Rebbe Rebbe

“reality.” Only here can the Jewish person find respite, an oasis from the spiritual desert of worldly opinion. In order to better identify with the Olam Hayeshivot, we need to ex- plore and properly define the fundamental function and goal of a yeshiva.

Maran HaRav Baruch Ber Leibowitz, zt”l, the famed Birchas Shmuel Kamintzer Rosh Hayeshiva, used to refer to and call Bnai Yeshiva as “mevakshai Hashem,” those who seek out Hashem. The fundamental goal of a yeshiva is to provide a place where the sincere student can earnestly search for Truth and nurture his spirituality. Chazal state, “Ein lo Hakadosh Baruch Hu Elah Daled Amot Shel HaTorah”- Hashem has no place in the world except for the place in which people engage in His Torah.

The importance of the yeshiva is evident in all areas of our life, including our people’s social system and our youth. The Medrash tells us that when Yaakov prepared his family for descent into Egypt, he sent his son Yehuda ahead to secure land for a yeshiva, a place of study and spiritual enlighten- ment. Yaakov also hoped that the yeshiva would serve as a security and fortress from the “outside world” and the tur- bulence and influence of galut. The yeshiva would also serve to unify his twelve sons, since when people endeavor together to study the word of Hashem, they unify them- selves and consequently their entire community.

The Chazaq organization understands this, which is why the Menahel of the Yeshiva, Rav Ilan Meirov, Shlita, a tremen- dous talmid chochom and author of the sefer Pri Ilan, and