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Tuesday, 2 Adar II, 5784
  |  March 12, 2024

Who Is Worrying For OUR Children

Op-Ed: Is a Frum life style sustainable? Or better yet, is the Chabad Frum lifestyle sustainable? I suspect not - and here is why. Full Story

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solution to 210
August 6, 2012 1:01 am

Is the problem that Chabad families are not giving enough money to the schools? or is it that Chabad families DON’T have enough money to give to the schools? Maybe a 3rd problem? A school not in CH – where the lowest tuition anyone pays is 5k and some pay 9k and some as high as 12k. So lets say the average student pays $7500 and a class has about 20 students = 150k. At least 2 classes where I know all the teachers, they are not getting more then about 100k combined. Maybe 50k per class being mismanaged on… Read more »

reply to 220
July 31, 2012 11:36 am

don’t be so pessimistic; if even one person, perhaps an educator, were to prepare a parents’ handbook that would bring the pertinent issues before the parents their attitude could change. There are also other communities, besides CH, that have similar problems – if 1 parent makes the effort to organize seminars for parents and/or other events people may open their minds to learn. There is also the younger parents who appreciate the paucity of their education who will likely want something better for their children. Hopefully, they’ll recognize that they, as parents, are part of the problem and educate themselves.

Chaim F
July 30, 2012 11:58 pm

writer # 219. I’m so glad I skipped to the bottom to read and find your post. wow. there is actually someone out there who thinks a wider picture than that spoon fed to the masses. I wonder if there are more out there like you. Do you know any like-minded folks? But to the meat of the matter – sad to say that there’s aflaw in your position. parents can’t/won’t educate themselves. one has to know one is sick to seek a cure. most parents in CH don’t know enough to know that they don’t know enough to know… Read more »

Reply to Your Letter
July 30, 2012 1:54 pm

thank you for your thoughtful letter. I’d like to add a few points that have concerned me over the years. Firstly, non-wealthy people should not be asked to subsidize shluchim. By this I mean that shluchim should pay according to their incomes, like everyone else, or should be subsidized from funds raised specifically for them with no negative affect upon others. Secondly, I believe the Chabad system is broken in more ways than the important ones you’ve mentioned. I’ve been unimpressed with the level of learning skills that boys and girls have acquired over many years in school, in and… Read more »

Cincinnati
July 30, 2012 5:02 am

CIncinnati is a warm community with no politics.

The frum school accepts Ohio funded tuition vouchers. In most cases, this means a family of 6 making under $60,000 pays no tuition. The Rebbe instructed the local shliach to support this school and over the years many Lubavitchers have gone through this school with the Rebbe’s blessings and have gone on to be shluchim themselves.

Houses here cost under $150,000.

There is also a Lubavitch Mesivta, which runs on a proper budget. More importantly, the Hanhola is top notch and your child will get an excellent chasidishe education.

Maybe...
July 30, 2012 4:00 am

Maybe, but is that the way to deal with it? less children? that older boys should go to collage? is there really no difference between shluchim and other people’s struggles? “brainwashing” about shlichus… times have changed… tell me, what has changed? that we aren’t living our lifestyle on the same page as our parents and educators? maybe the time has come for us to open our eyes and see what the Rebbe has to say about these issues. not to say that it isn’t a problem; but we might just be better off by make the Rebbe our advisor instead… Read more »

barter
July 30, 2012 12:50 am

we need 2 ask the local merchants 2,donate their goods and services to the teachers of our schools and then we can afford 2 pay them less,and it might bring down some of the costs of the schools. for example,ask the butcher 2 donate every week,the bakery,the fruit store,the accountant,so on and so forth. because these merchants pay wholesale or less . another option is for parents who possess certain skills,or who have these very businesses,could donate their goods and services,in exchange for lower tuition. i think it is done in Pittsburgh. this might lower the burden considerably . some… Read more »

whining again??
July 29, 2012 2:02 pm

we live this lifestyle cuz we believe that is the best plan for us! we don’t rely on others to help us raise our family- we are in this system because we believe in it- and we are not forced to- and we each do what we need to do to make it work instead f always whining that “how are we supposed to survive this way” stop believing the grass is greener on the other side. open your eyes!

Nice discussion
July 29, 2012 1:19 pm

We all know that Shluchim are being strangled by tuition as well. So it isn’t just a C.H./working Chabad problem.

We don’t see any real numbers here but if there are numbers out there…. (ex.: one or two schools could tell us how much it really costs to school a girl thru graduation and a boy thru zal) we could start thinking “reasonably” without the salt & pepper and get some sort of a reality check.

So many good ideas have come and gone. There is definately one or several solutions out there.

to 210 and 211
July 29, 2012 12:23 pm

The problem is that families are being moser nefesh and following what the Rabbeim and Torah says, to be osek in Torah till marriage ( college, secular is Treif, fehh..) and have many children Kein yirbu. But when the same family comes to the Cheder to be mechanech their children, the same place tells them fork up lots of cash. I suspect that the money is maybe 20-30% needed to pay the teachers, and they should be paid first, but there are many others who all want a piece of the pie, the administrators, their familes, other expenses outside the… Read more »

Thank you 210 for being real
July 27, 2012 2:31 pm

And yes be the solution not the problem

moshiach now
July 27, 2012 1:17 pm

when chassidim were being killed in communist Russia did they say This Chabad lifestyle isn’t sustainable? No. During the holocaust when Rosh Hashana came around, Did the yidden say this lifestyle isn’t sustainable now to blow shofar? no, they found a way to do it. when babies were being killed in mitzrayim and amram and yocheved separated, it was wrong. because hashem commanded them to have children and they weren’t supposed to make their own cheshbonos. stop blaming your problems on everyone else.

Problems are easy, where are the solutions?
July 27, 2012 12:13 pm

There is no doubt that tuition is expensive and is very difficult for many families to afford. the question is what is the solution? No matter how much we charge for tution the cost of running the school will not change. It is very easy to point out the challenges with being frum. Food is expensive, Yom Tovs are very expensive (why does Matza cost so much?), health care is expensive, and the list goes on. The real challenge is offering practical solutions to fix these problems. Writing that we should be fund raising 100 million is obvious and does… Read more »

Moshiach must be here.
July 27, 2012 11:48 am

Well. the good news is that it says that Moshiach won’t come until our pockets are empty of every coin. By the looks of it, all our pockets are now empty. So let Moshiach come and shlep us out of golus!!!

professional leadership
July 27, 2012 11:30 am

I understand you but , whats hapening in chabad is more than that , chabad since 94 experienced a growing on the movement but also we are olacking a profissionalization on all departments , merkos , all mosdot chinuch What the schluchim and leadership of chabad cant understand is that by hiring our sons to be the continuation we are puting all the sistem in dangerous , because in rare cases the son has the same or better skill than the father. Just take alook around and you will see the problems , starting at the crucial point in any… Read more »

Gezhe??
July 26, 2012 11:46 pm

I am confused why it matters that you are “gezhe”?

Can anyone explain that??

to #8
July 26, 2012 8:03 pm

children sould not b berdend by money stuff it is a tru berden and can make a child mad at the hanhola and you dont want your child to feel bad about the hanhala.

Dovid Greenberg
July 26, 2012 7:43 pm

The concept of worldwide groups subsidizing Chinuch is wonderful, however, how can one expect to hire and pay teachers when every family is only paying $15,000 for all of their children?!
Who will want and be able to teach if the charges are so low? How can the quality be any good?

Actually, if the state can pay $10,000 per child, just as they do for public school — Perhaps THAT is the answer!!

Every state already pays $10,000+ per student in the public school system, grades K-12, so now our taxes can finally pay for our quality education!

wow
July 26, 2012 6:45 pm

I loved every word that was written!

wowow
July 26, 2012 5:43 pm

these comments will never end so ill just add to them
lol anyway yes

Economic downturn
July 26, 2012 4:04 pm

A great deal of what has been written is true and Lubavitch as it was does seem to be imploding. However, there is a world economic downturn, everyone is struggling with these issues, not just our kehilla. I gave my boys a secular education before they rejoined the yeshiva world and they still cant find jobs because there arent any! In England twenty thousand graduates from universities are serving in Costa and the local supermarkets! There are no jobs and prices everywhere are frightening. We all need to lower our standards of living to get by and to teach our… Read more »

children still a blessing after all they cost us
July 26, 2012 3:55 pm

I LOVED the comments of #50!

Don’t know how we are surviving the costs of our 9 kids but we are and I can’t imagine missing out on the brochos they have brought to us.

Having said that, I hope they will be purposeful, focused and have enough ambition to change what needs to be changed in the system to make it easier for them to raise their kids. They will have to do more than sign a petition, as will we ourselves.

WHY???
July 26, 2012 2:10 pm

Let me ask you this.
If you walked in to 770 and this guy who ever he is would be farbrenging would you listen to what he has to say!
Than why does his opinion matter here?

I love that...
July 26, 2012 11:34 am

I love how all these people are so indignant, how dare people worry about having lots of kids, it s not chasidish. I also beleive the Rebbe spoke about not leaving any child out of school or camp because they couldnt afford tuition. Thats also not chasidish, to not accept kids because of money. There are so many kids not in camp this summer because parents couldnt afford it – does anyone even care??

