Addressing approximately 4,000 bochurim preparing to enter yeshivah gedolah, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered an inspiring and wide-ranging address at a special Dirshu gathering in Bnei Brak, urging the talmidim to seize the opportunity before them, guard against the unique spiritual challenges of this new stage of life, and strengthen themselves through unwavering dedication to Torah. During his remarks, the Rosh Yeshiva shared a remarkable personal story about a talmid he once caught going to a movie theater, who ultimately became an outstanding mechanech.

The event was organized by Dirshu as a special preparation program for bochurim transitioning from yeshivos ketanos to yeshivos gedolos. Before the Rosh Yeshiva spoke, the program’s moderator introduced him with words of profound reverence, saying:

“With awe and trembling we incline our ears to hear Daas Torah, offering clear guidance on the path that ascends to the House of Hashem, from the great shepherd of the Torah world and the yeshivos, who faithfully transmits the mesorah from generation to generation, who carries upon his pure heart the burden of this generation and the continued existence of the world of bnei Torah and the holy yeshivos. We will engrave upon our hearts the living words of Torah from the holy mouth of Maran, the great gaon, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch.”

The Rosh Yeshiva opened by emphasizing that the move into yeshivah gedolah is one of the defining moments in a person’s life and that the habits developed during these years will shape his future in Torah, avodas Hashem, and personal growth.

“My masters and teachers, you are now entering a stage that can be said to be the most important in your lives. The period when one goes from yeshivah ketanah to yeshivah gedolah is the foundation. You are now building the spiritual foundation for your entire lives. The diligence you develop in yeshivah gedolah is the foundation for a lifetime of diligence; your tefillah, your middos tovos, your precision in halachah—the more you grow and elevate yourselves in these areas, the more they will become the foundation of your entire lives.

“The purpose of all our lives is to cleave to the Holy One, Blessed is He, and the path to that is through Torah study. The more Torah there is, both in quantity and in quality, the greater the deveikus. It all begins now, and the way you conduct yourselves in yeshivah gedolah will build the foundation for your entire lives. Therefore, one must be extremely careful not to belittle even a single moment: utilize every moment in yeshivah gedolah, go to sleep on time, wake up on time, and never neglect Torah study.”

The Rosh Yeshiva then warned the talmidim about the new spiritual tests that accompany the greater independence of yeshivah gedolah.

“There is a new yetzer hara. Until now you were in yeshivah ketanah, under the supervision of the yeshivah and the mashgiach, and most of you lived at home under the guidance of your parents. Now there is a feeling of freedom. At night, nobody knows what you are doing. The very feeling that a person is free is, in itself, a reason that the yetzer hara can seize a person.

“There was once a Chassidishe bochur from America who arrived as a very strong bochur, and I caught him going to the movies. I felt I could be lenient with him, so I kept him in the yeshivah, and he began to learn. Today he is a very great mechanech. When I asked him how a bochur like him could do such a thing, he answered: ‘I came to Eretz Yisroel, I felt free, and therefore I did it.’ You should know that this feeling of freedom is a yetzer hara, and it is important to overcome it.”

He continued by cautioning against another common mistake made by bochurim entering yeshivah gedolah.

“A second yetzer hara is the feeling, ‘I am smart. I’m already in yeshivah gedolah, and I can decide for myself what is good for me. I don’t need to listen to what the Rosh Yeshiva or the mashgiach tells me.’ That is a great mistake. In reality, you still need to follow the guidance of the mashgiach and the Roshei Yeshiva, and not think that you are wiser than they are.”

The Rosh Yeshiva urged every talmid to leave behind any limiting perceptions formed during his years in yeshivah ketanah.

“The third point: A bochur entering yeshivah gedolah may think, ‘I’m not one of the masmidim’ or ‘I’m not one of the tzaddikim.’ Know that when you enter yeshivah gedolah—new faces have arrived here! You are completely different bochurim, a different cheftza. Forget all the weaknesses you had in yeshivah ketanah. Don’t think, ‘I’m that type.’ There is no such thing.

“Even bochurim who were average in yeshivah ketanah—in yeshivah gedolah you can become outstanding! On the other hand, a bochur who excelled in yeshivah ketanah must realize that learning in yeshivah gedolah is something entirely different. The learning is more difficult and demands much greater diligence. Don’t become discouraged if you are not number one in the shiur; do your very best, and you will succeed.”

He encouraged the talmidim to set lofty goals in every aspect of their spiritual lives.

“A bochur should enter yeshivah gedolah with very great aspirations: to know the entire Torah, to know halachah completely, to fulfill every mitzvah properly, and to reach the highest level in bein adam l’chaveiro. The Chofetz Chaim says that the yetzer hara tries to plant in a person the feeling that ‘this isn’t for me—it’s only for geniuses.’ That is the advice of the yetzer hara! Every person can learn with tremendous diligence and be meticulous in mitzvos.

“In addition, Maran Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l said that a person is afraid to accept upon himself the yoke of Torah, but one who accepts the yoke of Torah eventually finds the Torah sweet. Even when there is a difficult sugya that brings no immediate enjoyment, there is tremendous satisfaction in knowing that one is doing the most important thing in life.”

The Rosh Yeshiva also stressed that every talmid must know his own strengths and limitations while striving for greatness.

“One must aspire to the highest levels, but according to one’s own abilities and talents. If a bochur needs seven hours of sleep, he should not sleep only five and a half hours because his friend does so, because then he will collapse completely. The essence of iyun is wonderful clarity, not merely saying words. Rav Chaim of Volozhin zt”l says that if a person is going through a period of decline and has no desire to learn, he should not stop learning. If you are capable of learning at only 30%, then learn at 30%, and through that you will return to 100%.”

Concluding his address, Rav Hirsch turned to the challenges currently confronting the Torah world, emphasizing that the proper response to the draft decree and other pressures is greater attachment to Torah and to Hashem.

“We all know that there are decrees against the Torah world, the draft decree, and they are coming against us in every possible way. We must know that the way of bnei Torah to fight against this is through Torah study itself, meticulous observance of the mitzvos, and attachment to the Holy One, Blessed is He.

“If we are attached to HaKadosh Baruch Hu, it will bring us siyata d’Shmaya. If we live with the feeling of ‘V’yod’ei Shimcha,’ if we think about what Hashem wants and learn with diligence—nothing will happen, and we will defeat them completely! There is absolutely nothing to worry about. HaKadosh Baruch Hu will help each and every one of us reach the highest levels in Torah, tefillah, and middos, and may we merit to bring honor to Heaven and the coming of the complete Geulah, speedily in our days.”

{Matzav.com}