By RABBI SHALOM BER SCHAPIRO
(based on the teachings – especially letters – of the Rebbe)
As a follow up to my last editorial about school admission and tuition – this time the focus will be on school administrations, specifically, financial/Hanhalla Gashmius:
1. Their obligation and
2. The proper guidelines they need to follow in carrying out their obligation.
(The ideas expressed here are from the Rebbe’s teachings, including his letters. The enclosed audio clip of the Rebbe and a letter from Rabbi Chodakov are a sample of these guidelines. Others are available).
It is painfully clear that many of our boys’ and girls’ schools are using guidelines, some of which are contrary to the teachings of our Rebbes. Relatively new rules which we did not have in the past. Who made these secular-minded rules and how did these guidelines come about?
The traditional proper way.
The yiddisher, chassidisher way of bringing a child to school – was for the parent to come to school with his child and meet with the menahel –who would talk with the child, get to know him and extend a warm welcome. As far as tuition, the parent would go to the financial office and discuss with them what he is able to pay. This would in turn be conveyed to the hanhala ruchnis. This was strictly confidential – no one knew about it nor was embarrassed in the process.
But this is no longer the case today. Where did we go wrong?
Today – first and foremost – the parent who comes to register his child is told to speak with the hanhala gashmis – the financial committee! It is they who decide if and whom to admit to a Yiddish chinuch! How did this happen? Is this the obligation and task of the hanhala gashmis? Who are they to make such decisions? Is this the field of their expertise?
Hanhala gashmis: their obligations and guidelines.
Obligations: the financial administration’s task and only task is to bring in funds from the outside (not through tuition)for the school to cover its expenses. (expenses of the school include first and foremost teachers’ salaries and after that – all other expenses such as secretaries and janitors, desks and doors, utilities and building maintenance etc. Sadly we often see the order reversed – where the luxuries come before the primary necessities.)
That is why the hanhala gashmis is ideally comprised of people who are able to meet this obligation – they are business people in various fields of commerce, finance, construction etc. people with connections and public relations (govt. too) – who are able to keep expenses to the minimum (due to their expertise) as well as to bring in generous funds, through their connections etc. This is the one and only task which they have – bring in funds. As the Rebbe so passionately says – there is plenty money in New York – all that needs to be done is get up from the chair and pick up a donation! It is this great merit which they have – to ensure the chinuch of our dear children – which should give them true gratification and pleasure.
A school cannot and should not be run like a business. The only part of the school that should be run like a business is its material expenses – use of the funds in the most efficient way possible – with minimum waste and maximum productivity.
The obligation of the financial administration does not include anything else (things which are not in the field of their expertise) – no tuition or admission matters and no hiring of firing teachers. These were never their obligations.
The bulk of the school budget is covered by the efforts of the financial administration – who do the fundraising. And these funds should be sufficient to cover regular, necessities.
What about tuition? Should the school rely on tuition for its basic necessities? No. Whatever comes in from tuition could be used for extras – a building, nice furniture etc. But we should not rely on tuition.
Proper guidelines
Use every opportunity to fundraise – there is so much out there, we need merely make the effort. Squeezing and pressuring parents I don’t think is what the Rebbe had in mind when he spoke about the need to fundraise. Tuition is a separate matter and should not be in the hands of the fundraisers.
Hanhala gashmis of a chassidisher mosad, says the Rebbe, needs to reflect the values and conduct of a chassidisher mosad.
But there is the matter of tuition – who should take care of it?
I suggest there should be a tuition committee – keep it small – comprised of chassidisher people of all walks of life – learned and simple, wealthy and modest, teachers and parents, members of the hanhala ruchnis or gashmis – as long as they have the right chassidisher values and feelings. Because these are people who understand the parents and understand those who do not have. A school needs a soul. We cannot forget this.
And this tuition committee needs to consult with a Rabbinical Board.
Schools are public servants – they serve the parents. May they take their holy obligations in the right spirit – that they are doing the shlichus of the Eibishter.
I am encouraged by the very positive feedback from the article I wrote and the encouragement from so many to continue sharing the Rebbe’s words. These are suggestions which I feel will help turn things around for the better and I am confident that things will greatly improve and the Rebbe will have much nachas from all of us.
Click here for audio of the Rebbe’s sicha on this topic.
The majority of people who are not paying full tuition are not going to the country renovating a new home or taking vacations 3x a year. I think that’s a unfair and broad statement that doesn’t represent most people’s circumstances. Outside funding is critical to any Yeshiva it is the lifeline. Smart administrations and talented fundraisers don’t suggest fundraising from the working poor or placing more pressure on the over taxed families .
