At a meeting early this week with the heads of the most prominent and largest religious seminaries (Kollels) in Israel, under the auspices of the ultra-Orthodox leaders Maran Hagon Rav Elyashiv and Maran Rav Shteinman Shlita, a decision was made to institute a Yom Tefillah (day of prayer) and learning at all the Kollels in Eretz Yisroel next week. Thursday, November 13th will be a united effort to storm the gates of Heaven and plead for the financial health of Jewish philanthropists, so that they can continue to support Torah institutions in Israel.
Several fundraisers recently returned from appeals in the United States practically empty-handed, due to the collapse of the worldwide economy. The impact this has in Israel is more than just financial, and means more than just the loss of Torah study. When a Torah scholar is forced to leave his studies because his yeshiva cannot pay him, it endangers his entire family. The psychological impact affects his wife and children, in addition to their lack of food, electricity, clothing, and other basic needs, and as the husband heads into despair, whole families can fall apart.
With the increasing economic challenges and the massive withdrawal of support for the Kollels in Israel, over 6,000 families are left without income from their Torah study, leaving thousands of wives and children without the strength of Torah, without food on the table, and facing a crisis situation that impacts their family, community and the broader Jewish world.
“A philanthropist who gives money can be blessed and earn more. But a family that has been torn apart takes a lot more than a little money to put back together,” explains Yaakov Segal, who is the Assistant National Director of a chain of nursery schools in Israel and has volunteered to help manage the new Emergency Fund.
This day of prayer and learning is intended to bring the cries of the Rabbis straight to the gates of Heaven and also across the ocean to those who fund Torah institutions, to show them that the Torah community depends on them for survival. To help encourage their goodwill and generosity, a new fund is being set up as a joint effort by 11 of the leading Kollels in Israel (listed below). Funds raised will be distributed directly to the crisis-stricken Kollel students equally – funds will not be dispersed to the Kollels themselves, nor will any staff be paid to manage the Emergency Fund.
The Emergency Fund’s fundraising goal is $14,000,000 – which the organizers believe is the minimal amount needed to help keep Kollel students and their families out of crisis. This is the first time that a joint effort has been made by all the leading Kollels, and the Rabbis believe that this will demonstrate their unity of purpose and the depth of the crisis now being experienced.
Segal explains that until now, it has been a mutually beneficial arrangement based on the traditional worker-learner model (known in Judaism as Yissachar – Zevulun arrangement). People supported Torah learning and Torah learning supported the community. But now, with key donors cutting back their donations in response to financial uncertainty, the damage that this will inflict on Torah study will lead to devastation in the world. “Repentance, prayer and charity can reverse a harsh decree,” he noted. “That is why we need to conduct a unified day of prayer and Torah study to remind philanthropists that not only do Kollel families need their support, but they themselves need the power of Torah study in their merit at this difficult time.”
While this is the first time that such a joint effort and a day of prayer is being instituted, for the past few weeks Torah leaders Rabbi Eliashiv and Rabbi Shteinman have been kept awake at night in despair over the plight of the Kollels. Rabbi Shteinman has set aside time every morning after his Tefilla to say special psalms and prayers for the financial situation.
Recently a story circulated quietly through the Torah world that gave inspiration and hope to the Kollels. An individual who had significant investments in Lehman Brothers was approached by a the head of a Kollel to lend money to the yeshiva. The donor pulled out $2 million of his investments and gave it as a “no strings attached” loan. A week later, when Lehman Brothers collapsed, all that was left of the donor’s investment was the $2 million that he had loaned.
The weekend of November 15th, representatives from this new Emergency Fund will travel to the US to make a serious appeal for the members of Kollels and their families in Israel. They hope to raise significant funds in this trip, to take the pressure off Kollel fundraisers whose overseas visits have not been producing results. The kollel directors Kollel who participated in the meeting and who will be a part of the new fund are well known in ultra-Orthodox circles and include:
HaRav Natan Einfeld, Kollel Chazon Ish
HaRav Shmuel Elyashiv, Shaarei Zion
HaRav Zvi Weisfish, Yeshivas Haran
HaRav Eliezer Kahanaman, Ponevezh
HaRav Yosef Mann, Beis Hillel
HaRav Shalom Be’er Sorotzkin, Ateres Shlomo
HaRav Avraham Pachter, Medrash Elyahu Elad
HaRav Aharon Dov Freund, Bais Abba
HaRav Rabbi Yaakov Kenig, Breslev
HaRav Avraham Rubinstein, Nachlas Moshe, Bnei Brak
(Dov Gordon – YWN)
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35 Responses
While a Yom Tefilah is a good idea, it would also be a good idea to train the men in kollel for a job. The Yissachar – Zevulun arrangement is great when society can afford it, but right now, society cannot.
