Significance of having a yeshiva system

Part of last chapter in Pachad Yitzchok - Shavuos

Translation by Daniel Eidensohn

In order to properly understand the Daas Torah concerning the unique characteristic of contemporary teachers, we must correct a deeply entrenched error concerning how the Jewish system of teaching originated. The undisputed fact is that the teaching system was initiated by the Tanna Yehoshua ben Gamla. The gemora (Bava Basra 21a) says, The name of that man should be remembered for the good and Yehoshua ben Gamla was his name that if it hadnt been for him the Torah would have been forgotten from the Jews. Originally all those who had a father his father would teach him Torah. He that did not have a father would not learn Torah... Then Yehoshua ben Gamla came and decreed that an educational system of teachers of children should be established. It is a standard refrain amongst those who write the history of Jewish education, that they take great pride in the fact that Jews were so progressive and had established their mandatory educational system already in ancient times. Let me state clearly and unambiguously that this whole idea is the opposite of the truth. Those who express this mistaken notion indicate that they have absolutely no understanding of the difference between Jews and non-Jews.

Lets learn through this piece of gemora. The Gemora states that if it hadnt been for the decree of Yehoshua ben Gamla then, The Torah would have been forgotten from Yisroel. This is an astounding assertion. From the Revelation at Sinai until the time of Yehoshua ben Gamla was a very large amount of time. And in all that time, the accepted view was, Whoever had a father would be taught by him, while those who didnt have a father would not learn Torah. Nevertheless, in all those years there was never a danger that Torah should be forgotten from Yisroel. So therefore if there had never been such a problem, why should Yehoshua ben Gamla be praised so strongly in the gemora - that without his decree of establishing an educational system the Torah would have been forgotten from Yisroel? You have to know that in all the generations which were governed by the principle, Whoever had a father he would teach him Torah" this practice was built on the axiom that one must obtain Torah where one obtained life itself. And since he had obtained his life from his father he must of necessity obtain Torah from him. Let me explain this with an analogy. Lets say that we suddenly found ourselves in a particular country where we discovered that there was
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decree that all new born babies must be placed in an incubator. Of course we would immediately deduce that something must be wrong with the mothers in the whole country. This is exactly what the gemora is telling us when it says that until the time of Yehoshua ben Gamla, Those who had a father he would teach him Torah. A profession is definitely a blessing in life. However life itself can never be a profession. And Torah is identical with life itself. Just as one generation cannot give over life to the next generation through professionals, so is it impossible that one generation give the next generation Torah through professionals. Just like a mother must carry her children biologically, so must the fathers carry their children spiritually. The nature of an embryo is that it eats that which his mother eats and he drinks what his mother drinks. The best incubator is never anything more than a substitute. Consequently if the nature of chinuch is that no substitutes are utilized then one must have the condition that, One who has a father he will be taught Torah and one who doesnt will not learn Torah. However the existential reality is that the Jew and Torah form an identity. So just as it was Divinely decreed on Jews that

Significance of having a yeshiva system

Part of last chapter in Pachad Yitzchok - Shavuos
Translation by Daniel Eidensohn

they had to be subject to various types of degradation, so it was decreed on Torah itself to descend through various types degradations. And thus there came a time when there was a degradation in the nature of the fathers house. The fathers house lost is fundamental ability to provide a chinuch with genuine vitality. [When we say lost we only mean relatively. A millionaire can lose a lot of money and still remain a rich man.] When this degradation happened then Yehoshua ben Gamla came and created the educational system with teachers. In other words, he replaced the dynamic of education in the father house with the dynamic of education in schools. This is the true understanding of the circumstances of, One who had a father he would teach him Torah, while one who didnt have a father would not learn Torah. And when this was the reality of the world there was absolutely no danger that Torah would be forgotten. In fact the opposite of common understanding is true. This is truly the healthiest circumstance for Torah and Mesora for Jews, and even if a boy was orphaned in this environment of One who had a father he would teach him Torah. In such a climate you will find no concern raised about Torah being forgotten. Yehoshua ben Gamla deserved

