י׳ אייר ה׳תשפ״ו | April 27, 2026
Guide Them to Yeshiva – They Will Thank You Later
As summer approaches, guide members of your community toward yeshiva. It is truly life-changing and allows them to take ownership of their Yiddishkeit in a real and lasting way. “Believe me, they will thank you later.” An open letter to shluchim from a baal teshuva who was once on the ‘other side’.
By Reuvein Mizrahi
Dear Shluchim,
I would first like to say how much I admire and appreciate your work. Your level of sacrifice and mesiras nefesh for other Yidden is truly astounding. We admire you, we appreciate you, and we are in awe of your dedication.
I, too, was brought closer to Yiddishkeit by a Shliach who encouraged me to go to yeshiva, undoubtedly one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. Today, Baruch Hashem, I live a frum family life in Crown Heights.
I’m writing because, having come from the “other side,” I feel a strong desire to encourage you to guide members of your community toward yeshiva. Over the years, and having had the zechus to meet hundreds of Baalei Teshuva, I can say with confidence that for most of us, going to yeshiva was life-changing.
The learning, the friendships, the connection with mashpiim, and the personal growth create an experience that makes everything real and helps set the foundation for building a Torah-true home.
Having attended Yeshivas Mayanot, Morristown, and Hadar HaTorah, I can personally attest that they are all exceptional. Each has its own flavor and style that speaks to different personalities, and all of them help nurture happy, fulfilled, chassidishe, frum Yidden who go on to build beautiful families.
I can only imagine how challenging your shlichus can be, and I ask forgiveness if it is not my place to comment on your mission. I simply feel that this message is especially important today. I understand that encouraging someone to go to yeshiva can come with doubts and hesitations, and that is exactly why I am writing, to reassure you that your kehilla will ultimately thank you deeply for it.
This is when young men truly flourish, take ownership of their Yiddishkeit, and prepare for the next step of building a Yiddishe heim.
As summer approaches, many yeshivos offer summer programs. Even better would be to encourage them to go to yeshiva now, but if that is not feasible, the summer is the perfect opportunity to get a taste of yeshiva life.
Go for it. Believe me, they and their families will thank you later.
COMMENTS
So true – not only that but their grandchildren will thank you!
I agree 100%. Yeshiva can be a big step, and some students need more time, but for those who are ready, yeshiva can be what solidifies all their growth, so that when they leave their shluchim in their community, or on campus- they have the tools and drive to not only keep growing, but to be a shliach wherever they go!
I had the zechus to be a shliach at Torah ohr in North Miami Beach and Tiferes in Morristown and Hadar Hatorah.
I also attended to learn for a little while at Mayanot and Temimay Derech.
I am very inspired by Baalei Teshuva and I feel for this, the need to assist Baelei Teshuva Yeshivas and for any shliach or friend you may have if they maybe ready to try out Yeshiva or for a girl Seminary, it will be a transformative experience. If they wish to be in the mountains this summer they may love Hadar Hatorah Camp. Many people love Frorida in the Winter perhaps they can try out Tora Ohr then and some like Morristown which houses Tomchei and Tiferes and the quiteness trees and little distractions. While others may want to work part time in Manhattn or be in the big city, or be close to 770 and public transport and choose Hadar. Many other factors may be at play where they may feel most at home and where get most individual attention or voice of Torha and help to grow. Sone may want to be in upbeat holy city of Yerushalim or be in a more calm relaxing and smaller yeshiva in Tzfas.
Everyone shines somewhere else, but Starting with a winter or summer Program or long weekend in Yeshiva is a vital and transformative experience.
With 1000s of shluchim and 100,000s chabad today. Close your eyes for 2 minutes and think of 1 bochur to try out Yeshiva or one girl to go to Seminary Wherever Machon Leyahudus or any other Seminary
זכות הרבים תלוי בו, גדול הזכות ואחריות
This is one of the most important articles today.
I don’t disagree with the premise of the article, rather it brings me pain to consider how while yeshiva is life changing for the good for someone coming from a non religious background, what about our children who are turned off from yiddishkeit after growing up with it… something in the way we are being mechanech our children that isn’t working for most of them.
While there is always room for improvement, most bochurim grow tremendously in yeshiva. The problems come up when parents push their son into a yeshiva that isn’t suited for them. Bochurim who go to yeshivos suited for them will do exceptionally well in the vast majority of cases.
It’s also noteworthy that baalei teshuvah wants to go to yeshiva. For a frum bochur to have a similar experience, they need to want to go.
Thank You Reuven! Yes we really enjoyed having you some years ago, and when I bump into you sometimes in CH with your children I have so much Nachas!!! We all have a big shlichus to do to bring Moshiach together now!!! (and Yeshiva is a a big part of it! WE HAVE A SPECIAL SUMMER PROGRAM IN TIFERES JULY 5-26!!!)
Handing me the paper detailing a winter program was undoubtably an incredible challenge for the campus shliach near where I grew up. As we have gotten to know each other over the years, I have realized that “pushing” students and community members makes him very uncomfortable – a feeling many of us may have experienced going on the Rebbe’s mivtzoim, speaking on taalucha, etc. I feel grateful beyond words to Hashem for giving him courage in that moment. I might not be living here in Crown Heights with my beautiful family, learning and involved with koidesh, if it weren’t for him pushing himself that one time.
Yes I can without a shadow of a doubt that yeshiva pashut saved my life and has been the best thing I’ve ever done
Im so inspired by your article. I too am a Baal teshuva who gained so much from trying out yeshiva, which would have never happened without winter program. Most of us college students have no idea what treasures await in yeshiva and seminary. Im not a shluchiach but feel compelled and inspired to reach out to one friend and help them have the same opportunity as I did.
At our start, our forefathers all learned in yeshiva. That made us for a nation..
Avrohom , Yitzchak and Yakov all learn in yeshiva. No coincidence.
This is something so important! the effects of sending someone to yeshiva is literally like you are opening a different world!