This statement is false and offensive
Further, look at the schools who are lax with tuition and you will find schools that have teacher strikes and salaries owed.
Being lax??? There is a limit as to what families cam afford period. Hashem didn’t make it that everyone has the same income I this world. If this had been his will it would be so. There is a community responsibility in addition to what parents can contribute .
The Rebbe suggests two ways for the bettering finances amd no other options.
He says increase enrollment and increase fundrasing. Nothing about increasing tuition!!!!
Listen to the audio. Its fascinating. 6 and half minutes of pure truth.
What you wrote is the opposite of what the Rebbe said. It’s all in his own words. Also don’t count other people’s money. It’s not for third parties to decide what others can and can not afford period. Not everyone who doesn’t pay full tuition is going away to the country taking vacations or renovating a home!yt?
If a parent says they can’t afford a certain amount, why not believe them? Gossip shouldn’t determine how much a family can afford. The solution is obvious but it isn’t being done. Just take a percentage of family income and make that the amount required across all schools for that family – boys and girls, K-12. Stop accusing families of lying and just believe what they’re telling you. Most won’t lie, and for those that do – that’s between them and HKB”H. No family should be harassed into paying a much larger percentage of income than anyone else – or… Read more »
In YU every board member must give 100k a year to be on the board
It’s plain and simple the people who are on the board live in this community they know what goes on who is renovating their homes Who goes to the country who is taking three vacations during the year for those that have the means for all that then pay tuition I think that’s pretty simple.People don’t get it education should be the first thing not the last thing you pay
Are mothers willing to go back to the standards of Gashmiyus in the Yeshivos back to the way before there was high tuition? Maybe we should lower the Gashmiyus standard and see if that helps lower costs. A little less AC in the summer and less heat in the winter and sell off some of the sport equipment/games/toys and area and less field trips etc etc, and then teach our children that they should be Sameiach Bechelkom? Same with overnight camp.
Your articles criticize the schools a lot. But not the parents who can afford but don’t give what they can.
Look at Tanya from the last 3 weeks. You need to give not what you can afford, but even more!
That’s where the problem starts. If we would educate parents about the holy responsibility they have to sacrifice for their childrens’ schools, instead of what you’re doing – passing the buck – everything else would fall into place.
The hanhalla gashmis has two options regarding paying school bills.
1. Approach wealthy people, extoll the value of the school, make the balabos feel good, keep up the connection, get the donation and thank the balabos.
2. Tell the parents how they are not fulfilling their obligations, how they need to be grateful to the school and every time they see the parent, they can stick their nose in the air.
Which option do you think is more pleasant for our honorable hanala gashmis member.
Which option is more likely to leave the school a will work big bucks?
There seems to be a widely accepted idea that it’s a Mitzvah for us to live in the most expensive neighborhoods in the world, have almost no prospects for employment, and send our kids to schools with 18 principals who all need salaries.
In a sane world, people would move to places they could afford and live within their means. Maybe consider careers that pay more than 40k annually.
But it’s not a sane world, so let’s all complain in the comment section of a website, and hope the problems away /s
I am both a full time teacher and parent. I also have a, full time, second job in order to make ends meet. I am not sure how I feel about your conclusion. On one hand, every Jewish child must be given a Jewish education regardless of their finances. The communities need to come together to assist in this worthy cause. However, you seem to be putting most of the responsibility on the schools. From what I have learnt, the Mitzvah to educate a child is on the parent, not the community or the school. The school system was created… Read more »
Neither source quoted here brought anything as fundraising INSTEAD of tuition!!! The Rebbe says in the beginning of the clip that we should add students which adds Schar Limud!!! Any more material as actual proof?
We BH make a decent enough salary that we don’t qualify for tuition assistance… but full tuition is $22,000 for our two toddlers! it is crazy.We are BH young and plan on having more kids. And this is not like the modern orthodox schools in the area which are very aesthetically pleasing and sound. This is an older building and kind of run down. where are all these donors at?!
Thank you, Rabbi Schapiro, for this. May you continue to share the Rebbe’s teachings.
Unfortunately the people that should read and listen to the Rebbe (which are clearly stated in your articles) are too busy making parents sick and miserable now that school are about to start so unless names are mentioned nothing will change
There was one or two years that I think they have someone who actually on the board cared and gave a lot of his money( and personal time)to make a difference if the story I heard was true but today there was one or two years that I think you have someone who actually on the board cared and gave a lot of his money to make a difference if the story I heard was true.but for the most part and for the ones who are on the board today I don’t think they have a clue to what’s going… Read more »
The Rebbe:
No firing melamed because of finances!!
