the true end, which is so that the children should bask in the sweet and happy environment of Torah. I recently heard a Menahel greeting a Rebbi who was 15 minutes late to school, and was running up the stairs to class. The Menahel wished him good morning and suggested that he should relax with a coffee in the teacher’s room for 10 minutes so that he could walk into class with Yishuv hadas. For that rebbi, it wasn’t the extra 10 minutes which carried him, but being understood by the Menahel. Then there’s the Manahel who knew that a certain rebbi’s wife had just gone through an operation, and pushed him to take off a day, to air out from the stress of manning the family singlehandedly. All employees should be treated with respect and understanding, but when the employee’s state of mind can affect the feelings toward Torah felt by a roomful of young children, this transcends standard HR protocol. It touches on the essence of chinuch itself.
Every decision revolving around the job of the Rebbi, the responsibility of the Rebbi, or the schedule of the Rebbi, must be executed, mindful of the greater good of the talmidim. One of the most important variables is the taste of the milk which the children will drink. If the milk will be sour, then no matter how much classroom time was given to the child, he may end up with stomach indigestion.
Name withheld upon request.
NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN.
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22 Responses
Please change the headline. It ain’t boos.
The letter writer is correct. However, it implies that the vaad roshei hayeshiva are guilty of missing something so simple. Did they really? Are the facts on the ground as alleged? Five rabbeim in a large Flatbush yeshiva ketana live with him two blocks me. We daven in the same shul. Our wives are friends. Not once has any of the he five suggested the situation is as the original aggrieved rebbe alleged.
Im not sure who the Bal Habus is talking to.. it may be to the Rabbeim and such letting them realize that they need to come to terms with the situation, as it was done with gedolim, or not bother walking into the classrooms to spout sour milk.
I actually understand all sides as i was while growing up daughter of a Rebbi that worked as such in the summertime too and have had/have children/grandchildren in Yeshiva.
Growing up in a Magid Shiur’s home , there were no luxuries . But, there was always food to eat , a bed to sleep BH. There were no trips to E’Y , camp ,Miami ect . But there were great baseball , & basketball games in the park ,after morning learning .
When a letter is published with name withheld, it has very little value.
is the position of prominent baal haboos an elected one?
This letter writer writes as if the goal is what’s best for the children. So naive and not with today’s mehalach . The issue is who is supposed to watch/babysit the kids. The yeshivashe oilam has no patience for their children. Never spend quality time with them. Of course avos ubanim and other learning. Beautiful! But to spend time just to be together? Not happening.
So, babysitting by the hour is expensive. Much cheaper to send them to school and have the rebbe be moser nefesh so it’s cheaper for the parents.
Problem solved.
In the real world most employers don’t care about your “emotional needs” like this letter is demanding we do for rebbeim. In the real world you show up fifteen minutes late to work at a job that has twenty five people waiting for you very few employers are telling you to stop off for a coffee to relax for another ten minutes. When rebbeim act this way and demand so much coddling it is difficult for me to understand how they are also demanding hakoras hatov from us. They remind me of the teachers union which certainly doesn’t give a hoot about the children in the public school system.
I am not sure what the letter is trying to convey. However, as a husband of a teacher and father of 2 Morahs, I will give my 2 cents on the issue.
No one asked them what they thought of having to come back earlier from summer vacation. No one suggested that they get an extra weeks’ pay for an extra week’s work. Yet, out of the nowhere they are told that their vacations are cut short.
Simply put, it isn’t fair to the teachers, Rebbeim, Morahs etc. We all agree that there is too much time between the end of camp and the start of school. It also isn’t fair to expect people to work for free. Most of those in education do it for the love of the children and put out more effort than they are paid for. But to ask them to work an extra week or more without compensating them for the time isn’t a reasonable request.
Parents need to pay more for camp to extend, pay an extra week’s tuition so the Yeshiva staff can be paid for the extra week, or something else needs to be done to make it fair.
@Yiddishkup
Teachers are paid an annual salary. Noone is telling them work an extra week without pay. the school year will end a week earlier come next June. Is anyone asking for a return of one weeks salary?
It might be a little rough at the beginning of this coming school year since Yeshivas are starting a few days earlier than anticipated. No worries, with Rosh Hashana and Succos right around the corner, they will have plenty of time off from teaching.
I think “prominent” Baal Haboos, while he makes some good points completely ignores others, and certainly failed step one in any letter and that is, did you speak to those you are publicly knocking? Such a prominent person should have no issue getting in a few words with Rabbi Nojowitz the Nasi of TUM, or perhaps even a member of the Vaad Roshei HaYeshiva ask ask them if a) the allegations are true and they are why b) they didnt feel it important to notify or even allow a vote. I’m wondering if there is a typo and the letter writer is really a prominent Baal HaBooze.
My son just informed me that the letter writer is actually an aggrieved bus driver, who doesn’t know how to spell. He also is upset that he has to start his run a few days early.
