R. Elisha Paul wrote
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If the only thing a Jewish high school accomplishes is getting a student to continue their Jewish education in Israel then we should all collectively say "Dayeinu","Halleluyah", and "Shehecheyanu".
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The question I have to ask is "continuing their Jewish education in Israel" for how long? I do not believe that one year of a day school graduate continuing his or her education is enough. I believe it takes considerably more than one year. Also, let me point out that continuing one's Jewish education need not be just in Israel.
The Orthodox Jewish community has to face up to the fact that the atmosphere today on the vast majority of college campuses is one that clashes strongly with Yahadus. My oldest son is 46, learned in Bais Medrash for a few years and then in Kollel for 6 years and has smicha. He is also well-versed in the writings of RSRH, and he was a yeshiva rebbe for more than a decade. Last year he decided that he wanted to earn a master's degree in social work and enrolled in NYU's concentrated social work graduate program. He has told me that the atmosphere and philosophy of the program is one that does not fit with a Torah outlook. He has the ability to defend Torah hashkafa and does often. And, for the record, his professors and fellow students, while not agreeing with his views, respect them and him. However, someone with just one year or even two or three years of post high school Jewish education would be lost in this environment.
I cannot understand why parents think that after a year of study in Israel their children are ready to deal with studying at a secular college. Why gamble on their children's commitment to religious observance? Is attending a "good" secular college really that important?
Yitzchok Levine
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2017 02:25PM by mlb.
