Reply To: Steipler on College

Ishpurim, thanks for references. Of course, it is not a one issue here and not one person. There is a world of difference between 19th and 21st century; between studying humanities, philosophy, accounting, or computer science, or math. Each of these is different. And there is a world of difference between a guy from a shtetl or borough, and a Litvak or Yakki who has several generations of professions/college.

So, presumably, Steipler’s advice was for bochrim of Ner Isroel and type of evening college they can take (and obviously stay in yeshiva, not on campus).

Other example – R Auerbach did not allow secular studies, but allowed R Lau to prepare for bagrut on his own in the evening and even chastised him for lack of interest in sciences.

In truth, a lot of the issues are about social and community preservation aspects. Gemorah is not against umanut, in fact strongly recommends it. So, learning accounting or physics or engineering or medicine should not be a problem by anyone! It is just being part of the wrong chevra … Rambam was one who encountered this issue when he lived near Fes medrasa where top sciences of his time were taught (Arabs insist it was the first modern “university” before Sorbonne and Oxford) – and only muslims were allowed in. It is verifiable from his works that he acquired that knowledge. We just don’t know how.