No To the “Night Owl”
Question:
I’m a bachur learning in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim. I have a hard time waking up in the morning, since I’m naturally a night-person. I feel that my mind is fresh in the evenings and I spend those hours learning Chassidus. The hanhala says that the Rebbe is against this way of behaving in Yeshiva and they demand that I work on myself to change. Is this correct and if yes, can you explain it to me?
Answer:
In order for you to understand and appreciate the Rebbe’s approach, it is very important that we create a paradigm shift in three very fundamental aspects: (1) What is Tomchei Temimim? (2) The relationship between the talmidim and the hanhala. (3) The importance of being exactly on time to the sedarim (the established study sessions) of the Yeshiva.
Tomchei Tmimim Isn’t a School
In a standard school, a student is coming to learn knowledge. Thus, the relationship with the administration is only in regards to the times that they are imparting knowledge and if a student feels that he’ll gain more knowledge by following a different schedule, it could be justified. When the Rebbe Rashab started Tomchei Temimim, however, he was creating a training camp for “Chayolei Beis Dovid — the soldiers of the House of King David” that were going to be dedicated completely to the mission of spreading Yiddishkeit and bringing Moshiach. (See more on this in my Letter to my Son entering Tomchei Tmimim in issue #1276 p. 30)
For a soldier to be successful, the most important thing is to ingrain in himself a strong discipline (Kabbolas Ol) — especially in regards to Shemiras HaSdarim, being on time for sessions — and realizing that his entire day, even his free time, does not belong to him, rather to the army. This is since every action of a soldier can have an impact on the entire mission of the army
“Hagbala Atzmis”
In addition: it is important to understand the term “Hagbala Atzmis” which our holy Rebbeim used in regards to the Seder HaYeshiva. Just an each finite Mitzvah (only when done according to all its halachic details and “limiting” guidelines) is a vessel to connect to the infinite, so too the sedarim of Tomchei Temimim: by keeping to the sedarim precisely you connect to the infinite brachos of our holy Rebbeim. (Likkutei Sichos, Vol. 14 p. 323).
With this understanding, we can understand the following answers that the Rebbe wrote to different people:
(1) “In response to your letter, in which you write that you feel an internal lack of Kabbalas Ol: It is obvious that it is really all up to you, and you have it within you to deal with this issue. In order to hasten the process, you should start being exact about the times of the Seder HaYeshiva, and not to miss the seder for any reason, even if it seems to be a holy reason….”
“It is very possible that the ‘smart’ Yetzer Hara will come to you and try to convince you that it is better if you learn Chassidus late at night, and thus come late to the seder in the morning. You should know how careful our holy Rebbeim were about keeping the seder, thus, any thought that leads to the conclusion to miss the seder is sourced in impurity.” (Igros, Vol. 12 p. 172; #3981)
(2) To a bochur that was engaged and was not sure where he should live after his wedding and what he should do for parnassah, the Rebbe wrote: “Yeshiva students should present their personal dilemmas — also in regards to what they consider just physical things (even though in truth, these things are very spiritual) — to the Hanhallas HaYeshiva and let them decide.” (Igros, Vol. 19, p. 294; #7296)
(3) To bochurim who wanted to go on Mivtzoim, but it was interfering with the Seder HaYeshiva: “Those that are in Yeshiva are under the jurisdiction of the Hanhalas HaYeshiva. The students may present their ideas to the hanhala, i.e., why they feel they should be exempt for certain parts of the seder, but the final decision is made by the hanhala.” (Igros, Vol. 15 p. 142; #5457).
(4) To bochurim from Montreal that asked through the legendary mashpia and mekubal Rabbi Zeev Volf Greenglass a”h, how they can make the Rebbe happy: “The foremost thing is by being precise with keeping to the seder of the Yeshiva and by adding in learning — and spreading Yiddishkeit — in their own time in a way that does not hinder the health of the talmid.”
The Rebbe adds: “You can explain the above to all the students that asked the question, will ask the question in the future and should have asked the question but their “balebateshe hanachos” (their worldly predispositions) prevented them from asking the question!” (Igros, Vol. 20 p. 162; #7586)
