י״ב סיון ה׳תשפ״ו | May 28, 2026
Shlichus Is More Than Just Another Year in Yeshiva
“To turn shlichus into basically just another year of seder feels like a disservice both to the shluchim and to the yeshivos. A lot of what I learned that year still helps me today in my own shlichus and family life.”
By a magid shiur in an out-of-town yeshiva
There’s been a lot of discussion recently about the role of shluchim in yeshiva. I remember when I was on shlichus myself, having farbrengens and conversations about what exactly our goal and focus was supposed to be.
And while the answer is clear from many sichos and yechidusen — that the Rebbe wanted bochurim to sit and learn and be a dugma chaya — I think a little context is important.
First of all, this expectation that shluchim come to yeshivos and immediately start mivtzoim, become part of the hanhalah, tutor bochurim, organize programs, etc., was not something the yeshivos pushed onto them. It was pushed by the shluchim themselves.
The Rebbe sent bochurim to yeshivos, and it was obvious that many places were not always fully “up to date” with the latest shturem in 770. The bochurim came and brought that fire with them. א שליח מאכט א סביבה. Naturally, a shliach who was passionate about hiskashrus, mivtzoim, learning, yiras shomayim, or whatever it was, tried to influence the younger bochurim around him. And many times they were more successful than older mashpiim who, fairly or unfairly, felt less relatable.
If anything, maybe the issue was when certain kevutzos took this to an extreme and turned it into the ikar of shlichus instead of a result of it.
Personally, I credit my year of shlichus as the year I grew the most as a bochur. Being looked at as a role model and semi-staff member forced me to become more mature and more selfless. I became very close with hanhalah — honestly much closer than I ever was with mashpiim when I was in yeshiva — and I got a firsthand look at chinuch, responsibility. I learnt how to block out the noise of my “askanus” and return to learning and I even developed some basic fundraising techniques.
A lot of what I learned that year still helps me today in my own shlichus and family life.
And I think this is important: even for bochurim who won’t eventually go on full-time shlichus, there’s tremendous value in spending a year focused on giving instead of receiving. Whether someone eventually goes into business, chinuch, or anything else, that year changes a person.
To turn shlichus into basically just another year of seder feels like a disservice both to the shluchim and to the yeshivos.
That being said, the yeshivos also have a responsibility to support the shluchim properly in their own learning. There should be maggidei shiur available and interested in learning with them, answering their questions, and helping them continue growing seriously in learning during that year. Shlichus shouldn’t mean that a bochur is left to figure everything out on his own.
At the same time, if shluchim are tutoring bochurim and helping with chinuch issues, there should also be some level of guidance and direction there. Honestly, one thing that still blows me away is that we’ve had generations of shluchim tutoring struggling bochurim en masse, yet almost nobody was ever given even basic tutoring training. It’s a shud di tzeit.
This is also why I’m a little concerned by what I hear about changes to the current shlichus system, where there seems to be more emphasis on each bochur choosing where he wants to go. I may not know all the details, but I think there’s something important about accepting the challenge of being sent somewhere uncomfortable.
Feel that you’re on shlichus. Don’t just look for the place where it’s easiest to be a “tzaddik in peltz.”
May we all be zoche to truly fulfill our shlichus — whether as Bochurim or wherever else we end up in the world and turn to Moshiach and say ראו גידולים שגדלתי.
COMMENTS
1. This that you write that the Shluchim imposed פעולות on themselves, May have been true once upon a time, Shluchim today should not be taking responsibility for something that others imposed on themselves 30 years ago, And today yes it is imposed by the hanhalah.
2. Thank you for pointing out the Yeshivah responsibility.
3. Please clarify what kind of professional tutor training is required to have a Chavrusa with a teenager struggling to learn, Or just a bit behind his class.
4. It is very important that there are some that do have a say in where they get to go, considering that many locations that get groups, are not Bochur friendly at all, No Mashpia no Magid shieur etc. I therefore think every bochur should have some kind of say, at least in what kind of place he feels is fit for his success.
I’m happy for you that you had a good experience on Shlichus, and it’s good to hear from that perspective, but I think it’s fair to say that your experience does not reflect the majority of what happens.
Although back in the day, the shluchim did impose it on themselves and these days the shluchim would rather not have mivtzas imposed on themselves, It is still a very important part of a buchur’s growth in yeshiva.
I think we can all agree that certain mivtzas are definitely very, very helpful and useful in the day to day life of a bochur in mesivta.
That being said, the shluchim each year should have the freedom to decide which mivtzas to do or how to do each mivtza and if the hanhala is telling them to do specific mivtzas (or even if not) then hanhala should pay for them.
Obviously this is all not during seder or at a specific time in the day where you dont have a chavrusa.
1. Many Shluchim are compelled to be learning with younger bochurim more than half the day.
Is that part of way the Rebbe envisioned talmidim Hashluchim?
2. Many shluchim are made to fundraise large amounts of money.
Is that part of way the Rebbe envisioned talmidim Hashluchim?
3. Many Shluchim are made to drive bochurim to doctor appointments.
Is that part of way the Rebbe envisioned talmidim Hashluchim?
4. Many Shluchim are made to monitor the cell phones of bochurim.
Is that part of way the Rebbe envisioned talmidim Hashluchim?
5. Many Shluchim are completely left to tend for their own learning without any or extremely limited instruction.
Is that part of way the Rebbe envisioned talmidim Hashluchim?
6. Many Shluchim are sent to locations that have almost no semblance of a yeshiva.
Is that part of way the Rebbe envisioned talmidim Hashluchim?
Many talmidim Hashluchim are ready for change!
As a shliach in Msivta i can tell you couldn’t agree more
#1 There has been a noticeable shift in the mindset of Shluchim over the years. Previously, the primary focus was on מאכט א סביבה —connecting with the younger Bachurim in a profound, organic way that a formal Mashpia couldn’t replicate. Today, while we expect a Mashpia to be mature, experienced, and a literal Dugma Chaya, many Shluchim no longer feel that same heavy sense of responsibility.
In retrospect, Shluchim need to re-align with the Rebbe’s true vision: to be a genuine Dugma Chaya. When Shluchim sleep in or take things too easy, they lose their own drive, and the younger Bachurim inevitably pick up on that lack of motivation.
#2. While it is commendable when a Bachur can successfully juggle both Askanus and serious learning, the reality of today’s world makes this incredibly difficult. With the constant presence of modern distractions, most Bachurim cannot balance both without a highly structured schedule.
Too often, we see older Bachurim spending the majority of their day on smartphones when they should be learning. In fact, it bothers the Shluchim themselves. Once the door to unstructured Askunus is opened, it can easily slide into a mitigated disaster for an older Bachur or Shliach.
#3. The notion that Shluchim shouldn’t be bound by Seder is entirely incorrect. When Shluchim are consistently present in the Zal, sitting and learning, it creates a powerful and beautiful atmosphere. Younger Bachurim need older role models they can genuinely look up to and aspire to emulate. Removing Shluchim from a full time Seder invites an environment of Hefkirus rather than growth.
Also many Shluchim which do sit and learn in Zal feel in a way overlooked by the Askanim who are much louder i think the Hanhalla need to find a way to value them more because they are essentially doing the Iker of what they are being sent to do.
For those that aren’t assigned a shlichus or it doesn’t work for them
What are structured learning programs/opportunities for bochurim this age?
Please share any information or contact –