Rabbonim and mechanchim have once again cautioned
against the danger of "yeshiva high schools." These
institutions, in chareidi guise, seek to sidetrack young
talmud Torah graduates from their pure intention of
growing spiritually solely within the four cubits of
halocho.
Ever since Maarava opened, of which gedolei haTorah
disapproved, additional attempts to found similar
institutions have been made. Recently, registration for an
institution called Machon Letze'irim has been announced. Its
founders profess that it is geared for talmud Torah
graduates, and promise "an intensive limudei
kodesh program on a high level as customary in the
yeshivos ketanos, as well as a general studies
program." The announcements they circulated state that the
institution is "intended for bright and industrious
students." With this endeavor, Machon Letze'irim joins the
list of previous similar institutions, which the Rosh
Hayeshiva, Maran HaRav Eliezer Menachem Shach, shlita,
sharply decried.
Maran the Rosh Hayeshiva frequently cautioned against the
danger of these institutions and warned against introducing
general studies programs into our sacred yeshivos.
In his letters, Maran expresses pure da'as Torah,
writing that a student in his youth must make certain that
all of his time is utilized only for the study of Torah
hakedosha, and that it is forbidden to give our children
any occasion to pursue general studies. "Indubitably, it is
forbidden to found a yeshiva or a Torah institution with
another name, and/or to change the study course which has
been transmitted to us by our sages of yore, nor to enable
students to pursue other forms of study in their homes. There
is no difference if these students are native Israelis or
hail from abroad, because it is crucial that they acquire as
much yegias haTorah as possible, and strengthen
themselves, so that even when they grow old, they won't
deviate from it. [Remaining strong throughout one's life] is
dependent on what one achieves and diligently pursues in his
youth."
In an additional letter, Maran warns against altering the
yeshiva format determined by our great gedolim of the
past. "The founders of these institutions have added iniquity
to their already existing iniquity by permitting students to
pursue general studies and vain objectives. Therefore, I
state my opinion that it is forbidden, chas vesholom,
to enroll in those institutions, because it is forbidden to
change the format of the yeshivos hakedoshos in any
way whatsoever or to deviate from the model formulated by our
sages of the past which mandate that a yeshiva be totally
kodesh without any mixture of other studies. A
thousand enter for mikroand one emerges for
horo'oh, and whoever changes is doomed to fail and
will, in the future, have to account for his deeds."
Regarding the study in such institutions, Maran wrote that
the parents must know that "success and [livelihood] come
only from HaKodosh Boruch Hu, Who is the source of
brocho and hatzlocho, and not from general
studies, chas vesholom." He decried the fact that
precisely in our generation which is "a most propitious one
for developing yeshivos ketanos and yeshivos
gedolos al taharas hakodesh," without any foreign
admixtures, such institutions are opened.
In an additional letter Maran warned: "Cholilo,
vecholilo for anyone to be counted among those students,"
adding that "all who change and destroy, and all who help
them, will fail, and will one day have to account for their
deeds. Their [punishment] is explicitly stated in parshas
Re'ei."
