In the New Economy, A Ben Torah has Better Training
For years we have been led to believe that those who push through the difficult courses in college are the ones to “make it big”. But in the new economy things are very different. Doctors face huge uncertainty with all that is going on with healthcare, and lawyers are finding it very difficult to get good jobs.
Today, the opportunity lies in those who can offer something new. Anything that is different, creative, thought-provoking, or engaging, is an area of big growth.
The big companies of yesterday are no longer where the action is. Coca Cola, Exxon, Microsoft, Verizon, Honeywell – you won’t find anyone talking about them. Instead, everyone’s attention is being captivated by exciting companies such as Google, Amazon, Groupon, Facebook, and just in case you thought everything exciting had to do with the internet – Starbucks.
Google doesn’t sell any products at all. Starbucks sells coffee, which has been around for centuries. Amazon sells just about everything, but so does Wal-Mart. So what is it about these companies that makes them so successful today? It is the chiddush that they each bring to their market. Not the actual goods themselves, because the goods are freely available elsewhere. No, it is the creativity and engaging way in which they present their offerings which makes them so valuable.
The big difference between the way subjects are studied in college and how Torah is learned in Yeshiva is that a yeshiva learning encourages critical thinking. You aren’t taught to accept things as they are, instead you question and provoke, and don’t accept the status quo. When all other solutions fail, you need to say a chiddush to resolve everything. This is creativity at its highest form.
Don’t accept the status quo for anything in life. Take your skills of saying chiddushim and find a creative way to apply it in the marketplace. There are so many areas of opportunity that lie in waiting, which you are singularly qualified to uncover.
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Filed Under: Career Advice • Uncategorized
1) Doctors don’t face “Great Uncertainty”. The system is evolving, and they are unsure if they will make 180K or 200K. Every single doctor who graduates has a very well paying job waiting for him.
2) Yeshivos don’t teach critical thinking. They teach Gemara thinking. You can only ask questions on the shakla v’tarya of the Gemara and even then you can only say “I don’t understand them properly”. Critical thinking allows for great people to make mistakes – gemara thinking allows us not to understand their perfect ways. Big difference.
BTW – Great blog.
This is one of the only times I will disagree with you. Most bochurim are not prepared at all for the work force, and the way it’s going many will be on social assistance for the rest of their lives.
I also do not see any hope for them.
I think you have good intentions in trying to find a way that those who are in Kollel can get into the real world, but sometimes you paint too rosy a picture. I recall some time ago that kollel guys were doing well training to be computer programmers possibly because there was some overlap in the skills that are used in both. But I can’t think of anything else where studying gemorra on the level that occurs in kollel or yeshiva is going to help, especially when you’ve been in a lifestyle that has discouraged you from reading secular books.
If someone wants to break out of kollel, let me suggest that he think about something I recall reading on a secular blog. The blogger followed the “For Dummies” series of books-Algebra for Dummies, Geometry for Dummies, Advanced Algebra for Dummies, Statistics for Dummies up through Advanced Calculus or Differential Equations for Dummies (or something like that) It took him about 2 years but at the end he was able to do high level college work in math, so he had a skill he could offer employers.
I’m surprised you don’t mention the actuarial profession, which for many years has been the darling of the frum set. Don’t you think kollel folks have the brainpower and dedication to pass what is, after all, a series of math and business exams?
I really enjoy the blog but I have to disagree. I think there is an idea the the yeshiveshe velt that learning gemara, especially b’iyun, better prepares people for studying secular subjects. If anything it prepares people to be patient and work at one thing for a long time. This is a lie that people tell themselves to feel better…
Gemara logic and thought is very different from academics. Individuals with a yeshiva/kollel background and a minimal secular knowledge lack basic history, writing skills, math, etc. to study in college without 1) a lot of preparatory work 2) continued assistance from tutors.
It’s not that they’re dumb, they unequipped, and it’s a lie that gemara turns people into geniuses that can then focus their ‘sharpend’ minds to master secular studies when the time arises much faster and easier than any “goy.” This myth is retold in tons of baal teshuva yeshivas and seminaries(for the husbands not for themselves, of course)to encourage bochrim to stay in learning. You can tell you parents it will prepare you for college! (then ultimately never go)
Torah is what it is, Torah. It’s wonderful, beautiful, spiritual, logical, connects you to HaShem, intellectually demanding but it has it’s limits. I’m not threatened that the Torah can’t tell me how to build a rocket, program a computer, or build a house. I turn to Torah to teach me how to live as a Jew and connect to HaShem. After finishing a sugya I don’t need to tell myself that I’m better prepared for parnasa or secular pursuits to justify myself learning Torah. I’m happy I learn because I want to be a better Jew (which includes many reasons like ben adam l’chaveiro, ratzon hashem etc.)
It’s time we end this silly myth.