הנגיד שלמה רעכניץ פייערדיגע דרשה קעגן מוסדות סעלעקציעס

ליטוואק פון בודאפעסט

די ראשיעשיבעס האבען דאך נישט קיין חדרים און נישט קיין מיידעל שולע'ס. וואס זענען זיי שולדיגט?

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קאך_לעפל

דאס הארץ טיט באמת וויי אז אזא דרשה מיט אזוי פיל אמת און השקפה, האט געדארפט געזאגט צו ווערן דירך א ביזנעס מאן, און נישט דירך א גדול בישראל... אבער דער מעסעדזש איז ארויס: אז די רבנים זיצן אויף זייער אונטערשטע און לאזן אז רשעות און רציחה זאל בושעווען אין אונזער לאגער, וועלן ביזנעס לייט נעמען די לייצעס אין די הענט אריין, און זאגן וואס ס'דארף געזאגט ווערן...

אצינד בלייבט נאר איבער צו זען ווער ס'וועט נעמען דער מייקורפאן אין וויליאמסבורג...ווארשיינליך נישט קיין רב...

ליטוואק פון בודאפעסט

די ראשיעשיבעס האבען דאך נישט קיין חדרים און נישט קיין מיידעל שולע'ס. וואס זענען זיי שולדיגט?

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פליקער

ממש מיר אויסגעכאפט, דער איז מורא'דיג, איך הייב אויף מיין היט פארנעם, דער האקט די הינער אויפן רויטן שמיטשיק, דער רייסט פון זיי שטיקער, איך וואלט נאר געטוישט איין ווארט פון זיין דרשה, אנשטאט די ווארט לעיקוואד, וואלט איך געניצט דאס ווארט ברוקלין.

ליטוואק פון בודאפעסט

די ראשיעשיבעס האבען דאך נישט קיין חדרים און נישט קיין מיידעל שולע'ס. וואס זענען זיי שולדיגט?

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קאך_לעפל

דאס הארץ טיט באמת וויי אז אזא דרשה מיט אזוי פיל אמת און השקפה, האט געדארפט געזאגט צו ווערן דירך א ביזנעס מאן, און נישט דירך א גדול בישראל..

ליפא

!Quiz

what's the differance
between track 5
? and the Rechnitz speech

יעלה ויבא

הבהרת דברים פין שלמה יהודה רעכניץ
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.thelakewoodscoop.com/news/2016/01/clarification-letter-from-r-shlomo-yehuda-rechnitz.html">http://www.thelakewoodscoop.com/news/20 ... hnitz.html</a>

פליקער

ער האט אנגעהויבן זיין דרשה אז ער קען איצט נישט דרשנען ווייל ער איז נישט קלאר וועיגן זיין שווער
האט אראפ געשמיסן א פייערדיגס דברי אמת וואס אלע זענען שטאלץ,
געמאכט א שטורם אויפן גאנצען כדיר הארץ
אבער פארוואס אנטשולדיגן זיך ווי א האן
ווי האט ער פארלוירן זיינע באלי'ס
איצט וועט ער טאקע ווערן ללעג ולקלס,
אריין אין "מעשה שטן הצליח" אשכול

berlbalaguleh

יעלה ויבא

הבהרת דברים פין שלמה יהודה רעכניץ
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.thelakewoodscoop.com/news/2016/01/clarification-letter-from-r-shlomo-yehuda-rechnitz.html">http://www.thelakewoodscoop.com/news/20 ... hnitz.html</a>

יעלה ויבוא: ער (ר' שלמה יודא רעכניץ הי"ו) וויל זיין דיפלאמאטיש. ווייל א גרויסער טייל פון די ראשי ישיבות און שיינע אידן האבן זיך געפיהלט געטראפן. ווייל ער האט זיי געזאגט דעם אמת אין פנים.כדבריו הנכונים. אז ער איז געווען עמאציאנעל בארירט פון דעם שרעקליכן מצב וועלכע גייט אן אין לעיקוואוד. און ער איז דאך א גרויסער שטיצער פון די מוסדות דארט. האט עס איהם וויי געטון. און ס'איז געווען אמת'ע דברים היוצאים מן הלב...!

