Dear Matzav Inbox,
I am writing about the glaring hypocrisy that is “Yeshiva Week,” or “Midwinter Vacation.” (The first is the Modox term that somehow has become en vogue. Frankly, it’s weird, because it’s actually “Non-Yeshiva Week,” but whatever.) The level of inconsistency and double standards being displayed is nothing short of infuriating, and it’s time someone called it out.
For years, we’ve been drilled with the mantra that Torah is the absolute top priority. “Bitul Torah” is the worst of all aveiros, and we can’t afford to waste even a single second from our learning. Yeshivas have used this taynah for everything—don’t go to this event, don’t attend that function, don’t take a vacation, because the learning can’t be interrupted for anything. When the Siyum HaShas comes around, we hear it—the kids can’t go, because it’s bitul Torah. You can’t afford to step away from your learning. When there’s a special event or any opportunity that takes you away from seder, the taynah is always the same—bitul Torah, bitul Torah, bitul Torah.
And yet, in the middle of the winter, here comes “(Non) Yeshiva Week.” Suddenly, it’s like everyone forgets all about bitul Torah. The yeshivas, who otherwise are so quick to point out that every second of Torah counts, have no problem whatsoever with forcing parents to deal with their kids from Thursday or Friday straight through to Sunday or Monday for no apparent reason.
What is this? A vacation? An educational trip? A special yeshiva program? No! It’s none of that. It’s just an arbitrary week when our kids are off from school, and parents are left to scramble. And I’m not even talking about the absurd costs and the time involved, because that’s a whole other story.
How is it that our yeshivas can scream “bitul Torah” at every possible moment and then turn around and force families into an entire week of bitul everything? If we really believed in the concept of “bitul Torah,” there’s no way something as frivolous as this would be allowed.
And don’t even get me started on the inconsistency of it all. But suddenly, we’re all expected to drop everything and deal with the mess of “Yeshiva Week.” Hypocrisy doesn’t even begin to cover it.
It’s high time someone called this out. If the schools and yeshivas are so concerned about every second of learning, then why on earth are they okay with wasting these days for no reason? If we’re going to hold up the standard of Torah and learning being the most important, then let’s not turn around and ignore that principle for the sake of some arbitrary week off in the middle of the winter. The hypocrisy is ridiculous.
Enough is enough. It’s time for the yeshivos to rethink this and stop taking advantage of families. If Torah is really our priority, then let’s make sure it’s reflected in every aspect of our lives.
Sincerely,
A Frustrated Parent
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Weak argument. The idea is the kids need a break which is the ultimate “Kiyum Hatorah”. If you believe this is an unnecessary break, you are entitled to that approach, but I don’t see the hypocrisy.
Do they really need a break, spending that time in Disney World loaded with pritzus wherever you turn? In Punta Cana? Seriously? Seeing their parents throw off the yoke of the Aibishter right in front of their eyes?! That’s going to be michazek a Ben Torah Yeshiva bachur?!
When I told my sons we’re not going anywhere for yeshiva week, this was 7 years ago they said fine.
Then 30 minutes later they came to me and said they were done with yeshiva and Yiddishkeit, they were not going back and enroll them in public school.
We had no choice.
They both graduated college thus. Are employed.
Declared atheist. Dating shiksas.
I failed as a parent. I hope hashem forgives me.
Not sure what you’re upset about. Yeshivas give off- shabbosim pretty regularly.
The same rabbeim that teach us what bittul torah is, also teach us when we need a break.
Testing:
Testing:
Testing:
Signed,
A parent frustrated that there is no filtering process for letters being posted on a frum website.
Not all yeshivos take part in this mishegas. For example, I send to Orchos Chaim (Lakewood). At the beginning of the year, they sent a note saying there is NO midwinter vacation so do not make plans. Orchos Chaim is a great yeshivah in so many ways, and other yeshivos can learn from them.
Why is this good? Your children don’t deserve a few solid days home as a family together? We are talking about elementary school children! Not to mention the rebbeim and moros, who have large families they need to lead as well The yeshivos are places of learning Torah texts — home is a place to learn Torah LIFE. Bittul Torah?? MAybe you mean to say not to have a break in the middle of the zman, instead of bein hazmanim….that I can hear. But I feel sorry for any children raised in a home where doing activites together and having dedicated times to connect with other relatives (who may not live nearby) is bittul Torah!!
Well said. I agree with the letter 100%. The hypercricy needs to be called out. The whole “bittul Torah” claim just lost all its credibility in the schools. Also, I happen to think that if there was real dass Torah leadership in Lakewood, this whole break for the boys would never have happened. Remember when R’ Matisyahu ZT”L had control over the town (all girls schools didn’t start until everyone had a school, just one example). He was daas Torah for Lakewood hands down.
The girls school situation didn’t happen. Majority didn’t listen to Reb Matisyahu. Stick to facts. The break takes place outside Lakewood as well. Sometimes even a rebbi needs a break. Why should bachurim need an off shabbos for 3-5 days, but not a 1st grader? For the 1st grader it’s just as difficult as it is for the teen age bachur.
As somone that works in a school I’m scratching his head. Many Boys schools don’t have midwinter break. Midwinter break is a concept by more modern yeshivas that has spread to chilled Out Yeshivish schools. Your tayna is simply stupid. The school I work in has mid winter break. They are a excellent school that has a parent body that demands this. In the old days 90 percent would take out kids anyways so they made it official. Theses yeshiva are not farfrumt at all. They are super duper balabatish. Just for the record. The schools unfortunately have very limited control of their parent body’s actions in msny areas
I would suggest u switch to a more Yeshivish school where u won’t have this issue.
