Dear Matzav Inbox,
I am writing about the glaring hypocrisy that is “Yeshiva Week,” or “Midwinter Vacation.” (The first is the Modox term that somehow has become en vogue. Frankly, it’s weird, because it’s actually “Non-Yeshiva Week,” but whatever.) The level of inconsistency and double standards being displayed is nothing short of infuriating, and it’s time someone called it out.
For years, we’ve been drilled with the mantra that Torah is the absolute top priority. “Bitul Torah” is the worst of all aveiros, and we can’t afford to waste even a single second from our learning. Yeshivas have used this taynah for everything—don’t go to this event, don’t attend that function, don’t take a vacation, because the learning can’t be interrupted for anything. When the Siyum HaShas comes around, we hear it—the kids can’t go, because it’s bitul Torah. You can’t afford to step away from your learning. When there’s a special event or any opportunity that takes you away from seder, the taynah is always the same—bitul Torah, bitul Torah, bitul Torah.
And yet, in the middle of the winter, here comes “(Non) Yeshiva Week.” Suddenly, it’s like everyone forgets all about bitul Torah. The yeshivas, who otherwise are so quick to point out that every second of Torah counts, have no problem whatsoever with forcing parents to deal with their kids from Thursday or Friday straight through to Sunday or Monday for no apparent reason.
What is this? A vacation? An educational trip? A special yeshiva program? No! It’s none of that. It’s just an arbitrary week when our kids are off from school, and parents are left to scramble. And I’m not even talking about the absurd costs and the time involved, because that’s a whole other story.
How is it that our yeshivas can scream “bitul Torah” at every possible moment and then turn around and force families into an entire week of bitul everything? If we really believed in the concept of “bitul Torah,” there’s no way something as frivolous as this would be allowed.
And don’t even get me started on the inconsistency of it all. But suddenly, we’re all expected to drop everything and deal with the mess of “Yeshiva Week.” Hypocrisy doesn’t even begin to cover it.
It’s high time someone called this out. If the schools and yeshivas are so concerned about every second of learning, then why on earth are they okay with wasting these days for no reason? If we’re going to hold up the standard of Torah and learning being the most important, then let’s not turn around and ignore that principle for the sake of some arbitrary week off in the middle of the winter. The hypocrisy is ridiculous.
Enough is enough. It’s time for the yeshivos to rethink this and stop taking advantage of families. If Torah is really our priority, then let’s make sure it’s reflected in every aspect of our lives.
Sincerely,
A Frustrated Parent
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