LETS SAY THE TRUTH!!!
July 26, 2012 10:46 am

AD MOSAI!! YECHI HAMELECH!! TRACH GUT VET ZIEN GUT!!!! OK NOW LETS GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. JUST BECAUSE HAVING A LARGE FAMILY IS DIFFICULT, DOES NOT MEAN YOU GIVE UP!!! WE NEED TO HAVE MESIRAS NEFESH FOR THIS!! IT SAYS ON THE PASUK AND I QUOTE “” TACHAS HATAPUACH ORRARTICHT”” AND CHAZAL TELL US THAT THE NASHIM TZIDKANIUS ARE THE ONES THAT HAD MESIRAS NEFESH FOR HAVING CHILDREN. AS THE REBBE MENTIONED MANY TIMES THAT THE WOMEN TODAY ARE THE SAME NESHAMOS OF THE WOMEN THAT LEFT MITZRAYIM. I KNOW PERSONALLY MANY WOMEN WHO ARE HAVING MESIRAS NEFESH FOR THIS,… Read more »

bread of shame
July 26, 2012 9:22 am

well, maybe you need to learn to eat your bread of shame b’simcha? a goy president of the USA said it well “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”

mendy
July 26, 2012 7:17 am

i would join the petition if it was a little more rational

They say there is no money...
July 26, 2012 5:18 am

In many seminaries, girls have been complaining that they can only shower once a week with hot water because there is no money. The same goes for food. The quality is below all standards and there is never enough. The teachers do not receive their salary in time, and the salary they receive is a joke. Sadly this goes for many Chabad yeshiwes, schools and seminaries. The parents have to pay absurd sums and the only ones who profit are the director and his/her close family members. If anyone of the teachres complains they are told “this is the Rebbe’s… Read more »

money?
July 26, 2012 4:34 am

Yes maybe the money issue is a big problem. but one thing i wana say is that some rabbis would go a long way and do anything to make sure baal teshuva returns to his roots. but very little attention and ACTION is actually being helped in the inner chabad circle (bochurim in yeshivos).. which is quite a shame. and now we know why when the bochurim feel hopeless and left out they just end up in the streets or work hard in getting a job and seeking a future financially! Bottom line is that the Shluchim worldwide do go… Read more »

nine days
July 26, 2012 2:39 am

this is certainly a very important issue,b.h. lubavitch has grown in the last 50 years,and there are many more shluchim and b.t. today then in 1950,and therefore it is a huge success.
but please stop writing comments against each other.
right now in the nine days we should be more careful to act with compassion for our fellow lubavitchers

thank you
July 26, 2012 2:09 am

I want to thank the schools. In Crown Heights for never throwing my kids out for lack of tuition, I’m a single mother, and would’ve been devastated has that happened., thank you CH schools.

Kol hakavod
July 26, 2012 1:01 am

Im a BT and my husband is a working ‘frum from birth’ Lubavitcher who also went through the ‘complete system’. We read this article and agreed with every point. And for those people complaining about how many children the author, or others like him, have, they have no right to judge another person’s private life. The world is different from years past in terms of the credentials to getting a job and support one’s family. And if we don’t prepare our children properly for their future we would have much for what to be ashamed. Signing this petition must be… Read more »

Teaching people how to fish... by Chaim Tovim
July 26, 2012 12:28 am

I think the author brings up many important points. However, I would present a different conclusion: Instead of creating a welfare society, in which school tuitions are covered by generous donors and/or government tax dollars/grants, how about create a system in which Chabad students actually get an academic education in a kosher way, thus enabling them to make a proper living?! Why teach people to be dependent on daily hand-outs of fish when you can teach them how to fish so that they’re self sufficient?! Sadly, Lubavitch students, both male and female, are not prepared for the real world after… Read more »

Anonymous
July 25, 2012 11:40 pm

There are valid points here but I find this article ridiculous on many levels. im sure i will be saying things already written in other comments, but I am not going to waste my time reading almost 200 comments. I am a struggling shlucha, and one of the things that strike me every time i come to CH is the ridiculous $$$$ spent on gashmiyus and ‘keeping up with the jone’s’. yes, u might scoff and say that is negligible next to the tens of thousands we pay in tuition, but im sure any responsible adult who keeps cheshbon, knows… Read more »

Shluchim only taking?!
July 25, 2012 11:17 pm

How foolish. Have you ever thought about how much the Shlichus around the world boosts the Crown Heights economy? How much Shluchim and their mekurovim order from CH businesses? Food products, Stam, Judaica, clothes, professional services (accountants, graphic designers, programmers, public speakers) etc. Mosdos in CH that employ many people that are providing services to Shlichus. If you think of it that way, every time you help a young Shliach get started, you are actually investing in future growth.

my own experience
July 25, 2012 10:28 pm

The following is a snapshot of my own experience growing up. A) to the best of my knowledge, my father (we had a rather large family) almost never paid tuition. He wasn’t able to afford it and we were NEVER humilated by being sent home. This was (to their credit) in ULY Ocean Parkway. The thank you that some one like Rabbi Bogomilsky received at the end… of course (since “the Rebbe IS alive”) … B) When I went to Yeshivah I was lucky to go to Kfar Chabad where again I was given the opportunity to be like everyone… Read more »

Another Shliach
July 25, 2012 10:20 pm

The author’s suggestion of limiting family sizes is not the biggest problem with his hashkafa. It is a broader problem of not recognizing and appreciating who we are. Not having job preparation in school has nothing to do with shlichus. It has to do with not pressuring tinokos shel beis rabban with tachlis. (Only Oholei Torah took this inyan completely seriously, while every other mosad continues to have English. And by the way, the Yeshivahs are accredited, and can be used towards degrees.) And generally, I think the worst part is the attitude of differentiating between CHers, BTs, and shluchim.… Read more »

Northern Climate
July 25, 2012 10:20 pm

I live in just such a place where a small group of people now run the school, do not share information, and continuously raise tuition year to year. At the end of the day even if you believe the are doing their best expenses are being transferred to the parents.

school tuition
July 25, 2012 9:52 pm

it’s time for those who run the schools to stop with all the perks and put the money into the school, stop stealing it and buy fancy houses (plural), go on multiple vacations, and live the good life where the community members struggle, suffer, work HARD, etc. Remember, what goes around comes around. You see how people suffer and you keep on going. We are creating our very own Holocaust, the day will come and you will have to pay up!!! We are the hard working men who sweat to support our families. I know of a case where parents… Read more »

tuition
July 25, 2012 9:29 pm

I thin k that the schools need money but it can not be supported by parents tuiiton. If you want to be an administratior then do a job!!!! Don’t just sit by the shisul etc. etc.

I knew the system was broken long ago..........
July 25, 2012 8:59 pm

I, BH, was able to see this issue over 25 years ago. As a frum sepharadi educated in a top notch seminary could not get employment in the same bais rivkah high school I attended because I was not related to the Chabad administration family. I “rebelled” and BH got a university education and thankfully was able to raise my children with dignity. I have four very frum boys studying science degrees at University after completing Yeshiva, received full scholarships at University and when my son is the top of a science bio chemistry course of a class of 400… Read more »

178
July 25, 2012 8:58 pm

The system is costly, seminary and mesivta can’t simply be free. There are no ‘tax dollars’ to pay for the funds that accumulate while your children are receiving free higher-learning education. Public school, for example, is free because tax dollars fund the costs. While I agree with you that the system is dysfunctional, broken, and only heading south, simply cutting costs so you can live with less worries is not the answer. It wouldn’t change the broken system; in fact it would exacerbate it.

Maybe you should move
July 25, 2012 8:48 pm

I didn’t read all the comments and maybe somebody brought it up. Don’t live in Crown Heights it is expensive and has limited job opportunity. Live in Pittsburgh, Seattle, Houston. One of the main benefits of living in these out of town communities. Is that they’re less pretentious you don’t have to keep up with the Jones (which in a lot of cases are your fellow family members). A lot of them have full time fundraiser that help subsidize the chinuch of their community members. I live in a community and I am on the board where it would be… Read more »

To 175
July 25, 2012 8:39 pm

Join the board and you can see the books. Additionally, you should open up your books the same way you want the Moisad to.

moish guy
July 25, 2012 7:53 pm

many fantastic posts and comments here – there are so many valid outlooks #154 is one right of the bat – but so many eye opening thoughts its amazing that as a community and a group we share many similar hardships and trying thoughts – obviously the rebbe is not with us beguf and it hurts boy does it hurt.

I agree with the aricle author
July 25, 2012 7:26 pm

I live in a Lubavitch community, I too went through the chabad ‘system’ and I am not in shlichus. Unfortunately I have to agree that the situation in Lubavitch is getting out of hand where a shliach is considered a first class citizen where are the perks are a given, discounts, tuition breaks, and lot’s more where us who are very much loyal to the Rebbe and his ways are perceived as lower class. This translates in a practical sense where shluchim get significant discounts to camps, let’s not mention school tuition. Many school administrations literally abuse the parents by… Read more »

exactly
July 25, 2012 7:05 pm

You have hit it right on the head. We can all argue about the details as we always do but we have created an unsustainable lifestyle. And frankly it is beyond sad and worrisome.

SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM
July 25, 2012 6:51 pm

We all know the problems but nobody seems to have the solutions. I do! It’s 1 word ATTITUDE 1 – schools have to trust their parents. Yes some are fooling you and pay less then they should but overall the majority are good people who don’t want (or like) to made into shnorers. we hate begging and we hate having to undress in front of you. Trust us and we will work with you. Beat us up and we will hate you today and probably forever so you’ll never see $ down the road 2 – Parents have to look… Read more »

A Frustrated parent
July 25, 2012 6:38 pm

There is a new kind of captive in the making, but do not expect to see any pidyon shvuyim effort on his or her behalf. This new prisoner is a sad by-product of the tuition crisis, and has not yet impressed people as worthy of inclusion on the short list of the most serious problems over which we agonize. Yet it is pitting whole groups of frum Jews against others, and threatens a dynamic of cooperation that has worked for as long as people can remember. The working professional increasingly feels frustrated and alienated by the “system” – at least… Read more »

154 - thank you
July 25, 2012 6:27 pm

For all who don’t agree with it, please explain to me how can I pay $45k tuition for 3 kids in yeshiva on total income of very hard working parents of $95k. Plus 5 others kids still in elementary schools! This what Rebbe wanted??