(Obviously at the time the had reasons why they picked a certain melamed over others, but if the main reason is finances its unacceptable!!)
This needs to come from Merkos, clear directives on how to help families. I’ve heard painful conversations about how tuition is the first place for funds, and that sets the fundraising goals for the school. Over and over again I hear frum families struggling to give kosher chinuch to their kids. Enough! Set a 10% expectation from families, or a $1000/mo, something reasonable, for Heaven’s sake. And if HaShem blessed you, tov alov brocho.
Whatever happened to Leiblich’s $1B tuition fund? If anyone has updated info, please post.
I like no.7 suggestion.
Where do you see R. Schapiro saying anything about not charging tuition?
https://thechesedfund.com/cause/school-won-t-accept-my-children-before-we-pay-up
We need professionals running the Mosdos , the ones we have simply are incapable , we need lots of help , Hashem save us
well said. Moshiach now
I think it’s sad that chasidish yeshivas don’t care about what the Rebbe said. Anyone Who’s nitpicking about whether the Rebbe is or is not talking about tuition, or would tolerate a child being turned away for lack of paying, let me ask you this: WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SMOKING LATELY?!? You obviously are clueless about who the Rebbe was and is!!!
Thank you Rabbi Shapiro for writing the truth of the Rebbe! But how can we enforce it?? Can you rally all Rabbonim to come out with an open psak din against any yeshiva not allowing children to learn Torah cause they can’t afford tuition?? Our family has been put to shame for having a large family with low income and our good kids were banned several times in the passed and even now are not allowed to send till we could pay thousands of dollars in owed tuition! Oy how much we miss the Rebbe! Nobody cares anymore what pained… Read more »
Wake up and see the facts. There is rapidly growing inequality in our communities. Not saying right or wrong but just stating a fact. Some can afford any tuition. Most people struggle to get through the month. Yet we all live in the same neighborhood. What is the answer? I don’t believe anyone has the answer. Schools need real money to function. Parents are at a breaking point. Enough already!!!!! The wealthy say they are over tapped to help more. Everyone else ( not the few who take advantage) spend over 50% of their income on housing. What is left… Read more »
Rabbi Shapiro has access to lots of addresses of people that received letters from the Rebbe, many from outside our fundraising pool. Let him hire people to track down those people and their children and take up the wonderful Zchus of being a fundraiser for the Chinuch of our Kinderlach.
Set up an affordable, full-time online school for Crown Heightsers and out of towners who are not full time shluchim
The takeover of our mosdos by financial boards who are ignorant or apathetic to chinuch is growing.
We need to follow these simple and basic guidelines to bring back stability and trust to our schools.
As long as it isn’t my responsibility, I’m game.
It’s not so important who it is, just not me.
I’m a martyr, I have a large family because that’s what the Rebbe asked of me, so it’s enough that I have to work so hard to pay the family bills.
My wife is a teacher. Is she supposed to work for free?
Not addressing whether Rabbi Schapiro is right or wrong, but in the Sicha he attaches here the Rebbe does NOT refer or say anything about not charging tuition!
The Rebbe I. Fact says you can cover the Yeshiva deficit by bringing in more students and tuitions!
If you are saying these are the Rebbes Horaos, please tell us where they are, not that we just should trust you.
Insulting honest, hard-working parents by telling them that they pay “little” tuition (I am not using the exact insulting term-the insult still rings in my ears decades later..) when they try their best, volunteer in whatever capacity they can in order to show good will, this was not sufficient? Painfully, the situation appears to have gotten worse in the intervening years… Where are the proper Torah values here? Where does it say that it is appropriate to insult parents who are raising their large families, BH, with the right values? Does the Almighty dollar truly supersede proper Torahadik and Chassidic… Read more »
That’s not the situation in Montreal. Neither at the boy’s or girls school. For the whole week now and projected that be longer Yeshiva TTL Montreal is closed. The following is a oublic document sent by the yeshiva to all parents. Dear Parents, On behalf of the Hanhola, we would like to apologize for the delay in getting this letter to the parent body. It’s been a challenging summer and there have been many time-consuming issues that we have had to deal with. Firstly, the Hanhola would like to thank our devoted Rebbis/Morahs for all the hard work they have… Read more »