Monday, January 22, 2018

Specialization in Life and in Education

by Rav Reuven Spolter

Somehow, with all the conveniences of modern technology, life doesn't seem more convenient. We feel pulled in ever-more directions, with ever-more responsibilities, obligations, concerns and interests. While these pulls can often be destructive, they offer an almost unlimited array of opportunities as well. Do you like guitar? Today you can teach yourself to play any instrument using YouTube or a number of apps on your phone. Interested in botany, or knitting, or Israel advocacy, or basically anything else you can possibly imagine? There's a website, email list, podcast and Facebook group dedicated to exactly your interest. An almost unlimited number of Torah shiurim and resources span every possible skill level on topics from Tanach to Talmud to Tefillah and every sub-topic in-between. It's all really interesting.

In the worst-case scenario, we ignore this potpourri of possibilities, perhaps perplexed by their scale and breadth. Rather than diving head-first into something, we escape from it all to the safety of the also unlimited spectrum of time-wasting options at our fingertips. Surely that is an trap into which we all fall from time to time. But we also engage in the positives as well, learning a new subject, studying this or that; trying a new class or a hobby. We find ourselves dabbling – a bit of this, something of that, without really specializing in any one area or interest. Today, the world presents with an infinite array of options ready for the taking, making each of us dabblers in everything, but masters of none.

In his commentary on Gemara Berachot, Rav Kook writes that while a little knowledge in many areas represents one possible path, it is certainly not ideal. The Gemara in Berachot (39b) in the context of making Berachot on bread, mentions an interesting fact about how Rav Ami and Rav Asi chose which bread to use for their Seudat Shabbat.
רב אמי ורב אסי כי הוה מתרמי להו ריפתא דערובא מברכין עליה המוציא לחם מן הארץ אמרי הואיל ואתעביד ביה מצוה חדא נעביד ביה מצוה אחריתי (ברכות לט ע"ב)
"Rav Ami and Rav Asi, when the opportunity to use the bread of the eiruv in the Shabbat meal would present itself, they would recite: "Who brings forth bread from the earth" over it. They said in explanation: Since one mitzvah was performed with it, we will perform another mitzvah with it."
Rav Kook (Ein Ayah Berachot vol. 2 p. 12) sees in this passage an important message about specialization. He writes that in our pursuits throughout life we can choose one of two general paths: Completion through Quantity (sheleimut b’kamut) and Completion through Quality (sheleimut b’eichut).
השלימות בכמות היא שירבה נמצאים מושלמים אע"פ שבכ"א לא יהי' כ"א השלמה מועטת...והאיכות היא שישתדל שמי שראוי מהנמצאים לקבל השלימות ישלימהו כפי האפשרי ברב יתרון, ומהשלמה של אחד בתכלית המעלה ימשך טוב לרבים.
“Completion through quantity Is that a person will increase his areas of completeness even though in each area he will only realize a small measure of completion…[Completion through] quality refers to the effort to focus on the most worthy of attributes to strive for completion – in that area he will achieve fulfillment to the greatest possible degree…”
In other words, we can strive to improve a small amount in many different areas or we can ignore most areas of study and choose to focus our efforts and energies on one specific area or endeavor, striving to be the very best we can be in that one discipline. Which then is better: quantity or quality? Should I strive to be a “jack of all trades” or a “master of one”? To Rav Kook, the answer is clear: Quality over quantity.
והוא כלל גדול ג"כ בכל חכמה ומלאכה, כי שלימות העולם בכללו תבא מריבוי בקיאים כ"א במקצע מיוחד בתכלית המעלה, ולא ממי שסופג הכל רק בדרך שיטחי, כי ההשלמה האיכותית גדולה היא בערכה על ההשלמה הכמותית.
"This is also a great rule in all areas of wisdom and work; the completion of the entire world will come from a growing number of experts who have achieved the greatest possible excellence in their specific fields, and not from one who absorbs everything in a superficial manner. For completeness in quality is greater in value than completeness in quantity."
Rav Kook views this matter from an educational perspective as well, noting that educators should focus their efforts specifically on students capable of reaching great heights.
וזוהי הדרך המשובחת שכוננו חכמינו ז"ל להעמיד תלמידים הרבה ולהגדיל תורה בחוג המוסגלים לקבלה ולא לפזר כוחינו בין בתי כנסיות של עמי הארץ. וכן בכללו ישראל, להרבות עצמה בתורה ויראת ד', ולא לנוד להאיר עמי הארץ וגוים רבים באור ד' בדרך מועט שיכולין לקבל. כי מריבוי האור שיזרח בשלמים הגמורים יאיר אור גדול ג"כ על שאינם שלמים, אבל בהשתדלות לפזר הכוחות על הרבה נושאים, וכ"א לא יהי' שלם בתכלית, לא יבא לעולם אל מטרה נכונה.
"[Completeness of Quality] is the praised path established by the Sages who said to 'Establish many students' (Avot 1:1) and exalt the Torah among those who are capable of receiving it, and not to disperse our energies among the synagogues and simple people…for the greatness of the light that spreads from individuals that are whole and complete will shine on those that are less complete. On the other hand, the effort to disperse our energies in many areas so that we achieve wholeness in any one area will not bring us to the correct goal. "
Rav Kook's comments must carry great weight as we evaluate our own choices and priorities in life. Are we specialists in a single area, focusing our light and energy to become experts who can shine the greatest possible focused light? Or do we dabble, dispersing ourselves in different directions, but failing to create much light at all?

