Avi K: I was discussing those who are in school for a Master’s or Doctorate-level Rabbinical degree who hope to then use that to earn a living in a chosen profession, whether or not that job is in the religious world. I know plenty of people with semicha who went on to be successful business-people and career workers in the secular world.
My only point, which I still maintain, regardless of any objections posted thus far, is that if you are trying to earn a degree which you hope to earn an honest living from, I respect that whether it’s Torah or lihavdil a secular field.
I don’t believe people become a Rebbi with the goal of also receiving food stamps. If they can’t find a job that pays enough and they have to rely on programs like these to supplement their income to support their respective families, then that is unfortunate, even though it’s perfectly legal to do so, if qualified. But I do not at all believe it is lichatchila for them.
And just because a doctor will pay more taxes after he gets his degree does not give him any more of a right to rely on govt. programs than anyone else who needs them, regardless of future earning potential. The point of these programs is for the here and now, to allow one to live like a normal human being while in difficult straits, regardless of one’s chosen (future or current) profession.
I don’t know the numbers (in BMG or anywhere else), but it can’t be more than yechidim who can learn their whole lives. Someone has to pay the bills, and all the programs just can’t do that unless you pay 0 tuition and before your family grows beyond 1 or 2. So the goal must be to get a job at some point, whether that’s a Rebbi, Rabbi or something else entirely.