What Lithuanian yeshivas do or say makes a difference because they are the gold standard by which everything else is measured. Why do some groups learn? They have to show "we learn Torah too!" Even Reform and Conservative have to measure themselves by means of the standard set by the Litvaks (Lithuanian Jews). If the Litvaks think something is kosher, that makes it kosher by definition. If they think it is not it makes it not kosher - by definition. Everything has to get past that hurdle. Nothing and no one is exempt, even if they don't like it. Especially if they don't like it.
You want to claim something is Jewish? You say the Chazon Ish said it was OK! Or Reb Moshe. Or Reb Aaron Kotler. You don't say "They learn it in a Breslov yeshiva." You don't say Reform Judaism says it is OK.
For example when the Na Nach Breslov want to show that the "petek" (letter that Reb Odesser thought he received from Reb Nachman) is kosher they go around plastering up copies of the letter of approval (Haskama) that Reb Moshe Feinstein gave to Reb Odesser. Just walk into the synagogue of Reb Nachman in Uman and you will find copies of Reb Moshe's letter plastered all over the place--and most importantly right in the official notices section. That means if you want to say something is kosher you have to get approval of a Litvak Gadol. Without that nothing can even start.
No one says Reb Moshe is kosher because Breslov learns his books. If you want to say a person in Breslov like Rav Cheishen knows how to learn you say he learns at the Mir yeshiva. You don't say someone knows how to learn because they learn in Breslov.
The greatest yeshivas in the world. Three great NY yeshivas: the Mir, Chaim Berlin, and Torah VeDaath. In Israel it is Ponovitch
In any case I realize that once the greats like Rav Shach and Reb Shmuel Berenbum are gone, then I guess there just is not that much difference between any of the Lithuanian Yeshivas.
You want to claim something is Jewish? You say the Chazon Ish said it was OK! Or Reb Moshe. Or Reb Aaron Kotler. You don't say "They learn it in a Breslov yeshiva." You don't say Reform Judaism says it is OK.
For example when the Na Nach Breslov want to show that the "petek" (letter that Reb Odesser thought he received from Reb Nachman) is kosher they go around plastering up copies of the letter of approval (Haskama) that Reb Moshe Feinstein gave to Reb Odesser. Just walk into the synagogue of Reb Nachman in Uman and you will find copies of Reb Moshe's letter plastered all over the place--and most importantly right in the official notices section. That means if you want to say something is kosher you have to get approval of a Litvak Gadol. Without that nothing can even start.
No one says Reb Moshe is kosher because Breslov learns his books. If you want to say a person in Breslov like Rav Cheishen knows how to learn you say he learns at the Mir yeshiva. You don't say someone knows how to learn because they learn in Breslov.
Nowadays the Lithuanian yeshivas are spread out. It is hard to find any one in particular that stands out from the rest.
The greatest yeshivas in the world. Three great NY yeshivas: the Mir, Chaim Berlin, and Torah VeDaath. In Israel it is Ponovitch
In any case I realize that once the greats like Rav Shach and Reb Shmuel Berenbum are gone, then I guess there just is not that much difference between any of the Lithuanian Yeshivas.
But I still would assume it is best to go where the classes are on the highest level. And that probably still is in the NY yeshivas. [I heard about Tifrach, and my learning partner said they learn on a very high level but besides that I don't know about it.] [I did ask also about the well known yeshivas in Jerusalem, Brisk, Maalot HaTorah, etc. but nothing stood out.]
I would have to say today the world of Lithuanian yeshivas is like the Rocky Mountains. It is like a mountain range with some higher peaks and some lower, but no Mount Everest.
Reb Aaron Kolter and Rav Shach certainly were gedolim. But today? But come to think of it there are a few greats--Reb Naphtali Yeger in Far Rockaway and Rav Nelkenbaum in the Mir in Brooklyn; also Shelomo Haliua who gives the top shiur (class) at Chaim Berlin. Maybe they don't have world wide reputations, but I know for a fact they learn on a world class level.
The Litvaks do seem to throw out people way too much. But that is because they want to retain their reputation of pure virgin olive oil. They throw out anything that can be considered as flawed in any way so as not to lose their quality. No one complains when they buy pure Olive Oil that it is in fact pure. I fact, they expect the company to make sure there is nothing in it that could be less that pure. So it is with Lithuanian yeshivas.
Breslov takes what the Litvaks throw out and makes it into the roof of the Suka which can be made only of thrown out things.
I would have to say today the world of Lithuanian yeshivas is like the Rocky Mountains. It is like a mountain range with some higher peaks and some lower, but no Mount Everest.
Reb Aaron Kolter and Rav Shach certainly were gedolim. But today? But come to think of it there are a few greats--Reb Naphtali Yeger in Far Rockaway and Rav Nelkenbaum in the Mir in Brooklyn; also Shelomo Haliua who gives the top shiur (class) at Chaim Berlin. Maybe they don't have world wide reputations, but I know for a fact they learn on a world class level.
The Litvaks do seem to throw out people way too much. But that is because they want to retain their reputation of pure virgin olive oil. They throw out anything that can be considered as flawed in any way so as not to lose their quality. No one complains when they buy pure Olive Oil that it is in fact pure. I fact, they expect the company to make sure there is nothing in it that could be less that pure. So it is with Lithuanian yeshivas.
Breslov takes what the Litvaks throw out and makes it into the roof of the Suka which can be made only of thrown out things.
