The rabbonim of the Chinuch Conference are visiting the homes of our Torah leaders in anticipation of the twelfth annual conference which is scheduled to take place with their participation and the attendance of hundreds of Torah educators, institutional administrators and educators on the eleventh and twelfth of Teves in the Nir Etzion conference center.
HaRav Dov Yaffe speaking a few years ago
In a visit to the home of HaRav Dov Yaffe, Mashgiach of Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyohu in Kfar Chassidim and member of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, the rabbonim of the delegation noted that this year the focus would be on imbuing in students the weighty issue of prayer and reward-and-punishment in general.
The Rav noted emphatically that one must not strike out at students in times of wrath. "Surely it is unthinkable to punish a child at a time of anger because then the educator will be venting it against the child and this is educationally counterproductive."
HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman related to this issue in a past conference in Nir Etzion, as has been quoted at length in "Savrai Maranan" that, "If [an educator] gives a patch, one time is enough, but when he does so successively or excessively, the child will become accustomed to it and will learn to strike out as well against friends and even against his father. At this point, the patch will not mean anything. We must build up in the student a sense of awe. `Abba is someone special.' Children should feel respect and esteem towards their parents."
Further on, he raised the point of reviewing material learned and even warned against encouraging students to learn masechtos outside the framework of the yeshiva study sessions since it is more important to review what has already been covered in yeshiva. "We must accustom students to keep on reviewing because the key to success in learning is constant review."
At the end of the visit, he blessed the rabbonim of the Conference and the hundreds of educators who gather lesheim Shomayim and said, "May Hashem help this convention to be a great success."
In a visit which the rabbonim of the Chinuch Conference to the Admor of Sanz, they asked him how to convey to young boys and older bochurim the subject of reward and punishment in Heaven. He replied, "In previous generations people excelled more in wholesome temimus and students accepted what they were taught through faith, unquestioningly. Today people think they are smarter and more sophisticated, but they are more clever for the bad and refuse to believe in what they don't see or understand until things are proven to them.
the Admor of Sanz speaking some years ago at the Chinuch Conference. MaRan HaRav Shteinman is at the left.
"Grasping the concept of reward and punishment is part of emunah. A person must believe that Hashem rewards those who keep His commandments and punishes those who violate them. We are obligated to believe this because we don't always see this clearly before our eyes; in fact, there is much confusion and concealment in this area. Moshe Rabbenu himself asked how can there be a tzaddik who suffers while the sinner has it good. Tzaddikim say that were people able to see Gehennom in this world, and if people internalized that the results of sin are as depicted in Reishis Chochmah, no one would dream of sinning. But when the enticements of sin are out there in the street and Gehennom described only in Reishis Chochmah, what can a person do to hold himself back from sinning?
"Each generation according to its limit of understanding. The matter also depends on the age of the student and children of five or six cannot be compared to those of eleven-twelve, to whom must be addressed messages which they will incorporate; the more adapted, the better.
"There is one good piece of advice which is to study Torah and delve deeply into the gemara. It is surely worthwhile to base the study on stories from the Torah and Chazal which appeal to the student. This can be broadened with stories from tzaddikim throughout the generations, showing how people were saved through their tefillos or punished accordingly, for this is more readily integrated in their minds that there is reward and punishment. Each generation requires its particular approach, which must be constantly modified as successful tactics against the yetzer hora, which also renews and updates its battle constantly."
The Admor blessed the hundreds of educators who gather at the conference and are involved in the holy mission of imbuing a pure chinuch in a role of great responsibility of leading the coming generations along the path of our timeless tradition.
Educational institutions, chadorim and yeshivos who have as yet not received their invitations and registration forms can turn to `Malchus' at 03-5790261 or Fax 03-6190676.
