Rav Moshe Shternbuch, Raavad of Yerushalayim, during a shiur yesterday at his yeshiva in Ramot, commented on the phenomenon of some roshei yeshiva, who, due to humility, do not wear frocks, but rather short jackets.
Rav Shternbuch expressed his feeling that it would be appropriate for all roshei yeshiva and even ramim – rabbeim who teach in a mesivta, or a yeshiva ketana, as high school-age yeshivos are known in Eretz Yisroel – to wear frocks.
“Hakadosh Boruch Hu was very particular that the clothing of kohanim be for kavod and tiferes, ‘honor and glory, so that the kohein will not forget for a moment that he is serving Hakadosh Boruch Hu, and to induce fear amongst all of Klal Yisroel in the Bais Hamikdosh when they see the great honor and glory with which the kohanim are dressed,” he said.
Similarly, said Rav Shternbuch, “marbitzei Torah and ramim who teach Torah in yeshivos should wear special clothing (i.e., frocks) so that they will be accorded respect and to remind [the talmidim] that they are not laymen. There is therefore also a requirement for them to act in an extra dignified manner, as bnei Torah, so that the talmidim will look up to them and respect them properly.”
David Steger – Matzav.com Israel / Photo: Flash 87 Images
Rav Pam never wore a frock
neither does Rav Shternbuchs nephew – the biggest marbitz torah in the WORLD – R’ Osher Arieli of the Mir
To #1
Apparently Rav Pam didn’t need the frock for people to look up to him, his personality was enough.
There was a different Rosh yeshiva in Torah Vodaath, I forget the name, who only wore a frock during the week and a regular suit on shabbos, because he considered the frock his “work clothes”!
his name was R’ Elya Chazan
Niskatnu Hadoros. The Hadar Panim of Gedolim like Rav Pam is fading. The newer generation need
the malbushay kovod.
Neither does the American Posek Rav Dovid Feinstein
Moshe Rabbeinu never wore a frock
@ anonymous
Correct – yet he told his son to wear one!
If a Ram or Rosh Yeshiva needs to wear a frock in order that the talmidim should respect him and give him kavod for the Torah that he knows or teaches, then he obviously has failed in showing his talmidim how much Torah he knows, has failed in teaching them and has failed in instilling a love for Torah. The biggest Talmid Chacahm I know doesn’t wear a long jacket (besides for Shabbos and that’s only because their father always wore one so they also do — minhag…)
Why the comparisons and why the questioning? His opinion is ריבוי כבוד התורה. What’s wrong with that?
@tanna Kamma you’re refering to R’ Elya Chazzan. @tt Which son of R Dovid Feinstein wears a frock??
Rav Shternbuch’s lesson is an important one: We have to know that people look up to us and act that way
It was Rav Elyah Chazan who only wore a frock during the week
Rav Reuven Feinstein didn’t want to wear a frock but his father (Rav Moshe) insisted he does.
Rav Meir Stern, Rosh Yeshivas Passaic
Rav Meir Hershkowitz, Rosh Yeshivas Stamford
Rav Dovid Feinstein, Rav Yeshivas MTJ
Rav Yaakov Nelkenbaum, Rosh Yeshivas Mir,
Rav Moshe Shimon Shapiro, Rosh Kollel in Lakewood
Gedolei olam who don’t wear frocks
Other readers, please add more names
When they all start wearing frocks, then the value is diluted. IF the frock inspires any yirah at all it’s because only roshei yeshiva wear one. If every yeshiva ketana rebbi starts wearing one, then it becomes just a “uniform” and does not inspire anything.
Rav Yisroel Reisman does not wear one (at least during the week – don’t know about Shabbos).
Is frock an English word?
Yes, of course, it is.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frock
rav
rav menachem genack does not wear a frock
and rav hershel schachter also