The recent issue of Mishpacha Magazine was dedicated to issues confronting the Charedi in the workplace.
(Although the term they used was ‘Ben Torah’. I find that somewhat insulting. Is it only a Charedi that can be called a Ben Torah? Isn’t every strictly observant Jew a Ben Torah, regardless of his Hashkafa? Is a Modern Orthodox Jew or a Centrist Jew not a Ben Torah? Is it reserved only for those that study Torah full time?
Had to ask the question. It is one of my pet peeves. The term Ben Torah as they use it is a divisive one rather than a uniting one. But that is not really what I want to discuss.)
First I want to applaud Mishpacha for tackling this issue. It is a clear recognition that the realities of life require most people to work for a living. Something that is overlooked or glossed over in the Charedi educational paradigm. This is not to say that they are opposed to working. But they tend to denigrate it – even if only by placing such a high value those who study Torah full time. Which by default makes those who don’t - of significantly lesser value.
For those that think I am exaggerating, all they have to do is see how much Roshei Yeshiva these days ‘charge’ potential fathers in law for their daughters to marry their ‘best and brightest’. This is a fact of life.
There are a series of articles in Mishpacha that address exactly how to remain a ‘Ben Torah’ once one enters the workforce. The idea being that necessity may demand joining the workforce. And although it may be important to do that, God forbid that anyone should see that as anything but second tier. No matter how talented one might be at doing something else. Many of the rabbis asked to comment on this phenomenon seemed to be saying that - without actually saying it.
The message seemed to be that working is OK. But that it is B’Dieved - implying that supporting your family is not the best way to fulfill one’s Avodas HaShem - God’s will. It also disregards individual personal strengths.
I do not believe that God created us all for one purpose regardless of our abilities. I do not believe that everyone should stay in ‘Learning’ for as long as they can no matter what. And that only if they have the proverbial ‘knife at their throats’ should they leave the halls of the Beis HaMedrash and find a job. I believe instead that one can best serve God in ways suited to their individual talents.
This of course does not mean that a Jew should not be as learned as possible. Of course they should. In order to fulfill God’s will - we need to know what that is and how to fulfill it. And there is a lot to learn along those lines. Which is why I support Jewish education through high school and beyond. Even Kollel for a couple of years if one so chooses – even if they are not among the best and brightest.
What I do not support is indoctrinating all of us to do that for as long as we can without any real preparation for anything else. Nor do I support ignoring our individual strengths.
True, at least in America there is some preparation for the eventual workplace in the sense that most non Chasidic Charedi Yeshivos have relatively decent Limudei Chol (secular studies) programs through high school. Good enough so that if they so choose, they will be able to pursue a decent career path by continuing their education beyond high school. But it doesn’t help matters when this is so frowned upon as being second tier. By concentrating so intensely only on the Torah study skills it by default discourages many students from pursuing what they are best at.
So, despite the phenomenon of more Charedim working than ever – and even getting college educations in many cases – there are too many in that system that miss opportunities.Which in my mind ends up with people not living up to their own personal potential.
This approach perpetuates the system. But it short changes the individual. Which in my view short changes his Avodas HaShem.
Gone are the days when a Rosh HaYeshiva would guide a student to follow his natural abilities. The way Yeshivas Chaim Berlin’s Rosh Hayeshiva, Rav Yitzchok Hutner did. I have been told that in its heyday 80% of Chaim Berlin’s Beis HaMedrash students attended college. Rav Hutner got involved with every student to assure that they were taking the right courses. Meaning those courses that best catered to their strengths.
Where do you see that today? Mostly you don’t. The message I got from reading most of the Mishpacha articles was that if you nebech have to work, you can none the less remain a Ben Torah by doing... (a variety of suggestions).
There was on exception to that. Rabbi Aharon Lopiansky, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva of Greater Washington actually seemed to more or less agree with my views on this subject - without saying so explicitly.
Rabbi Lopiansky studied at the great Mir Yeshiva in Israel during the 70s. Among others he was influenced by were two of my heroes, Rav Chaim Shumelvitz and Rav Shlomo Wolbe. He was also a prized student of the Mir. So much so that he ended up marrying the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Beinish Finkel’s daughter!
R’ Lopiansky understands the uniqueness of every individual. He understand that not everyone is cut out for full time Torah study. He also understands that few if any Yeshivos in the Charedi world are equipped to deal with that.
I could not agree more. This does not mean that a Charedi need lose his identity as a ‘Ben Torah’ once he enters the workplace. All it means is that he need not feel like a second class citizen. For me, it also means changing how today’s Roshei Yeshiva operate. They need to stop insinuating that anything less than full time Torah study makes one second class.
They need to make clear that not everyone should have a goal of full time Torah study. They need to be more perceptive of their students individual strengths. And encourage them to follow those strengths as the best way for them to serve God - their Avodas HaShem.
And in furtherance of that goal, the current trend away from secular studies ought to be reversed. Those programs need to be reinvigorated to the way they were just a few short decades ago. So those with different talents can better find them and utilize them in service of God.
All that being said, the situation in America is not that bad. (Israel is an entirely different situation which is beyond the scope of this post.) As I have noted numerous times - in America although the Hashkafos are somewhat different from each other, the lifestyle of the mainstream Charedi is not all that different from that of the Centrist. But I believe it could be a lot better for a lot more people if their approach were changed along the lines I suggest.