writersoul:
“Israel is a publicity mechanism, in a way, for the seminary experience itself, no matter where it might be. If the Israel seminary as an institution was abolished, I doubt that the American/British/etc system would stay afloat for long after.”
While the “publicity mechanism” part may be true, for the traditional frum world, if attending seminary (wherever) is a good thing for post-high school young women then there is no reason to thing that it won’t happen without Israel. (But it wouldn’t surprise me if MO’s participation would drop without Israel due to theological rather than “advertisement” factors.)
Regarding Lior’s post, I think there is something to be said for witnessing people in Yerushalayim so removed from the materialism of this world despite the different lifestyle that these young women may have while in Israel. But I think the points are very reasonable.