Thanks !
July 25, 2012 6:08 pm

For once someone speaks the truth!

#154 - thank you!!
July 25, 2012 5:36 pm

154 – A breath of fresh air. Saying it as it is. thank you! Really I think the bottom line is that we are leaderless, and therefore we are suffering. People quote the Rebbe when it suites them. Do you not think the Rebbe’s direction in many matters may be different now than it was 18+ years ago? I think so. But we have Chachomim who keep telling us THEY know what the Rebbe said, and THAT’S what we need to do now too. If C”V C”V Moshiach has not come in 20 years, are we still going to be… Read more »

to #155
July 25, 2012 5:28 pm

#155 – difference between us and them, is that a large amount of them are doing rather well, were as a majority of us are shlepers. Additionally, they are proving their kids with a quality rounded education, and we’re producing kids who cannot speak, read or write properly in english, yiddish or hebrew!!

Why the arab name for this!!?
July 25, 2012 4:32 pm

I strongly object to calling this fund or organization “Chabad Spring!!!!” This is a take on the Arab Spring….and we want nothing to do with that!!!

The general attitude here rubs me the wrong way
July 25, 2012 4:15 pm

The general attitude here, how the mosdos and yeshivas should raise more money and subsidize education is just shocking. Where did people get this mind set? If someone wrote an op-ed on the quality of our education that our children receive in Chabad schools, those comments would all be about how the chinuch has to improve. Do you understand that a quality education costs money.? Please, stop writing how people in yeshivah hanhalos are doing so well!! There’s no money and the yeshivos struggle with all of their debts! If someone proposed how we should try to get government vouchers… Read more »

MaidofCH
July 25, 2012 4:09 pm
Tuition costs
July 25, 2012 3:58 pm

What are you CH’ers complaining about? Tuition for Lubavitch schools in California is almost double….

To #126
July 25, 2012 2:54 pm

As an accountant, your comment made me smile, but that would just open up a whole new political can of worms.

We have thieves running our moisdes
July 25, 2012 2:44 pm

Chevre, Unfortunately our moisdes are personal family businesses not community building edifices. When people pocket 50% of government grants ie lunch money, etc… on the smach that they wrote the grant and they get 50% of $$$ they raised the problem is inherant in the leadership of the moisdes. When out of town Yeshivos have to keep increasing tuition costs because they must employ another child who was recently married that is an inherent problem in the leadership. When a van is granted by the city to transport children in the special ed. becomes the administrators private family vehicle that… Read more »

PARENTS ARE TO BLAME.
July 25, 2012 2:28 pm

OUR CHILDREN BOYS ESPECIALLY HAVE THE LOWEST EDUCATION WITH US SOCIETY AS A WHOLE AND ARE EXPECTED TO PAY LIKE THEY ARE CEOS, BANKERS ETC… IF WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE A CHANCE DEMAND REAL EDUCATION. WE DON’T WANT TO SEND OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOLS WITH SECULAR EDUCATION UNLESS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. THIS IS A WRONG ATTITUDE! PARENTS NEED TO BE PROACTIVE CAUSE EVEN OUR CHILDREN WHO THRIVE IN KODESH WILL BE FRUSTRATED WHEN THEY REALIZE THERE IS NO SHLICHUS FOR THEM AND THEY CAN COMPETE FOR MENIAL JOBS ALONG THE DREGS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. THIS REALIZATION IS… Read more »

Another article putting down religious life
July 25, 2012 2:07 pm

You pay for the things that are important to you. If tuition is high, take it up with a particular school.. But why not mention outrageous rents, skyrocketing insurance premiums, rising fuel and food costs? I guess it’s easier to join the bandwagon and blame the one thing your children have going for them in an increasingly scary world- a frum lifestyle.

Speaking of education..
July 25, 2012 1:40 pm

The caption should read ‘Who is worrying about our children’, not ‘for’ our children’.

have more kids
July 25, 2012 1:22 pm

its theb reebes opinion

Old Gezhe
July 25, 2012 1:13 pm

No.149-You are quite correct-Lubavitz is suffering from an identity crisis that is destroying our inner core.It’s a terrible tragedy.

MERKOS L'INYONAY CHABAD HOUSE'S
July 25, 2012 1:10 pm

oy, if only something would change as a result of all this talk … NO ONE REALLY CARES !!! This Op-Ed makes many valid points , but to get anywhere we’ll need : 1.A couple of very highly motivated individuals with access to HUGE amounts of money who are ready to work with mesiras nefesh abi ah yiddish kind zol blyben ah chossid… 2.The whole dialogue in Lubavitch/chabad will have to change : “TORAH IZ DER BESTER SCHOYREH” would have to become the proclamation of our movement ; the goal :That EVERY boy become a Chossid ,Yiray Shomyim v’Lamdon and… Read more »

practical idea
July 25, 2012 12:52 pm

you have a shul, hire a melamed that also will be the rabbi from 1 grade
network with other shuls to do the same to have more grades
shul goers pay dues ,alyos that go to talmud torah. fundraising for shul,etc,sponsors .
NO administrators ,just the shul vaad oversees,

No. 1 - you are on drugs
July 25, 2012 12:51 pm

A chutzpah for you to say that people who worry about the amount of children they have due to financial constraints is wrong! It’s called being RESPONSIBLE! You pay a pittance of tuition for your family, because you are a shliach – what about all the normal lubavitchers who get clobbered during this time that the mosdos milk tutions from us?! Regarding what you call offensive about Crown Heightsers giving to a central fund to educate their own – all I can say is what the torah taught us – ‘ircha kodem’. You don’t seem to know anything outside your… Read more »

We need Bitachon--and action!
July 25, 2012 12:41 pm

Living a frum Torah lifestyle does not make any financial sense, and we must understand that our lives are miraculous, above nature. Only Hashem can help. I see that in the Modern Orthodox world, they are limited by their practicality and logic, with regards to family size. The difference between them and us is that the Rebbe clearly guided us to put large families and chinuch first, and trust in Hashem for parnassah. However, it is time to take action. The writer has described the reality in a very honest and articulate way. In my humble opinion, and from what… Read more »

Stop using the Rebbe's view to lie, just say the truth
July 25, 2012 12:22 pm

The most revolting argument I have seen on this subject, is when people mention the Rebbe’s rejection of family planning for financial reasons and use that as a silencing mechanism to this entire debate. Those who make that argument conveniently and I should say intentionally fail to mention, that the Rebbe also vehemently rejected the idea of not accepting a child in to a school because of an inability to pay tuition and stood behind that with money. The Rebbe had a policy of no Jewish child left behind, meaning every Jewish child deserves to get and must receive a… Read more »

home school
July 25, 2012 11:47 am

Educate your chldren at home. or hire a millammed.

lets go back to the education, yiddin lived with for tousands of years.

time to go back to CHEIDER.

a chaider is a small learning group led by one devoted teacher. in a small shteible or home.

you’ll get better education, at a better price.

the system is too big. and its failing.

eli
July 25, 2012 11:34 am

wow
can you imagine if this article had an efect and will result in chas visholom even one nishomoh not coming down to the world? who is to say the effect that this nishomoh would of had in this world?

i wounder if the smart write of this article thought about that. and if he did is willing to take that responsibilty.

i assure you not.

146
July 25, 2012 11:24 am

i read your post with interest, did not have enough time to read all the replies, but i would like to mention several things first you mention that you cannot send your children to a non chabad school as they would be seen as outcasts, this is your perception, we have sent 2 of our children to other schools as we didnt feel the chabad school here was working in their best interest, channoch l`nar al pi darkoi…. you should put the interest of your child first, it would do many of us good if we were more afraid of… Read more »

I AM worrying for my children
July 25, 2012 11:13 am

I want to start out by saying that I empathize totally with the author here. I make less than $60K, have 4 kids, and spend about $25K on chinuch each year. We have many financial challenges. It IS scary. And stressful and bad for shalom bayis and the kids feel it too…. 1.)The question “Who is worrying for our children” begs the response– I AM! My children are first and foremost MY responsibility. The attitude that SOMEBODY should be doing SOMETHING is not only impractical (chesed just isnt what it used to be) but it’s actually UNHEALTHY. We all need… Read more »

FACTS
July 25, 2012 11:01 am

IS THIS A PROBLEM??? THE PROBLEM IS THAT THAT ARE A VAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN CHABAD… TODAY BTW SINCE WHEN DID THE NAME LUBAVITCH GET PUSHED ASIDE ..WILL NEVER EVER ADMIT THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM.. I HAVE MANY TIMES HAD TALKS WITH LUBAVITCHERS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE ETC WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW THEIR RESPONSE SATMAR IS WORSE…LOL YOU CAN NOT BUILD YOURSELF UP OR DENY YOU HAVE A PROBLEM BY PUTTING SOME OTHER PERSON GROUP DOWN TO CLARIFY I AM GESHE..NOT TO PUT DOWN BT’S BUT THAT YOU MAY UNDERSTAND WHY I COME TO MY HUMBLE… Read more »

petition
July 25, 2012 10:47 am

just like you did not sign your name but are right, no one will sign the petition for fear that it will be taken out on their kids. As it definitely will.
Since yeshivos started in europe, you have to fund raise for yeshivos. AS one administrator said, ” If you can’t afford tuition, don’t have kids and if you do, send them to public school

Job training
July 25, 2012 10:40 am

I totally agree with teaching bochurim real life skills. This will not only benefit boys who go into business in the real world, but boys who go on shluchim as well, as most of them are so I’ll prepared for living independantly it’s embarrassing how naive and Klein keppeled so many of them are.

open your own school
July 25, 2012 10:36 am

If you think tuition is too expensive, open your own school.

