Reply To: Teaching Emunah and Connection

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#1047037
The little I know
Participant

As long as we define the yeshiva standards by quantity of material learned, the Emunoh and Ahavas Hashem will not be transmitted. As stated above by several comments, only example. And to hijack a piece from my comments on another thread, NOT WITH DISCIPLINE. Not because it is wrong, but because it does not yield the desired result.

For instance, “Moishe” has been coming late to Shacharis a few times a week. Prevailing intervention is to levy a monetary fine. We can waste several lines here explaining why this is ridiculous, and ultimately ineffective. One might force the talmid into compliance, but this will not result in appreciation of Tefiloh or Ahavas Hashem. We know what doesn’t work. Now, what does?

How many yeshivos have classes that help talmidim understand Tefiloh? What do we say, why, where did it originate, what role does it play, etc.? Do differences in nusach help us understand the intended messages in Tefiloh? The talmidim who develop some connection to davening will come on time and get their “money’s” worth from this precious opportunity to speak to Hashem personally and privately. One author of a book on Tefiloh shared that he teaches young yeshiva boys, and guides them to insert a personal request into every single tefiloh of the day. Their personalization of davening makes the experience something they cherish and value. That is far more effective than fines, suspensions, or withholding of privileges. Such talmidim will arrive on time for all tefilos.

How much connection and Emunoh can be transmitted by teaching methods that center around the building of the bochur, not the beating into shape?