יעלה ויבא

Reb berel I respectfully disagree. I don't see why he needs to diplomatic about it. For what reason? They won't take his money? I see it more as ווילסט נישט איז נישט. And it's a pity that he had to bow to the pressure because he would have been able to do something about the system that is going on now in Lakewood

The recent speech given by the philanthropist Reb Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz in Lakewood drew a great deal of attention. Some were confused by it, and some took it as an opportunity to bash a specific community and specific institutions within
that community without regard for the facts of the matter or the many variables that are at play.

As an individual with intimate experience within the system of the Lakewood mosdos hachinuch, and one who is in constant contact with many Roshei Mosdos and askanim who are involved in placing children into schools, I felt the need to address the points made by R’ Rechnitz in his speech, as well as the overall tone of the speech.

I readily concede that some of the points made by R’ Rechnitz regarding school placements in Lakewood have a basis in reality. Others could be called half-truths, while yet others were complete fabrications. R’ Rechnitz presented himself as an expert on the subject because he “receives the calls and emails” from parents trying to get their children into specific schools. As I will explain, this does not prove much. It is also worth mentioning that, as a well-known gevir from the West Coast, R’ Rechnitz seems to be receiving his inside information from certain individual Lakewood residents who have gained his confidence by telling him what he wishes to hear. Reb Shlomo Yehuda should realize that not all the information he is fed is the truth, and his reaction may be based on false impressions of the exact nature of the school system in Lakewood. This is especially pertinent when preparing to speak before thousands of viewers.

Below, I will attempt to address all of Reb Shlomo Yehuda’s points. However, before I do so, I feel that it is crucial to mention that even more troubling than the content of Reb Shlomo Yehuda’s speech was his tone. The venom he spewed towards the entire community of Lakewood, and towards those he referred to as “Bnei Torah” in particular, was extremely troubling.

The fact that he had no problem attacking the entire mindset of the community in front of the Bais Medrash Govoha Roshei Yeshiva and many Rabbanim of the city, thus publicly shaming them, was even more disturbing. No one will dispute that there are issues of difficulty within the school acceptance process. However, I cannot imagine that the correct way of dealing with this real issue is by insulting an entire community through name-calling and the distortion of ma’amarei Chazal and corruption of the entire concept of “Ani Ma’amin”.

A small history lesson is necessary before I continue: A few years ago, there was a very serious shortage of space in Lakewood’s mosdos hachinuch for girls of elementary school age. As the school year approached, some parents still had not found a school with place for their daughters. The Mashgiach Rav Mattisyahu Salomon shlita and the Bais Medrash Govoha Roshei Yeshiva issued a directive at that time saying that no school may open until EVERY GIRL is placed in a school. The schools scrambled and did find a way to accommodate every girl in the already over-stuffed schools.

This episode clearly displays the concern the Torah leaders of Lakewood feel for every child in the community. The response from the community was that EVERY YEAR since then, dedicated men heed the call and open new mosdos to meet whatever need exists – be it boys’ or girls’ schools. These individuals are mostly regular people who have no previous experience in running mosdos. But they saw a need and stood up to fill it. They were supported in this endeavor by Reb Menashe Frankel and a group of local askanim who stood together with every school that opened up in Lakewood.

Since that time, the elementary placement crisis has eased in the sense that there are, in almost every case, options available for every child.

Very often, parents will prefer to send their child to an older, more established school, rather than a new school which hasn’t yet acquired as good of a “name”. The problem with this, of course, is that the older schools usually are almost completely full with siblings and staff children even before they open registration. As Lakewood grows exponentially, these older schools sometimes receive hundreds of applications in one year, when they only have ten or twenty slots available. It is ludicrous to expect older schools to be able to accept every child that applies – especially when newer schools do have slots available.

Parents definitely have the prerogative to try to use protektzia to get their child into the school of their choice. But if they ultimately cannot pull their way in, can it really be considered a tragedy if they have to send their child to a relatively new school?

