Not So Fast

As a rebbi, I felt compelled to respond to Mrs. Miriam Zakon’s letter in last week’s Mishpacha, as she wonders why the original “Checks & Balances” theme issue did not actively encourage men to pursue careers in chinuch and kiruv. I would like to focus on the chinuch piece.

Mrs. Zakon is correct with regards to the wonderful quality of life and workplace environment enjoyed by those who are fortunate to work in chinuch. It is true that we tend to have a much easier time maintaining our identity as bnei Torah, as we are constantly modeling that which we exhort our students to strive for and to emulate.

However, I feel that we need to distinguish between a calling to a chinuch position and a “career choice.”

Once upon a time, it may have been the case that anyone with a background in learning could have chosen to “go into chinuch” when it was time to leave kollel, and he would have seen success whether or not he had “what it takes.” Today, that is no longer the case.