In education, society has clearly chosen to reject Rav Kook's priorities. In our community, we don't focus only on the diamonds who can achieve greatness. Instead we strive to reach each and every child. The Chareidi community makes a different choice, gearing its educational system specifically towards those who can thrive and achieve greatness. Each system has benefits, but also brings great costs as well. It is incumbent upon our community to at least wonder what costs we pay for rejecting Rav Kook's position by choosing a different educational path.

Are Your Teenagers Addicted?

Our youth spend their late night hours having fun, and the "spinner" has long since been replaced by other activities. Dr, Yaniv Efrati explains.

by Dr. Yaniv Efrati
Dr. Yaniv Efrati

Our youth spend their late night hours having fun, and "fidget spinners" have long since been replaced by other activities. Our youngsters are wonderful, but any dystopian scenarios (by instilling fear or threats) will be useless in guiding them correctly as far as high-risk behaviors and the development of addictions.
At one of the lectures I attended, the lecturer brought center stage blackened lungs and explained about the irreversible damage of cigarette smoking. After the lecture, someone told me he must have a cigarette to calm down after hearing the lecture.

So what does work? What can we do as parents?

Social learning – our youth are, in fact, a reflection of our society. Social interaction, films and the media are saturated with alcohol and drugs. There must be reliable and coherent information mediation, clearly showing that excessive drinking, inordinate viewing of pornographic materials and drug use are extremely dangerous and can cause irreparable damage.

The question of need – ask a teenager why he drinks, watches pornography or uses drugs. What need does it fill? It is important to differentiate between usage, excessive usage and addiction. Usage is often a response to curiosity, peer pressure or a desire for social acceptance. As parents, information regarding sensible consumption of alcohol or exposure to pornography may provide a good and adequate response. Excessive usage often reflects a need to escape extreme daily pressures (we live in a highly competitive, achievement-oriented society.)

As parents, we must understand that teenagers need our help in confronting their own internal world. Stop for a moment, talk to them, strengthen your bonds and help them deal with the difficulties they face in their lives. Generally, addiction is not defined in the teen years since their personalities have not yet been completely molded. However, it is possible to discern those teens with a propensity for addiction, and refer them to professional help.

Help them, at first, to "crack open" the narrative they tell themselves, that they are in control, everything is fine, and that parents are needlessly interfering. Reflect to them how their lives are unfolding with alcohol, porno or drugs, and what their lives would be like without these behaviors.

