The problem is that there is no centralized authority, every gvir just opens up his own school and sets the standards he wants. There is another large community (you probably know which one I am talking about) that doesn't have this problem, because they have relatively centralized rabbinic board and community schools with a priority of accepting everybody, while not lowering their standards. This is a much better system.
Nov 6, 2023·edited Nov 6, 2023Liked by Boruch Clinton
Good post! It's not a brand new story and is no different then what I had to deal with while my kids were attending schools. I got them into yeshivas and seminaries through connections.
The reason for the problem is that there is no national standard and no national education system. It's a disaster, but I don't see the shtetl mentality changing. You have to have money and connections while laughing and listening to lectures on emunah and bitochon. This is the reality of the frum life.
Well, the article is about school shortage in Lakewood. So if you make the invalid assumption that there aren't decent schools in Beth Shemesh, extrapolating that in passing to all of Israel which is bit far fetched, in order to avoid doing Alyah, then yes it's clearly an excuse.
Alyah does not solve any problem, you are totally right and culture schock is a reality, whether for children or adults, whether coming from the US or from europe.
But you have to understand that what you describe is also applicable to Israel. While there is no "perfect" mix of conditions it still does not justify staying in galuth when one can and therefore is obliged to make Alyah. All the more so when one can't provide a Torah education (and a expensive one if I'm not mistaken) without resorting to all kinds of schemes as you described.
It's about minimizing harm and learning to live with imperfection but in your real nation and land.
The problem is that there is no centralized authority, every gvir just opens up his own school and sets the standards he wants. There is another large community (you probably know which one I am talking about) that doesn't have this problem, because they have relatively centralized rabbinic board and community schools with a priority of accepting everybody, while not lowering their standards. This is a much better system.
Good post! It's not a brand new story and is no different then what I had to deal with while my kids were attending schools. I got them into yeshivas and seminaries through connections.
The reason for the problem is that there is no national standard and no national education system. It's a disaster, but I don't see the shtetl mentality changing. You have to have money and connections while laughing and listening to lectures on emunah and bitochon. This is the reality of the frum life.
Well, the article is about school shortage in Lakewood. So if you make the invalid assumption that there aren't decent schools in Beth Shemesh, extrapolating that in passing to all of Israel which is bit far fetched, in order to avoid doing Alyah, then yes it's clearly an excuse.
Alyah does not solve any problem, you are totally right and culture schock is a reality, whether for children or adults, whether coming from the US or from europe.
But you have to understand that what you describe is also applicable to Israel. While there is no "perfect" mix of conditions it still does not justify staying in galuth when one can and therefore is obliged to make Alyah. All the more so when one can't provide a Torah education (and a expensive one if I'm not mistaken) without resorting to all kinds of schemes as you described.
It's about minimizing harm and learning to live with imperfection but in your real nation and land.
https://youtu.be/DYvP9wINvR8?si=OA3CKQZ-kWTfTiDg
That can't be a serious excuse as there other places in Israel than Beth Shemesh and its surroundings to get a good religious education.
Maybe the people in capacity to make Alyah should seriously consider and do so ?