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Rav Simcha Mordechai Cook is the Menahel/Principal of the Mechina (High School)division of Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore Maryland.For over sixty years the school has been one of America's premier Charedi preparatory high schools,dedicated to fostering within its students the understanding of the Talmud in the classic Lithuanian fashion,and building Bnei Torah ready to accept leadership positions in teaching and community affairs.Rav Cook's advice and ideas are consistently sought after,due to his intelligence and clarity of purpose,backed by close to fifty years of experience in education.A trailblazing article on the goals of Charedi Yeshiva education in the 21st Century penned by Rav Cook can be found here.Rabbi Kivelevitz was a student of the present day Menahel when he was his ninth grade Rebbe in 1973; it was only natural for Kivelevitz to turn to his old roots to discover first hand how the Mechina with its intense schedule of three sedarim of chavrusa learning combined with Shiurim from Rabbeim was continuing under lock down orders in Maryland.Rav Cook describes candidly the challenges,and how through trial and error,and consultation with Gedolei Yisroel, the school set up a realistic framework,and aided by Torah Umesorah's Chrome Books (given free to every Talmid,) live interactive learning on par with other educational institutions are now continuing.The "Torah True" technological wizards of Torah Umesorah have constructed a system that allows connectivity without the perceived dangers of the Internet.see here about the wide range of programs under their umbrella.Rabbi Kivelevitz wonders about the privacy issues that can be raised with such individual monitoring capabilities in the hands of the Hanhalah.He also hopes that students that are thriving in the new set-up will be allowed to make use of the virtual distance model after the situation normalizes.Rav Cook understands fully that not one shape mold fits all,and illustrates the varied way students absorb information with a quaint vignette from his own English boyhood,see here for a hint.Rabbi Kivelevitz citing that one of the reasons for Ner Israel's leadership role in the past was its twin commitment to excellence in Judaic and secular studies, wonders how that balance with strong emphasis on the "Three R's" can be maintained from lock down.Rav Cook admits that for the sake of salvaging the fewer hours that could be demanded from their students,the rigorous demands in those subjects were perforce toned down. The students are viewing pre-recorded lessons from their actual instructors, and taking tests on the honor system.The pair of old friends engage in quite a dose of reminiscences from times past and the challenges the young Rebbe had with the precocious Kivelevitz child. Rabbi Kivelevitz reminds his Rebbe of how Rav Cook once caught him with musical contraband(a cassette of Top 40 hits) and the consequences that ensued.Here (for a video) or here (for just audio)is what was Kivelevitz was listening to when he was caught............remember to shut it off when your Mashgiach walks in.....Please leave us a review or email us at ravkiv@gmail.comFor more information on this podcast visityeshivaofnewark.jewishpodcasts.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate