The following is a full transcript of the question-and-answer session, courtesy of the Divrei Chemed publication:
The Value of Studying Toward Practical Application
Rabbi Zicherman: In our kollel network, we currently study the laws of Shabbat work prohibitions. As we learned here when I studied under the rabbi at Beit David kollel, we study the Talmudic discussions through to practical Jewish law. Some students, including many young men who recently came from yeshivas accustomed to theoretical study, are now learning to trace topics from Talmudic sources and early commentators through the legal codes and their interpreters. Kollel heads are asking: what is the best way to teach them this approach to studying practical law?
Rabbi Zilberstein: Students must understand that one who masters the path from Talmudic discussion to practical legal ruling achieves the highest level in the Jewish people. The greatest rank in Israel belongs to those who can issue legal rulings for the community, as illustrated in Tractate Gittin (58a), where Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya said of a child in captivity: "I am certain he will issue legal rulings in Israel", referring to Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha.
This represents the pinnacle of achievement. Any student capable of reaching this level through his Torah study—unless he lacks understanding—will eagerly pursue it. He knows that his learning leads to a conclusion, to practical application, and there is no greater satisfaction.
While studying the Talmudic debates, each student should already be thinking about the practical legal outcome, examining the legal codes and seeing what the authorities say. The kollel head should also present the students daily with a compelling question related to the topic, which they must resolve through the Talmudic discussion itself. This approach will endear to them the study of law toward practical application.
Managing Students Who Are Late or Disruptive
Rabbi Zicherman: Should a kollel head reprimand a student for not keeping study hours or for talking? Only when he disturbs others, or also to help the student himself improve? And what about a student who is sometimes late, disrupts the kollel schedule, and creates laxity, after warning him, should he be removed?
Rabbi Zilberstein: Removal is out of the question. That's not appropriate, these are Torah scholars. What needs to be done is to investigate what's behind the lateness, try to see what's troubling him, and attempt to solve the problem and help him.
Above all, explain to that student that he has the opportunity to reach the King. Imagine someone wanting to meet the U.S. President, you can't just approach him; he's a king. A person must know that through his study he can reach the King, the Almighty, specifically through studying practical law—how one should conduct oneself. When a person understands this, his heart opens much more, and his success is greater. He needs to see what the law is and what the authorities say, and it will enter his mind, and then he will soar.
Rabbi Zicherman: I remember when I had the privilege of studying under the rabbi at the kollel. We came by shuttle from Bnei Brak, and the van would start on Simetat Yavneh-Ben Zakai Street. Everyone who boarded was already in the middle of the study session, the rabbi would immediately be in the middle of a question while picking up students throughout the city. The session started at 8:30, and nothing else was conceivable. They got off the van and immediately continued learning...
Who Cares for a Sick Child, Husband or Wife?
Rabbi Zicherman: When there's a sick child at home, is it the mother's responsibility to care for the children, or should the kollel student also share the burden even at the expense of kollel hours? Who bears this primarily? The mother works for a living, the father is a kollel student. If it falls only on the student, it creates laxity and weakness, and if it falls only on the mother, it creates problems with earning a living. Should the kollel take this into account when there's a sick child?
Rabbi Zilberstein: Certainly when such a situation occurs, the kollel administration should be understanding. But the family itself should try to seek help from others so as not to cancel the husband's study, for instance, asking help from grandmothers.
And one must establish an atmosphere in the home that the husband is not a babysitter. A God-fearing home is not built on the basis that the mother works in every situation while the husband is absent from the kollel.
If a Jewish woman knew the power of a Jewish mother, how great it is, no one could imagine what power she has. As we find regarding Abraham our forefather: "And to Abraham he did good for her sake", for Sarah our mother, may she rest in peace. She has tremendous power. I don't understand how all the nations of the world say we oppress women. No nation gives such tremendous honor to women as we do. At the end of Eishet Chayil (Woman of Valor) it says: "Grace is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised". A woman has the power to influence the entire household.
Therefore, if the wife knows how important it is not to cancel her husband's study, they will know how to find a solution. There are parents and in-laws, she has brothers and sisters. If they see that Torah is his life's mission, that itself will bring a solution.
Should a Study Partner Visit His Sick Colleague?
Rabbi Zicherman: When one of the students doesn't feel well and is sick at home, should his study partner go learn with him at his house, or should he not leave the study hall?
Rabbi Zilberstein: There is something greater than the study hall, and that is kindness. This is kindness like no other, to come learn with a student at his home during his weakness is a very great thing. As it is written in the verse (Jeremiah 9:23): "But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the L-rd who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, says the Lord." And there is another verse (Micah 6:8): "He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the L-rd requires of you: "only to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God". Torah must be "a Torah of kindness on her tongue".
Rabbi Zicherman: Even though this creates some laxity in the study hall?