To # 128
July 25, 2012 10:05 am

Best comment so far! If everyone thought like you we would have no problems.

to number 112
July 25, 2012 10:01 am

Sorry but you may be french, however i lived in France for years and heard this from Rav Pevzner alev hashalom himself. He was told by the Rebbe to take in all kids even if they could not afford tuition and not to charge them and in fact to take in more kids when he could not even afford to feed them….and Hashem sent him a big donor who built up the Sinai school. So do your research please before you answer.

People
July 25, 2012 9:38 am

This isn’t just a crown height issue here. This is world wide issue in Lubavitch.

who are you?
July 25, 2012 9:28 am

what is your name?
i would be happy to sign your petition – anonymously

To number 127
July 25, 2012 9:17 am

Why don’t you read the post 74 and continued on post 79 before you respond, you obviously either can’t read or didn’t read them.

Few comments
July 25, 2012 9:04 am

‘But once you write “I also think that 4-6 kids should be the largest families we should be having”.’

Same Question as #114…. Do only we not see the comment?

If the Merkos Charter was the same as Satmar does today re:subsidy..why did it not occur at all?

If Shluchim do not get discounts for camp and tuition, how come they are able to send more children to camp, drive newer cars etc etc?

to number 136
July 25, 2012 9:03 am

There was one landlord trying to help crown heights families. He was thrown out of crown heights. you sleep in the bed you made

clarification
July 25, 2012 9:01 am

Being that the Crown Heights community put the people in charge of merkos in siruv and watched without doing anything as Rabbi’s Shemtov and Krisnky were thrown out of 770 biyadayim, I,’m assuming you are referring to Rabbi Sholom Mendel Simpson when you say merkos should take care of it.

Move to Israel
July 25, 2012 8:41 am

There education is free

You are so correct
July 25, 2012 7:48 am

I totally agree with your article as I see how my children are so struggling to pay our grandchildren’s tuition and we unfortunately cannot help enough. You didn’t even touch upon the Landlord Greed in CH and how hard it is for these families to pay the ever rising rents!

to 122
July 25, 2012 7:05 am

Really? Can you tell me why merkaz LINYONEI CHINUCH was founded?! why don’t you read the mission statement before offering an opinion?

Homeschooling
July 25, 2012 6:52 am

Homeschooling is not an option in present day NY if the rent or mortgage are to be paid – both spouses have to work. Additionally, not all parents are cut out for it, it’s not that easy.

to 39
July 25, 2012 6:46 am

TO 39
you write ” help, I am being evicted next week”!
THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING, POSTING A COMMENT ON COL LIVE?!! GO GET A JOB!

Step up to the plate...
July 25, 2012 6:28 am

I think one of the issues here is that many people seem to expect somebody else to fix the problems. If you see something that needs fixing, and you are passionate about fixing it, then why wait untill somebody else coems along and does it? Why is it their responsibility?

This particularly pertains to comment number 103. You make a valid point….so, do something about it!

It's the times...
July 25, 2012 6:22 am

In case this has escaped anyone’s attention, the ecomonic situation for many people today, this means ALL, is not so great. Getting a degree is NO longer going to assure getting a job. We must start to scale down our gashmious expectations. This being said, it is cheaper today to drive a leased car than to buy one, even an old jalopy. Let’s pair down our simchas to start, freeing more family resources for school and camp.

Not correctly addressing the issue
July 25, 2012 5:49 am

Some of this was alteady said, I hear the authors frustration, but some of the comments need correcting. This is a problem for everyone not just Ch’s. As a shlucha in Ca. I will not be able to send my daughter to sem. There are no discounts so. For the yeshiva also not so we are all in the same boat. And maybe more so. I cannot even afford proper cleaning help even though both of us work long hours. Everyone saying ppl are just going to criticize is not true. There are many false comments in the article. I… Read more »

BT Here
July 25, 2012 4:49 am

I am a baal teshuvah with a high school degree, married with 2 kids. What am I doing? Furthering my education after I realized shlichus wasn’t going to work out. The Rebbe never said you’re not allowed to be educated. Have you looked into how many places there are that teach courses that can help you get a decent job??? The Geshem center to name just one. Many of by “gezhe” friends are doing the same. Get off your rear end and do something instead of moan, a petition isn’t the answer, who are you going to give it to!?… Read more »

In connection to # 79, re. the Rebbe's approach..
July 25, 2012 3:15 am

As part of the hanhala of a fairly new, small moisad , I have seen this happen LITERALLY . We accepted a bachur on full scholarship in spite of having a huge overhead and hardly any help with fund raising; when his local shluchim confirmed it was ta’ake impossible for his family to pay, we tried to think what the Rebbe would want; we accepted him and sure enough got hold of a friend of the family who took it upon himself to sponsor the bachur’s tuition (anonomously)& he turned out to be 1 of our ‘best paying parents’! Hashem… Read more »

to number 78
July 25, 2012 3:12 am

i am on shlichus and we dont have any swiming pool nor did i see by any shluchim swimming pools.
about mesirus nefesh think about the shluchim leaving alone in some city without kosher food, without freinds without anythign waiting for a jew to knock on their door… think about it and hten tell me if we dont have mesirus enfesh.

simple solution- CPA audits
July 25, 2012 2:56 am

Require all mosdos to have a CPA audit them and then release the report for public viewing. It would enable us to know if the price of education is too high or not

rise in tuition
July 25, 2012 2:14 am

could it be that it has at least something to do with the cost of living and running an organization in one of the most expensive cities in the country? When Rubashkin was running Agri, he had a pretty good mesivta in Iowa where the tuition, including room and board, was only $3-4k a year. So even a single gvir can support a well-run and affordable moisad. Also, the expectations of the bochurim – and their families – are very different from what it used to be, as far as the dorms, food, etc. If it were 20 bochurim learning… Read more »

Laaniyas.Dayti.@gmail
July 25, 2012 2:13 am

Difficult to understand what the author hopes to accomplish. There are no leaders in L today. There are no followers. If there were followers, there would be leaders. L is a breeding house of social entrepreneurs. Take an issue and work it to some sort of success, then you become a leader. Get yourself a chazakah in some area or corner of 770, put a lock on it – figuratively or in actuality – and you join the ranks of the entrenched establishment. It is what it is. It ain’t chassiduss. Nor, for that matter is the tone of the… Read more »

more on shluchim
July 25, 2012 2:03 am

and to those begrudging the multi-million chabad houses: have you considered that those shluchim who do raise money for those buildings, pay no less, and quite possibly more, in tuition than many CH families? Also, have you considered that maybe the donors in Aspen, Boca Raton, etc. are not interested to send their money to Merkoz or OT, but rather dedicate the buildings in their own honor in their own communities? That maybe a chossid wouldn’t mind going to shul to his neighbor’s basement and will rejoice at some herring for kidush, but the Aspen crowd will not step foot… Read more »

Hamase Hu Hoikor
July 25, 2012 1:37 am

It’s nice to write an article and bring attention to an important issue currently facing our community, but our Rebbe has taught us that Hamase Hu Hoikor, so if you are ready to write be ready to start the Mosad you describe, see if you can work with Merkoz, but don’t point fingers that Merkoz is responsible, because Merkoz was not founded be the Rebbe to address our education system.

Shluchim discounts
July 25, 2012 1:35 am

To all those begrudging the shluchim their discounts and donations from CH: have you seen those shluchim – in the US – who have no money to heat their houses in the winter? those who can afford only macaroni salad, potato salad, and corn salad on Shabbos? Those whose kids were sent back home from camp because their parents couldn’t pay even the discounted rate? Have you seen all the work those shluchim’s kids do without as much as a thank you? preparing the shuls, cleaning up after the programs? Have you considered that the actual cost to teach your… Read more »

Hi
July 25, 2012 1:33 am

I went to OT all my life I’m 26 and married, although everyone says I’m a great guy, I go from one crummy job to another crummy job, right now I make under 50K a year and I don’t know how I will be able to move up in the financial ladder.
I’m guessing Hashem will help, he’s the boss, so whatever is supposed to be will happen.

