Soon the avreichim and the bnei yeshivos will begin their bein hazmanim, says HaRav Emanuel shlita. "It is important to know before this that every avreich and bochur be fully aware just how great his potential is. Also, he must be aware of how much he can lose in these days, choliloh.
They say in the name of the Chazon Ish that every bochur can grow and become the godol hador! Know all you bnei yeshivos that each and every one has the potential to be a great leader. This is on condition that you use your life properly and not waste it on shtuyot. If you see to it that you learn strongly and are not tempted by havolim you can actualize this power.
You were zoche to spend the learn in the yeshiva or kollel, and now you are leaving those walls. You should know that the dangers outside are truly awesome and they can take a pure bochur who has spent months growing and make him forget everything R"l.
Chazal say that R. Eliezer ben Aroch got married, and he already had many talmidim. He and his wife went to spend the holy days with her parents. In their area were streams with special waters that were pure and refreshing in a rare way. Even today there are places with special springs that are known to heal people from many ailments. That is what was in the area where the parents of the wife of R. Eliezer ben Aroch lived.
When it was time to go back, R. Eliezer's wife said to him: Why do we have to go back? Why don't we stay here?
R. Eliezer said that he had many students and he cannot just abandon them. His wife said that his students would come to wherever he is. She did not give up and kept arguing her position, and eventually she got her way. But his talmidim did not come to him and R. Eliezer declined in his Torah learning and in the end he forgot everything.
Think about this! R. Yochonon ben Zakkai said that R. Eliezer ben Aroch is like a wellspring that gets stronger and stronger. He not only learned from his teachers but added his own insights. From this height of Torah learning, when he declined a bit in his learning, he eventually deteriorated so that he forgot everything.
What can we say about ourselves? When a bochur leaves his yeshiva environment he can very easily lose all his accomplishments, R"l.
Every ben yeshiva must internalize this. He has tremendous potential but it can all be lost bein hazmanim.
There is no need to spend time in "the street." Today's street is very dangerous, and it can be said of it, "they threatened our steps from going in the street." (Eichah 4:18).
Since learning during bein hazmanim is harder, one should set up a time with a chavrusa and make a learning plan. Also, since learning gemara is harder since it is a time of vacation, one can learn nevi'im, Yehoshua, Shofetim or Shmuel. The nevi'im are full of pesukim that teach yiras Shomayim. Learning the nevi'im brings one to elevated thoughts and understanding yiras Shomayim. It also strengthens one's tefilloh, because he learns how to talk with HaKodosh Boruch Hu.
Does the Rav have advice for bochurim?
More verabbi HaRav Shach used to tell that the Brisker Rov used to ask his children to do things for him. Small things like bringing something to another room. HaRav Shach asked him why he always told his children to do things.
The Brisker Rov told him, "Do you think that mitzvah of kibbud Av is a small thing?" When I tell them to do something and they happily do it they have a mitzvah deOraisa!
Another time he told HaRav Shach that one time his father HaRav Chaim sent him to mail a letter at the post office. He said to his father that it interferes with his learning. HaRav Chaim said sharply: Did I tell you not to learn? Keep learning all the time. Who told you to stop learning? Keep learning on the way and in the post office. Who is stopping you from learning?
That is how HaRav Chaim and the Brisker Rov taught their children. There is no contradiction. You can do kibbud Av and keep learning.
