HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau Shares Advice On Raising Talmidei Chachamim With Working Charedim

 

A rare gathering took place Wednesday evening at the Bnei Brak home of HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, where 20 Charedi businessmen met with the 96-year-old Rosh Yeshiva to discuss their role in the Torah world and the upcoming Knesset elections. 

 During the gathering, HaRav Landau urged the businessmen to use their influence to encourage support for United Torah Judaism, while promising to personally address the needs of Charedim who work to support their families. “You are part of the Torah world. We share the same hashkafah,” the Rosh Yeshiva told those present. 

 One of the most memorable moments came when journalist and author R’ Shlomo Kook posed a personal question about how working fathers can merit raising children who become great talmidei chachamim. 

Before the question, HaRav Landau was introduced to R’ Shlomo Kook as the grandson of HaRav Shlomo Kook, the former Rav of Rechovot, after whom he was named. The Rosh Yeshiva immediately recalled that the elder Rav Kook had been his roommate at Yeshivas Chevron. R’ Shlomo Kook then announced that he wished to ask a question unrelated to politics.

“How can that be? Is it about learning?” HaRav Landau responded with a smile.

R’ Shlomo Kook explained that HaRav Landau’s father had worked for a living in a bookstore in Rechovot, yet merited raising a son who became one of the Gedolei Hador. He asked what working fathers today could do to merit the same.

“My father learned inside the store,” HaRav Landau replied. “He was immersed in learning. Whenever I traveled from Bnei Brak to visit him in Rechovot, he always had a sefer.”

The Rosh Yeshiva acknowledged that the business world has changed considerably, explaining that his father had opportunities to learn between customers, spending that time studying Gemara, Rishonim, and Acharonim.

When R’ Shlomo Kook asked whether working fathers today could still merit sons who become talmidei chachamim, HaRav Landau responded, “If they learn, they can have a son who is a talmid chacham.”

Asked whether even limited learning would suffice, the Rosh Yeshiva emphasized, “Learn as much as possible. As much as possible.”

The exchange concluded with HaRav Landau giving the businessmen a bracha that they merit to learn as much Torah as possible, offering a powerful message about the importance of Torah learning even for those occupied with earning a parnassah.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)