Recently, an English version of an important interview with ראש ישיבת חברון בירושלים, הרה"ג אברהם פרבשטיין ז"ל was published in the Yated Ne'eman (USA) newspaper.
It is well worth looking at, as it clarifies many fundamental points related to yeshiva study, חינוך, and לימוד התורה בכלל, some of which are unfortunately insufficiently known today, and often misunderstood. It shows the deep wisdom and humanity of a great ראש ישיבה of the past. It also explodes and demolishes various misconceptions, stereotypes, and caricatures regarding the proper derech of ליטא in לימוד תורה הקדושה.
To whet your appetite, I will share some points from it, and invite you to see the article itself for a much more extensive treatment.
1) Question: What is the purpose of a yeshiva?
Answer: Not to create a למדן. Rather to make a בן תורה. Two different things.
2) Question: Should a yeshiva have a one size fits all approach to its talmidim?
Answer: No, a yeshiva is not a סדום bed. Individualized spiritual guidance is necessary for success.
3) Too much pressure on a talmid can have terrible repercussions, ר"ל.
4) Learning too many מפרשים can be counterproductive and confusing (in modern lingo, "information overload", see Wikipedia's interesting overview of the matter). Beware of that dangerous pitfall.
5) A minimum of forty blatt per zman should be learned.
ואידך, זיל גמור
Thanks to the publisher and writer for the important contribution, for all those who have lost their way and gotten mired in confusion.
א גוטען חודש
