Teen Talk

By Rabbi Zvi Soroka By Rabbi Zvi Soroka

Dear Teen Talk, Teen Talk,

I’m a good kid who has a lot of friends and love to play ball. Camp is a place where I thrive. Yeshiva just isn’t. I just don’t connect with learning Gemara. I fail my rebbe’s tests week after week and feel like a big loser. Why should I even bother learning Gemara? I’m simply not good at it.

Is there anything I can do to motivate myself and get the enjoyment that I’m told I’m supposed to have from learning? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Teen Talk, a new column in TJH, is geared towards the teens in our community. Answered by a rotating roster of teachers, rebbeim, clinicians, and peers (!), teens will be hearing answers to many questions they had percolating in their minds and wished they had the answers for.

Dear Bachur,

It’s pretty impressive that you’re aware of what’s bothering you and that you are able to identify your dilemma. You are not alone. In fact, scores of bachurim struggle with the same challenge. Don’t be surprised to challenge. Don’t be surprised to learn that even some Gedolim learn that even some Gedolim had a similar predicament and had a similar predicament and pulled through with great sucpulled through with great success. Rabbi Akiva himself strugcess. Rabbi Akiva himself struggled greatly before he became the leader of his dor and the main transmitter of our Torah for generations. I keep a stone riddled with holes on my desk to remind me that whenever B students struggle in learning, if they persist, they will catapult to the top. Learning Gemara is the secret to thinking and behaving like a true ben Torah. It will shape your worldview for life. Working diligently in understanding Gemara will also be the greatest protection against the yetzer hara and will enable you to build a strong foundation for growth in Yiddishkeit. Here are a few vital pointers to consider and review: • Tefillah is your greatest weapon for success. Try to have extra kavana by birchas haTorah, ahava raba, and ata chonen in Shemonai Esrei. Recite the special yehi ratzon before opening up your Gemara. Great Gedolim were

You are not alone. In fact, scores of bachurim struggle with the same challenge.

observed crying by these tefillos and achieved amazing results. • Get a rebbe, one with whom you will connect and will understand your way of thinking. He has already taught many talmidim who encountered similar issues and will not think of you any less that you are struggling. On the contrary, he will have great admiration for you! • Try the Vaharev-NA/ Kinyan Meschta-style limud. Have someone teach you the Gemara until you really understand it clearly. Review it and chazer it over and over again. There are so many helpful seforim and available shiurim that will guide you step-by-step. After reviewing it countless times, you will become a master and taste true enjoyment from your clarity and learning. Real hasmada doesn’t even kick in until you have chazered the Gemara at least four times. • There are 2,711 blatt in Shas. Some have interesting stories, others are more halacha-based, and we follow those halachos even today. Others are more complex. Don’t give up on learn- ing Gemara; rather try to find Gemaras that “speak to

Try the Vaharev-NA/ you” and learn those. One Kinyan Meschta-style lim- day you will connect with the ud. Have someone teach you others as well. And even if you feel you won’t, there are still another 1,000 you can learn!

day you will connect with the others as well. And even if you feel you won’t, there are still another 1,000 you can learn!

• Don’t let tests bog you down. The true test is if you are really applying yourself and being the best you can be. • Learn a small masechta. Consider mastering a conquerable area of halacha such as mayim achronim, kiddush levana or tzitzis. Try becoming an expert at learning Chumash and Rashi. You will see great breakthroughs in your learning that can be applied to Gemara as well, and it will encourage your success. • Try being a mechadesh. Ask questions and write down your ha’aros. Speak over your ideas with others. Enter them in a notebook. It will become your most prized possession. It might Are you a teen with a question? If you have a question or problem you’d like our columnists to address, email your question or insight to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com, subject line: Teen Talk.

be hard to believe, but you might be hard to believe, but you might even publish a sefer one day! even publish a sefer one day! • Be honest with yourself about what might be obstructing your path to success and ask yourself the following questions: Are you sleeping enough at night? Are the devices in your proximity properly filtered? Are you taking advantage of long weekends and learning on long Friday nights and Sundays? A kettle of water won’t boil if it’s bekettle of water won’t boil if it’s being constantly lifted off the flame. ing constantly lifted off the flame.

Consistency is a key factor. • Most importantly, DON’T GIVE UP! You will make it! There is endless s’char in the struggle itself. Encourage yourself and persist. You can do it! yagata umatzasa, tamin.

Looking forward to being invited to your upcoming siyum!

Rabbi Zvi Soroka is a rebbe in Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway, NY. He is active in yeshiva referrals and placement. He can be contacted through TJH.