All Entries in the "Escape Kollel" Category
Waiting for the Job Offers to Come
Today I had a short conversation with Rabbi Gordon, a longtime fundraiser for Chinuch Atzmai. In the course of our conversation, he mentioned how today in Lakewood so many people think that they are worthy of the greatest shtelers (rebbe jobs), and the negative consequences that arise from it. After thinking about what he said, [...]
30 Days to Get Out of Kollel Challenge
Where do you want to be in 30 days? If you do nothing, chances are that you will be in the same place that you are now. Take a 30 day challenge – there is no better time than now. In 30 days from now, bein hazmanim officially starts. The last 30 days of the [...]
When Your Wife Says No
Besides the embarrassment of friends and relatives, many yungerleit looking to leave kollel are held back by opposition from their wife. Most of the time, the wife’s refusal is not motivated by lofty ideals. It is more likely a product of the social pressure that is so much a part of today’s society, similar to [...]
Looking for a “Shteler” = Not an Escape
If you are sincerley looking to be a Rebbe in a yeshiva, and that the mere thought of teaching talmidim Torah makes you want to smile, this post is not for you. Go for it – our children need Rebbeim like that. But when people who are looking to escape from kollel seek a “shteler” [...]
Teaching Your Kids the Word “NO”
As frum jews, chinuch habonim requires us to tell our children NO. “NO, you cannot rent DVDs.” “NO, we don’t go to baseball games.” “NO, you can’t wear that skirt. NO, we don’t eat that hechsher.” “NO, you can’t take my credit card and go with your friends to the mall.” The disappointment on the [...]
Kollel Blog Title – Defining the Message
When I started this blog in the beginning of 2008, I was still in kollel. I was feeling trapped by the vicious cycle of government programs, parental support, and dwindling kollel checks. I wrote about my frustrations, and they have even elicited some emotional responses on the blogosphere. Now that I have escaped kollel and [...]
Success Breeds Success
When dealing with “What should I do when I leave Kollel?” – one must take a look at the broad picture in order to be able to see a way out of the problem. Certainly, this is most likely the number one reason why people stay in kollel, which is also known as “in-kollel by [...]
Ask to Leave
Some of the phobia associated with departure from kollel is the misconception that you may be doing something wrong. All the years of shmuzen that you heard in yeshiva all reinforced one central theme – “Torah is everything!” By leaving full-time learning, it’s easy to feel that you are violating that concept. There can be [...]
Leave Slowly
“Eat the elephant one bite at a time.” Leaving kollel works much the same way. Do it in stages. This makes it both easier for your feelings towards leaving, and it also softens the shock and surprise others may feel when you do actually make the move. I used this method when I left kollel. [...]
Making the Decision to Leave Kollel
Leaving kollel is in itself a process, which must be done over a period of time in order to minimize the shock to your family, friends, and most of all – to your reputation. RULE # 1: Make the decision to get out – and stick to it Before you can begin the process to [...]
