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| Do Yeshivahs risk offering an unsuitably narrow education? (JC) |
I’m sure there are a lot more like them. But they are nevertheless the exceptions that prove the rule. My point is that they have not been ostracized for pursuing and getting a higher education. The question then becomes, why does this community discourage their their young from not only pursuing a higher education, but prevents them from getting any formal secular education at all?
That undisputed fact is the source of a great deal of dismay on my part. More importantly it has brought upon them unrelenting criticism from New York State education officials. Criticism with potential negative consequences for parents that send their children to those schools. New York’s Chasidim are not alone. The Chasidim of the UK have similar problems. As noted in a recent JC article:
…hundreds of strictly-Orthodox Jewish boys aged 16 were left barely able to read or write English because they were taught in unregistered religious schools with no English spoken.
I simply cannot understand why this kind of negative media attention doesn't move them to do something about it rather than fight it.
Not that they cannot exist without a formal education in Limudei Chol. As noted by their defenders they do quite well without one. Even thriving in many cases. If one would venture into one of their cloistered communities they would find a people that support themselves quite nicely. A community that even has quite a few wealthy entrepreneurs - despite their non existent secular education - or even the ability to speak English well. Furthermore their crime rate is extremely low and their people are for the most part very happy with their lives. They have a generosity of spirit and a sense of duty to fellow Jews (of any stripe) and a set of family values that should be the envy of all of us.
This is the argument made by their defenders - which includes a few non Jews of prominence. That was recently the case with William MGurn of the Wall Street Journal. As noted, in his editorial headline ‘Leave New York’s Yeshivas Alone’.
If that’s the case, Why don’t I leave them alone, too? Indeed, who are they harming by not being formally educated in Limudei Chol?
Just because they can do quite well without an education in Limudei Chol doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt them. True - they can make a living without it. But their opportunities are limited. Why shouldn’t they have the option to choose a career like those of the Twerskis? ...that only an education in Limudei Chol can provide? An education the vast majority of Orthodox Jews get in day schools and high schools. And why must their English language skill be so poor? How does that benefit them?
Is it enough to say that they do OK without it - if they can do even better with it?
It’s true that in many ways they have a great reputation in the ways I described above. But not in the sense of being an educated human being. Which is not even true. Their religious studies include a wide range of material that enables them to function both materially and as observant Jews. It also teaches then values and moral lessons to live by and gives them enviable skill sets in areas of logic and reason. Which is a biproduct of the difficult sections of the Talmud.
The problem with all that is it does not transfer to their image. The image of a devout Jew should include being educated in at least the basics of general knowledge and certainly the ability to speak the language of the land well. It ought not simply be about making a decent living. Or even about their fine character.
Why are they denied all this? I can only speculate. First they might say that there is just too much valuable religious material to study. Leaving them no time for Limudei Chol. And that in any case their Limdei Kodesh studies are enough for them to live rich and fulfilling lives.
My response to that is that their lives could be better and more fulfilling if they were to get the same Limudei Chol curriculum the rest of Orthodox Jews get. None of whom are cheated out of their religious studies by virtue of that.
Another thing they feel benefits them is that they also see the lack of decent English speaking skills to be a bulwark against assimilation. Which they see as a major cause of leaving the faith A legitimate fear to be sure.
But denying them an education in Limudie chol is a poor way of achieving that. And an unnecessary one since the majority of Orthodox days schools and high schools offer a Limudei Chol curriculum. I'm pretty sure that the rate assimilating out of Judaism is more or less the same for bot of these Orthodox communities. s
I have also been told that there are some Chasidic Rebbes consider speaking English too well Chuakas HaGoy - following the customs of non Jews which the Torah forbids.
This too is an error. The customs the Torah are concerned with are those that will lead a Jew astray. Speaking English well will not do that.
But still, one might legitimately ask what right anyone has to force them to do anything they choose not to do as a community if they are able to function and are happy with their lives? What difference does it make how others see them?
I hear that. But they are not a people apart from the rest of us. I think they need to have a more integrated lifestyle and an education that matches the vast majority of observant Jews.
As I often say, even though they have a good reputation that even an outsider at the Wall Street Journal can appreciate… and are even though they are admired for all the above mentioned attributes, that does not mean that could not have an even greater impact and a greater Kiddush HaShem. An impact that only be made by virtue of a better education.
As it stands now – all the above mentioned well deserved praise and even respect they get is limited to their character as perceived by outsiders. But with respect to their education and inability to speak English well - it makes them seem ignorant. To my mind it is not good for any Jew to be perceived as ignorant of the English language and general knowledge. No matter how fine his character.
If on the other hand they would implement the same Limudei Chol curriculum the rest of Orthodoxy provides, I think all of their problems would go away. And their otherwise fine image would be immeasurably enhanced.
