Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern Shlita speaks out regarding what he feels is the need to educate children with limud Torah in addition to secular subjects to permit them an existence. He feels the State of Israel cannot exist as chareidim believe, learning Torah exclusively, and while this is of paramount importance, one must learn security subjects to earn a livelihood.
He feels it is most unfortunate that this is still “neglected” in the chareidi world, adding there is no reason for this. He uses himself as an example, seeking to explain that as one who is learning, the study of secular subjects does not detract from limud Torah, but the two work well together side by side at some point, adding “One needn’t give up on something but encourage this”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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17 Responses
Security subjects?
parnassa comes from the One Above.
In Eretz Yisroel? Why?
According to some meforshim I’ve seen on Parshas Shlach, one of the explanations for the meraglim turning the Klal against Eretz Yisroel was that they didn’t want the people to stoop to having to learn “secular subjects,” where in the Midbar that had only Limud Torah. They were afraid that they would become less spiritual from having to concentrate on the skills for earning a livelihood. Isn’t that a message for our generation as well?
It’s funny how they have no problem accepting money from secular educated American Chareidim.
To No. 4
It gets tiring to continue reading these types of postings that claim one’s ruchniyus and hashkafah are jeopardized by learning secular subjects in the same way that so many of gadolei yisroel have learned for thousands of years. Many of our greatest rabbonim, poskim and askanim have been world-leading scholars in different secular subject areas in addition to being great talmeidei chachamim and tzadikim. It is simply untrue to claim one cannot pursue and excel in both. Instead, some continue to argue that we need to live in a dark cave with no knowledge or awareness of the world the Ebeshter has provided us (i.e. if hashem didn’t want us to have interent access he wouldn’t have given us Al Gore).
Learning secular subjects is a slippery slope.
Once you go in the wrong direction its difficult to turn around.
I am a mesivta high school graduate and I can’t stop delving into secular subjects when I should be learning torah instead .
my Rosh yeshiva did me no favors when he forced me to attend secular study classes.
#4: So the message from the meraglim, who were killed for their transgression, is that we would NOT become less spiritual from properly acquiring the skills for earning a livelihood.
I think that government has to go.
I agree!!
karl- I don’t think anyone implied otherwise
#6: What was maybe unclear is that I said the MERAGLIM claimed that Klal Yisroel would become less spiritual by earning a livelihood. Hashem obviously rejected that claim. The lesson from the incident of the Meraglim is that we do need both ruchnius and gashmius together, in proper balance.
#8: Yes, that’s what I meant.
Doesn’t the Gemara says that if you don’t teach your son a trade, you’re teaching him to be a thief?
This debate has been a מח׳ ר׳ ישמעא-ל and רשב״י in מסכת ברכות and the אחרונים there explain, that תורה אומנתו could work for the יחוד but isn’t the RIGHT (רצון ה׳) way of the ציבור.
To #12.
Thank you for the very helpful clarification. The inyan you bring down from the case of the meraglim going into eretz caanan affirms what most yidden have always known; it is necessary to become proficient in both daas torah and secular matters. Hopefully, the few misguided Chareidi rabbonim who want to keep their followers in the dark and lacking in the ability to earn a parnassah and function in the modern world will be swept away by a new generation of enlightened leadership. Otherwise, they will be simply be ignored by even their own flocks and be left leading a parade of one.
Rav S.R.Hirsch Collected writings vol. 7.
#7 with due respect I don’t think the problem is with the secular subjects.
It is funny to see that none of you understand the issues over here.