It depends where and for what reason. If you’re taking them to a place like a frum bungalow colony where your older children will be able to learn all the time, the younger ones will be in a good environment and you’ll be able to be oisek in avodas Hashem – then why not? But if it’s just going away to stop learning – no!
I want to tell you something. This whole business of vacations is not a Jewish business. In Europe the yeshivas didn’t have any vacations in the summertime. They continued summer and winter exactly the same. And that’s how it should be.
Review... and Review More
How can you take a vacation from shleimus, from perfection, from learning Torah? If the yeshivas close down for the summer then all the yeshiva men should make it their business to sit and learn all day long. Review. And review more. Otherwise, whatever you learned you forget and the next time you look at the masichta it’s like a new masichta. It’s a pity. Spend the summertime learning and learning and learning. That’s our life – “Ki heim chayeinu.”
Of course you should always get fresh air. Even in the winter time. Every day you should take a walk – a brisk walk for a half hour or so. Always, always do what you can for your health. And I don’t say that you can’t go to the country. Go – but only if it’s going to help you in ruchniyus. If it’s only in gashmiyus, but in ruchniyus there’s going to be a loss, then it doesn’t pay to sacrifice so much.
Some people have achieved so much in the summer time – so much. They sit and they learn all the time. School teachers have vacation all summer long – so they sit in the country for two months and learn. Ok. Why not? Nothing wrong with the country.
But other-wise our main criteria should always be – what’s the best for my neshamah? And what’s the best for the neshamah of my children.
Reprinted from the Parshas Balak 5784 email of Toras Avigdor, based on the teachings of Rav Avigdor Miller, zt”l. Adapted from (Tape #237 – June 29, 2000)
Thoughts that Count for Our Parsha
Pinchas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My anger away from the people of Israel, while he was zealous for My sake among them (Deut. 25:11)
In enumerating Pinchas' praise, the first thing the Torah mentions is that he acted "among them." In Judaism, true zealousness for G-d does not mean withdrawing from society and becoming a recluse, but expressing it on the communal level. (Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz)
From Yetzer, the family of the Yitzrites; from Shilem, the family of the Shilemites (Deut. 26:49)
Our Sages said: "A person is led in the direction he wishes to go." If a person wants to indulge his "yetzer," his evil inclination, he will not be prevented from doing so. But if he truly strives for wholeness (from the same Hebrew root as "Shilem") and purity, G-d will help him achieve his goal. (Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlatchov)
These were the counted of the people of Israel: six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty (Deut. 26:51)
This number reflects only those Jewish men who were between the ages of 20 and 60; it does not include males who were older or younger, nor does it include women and girls. The total number of Jews in the desert - men, women and children - is not recorded anywhere and is unknown. (Rabbeinu Bachya)
Reprinted from the Parashat Pinchas 5761/2001 edition of L’Chaim
