I have been informed by a reliable source that two new Yeshiva high schools for boys have recently opened in Lakewood with no secular studies.
As I’ve said many times I fear the Israeli Charedi Hashkafa about secular education is slowly finding its way here. And this is further evidence of it. Most people know my views on this subject. It is on a level of criminally negligent behavior to raise one’s children without any preparation for their future material well-being. This goes beyond any Hashkafa of Torah u Mada or Torah Im Derech Eretz.
Judging by what seems to be a trend in Lakewood, children are expected to concentrate solely on the Torah learning. No matter what their capabilities are. It is inconceivable to me that anyone with half a brain can allow so many of our youth to be destined to fall through the cracks.
Not every child is on a level to achieve great heights in learning Torah. Nor is intelligence the only measure important to that end. Desire has to be a part of it or one will fail no matter how brilliant he is. But that clear fact has apparently been lost on the rabbinic leadership in Lakewood that has either encouraged or at least allowed this development to take place.
Many Charedim in Israel who have been raised under that system are currently experiencing crushing poverty. Some of that has caused family crises to occur. Marriages have been taken to the breaking point and in some cases have surpassed it.
Kupat Ha’ir and other charities like it which are designed to relieve some of that poverty are at the limit of their fund raising capacity while resorting to all kinds of questionable fund-raising tactics!
And that is in Israel where they have some government support. There is no such thing here. The reliance by many Avreichim both here and Israel on parental support will dry up in a single generation. The geometric swelling of the ranks in this community in the next generation will not have that support. That money is drying up. The Yungeleit parents of today who are on food stamps will not be able to provide the kind of help to their many children (in some cases over ten) that they received from their working parents. The money just won’t be there.
Lakewood’s answer to this seems to be cutting off any education that will direct some of its members into decent jobs in the future.
I have said in a recent post that the two worlds of the right wing modern Orthodox and the moderate Charedim will eventually megre. I still think that’s true. It is already happening. On the other hand if one looks at the trend in Lakewood I am beginning to wonder if that is the ultimate trend. If Lakewood is the model community to the world of Charedi Bnei Torah, it will surely follow their example.
How many moderate Charedim will there be if they follow that Hashkafa and eliminate all secular studies in all Charedi high schools? Is it possible to contemplate a day that someone who sends his son to a high school that has any secular studies program be frowned upon? And how long will it take for Lakewood to say that anyone who went to a high school that had a secular studies program will not be admitted?
We’re not there yet. Not even in Israel. But the current anti-secular studies trend certainly points in that direction.
Over the years I keep here about some mythical pendulum that will swing back. I don’t see any pendulum. Does anyone?
Update: Post has been modfied to reflect more accurate information.
