shlomozalman wrote:
I beg to differ. Other than spiffy clothing and learning some mussar, there is little in common. The greatest of the Slabodka talmidim, Rav Aharon Kotler, Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky,Rav Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman,and Rav Yitzchok Hutner, all could claim to have headed yeshivas in the Slabodka tradition. In Slabodka there was no specific derech in learning (a quote from Rav Kaminetsky), and they certainly didn’t spend a whole zman on just a few blot. So to claim that Chofetz Chaim is a throwback to Slabodka is not true.
1. Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky ZT”L, when encouraging the yeshiva to open up a branch in Miami Beach, told Rabbi Bentzion Chait YBLC”T that The Rosh Hayeshiva, Rav Henoch Leibowitz ZT”L, and his father were the ONLY ones who ran a Yeshiva in the derech of Slabodka. Rav Ruderman ZT”L never claimed to be running a Slabodka-style yeshiva. Rav Aharon Kotler ZT”L, his focus on Torah “lishmah” as opposed to going out and making a difference in the world, and his kana’us were NOT Slabodka style. Rav Aharon ZT”L never claimed to be following the Slabodka style either. Rav Hutner ZT”L switched to Machshavah because he felt that Americans couldn’t handle mussar. Rav Kaminetzky ZT”L never headed a yeshiva- he was always an employee and was under someone else’s thumb. However, he spoke very approvingly about the fact that the yeshiva kept up the Slabodka Mesorah of mussar. In fact, he encouraged the yeshiva to open a branch in Miami despite the fact that a relative of his already had a yeshiva there! You can speak to Rabbi Bentzion Chait to verify this, or speak to one of Rav Kaminetzky’s sons.
Slabodka for many (including Rav Dovid ZT”L) was a “finishing school”. Rav Dovid ZT”L went there after getting his Derech Halimud from the Grana”T in Radin. Chofetz Chaim doesn’t claim to follow Slabodka’s derech in limud. The shiurim by Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein ZT”L were bekiyus-oriented, and many from Slabodka went to the other non-mussar Slabodka yeshiva, Knesses Beis Yitzchok (which later relocated to Kaminetz) to hear shiur from Rav Baruch Ber ZT”L. The Alter of Slabodka ZT”L was very much into the belief that talmidim should develop in their own way, and that the yeshiva shouldn’t be a “sdoym betel” where the inhabitants are shrunk or stretched to fit the mold. So Slabodka didn’t have a derech halimud. What it DID have, however, was a derech of mussar, hashkafah, and seichel, and that is what Chofetz Chaim claims to follow. Rav Leizer Yudel Finkel ZT”L told Rav Henoch Leibowitz ZT”L that his father Rav Dovid Leibowitz ZT”L was one of the closest talmidim of The Alter ZT”L. It makes sense, then, that Rav Dovid would try to follow in his illustrious Rebbe’s footsteps.
shlomozalman wrote:
Did the students in Slabodka also go to college at night? No. Do they switch yeshivas in Chofetz Chaim every year or so? In Slabodka they did. Does Chofetz Chaim encourage their students to hear shiurim of gedolim in neighboring yeshivas? In Slabodka they did. Does Chofetz Chaim send out groups of boys to strengthen mussar in nonmussar yeshivas? In Slabodka they did. Besides, how many chess masters came out of Chofetz Chaim? In Slabodka it was what they did in their spare time. I suggest you read some books on Slabodka and yeshivas in Europe in general, you will see very little in common with Chofetz Chaim.
There was no college in Europe that was easy to attend. However, the Alter of Slabodka was not opposed to people making a parnassah. Chofetz Chaim does send its talmidim out to strengthen branches. However, the days when people begged the Alter to send talmidim to establish their yeshiva or break the hold of the anti-mussarniks is over. Following in the tradition of a school doesn’t mean a bling mimicry. it means, “What would the Alter do if he were here?”, and applying the wisdom to new situations. Today’s Chofetz Chaim talmidim play basketball in their spare time, or read Yeshiva World. Different dor, same mesorah. Why should recreational activities be mimicked? We don’t wear canes or top hats anymore, even though they did it in Slabodka. Bottom line- If Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky could declare that Chofetz Chaim is the only place following the Slabodka mesorah, then I have no problem saying it.