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By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon

Question: I am a bochur in Yeshiva. I try to follow the seder and to use my time to learn and grow. I find that my learning is getting dry and I am missing real “cheshek” (passion) in my learning. I’m beginning to feel that perhaps full-day learning in Yeshiva is not for me. Before I act on these thoughts, I would like to hear if the Rebbe ever addressed this issue. Thank you in advance for your time.

Answer: You are very welcome! As you can imagine, you are definitely not the first — and probably not the last — bochur to struggle with this issue. The Rebbe’s letters are filled with advice to this very specific challenge. The following are some of those letters:

More Effort Is Due

(1) “In response to your writing that you do not feel passion in your learning:”

“I have already written to some of your friends that you all are included in the general rule of our sages that states that “If someone says that they tried hard and were not successful, do not believe them!

“Thus, it is totally up to you to ‘throw yourself’ into your learning in a diligent way – that the learning should be a kevius b’nefesh” (set in one’s very soul) in addition to being set in the times. You should not allow any distracting thoughts, or various calculations, enter your mind and then you will be successful.

“One must be a vessel for the Torah, thus you should be careful to go more regularly to the mikvah and also be focused on Ahvas Yisroel and good Middos and get involved in the learning of Chassidus which is the ‘soul’ of Torah. This will bring out the life and vitality of your learning of other parts of Torah as well.” (Igros, Vol. 10 p. 17;#2981)

You Have The Passion

(2) “In response to your letter in which you wrote that you do not have a passion for learning and you are requesting my blessing:”

“The Torah has informed us that every Jew has an internal cheshek to do the will of Hashem and that includes the Mitzvah of learning Torah (which is equal to all the mitzvos). The Yetzer Hara likes to wage war against that passion and thus the proper response is to wage war against the Yetzer Hara. Thus, by you adding in your observance of Torah and mitzvos, you will be more successful in your own learning.” (Igros, Vol. 17 p. 372; #6482)

“Tell The Yetzer Hara You Have No Time For Him”

(3) In a letter very similar to the previous one, the Rebbe adds the following: 

“The way to fight back against the Yetzer Hara is by “hesech hada’as” – (not dwelling on the depressing thoughts that the Yetzer Hara is convincing you that you lost your desire to learn).”

“Do not debate with the Yetzer Hara. Just inform him — in a brief and concise way — that you have no time to debate with him as you are a servant of Hashem and are busy fulfilling the will of your true master.” (Igros, Vol. 16 p. 70; #5846)

“You Have The Rebbe’s Powers!”

(4) I would like to share the following letter which was written following the histalkus of the Rebbe Rayatz: 

“With regard to the statements in your letter that your son … does not have that much desire to study: Explain to him, in a way appropriate for his [age], that the present time is very different [from previous eras]. He must know that my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ”מ, is the Nasi and the head of all his Chassidim and those who are bonded to him. 

“Since the head is healthy and strong — and this is blatantly obvious — all of the powers and vitality [to be granted] to all those who are bonded with him are also complete. The matter is dependent on them alone. And if, Heaven forbid, they are not befitting to the desire of the head, this does not affect only the one who is bonded [to the head]…

“When a person contemplates this for even a short moment, he will certainly perceive the great responsibility that is incumbent on him and — in a manner appropriate to his health — he will devote himself entirely to the will of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ”מ, and to the carrying out of his words and directives that are found in his talks and in his private and public letters. 

“In them, every man or woman from the Jewish people can find directives for his path in life. One need not become overawed, [thinking,] what connection does a young boy have to such a great Rebbe, for [the nature of the connection] is explained in several places in Chassidus.” (Igros, Vol. 3 p. 461; #748)

The Moshiach connection: 

When Moshiach comes an entire new element of Torah – called the “Torah Chadash” – will be revealed. As preparation for that, the Rebbe asked that we should throw ourselves passionately into the parts of Torah that we do have in the time of Galus and even come up with, and print, our own Chiddushim in Torah. 

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