Reform And Rehabilitate Haredi Education Now, Haredi Rabbi Says

"Any movement which teaches its children only Torah is a modern aberration," says haredi Member of Knesset Rabbi Haim Amsalem.

Rabbi Hiam Amsalem

A call to rehabilitate haredi education
Traditional Torah sources teach in the clearest of terms that learning a trade to support one’s family with dignity.
Member of Knesset Rabbi Haim Amsalem • Jerusalem Post   
 
Hundreds of thousands of students begin a new school year today. Some will learn basic Judaism and Torah along with general studies. Some will study Torah in the mornings and general studies in the afternoons, and some will learn Torah exclusively. While the minimal degree of Jewish content in the more secular schools saddens me, I am even more troubled by the third category described above. The haredi world in which I live does not educate children in accordance with Jewish tradition.

Haredi schools not following Jewish tradition!? Aren’t they the ones who do uphold tradition? Haven’t the more modern movements veered from the path?

The answer is simply that any movement which teaches its children only Torah is a modern aberration.

Traditional Torah sources teach in the clearest of terms that learning a trade to support one’s family with dignity – alongside Torah study and living a Torah-observant lifestyle – is the highest of ideals. For example, in the Jerusalem Talmud, Peiah, Chapter 1 interprets the Torah’s instruction to “choose life” as a command to have a trade. The Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin, 29a teaches that “a father must teach his son a trade. Anyone who does not teach his son a trade is as if he taught his son robbery.” The Midrash on Ecclesiastes Chapter 9 instructs: “Acquire for yourself a trade together with Torah.” The Babylonian Talmud, Brachot 8a goes as far as saying that “a person who earns a living from his own handiwork is greater than one who fears heaven.” Finally, Wisdom of our Fathers Chapter 2 states emphatically that “any Torah not accompanied by work will end up being nullified, and will lead to sin.”

A glance through the Mishna and Talmud reveals that along with being great Torah sages, the leaders of their generations earned a living as doctors, tailors, launderers, plowers, carpenters, land measurers, shoe makers and repairmen, wood choppers, beer makers, bakers, smiths, trap makers, engravers, skin tanners, mill workers, scribes, pit diggers, bundle and beam transporters, wool merchants and weavers.

All the above sources no doubt served as the basis for the teaching from Maimonides, himself a world-class Torah scholar and physician (Laws of Torah Study 3:10-11): “Any person who makes the decision to study Torah without a livelihood and to sustain himself from charity – such a person desecrates God, disgraces Torah, extinguishes the light of religion, causes bad for himself, and removes himself from the World to Come… and our sages also commanded that a person should not earn a living from Torah… It is a high level for a person to earn a living from his own toil and a trait of the saintly. Through this, a person earns all the honor and good in this world and the next.”

This approach continued until the past few hundred years. For example, the 15th century Orchot Tzadikim (309), teaches that “A person must find middle ground with two responsibilities and set aside hours for Torah study and for work in this world, and must strengthen himself to do both… neither should take away from the other.” The famed Maharal of 16th century Prague relates in Netivot Olam that “when a person is busy with two pursuits – work to provide for what his body needs and Torah for completion of his soul – he will not find any sin.”

So it is clear that Jewish tradition advocates intensive Torah study together with learning a trade. In our times, this means teaching students whatever they need to earn a university degree – the primary path for earning a livelihood in today’s world. (I also advocate joint yeshiva and university programs – a topic for a future column).

Lest one think it is impossible to provide an intensive yeshiva education while studying language, mathematics, science or history, a glance at the yeshiva world in the US proves that highschool students attending the most haredi institutions – Lakewood, Torah Va’daas, Philadelpia, Chaim Berlin, Telshe, and more study all these subjects as mandated by US law. This provides students with the option of university study, which many pursue, and produces well-balanced and worldly Torah scholars who bring sanctity to God’s name in the workplace and earn great respect for their communities.

I must make two important clarifications. Maimonides, at the end of the Laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, elaborates on the benefits of doing nothing but studying Torah. The Ohr HaChayim, one of the greatest biblical commentators of the early 18th century, explains that this teaching refers to a person or group who wants to support a full-time Torah scholar in a partnership. Maimonides, in the Laws of Torah Study quoted above, is referring to a person who places a burden on the nation through his learning, and essentially forces others to support him. If someone has a private arrangement by which he does nothing but study Torah while receiving the support of a private individual, this is a blessing.

I personally love nothing more than quiet moments alone with the Talmud, or studying the Parsha with my children, and cannot imagine a more beautiful lifestyle. However, as Maimonides states, no person can choose to place the burden of supporting him on the community. This is exactly what the haredi school system does.

Clarification number two relates to our need as a community to produce elite Torah scholars. It has always been part of our tradition to identify a select group of young men who have the potential and drive needer to spend their entire lives studying Torah and we, as a community, should not only support them but should feel blessed to have that opportunity. The number in each generation who fit these criteria is quite small, but even today we should find those elite scholars and spare them any worry about having to earn a living.

I have extensive plans to establish a system of government-funded schools to provide haredi boys with the opportunity to reconnect to authentic Jewish study of Torah and general studies, enablinge them to sustain their families with dignity. I bless all our students with a successful and fruitful school year, but will not cease to work toward rehabilitating the haredi system as an MK and through the Am Shalem movement. It is time for the haredim who claim to fight for authentic Judaism to truly live by that lofty ideal.

The writer is an MK, and the founder and chairman of the Am Shalem political movement.

Comments

[seymour]

this guy better watch out some frum people on this board will call him a kofer

[anuran]

I applaud him for his efforts. I fear they are doomed in the face of Israeli politics.

[seymour]

very refreshing to hear from a frum Knesset member.

will it do any good

[who knows]

Good man Rabbi Amsalem. He is a little wrong about Lakewood and other yeshivas in the US, but other then that he is right on target.

[Yissy-CA]

Chief Rabbi. Please Hashem.

[jancsipista]

he is right on,its partly the governments fault also since they finance theese so callled ultra hareidis fantasies just learn toreh and everything will be ok, well the real world does not function like that why should others finance their lifestyle let them finance their own lifestyle its that simple .

[Dave]

Rabbi Amsalem once again shows that he's a terrific guy.
I agree with Yissy-CA: Chief Rabbi. Please Hashem.

[Dovid]

Please God he will hook up with the now-rehabilitated Israeli Arab rights campaigner (I kid you not) Aryeh Deri and kick out the bums (Shas).

[Betzalel]

The root of the problem is not the fact that Haredim don't learn secular studies. It's the fact that they don't learn Tanach. Many have never even read the whole Tanach.

There has to be a balance between the Written Law and the Oral Law. Too much Oral Law and everyone becomes dependent on the rabbis to tell us what to do. Then it's slavery just like it was in Egypt. The reason we have a Written Law is so that if the rabbis advise us to do something that doesn't make any sense, we can check it out and judge for ourselves. Judaism is about freedom and not having to go to a rabbi for permission to do anything out of the norm.

Imagine that the Constitution was not written down and was only oral tradition. Then our government would quickly become a tyranny. The reason we have a written Constitution is so that we the people can keep the government in check. It's the same thing with the rabbis, l'havdil. If we don't have a Written Tanach, we end up with a tyranny of rabbis.

You have to have both Written and Oral Law for Judaism to work, not just one of the two.

[Betzalel]

I said, "It's the fact that they don't learn Tanach." This is wrong. I should have said, "It's the fact that they don't learn enough Tanach."

[ah-pee-chorus]

best of luck to you, rabbi. its remarkable that its so impressive and rare to hear a rabbi actually speaking the truth about the current situation in which the haredim are basically stealing from everyone else.

[David]

Rabbi Amsellem is impressive!!!

[mordecai]

For many who post here and say we are self-hating Jews. I hope this article opens their eyes just a bit.

Proverbs teaches: "A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a thousand blows into the fool."

Further it is written: "Better to meet a she bear robbed of her cubs then a fool in his folly."

We see it as folly that individuals study Talmud day and night to the exclusion of acquiring work skills. The Talmud sees it also as folly. We see it as folly to drive a school bus filled with children through hurricane floods.

The critiques found here on this blog are mirrored in the Talmud itself.

[seymour]

interestingly

only us self hating jews are posting good things about this article

were are the others the defenders of jews

[Sohn of Schneer]

Where are the others?

They are reading VIN, Jewish Press or other garbage that censor out all this news, that's where they are, assuming that they are reading anything.

[Flatbusher]

The person in a US jail with the longest sentence is a Hasidic Jew who learned in the Satmar Yeshiva in Boro Park Brooklyn 4 years ago. He was our neighbor at the time before we moved.

When he 'graduated' he and his hasdic buddies, had no idea that another world exists besides Willy & BP & the Rebbe. Really.

Hence they felt that these 'goyim' are stupid, to wit the Hungarians & Pollacks from the old country, and we 'kluge yidden' will figure out a way. College is for the Goyim.

This is one major reason why so many Hasidim get in trouble with the law and wind up sitting many years: they don't get it.

Insularity is wonderful but it brings delusions of grandeur and invincibility. Then out of this mirage comes an... Auschwitz or its minor equivalent.

[Flatbusher]

Make that 40.

