Just a clarification. Ms. SL and Mr. SL share a sign in. Mr. SL has been writing these posts. I dont know exactly why thats important — but maybe gender figures into some of the opinions — and i didnt want to mislead. Mr. SL may get his own sign in — he may call it MrSarahLevine. Well see.
Neville wrote:
“They have wealthy family and/or sponsors in the US who do the dirty work (i.e. the kind of jobs you mentioned). I don’t want to say that the dynamic of having some people be full time learners and some people be balhabatim who sponsor leaning is inherently wrong (although I know the MO disagrees with it, I can see both sides). It’s only natural that the balhabatish side of the community would reside in the country with the better economy, the US, and the learning side of the community would reside in the country that’s a welfare state.”
Answer. I was afraid that you would say that. As i tell my kids, “that is not a plan, it is a hope.” My question remains. How do they expect the society to survive without a real middle class, with increasing poverty and without a military defense. One of R. Bombach’s arguments in starting his school is that 60% (I think, he said) of people in Beitar live in poverty — for no reason.
With regard to the college discussion — i think we are talking past each other. If the question is Binghamton/Maryland versus YU — i think there is no question that YU provides a Jewish community much stronger than any other place. (That is not to say some kids in the MO community do not do well at out of town secular schools — but they are generally not places of religious growth. There are a good amount of kids who become closer to Judaism on campus but that is a different story). If you are saying Brooklyn/Queens (and learning) vs. YU — or Touro at night — i think that is a matter of personal preference. It allows kids to live at home — and real continue their Hs life. (For my perspective on this — see my original post about the difference between MO and Yeshiva who either wander off the derech or leave orthodoxy).