Lakewood, NJ – The mesivta farher system in Lakewood, which has long been a critical part of the transition for eighth-grade boys to mesivta, has fallen apart in dramatic fashion, sending shockwaves through the local community, Matzav.com has learned. Several mesivtos reportedly broke from the established takanah by accepting boys before the agreed-upon date, which had traditionally been set for the week of Tu B’Shevat. The premature acceptance of talmidim has triggered a cascade of disarray, as other mesivtos scrambled to adjust their plans to accommodate the influx of boys ahead of schedule.
The original plan for the farher process was to have interviews and testing begin after Tu B’Shevat, allowing ample time for boys to prepare and for elementary schools to finish up their intensive chazarah programs. However, in a move that has left many parents, bochurim, and mechanchim frustrated, several mesivtos began accepting boys over the weekend, catching families off guard.
Premature Admissions Disrupting the Process
Many parents of eighth-graders were shocked when they received calls late in the week asking them to bring their sons in for interviews with the rosh yeshiva. “I got a call Thursday night, asking me to bring my son in immediately,” one parent recounted. “They asked him a few questions, and just like that, he was accepted. By Friday, I heard in shul that the class was full, and I had no idea this was happening.”
This early acceptance has created a ripple effect, with other mesivtos in panic mode, now fearing that they won’t get the bochurim they want. Instead of conducting the traditional farher process, some yeshivos have resorted to hasty “interviews.”
The Rush to Adjust
The chaos reached new heights this weekend when boys who had been preparing for their farher in the weeks leading up to Tu B’Shevat were suddenly called upon to meet with yeshiva representatives just days before the scheduled date. Traditionally, boys have used the weeks leading up to Tu B’Shevat for final chazarah, often culminating in a major bechinah in their elementary schools to prepare for their farher. However, with the sudden acceleration of the farher process, many boys were not adequately prepared.
“The boys were expecting to have three weeks to review. Instead, they got a call out of the blue to be ready for Sunday,” a frustrated father shared. “They’re not mentally ready, and this has thrown everything off.”
Even more troubling, some eighth-grade classes were away on a Shabbaton upstate this past weekend, with many of the boys missing out on the chance to prepare for the fast-approaching farhers. Sources related that the Shabbaton turned into a desperate chazarah session, as bochurim tried to fit in last-minute reviewing instead of having the restful break they had hoped for.
“The boys were supposed to have a break, a time to relax and recharge before the intense final stretch of chazarah,” one person lamented. “Instead, they were cramming for a farher they weren’t expecting.”
A Breakdown in the System
The situation has led to a complete breakdown in the process, leaving parents in disarray.
“The mesivtos that are going off-schedule are creating chaos for everyone,” said one askan. “The elementary schools are getting caught off guard, and the boys are at a major disadvantage. The only way to stop this is for the elementary schools to take a stand and say, ‘If you break the town rule, we won’t send you any more boys.’ Something has to change.”
The Future of the System
The mesivta farher process has long been seen as a crucial rite of passage for eighth-grade boys in Lakewood. This breakdown has left many families questioning the integrity of the system moving forward. Some parents and mechanchim are calling for a return to the established timeline, with an emphasis on clear communication between the elementary schools and the mesivtos, to prevent further chaos in the future.
As the situation continues to unfold, the question remains: How will Lakewood’s mesivtos move forward and restore order to this crucial process, which has now unraveled before the community’s eyes?
{CB Frommer – Matzav.com}