Next year this will all be fair as this will be well known & the new norm. It was wrong that it took so long to correct this gezel zeman of the Tinokos shel bais rabbon. It’s only because people got used to this travesty thatb anyones complaining.
Can’t figure out on this 2023 YWN clled
How Does IDF, BiBI, Neshei Adirei torah, Trump bas mitzvah, ,
Left wing , mix togeteher ?? Parave or Milchig or none
This is an absolutely profound and important message and written beautifully as well. thank u ywn.
And to all previous commentators and critics why do u all get stuck on stupid details and side points and miss the main message that the importance of being sensitive to the needs of our rebbeim and teachers is not merely a subject of hakaros hatov rather it’s vital to each and every one of our children’s success.
And to all previous commentators and critics why do u all get stuck on stupid details and side points and miss the main message that the importance of being sensitive to the needs of our rebbeim and teachers is not merely a subject of hakaros hatov rather it’s vital to each and every one of our children’s success. Thank you
RebCharlie… the letter is nice. Is it true just because an alleged rebbe is upset and a so called prominent baal hagalah says we should be mindful of his feelings?
The vaad roshei yeshiva of TUM are not anonymous, they are more prominent, than all prominent anonymous letter writers combined. Are you suggesting they don’t know what’s best for the chinuch of our children? If you do believe that, perhaps this baal haagaala can start his own competing organization.
I can’t figure this one out! My grandsons’ Brooklyn yeshiva last day is Thursday, the 22nd, the very same day their camp in the Catskills is starting. Needless to say my daughter is keeping them home to get ready for camp both Wednesday and Thursday. This seems so odd to me, the old geezer! Do camps call the shots or do the yeshivos? Is this about Torah or about business? Naturally I must remain quiet!
@EmEMC
Schools will not end a week early, especially for HS teachers that have to work through when the Regents are given. Ending a week earlier would shift the gap between camp and school from September to June.
Your point that they should give back a week’s pay doesn’t make sense. They will now have to come to work more days than they were hired for. Imagine if where you work you were asked to come in on Sundays and not get paid for the time.
I will also point out the fact that most yeshivas owe their teachers multiple pay checks. Is it fair to expect someone to work and not get paid on time?
I will, however, suggest that if they will start early, extend the Yom tov vacations by the same number of days (i.e., an extra day of for Sukos, Chanuka, Purim, etc.) this way the teachers are working the same number of days in total AND the schools start earlier.
@ Yiddishkup.
. There are Elementary schools and there are high schools. Lets not confuse the two. Although I admit, where will they get counselors in camp if high schools are not on board.
. I did not suggest anyone give back a weeks pay, nor did I say someone should accept to work more for the same pay. All I said was, the year is starting a week earlier and ending a week earlier, same amount of work. You are going on about high school teachers and regents, and the press release and start dates was about elementary schools.
. That Yeshivas owe their Rebbeim and teachers back pay has nothing to do with this TUM initiative to start change the school calendar. I’m not a Rav or a Posek, if Rebbeim and Teachers wish to force the issue, let them consult a Rav or posek for the proper way. Back pay and the start and end date of the school year are not the same discussion.
. Regarding your last point, you still seem to be hung up that teachers are working MORE. The school year according to the initiative is not longer, the start and end dates are shifting. For THIS calendar year, yes, there are more work days, and something could possibly be done be done about that. An extra day off or two for each Rebbe if they want it, I dont work in a Yeshiva, I dont know how that would impact things, I’m sure it isnt an insurmountable problem.
. Lastly, the letter/initiative is signed by the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva whose members include:
HARAV HILLEL DAVID
HARAV SHMUEL KAMENETSKY
HARAV ARYEH MALKIEL KOTLER
HARAV AARON SCHECHTER
HARAV DOVID SCHUSTAL
HARAV AHARON FELDMAN
HARAV DOVID HARRIS
HARAV ELYA BRUDNY
HARAV SHLOMO HALIOUA
HARAV YAAKOV BENDER
HARAV A. DOVID GOLDBERG
HARAV CHAIM Y. HOBERMAN
HARAV YOSEF EICHENSTEIN
HARAV SHMUEL LEVIN
baal haboos
To suggest, as did the initial letter by a Rebbe and then this so called “Prominent Baal Haboos” that this initiative lacks empaty and completely disregards Rebbem and teachers is unbridled chutzpah towards each and every one of them. If you, the initial letter writer, this letter writer or others have an issue with this initiative, at the very least, show a smidgen of respect to those who authored it.
r shmuel levin is no longer alive r shmuel kaminetzky is in and out of the hospital so that leaves me thinking…..
and as an aside if tora umesorah could do something that leaves rebbeim feeling wronged than a problem there definitely is the only question is if the rebbeim are the daas baal habayis with blue suits behind a mahogany desk or the decision makers/impacters in tora umesorahs.