Academia and learning

Not a trivial question at all. I can tell you that, unlike most of the staff at the Bar Ilan Torah Institute, I have had academic studies, and therefore I better understand the difficulties of the guys in getting serious about studying alongside their studies. The fact that you are asking the question and are bothered means that you are in a very good situation. At least that is what you must maintain at all costs.

Let me start by saying that I’m not someone who has it all easy. I wasn’t an outstanding student, and I had a hard time studying. (I also matured late, and I think I’ve improved over the years in academics and in general.)

I don’t have any special techniques. During my first degree (in engineering, Tel Aviv University), I didn’t study and wasn’t really connected. Still, I did quite a few other things besides my studies (I took courses on various subjects at the university, coordinated a branch at Bnei Akiva, participated in a basketball team, taught in high school yeshiva, read various books, and more). I did this mainly so as not to lose my humanity, and not become a slave to my studies. In my opinion, beyond fearing God and studying Torah, it is no less important that a person be his own master and not be enslaved to the constraints within which he operates. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to be as successful as possible in your chosen path. I’m all for maximum success, but that’s only as long as you meet any goals you’ve set for yourself in other fields. If it requires you to make a “crazy investment,” as you put it, I’m not sure you’re in the right place. Alternatively, I’m not sure that you really need to invest that much.

It should be remembered that success in academic studies is not of paramount importance either. You need to know the material, but the question of whether you will have an average of 95 or 80 is not critical. It does not greatly affect the future. Except if you want to be admitted to a master’s degree, you must meet the restrictions and admission requirements, of course. You need to get rid of the pressure of success at all costs and also the fear of failure. Therefore, if you feel that you are not meeting the standard you have set for yourself, there is room to ease the pressure of academic studies. Either take fewer courses (and perhaps graduate a semester later) or succeed a little less.
As I wrote, I’m not just talking about studying Torah, but about engaging in things that are important (or important to you), beyond the current constraints. This is very important and it’s important to maintain that.

In my opinion, it depends a lot on how you feel. If you are content with not-so-high spiritual goals and that is enough for you, there is nothing wrong with that. You will be on hold throughout your years of study and then you will increase your pace. Just be aware that even later on at work, sometimes the pressure is no less. Therefore, this consideration can accompany you later on. You must not reach retirement in a state where you have given up all along the way. If this is the case, I would not compromise now.

After my first degree, I was in a different situation. And here I say that I am here thanks to my wife. More than once I almost broke down during my advanced degrees, and she pushed me not to give up. It cost me my level of success and satisfaction in my academic studies, but looking back, I don’t regret it at all. It is definitely worth having a “supervisor” by your side, to whom you will be important but who will have an independent perspective, a partner or friend, and to make decisions and set goals together in the spiritual field, and to meet them. Check from time to time that you are indeed meeting them and what can be improved. I think that once you do it seriously, your feeling will improve, even regardless of the actual spiritual achievements. The very feeling that you are not giving up and are working on it, and that it is important to you.

Finally, I always imagined the look I would have when I turned around in bed and faced the wall before “returning equipment” (in 1920). Will I look at my life and be satisfied with it or not? Will I leave a mark on the world, and have I fulfilled my goals reasonably? This is an enlightening look and is worth adopting once in a while when you examine your path. It takes you out of the current race and gives you a good perspective and peace in making decisions. There you can examine whether it is really important to get a score of 95 or is 85 enough? What is the difference? But note that on the spiritual side too, if you are progressing and achieving achievements and creating reasonably, then it is not really necessary to be the greatest of the generation. It is more important to “be proud”. I am not in favor of going wild for achievements in any direction. Good aspirations are beautiful, but it is important to be realistic and succeed in all the directions you have chosen, sacred and secular. This is important both for the substance of the matter and in terms of the satisfaction you will feel, which in itself reflects on your life in a very significant way. It’s a miserable feeling to be mediocre in all areas, and it’s hard to live with it.

Good luck and may you walk in the Oriyta. Be strong and strong and maintain your alertness to the spirit and the world, and in no way give up. This alertness and self-criticism is the most important root and it is to be guarded with all due care.