Reply To: Yeshivish Girls/Wives/Rebbetzins in College

I think, and let me know if I’m mistaken, that most disagreed with this, because yeshiva guys getting degrees in Touro or Agudah or wherever, hasn’t been about becoming well rounded, it’s been about making a good living.

Which is what makes this so interesting. There are plenty Yeshivish types that wouldn’t get degrees, but their wives do, either before they get married or after. But if the degree is for parnassah, it’s the same thing. So, they agree that if it’s about parnassah vs “well roundedness” it’s justified, no? Where exactly do such types stand on this issue?

Furthermore, the argument that a mother belongs home with the children, while the husband is the provider seems a most glatt arrangement…yet people want to stay in learning…. perhaps it arose from people wanting to stay in learning, but is this justified? (The honest answer might be that it is best judged on a case-by-case basis. Is he really learning? Or is he pushing off his responsibilities? Will she be negatively spiritually impacted? Or is it someone who really just wants to maintain a certain image?)

By the way, I don’t fully follow the argument “to merit children who will become Gedolei Yisroel, one has to have modesty. And modesty cannot be acquired in Touro College!”

I imagine that the acquisition of modesty and Touro having nothing to do with each other. The acquisition is in homes and communities and schools. The better question might be, (and perhaps the intention) will they lose their modesty in college? And that is a very important question. Is it a frum place (i.e. Touro non mixed) or a non-Jewish place? Do they teach wrong things? Are there bad influences there? It’s a fact that many girls with degrees in special ed etc did not sacrifice modesty (although I bet some have, which is why a case-by-case basis is vital).

All considered, I think I can give good general reasons to explain this, but it is still somewhat hazy. There seems to be a few elements here.