Rabbi Zilberstein: If the study partner's absence from the kollel would truly create laxity in the kollel, then he should remain in the kollel, but he should study with him by phone. He should call him from the kollel: "Listen to what question is going on here, maybe you can answer..."
Computer Use in Kollel Halls
Rabbi Zicherman: How should we handle computers? Should computer use be permitted in the kollel hall? Some find it organizes the topic for them when they search various databases, but on the other hand, Torah requires effort. With a computer, all the answers to all the questions are available. Until now, we've maintained a no-computer policy in our kollelim. What is the rabbi's opinion?
[We've heard from the rabbi several times about his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, of blessed memory, who didn't want them to bring him a rotating bookstand, because getting up to take a book is also part of the effort of Torah study.]
Rabbi Zilberstein: From the giving of the Torah until today, there was Torah in Israel. The Noda BiYehuda flourished, Rabbi Akiva Eiger flourished, the Brisker Rav, everything proceeded without computers. This shows that Torah was given this way. Today, due to the weakness of the generation, the Almighty brought these things. Today, if you tell a student to start searching independently through early commentators, sometimes he doesn't have the strength, so the Almighty came and lightened the work. But this is not the true path. The true path is the effort of Torah.
Cell Phone Use in Kollel Under Special Circumstances
Rabbi Zicherman: In our entire kollel network, cell phones are completely forbidden, no one brings a phone into the kollel hall, since it's well known how much it interferes with continuous study. There's one public phone in each kollel, and if something urgent comes up, they call there. But some say that when a wife is before childbirth and isn't comfortable with the public phone, perhaps no one will answer or hear, should we allow a breach in the rule?
Rabbi Zilberstein: Absolutely not. From the giving of the Torah until today there were no phones. Due to the weakness of the generation that needs them, there are cell phones, but this is not the way. [In very exceptional cases, such as extreme necessity, the kollel head can permit a student to discreetly keep a phone in his pocket set only to vibrate mode.]
Should the Kollel Head Study with a Weak Student?
Rabbi Zicherman: When there's a weak student whom others don't want to study with, should the kollel head study with him, at least part of the time? Even though this will reduce his own progress in learning?
Rabbi Zilberstein: Certainly, certainly... of course that's what should be done! It's the greatest thing in the world when the kollel head comes and sits beside him and says, "Come, let's learn a bit.." How beautiful. And they should tell him something else: there are cameras filming this straight to the Almighty. See what beloved children you have, the kollel head sees a somewhat weak student, and instead of yelling at him, says "Come, let's learn together". Wonders of wonders!
A Student Who Stays Up Late Studying
Rabbi Zicherman: A student who stays up late at night learning because he's immersed in the topic, and goes to sleep in the early morning hours, like 3:00 a.m., and consequently arrives late to kollel in the morning, which somewhat disrupts the kollel schedule because he doesn't arrive on time, should this be taken into account regarding keeping hours? On one hand it creates laxity, on the other hand the student said he was immersed in the topic.
Rabbi Zilberstein: This is truly the evil inclination's advice. When it's time to sleep, one must sleep. Someone who doesn't go to sleep on time, this should not be done, he sits and learns according to the advice of the evil inclination.
Rabbi Zicherman: Kollel heads work very hard preparing lessons and source references, and sometimes feel so enslaved to the kollel that it harms their personal growth. How much should one sacrifice of himself for the collective?
Rabbi Zilberstein: This sacrifice is the greatest gain there is. Torah is not learned by itself. When the Almighty sees a student who sacrifices himself for others, the Almighty says, "I will take him under My protection". The Sages already said (Sotah 14a): "Torah begins with kindness and ends with kindness". This isn't like the English and the French, with us, Torah is acquired through kindness!
Rabbi Zicherman: If possible, some words of encouragement for the kollel heads that they can hear and receive from the rabbi?
Rabbi Zilberstein: To the kollel heads of the Jewish people who establish Torah among Israel, who are destined to bring the Messiah to the Jewish people: Know, my dear ones, that we are in the most terrible situation. I was here in the Land of Israel when the state was built, so bad and bitter, indescribable. We were a handful of people in Jerusalem, maybe 50,000, maybe a bit more. Around us were seven cruel nations, Egypt at the head, Jordan, Iraq, and more. I was a child then, and everyone said there was no chance we'd survive them. Anyone with understanding wondered how we would prevail. The Almighty came and showed them: I am the Lord! No one believed it. Everyone understood then that this doesn't proceed according to nature.
We today are experiencing miracles beyond nature. Whoever doesn't see this is either obtuse or insane. Students must know that the power of Torah is enormous. We have the power to work actual wonders, but only on one condition: self-sacrifice for Torah!
"For they are our life and the length of our days, and on them we will meditate day and night!"
