It Takes a Kollel

need only quote from a secular histori- ticed, in addition to being pillars of right. Every word of Torah studied, seems to have been the first to develop become the leaders of the next genera- an who calls full time Torah study “a Torah Sheba’al Peh, the Oral Law.3 every verse or Talmudic dictum the contemporary kollel as well. Reb tion.10 Soon kollelim sprung up in e’ve come a long way. Just a waste of literate intelligence…a sad However, as early as the 12th century, explored, changes the world for the Yisrael became aware of a fund that major cities throughout Eastern W had just been created for Torah pur- few decades ago, most Jewish commu- waste of human resources, a misappli- Rabbeinu Yonah spoke of “a diminish- better and brings one closer to God. Europe, including Cracow, Lublin, nities throughout the United States cation of learned intelligence.”1 Such ing of the hearts,”4 and called for full- Whereas literature or the sciences are poses but was as yet undefined. He Pressburg and Vilna. resisted the idea of Jewish day school an attitude was common, if sometimes time Torah study to the exclusion of studied with a goal in mind—making recommended that it be used to Although this early kollel was education. Even once yeshivah educa- unspoken, until the mid 1970s. Yet, other pursuits. Rambam, in a famous new discoveries, publishing or gaining “establish batei midrash for married formed with specific goals and time tion became established, young men today there are (kein yirbu!) close to passage, virtually guarantees that those new understanding—the study of scholars to continue their studies.”9 limitations, many of today’s kollelim would ordinarily rush headlong from who devote themselves to a lifetime of Torah on the part of any Jew uplifts Even as Reb Yisrael was engaged in deliberately reject such parameters. their high school graduations Torah study—like the Levite the entire nation. Thus the scholar at discussions about this idea with the Significant numbers of kollel members to the halls of academia to tribe of old—will be provid- his studies is providing a crucial serv- other gedolim of the day, Rabbi study indefinitely and do not necessar- secure the college degrees ed with all of their worldly ice to all of Israel. An almost inciden- Nosson Tzvi Finkel—known as the ily enter the rabbinate. As many lead- denied to their parents, grad- needs.5 Similarly, in a num- tal benefit is that kollel tends to pro- Alter of Slobodka—began the process ing roshei yeshivah have told me—times uates of institutions such as ber of places, Rashi stresses duce the future leaders of Israel. and opened the first kollel in have indeed changed. The depravity of Auschwitz and Bergen- that individuals who devote Generally, today’s rabbis, dayanim Slobodka, outside Kovno. the world at large welcomes— Belsen. It Takes a their lives to Torah learning (judges), roshei yeshivah and teachers In the year 5637-38 (1877-78), ten requires!—an ever growing cadre of Today, boys graduating high will merit the heavenly pro- all come from the ranks of the kollel. scholars began their full-time studies, Torah scholars whose contribution to school almost automatically vision of their earthly Lest anyone think that a kollel following a curriculum which included the world is Torah study per se. proceed to at least a year of needs.6 yungerman (young man in kollel ) leads the study of musar (character improve- Despite the remarkable success and study in a yeshivah gedolah Kollel: In the early 15th century, a life of leisure or semi-retirement, it ment). In 1879, Rabbi Yitzchok (post high school yeshivah) in Rabbi Shimon ben Tzemach should be noted that learning in a kol- Elchanan Spektor, the rav of the city, ...the kollel Israel or closer to home. They Duran concluded that lel is actually an incredibly rigorous became the head of what had become will return, almost invariably, despite his disinclination to way of life. Every kollel requires that known as the “Kollel Perushim of boasts the with a deeper appreciation of encourage scholars to accept scholars engage in intense study for Kovno.” Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel Yiddishkeit, more committed How Higher payment for their studies, upwards of ten hours a day. In addi- served as the mashgiach (spiritual men- participation of to a lifetime of Torah study “now that the power of tion, in community kollelim, members tor) of the kollel but in 1880 left this and permanently imbued with memory has been dimin- must teach a variety of subjects to chal- position so he could devote himself to over 500 university a profound respect for scholars Learning is ished and if people will lenging and diverse groups of students establishing more kollelim throughout and the unique world of the engage in work, they will until the late hours of the evening. Eastern Europe. He was succeeded by students annually beit midrash. not succeed in their studies, These sessions are never permitted to Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer, also known as But some of them—more Transforming it has become permissible to detract from the “chavruta (study part- Reb Itzel Peterburger, one of the major including many and more with each passing study day and night and to ner) learning” which takes place during disciples of Reb Yisrael. year—take the additional step benefit from the congrega- the day. Furthermore, kollel members Soon after these historic events, a from Harvard and of joining a kollel.