A storm is brewing in the world of religious Zionist yeshivos tichoniyot, following the unexpected decision by Rav Baruch Chait, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Maarava. The yeshiva’s leadership barred its students from attending Machaneh Bnei Torah, a summer camp intended to strengthen bnei yeshiva. The move was met with sharp criticism from parents, faculty, and especially students — some of whom are calling on the yeshiva to “look inward” rather than blame the camp for spiritual decline.
Rabbi Chait’s stance made headlines earlier this week after Matzav.com revealed the discontent boiling among Maarava parents and faculty members. In response to the uproar, Rabbi Chait issued a letter doubling down on his decision, stating that the camp fosters behaviors inappropriate for his yeshiva’s standards.
In his letter, Rabbi Chait explained: “Maarava is a regular yeshiva with clear values and standards, enshrined in our handbook — strict adherence to derech eretz and conduct befitting bnei Torah, including zero tolerance for smoking, alcohol, and unfiltered media. While we appreciate Machaneh Bnei Torah and its work for a certain demographic, unfortunately, the generational decline has widened the gap between Maarava and other yeshivos tichoniyot.”
He added, “We are aware that some of our students who attended the camp last year returned having picked up smoking and other behaviors incompatible with our yeshiva’s values. As a result, we were forced to suspend several boys. For the sake of preserving the atmosphere and educational environment our yeshiva stands for, we advise parents not to allow their sons to participate.”
However, a contrasting voice emerged from Yerushalayim, as Rav Meshulam Zusha Brandwein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chedvas HaTorah, issued his own letter. He offered unwavering support for Machaneh Bnei Torah, framing the camp as a vital component of his students’ spiritual development.
Rabbi Brandwein wrote, “The image of our revered rosh yeshiva, the late Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi zt”l, stands before us as a model of greatness. His rich Torah legacy guides us throughout the year. We participate in Machaneh Bnei Torah out of deep appreciation for this great Torah project, founded with authentic connection to the yeshiva world and the mesorah of olam haTorah.”
He continued, “We discussed the camp often with our late rosh yeshiva, who recognized its power to raise a generation of talmidei chachamim. Experience has proven that those who come in strong Torah learners leave even more elevated. Our students excelled there — in their Torah knowledge, halacha proficiency, and overall conduct.”
Rav Brandwein concluded: “As you head to camp, we trust you will continue your path of excellence — in learning, yiras Shamayim, dignified dress and refined behavior, reflecting the deep education you receive within our yeshiva’s walls. Carry the banner of our yeshiva with pride and return with renewed strength for the coming zman Elul.”
Following the wide circulation of the controversy, several talmidim from various yeshivos tichoniyot who participated in the camp were spoken to.
A student from Yeshivas Nishmas HaTorah in Yerushalayim, led by Rabbi Eliezer Steinberger, remarked: “I don’t know what changed suddenly. Last year we had a big group at the camp and not one of us came back smoking. Maybe there are isolated cases, but saying that the camp breaks boys spiritually is an injustice — to the students and to the camp itself.”
Another bochur added, “There has to be something else going on. This can’t just be about cigarettes. Last year, we came back uplifted — spiritually invigorated in ways we hadn’t experienced before. I have many friends in Maarava who went last year, and not one of them came back a smoker or a drunk.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Does Yeshivas Chedvas HaTorah permit smoking, or otherwise mind if their boys come back from camp as smokers? If they are okay with that, then (one would have to wonder how that could be, but germane to this story) this would explain the obvious difference between them and Maarava.
Maarava isn’t a religious zionist school!
While the Yeshiva High Schools with Limudei Chol aren’t the mainstream path for Chareidim, schools such as Maarava are definitely Chareidi.
This isn’t an attack on the Israeli Yeshiva Ketana system, but Maarava has a much larger part of the day utilized. Where the average Yeshiva Ktana has a lengthy Bein Hasedorim, Maarava adds in secular studies.
I’d add that Maarava places a dagesh on building the students character, shaping their personality, and directly providing hashkafic direction.
Yes, a lot of the boys are children of people who emigrated from abroad, and the school doesn’t follow the standard Israeli Chareidi system. Nonetheless, calling it Religios Zionist is flawed.
The choshuve Yeshiva high school’s in America all have Secular Studies programs, with very few exceptions. Is Ner Yisroel Religious Zionist? Is Philly Religious Zionist? Chaim Berlin? Chofetz Chaim? Telshe?
But they are in America, you might argue. So what?
Does Maarava prioritize Yishuv Eretz Yisroel as the ultimate value? Absolutely not. Does it encourage going to the Army? Absolutely not. Does it encourage it’s graduates to go to mainstream Chareidi Yeshiva Gedollah (What Americans call Beis Medrash)? 1000 percent.
In Israel, things are looked at as black and white. Either with us or with them. Life is more nuanced than that. I am highly suprised that an American media outlet, even one that caters to Bnei Torah and alumni of Yeshivos, could be so taken in by the Israeli Chareidi shortfall of presenting everything in black and white.
In short, Maarava isn’t Religious Zionist in the slightest!