Fending for Yourself When Times are Hard

For years now, kollel has been indirectly funded primarily by the boom in real estate that so many of our bretheren had investments in. Now that the economy has dried up and real estate prices have gone south, funding for kollel has taken a big hit.

This affects both the kollel stipends themselves, forcing them to deny new enrollment and/or cut existing payouts to their yungerleit. And of course, the major supporters of kollel today, the unsung heros of the generation- our parents – are suffering from layoffs and cutbacks to their incomes.

What happens then?

In the case of the food pantry, the receivers are forced to find new sources of food. Sometimes that means they have to go out and get a job instead of waiting on line for food. Wouldn’t that be a good thing for them? It would reduce the burden of the pantry to continue to feed them for years on end, and it would allow them to respectfully take care of themselves without having to come on to other peoples’ generosity.

Can the same thing be expected to happen with kollel? I believe its already happening. Try to find a kollel that is accepting new applicants these days. Parents whose incomes are being squeezed are forced to cut the support they are giving their children.

What gives? Obviously, some of you will have to find other sources of income. Is that a bad thing? Not if it gives you independent income in an honorable way, and puts you in a position to be able to give to others who need help.

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Filed Under: Deciding to Leave • Parental Support

Tags: economic slowdown • kollel support • Parental Support