Kollel Survival During Economic Crisis

Matzav has a story how some kollelim in Eretz Yisroel attempted to automatically deduct ma’aser from the yungerleit’s checks, saving the kollel 10% during these extremely difficult financial times.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky was quoted as saying that this cannot be considered as a ma’aser contribution, only as a cut in salary, and thus the yungerleit would still be required to contribute another 10% from their (now lowered) checks.

This story underscores the financial crisis mosdos hatorah are facing. However, it is believed that kollel, on the whole, is taking a bigger beating than the rest.

The reason – donors simply feel that when faced with a difficult choice, supporting kollel is of lesser importance

than supporting yeshivos and schools. Children must learn Torah, but yungerleit can go work and support themselves.

The growth of kollelim over the past 25 years has been staggering. Money has flowed into kollel at an uprecendented rate. Now it has slowed dramatically. Throughout the years, the  supporters of kollel have not felt their existence as a necessity, only as a nice extra. Now that money is tight, donors feel that their money should be going to more critical needs.

Are their claims valid? To a degree, yes. Regular readers know how we feel about the oversupply of yungerleit that would best be off leaving kollel. However, the institution of kollel is a necessity, not a luxury. We must continue to support kollelim to our utmost ability, while seeking for ways to nudge those that need to leave out.

Kollel Survival During Economic Crisis

Filed Under: Kollel Finances

Tags: financial difficulty • kollel budget • kollel support • maaser • rav chaim kanievsky