HaRav Gershon Edelstein
In a special address delivered upon the commencement of this summer zman, HaRav Gershon Edelstein said: "There is a mishna in Pirkei Ovos stating, `Whoever increases [study of] Torah, increases life. Whoever increases yeshiva [study as a public body, like in a yeshiva], increases wisdom, and Torah study together with yeshiva increases wisdom.' In other words, Torah study without yeshiva, increases life, whereas Torah combined with yeshiva increases wisdom.
"This is an additional level of wisdom exemplified by a deeper, more profound understanding. Torah without yeshiva increases life: life in this world and life in Olam Haba. Torah coupled with yeshiva is something else: it is a higher dimension of wisdom." He added that "yeshiva means study within a context of a tzibbur studying together, where there are rabbonim, students and colleagues, where there is shimmush chachomim, attendance upon Torah masters, cohesiveness between the students and give-and-take among the students. As is written, `Much have I learned from my teachers, but from my friends, even more, and from my students, more than all of them.'
"R' Yehoshua ben Chananya was asked: What shall a person do to become wise? The question did not state `to study' but to become wise. How does one attain wisdom and depth in Torah? He said to them: Let them increase yeshiva. He was further asked: But many tried this and did not succeed! R' Yehoshua replied: Let them pray for mercy from the One Who is the Master of all wisdom.
"We see, then, that one must also pray, aside from studying, for one needs merits, which can be gained through prayer combined with yeshiva, that is, study within a group. Nowadays, we do not have yeshiva and we cannot study in groups. However, through merits, we can arrive at [study within the context of] yeshiva. This can be achieved through prayer and uninterrupted Torah study."
And he added, "It is imperative that the Torah study be as perfect and wholesome as possible. Each one to his utmost capacity, either by himself or with a study partner, friend, together or via telephone, also with rabbonim, to utilize to the maximum all the options possible for study with close friends, shimmush chachomim, and discourse between students.
"If one employs all of the possibilities together with prayer, there will surely be Heavenly assistance so that we can hopefully merit all of these things for success in Torah study. May we merit an imminent yeshua of our situation being restored to its former status so that once again, we be able to increase yeshiva as of yore, b'ezras Hashem."
