Dear Matzav Shmooze,
I received a letter from my son’s yeshiva that left me highly disturbed.
The letter informed me that this Wednesday, instead of a normal half day given on secular holidays, the yeshiva would be closed entirely. The reason given? So that the children can attend the big Siyum Hashas taking place this week.
How can we take children away from learning to bring them to a siyum, no matter how momentous this is? This isn’t my own opinion, it is a b’feresh Gemara.
אמר רב יהודה אמר רב מאי דכתיב אל תגעו במשיחי ובנביאי אל תרעו אל תגעו במשיחי אלו תינוקות של בית רבן ובנביאי אל תרעו אלו תלמידי חכמים אמר ריש לקיש משום רבי יהודה נשיאה אין העולם מתקיים אלא בשביל הבל תינוקות של בית רבן אמר ליה רב פפא לאביי דידי ודידך מאי אמר ליה אינו דומה הבל שיש בו חטא להבל שאין בו חטא ואמר ריש לקיש משום רבי יהודה נשיאה אין מבטלין תינוקות של בית רבן אפילו לבנין בית המקדש ואמר ריש לקיש לרבי יהודה נשיאה כך מקובלני מאבותי ואמרי לה מאבותיך כל עיר שאין בה תינוקות של בית רבן מחריבין אותה רבינא אמר מחרימין אותה
Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Do not touch My anointed ones and do My prophets no harm” (I Chronicles 16:22)? “Do not touch My anointed ones,” these are the schoolchildren, who are as precious and important as kings and priests (Maharsha); “and do not harm My prophets,” these are Torah scholars. Reish Lakish said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda Nesia: The world only exists because of the breath, i.e., reciting Torah, of schoolchildren. Rav Pappa said to Abaye: My Torah study and yours, what is its status? Why is the Torah study of adults worth less? He said to him: The breath of adults, which is tainted by sin, is not similar to the breath of children, which is not tainted by sin. And Reish Lakish said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda Nesia: One may not interrupt schoolchildren from studying Torah, even in order to build the Temple. And Reish Lakish said to Rabbi Yehuda Nesia: I have received from my ancestors, and some say that he said to him: I have received from your ancestors as follows: Any city in which there are no schoolchildren studying Torah, they destroy it. Ravina said: They leave it desolate.
I’m hoping yeshivos take note of this Gemara and change their mind about pulling children away from their Gemoras on Wednesday.
Signed, Misayem But Fuming