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| Satmar Chasidim of Kiryas Joel (5 Towns) |
The truth is, they’re right. If people choose to remain
ignorant based on a religious principle that holds that religious studies
supersede secular studies - and are far more important to their spiritual
welfare than, say, learning about American democracy or even speaking English
properly - that should be their right.
But what about preparing young people to function in society
and qualify for jobs requiring more than a second-grade reading level? That
does not seem to concern the defenders of this educational philosophy.
Extremist Chasidim in isolated communities like Kiryas Joel (Satmar) believe
that full-time religious study, to the complete exclusion of secular studies,
is vital to their spiritual well-being. Requiring them to dilute any of their
religious studies, they argue, violates their fundamental rights as American
citizens.
I have always felt, however, that emphasizing the spiritual
at the expense of material well-being harms them not only materially but
spiritually as well.
To be fair, many Chasidim who subscribe to this mentality
function quite well in life. They marry, have large families, and manage to
live relatively happy lives despite their modest circumstances. Their lives
revolve around their Chasidic Rebbes. They may be impoverished by society’s
standards, but they are happy in the orbit of their Rebbe, who somehow ensures
that no one starves, everyone has a place to live, and everyone has some sort
of job
Furthermore, Chasidic entrepreneurs often do remarkably well
without much secular education. There are many wealthy Chasidim worth millions,
even billions, of dollars. But it is equally true that many live below the
poverty line and cannot escape it, largely because they lack the basic
communication skills needed to obtain meaningful employment.
Many years ago, a group of young former Chasidim established
an organization called Yaffed to address this problem. Their goal was to compel
the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to enforce state educational
requirements in private and parochial schools. While mainstream Orthodox
schools generally observe these requirements, sects like Satmar have largely
ignored them, with NYSED long having turned a blind eye.
Following a legal battle, a compromise was reached under
which these Chasidic schools agreed to offer some form of secular education.
Fast-forward to today. eJewish
Philanthropy published an article by Yaffed Executive Director Adina
Mermelstein Konikoff arguing that little has changed. She writes:
“In New York, thousands of children complete Hasidic and Haredi schools without receiving the education required under state law. Many leave school without basic proficiency in English, mathematics, science, or civics. Some struggle to find meaningful employment.”
She also points out that civic participation requires
education. Citizens must be able to read a ballot, understand a contract, earn
a living, serve on a jury, and support themselves and their families.
Konikoff’s point is that while people criticize the lack of
secular education in Israel’s Charedi schools, they ignore the same problem
here in America. The addresses may be Brooklyn, Kiryas Joel, Monsey, or New
Square rather than B’nei Brak or Jerusalem, but the underlying issues are
strikingly similar.
I could not agree more.
Agudah and other advocates have vilified Yaffed, accusing it
of harboring an anti-religious agenda. They claim its founders are disgruntled
former Chasidim seeking to tear down their former communities. Perhaps there is
some truth to their suspicions. I have no idea.
But don’t kill the messenger…
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