[Yoel Mechanic]

Nice essay. Now this point:

Lest one think it is impossible to provide an intensive yeshiva education while studying language, mathematics, science or history, a glance at the yeshiva world in the US proves that highschool students attending the most haredi institutions – Lakewood, Torah Va’daas, Philadelpia, Chaim Berlin, Telshe, and more study all these subjects....

---------
I think a more detailed analysis here is needed to capture the situation. I'd like to hear some actual research on this statement.

[JJJ]

Why Chief Rabbi? Amselem for PM!

[ultra haredi lite]

As the Talmud clearly states, "many tried the path of full time learning as per Rav Shimon bar Yochai and it did not work for them, many tried the path of learning and earning a living like Rav Yishmael and were successful".

[batyahgirl@yahoo.com]

Finally, a man of God.

['Yechiel']

Learning a trade is helpful when people are actually willing to work...

[Adam Neira]

People should study the Tanach from an early age, but especially the Pentateuch, i.e. Five tools in ancient Greek. This should be in conjunction with : History; Geography; Science; Mathematics; Art; Literature, Economics and Politics. The physical side of education should also not be ignored. Some sport is good. The international language of English should be studied as well as the national language. Travel in the early twenties is also a good way for young people to broaden their horizons. Obviously a good education is predicated on a certain level of the general welfare in a nation.

[Maarvik]

The Charedi education system is the foundation for their society's culture of obedience and thought control.

They will not change their education by allowing secular subjects in their curriculum or even as much as a limited exposure to the outside world, as this will lead to both financial and mental independence of their flock.

[ashkenazi]

The fact is he is a sefardi. I think the ashkenazim will also welcome what he says for them. They dont want them in their yeshivot and I am not so sure the universities want them either. They are not capable of making their own. They are the israeli underclass, and are not yet fully civilised.

[ShmendriKarta]

Your neighbor Mr Sholam Weiss went off the derech in every way. He stopped posing as a Satmarer Chossid years before he landed his 845 years in the slammer. You can't blame Satmar for this sociopath.

I blame the malaise of secular Judaism for turning out unbalanced neurotics like Shmarya.

[ShmendriKarta]

As for Rav Amsellem, he has the right idea and for once I agree with some of the nut brigade here. Chief Rabbi is the right position for him - I don't think he'll get anywhere or achieve much in politics.

[Chochom]

I find it a bit ironic that an article about the needed for sufficient "secular" skills includes an obvious spelling mistake: "potential and drive needer to spend" (should be needed).

I don't blame Rabbi Amsalem (who is surely not a native English speaker), but rather the editors and proofreaders at the Jerusalem Post.

[seymour]

Your neighbor Mr Sholam Weiss went off the derech in every way. He stopped posing as a Satmarer Chossid years before he landed his 845 years in the slammer. You can't blame Satmar for this sociopath.

I blame the malaise of secular Judaism for turning out unbalanced neurotics like Shmarya.

Posted by: ShmendriKarta | September 01, 2011 at 05:58 AM

what about other satmar gonoven and what about KJ itself that has been caught in scamming the government and satmar yeshivas who lie to get more government money or the ones that make the top 10 slum lord list

['Yechiel']

ShmendriKarta
Malaise? Disease is more like it.

[MarkfromShortHills]

Amsalem is a highly reputable man who has been repudiated by those Haredi who originally supported his election. But, unfortunately, at the present time he is a voice crying in the wilderness.
And it is unfortunate, but understandable, that he believes that institutions such as BMG in Lakewood turn out people with a secular education. They don't.
Nonetheless, it is refreshing to be reminded - by an intensely observant Jew - of the merit of working to earn a living. If only Williamsburg, Kiryas Joel, New Square etc. would teach the sources Amsalem cites.

[Raphael Kaufman]

"Imagine that the Constitution was not written down and was only oral tradition."

You mean like in England?

[Stan]

standing ovation for this Rabbi. Just one cynical note - not only dont most charedi not teach their children secular subjects or a trade but a large portion dont even learn torah. just lazy pieces of shit who stroll the streets looking for immodestly dressed women to ban, shabbos violaters, and handouts.

[ShmendriKarta]

What about:

Levine
Roy Cohn
Boesky
Madoff
Eddie Antar
that Israeli guy who was caught with the Galleon gang?

All secular and all far bigger fish than the Satmar bad apples.

More secular than Satmar in the (politically charged) slumlord list too.

[Dave]

Betzalel, excellent post.