SORRY, BUT
July 25, 2012 1:16 am

What’s the next step? Maybe have only two children or none (If YOUR mothe had made that Cheshbon>>>) Non- kosher food is really cheap, public schools are free… Sorry I’m xo cynical, and I know it’s not a soolution but neither are the conclusions in the article. I don’t think you’re really looking for a solution, rather a “teretz” for…
Include the Aibershter and the Rbbe in your life. Yes, we’re in Golus but the above is not the way out

any problem u can fix with money isnt a problem
July 25, 2012 1:16 am

Stop wasting time complaining and start making a keli for parnossa so you can be the one to fix the problem !
You sound like a looser and if you are really emesdik Hashem will bless you

my 2 cents
July 25, 2012 1:00 am

First and foremost as many have already stated, limiting the amount of children is NOT the way. We don’t call ourselves Chabad and then ignore what the Rebbe has taught us and stressed its importance. ( we certainly do not suggest the oppostie!!) 2) this article (op-ed) has many valid points, i dont see why comparing to Shluchim or taking about Balei Teshuvah is any help… We need to think of a solution and if we join forces and do it together, it more likely to happen. It is sad how many people are struggling, but as many Shluchim have… Read more »

Wolf to Zev #101
July 25, 2012 12:58 am

Zev: there’s not one community in CH, but a multi-layer cake of loosely associated variations of Chabad-affiliated people – even without the politics. They all seek and desire different things. You can’t have one size fits all moisad like satmar or bobov. And this problem affects people out of CH as well – no relation to their internal politics at all. Ever tried talking to any of the gvirim and getting them to donate outside of their existing channels? Regarding country, not everyone is able to spend summer with kids in a concrete jungle in a 100F heat. $3-4k that… Read more »

Signature Please!
July 25, 2012 12:55 am

If you write something, put your name on it.
What’s up with these anonymous op eds?
COLLIVE editors, unless the matter is in need of private considerations, please require the authors to be behind their articles otherwise you won’t be.

Something must have been deleted from the article....
July 25, 2012 12:49 am

because I do not see anywhere in the article where the author states that families should be limited to 4-6 kids. In any event, whether some people commenting on this article wish to believe it or not, this issue is REAL. I had a Chabad shliach tell me recently that the cost of Jewish schools are the #1 issue in the frum community. Anyone that denies this fact is just separated from reality. The fact is that it is very difficult for a “regular” religious family to afford the onerous cost of private Chabad education. And increasingly, frum families are… Read more »

To 103
July 25, 2012 12:44 am

Well said!!

YOU AND ME
July 25, 2012 12:38 am

to # 79 WHAT A LIE, I’M FRENCH AND NEVER THE REBBE SAID THOSE WORDS AND FRENCHIES STILL PAY THEIR FULL TUITIONS ONLY DIFFERENCE THEY HAVE THE GOUVERNEMENT THAT HELP, SECURITE SOCIALE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY UNTIL THE KID REACH 18. SO SO PLEASE REVIEW YR WORDS AND LET’S NOT CONTINUE TO BE IGNORANT SCHOOL SHOULD HIRE FUND RAISERS FULL TIME JOBS AND LET OUR FAMILY ALONE!!

from 770
July 25, 2012 12:31 am

agree agree this tuition bussiness just to high when we have a large family. TO MUCH TENSION IN THE FAMILY FOR SCHOOL AND CAMPS AND NO ONE CARES… AGREE PLEASE ACT — HAMAASSE HU HAYIKAR!!!

the problem with this article is...
July 25, 2012 12:28 am

that this is a problem with the moisdos, and i dont know why the author chose to talk about the shluchim when it has nothing to do with it. the shluchim get certain discounts, but no so significant, and they have expenses that we dont have. so lets keep them out of the picture. the schools and yeshivas dont want to fundraise and when they give you a small discount, they make you feel bad, as if they are doing you this huge favor,and they demand to know every private aspect of your life. thanks! i just told you what… Read more »

Frum and Mentschlick Families
July 25, 2012 12:22 am

My advice to the author is your biggest mistake is falling into the trap of peer pressure. Plenty of CHABAD Rabbanim give heters depending on individual circumstances. So all this Rebbe talk is nonsense since the Rebbe would defer halachically to a Rav as far as a person’s situation. Secondly, go to college there are plenty of frum colleges in NY and if not *gasp* go to a secular one like I did. CH is a slum full of poor people it is embarrassing seeing intelligent people not being able to support themselves. The reality of the US is if… Read more »

fed up
July 25, 2012 12:00 am

enough is enough!
how many more oped’s can be written and published by a Chabad outlet questioning many or all the things our Rebbe stands for.
Why does everything have to be debated in a public forum if you aren’t aware of the Rebbes opinion on certain matters either do your research or ask someone knowledgeable.

its simply not respectful to the Rebbe to debate and question issues that he was extremely clear and unequivocal about.

for example the issue of having large families besides the point contrary to some ameratzishe commenter,

Well said
July 24, 2012 11:56 pm

Thank you

homeschool
July 24, 2012 11:49 pm

Why don’t more people homeschool? If a bunch of people do it, your kids won’t be considered wierd

larry
July 24, 2012 11:28 pm

to #30 thats out the window sad to say. and #31 i like u

Tzedakah
July 24, 2012 11:24 pm

Family goes first. Look in Shulchan Aruch

Concerned parent from Crown Heights.....
July 24, 2012 11:18 pm

Thank you for having the guts to say it like it is and taking your time to try and give solutions. While you are at it, as a ‘side’ note, if you all haven’t noticed, we could use a large heaping of Shlichus HERE in Crown Heights because many of our kids are simply not happy and looking for Greener Pastures eg Manhattan, Park Slope the hipster section of Williamsburg etc etc.. So bottom line, you all who run after the money people to build build build OUT of Crown Heights; Please HELP us HERE and BUILD A REAL CHABAD… Read more »

Two Questions
July 24, 2012 11:03 pm

1. Does Chabad have the scale necessary to pull this off? Satmar has a lot more people than we do…
2. Is there a central org that can be entrusted to administer funding fairly? Based on current behavior in all central chabad orgs, my guess is no.

zev
July 24, 2012 11:03 pm

2 points. A. The failure of the crown heights community is no ones fault but the crown heights community. It’s not shluchim’s fault or Rabbi Krinsky’s fault or anyone elses fault. The community allowed itself to be dragged through one machloikes after the other disenfranchising the entire population from any cohesive effort to build itself properly. there are plenty of gevirim in crown heights that could help with the chinuch moisdos. But machloikes prevails. Corruption amongst the rabbonim the chjcc….. Any person that has ever done anything positive for the community has been driven away like a wild animal (Dovid… Read more »

Chaya
July 24, 2012 10:57 pm

I agree 100% percent Chabad does not focus on there own community as much as it should!

Look in the mirror
July 24, 2012 10:57 pm

Do you believe in hashgocho protis? Do you believe in Hashem? Do you have a mashpia to guide you? Are you seeing the glass as half empty? Have you tried to work on yourself? Have you tried to learn how to budget? Have you tried to update your skills so that you can get a better paying job to keep up with the times? Or do you just want to complain and expect everyone to change for you when you don’t want to put in the hishtadlus?

Great
July 24, 2012 10:50 pm

Happy the issue is being brought to the forefront! Thank you

no. 77
July 24, 2012 10:49 pm

is totally right. i thought i misunderstood something. the author is by no means suggesting a smaller family. on the contrary she says that sensible cheshbonos would be family planning but that is not practical etc.
the shcuna with the high prices on homes is another factor which should have never happened.

To 75, 83 and 88
July 24, 2012 10:46 pm

Eventually these wealthy people who give significantly more to the schools then mandated by tuition (but done so by their own free will) will stop supporting the schools and open their own institutions. Nobody likes being told that they have to subsidize others. The government gets to accomplish that with taxes, but here, in this community, it is unenforceable and will have the exact opposite effect. The less fortunate, will have even worse education and the cycle will repeat itself.

The situation is SAD!
July 24, 2012 10:32 pm

Cut of the lines about the number of the kids and about Shluchim and the rest is true. About the BTs I would stress the idea that to Mekarev, there are organizations but when the mekurav is ready to come and live his life in Crown Hights then what??? then he is already like everyone else and even worse because they didn’t experience growing in Chabad and it’s hard for them even more to raise a big family and to face the Yeshives and girls school with their tuition… What’s with the Vaad of the Shechuna? How do they take… Read more »

Everyone has their Nisayon
July 24, 2012 10:15 pm

If you run your life according to what other people do and what other people will say or think, then you’ll always be miserable-how about focusing on what Hashem Yisborach wants from you! That’s why the people that #76 is talking about grew up happy, productive, and well adjusted in spite of their financial lack.

shluchim
July 24, 2012 10:11 pm

I agree with your article but I totally disagree with your solution. The shluchim are part of the problem we should not be going to them for money or answers. The first step would be improve the schools and offer a proper secular education.

a shlucha
July 24, 2012 10:11 pm

I have received a few discounts for camp. We have had mesiras nefesh to work now for two years without pay. Please don’t begrudge our small discount. Many of you in Crown Heights must not understand what it means to be on shlichus. Iy”H we are making the Rebbe proud, but our bank accounts are empty.

to # 89
July 24, 2012 9:57 pm

a little bit aggresive your response to my taste…

Home School
July 24, 2012 9:51 pm

In LA there is a group of anash who home school.
It is not the schools fault for charging alot – it is the parents fault for paying high amounts.
The boys school in LA is run by a board of working anash – and has a fair tuition system – with no admins who are pocketing $ on the side…

#75 - communist Russia?
July 24, 2012 9:41 pm

Where do you think we are – communist Russia? Or maybe you live in Liberal NY? Why should the rich be subsidizing you having 12 kids???

agree with #75
July 24, 2012 9:37 pm

it makes sense and i dont see why it shouldnt start asap! there a lot of wealthy parents sending thier children to school who make 200/300 a year easily. so the school building, staff pay ect…all continue 🙂

just me
July 24, 2012 9:16 pm

bla bla to all the naysayers – you know what?

This letter rocks period end of story!