I dont quite understand the “psychologically damaging” part of this article – why is is psychologically damaging? Because the man studying in yeshiva gave no thought to what would happen when the well ran dry?
How can we contribute to this fund?
An excellent idea, but regardless of who wins the American election (the two candidates don’t differ much about economics), it might seem to be a good time to discuss a little “belt-tightening” for frum institutions in both the US and Eretz Yisrael.
Why not daven for all yidden?. many have lost their jobs & their pensions. many businesses aren’t doing well.
#1 – You are obviously not learning in Kollel yourself and don’t value/understand it. Learning Torah is not just OK when “society can afford it” or when it’s convenient for us. You are gravely mistaken!! Learning Torah is a Mitzvah for EVERY man – in every time! The world only exists because of the Torah learning!!
And your snide remark about the psychological damage due to men learning not thinking about what will happen when there’s no more money from Kollel – was nothing more than a snide remark. There is something called Siyada Dishmaya – Hashem always helps. What about all the people with “plans” and jobs – and it falls through? How many people have lost their jobs recently??? (It doesn’t sound like you’re one of them!) While a man is able to learn, he tries, amid tight budgets . . . living on whatever money is provided through the Kollel . . . wife’s job . . . One never knows what’s going to happen in the future. Obviously the people learning are depending on their Kollel and whatever other source of income they have and if the Kollel can’t come up with enough money, he’s in the same situation as all the other (non-learning) people who’ve lost their jobs . . . And yes there can be psychological damage due to having no money for his family – like anyone who loses his job. We all depend on Hashem for our income, no matter where it seems to be coming from!!!
What about a call for a yom tefilah for the hard working, honest, middle class working guy who just lost, or is in danger of losing his job. Or the guy who’s income went down and he can’t afford insurance for his family?
Shouldn’t they be mispallel that there be no need for philanthropists…. Have we thrown in the towel on not relying on matnas basar vidam?
If a talmid chochom has to leave Yeshiva, cholila, it means he is no longer in his element. In Chazal, his job is Toroso u’mnoso. If you want to use language of “profession”. then this is the profession he has prepared for, and to have to change professions will certainly be jarring for him and his family. It means he loses a mahus of who he is in addition to losing the hashpo’oh of the koslei beis hamedrash which is another hit to his ruchniyus and persona.
I think the cynical comments mentioned here reflect a double standard for those learning, who do so diligently and intended this is how they would support their families. If you were out of work and had to find work just to get by- you would also be psychologically devastated. Why are those learning being treated less sensitively?
This is a serious matter and we should all respond with the nedivus we are known for.
Hashem Yishmireinu.
In line with the comment about belt-tightening, two comments:
The recent article and responses about the prevalence of brand-name luxury items in the frum community in America should demonstrate to all of us that the kollel families are not the only ones who need to tighten their belts. If all of us made an effort to purchase fewer luxuries, we could all chip in a great deal more to the Mosdos haTorah in E”Y and America.
Secondly, can we see some of the major yeshivos and kollelim take advantage of the economic situation and move to the periphery in Israel? We should encourage a flowering of Torah in the Negev, where neighborhood after neighborhood for bnei Torah can be constructed in Beersheva, Arad, Dimona, Ofakim, etc. These places will be more conducive to a simple, temimusdik and Torahdik lifestyle that is suited to bnei Torah anyway, and away from the big cities with their noise, negative influences, pollution, traffic, and lack of space. Develop the Negev, spread the light of Torah to the periphery, and lighten the financial burden of living in the big cities!
(The same should go for the United States – I am sure that the communities in Atlanta, Phoenix, Memphis, Scranton, upstate New York, Texas, Ohio, Arizona, and more places would benefit from an influx of bnei Torah – and these places have cheap housing and in some cases, healthier economic outlooks than NYC).
