The heads of Yeshivas Chevron in Givat Mordechai, Yerushalayim, have issued a directive to discourage bochurim in the fifth year shiur from getting engaged during the winter zeman. The decision comes just days after the leadership of the Ponovezh Yeshiva expressed concerns about extended engagement periods between chassanim and kallahs, as previously reported by Matzav.com.
The Chevron announcement was made during a special asifa held today attended by all of the roshei yeshiva — Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Moshe Mordechai Farbstein, Rav Shlomo Katz, and Rav Yosef Chevroni.
The asifa was prompted by the recent collapse of the yeshiva’s fifth shiur after a majority of its members became engaged.
During the asifa, Rav Dovid Cohen and Rav Moshe Mordechai Farbstein addressed the bochurim, stating clearly that engagements should not take place during the winter zeman at all. Only summer engagements would be allowed. They further emphasized that any bochur who does get engaged during the winter will no longer be permitted to stay in the yeshiva dormitory. For those residing in Yerushalayim, this means sleeping at home; for out-of-town bochurim, alternative accommodations will be arranged.
The purpose of the new policy is to eliminate unnecessary social pressure around getting engaged and to maintain the intense learning atmosphere within the dormitory — an environment they feel is compromised when bochurim are already emotionally and mentally half outside the yeshiva.
The roshei yeshiva were careful to clarify they are not forbidding engagements entirely. Rav Shlomo Katz, one of the roshei yeshiva, explicitly stated that it would not be halachically correct to ban engagements altogether.
However, he did address the growing problem of social pressure and distractions, noting that bochurim frequently discuss things related to their kallahs and engagement that lead to an atmosphere they believe is inappropriate within the yeshiva. The roshei yeshiva strongly urged the students to refrain from such conversations.
{Matzav.com Israel}