Agreed 1000%

That said – this is a major sensitive issue – I can see how it would unerve some – but I bet those that are cringing are those that either have deep pockets or no kids at home 😉

Telling
July 24, 2012 9:15 pm

Taking a good look at the comments I could tell who is actualy shepping nachas from their children!

pulease...
July 24, 2012 9:02 pm

no, you dont have to send your kids to places you cant afford just because others are suckers and doing it. most children i know are thrilled to be from a large family although they didnt enjoy the frills of a smaller one. remember, your siblings are your only real friends for life- and more valuable than going to a ‘top-seminary’, and the like…and every child comes with their brachos. its pathetic to think that you canr have more children because how will you send your kids to the ‘best-camps’.

Central
July 24, 2012 9:01 pm

Central Funding for Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch. It exists, and is most suited to the purposes you suggest.

to # 75 percentage is a good idea!
July 24, 2012 8:56 pm

really, think about it, most of us pay 20% 30% or 50% of our income in tuition -after discounts- and many people pay just 1% or 5% why don we create a system that all of us pay certain fixed amount based on percentage? if you make 1MM a year then well you have to pay 100K which is not more that the poor working guy that is “demanded” to pay sometimes 50% of his income… think about it!!!!!!

Socialism...!
July 24, 2012 8:54 pm

This sounds a lot like socialism!! Why do people believe someone else has to subsidize their life style. I’m sure you are voting for Obama this November.

BT--Korbonot of the system too!
July 24, 2012 8:44 pm

Sorry–I understand so much of what the writer means, I think born of pure frustration–financial and otherwise. No one is addressing a problem of this last generation: that of the Baby Boomers who have come into maturity after being inducted by the first-to-second wave of the Rebbe’s Kiruv directive–in the last 40 years. Please take into account that many, if not most BT’s severed ties with family– and long-cherished goals concerning the livelihood and parnassah issues of children born of the secular world. These broken ties involve not only emotional succourance, but also (no less) a breaking-off of financial assistance,… Read more »

Kol hakavod
July 24, 2012 8:38 pm

I admire your open minded writings, and as expect, many people with big mouths and small brains, will attack you without truly comprhensing your suggestions, 1)they will attack your suggestion regarding family size,using the rebbes and god’s name, but will complain and cry to the schools for better tuition or the goverment for more benifits… 2)Showing off the amount of kids you have(and many do it because off social pressur!) is an easy way to show hiskashrus, as oppose to working on yourself and helping others. 3) Wherer those it say in any Sicha oe halacha the amount of kids… Read more »

solution lies in lowering tuition
July 24, 2012 8:37 pm

There have been several op eds in the past several months about the high cost of tution…actually, i believe if schools will do what the Rebbe always wanted (to take in all kids regardless of whether or not parents can pay tuition) the schools will for sure see more blessing, and parents will not panic over the high cost of living and would not feel overwhelmed having a large family. I think many schools, including and perhaps particularly, seminaries have become money making institutions and at the cost of chasing away our children. This is not how it should be.… Read more »

Lubavitcher living out of town
July 24, 2012 8:17 pm

To continue my post 74, the children of these Shluchim feel as though they are working in a family business and have two new expensive cars, live in homes with pools, have updated granite kitchens, take thier family Israel for summer vacations and etc, all because they don’t work for the Rebbe they work in the family business which happens to be doing the Rebb’s work. The Shluchim working under these so called children of the original Shluchim demand from the Shluchim under them that they should be working for the Rebbe and have mesiras newshound as far as salaries… Read more »

misunderstood
July 24, 2012 8:10 pm

I read and reread the article many times nowhere do I see that the author suggests that people should have smaller families-he/she merely points out that that is the unfortunate reality and byproduct of the cost of raising a frum family- of course we know that the Rebbe encouraged large families etc. It is also a known fact ( I heard this first person from the person it was told to) that one of our school administrators told a couple that if they can’t afford to pay tuition for all their kids they should have thought about that before having… Read more »

Simple question
July 24, 2012 8:09 pm

This system has been going on for a long time more or less. I look at my friends who went to camp and who couldn’t afford to. The ones who went away to yeshiva, and the ones whose parents could not afford to but spent extra time with these kids. Those kids didn’t have the nice clothes and when we were in yeshiva on shlichus they didn’t go out to eat. They had a very basic lifestyle and were not even familiar with certain luxuries. I am thinking now of a few families in particular. All those kids adjusted very… Read more »

A POSSIBLE SOLUTION...
July 24, 2012 8:09 pm

INSTEAD OF GETTING (RIDICULOUS) DISCOUNTS FOR TUITION BASED ON OUR SALARIES THAT AT THIS POINT IN MY CASE IS ABOUT 70% OF WHAT I MAKE JUST FOR TUITION…WHY DON’T WE MAKE IT ON PERCENTAGE BASIS? HERE IS HOW: WHEN A KID APPLY TO THE SCHOOL LET THEM MAY MAX 10% OF THE GROSS INCOME TO ALL, MEANING IF YOU MAKE 50,000 /YR YOU PAY 5,000 MAX IF YOU MAKE 100,000 YOU PAY 10K IF YOU MAKE 500,000 YOU PAY 50K IN THAT CASE WE ALL CAN AFFORD IT AND WE ALL FEEL THE SAME “PAIN” 10% FOR ALL, RICH AND… Read more »

Lubavitcher living out of town
July 24, 2012 8:01 pm

Unfortunately there are not many Shluchim out there working for the Rebbe, although all the Shluchim out there are doing the Rebbe’s work. The head Shliach where I live has been sent here over 40 years ago and I can say he works for the Rebbe, the home he lives in and his life style hasn’t changed much over the last 45 years, drives a older car, no new or updated furniture in his home and doesn’t go on lavish vacations numerous times a year. The problem is that now that he is an older Shliach and Chosid and his… Read more »

Chabad
July 24, 2012 7:49 pm

Its all over! its gonna revert back to good old fashion “Klal Yisroel”. If they were good enough to get the Torah, it should be good enough to greet Moshiach.

Shlucha
July 24, 2012 7:40 pm

Not only do shluchim not get discounts, they often get less discounts then the local families to whom the yeshiva/camp is catering for. And we have to pay airfare/transport. Shluchim online school costs almost as much as a real school – many shluchim cannot afford it.

#61 You're so right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 24, 2012 7:32 pm

Schools and camps would charge avarage families so much less money if everyone would pay the same amount. The money has to come from somewhere. Middle class get crushed.

To # 1
July 24, 2012 7:29 pm

Nice piece of writing, but inaccurate information. I have friends who went on shlichus in the past few years and each one raised close to $10,000 for going on shlichus from Crown Heights Bal Habatim, EXCLUDING family members. Every year, the Crown Heights Bal Habatim give hundreds of thousands of dollars to new shlchuim going out as well as shluchim who come in from foreign countries, e.g. Russia, Israel, South America etc to raise money. In total, it is safe to assume that the Crown Heights community gives out AT LEAST a half a million dollars a year to non… Read more »

I wholeheartedly disagree with you.
July 24, 2012 7:22 pm

Who exactly are you petitioning to? Do you think money is going to fall from heaven? If you are having financial issues, go get a better job! Don’t blame your issues on other people and expect them to solve your issues. I am on shlichus, and we pay full tuition, do NOT get food stamps or ANY government help whatsoever.

Stop complaining and take care of yourself. Nobody is forcing you to send your kids to a lubavitch school or camp. That is completely your choice.

The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Mendy
July 24, 2012 7:17 pm

Get real! You are not living in the streets so stop complaining!
Budgeting is the answer!
How many people do you know, that actually pay the full tuition?

To #54
July 24, 2012 7:16 pm

Right on… This article belongs on Facebook, not on here. We have stooped to new lows.

Thank G-d I don’t live in Crown Heights anymore, I can live a normal life without worry if I can afford a Bugaboo just to fit in.

hey look...no typos at all!!! thanks col
July 24, 2012 7:10 pm

i love the new spell check feature… the whole page looks .clean, well written and intelligent.

loved the article too…it’s so sad and so true…and even more sad that no one will do anything about it

Don't kid yourself
July 24, 2012 7:09 pm

Shluchim are also suffering!! Unless you are part of the hierarchies, we are receiving unlivable salaries and aren’t getting very big discounts from the mosdos.

Small Families
July 24, 2012 7:08 pm

I live in Crown Heights and have done for over 2 decades. I have 4 children. Our baby is almost 12 so I highly doubt we will be having any more.
Never once did my husband nor myself feel “embarrassed”, neither did we ever feel that we “are the unspoken talk of the town”. We have never had any mashpias coming talk to us about this either.
Please note that we are not BTs and yes my husband also went to Oholei Torah.

This is why?
July 24, 2012 7:07 pm

you write that you send your kids to Chabad schools “all just so your kids are not marginalized, ” – thats the reason you send them? the rest of the article is just commentary……..

sign
July 24, 2012 7:04 pm

Even if you dont agree with everything in the article you can still sign the petition hopefully something good will come of it, that will benefit all of us.

attention the 99%
July 24, 2012 6:47 pm

I challenge the 99% of people with large families who could not afford full tuition for all their children – who subsidized you? The 1% – the people who either have a lot of money to pay full tuition for their 12 kids, or the ones with a ‘decent’ income, but ‘only’ have 4 kids. So please, your Bitachon is on yenems cheshbon. I’m NOT saying what the Rebbe said, but want to get this out there. For all practical purposes, if EVERYONE could pay the full fees,they would be half of what they are now.

