Monday, November 22, 2010

My Take On the Unfolding Kollel Scandal

Earlier this week, Israeli authorities rounded up numerous Chareidim in Israel who are accusing of defrauding the State. In a classic case of identity fraud, it seems that the yeshivos were collecting monies for students who either did not attend the schools or were taking the monies allocated for the personal use of people who attend the yeshiva but have a policy not to take money from the State.

I don't know if the accusations are true or not. However, this episode has helped to illustrate several interesting points:

1. We Keep Our Priorities Straight -- Marty Bluke points out that this affair is being discussed on the Chareidi website. However, there the discussion isn't about whether or not the parties involved are guilty or whether we need to rethink the way we do things. The discussion there focuses on trying to find out who notified the authorities. In other words, it's not the fault of the thieves, it's the fault of the people who turned them in. 

2. We Learn To Distinguish Between Important Issues and Issues of Lesser Importance: I find it highly telling that these same people who would look down at me for wearing a colored shirt, or working for a living, or for wearing a leather yarmulke, or for any of the other things that violate the chareidi lifestyle -- but yet don't even rise to the level of minhag or Rabbinic mitzvos, have no problem blithely violating the actual Torah commandment against theft.

Lord knows that I'm not perfect... and I don't expect Chareidim to be either. We're all human and we all make mistakes. But it's one thing when someone makes a one-time mistake and yet another when the violation is repeated and systemic. How someone who is repeatedly violating a Torah law can look down at someone who simply doesn't dress the same way or is otherwise acting in accordance with halacha is beyond me.

3. We're Can Keep the Big Picture In Sight: I am personally in favor of Torah study. I may have some quibbles with the way the kollel system is currently set up (ok, perhaps more than quibbles), but on a deeper level, I believe that there should be a kollel option for those who have the aptitude and desire.

But it has to be realized that the purpose of the kollel (or at least one of the purposes) has to be to educate people in the observance of the mitzvos. If the purpose of the learning doesn't include actual observance of the mitzvos, then what the heck is the point of the whole venture? To learn what the Torah wants while hypocritically acting the other way? I don't think so -- nor should any rational person. But if we support Torah learning with thievery what message does that send to the avreichim that are learning there -- especially in this day and age where many in the yeshiva world revere the Rosh Yeshiva himself and view his behavior as a model to emulate?

I don't have a problem with instutions that serve the community -- be they kollelim, tzedakah organizations, or the like. But the paramount thing is that these organizations have to be run above-board and with complete honesty. If we can't do that, not only do we risk further chillul HaShem, we also might begin to lose faith in our own institutions.

The Wolf

8 comments:

Noam said...

WOW
I always thought you were anti Charaidi. This post shows me otherwise.
Thanks

G*3 said...

> … no problem blithely violating the actual Torah commandment against theft.

They don’t see it as theft. Theft is when you go into someone’s house and take his things. The government’s money is seen as basically hefker – after all, the government is not a person - and if one can find a way to get the government to give him money, why not take advantage?

> But it has to be realized that the purpose of the kollel (or at least one of the purposes) has to be to educate people in the observance of the mitzvos.

No, that learning is a way to educate ourselves in what we’re supposed to do is a treife moderne idea. Learning is seen as an end in itself, and anything that enables more learning is virtuous.

Garnel Ironheart said...

1) Welcome back!

2) There is an institutionalized disconnect between the learning and doing in this community. They could sit all day shteiging gemaras on how wrong theft and misleading is, but it never occurs to them to actual apply those values in practice.

J. said...

G*3 -
Whatever these reshaim argue regarding the government (which is total nonsense), there is absolutely no hetter for 'midvar sheker tirchak'.
Even the foremost proponents of 'Torah Lishma' as an end in and of itself still see kiyum of halacha and learning how to be a frum Jew as a major target of Torah study - see the Chofetz Chaim's hakdomo to MB.

Devorah said...

(quote) If the purpose of the learning doesn't include actual observance of the mitzvos, then what the heck is the point of the whole venture?(unquote)

Exactly.

Thou shalt not steal.

And not only is a person's income for the year determined on Rosh Hashanah...... when we die, one of the first questions we are asked in the Heavenly Court is "Were you honest in your business dealings".

That is basic knowledge. You don't even need to go to kollel to learn that.

Dave said...

That is basic knowledge. You don't even need to go to kollel to learn that.

Apparently, you go to Kollel to learn the reasons why it doesn't apply to you.

Anonymous said...

G3 is right - the chareidim believe that Torah study IS an end. The learning makes you more ruchni (spiritual) and that is the goal of this world.

They don't believe that they are stealing. I believe that they rationalize that the government is not run according to the Torah. They protect the country with their learning as much as the army protects the country so they should be compensated accordingly.

Anonymous said...

Your discussion here confirms a recent suspicion of mine - that the erosion of morals from the most vocal community about the height of their morals is more a byproduct of misdirected values than intentional defrauding and rejecting of the rest of society.

This over-focus on Torah learning as the be-all and end-all has everyone from the second the child spills out of the womb focusing on getting them into the kollel lifestyle.

Just as the Zilberman method has reinvented build-from-basics education, we need a parenting method that reinvents build-from-basics midos - putting Talmud Torah lishma at a later point in development so it's out of focus when kids are only 7.

To be fair about this incident, Rav Elyashiv came out strongly against the activites, with no apologies for the thieves. It's only the thieves themselves making a lot of noise about the "malshinut."