Here is a comprehensive
analysis of the full scope of bitul Torah (loss of Torah learning
time) caused by the Adirei HaTorah event, accounting for all known
components: travel, preparation, meetings, logistics, and post-event effects.
I. CORE EVENT PARTICIPATION
1. Lakewood Yungerleit
- Attendees: ~8,000–10,000
- Time Loss per Person:
- 2 hours travel
- 3 hours at the event
- 1 hour prep/socializing
- 1 hour of lost seder time before or after
- Total: ~6–7 hours
- Cumulative Loss:
→ 8,000 × 6 = 48,000
→ 10,000 × 7 = 70,000
Range: 48,000–70,000 hours
2. Lakewood Bochurim
- Attendees: ~3,000–5,000
- Time Loss per Person:
- Night seder missed
- Travel & group logistics (~2 hours)
- Disruption next morning
- Total: ~6–8 hours
- Cumulative Loss:
→ 3,000 × 6 = 18,000
→ 5,000 × 8 = 40,000
Range: 18,000–40,000 hours
3. Out-of-Town Yungerleit &
Bochurim
- Attendees: ~3,000–4,000
- Time Loss per Person:
- 6–8 hours travel
- Missed sedarim before/after
- Accommodations, fatigue
- Total: ~8–12 hours
- Cumulative Loss:
→ 3,000 × 8 = 24,000
→ 4,000 × 12 = 48,000
Range: 24,000–48,000 hours
4. Roshei Yeshiva / Rabbeim /
Chavrei Kollel
- Attendees: ~500–1,000
- Time Loss per Person:
- Shiur prep interruption
- Organizational roles
- Travel + attendance
- Total: ~6–10 hours
- Cumulative Loss:
→ 500 × 6 = 3,000
→ 1,000 × 10 = 10,000
Range: 3,000–10,000 hours
5. Baale’batim (Working Men Who
Learn)
- Attendees: ~10,000
- Time Loss per Person:
- Night chavrusa / shiur
- Disruption to morning seder
- Total: ~1–2 hours
- Cumulative Loss:
→ 10,000 × 1 = 10,000
→ 10,000 × 2 = 20,000
Range: 10,000–20,000 hours
II. INTERNAL BMG LOGISTICS & PREPARATIONS
6. Roshei Chabura Meeting
- Attendees: ~250
- Time Loss per Person: ~3.5 hours
- Central meeting (~1.5 hrs)
- Follow-up calls/emails (~2 hrs)
- Cumulative Loss:
→ 250 × 3.5 = 875 hours
7. General Yungerleit BMG-Wide
Meeting
- Attendees: ~6,000–7,000
- Time Loss per Person: ~2.5 hours
- Attendance at general meeting (~1 hr)
- Pre- and post-discussion with chaveirim (~1.5 hrs)
- Cumulative Loss:
→ 6,000 × 2.5 = 15,000
→ 7,000 × 2.5 = 17,500
Range: 15,000–17,500 hours
8. Ticket Purchasing and
Coordination
- Families Participating: ~7,000
- Time Loss per Household: ~1 hour
- Buying tickets, choosing seats, arranging for kids,
carpools
- Cumulative Loss:
→ 7,000 × 1 = 7,000 hours
III. INDIRECT AND FOLLOW-UP LOSSES
9. Post-Event Fatigue and Late
Start Next Day
- Applies to many yungerleit and bochurim who return
late
- Estimated yungerleit affected: ~5,000
- Time Loss: ~1 hour (missed 1st seder or late
arrival)
- Cumulative: 5,000 × 1 = 5,000 hours
IV. TOTAL ESTIMATED BITUL TORAH
Category |
Minimum |
Maximum |
Lakewood Yungerleit |
48,000 |
70,000 |
Lakewood Bochurim |
18,000 |
40,000 |
Out-of-Town Lomdei Torah |
24,000 |
48,000 |
Roshei Yeshiva / Rabbeim |
3,000 |
10,000 |
Baalebatim |
10,000 |
20,000 |
Roshei Chabura Prep |
875 |
875 |
General BMG Meeting |
15,000 |
17,500 |
Ticket Coordination |
7,000 |
7,000 |
Post-Event Lag |
5,000 |
5,000 |
TOTAL HOURS |
130,875 |
218,375 |
Summary
The Adirei HaTorah event,
while a major display of kavod haTorah, directly results in an estimated:
130,000 – 218,000 hours of bitul
Torah
This figure includes:
- Actual event attendance
- Travel
- Internal coordination within BMG
- Meetings and ticket logistics
- Post-event disruptions
Additional Considerations:
-
Wives/Mothers: Lose shiurim, seder hours, household stability, especially if husband is away for long.
-
Post-event lag: The day after has reduced productivity in many kollelim and yeshivos.
-
Prep time for organizers: A select group may lose days or even weeks preparing.
It's all worth it for those individuals that they live and breath KOVOD, without which למה לי חיים
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