To akuperma: It is not simply “worthwhile” endeavor. It is life itself. Is breathing a worthwhile endeavor? Is eating a worthwhile endeavor? Everyone has a portion in Torah they must contribute to the communal body of Klall Yisroel. Much as each cell, tissue, organ, and organ system contribute to the welfare of the individual body, each Jew’s Torah does that for K’neses Yisroel.

To mbachur: It is simply not true. Yeshiva/Seminary credits assist both young men and women to go on to acquire degrees in Education, Accounting, Business, Nursing, Medicine, Law, PT, OT, ST, etc.

To all those who have commented about Chevrei Kolell not working . . . It is not for naught that the berachah for learning is “la’asoke b’divrei Torah.” The shefa of berachos that comes through Torah learning, the Torah teaches, is if we are “amailim” – if we toil – in Torah leaning. The 10 – 15 hour learning schedule of the typical chaver kollel is physically straining as well as mentally. If they tutor to supplement their income there is preparation and travel time as well. Add to that the assistance they typically provide their wives – bus duty, shopping, laundry, homework – and I think most people would agree they are working. The litmus test is if we feel the same way towards academia in general. Should Einstein have gone to work? What about the hundreds of research scientists especially those who are not involved in “applied” research? The Gemora define the apikores as one who believes the Talmidei Chachomim do not provide us with anything. Let’s not lose site of that. We may not all be zoche to spend our days and nights in the Bais Medrash. And certainly whatever toiling we DO do, and it is likely with tremendous mesirus nefesh, adds countless merits and berachos to our families, communities, and nation. That is not to belittle those that can continue to do so throughout the day and night. We are all holy vessels for the Torah. Some also support it. But we must never forget that “Ha’Aron nosei es nosav.”

the word is college

that only works for getting a law degree not so much for other fields

Your line about “playing soldier” is offensive. You can argue that learning Torah is vital for our physical and spiritual survival, but we all owe a huge hakoras hatov to the young people who perform the most literal mesiras nefesh by serving in the IDF. Whether frum or not, these soldiers are protecting us from rotzchim.

Perhaps we should offer the greatest hakoras hatov to those in hesder programs who protect us both with their Torah and with their weapons.

In the US Yeshiva is credited as collage points, but not in Israel, and then they complain that they don’t work…

However frum Jews are a minority in Eretz Yisrael, and most zionists see things differently.