Nov. 27, 2023

Navigating the Responsibility of Torah Study in the Worlds of Kollel and the Workforce

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Season 5

Who is responsible for committing to in-depth Torah study: the full-time Kollel scholar buoyed by community support or the everyday laborer who seeks balance between spiritual growth and practical obligations? This episode sparks a fascinating debate, and your perspective might shift as we peel back the layers. As we delve into a Kollel student's world, understand the weight of their commitment as they are expected to serve as spiritual lighthouses, illuminating the path for others. Their pursuit of knowledge is more than a personal calling; it's a community investment. 

Yet, we mustn't overlook the needs of the hardworking individuals who toil in the material world and yet strive to maintain a spiritual connection. Calling upon the example of Yaakov's 14 years in the Yeshiva Sheim & Ever, it's suggested that those with worldly duties may require a more concentrated focus on their learning. These workers may need a greater immersion in the Torah to navigate the world's challenges and distractions. Is it the Kollel student, sheltered by the Yeshiva walls, or the laborer, immersed in the world's grind, who should strive harder in their Torah studies? Listen in, reflect, and take part in this stimulating discussion.

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Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com



WEBVTT

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Today we're going to do something different.

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We're going to take a quick vote Please do send in your answers as to who you think needs to learn more seriously, with more attention to detail and more focus when they're studying Torah.

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A Kolel guy sitting in Yeshiva being supported by his family members so that he can become a great Torah sage and hold up the spiritual world and really the real world as well?

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Or a holy ball of bus?

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Somebody that works as a job and doesn't have that same merit to stay sequestered inside of the Yam HaTamud?

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A working gentleman?

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So who's got to focus more and learn with more sincerity and zeal when they are sitting in front of their kamar and not talking about in terms of the amount of time study, but just with what mental capacity.

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Who needs and is more responsible to study harder?

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I feel that the first approach would be well, of course, a Kolo guy.

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I mean.

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After all, everyone is supporting him.

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Sometimes I remember the Reshishivas Musershmuz when he said you can't just take a coffee break whenever you want.

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Your parents, in-laws or family members are investing heavily in your future to become a bright light in the Torah world, and now you're outside just making a latte and maybe stealing, god forbid.

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So a Kolo guy needs to take his time and Torah study really seriously.

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People are counting on him.

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On the other hand, rybjakov Kamenevsky points out something interesting the Yakovovino spent 63 years learning Bechavrusa, being homeschooled in the institution that is his father's Yeshiva.

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Basically, yitzchak taught Yakov Torah.

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When Chazal count up the years of Yakov's life, 14 years seemed to be missing and Chazal tell us that Yakov chose to go sequester himself inside of the Yeshiva Sheim the Aver, because Sheim and Aver was a place that Yakov felt he needed to stop at to learn there for a long Kolo stint, because before a meeting with the mendacious rogue of Lovon, yakov needed the Torah of Sheim and Aver, this type of Torah that they were around during times of the dispersion in McDalbovel and they knew how to learn Torah and stay mentally focused, even when they're going to be seeing in a part of things that they don't necessarily agree with.

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So Sheim and Aver's Torah had this capacity to keep a person connected, no matter what else was going on around him, and Yakov wanted to stop there and learn for 14 years.

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So perhaps there's a strong case to be made here for somebody that does have to go out into the world and see things that they aren't exactly in favor of.

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Someone's got to pay the bills, make some parnas, so we need the Zavuluns as well.

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But maybe that little 15 to 30 minute Chavrusa session, that one hour dafiyomi that they learn in the morning, it needs to be even more of a focused, zealous, attentive, all-in type of mental focus and Torah study session, because that, like the Torah of Sheim and Aver, is much needed to protect someone.

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But you vote who needs to study harder, the Kolal guy or the saintly gentleman, the Balabas?