Wednesday, May 08, 2013

masah u'matan b'emunah?

I have no problem with anyone espousing a philosophy of pure Torah lishma, but if that's your agenda then come clean about it and don’t pretend you are about anything different just to get a buck, or in this case, 10.6 million bucks from the taxpayers of the State of NJ.
[Name omitted by me] vice president of administration at Beth Medrash Govoha, said although the college may be rooted in Talmudic and related studies, its students excel in many other areas.
"BMG graduates have a leading track record in establishing successful new businesses that create jobs and contribute to the economy of New Jersey," Gleiberman said, noting graduates have successful careers in food manufacturing, retailing, green technologies and other industries.
Gleiberman said there is no "religious test" for admission, but it does have rigid education standards.
BMG -- a model of higher education, encouraging its students to pursue careers and start businesses to benefit their home state of NJ.  Who ever knew?  I know someone out there is going to comment and darshen every kutzo shel yud in these quotes to prove they are technically accurate, so let me say in advance, if you need to parse quotes like a lawyer to make your case, you may win the battle, but you've lost the war.  The actions of bnei Torah have to not just be correct, they have to also be perceived as correct (see Yoma 86).  I don't think the public outcry in this case is rooted in antisemitism; it's rooted in a sense that fair play has not won out.  

(I felt I could post about this because it was in the newspaper already.  I have nothing against BMG; I'm not smiling or gloating over it.  I find the whole thing rather sad.  My wife thinks I shouldn't write about it and she's usually right.)

6 comments:

  1. I am shocked that you would criticize them like this. I have to say, I completely agree with your hashkafik point of view here.

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  2. shaul shapira12:48 PM

    I'm not sure you'd need a lawyer to make the case. I know someone who's becoming a CPA through COPE and FDU. At a dinner, the president (or chancellor or whatever) of FDU said they run these kinds of correspondence courses throughout the country and Lakewood has the highest gradution rate.

    Also,
    https://picasaweb.google.com/ywphotos/FundraiserInLakewoodForFamiliesOfSeagateThatLostAllTheirBelongingsInHurricaneSandyJD#5812361262220494594

    "Fundraiser in Lakewood For Families Of Seagate That Lost All Their Belongings in Hurricane Sandy" , says it all.

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  3. 1) So give the money to FDU. (Are you suggesting that the Roshei Yeshiva of Lakewood encourage the pursuit of higher education and/or careers as opposed to simply staying in kollel?)

    2) What does being charitable in other areas have to do with whether this amounts to gneivas da'as?

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  4. shaul shapira3:07 PM

    "1) So give the money to FDU."
    Huh?

    "(Are you suggesting that the Roshei Yeshiva of Lakewood encourage the pursuit of higher education and/or careers as opposed to simply staying in kollel?)"

    No. I don't see anything in your quote that says so either. It says they're succesful. Are you upset that they do so without taking chemistry courses? (Not that the hanhallah are opposed to guys getting a parnassah. COPE is seen as perfecly kosher in LWood)

    "2) What does being charitable in other areas have to do with whether this amounts to gneivas da'as?"

    I was simply pointing out that they have enough money to make it worthwhile to have fundraise for Seagate residents.

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  5. The topic has nothing to do with whether the bachurim in BMG are smart, successful, or charitable. State state law prohibits granting taxpayer funds to a religious institution. Either BMG is:

    1) a non-denominational institution open to people of all colors and faiths whose mission is to provide higher educational courses to residents of NJ

    -OR-

    2) a sectarian religious institution whose mission is to promote the study of Talmud.

    It's disingenuous to define it as #1 when everyone knows it is #2.

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  6. shaul shapira3:50 PM

    1) Sorry. I hadn't read the article, just your quote.

    2) Now that I have,

    '"I will tell you that I am extremely surprised by this," Oliver said. "This is not a secondary institution that is open to the general public."

    Oliver sees a distinction between Beth Medrash Govoha — known in Hebrew as a yeshiva — and private Catholic schools like Seton Hall University and St. Peter’s University that she says should qualify for public money.

    "Seton Hall is open to anyone — Jewish, Christian and Muslim. They have an open admission process, and any student in New Jersey can attend." Oliver said. "Not every student can attend the yeshiva."',


    There is clearly a third option: a sectarian religious institution open to people of all colors and faiths whose mission is to provide higher educational courses to residents of NJ (I combined parts of #1 and #2. Is there a difference between #2 and #3? Because it seems that #3 is uncontroversial)
    (I could also argue that technically anyone who passes the farher can get into BMG- there was goy there a while ago who was on the run from police under a false identity- but I don't want to Chas Ve'shalom be lawyerly. :)

    As to whether it's gneivas da'as, ask a Posek! :)


    Gutshabbes

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