It ranks right up there with the classics of yeshivish folklore. Two adventurous bochurim opted out of a night seder and ventured out to a local bowling alley a small infraction by “veltishe” standards but a capital offense in a place like the Philadelphia yeshivah where forays like these were not viewed with much of a sense of humor. When their indiscretion was discovered by the rosh yeshivah Rav Elya Svei ztz”l they were summoned for their din v’cheshbon. Expecting the hammer to come down hard the perpetrators were undoubtedly surprised at the mussar that came their way. The venerable Rosh Yeshivah told them he wasn’t so upset that they had gone bowling during night seder as much as their having left yeshivah without their hats and jackets.
To the unaffiliated this cryptic comment would sound somewhat bizarre. Is bittul Torah second fiddle to dress code? Can bochurim blow off night seder as long as their Borsalinos and yeshivish suits come along for the ride?
Insiders know that there was a highly sophisticated message here — a fundamental lesson for life.
A little bit of Torah first to provide some perspective. When Yaakov Avinu was on his way to the house of Lavan he implored Hashem for protection and help: “U’shmarani baderech hazeh.” The midrash comments that “derech” alludes to four potential pitfalls Yaakov was afraid of succumbing to: murder arayos avodah zarah and lashon hara. Yaakov Avinu was concerned about stumbling in the most serious aveiros once he left the safe cocoon of his parents’ home. And what did he ask for as security? “Lechem le’echol u’veged lilbosh — bread to eat and clothes to wear.”