Agree
July 24, 2012 6:47 pm

I agree in general to the headline, I couldn’t read all the details at the moment to know if I agree with your proposal

man up
July 24, 2012 6:45 pm

do you want to know why willi has affordable schools and a solid social services arm that makes camps affordable etc because they have something chabad and ch dont have. its one word (no pun) achdus! Satmar guys get a direction from the top …. use a simcha plan … they do it. they get a message all kids go to go to one school … they follow it. use a few certain shtraimel machers they buy from them. they keep it all in house. yes there is a fighting in certain pockets but mostly they are all on message.… Read more »

THIS
July 24, 2012 6:40 pm

Your article, as many others posted on websites like these, speak for themselves the need for outside help, instead of relying on our own ideas and planning. Reading THIS article everyone can now have a good reason why, following the Rebbe’s bakasha nafshis – soulful request- “aseh l’cha rav”- go and get help from someone worth respecting! For all the time to post, to comment and to vent, take a few moments to call up someone you respect, and discuss this issue with him. And for all the other frusterated commentors and soon-to-be OP-Ed writers, do the same. Your kids… Read more »

Boruch N. Hoffinger BS"D
July 24, 2012 6:37 pm

What…’The Rebbe MH”M’ didn’t know about this? Did he say it’s not possible to live as a ‘Chabadnick?’

ha!
July 24, 2012 6:36 pm

I love how so many commenters are ‘outraged’ how dare the writer say such things, well if people are suffering bec they can’t afforf tuition then u can’t judge ! People are in pain her and something must be done!

Shluchim
July 24, 2012 6:27 pm

Shluchim need to pay for dorms and travel even before paying the “discounted” tuition

one flaw
July 24, 2012 6:24 pm

I agree with a lot you write and let’s face it people are talking and worrying about these things so saying “you have chutzpah.. rebbe…large families” isn’t the answer

BUT

Why was this posted FIRST on a certain nebach website which I won’t even name which is totally anti-lubavitch and offensive to the Rebbe? What was the point of that?

sad
July 24, 2012 6:16 pm

It’s sad that this is posted on one of our websites. It’s sad that people feel this way after coming out of our system. The Rebbe said family planning specifically for monetary reasons is not good. I’m the 9th in my family. My parents shouldn’t have had me and a few of my siblings? read about your gezhe grandparents, they didn’t have money, but they persevered. I do agree about tuition that mosdos should be fundraising more and not charging as much. and by the way most chabad schools are the cheapest around (at least where I live). Also people… Read more »

people dedicated to chinuch deserve our best
July 24, 2012 6:10 pm

1) The mission of Merkos “linyanei Chinuch” is to serve the community in matters of Chinuch. Focusing on anything else is abjicating their responsibilities. Hafatzah should be overseen by Aguch or Machneh Yisroel. The Rebbe had a mission page on each of the orgizations that can still be found in some of the older hayom yoms. 2) Classwarfare between chasidim is apalling. See the Rebbe’s works to understand the level of resources that should be put into hafatzah – much less than is currently being deployed. Kehos managed one sefer called sefer hashlichus. Now contrast that with what the Rebbe… Read more »

shlucha
July 24, 2012 6:05 pm

just for your information ; I am sending my son to Oholei Torah and it costs a fortune. discount ; a pittance!
#35 writes the truth.

nissoyoin
July 24, 2012 6:04 pm

maybe this is our nissoyoin do what you can most people survive . the real thing i love in life are my children even the difficult won and i have b”h 11 would do it again in a heartbeat the harder it is the more i appreciate the accomplishment every thing else comes and goes this is pride forever but a gut remedy is emmuno and bitochin

The Rebbe said?!
July 24, 2012 6:01 pm

The Rebbe said to have large families??!!

TORAH says that. The Rebbe brings to our attention what Torah says and shows us a lifestyle.

Torah also says that there has to be chinuch. The hanhollos are the ones destroying our youth and our unique way of life. I.e., the hanhollos are fighting against the Rebbe and ultimately against the Ribono shel oilom.

A Shliach
July 24, 2012 5:56 pm

A very well written piece. A few comments: You write that today Shlichus is no longer a ‘given.’ The reality is that Shlichus was never a ‘given’. Most of the Rebbe’s Chasidim did not go on Shlichus. Not in the Nun’s, Mem’s, certainly not in the Lameds, Chof’s and Yud’s. Lubavitch is more than its Shluchim; Lubavitch is the family of Chasidim who were inspired by the Rebbe, are dedicated to the Rebbe, and most importantly, the Rebbe was and is dedicated to us. Another correction: Shluchim generally DO NOT receive large reductions and scholarships from chinuch mosdos or camps.… Read more »

go to college, get educated, get a good job
July 24, 2012 5:55 pm

you can still get a good job without going to college

Dear Author or other commentator
July 24, 2012 5:53 pm

My question to you, Do you think when the Rebbe spoke his sichos of having large families it was contingent upon the mosdos reducing tuition? Meaning, if there was large tuitiion bills 40 years ago the Rebbe never would have said we should have large families. I guarantee you many lubavitchers are struggling with this question

Updated link The same thing in the litvishe world
July 24, 2012 5:49 pm

36
The same thing in the litvishe world
A recent article made the same point in a litvishe Publication.

http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2012/07/06/a-new-ugly-wrinkle-in-the-tuition-crisis/

please empathize with the pain. It is true we have to rely on g-d to help us, but g-d relies on us to help each other.
July 24, 2012 5:48 pm

Although, like most people I don’t agree with everything written here, I do empathize with this author’s pain and I think most of those points most disagree with are made out of pain. I am sure if the core problem was addressed, which is to figure out how we can help each other survive financially then all the ” apikorsis” written in the article can be ignored. The question is how can we help each other? It is a financial burden to live as a religious jew and with all of you with chassidishe quotes the chassidishe rebbeim helped did… Read more »

shluchim discount?? THERE IS NO SUCH THING!
July 24, 2012 5:48 pm

first of all generally stores in kingston don’t give you much of a discount it means you don’t have to pay taxes..
second of all shluchim don’t get paid and everything cost money you only get paid if there’s “extra money” which there never really is.. so get your facts straight! you have 5 kids? well guess what! i have ten and i still need to pay everything you pay plus travel expenses,doorms.. and everything else!

Shluchim have the same Issues!
July 24, 2012 5:45 pm

Many Shluchim struggle more than the average CH’er and they too have to send their children to camps and Mesivtas and Yeshiva Gedolas they need the money more than anyone else!

shluchim discount?? THERE IS NO SUCH THING!
July 24, 2012 5:41 pm
Help!
July 24, 2012 5:40 pm

I am being EVICTED next week:( and our kids schools want to be paid for past years tuition before issuing admission cards. Moshiach!

this is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 24, 2012 5:38 pm

whoever you are you are to embarrassed to write your name?!? i don’t know why collive even posted this thing! ya i agree shcools and yeshivahs are expensive but this is NOT the way to go about it

Don't use the REBBE directives here
July 24, 2012 5:37 pm

If we really follow by what our REBBE tought no one of us will be having finacial problems, If you belive as the REBBE said the torah is the book of life and all blsessing come of following the shulchan aruch, there will be no arguments like this. True education cost, do you believe that tuition expenses and Yom Tov and Shabbos as well come from Hashem? We could be cinylcal and deny it, I went to horrorific expirience just for the apikorsus of questioning teachings of CHAZAL, Hashem prove me 100% as the ignorant arrogant person that I am… Read more »

The same thing in the litvishe world
July 24, 2012 5:36 pm

A recent article made the same point in a litvishe Publication.
http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2012/07/06/a-new-ugly-wrinkle-in-the-tuition-crisis/
ZD Dallas

small town shlucha
July 24, 2012 5:26 pm

I just want to clarify: this whole concept of “shluchim discount” is a glorified myth. We pay full school tuition, full camp tuition and full price for all other services, just like every other chabad family. We are not exempt from the above issues.
Ps: we also have to PAY for all the “baal teshuva” programs and services, that we bring to our towns. Nothing is free.

Very good
July 24, 2012 5:22 pm

About time something like this is written. Of course allot of people will be close minded and say this is against chabad. But folks you gotta open up and see the facts as they are. Chabad is not what it was. The institutions are not what they were and they are not running things the way the Rebbe wanted. And that changes everything. How can everyone continue to live the lifestyle that the Rebbe wanted us to live when we dont have him running the system and every other Lubavitcher who controls certain parts of the system does what he… Read more »

TheRealJoe
July 24, 2012 5:20 pm

I agree with 80% of what you write.

However you should be ashamed to send your posting to F.M a site that has done more damage to Lubavitch and the Jewish community as a whole then the rest of the media combined.

Also What exactly is a petition going to help?

I think...
July 24, 2012 5:17 pm

There will be 300 commments here

Reality check
July 24, 2012 5:10 pm

Reality check You are from a ‘gezah’ family and yet your refer to a mythological creature called ‘ Chabad HQ’ ? What’s that ? First of all, if there is a ‘Chabad HQ’ at all, it is splintered and divided , with squabbling, turf wars and back stabbing. Factually, there isn’t one place called Merkos any longer. There are multiple groups. And more importantly, the system was never set up as, say the Satmar kehilla, which took care of their own with subsidized education, subsidized wedding halls, simcha plans, trying to help each other out with employment, business and the… Read more »

Oy
July 24, 2012 5:08 pm

Why dont we invest more into teaching the Rebbe’s Sichos and Maamarim, and teaching people the REBBE’s correspondence to hudreds and thousands of people? Then none of us would come up with some of the silly ideas presented in this article.

hopeless
July 24, 2012 5:06 pm

Unfortunately, much of what you write is true, However, I was appalled to read your statement about having 4-6 children!
Nevertheless, I think the Rebbe would have a lot to say regarding the Yeshivos and their high tuitions. He would not stand for all this garbage. People are choking, while usually the administrators of the Yeshivos are living the high life. And #6: vouchers won’t help. They’ll just raise the price and still charge us the difference which will still be high. Too bad. Without the Rebbe screaming about this, we don’t have much hope…

Perfect English
July 24, 2012 5:04 pm

Keep smiling

bubby and Zaidy say
July 24, 2012 5:02 pm

We think you are right. Our married children are still young but they have not had children for a few years. they can’t afford the tuition, our daughter told my wife, its very hard for them to pay what the schools demand. Even when they were not working the schools were calling all the time for tuition which they couldnt pay and we cant help either. Its tragic, not how they were raised. Something is very wrong in Chabad. This is a terrible thing to read and its terrible because it is true.

