At the initiative of maranan verabonon, the roshei
yeshiva met recently in the home of HaRav Nissim Karelitz
in Bnei Brak to discuss marrying off one's children in an
honorable manner. The issue, which has reached the point of
pikuach Nefesh, has been one of the most urgent ones
on
the agenda of the chareidi community in Eretz Yisroel
for quite some time.
This issue constitutes a danger to the future development of
the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel, according to
askonim active in the matter.
The meeting was opened by HaRav Nissim Karelitz, who said
that the purpose of the meeting was to clarify the need for
all roshei yeshivos -- the generation's educators --
to
set the tone in the Torah world, and to inform bnei
Torah that the most honorable, correct lifestyle for them
to pursue is a frugal, modest one. HaRav Karelitz said that
adhering to such a lifestyle will enable the continuation of
a flourishing Torah world. He explained that the genuine
Torah home is based on histapkus. It is inappropriate
for a true ben Torah to encumber his family with
unnecessary burdens, he noted.
HaRav A. Dvir presented the view of HaRav Yosef Sholom
Eliashiv, which is that bnei Torah should be taught to
cultivate the trait of histapkus; to limit wedding
expenses and general living expenses, and to purchase smaller
apartments. Both sides should share the burden equally.
HaRav Chizkia Mishkovsky presented the opinion of HaRav
Aharon Leib Steinman, who also noted that the trait of
histapkus should set the tone when marrying off one's
children. He then said that HaRav Steinman felt that the
purpose of the meeting was to urge the roshei yeshiva -
-
of the generation's educators -- to devise ways to convey the
trait of genuine ahavas haTorah to the younger
generation. This would ensure that the daughter of a
talmid chochom would be able to marry an excellent
yeshiva student without her father having to leave his Torah
studies. He then added in the name of HaRav Steinman that
bnei Torah should seek mates with good character
traits
and qualities, since this is kvodo shel Torah and
darko shel Torahand the manner in which future
generations should be raised. Bnei Torah should also
play active roles in protecting their parents' health by
limiting wedding expenses. Through such conduct, one grows in
Torah, yiras Shomayim and good character traits. All
this is the basis of the Jewish home; the basis of our future
generation, and the basis of the continuation of Torah within
our yeshivos.
HaRav Yehuda Silman discussed efforts being made to find
practical solutions.
HaRav Shmuel Shapira sent his blessings to the meeting and
praised the initiative to try to solve the problem.
It was decided that HaRav Nissim Karelitz along with HaRav
Boruch Povarksy, HaRav Tzvi Kushelevski and HaRav Yosef Chaim
Kopshitz would meet to discuss ways of easing the
situation.
The following rabbonim were present at the meeting: HaRav
Boruch Rosenberg, the rosh yeshiva of Slobodke; HaRav
G. Edelstein, one of the roshei yeshiva of Ponovezh;
HaRav Boruch Dov Povarksy, one of the roshei yeshiva
of
Ponovezh; HaRav E. Zaks, one of the roshei yeshiva of
Slobodke; HaRav M. A. Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of
Slobodke;
HaRav Yosef Chaim Kopshitz; HaRav D. Cohen, rosh
yeshiva of Hevron; HaRav Yitzchok Ehrenfeld, rosh
yeshiva of Beis Shmuel; HaRav Y. Rosen, rosh
yeshiva
of Or Yisroel; HaRav Dovid Mann, rosh yeshiva of
Knesses Chizkiyahu; HaRav M. Y. Shlesinger, rosh
yeshiva of Kol Torah; HaRav B. Weissbecker, rosh
yeshiva of Beis Mattisyahu; HaRav M. Berlin, rosh
yeshiva of Rabbenu Chaim Ozer; HaRav G. Y. Levi, rosh
yeshiva of Beer HaTorah; HaRav Y. Ehrenberg, rosh
yeshiva of Knesses Yitzchok Hadera; HaRav Tzvi
Kushelevski, rosh yeshiva of Heichal HaTorah-
Pressburg;
HaRav Avrohom Yitzchok Kook, rosh yeshiva of Me'or
HaTalmud Rechovot; HaRav M. Kopshitz, one of the roshei
yeshiva of Kol Torah; HaRav Dovid Shapira, one of the
roshei yeshiva of Beer Yaakov; HaRav Simcha
Scheinberg,
one of the roshei yeshiva of Torah Or.