* Instead of American Jewry tion. According to the need receive stipends that are minimal at similar and independent process took pursuing the formerly de of the generation this may best, and rarely suffice to support what place in Volozhin. Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Boston University. rigueur Jewish professions of By Yaakov Feitman be considered absolute are generally large families. Yet, despite— Yehudah Berlin, rosh yeshivah of medicine, law, business, and piety.”7 In our own day, perhaps because of—the substantive Volozhin, approached the well-known proliferation of the European kollel in education, they will continue Rabbi Moshe Feinstein has challenges of kollel life, “kollel families” philanthropist Reb Yisrael Brodsky in the early part of the century, the with full-time Torah study, beginning invoked the concept of eit tend to live with joy and an infectious 1886 with the idea of starting a kollel American soil did not seem hospitable their married lives immersed in learn- 4000 kollel members in the United la’asot, the imperative to save the Torah enthusiasm for Torah. for young men. On the 12th of Tishrei to kollelim. Writing to his friend and 2 ing. (Kollelim are specific to married States, from Miami to Milwaukee, by radical means, to justify support- 5647 (1886), the mashgiach of personal physician in 1943, Rabbi men; unmarried men can, of course, Boston to Boca Raton, Deal to Denver, ing those engaged in full-time study. Volozhin, Rabbi Shlomo Dov Dinkin, Eliyahu Dessler, author of Michtav learn full time in a yeshivah but they are Scranton to St. Louis. In addition, kol- Going even further, Reb Moshe asserts placed an ad in the paper Hameilitz MeEliyahu, bemoaned the fact that “all not formally members of a kollel.) lelim in cities such as Melbourne, that “those who oppose this mode of The Contemporary inviting “ten exceptional Torah schol- efforts to found a kollel in America Mexico City and Montreal indicate Torah study have succumbed to the Kollel ars to dwell before Hashem in the have failed.”11 And yet, that same year, that kollel has become a phenomenon wiles of the evil inclination…to cause yeshivah of Volozhin to prepare them- the great builder of Torah, Rabbi of international proportions. scholars to abandon the Torah.”8 selves to render halachic decisions for Aharon Kotler, succeeded in establish- o begin to appreciate what a Was kollel always the custom in Klal The concept of paying someone to Klal Yisrael, for no less than three nor ing the first American kollel in White T Yisrael? To be sure, the earliest Torah more than five years.” Eventually, the revolution this has brought about, one study Torah for many years may seem Plains, New York. Despite a climate of sources extol the virtues of combining foreign to some, but its strangeness How did kollel as we now Netziv and Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik antagonism to what some termed Rabbi Feitman is rabbi of Congregation Torah study with a livelihood and derives from the fact that Torah study know it begin? Interestingly, Rabbi would carefully choose the ten avre- “Kotlerism,” Reb Aharon not only Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi in many of the Talmudic sages were is unique. Unlike other pursuits, the Yisrael Salanter, best known as the ichim, today called yungeleit, (pl. of built Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG), Cedarhurst, New York. known by the professions they prac- study of Torah is desirable in its own founder of the Musar Movement, yungerman) many of whom went on to which soon moved to Lakewood, New JEWISH ACTION Winter 5763/2002 JEWISH ACTION Winter 5763/2002 Jersey, but generated kollelim in some all Jewish events in the community. “Rugby Rabbi,” he conducts a popular totally ignorant of your own heritage? Some communities host more than 18 cities, 4 countries and 3 continents. Furthermore, many of these kollelim radio show about Judaism. Come with me.” Mordechai virtually one kollel. In addition to the famed These Torah centers have in turn hire outreach directors who are respon- There have been some extremely moving dragged Barry to the kollel.

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