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<DIV>In a message dated 12/7/2008, R' Yitzchok Levine writes: </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=3><FONT
size=3><FONT size=2></FONT><BR>RYL: >> One of the Roshei Yeshiva
eloquently spoke about the years that Yaakov spent studying in the yeshiva of
Shem V'Ever. (As we all know, these years are not mentioned openly in the
Chumash.) However, he failed to make any mention that the Torah tells us in
considerable detail how Yaakov worked diligently for Lavan for 20 years. It
would seem to me that years of work in order to support a family are
considered of some importance, given that the Torah mentions them.
<<</FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV>TK: No one needs constant propaganda to persuade men to work -- the
press of financial need ensures that most men will eventually work. What
they need constant reinforcement for is the ideal of "sitting and learning" -- a
life that is unnatural and can only be maintained by withstanding severe
financial and social pressures. I myself am highly ambivalent about the
kollel-forever-for-everyone ideal, but that's for Areivim I guess. There was one
Shevet Levi and also one Shevet Yisachar, so maybe a proportion of one out of
every six bnai Torah spending their lives in full-time Torah, supported by the
other five, would be reasonable? Not sure. In any case, in my book Zevulun
is as important as Yisachar and they are both engaged in avodas Hashem of the
highest degree. I think "my book" is the Torah.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=3><FONT
size=3>RLL: >> When it came to Shemoneh Esrei, it took the Rosh
Yeshiva a long time to daven. Indeed, the Rov of the shul as well as all of
the others who davened with this minyan finished well before the Rosh Yeshiva
and therefore had to wait a good few minutes for the Rosh Yeshiva to finish.
In light of the piece below, I can only wonder if what he did was appropriate.
<<</FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>TK: I am guessing that he always davens a long shmoneh esreh and
that it isn't a problem in Lakewood. If everybody davens long then it's not
tircha detzibura. He probably concentrates on his own tefilla to the
extent that he was not aware that others were waiting for him. And maybe
it does some baale batim good just once in a while to see a person take his time
to say each and every word with care. And in the words of the famous
Milton poem, "They also serve, who only stand and wait." They watched the
Rosh Yeshiva daven and they waited for him to finish -- that is kovod
haTorah.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR><B>--Toby Katz<BR>=============<BR></B>"If you don't read the
newspaper you are uninformed; <BR>if you do read the newspaper you are
misinformed."<BR>--Mark Twain<BR>Read *Jewish World Review* at <A
href="http://jewishworldreview.com/">http://jewishworldreview.com/</A></FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="9a5af30c4d927d82faaeac1e222728f"><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. <a href="http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010">Try it now</a>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>