“What about a call for a yom tefilah for the hard working, honest, middle class working guy who just lost…”
Definately! let’s learn from Eretz Yisroel and do one here too…
answer to #4 & #6
Because the people who learn the torah are the people who are holding up the world.
When a gvir asked R’ Shach ZT”L if he should give the bulk of his money to support torah study or poor people R’ Shach said to give it for torah study & in that zchus there will be less poor people.
I hope this Yom tefilla is intended for everyone and not just the Philanthropists. There is a world of Yiden and tzaddikim that work and try to earn a living and the same time are kovei Itim for Learning.
To #5, people learning in Kollel have signed up for a Yissocher/Zevulen arrangement. I hope the Rosh Kollel made it clear to the members what that means and the risks that are assumed.
Years ago, Roshei Yeshiva would not call for everyone to sit and learn. They would select those who would be most successful and suggest that others work and assist those that are learning. Even working people would be Koveya Eittim. It is time to return to that model. There are many Kolel people who are not maximizing their time…even in Eretz Yisroel. I was just there and saw what I am about to say in action. There are many Kolel Yungerleit who are not accomplishing and are looking for the latest tummel…new shailos, new gezeiros.
At a time when the torah world has limited resources, it is time for Roshei Yeshiva to tell the tummlers to go to work.
monsey review:
You speak the emes. Boruch Hashem you are not alone. SOme people just don’t understand or value Torah, or what learning it full-time means.
HaAron no’sei es nos’av. PERIOD. Believing anything else is to deny a yesod of our Torah and of the foundation of the entire world.
#13 – There is a reason that the Rabbonim made learning in Kollel much more common and accepted today than “years ago”. Take a look at the different generations!! I’m not saying learning is much more needed now – as it is always needed – but learning is a Shmira and there is a lot out there today that wasn’t out there years ago – which we all need a Shmira from!!
My bigger concern are the Yeshivas, and Mosdos hatorah in MY city that CAN NOT make payroll. What about the Rabayim’s families, the students who will see their yeshivas closed. This is a real serious matter that we have not seen in at least 50 years. Support institutions in your own city before they fail.
While I understand that everyone’s struggling, I believe that the gedolim know that as well. We have begun to express our own opinions a bit too much and have forgotten how to trust and believe in the gedolim. Hashem has given them greater insight than we can claim to have through our limited intellect. Their siyatta dishmaya is not dependent on that. Why don’t we just understand that they know what they are doing and that it’s for the good of us all?
This is a strange piece of news. Every mosad in the world is collapsing, we should make a Yom Teffilah for the yeshivos and the machzikei Hayeshivos, that is wonderful!! Why did they have to ruin a wonderful idea by adding on the heels of this yom teffilah we are going to collect for specific Kollelim. These are very choshuvah Kollelim, but why is everything our people do have to be a marketing scheme?????
#18 Unfortunately very often today people go to these gedolim with an idea for a yom tefillah, or to get a haskamah for something good and then use it as a marketing tool. How many pages in the Yated and Hamodia have full size pictures of the Gedolim soliciting funds, do they realize they have been reduced to poster boys for every conceivable tzedakkah, that is why people have lost the reverence for gedolim.
Question. What if this recession turns into a ten year no growth era, like Japan. Japan has had no growth since 1989. How will we support the tens of thousands of kollel families. ??
To all those who have been discussing blind faith. Following the directives/advice of the Gedoloei Torah, is not blind faith. They are the einei ha’eidah – the eyes of the congregation. As the Chovos HaLevavos says, they see without eyes and hear without ears. They are able to see and hear what we do not / cannot.
No 22 and 25 Have you never heard the expression “Emunas Chachomim?” We are duty bound to believe and trust in our chachomim who we believe have the Siyata Dishmaya to disseminate Daas Torah which in turn is what Hashem wants. So certainly not Avodah Zorah.
While it is true that the Torah holds up the world,that does NOT mean that it is an item to hide behind when 0ne cannot make a living. The less people work,the less economy there will be and everyone suffers from poverty. IT IS NOT FAIR TO EXPECT HARD-WORKING PEOPLE TO SLAVE AWAY SO THAT OTHERS CAN SIT AND (SOME)LEARN> Welfare is not fair. Those who can learn,should and must,others are cut out for business to be able to support the yeshivos. Who will be the ones who’ll pay the bills? The USA is on the brink of depression.Many people have lost their parnosso,their homes,their savings. If everyone earns a living,the economy will get stronger and then there will be more money to support the kollel people. Let’s daven in ברך עלינו that all business should improve.If the non-Jews suffer,the Jews will suffer double. If everyone earns money,all people will be better off. So let’s daven for EVERYONE to have a better parnosso,and have more young people get an education and a trade so that they will be able to suppot those who honestly learn
I’m a little confused….They want to establish a yom Tefila and learning?…What have they been doing till now?
