OOmis -“Health, there would not BE such a necessity if they would be machshiv providing for their families at least to some degree.”
They are Machshiv it -just they are Machshiv learning all day more!
“As much as you would like to see an idealized lifestyle where men can sit and learn to their heart’s content, the reality is that THEY are responsible to provide for their wives and children according to the Torah that they are sitting and learning.”
They are responsible, but s/o who marries a Kollel guy willingly takes over that responsibilty. It wasn’t a shotgun wedding.
“The Jewish community at large has responsibilities first and foremost to our own families. That boy in Kollel is no better than another frum Yid who learns AND works, but many people today seem to have bought into the myth that because he is sitting and learning he IS better.”
I haven’t bought into that myth, maybe others have. Anything in life can be done Lshem Shomayim -so if the working guy is doing it Lshem Shomayim he is the same as the learning guy doing it Lshem Shomayim. But if the learning guy is poor -it’s a Mitzva to give him Tzedaka. The same would apply to the working guy, but supporting a poor Kollel guy -you get another Mitzva of supporting Torah!
“I have even more respect for someone who does both, because it is that much harder to do both things well.”
Not True! There are plenty of jobs where people don’t work so hard. Very few in America truly work hard. Whom are you kidding?
And then going to a Shiur for a hour is Not as hard as learning by yourself or with a Chavrusa.
“My father O”H was a great talmid chochom who regularly gave shiurim and droshos and made time to learn every spare minute he had, on a daily basis. He also was in a healing profession and gave of his services freely to those who could not afford them and had no insurance. So don’t talk to me of “the likes of” me.
You have no idea what I support and whose Torah learning I help to facilitate, or what Yeshivos I give my maaser to.”
When I say the “likes of you”, I mean s/o who doesn’t believe that Kollel is a way of life and it should be supported. This you have readily admitted to -so why are getting all defensive now?
Did you learn your Hashkofos from your father -namely that noone should sit in Kollel?
Eagerly awaiting your next post. This is becoming very enjoyable! 😉