A meeting in Lakewood, NJ today of roshei yeshiva was focused on a fresh set of measures to combat the escalating challenges in the realm of shidduchim faced by bnos Yisroel.
At the forefront of this initiative are senior American roshei yeshiva, including Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Tiferes Yerachmiel of Lakewood; Rav Elya Chaim Swerdloff, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of Paterson; Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of South Fallsburg; Rav Mordechai Dick, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Heichal HaTorah of Monsey; and Rav Mendel Slomovits, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Chaim of Lakewood.
The effort was inspired by the hadracha of the Slabodka rosh yeshiva, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.
The gathering today, held at the home of Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal on Cabinfield Circle in Village Park in Lakewood, yielded a unanimous decision among the roshei yeshiva to introduce a transformative rule mandating that bochurim go to learn in Eretz Yisroel no later than Pesach of third-year bais medrash.
While the precise timeline for the implementation of this takanah remains to be determined, it is anticipated that these changes will be set into motion once yeshivos have assimilated the new directives.
It was discussed that the burden of resolving the shidduch crisis is not to be borne solely by the bochurim. Young women are also called upon to make significant adjustments, delaying the commencement of their dating by a year subsequent to their return from seminary.
The roshei yeshiva underscored the need for collaboration among both young women and their families, recognizing that shidduch solutions focusing solely on the bochurim will prove inadequate in addressing the overarching issue.
A comprehensive outreach campaign is on the horizon, aimed at persuading and incentivizing young women and their families to embrace this adjusted timeline for entering the shidduch scene.
Further details regarding this shidduch initiative will be disseminated in due course.
Today’s meeting came many years after the NASI Initiative first raised awareness regarding the shidduchim age gap and its devastating impact on the shidduch scene in the American Torah world.
The meeting follows months of concerted effort, tracing back to a pivotal meeting between American roshei yeshiva and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch several months ago in Bnei Brak.
Later, while in the United States, Rav Hirsch again spoke to roshei yeshiva to address their inquiries and reservations concerning the proposed takanah.
{Matzav.com}