mikehall12382 — I’m not commenting on this back and forth regarding the state of Israel — I just want to make a point for the sake of accuracy. The US as a matter of fact provides just as much of a “stipend” for those sitting and learning as the state of Israel — just it’s available to others as well (including the dregs of society!). The “kollel stipend” in Israel amounts to a few hundred dollars a month (and is only available to those with at least 3 kids.) The amount of welfare a Kollel family with only limited outside income and 3 kids in the US would be eligible for (including food stamps, WIC, section 8, etc.) would be more than that. (And that’s not to mention Medicaid, etc. — in Israel even the unemployed must pay health insurance premiums, albeit on a sliding scale.)
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