Lost in Kollel » kollel check

A Better Way than Kollel Checks

aaron — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:35:43 +0000

After devoting many posts to the problems with the current system of kollel checks, its time to come up with some suggestions. Many would just say, “Let’s abolish the whole check in its entirety.” However, its usually a far better suggestion to come up with creative new ways of doing things instead of just abolishing them outright.

The problems with kollel checks is that there is no accountability, no standards, and they are just simply not efficient.

Here is a suggestion that is exclusive to the Lakewood kollel. The current system of learning in Bais Medrash Govoha is known as the “chaburah” system. For those unfamiliar with the term, it means that the learning is done in groups of men learning the same topic, and the chaburah is headed by someone who brought the group together initially, establishes the curriculum, and sets the overall tone for the group. The leader, referred to as the “Rosh Chaburah” is not paid extra for his duties, all he gets is a regular kollel check (if that).

Since the Rosh Chaburah is in effect running his own “mini-yeshiva” it would make sense for him to receive a mini salary in return for his efforts. The amount of compensation should be dependent on a number of criteria, each which would serve to enhance the status and image of both the chaburah and the yeshiva as a whole. He could be compensated based on a number of varying factors, such as: chaburah longevity, number of members, its desirability, the frequency of shiurim from within the chaburah, satisfaction of its members, and its successful completion of set milestones – such as entire mesechtos or topics.

In effect, the new kollel check would serve a dual purpose – it will drive those with leadership qualities to the top, and those without it out the door. It would create mini yeshivas within the greater Lakewood yeshiva – which is what the Chaburah system is in effect. A portion of the Rosh Chaburah’s responsibility could involve fund raising for the members of his chaburah, which would ensure that his chaburah would not be overrun by thrill seekers and those seeking just to get a good name for themselves.

Take the current money that is being spent on the kollel budget, cut it down to 1/5th, and use that to fund salaries for the Roshei Chaburah. These Roshei Chaburah would in turn go out and independently raise funds to pay the members of their “mini-yeshiva”, branding it as their own yeshiva and not just as generic “Lakewood”.

This would free up so much money that is needed to be raised every year for the yeshiva, while at the same time prepare the future leaders of the next generation for their eventual roles. It’s a win win for everyone – except for those who rely on the $300 a month they automatically get just for breathing, without any accountability or responsibility.

Which way do you prefer? Leave your comments below – make your voice heard!

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Redefining the Kollel Check

aaron — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:16:59 +0000

A friend once remarked, “A yeshiva is ironic in that at first you have to pay to attend it, but then it suddenly turns around and pays you.”

Why do we pay to attend yeshiva as a bochur? Because running a yeshiva costs money. Food, salaries, maintenance, seforim, insurance, and administration costs money. Tuition is what provides the means for a yeshiva – and the Torah it disseminates – to operate.

However, there is no economic sense to the distribution of kollel checks. The members of a kollel are usually not working for anyone, and they are not providing any service that generates economic value. Therefore, the very essence of a kollel check is at best a gift, which is bestowed upon the members of the kollel by its supporters.

Gifts are the first thing to be curtailed in a down economy. That is why we are witnessing an unprecedented number kollel closings, because the supporters of the kollel no longer have the means or the will to continue bestowing these “gifts”. If businesses are being forced to lay off employees who are generating economic value, it goes without saying that kollelim will have to stop paying kollel checks which don’t return any economic value.

Now is the opportunity to redefine the kollel check. If the system could be changed to where the kollel check is no longer an unconditional gift with nothing expected in return, but a means of extracting value from the kollel member, it would accomplish two very worthy goals.

First, it would reinvigorate the donor base. Those who have lost interest in providing these unconditional gifts would likely be interested in contributing to a redefined notion of a kollel payroll. Second, it would be a great boon to the kollel itself, which would be strengthened and energized by the market forces which would now be present.

These thoughts come to mind as Lakewood Yeshiva counts down to its annual “Evening of Chizzuk” on behalf of the BMG kollel. The greatest portion of BMG’s budget is the kollel payroll, currently estimated to be over $10 million annually. Besides the inefficient use of such massive sums, there is an even greater question to ask – why are we giving away our hard-earned money as a gift?

Should we do away with kollel checks? Yes & no. The way Lakewood does it – yes. But there is a better way. Let’s explore some ideas in future posts and in the comments.

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BMG Kollel Check – How Much Longer?

aaron — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:00:28 +0000

photo credit: The Lakewood Scoop

The problems with the kollel check given by Lakewood yeshiva can be summed up in 3 short sentences:

It’s a small amount of money (not enough to make a difference)
It’s given to too many people (it costs too much)
It produces no return (the money doesn’t grow)

The first two points have already been discussed in an earlier post. The third point is one that is likely to be misunderstood by many, so let me explain. Obviously, the intention of the supporters of Lakewood Yeshiva are to increase limud hatorah, with the understanding that by giving yungeleit some form of stipend they are able to learn more.

