Jerusalem – In a move that is being hailed as “unprecedented,” leaders of the Gur hasidic movement have ordered that all synagogues must now close their doors at 9:30 p.m. in the evening on a daily basis.
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ARUTZ SHEVA 7 (http://bit.ly/14lhyYN) reports that, while the exact reason for the decision is not known, it comes following a meeting between the Gerrer Rebbe and his top advisors which was called to discuss an ongoing pattern on yeshiva students reporting late to school.
The decision comes amid charges from IDF draft advocates that not all yeshiva students are taking their Torah studies seriously.
Gur insiders say that it is also possible that the decision was made in a effort to address ongoing problems of yeshiva students congregating late at night, which suggests that some may not be getting enough sleep.
The order also directs synagogue attendants to move along any late night stragglers after shutting down the lights at 9:30 p.m.
I’m sure in the Summer the Bucherim will love it! No Night shiur anymore
But at the same time when will the Gur chasidim be mekayim the mitzvah Vehigiso bo yoimum vuleilu? They’ll wake up 4 AM?
Gur was always at the forefront of Hasidic Torah and once again have taken a tremendous step for the kavod of Torah. Kol hakavod!
In the Mir in Poland they had 2 sdarim each day the first from 8:30 or 9:00 am until 1:30 pm followed by Mussar until 2:00pm the second was from 4:00 until 8:30 followed by a mussar Seder till 9:00 pm. Today most yeshivas have smaller ADHD sdarim. That is why we aren’t producing talmidei chachamim of the same caliber. Also the 1:00 mussar as opposed to half an hour.
Kol Hakavod! #2 is just jealous.
They actually do wake up very early for seder, you may be right about 5AM or so
The Gerrer made an error, although he may have meant well in this case. The radical change in that yeshiva policy was spawned by a middle-aged or senior perspective, without considering the contemporary science of teenagers’ unique physiology and their circadian rhythm. A much better solution would have been to delay starting times in the morning by at least one hour, rather than causing bitul Torah by enforcing a 9:30 pm curfew. I hope they will reconsider.
The eminent professor of neuroscience Russel Foster wrote recently in the New Scientist (a UK publication) that, “The biology of human sleep timing, like that of other mammals, changes as we age. This has been shown in many studies. As puberty begins, bedtimes and waking times get later. This trend continues until 19.5 years in women and 21 in men. Then it reverses. At 55 we wake at about the time we woke prior to puberty. On average this is two hours earlier than adolescents. This means that for a teenager, a 7 am alarm call is the equivalent of a 5 am start for a person in their 50s.”
Professor Russel reports that schools that delayed their start time realized enhanced academic performance.
I understood that this was to encourage stronger morning sedarim after a good nights rest.
I don’t know what its like in many communities but in some places that I have seen the bachurim stay up til all kinds of crazy late hours becuase its the only time their cult leaders aren’t breathing down their necks with rediculous oppressive rules and ever increasing learning schedules all designed to keep them from a normal life. At night they can practice their talents and hobbies like drawing or playing a musical instrument and other similar forbidden or frowned upon pursuits. They can write a letter or maybe send an email from their hidden I-phone. Maybe even read a novel.
Im not sure what the gerrer rebbes reasoning is. But in ger buchurim are in yeshivah
6:30 am. So if the boys are home at 9:30, and get some R&R and on bbed by 10:30_11:00 than ita a great idea. Will it work? In ger it will.
I’m sorry to all, but I don’t find this to be a great revolutionary idea by buy the Gerer Rebbi.
There’s always been night birds and there will always be night birds. It’s not like they didn’t have a bedtime until now, It’s just that they didn’t go to bed. So Please tell me how this is going to help. If anything they will now hang out outside of the Torah confines and maybe they will eventually wander into places never dreamed before. Hey, once you’re out no one can predict as to how far you’ll go.
Someone once complained to the Belzer Rebbi that there are yungerleit that hang out in shteibel at night instead of learning, and he wanted the Rebbi’s approval to send them out. The Rebbi told him, “As long as they hang out in Bais Medrash I know that their not hanging out at bars or clubs and I know that their not watching their TV shows at home. Who’s to say where or what they will do if they can’t come to shul.
Now that’s called a leader. One who realizes the needs of his followers and makes an unpopular decision.
With great respect, I think night owls will be negatively effected by this, it’s their nature.
I am thinking something else, I think this meant for married men, so they send more time with their family at home. They are trying to reverse some of the Bais Yisroels rules on a married life in an indirect way.