You are sending your kids to a wrong yeshivah. My boys don’t have any off days now but instead they will get half a day off during the presidents week.
Hear, Hear!!
I can’t believe the hypocrisy of the letter writer railing against bittul Torah and yet taking the time to write this long winded repetitive letter instead of learning.
You cannot question daas Torah
1. You are overwhelmed by finding an affordable spot or child care. Point taken and well understood.
2. Talking in shul, rechilas and loshon horah are worse than bitul Torah, depending on your resources.
3. Rebbes are no better off than you are during this week.
4. Is this really every Yeshiva and girls school participating in the week off?
5. The break isn’t so much bitul Torah; it should be for rejewvenation.
nowadays rabeim and teachers need a break due to the grueling job that they have as replacing the job of the parents and the stage that our youth are growing up ( chutzbe , spoiled attitudes and alas kumpt meer). give them a break so that the would enjoy teaching and learning, The mechanchem are much more matzliach because they are calmer then the previous generation who were much more frustrated.
I have a question for you, sir. You complain about bitul torah on yeshiva week. Where are your complaints on the succos and pesach bain hazmanim? 2 months a year when MOST of these wonderful bochurim (soon each will be the best boy in BMG, because there is no such thing as second best), generally don’t learn very much. Nobody is forcing you to take a break or go away. There is an old saying, “live and let live”. I don’t get why people have to stick their noses into others’ business. When my kids were in school, we didnt do florida because we couldnt afford it. For those who can, Kol Hakovod.
There is a big disconnect between the haves and the have-nots. This is generally the real underlying issue. Those who’ve made it, go on extravagant vacations. Those who are loh yutzlachs and are stuck at home eating leftovers from the previous week, are always jealous of those who travel often. In order to help them feel better, they bring in the ruchnius aspect. Been there done that. My only shaila is, do the rich and famous taka have better shalom bayis than the have-nots? This, I’ve always wondered about.
What a dumb letter. The places that don’t allow the siyum hashas don’t have yeshiva week. The places thst scream bittul torah don’t have yeshiva week. Anyone who cares knows this. What a waste of time.
I am a Rebbe of the 7th grade. For years we did not have Mid-winter break. Then about 10 years ago, we started having off from Erev Shabbas till Monday ( a long weekend). It made a very big difference in the learning when the boys came back. They were refreshed, and ready to go. Without it, they were starting to get stale. Bituloi, ze he kiumoi. I was not previously for it until I saw the benefit. Other Yeshivos ( like one’s my grandchildren go to in Lakewood ) do not have off, but they come from more yeshivishe clientele and the Rabbaim tell me that it contiues to go well. (Of course there are exceptions.) Most Yeshivos follow their Daas Torah catering to their cleintele.
In passing , my son’s and their friends, during Bein Hazmanim, had a solid first seder in a local shuel and learned hours a day except for Yom Tov helping time. The Yeshiva bochurim in K’laal Yisroel are doing well!!
I am a Rebbe of the 7th grade. For years we did not have Mid-winter break. Then about 10 years ago, we started having off from Erev Shabbas till Monday ( a long weekend). It made a very big difference in the learning when the boys came back. They were refreshed, and ready to go. Without it, they were starting to get stale. Bituloi, ze he kiumoi. I was not previously for it until I saw the benefit. Other Yeshivos ( like one’s my grandchildren go to in Lakewood ) do not have off, but they come from more yeshivishe clientele and the Rabbaim tell me that it contiues to go well. (Of course there are exceptions.) Most Yeshivos follow their Daas Torah catering to their cleintele.
In passing , my son’s and their friends, during Bein Hazmanim, had a solid first seder in a local shuel and learned hours a day except for Yom Tov helping time. The Yeshiva bochurim in K’laal Yisroel are doing well!!
Find a school or Yeshiva that fits your standards. My boys in a chasidishe cheder in boro park do not have vacation! I don’t think any cheder or yeshiva in boro park gives the boys vacation. If the rebbeim need a break they are welcome to send in a sub for a day or two.
Teachers and Rebbeim are not machines! And even if they were, computers get a break to recover, dishwashers and ovens sometimes need a break to reset. Please! They devote themselves to our families. Fargin a bissel!
The parents need there children in school; they don’t want to all of a sudden become entertainers and persuade their kids that their not lacking just because they haven’t gone on a plane to some valueless hot climate.
The Teacher need a break too.
The children need some change to get the feeling of refreshment.
The Proposal:
1) The school takes them on a trip and return the same day.
2) ( I Like this one better) The school arrange a workshop for 2 or 3 days. It will be a totally different subject from the regular material. It will be presentations, or even better actual physical hands on practice
E.g. making tzitzit. Safrut. carving a shofar, learning the body parts of an animal for Nikur and Tarfut.
making ink for safrut, making parchment.
a presentation that suits the age group.
This way the teachers are off because a substitute will give the presentations, the children will have exposure to a skill and maybe they’ll like it and take it further. While learning something of value too.
There are many things that we would be better off knowing how to do (vocational skills) but we never had the opportunity to learn it because the board of Ed thinks we need to know about earth science, chinese history, SOCATOAH, graphs and equations that all adults forgot because the mind never uses these ideas.
יונים stick it to us Chanukah when yeshivos, avos-banim and adult programs like dirshu close.
המן sticks it to us on Purim shutting down same, adding underage drunkenness.
Other רשעים became jealous but without any scheduled holidays had to come up with yeshiva week.
Limaaseh, this whole “Yeshiva week” nonsense is only by the modernishe Yeshivos or the Yeshivos for shvache Bachurim who need this kind of stimulus. None of my kids Yeshivos that they attended over the years ever gave off a whole week during the winter. They gave any extended off Shabbos and zehu.