I want to thank Yeshiva World News for its outstanding and respectful coverage of this year’s Adirei HaTorah event. The reporting captured not only the grandeur of the production but also the deep ruchniyusdik power and communal pride that defines this monumental evening. Adirei HaTorah has become more than just an annual gathering — it is a movement, a statement, and a declaration of priorities: that Torah and those who toil in it are the crown jewels of Klal Yisroel.
Having attended each year, I can personally attest to the incredible energy in the room — the kavod haTorah, the achdus, and the powerful message that resonates beyond the walls of the arena. Every seat in the crowd speaks of reverence. Every face reflects admiration. It is an experience that leaves you uplifted for weeks.
But this year, amid the music, the speeches, the celebration — something was noticeably missing.
The dais.
Once filled with a long line of prominent roshei yeshiva and rabbanim, it appeared far more sparse this time. While many distinguished leaders were still in attendance, the overall presence of rabbinic leadership had, for some reason, dwindled.
And that made me stop and ask: Why?
This isn’t a random community dinner. This isn’t a parlor meeting or a fundraiser for a single institution. Adirei HaTorah is a movement — one that provides real, tangible support to thousands of your yungeleit. It is a campaign that sustains kollelim across the country and strengthens the foundations of limud haTorah. For so many families — including those of rabbanim and roshei yeshiva themselves — the financial lifeline provided by the Adirei initiative is not an abstract cause; it is deeply personal and deeply needed.
I am not a kollel yungerman. I don’t receive a check from the Adirei HaTorah fund. But I attend every year out of a sense of obligation and gratitude. My brothers, cousins, and neighbors do receive those checks. And as someone who believes in the primacy of Torah, I cannot imagine not showing up to support those who make it their life’s work.
So the question is: if I feel that way, why doesn’t every single Rosh Yeshiva?
We all know what happens when a wealthy baalebos makes a simcha. The Rosh Yeshiva clears his schedule. He shows up. He makes sure to be seen — because it’s a statement of appreciation, of loyalty, of relationship. And rightly so.
So why should it be any different here?
Adirei HaTorah is not just “a donor.” It is the donor. It is the lifeblood of countless kollelim. Without it, many roshei yeshiva would be struggling to pay their staff, their avreichim — their own talmidim. This event isn’t simply about honoring Torah in the abstract. It’s about honoring the very people who make sure Torah can continue to flourish on the most basic level.
Shouldn’t that matter enough to clear your calendar?
Shouldn’t that matter enough to take your place on the dais, even if it’s year after year?
Shouldn’t the thousands in attendance — balebatim, yungeleit, teenagers, children — see the full force of our rabbinic leadership standing behind and with them, showing that kavod haTorah isn’t just a slogan, but a lived value?
Let me be clear: this is not meant as criticism. It’s a plea.
Adirei HaTorah is not just an event. It is a moment of pride, a show of achdus, and a testament to what we as klal yisroel hold dear. It deserves more than applause from the stands. It deserves leadership on the stage.
To those roshei yeshiva and rabbanim who did show up: thank you. Your presence matters. And to those who didn’t — please reconsider. We need you there, not just for kavod, but to complete the picture. To stand with the men who dedicate their lives to Torah. To show the world, and ourselves, that this is what we treasure most.
Sincerely,
An Adirei HaTorah Admirer
The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
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21 Responses
Another letter to the editor meant to sow seeds of disrespect and belittling of our gedolim. Way to go, YWN.
As one historical source states, “Rav Aharon believed that the Conservative movement’s tendency to alter or disregard established halakhic principles, particularly as codified in the Shulchan Aruch, represented a significant deviation from authentic Judaism.”
Some Rabbanim are therefore concerned about BMG’s freezer policy. They insist that it violates the Shulchan Aruch (Even Haezer 1:3). As such, Rav Aharon’s directive that one should not attend events with communal leaders who don’t fully obey the Shulchan Aruch would apply.
These letters to YWN are getting more and more off base by the day. There was no one who I would have expected to be on the dais that wasn’t. If this were an event for ALL kollelim and yeshivas everywhere then you can expect everyone to be there. Being that is was Lakewood centered it was mostly Lakewood affiliated Rabbonim who attended. To repeat the analogy in this letter a major rich Baal Habos who gives tens of millions to Yeshivas every year will not have the Roshey Yeshiva and Rabbonim that he does not donate to in attendance
Just because someone is a yungalite doesn’t make it worth celebrating him. There not all equal! Some are maasmidim and some batal to much. Each one is an indidvdual who should celebrated for who he is not what he is a part of or not a part of.
-A Former Yungerman
Sorry for being a cynic, but I think that you are misreading the whole event. It seems that it IS a fundraiser for one single institution and not a pep rally for Torah in general. If it was, then the entire format and focus would be very, very different.
If the anonymous writer is correct that the funds raised from this event benefit other kollelim, I would check to find out which ones. I would guess that BMG would be straightforward with you and tell you that the money only goes toward the BMG kollel. It is a big kollel, but not the only kollel in the US. Sorry to burst your bubble. Hey, if it gives you inspiration, all the power to you.