The problem is, the investment being made in each stipend given doesn’t extend beyond the person receiving it. He gets his stipend, learns, and it ends there. The money that was invested was for that particular person at that particular time only. Further learning will require additional funds, and the cycle continues. More money, more learning; less money, less learning.

Instead of just paying for the yungerman’s time learned, which doesn’t produce any “growth”, we can imagine a situation where money is paid for the effectiveness of the yungerman, which does produce growth. This greatly increases the value of the stipend paid, and is a much more effective use of tzedaka money than just paying for time alone, which cannot be measured and doesn’t grow.

Many people will misunderstand this. They will take it to mean that supporting someone who is just learning for the sake of learning is a waste of money. Obviously, as someone who spent many years in kollel myself, and who continues to devote much time to learning, I don’t believe that. Of course, paying for someone to sit and learn – not in order to say a shiur, become a great rav, or author scholarly tomes – is still a noble cause. Sitting and learning Torah L’ishma is not something to put down, chas v’shalom.

But when it comes to allocating the use of very limited funds, it makes most sense to direct those resources towards where they produce the greatest return. This is both for the sake of Torah itself, as the buying power of those dollars is able to reach further, and for the sake of the donors, who are stretched thin with all their obligations.

There are many ideas, some of them quite good, on how to best appropriate these “kollel check” funds in the most effective manner. Most likely, these ideas will never see the light of day. Instead, the kollel system, and Lakewood yeshiva, will continue resisting change, and eventually the money for kollel checks – which are already greatly rationed and limited – will come to an end.

P.S. Some of these alternative ideas will be shared in later posts – however, it is most important to realize what is wrong with the current distribution system than to raise alternative plans. Only once the problem is recognize can we really move forward towards a successful resolution.

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Beis Medrash Govoha Kollel Check: Time to Say Goodbye?

aaron — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:01:00 +0000

The largest kollel in America is without a doubt is Lakewood’s Beis Medrash Govoha. According to the official numbers, there are over 6,000 kollel yungerleit who spend their days learning there. Some, but not all of the chavrei hakollel, receive a kollel check in return for their learning in the yeshiva. This costs the yeshiva millions of dollars a year, but adds up to a paltry $3,000 a year for each person “lucky” enough to be granted a kollel check.

Say, for example Mayor Bloomberg would wake up one morning in a generous mood and decide to give a gift of $80,000,000.00 to his subjects in New York City. He would distribute the money by giving everyone in the city $10. Would that be a good use of his money?

In the same manner, Beis Medrash Govoha’s kollel check is neither an effective nor an efficient use of the yeshiva’s money. The $3,000 a year is not changing anyone’s life, nor is anyone living off the money. It is highly doubtful that the existence of the kollel check is causing anyone to stay in learning longer than if they would not be receiving one. And on the other hand, the pressure of raising the money to cover the kollel checks are a huge strain on the roshei yeshiva and fundraisers.

Eliminating the kollel check would be a wise decision for Lakewood yeshiva. It would cut $6-8 million dollars a year from the budget, and hardly change anyone’s life in the process. The money that was going to fund kollel checks, could be put to use in much more efficient ways, as will be explored in future posts.

Editor’s note: I know this post will elicit some very passionate responses from my readers. Please feel free to write your intelligent and respectful comments, which will enhance this discussion.

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Should Kollel Have Term Limits?

aaron — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:27:33 +0000

The debate surrounding instituting term limits is not only for politicians, but for kollel yungerleit as well. Should kollel yungerleit receiving a check from their kollel also be subject to a specific time limit, say 5 or more years?

In Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens, the kollel program is a 6 year program, during which the yungerleit actively engage in preparing for a career in rabbanus or chinuch either by taking courses in teaching and / or focusing on practical halacha.

The Gruss kollel in Eretz Yisroel is a 2 year program as well. The goal is that after 2 (or sometimes 3) years, the kollel member should move on to assume a position of leadership back in the states.

However, most kollelim have no limit. Once someone is accepted into a kollel, they can stay as long as the kollel functions, with no chance of every being asked to leave.

On the one hand, a kollel is designed to allow someone to devote himself to learning while providing a small stipend. Torah should not have limits placed upon it, and if the yungerman feels that his still able to devote himself to full time learning, why put a stop to it?

On the other hand, if there is no real accountability there is a tendency to underperform. Imagine if politicians didn’t have to get reelected ever. Ever walk into a post office or a motor vehicles office and wonder why the service is so poor? Because they have no fear of ever getting fired, there is no need to provide good service. If kollel would be for a limited time only, the members would perhaps use their time more carefully than if kollel is “endless”.

Lakewood yeshiva floated this idea many years ago, in an effort to both save money as well as to provide a stimulus for those “older yungerleit” to make their exit while they still could. Rav Shach ZT”L ruled that Torah cannot have any limits placed on it, and kollel checks should not stop after 5 years.

What do you think should be done today? Should kollel stipends have limits on the length of time they are given, or should there be no restrictions?

Feel free to add your comments below.

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