praise in the gemora because he had anticipated the coming degradation and therefore had created the educational system before it was too late. Therefore when someone writes the history of Jewish education and boasts with pride that Jews had already had mandatory education in ancient times we need reject this boasting with ridicule and the derogatory laughter reserved for idolatry. That which is being claimed as a point of pride for us should be viewed as the greatest shame and embarrassment even if the age of mandatory education is old. However it is unquestionably true that for the goyim the institution of mandatory education constitutes progress and a movement to the ideal of education. In contrast for Jews, however, it is merely an adjustment. So if people sing our praises with how ancient our mandatory education is, then we need to reply that they dont even begin to understand the difference between Jews and non Jews. However it is important to understand that when the Sanhedrin institutes a decree for all the subsequent generations until the end of days the decree itself gives the Jewish people all the powers which are needed in order fulfill the decree

properly. Therefore when a decree is made to transfer the chinuch from the fathers house to the schools, the decree itself gives the power that through the teaching of Torah that a teacher acquires the various skills needed for the good of the student. Therefore a proper Jewish teacher never falls into the mentality of being a professional. That is because deep inside his soul he realizes that he is only a stand in. The teacher is merely substituting for the father. It is important to know that the many sources that say that the Mesora (tradition) of Torah is specifically from father to son are in fact describing only an aspect of the Giving of the Torah. That is because the Torah itself speaks about the Giving of the Torah in two different ways. One aspect is that the Torah was given to 600,000 recipients. The verse concerning this says, And you shall teach the Torah to your children to speak regarding it when they dwell in your house... and You shall make the Torah known to your children and grandchildren as the day which you stood before the L-rd Your G-d at Choreb. All the sources which are connected to, He who has a father he should teach his son, are only concerned with this aspect of the Giving of Torah.

Significance of having a yeshiva system

Part of last chapter in Pachad Yitzchok - Shavuos
Translation by Daniel Eidensohn

However the second aspect of the Giving of the Torah is explicitly described in the Torah as not being a transmission from father to son. Rather it is addressed equally to the fathers, sons and grandsons. This is the Torah verse which states, Those who are in fact standing with us today before the L-rd our G-d and those who are not here with us today. We typically describe the second aspect of the Giving of the Torah mentioned in the verse, Those who are here today... and those who are not here as describing the Giving of the Torah to neshamos (souls). That is because our Sages stated that this verse teaches that all the souls were there at Sinai. And since it is referred to as the Giving of the Torah to souls, people think it has nothing at all to do with our world. This is simply not true. That is because if it werent for the second aspect of the Giving of the Torah, and it was exclusively the transmission from father to son then if there was break in the transmission for one generation there would be a break in the chain. And if there is a break in even one link in a long chain then the integrity of the entire chain is destroyed it is simply broken and ceases to be a chain. But since the Giving of the Torah has a second aspect which is actually much deeper

than the first aspect and it addresses itself to fathers and sons equally then even if a misfortune happens chalilah and one generation falls away the next generation is not cut off from the Source. It can start anew. Now we will be able to understand that which is in the halachos of teaching a special description for a special case of chinuch. The case is that of teaching the son of an ignoramus Torah. The special description is that when someone teaches the son of an ignoramus Torah it as if the student is learning directly from the mouth of G-d. Now we will be able to understand that which is in the halachos of teaching a special description for a special case of chinuch. The case is that of teaching the son of an ignoramus Torah. The special description is that when someone teaches the son of an ignoramus Torah the psak is that it as if the student is learning directly from the mouth of G-d. This described by the prophet Yermiyahu (15:19), If you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. [You should not be surprised how this psak was stated because a halacha is derived from this expression that the son of an ignoramus is given priority in chinuch.]

In this lies the unique spirituality in this issue. We can only activate our souls through our bodies. Our natural path for Torah and the Mesora is only through the transmission of father to son. The Giving of the Torah to souls can only go from G-ds mouth alone. Therefore when someone is a teacher of Torah to the son of an ignoramus it is a case where the transmission of father and son has been broken and represents a failed generation. It is only then it necessary to utilize the alternative path of the Giving of Torah to the souls. This Giving of Torah to the souls is direct and is only relevant to the mouth of G-d. Therefore when a teacher is successful in bringing forth the precious from the vile and is successful in returning the lost ring in the chain it is a sign that he is utilizing the Giving of the Torah of souls. Therefore we can say that one who teaches Torah to an ignoramus - his mouth is like the mouth of G-d. If you bring forth the precious from the vile you shall be as My mouth.