There are those that have said that since the Charedi poor get welfare payments from the government it is actually financially beneficial to not have jobs that will increase their income. That their increased earnings will reduce or entirely eliminate the government welfare. Well,that ship has sailed. At least a good portion of it has – since the Israel’s budgetary needs have required them to reduce spending. Some of which were in the form reduced child allowances and lower subsidies to their schools.
And what about self respect? Does the Charedi mindset value taking charity over self reliance? Is the idea of Torah study for all Charedi men for as long as possible and taking charity better than earning a living that would obviate that?
It is not that I think all Charedim should work and abandon full time study. I support it for the best and the brightest. But the idea that everyone should opt for it as a first choice is counterproductive to the material and even spiritual welfare of God’s Chosen people. I don’t think that God wants every man to deny his God given capabilities and sublimate them in pursuit of a lifetime of Torah study that he is no best suited for.
But even if one disagrees and says that all men should try to learn Torah full time for as long as possible, how can their wives or future wives be denied an opportunity to earn a more respectable income for the family? Why condemn the most devout Jews among us to a life of poverty and taking charity – if there is a way out?
There are those who might say that good jobs can be found in other ways… or that the skill learned in college can be learned just as well outside of college or even as apprentices while on the job. Perhaps in some cases. But not in all. It is certainly not the most efficient way to do it. It limits opportunities for them. Besides, isn’t it better to learn it to learn it in a more standardized and recognized way than it is to learn it in haphazard non recognized ways? A degree will open more doors for them than simply attaining the knowledge in nontraditional ways.
As for the fear of women going OTD…I don’t see how a Charedi college is going to be a venue for that anymore that the workplace she may end up in. And yet, Rav Shteinman has forbidden it to women in very strong terms. I just don’t get it!
