Say the words “finding teachers” to any yeshivah principal and chances are he’ll roll his eyes and perhaps even snort. He may likely also break into a sweat and his heart will begin racing. I think it’s safe to say that finding qualified and competent teachers is the bane of every yeshivah principal’s existence.
It’s often said that a CEO is only as good as his/her staff. The same is true for principals. A principal and his general studies program are as good as the teachers he hires.
A good teacher must be knowledgeable in the teaching material and have the ability to convey it to students in an engaging manner. He must also have a presence in the classroom, maintain discipline, and be able to not take inevitable restlessness and misbehavior personally. He also needs to understand the mindset of yeshivah bachurim who are somewhat maxed out by early afternoon, though they still have night seder ahead. That’s a delicate balance.
As a principal, I can attest to how utterly draining the dreaded teacher search is.
A principal’s greatest asset is his colleagues. Whenever I am in search of teachers, I reach out to as many colleagues as I can to ask if they know anyone who might be qualified and interested.
Most people generally reply that they’ll think about it or “I’ll try” but don’t follow up. I admit that I have done that myself. Everyone genuinely wants to be helpful. But we have a lot on our plates. When someone asks us for help, giving some thought we likely forget about it and move on.
I have a couple of colleagues, however, who always make a sincere effort to help. I don’t know if I have ever actually hired a teacher based on his suggestions. But I am always encouraged that he takes the time to think about it, and even makes a phone call or two to help me.
Rare is the person who invests time and effort thinking how he can help another.
At the outbreak of World War II, Rav Elchonon Wasserman spent time in New York collecting funds for his yeshivah in Baranovich. At the end of his trip, he quipped that although he really didn’t understand much English, he had learned one English phrase while he was in America. “Ven a mentch zugt “I’ll try” es maint goornisht – When someone tells you, “I’ll try,” it’s meaningless.”
When Yaakov Avinu crossed the Yabok River alone to retrieve some small jugs, the Torah says “Vayei’aveik ish imo – And a man wrestled with him.” Chazal explain that the man was actually an angel in the guise of a man.
Rabbi Philip Moskowitz, associate rabbi of Boca Raton Synagogue, notes that Onkelos translates the word “Vayei’aveik” as “Vayishtadeil,” literally translated as he tried. The fact that Onkelos translated the word “Vayei’aveik” (to wrestle) as “vayishtadel” is intriguing. It shows that l’hishtadeil cannot mean “to try” in the colloquial manner that people say, “I’ll try.” Rather, it refers to struggling, wrestling, and investing mistily to overcome all impediments to make it happen.
Rabbi Moskowitz adds that at the beginning of Chapter 7 of Hilchos T’shuvah, the Rambam discusses the fundamental concept of free will. If we didn’t have free will, we would be unable to do t’shuvah.
The Rambam writes that because we have free will, Yishtadeil adam la’asos t’shuvah – A person should “yishtadel” to do t’shuvah. It is apparent that the Rambam doesn’t mean simply that one should “try” to do t’shuvah the way people often non-committedly say they will try to do something. Rather, as Onkelos explains, he has to wrestle and struggle within himself, to exercise his free choice properly, to do t’shuvah and elevate himself as a person.
When someone tells one who feels despondent about his situation that he has an idea for him, it gives the despondent person renewed hope. How painful it is when there is no follow-up and the despondent person never hears back from the person who had the idea.
Life is busy, and sometimes we forget things in the bustle of daily living. But for someone in pain, dashed hopes exponentially compound the pain he/she already feels. This is true regarding someone looking for a job, trying to buy a house in a particular neighborhood, a young man trying to get into a yeshivah or a young woman trying to get into a seminary, a principal looking for a teacher, or an older single waiting for a shidduch.
The colloquial “I’ll try” can be not only unhelpful, but more damaging. The Torah and Chazal define “trying” as a genuine and concerted effort. One hasn’t truly tried until he has wrestled/struggled with all potential impediments and detractors to accomplish his objective. It requires commitment and dedication to push through and actualize one’s aspirations.
Imagine if when the Maccabees realized the seriousness of the danger they were in under Antiochus, they said they would “try” to help.
Chanukah is the result of their absolute commitment to defend Torah values even to the death. The Maccabees were up for the struggle and placed their lives on the line.
In the last 15 months, klal Yisrael has witnessed the incredible dedication of our soldiers who were, and are, ready to give their lives to defend our people and our land.
Chanukah celebrates not only our divinely guaranteed victories, but also our national grit and ironclad determination to fight and struggle for our values and beliefs.
Yaakov Avinu was forced to be misaveik/mishtadeil, and so are we.
Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW, is a popular speaker, columnist, and author. He is a rebbe at Heichal HaTorah in Teaneck, NJ. and principal of Mesivta Orchos Yosher in Spring Valley, NY. Rabbi Staum is also a member of the administration of Camp Dora Golding. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and at www.strivinghigher.com.