I think it’s because we ask understand that when thousands of b’nei Torah stop learning to gain chizuk, we want their Roshei Yeshiva to continue to learn…
We don’t want a ship without a captain!
I had 2 weddings of close Misspalelim. So did 3 others I know.
Thanks for asking. Your article demonstrates a lack of proper being Dan Likaf Zchus , and respect, I think.
There were a lot of weddings that night and often their presence is required and there’s nothing they can do about it. Or maybe some of them were just feeling weak given their age, let them learn in peace.
What an idiot. Send a letter to the rabbanim.
You want each one now to come out with a statement to the effect of “We certainly support Adirei hatorah, we had unfoseen circumstances, or prior urgent obligations” etc.?
What To’eles is there from this letter?
Just absolutely moronic. Get a life.
Is adirei torah that important ? Can you explain why?
2 points in response:
1. The fact is, that the majority of Lakewood Roshei Yeshiva and Rabbonim were there. As someone who was there the entire time, with a pretty sharp eye, I was able to see that many Roshei Yeshiva and Rabbonim who were not there the entire time, did come in for a few minutes. Appreciate what that means. Many of these Rabbonim are people who are counseling and guiding people on matters that often can not simply be scheduled and many Roshei Yeshiva have scheduled sedorim in their own yeshivos that can not be altered. Understand, that those who came for a few minutes, literally traveled for an hour and a half just to attend a few minutes of the maamid. I can say that, were he alive, R’ Shmuel Berenbaum probably would have first come at 9:30-10 and only stayed for a few minutes.
2. You may have noticed that there were less yungerleit there this year as well. There is a very simple explanation. Many Roshei Yeshiva feel that, while we definitely must honor the Bnei Torah, making dinners, events, and maamados is not the way to do it. This is “baalebatishe kavod”. These Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva feel that the only reason to attend this event is either to be mechazek the baalebatim who are supporting Torah, or to show hakoras hatov to them. Many also feel that, had it been a one time event, or once every few years, it would be a greater chizuk, but making it into an annual event only cheapens its effect. Accordingly, some Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva who are not directly benefitting, did not attend this year, and some who did attend personally, told their talmidim to stay in the beis medrash this year.
Dan l’chaf zechus. There are other commitments out there that Roshei Yeshiva take on. I can give you examples but you could probably come with many of them yourself.
When a wealthy Ba’l Habaos makes a simcha the Rosh Yeshiva clears his schedule to attend primarily with an eye to the future, and hopefully also as a gesture of hakoras hatov. The test is when someone who used to be a donor loses his money and becomes a regular guy. Does the Rosh Yeshiva still come?
People attend the Adirei HaTorah event either because A) they get personal inspiration B) They enjoy a concert C) they are expected to show up because they are getting a kollel check D)They didn’t put much thought into it-it’s just the thing to do if you live in L:akewood
Im not sure that your feelings makes anyone else have an achrayus to an organization that is not even 5 years old. especially you want EVERY rosh yeshiva to come.
Obviously these Rabbis don’t share your opinion of the importance of attending the event. After all, who is to say it is a chiuv? And if it isn’t a chiuv why should feel any obligation they go?
Cause “the Dais” wasn’t needed to create “the narrative”. The main thing was that the sheeple were enticed to fill the bleachers by being offered deli sandwiches so that they can fill the box seats with the big Gevirim
When you know the ribono shel Olam sees your learning and can handle your necessities alone you don’t need Adirei Torah
You mention twice how AT sustains and is the lifeblood of Kollelim across the country. What are you talking about? I agree AT is great, important and everyone should be there but it has nothing to do with kollelim across the country. If anything, they say AT is harming kollelim across the country because more yungerleit end up staying in Lakewood
TTDD- Excellent point! Not only is it harming kollelim across the country, it is harming Klal Yisrael in other ways. The longer guys stay in BMG the less the chances they have in taking on jobs in chinuch or habotzas haTorah around the country. It entrenches them in Lakewood until they get stuck there. It may be a nice thing, but it does have serious consequences on the rest of Klal Yisrael
I hate to burst your bubble, but I really never understood the purpose of the Adirei Hatorah event. It’s a fundraiser. Ok. There are plenty of those. This one just has better marketing. Do you really need to sing, dance and eat in order to appreciate Limud Hatorah? When they did it once, I didn’t understand the point, but to do it again and again year after year, seems to be overdoing it. And it also seems to be such a waste of time (bitul torah) and money. Obviously not everyone feels this way and the event goes on. Obviously, my opinion is in the minority. But, if I may be so bold to say this, maybe some of the rabbonim felt this way too?
I think that these mass gatherings should be avoided for one important reason: everyone is counted at the entrance gate, possibly putting an ayin harah on them, and that causes very not good things as I will not mention, המבין יבין. Look at the mass gathering that was held in December 2019 and look what happened a couple of months later… רחמנה לצלן. These organizers should think about other things where to put their כוחות into.