[Joonarchist]

He came to speak at my father in laws shul a few times and I must say I was impressed with his ideas. I fear that however he is fighting a battle that simply cannot be won. As long as the welfare state supports these people they have no incentive to change their ways

[Yanky]

We could quote from Chazal until we are blue in the face, but they choose to ignore it. Nevertheless, Mishna 2 in next week’s Pirkei Avos states “Rabban Gamaliel the son of R’ Judah the patriarch said: excellent is the study of the Torah together with a worldly occupation, for the energy [taken up] by both of them keeps sin out of one's mind; and [as for] all [study of the] torah where there is no worldly occupation, the end thereof [is that] it comes to nought and brings sin in its train;”

[Deremes]

what about other satmar gonoven and what about KJ itself that has been caught in scamming the government and satmar yeshivas who lie to get more government money or the ones that make the top 10 slum lord list

Posted by: seymour | September 01, 2011 at 06:03 AM

Little man,just so you should know that all those hassidim who drive "fancy cars BMW,Lexus,Bentley, Cadillac's etc and at the same time commit fraud such as welfare,section 8,food stamps and the rest",is a drop in the bucket in the economy.
Not that its right to do but most hassidim who do these kind of stealing are doing it to put food on the table even with their earnings they cant make it.
Lets say a family of five or six is entitled for governmental aid if you make forty thousand dollars annually and he makes forty FIVE thousand so he lied with five thousand dollars so he can get on the programs.Again,its wrong to do but its done for survival.And when they are caught many end up in prison
However,all those Harvard grads who get big cushy jobs on wall st and make big money, still most of them are not satisfied with what they make legally and steal in the billions so they should be able to live life to the fullest.Private jets,yachts,homes all over,three or four top of the line cars.
Look at Lehman brothers how it went under and no one went to prison and some of them made big bucks to the end and couldn't care less.Fanny Mae another example.AIG got from the government a "loan" like fifty billion dollars. Banks got billions so they should able to modify loans and most who apply for loan modification are rejected.I haven't met one person who got approved. So stop with your bull shit how Hasidim cheat.

[AztecQueen2000]

Finally, a voice of reason! I hope that we will all take heed.
Can we name Rabbi Amsallem Gadol Hador? He sure seems like it.

[Flatbusher]

Your neighbor Mr Sholam Weiss went off the derech in every way. He stopped posing as a Satmarer Chossid years before he landed his 845 years in the slammer. You can't blame Satmar for this sociopath.

I blame the malaise of secular Judaism for turning out unbalanced neurotics like Shmarya.

Posted by: ShmendriKarta | September 01, 2011 at 05:58 AM
________________________________

The person who got the longest sentence in US History (isn't that something!) was educated all his life grades 1 to 12 in Satmar; his money built a large kolell bulding which carries family name in KJ, which stands to this day & where some pious don't step into knowing the source, Studio 54, ransacked insurance company stealing thousands of retirees last penny ,etc.

BTW when he was younger he recounted how he was abused verbally there by Rebbes. Once SW said with bravado (but you could see it hurt him) that Rebbe announced to the whole class his name Sholam is gematria same as ESOV... "so its no wonder..."

He was 11 years old at the time ... & during those years the OTHER KIND OF ABUSE was taboo to even THINK ABOUT....

You can't pick and choose. Is Jacobowitz Satmar? Is Goldstein 47th Street photo Satmar, etc.

The point is you will find a smaller percentage in grads from Torah Vodaath, Mir, Chaim Berlin, sitting in jail even thoush they too are Chareidi. Because they have some secular knwoledge and truly understand how this mighty and powerful government operates.

The Chasisics (all) who get married with a 4th grade education in English do not. Hence they take exceptional risks becuase they do not know.... The future chilull Hashem's are built into the system and discounted.

[Deremes]

"The point is you will find a smaller percentage in grads from Torah Vodaath, Mir, Chaim Berlin, sitting in jail even thoush they too are Chareidi. Because they have some secular knwoledge and truly understand how this mighty and powerful government operates.
Posted by: Flatbushe
r | September 01, 2011 at 02:02 PM"

I don't want to name names and please do the same. But i know a few who are in prison for quite some time and i bet you know about them too who are from the Torah Vodaath, Mir, Chaim Berlin background and had good secular education. They are in prison becuase with their education they had access to betray people and stole millions. No names please. So your point is incorrect.

[Hal]

Refreshing but I don't agree with the part about college being the path to earning a living. College also fails to teach young people a trade.

[nobody]

LOL, he said "reform."

Wrong choice of words perhaps, but correct opinion.

[ronininja]

"Anyone who does not teach his son a trade is as if he taught his son robbery.”

Well, robbery no, that requires and over act of violence or attempt violence or threats against another, how about larceny? larceny by trick? larceny by false pretenses?

That is exactly what someone able to work does when they live off tax payers money.