Absurd & Ridiculous
July 24, 2012 5:00 pm

I think it is absurd that one person who because he is gezhe, which we all knows means absolutely nothing, and if anything gezhe seems to have a harder time sticking to Chabad minhogim etc. I also have a very hard struggle daily, yet do not intend to let it bend my values in any manner. Maybe the solution in your case would be to have a cheaper vehicle or go on less vacations but it definitely shouldn’t mean that you want to bend on tour frumkait. “I AM NOT SURPRISED AT ALL THAT YOU DIDN’T SIGN YOUR NAME TO… Read more »

Well Said
July 24, 2012 5:00 pm

I believe when the Rebbe spoke about ‘Children, Many Children” it was after the Churban in Europe and people were afraid to have large families… time have changed if we cant afford the children we have now (Im talking basic necessities) why continue having more?!?!

Excellent
July 24, 2012 4:58 pm

As an older parent, who has struggled along, with kids mostly grown, I totally agree. Too much money is spent on the outside and not enough shoring up the inside. I have boys inyeshiva, who have secular qulifications but now they are being brainwashed about shlichus! What shlichus? The jobs are all filled and we cant support our young couples, so the cycle repeats itself. Good for you!!

To #1
July 24, 2012 4:57 pm

You’re just proving his point.

almost everybody in CH has family/friends elsewhere that they’re giving their tzedaka money to. so yes, shluchim are in effect “draining all the money” from Crown Heights .

On the mark!
July 24, 2012 4:55 pm

Very well written article and to the point! You’ve covered so many issues that need to be addressed and rectified. We are losing many of our youth due to alot of the issues raised in this article. Please Merkos…pay attention and institute new reform. May Hakodosh Boruch Hu bentch us all with staying strong!

yossel
July 24, 2012 4:54 pm

You spent an entire paragraph describing yourself “I am a Lubavitcher Working father…..learned in kolel. My wife “an amazing girl”. We dedicated our lives to bring up our children like a normal Chabad family”. But once you write “I also think that 4-6 kids should be the largest families we should be having”. It becomes evident that somewhere in your chinuch you went wrong because this statement lacks bitochon. Not the misirus nefesh requested by our dear Rebbe from an average Lubavicher. But simple bitchon that any shulchon oruch yid has. As do item 2 & 5 a lubavitcher follows… Read more »

One Thing
July 24, 2012 4:51 pm

There’s a lot of things you say in this article, I don’t know if everythings is necessary, but I want to say one thing. I agree that schools should have an occupational track. Not everyone is meant to go in to Shluchis. We are here, in this world, in order to reveal Godliness in every single thing, (in every blade of grass) The world of business is a world that typical shluchim affect. But they only affect the surface. A Frum Yid, working, keeping his levels of Observance, goes into the deepest places of business and can affect people around… Read more »

This is so true!!!!!
July 24, 2012 4:51 pm

I feel like you are writing everything Ive been saying for years. There are no discounts for me when we go to register our kids for school or camps. Because my husband “works” and is not on shlichus. But that doesnt mean we are not having a hard time making ends meet!

to 16
July 24, 2012 4:49 pm

I dont think the writer meant the BT’s living in Crown Heights. I think they meant the baal teshuvas and not yet frum out of crown heights. once a person moves to crown heights he is part of the regular crown heights community , part of the school system, etc.
no need to make that the issue here. if you are in fact living in crown heights then im sure your kids could benefit from financial and other change for your children as well.

A working class Lubavitcher
July 24, 2012 4:45 pm

The overall point of your article is very true although I disagree on a few specifics. Firstly as a parent you have to make decisions what is best for you not what other think. If you cannot afford a big family you have the responsibility as a husband and father not to have more children than you can realistically afford (cost of children includes school fees). Children are expensive and it is not right to have a big family without knowing how you will support them. would you buy a house without knowing how you will pay the mortgage?? (bad… Read more »

Is it necessary to dis the BTs?
July 24, 2012 4:44 pm

Some of us BTs actually CHOOSE to live here in Crown Heights, following the Rebbe’s hora’as. Plenty of BTs are fed up being treated like second class citizens by gezhe Lubavitchers like yourself. We’re not good enough to marry, not good enough for your seminaries, not good enough for your yeshiva. Keep talking like that and all those BTs who were so precious to the Rebbe are going to pick up and move along to another community, taking our dollars with us. While you have some valid points and suggestions, your disdain of BTs makes me not want to listen… Read more »

a chutzpa !
July 24, 2012 4:43 pm

a chutzpa to suggest BT’s are draining the Crown Heights community! Hadar Hatorah is a lavish institution? it has about 15 full time students year round and the living conditions are fit for rats. the place fund raises from all over the plannet – I do not think Crown Heights baale batim are supporting the place. I also think there are more BTs or not frum yet Jews who effectively support Crown Heights, than vice-versa!

OT'nik
July 24, 2012 4:42 pm

I agree with your general approach, and with most of your suggestions.
But advocating that Lubavitch Chasidim should start family-planning?! IMHO, that’s where you cross the line!
I too am struggling financially, and would greatly benefit from your proposed organization. (be it by Merkaz, or anyone else). But never would I have wanted to learn a profession during my Yeshiva years! Career counseling for “Eltere Bochurim” or for “Kollel Yungerleit” absolutely! But not at 14!
If this is something that kicks off, and I hope it does, let’s keep it simple. Focused on lowering tuition costs for ALL.
Sh’koyach!
-Eli.

Sign the Petition!
July 24, 2012 4:38 pm

If you all agree, then please take the time to sign the petition — it is a way for these ideas to be taken seriously.

R"L
July 24, 2012 4:38 pm

While the primary plot of the article is cogent, it is shocking that a “lubab” website would publish an op-ed that has an intimation to limit families R”L, directly against the Rebbe’s well known shita to the contrary.

Please remove those parts, the rest of the article is fine (and makes perfect sense without those parts)

Who are you?
July 24, 2012 4:37 pm

#1. No one asked you to decide how many chilfren other people should have. #2. If you want to start a revelution at least say who you are and dont hide under cover.

Chaim Yankel
July 24, 2012 4:36 pm

How can you write/publish this drivel? You’re advocating no more then 4-6 children, and you call yourself a Lubavitcher? Think of the Rebbe’s Sicha to the women in Tof Shin Mem “Children, Many Children!! Look at yesterday’s Hayom Yom: No matter how much effort is exerted, no-one can earn one cent more than G-d has ordained that he – this particular person – shall earn. One must do what is necessary, but one must remember that all his work is but an adjunct. The main thing is G-d’s blessing, and that blessing is earned by being observant of G-d’s commands:… Read more »

Thank You, Thank You!!!
July 24, 2012 4:34 pm

I agree with this author 100%! it is almost impossible for a family with mother and father to support the Chabad (modest) lifestyle. For those of us who are single parents with children in yeshiva, seminary, etc, it is unbearable. I am so happy that someone had the courage to discuss this out in the open!

Fantastic and well written
July 24, 2012 4:34 pm

I feel hijacked by the schools and yeshivas because I have to send my children to theses schools to become shluchim but there is 0% chance that my kids will become shluchim and when they get out of yeshiva they don’t have the same skills as similar aged 20 year olds to make it in business. I feel that there is hardly any of the educators really get it. They fabreng all the team about being “Chassidesh”, (whatever that means) yet they are not there when the bochur needs to earn a job or worse is having marital problems because… Read more »

baal teshuva
July 24, 2012 4:33 pm

don’t kid yourself if you think the frum world does not benefit more financially from BTs or otherwise not-yet religious donors – than the BTs take from the system.

london
July 24, 2012 4:32 pm

Here in London our tuition is — as of recently — subsidised by the government — we condsider ourselves very lucky and blessed. American Jews should push like crazy for school vouchers… it’s election year, chap arain!!

Name?
July 24, 2012 4:30 pm

Hey I think this is great. Why won’t you put your name and stand by it?

I cant believe I am reading this
July 24, 2012 4:27 pm

I agree with every single word. this is the best written oped I have read in a long time. its time for change for all of us regular hard-working lubavs. no one is looking out for us!!

Amazing
July 24, 2012 4:24 pm

Its like you took the words out of my mouth.
I feel exactly as you do. wow wow

Judah Forer

soo true
July 24, 2012 4:24 pm

whoever you are i love your ideas
great job

A Shliach Responds
July 24, 2012 4:17 pm

I’m a Shliach – in California to be exact. You make some valid points, and others that are obviously contrary to Chabad values and the Rebbe’s teachings such as limiting family sizes because of financial concerns. You also seem to be insinuating that Shluchim are draining all the money from Crown Heights. That is inaccurate and frankly, quite offensive. I know that I, and the overwhelming majority of Shluchim that I know (and those that I don’t) rely on their own communities for support. Yes, there are some communities which cannot support their Chabad mosdos and the Shluchim are forced… Read more »

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