You cannot depend on miracles. And with large percentages of the frum community sending 100 percent of their sons to kollel and marrying 100 percent of their daughters to kollel yungerleit, it defies the laws of economics that the rest of thte klal can economically support all those families, along with rosh kollel and others employed by the kollel, even with kollel wives working long hours to add to the families’ parnassah.
This isn’t kollel bashing. It’s just reality. Of course we have to have kollels. Of course we need full-time learners, but it has to be financially sustainable. The “full-time learning is the only option” that has been growing in the community for so many years wasn’t a sustainable system. This latest financial crisis merely pushed the issue to the fore a few years earlier than it might have otherwise, but it was coming anyway.
“SOme people just don’t understand or value Torah, or what learning it full-time means. ”
It means, for the first time in history, it is acceptable (or even admirable) for able-bodied and able-minded people to choose to live on charity.
The Ovos worked, the Nevi’im worked, the Tannaim, Amoyroim, Rishonim and Achronim worked and supported themselves and their families, at the same time as learning and serving the Ribonno Shel Olam.
Working for a living is the rule, not the exception.
Why does it have to be Yom Tefillah for shnoring?
Why can’t it be a Yom Tefillah that the kollel members earn enough so they don’t have to shnor?
Since when is shnoring a mitzvah or an end in itself?
proud of KAJ WH TIDE:
You wrote “The less people work,the less economy there will be and everyone suffers from poverty. IT IS NOT FAIR TO EXPECT HARD-WORKING PEOPLE TO SLAVE AWAY” – There’s no need to profess your Yecky pride for it is self evident. If you are such a Yecky where is your Hirshian belief that everything’s from Hashem? The economy/poverty/your income/who lives and who dies. Your Agmas Nefesh of slaving away is your burden and yours alone! It is your responsiblity to “Ivdu Es Hashem B’Simcha”! The Yidden’s Parnassah is Goizer with the Yom HaDin and has no relevance to a person’s position in life. Therefore it is appropriate to be Mispallel on behalf of all of Klal Yisroel that everyone should have Parnassah B’Revach. Chalilah people should leave a life of Torah to search for livelihood!
To all u kollel & gedolim bashers: go sit & learn for a week (3 full sedorim) & u will learn 2 major things!
#1) Learning Torah is the ONLY thing that keeps the world going!
#2) The Gedolim are ALWAYS right!!!!!
I’m noting that ” November 13th will be a united effort to storm the gates of Heaven and plead for the financial health of Jewish philanthropists.”
It does not say they will plead for the philanthropists themselves. There is quite a difference.
This article reminds me of the fable about “The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs.” As some people have commented here, the goose is about to be cooked.
3, trust me, there is plenty of belt-tightening already. When you’ve never got into the latte or designer habit, there’s no money to be found in foregoing thoes luxuries.
It is not only the Kollel families that are suffering in Eretz Yisroel. Many businesses are collapsiong and laying off heads of big families who will have a very hard time getting new jobs in the current “hire freeze” matzav.
Also, the non-profit organizations employ thousands and they also depend on Tzeddaka to survive and pay their employees.
We need lots of rachamim – between the security and the financial situations things look very bad.
We all need to daven constantly!!
To #29
You mention that 100% of youngerleit sit and learn and 100% of girls insist on marrying learners.
Well, I have news for you. There is another faction of Jews and there called Chassidim. Ever heard of them? So let me tell you that they learn for a very short time, maybe 1-2 yrs max, and then they (horror of horror) go to work. We are talking about the “ultra” chassidishe yungerleit.They feel an achrayus to take care of their family; as stated in the keshuba. Has anyone read the keusba lately? These yungerleit find time in the morning or evening to learn.
There are a very select group of yungerleit who learn for years. This is how it should be.
After reading the Yated for years, I came to the conclusion that they do not know of this faction.
In our impoverished generation, our gedolim once again demonstrate their leadership.