Yeshiva or Bust
This past week one of our rabbis was explaining that the weekly portions up until this point were captivating and easily peeked one's interest as they were mostly in a story format. Now we were getting into the portions that deal with all the mitzvot (laws and rules). He explained the necessity of having rules to live by. He then went on to explain why often an inmate will (after being released) committ a crime simply to return to the structure and routine provided by living in prison. He is provided with routine, comradarie and 3 meals a day. I could't help but ask," so what is the difference between between that and a yeshiva?" He smiled and told me he'd get back to me on that subject a bit later.
This seems to be a sensitive subject lately: Who works and who learns? Are the learners really learning? or is the comfort of the learning routine and 3 meals a day the attraction? For sure there is comfort in routine. I like routine. It provides a certain rhythm and false sense of control. I happen to have a son in yeshiva. He knows he cannot stay there but a couple years and yet just the other day he remarked to me how comforting the routine has become for him. I have heard the same from soldiers returning from Iraq. The change in routine and pace was the most difficult adjustment. So how does one get out of a rut or are we meant to be creatures of habit? We all need rules, but someone's got to bring home the beef fry.
This seems to be a sensitive subject lately: Who works and who learns? Are the learners really learning? or is the comfort of the learning routine and 3 meals a day the attraction? For sure there is comfort in routine. I like routine. It provides a certain rhythm and false sense of control. I happen to have a son in yeshiva. He knows he cannot stay there but a couple years and yet just the other day he remarked to me how comforting the routine has become for him. I have heard the same from soldiers returning from Iraq. The change in routine and pace was the most difficult adjustment. So how does one get out of a rut or are we meant to be creatures of habit? We all need rules, but someone's got to bring home the beef fry.
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