The Israeli Charedi newspaper Hamodia produced a video to raise funds from throughout the Jewish world for Israeli kollel families (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki7H_L1Unhw) The video blamed the State of Israel for the high level of poverty that exists within Charedi society. In this next section, you will see parts of the original video together with some perspectives that we think are important to mention. Poverty is a terrible thing no matter who you are. But we must help the poor escape the cycle of poverty and not remain within it! 25% of Israeli children today study in Charedi schools where hardly any general subjects -- like math, English, computers, etc. -- are taught. What will their future be? How will they earn a living? Note the following statistics that were presented: The employment rate in Charedi society is significantly lower. Whereas most non-Charedi Jewish men work full-time or more, only about a quarter of Charedi men work full time or more. According to halakha, one must work. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 156:1: "Then [after prayer], he should go to work, for any Torah that is not accompanied by work will be annulled and cause transgression..." According to some poskim, individuals may be supported so that they may pursue Torah study without working. The poskim who espouse this view intended it solely for exceptional individuals. (Bi'ur Halacha on Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 156:1; Responsa Tashbetz §148) Today, the State of Israel gives allowances to more than 54,000 Charedi kollel families in addition to tens of thousands of yeshiva students. Is that what the poskim had in mind? 1. Today there are more full-time Torah students that at any time since the Torah was given at Mt. Sinai. And the State of Israel funds it. 2. The rise in the number of Torah students forced the state to cut back on the stipends it grants. Otherwise, it will put the Israeli economy at risk and reduce all of Israel's children to poverty. Not everyone can or wants to stay in kollel forever. Most of Am Yisrael are meant to work and support their families while being kove'a itim la-Torah (setting aside time to study Torah). The state of Israel decided to invest money in encouraging professional training within Charedi society and in supervising the introduction of general studies into the Charedi educational system. Various government authorities -- the tax authorities, the employment bureau, the IDF, and universities -- give preferential treatment and financial grants to any Charedi man who wishes to support his family. It is not for naught that there is a halakhic ruling: "A man is obligated to teach his son a craft!" It is important to support precisely those organizations that provide Charedi men with the tools to acquire an education, go to work, and escape poverty. Ne'emanei Torah Va'Avoda נאמני תורה ועבודה www.toravoda.org.il neemaney@toravoda.org.il

• published: 28 Feb 2014
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