Squeak. Thanks for reading. its always nice to know someone out there cares.
Rebbis salary is about 50, take off 11G for health (Gruss foundation pays 8 for us)
take off 1g for 1 mil term life (chiyuv!! wish I could do more)
take off 22 G for tuition. yes Rebbi rate is about 75% of full tuition and I don’t have 8 kids in school
take off 19 G a year for mortgage, 5 G for utilities and of course I need to work nights and summers. food an clothing, car and ins. etc….
But I also need to be “involved and immersed in learning” otherwise I cannot be a good in class Rebbi or out of class example. It is tough to balance finances, and own family needs. I enjoy every waking and sleeping moment (the 4 hours I actually get each night) and I would not trade it for any other job. but in this world the financial pix is hard, we are deep in debt that one day, hopefully can be covered by the sale of my house, and I still would pick this over anything.
At the same time, I wonder what would be if indeed we were paid a living wage commensurate with our training and the hours per day and days per week.What wopuld be if I didn’;t have to be calling gmachs each month to cover for another delayed paycheck. What would be if living frugally with no vacations, I was able to match expenses to income. I would imagine I could be a better, more patient, better prepared Rebbi. I imagine I would learn more and know more and give over more to our children. I imagine I would have the koach to invite Talmidim for Shabbos and Motazai Shabbos programs more regularly. I imagine there would be less stress to deal with at home and therefore more yisuv hadaas in all areas of life. I could even dream about “learning in a kollel” for the summer since the 70 days of summer are really all my Sundays and holidays of the year piled up minus Chol Hamoed, plus normal vacation allowance. How special that would be for me and for all who look to mechanchim to teach, lecture, consult and inspire.
I will dream on. Happily.
One final feeliong. Don’t reject my daughter in shiduchim because she comes form a home with no extra resources.