Dear Always,
Okay, okay. Maybe you are really hungry, so I will start with a source. Chazal tell us, that wealth and poverty do not come from the craft. If you need a page number to work up your appetite for your streimel, I’ll get it for you.
Our discussion needs some parameters. I’m looking at it from the communal side. As in how a large kollel community operates. Public funds, is another conversation. The point on public school is, That that is where our tax dollars are largely suppose to be going. I’m not getting involved in this debate, but to point out that in some places the money kollel families take for food and utilities is a washout with the one they say in private tuition. Again, I am not saying it should be this was. It is a discussion of kollel finances.
There really is no better option for States like NY and NJ to give health insurance to all those that do not have any insurance. It is basically subsidizing their healthcare system. In States where insurance is cheaper, the kolellim pay better. And some even offer insurance through the kollel. Now, why should insurance not be used, if that is what is preferable to the State? You know that that private health insurance is out of the question for many working families. And the funds for insurance could be greater than their current budget.
On poorer working families, let me explain. Most newly married kollel families start off with some savings. Whether she worked for a year or two, their wedding money, etc. Those that run out of money, will most likely need the husband to go to work and collect charity until he makes a living wage. Families that start off working, i. e. both spouses, probably had very little or serious debt (credit card or student) from before marriage. Where as a learning couple could skip vacations and so on, a young working couple may have no other chance to spend time together. Young non learning couples that have real one are not working yet. They may live in Israel for a year or two. Or they could be in school. I never tried looking for real numbers, but from the many young couples I know of in Lakewood, it is a hard and fast rule.