A few had admitted to me that “Programming” (Meaning government Programs) was one of things they did.
And why is this a problem? If the government is willing to pay able-bodied people to sit and study religion, why should you have any qualms with it (as long as it is done legally?)
As Yayin Yashan says, in EY it is a much bigger issue. From a recent Adopt-A-Kollel e-mail:
RABBOSAI, A FIRE IS BURNING IN ERETZ YISROEL. THAT FIRE THREATENS TO CONSUME THE OLAM HATORAH. LITERALLY.
I thought I knew whatever there is to know about Kollelim and yungeleit in Eretz Yisroel. After all, I speak to them on a daily basis. Nothing could have prepared me, though, for these face to face meetings, where words spoken over the phone take on a whole different meaning when said in person. One Rosh Kollel after another came to us depicting what his yungeleit are going through. People do not have food. Children go hungry. What can you tell a Rosh Kollel who tells you a yungerman in his kollel owns ONE shirt?! Yes, ONE shirt! Weekdays, Shabbos, Yom Tov…the same single, solitary, threadbare shirt.
How can you turn away a Rosh Kollel who says that in his kollel there are yungeleit who own one suit and who have not bought themselves a brand new suit since the chasunah?! How can you look someone in the eye, when he says, he has not been able to buy his wife an outfit in 15 years??!! How can you turn away a person who does not have milk for his children? How can you turn away a person who gives ONE formula bottle to his baby each day, because he cannot afford sufficient formula?
DY, any thoughts?