Parental presence and supervision – the paradox between allowing independence for teens and controlling supervision is built-in in teen parenting. Many of us remember teaching our children to ride a bicycle without training wheels for the first time. We held on tight from the back, while trying unsuccessfully to straighten them out so they would succeed. After half an hour, the results were not satisfactory and our backs fell apart.

We understood that this was not the way to teach bicycle riding. We put helmets and knee guards on them, gave them a small push to straighten out, and then simply let go. Amazingly, after a few minutes they caught on and started riding alone. As parents, we must learn to let go and to facilitate independence and autonomy in our children (this is vital for developing their independent identity), while, on the other hand, it is important to be present in their lives, to watch over and protect them (helmets and knee guards) and accompany them from the sidelines.

Order in the chaos – help them construct for themselves, particularly for summer vacation, a daily schedule with clearly defined borders. When to get up, how much time to spend on the computer, friends, trips, help at home and curfew time. Prepare a written contract accepted by both sides, delineating times and agreed borderlines. It is vital to create order within the chaos of summer vacation.

Our teenagers are wonderful. Let us be there for them, let us mediate and reinforce our bonds with our children, while conducting fruitful dialogue. Find times to simply sit down with them and discuss love, sexuality, alcohol, drugs, bullying on the web and much more…they need us.

Dr. Yaniv Efrati is a lecturer at the Orot Israel College of Education, a researcher of sexuality and addictions, and the founder of IHS, The Israeli Center for Healthy Sexuality.

An Inspirational "Fashion Show"

bv Yoni Kampinski, Arutz 7

Instead of super-models, illustrious, inspirational women from the Religious Zionist public participated in this moving event in memory of Chani Weinrot z"l.

Orot Israel College, together with the "Bat Melech" organization, held an extraordinary "Fashion Show" for the students of the College and religious women from the general public. The slogan, "Walking with Valor - When External and Internal Beauty Meet," headlined the event, which featured inspirational woman, rather than super-models.

The event was dedicated in memory of Chani Weinrot z"l, who valiantly battled cancer over the last nine years. Weinrot had planned to participate together with the other women, and to present the remarkable story of her confrontation with her illness.

"I visited Chani a few days ago in the hospice. She said, 'Yemima, no one is willing to talk to me about that world. Tell me what happens there.' I told her that it is a world of pure goodness. Then she asked we sing together. She gave me her hand, and with a bashful smile, began to sing with me the song we will now hear. We will imagine her and her valor walking together down this platform. 'Imagine a Beautiful World' is the song Chani wanted to sing at the end, and we will now sing the song, together with her." This is what Rabbanit Yemima Mizrahi related in her opening remarks, leaving not one dry eye in the audience.

Among the women taking the stage were MK Shuli Mualem, an IDF widow, Dr. Adva Biton, who lost her daughter Adelle in a terror attack, Ofra Boaron, who was evicted from Amona, Pedut Rotenmar, a diminutive teacher of theater, Adv. Tzilit Jacobson, Chairwoman of "Bat Melech", and others.

The women were dressed in designer clothes by Beruriah Bartler, a popular stylist in the religious public, who was sent by the magazine, "Penima", which took an active role in the event. At the conclusion of the "Fashion Show", each of the participants presented her personal story. Dr. Tzippie Rhein, Director of the Family Center at the College, who initiated the event, said, "Our goal is to promote an event for the empowerment of women. Our sense is that fashion shows and the beauty industry emphasize only the external facets, thus weakening women. In this event, "Walking with Valor", we send a message about the correct balance between external and internal beauty. External beauty is important, but the emphasis should be on internal beauty. We believe that every woman has external beauty, but primarily, has internal beauty, and each one walks in valor through her journey of life."

The event also included a fair, with dozens of stalls selling products from the Shomron, and performances by Dafna Chasdai and the Dance Troupe of Orot College. Riveting lectures were delivered by outstanding lecturers, like Dr. Chana Kattan, Dr. Tzippie Rhein, Rabbanit Naomi Shachor and the Rabbanit, Dr. Leah Wiesel.

Finally, at the conclusion of the event, the extraordinary women who took part in the "Fashion Show" met with the women in the audience to share with them their personal stories.