From: Steve Roth in Boston, MA

Dear Rabbi,

Recently I have become interested in Judaism and have made a lot of progress by reading on my own and talking to religious people. Someone suggested that I learn in a yeshiva. Is that really necessary?

Dear Steve,

It sounds like you’re off to a wonderful start – keep up the good work!

Our generation has the merit of witnessing many people returning to the Torah who were raised in secular environments and did not have the benefit of a Torah education during their most impressionable years. One generation ago, there was not one yeshiva or seminary whose major purpose was to educate adults who were just beginning their Torah education. Today there are countless yeshivot and seminaries for ba’alei teshuva of all backgrounds and ages. If you have the opportunity, learning in a yeshiva has many advantages over learning on your own.

First, our Sages taught that Torah should be learned with other people, not alone. The dynamics of group learning ensures lively discussion with many different perspectives, subjecting one’s ideas to the scrutiny of others – with the purpose of reaching the truth. The Talmud relates: “Rav Ashi said, ‘One who loves to study [Torah] with many people will have produce’.  And this is what Rav Yossi, son of Rabbi Chaninah meant when he explained, ‘What is the meaning of the verse, ‘A sword upon the magicians who are foolish’ (Yirmiyahu 50:36)? It means that a sword shall be upon the necks of Torah scholars who foolishly learn alone rather than benefiting from the additional understanding that results from learning with others.”

Yeshivot and seminaries offer the opportunity for total immersion in a Torah way of life, in Torah study, in an environment where everyone is striving to improve their knowledge and observance of Torah together. In a secular environment ba’alei teshuva and many observant Jews feel like outsiders, and may be defensive regarding religious issues. It is healthy to live in surroundings that are in consonance with one’s lifestyle and beliefs; a yeshiva provides a community where being an observant Jew is mainstream and perhaps even trendy. This type of experience can have an impact on even a short-term visitor to the yeshiva or seminary, and give one a needed injection of enthusiasm and confidence.

The yeshiva also provides much-needed support during the initially difficult period of the newly-observant. “No man is an island entirely of itself, every man is a part of the continent, a piece of the main” (John Donne). Any change in the familiar patterns of life is difficult, especially when this change is accompanied by the acceptance of a vast and complex new system of living. Transition is made easier when one is “in transit” with others. People who have undergone similar experiences compare notes and learn from each other’s successes and mistakes and can identify with each other’s trials. “One who seeks advice, increases understanding” (Pirkei Avot 2:8).

Being part of a yeshiva or seminary also means being part of a community. Members of a community celebrate happy occasions together, and provide comfort and support in times of distress. Non-observant Jews are usually very impressed and moved by the extent to which people entertain the bride and groom at an Orthodox wedding. Stereotypes (and sometimes even the rabbis from the yeshiva) go crashing to the ground when the men begin juggling, somersaulting, and performing handstands in order to contribute to the happiness of the occasion. These events enhance one’s sense of belonging to a cohesive, caring community.

The yeshiva helps one establish important contacts in the religious community. Visiting observant families on Shabbat and Festivals is an enjoyable way for the ba’al teshuva to learn about Shabbat and family life, and to actually see much that he has learned put into practice. Do you want to spend Shabbat with a family from Atlanta, Georgia, or perhaps Georgia of the former Soviet Union? Do you like Sephardi food or macrobiotic? Would you like to be with a large family? Chassidic, Lithuanian, or Yemenite? Jerusalem, Tzefat, or Bnei Brak? Do you want to meet a religious artist, author, physicist, doctor, or investment banker? Someone in the yeshiva or seminary is able to direct students to people who share their personal interests.

Finally, anyone interested in getting married will generally have more opportunities if he or she is part of a yeshiva. Rabbis, rebbetzins, and married couples associated with an institution of learning introduce people and help with shidduchim. Teachers and rabbis provide references for their students, and usually have the connections to be able to investigate the references of a prospective shidduch. Many yeshivot and seminaries not only help their students get married, they also assist the married couple in finding housing, financial assistance, and with any advice they might seek.

Most people cannot afford to spend long periods of time at yeshiva, and certainly cannot devote most of their life to the study of Torah. It is especially important for them to take time out to study so that they can improve their skills in the language and analysis of classical Hebrew and Aramaic texts. After having learned in yeshiva they will be more independent in their studies, will have a wider choice of classes to attend, and will be more proficient in their prayers and blessings.

It is human nature to put off until tomorrow (or next month, year, or decade) anything that requires effort. Laziness has a surprising amount of strength for something so slow moving. “Hillel used to say…If not now, when?” (Pirkei Avot 1:14). “Do not say, ‘When I have free time I will study,’ for you may never have free time” (Pirkei Avot 2:5).

Sources:

• After The Return, Mordechai Becher & Moshe Newman, Feldheim 1995