My son is showing growing interest in Judaism and Jewish practices and was advised by a friend to go to Israel for a year to Yeshiva. I’m all for his pursuing his interest but I don’t want him to become a Rabbi! Am I wrong to object, or should I support his decision to go if that’s what he wants?
The “Yeshiva” is often incorrectly described as “a rabbinical school,” but the majority of students do not intend to become rabbis. They are pursuing the ideal of traditional Jewish Torah studies. They study in order to know and understand the Torah, not for financial gain or career advancement. It is becoming increasingly common for students, both men and women, to spend a year or two after high school studying in a yeshiva in order to become a more complete, knowledgeable Jew. These students do not necessarily plan to continue with intensive Torah study and they expect to go on to college or enter the business world after their time in a yeshiva. They have decided that if they are going to spend four to six years at college studying in order to “make a living,” they would like to devote at least a year or two to studying how to live.
So, yes, I would advise that you back his decision. If you like, you can also probably be a part of the process of his choice of where to study and other details of his year in Israel. You might even decide to visit him in his yeshiva and tour Israel a bit while here’s there if he invites you – and he will!