The accomplishments of the city of Lakewood in regards to building mosdos hachinuch and educating the children of our community are astounding and unprecedented. There has never been a community in the history of this golus that has grown as quickly as Lakewood. The challenge of finding the place to educate a student body that grows by the hundreds every year is daunting – it has never before been faced by any Jewish community in the Diaspora. Yet the Lakewood community has responded in an amazing fashion. Somehow, new schools are founded every year by REGULAR PEOPLE, Bnei Torah who wanted to do something for the community and saw what was needed. In the early years of the young schools, when they have no kovod to offer mega-donors, they are supported almost entirely by the parents and friends in the Lakewood community, with the full backing and guidance of our Da’as Torah, the Roshei Yeshiva and Rabbanim of Lakewood.

The challenges the burgeoning community faces are unique, and Lakewood is dealing with these hurdles. Therefore, comparing Lakewood to other communities by saying, “This would never happen in Los Angeles,” is a ridiculous statement.

There are definitely certain serious problems in the registration and acceptance process, which I will address below. However, it is necessary to first accentuate the incredible positives of the Lakewood system.

Now, back to the speech.

R’ Rechnitz stated towards the beginning of the juice of his speech that when people heard he was going to speak in Lakewood, many individuals contacted him and asked him to speak to “this one” and “that one” to get their kid into school for next year. He cited this as proof that “regular” children cannot get into school. This statement, however, warrants scrutiny: Why are parents calling him to push their children into specific schools SEVEN MONTHS before the school year is set to begin?

The obvious answer is that these parents are looking to get into a specific school which they want their child to attend.

Reb Shlomo Yehuda righteously quoted the Gemara of Yehoshua ben Gamla as proof that schools must be established for every child. He even quoted Rishonim like the Rashba and Ritva to back him up. However, no Meforesh that I have seen says that this Gemara indicates that every child must be placed in the one school of his parents’ choice. Even the Rashba cited by Reb Shlomo Yehuda does not prove his point. Where does it say that parents must be able to get their child into Yeshivas So-and-So because “What would the neighbors in my complex think if he/she went to a new school!?”

Reb Shlomo Yehuda said that the Lakewood community had become “desensitized” and “numb” to the cries of school-less children. He also claimed Roshei Mosdos do not listen to what he called “Da’as Torah” because sometimes Roshei Yeshiva call them up and ask them to accept a child and they do not listen.

The first claim is patently false. Anyone who is familiar with the countless hours askanim spend trying to place each and every child in school would never insult them by saying they do not care about children. Anyone who personally knows Reb Menashe Frankel and his chaburah, knows how they mamash give up their normal lives purely for the purpose of providing more classes for Lakewood children. No one could ever accuse them of being “numb”.

His second claim is even more senseless. Any time a Rosh Yeshiva or Rov calls a Rosh Mossad, he is always spoken to and dealt with in an extremely respectful manner. However, this does not mean overcrowded schools will suddenly miraculously have space. Rabbanim call schools to try to help their mispalelim and talmidim. This does not mean they are issuing a “Da’as Torah psak” that the school must accept this child. Furthermore, I wonder if gevirim automatically give a donation to every Rosh Yeshiva in whatever amount the Rosh Yeshiva requests without taking their own considerations into the equation at all. And if they do not, does this mean they don’t believe in Da’as Torah?

The most blatant piece of misinformation in the speech was Reb Shlomo Yehuda’s assertion that this is “Lakewood machla” that you don’t find anywhere else. This is patently untrue. The problem of parents not being able to get their children into the school of their choice exists in every growing Jewish metropolis. In Brooklyn, it also exists. In Monsey it’s not walk in the park either. In Yerushalayim and Bnei Brak it is much, much worse than in Lakewood.

The reason this problem does not exist out-of-town is because all out-of-town communities only experience relatively minor growth. That is why new schools rarely open out-of-town, and that is why the established schools are rarely overcrowded and can accept everyone who wants to come.

Reb Shlomo Yehuda then proceeded by calling Bnei Torah “elitist”. It was unclear why he thought this. Is wishing to follow the ruling of Rav Mattisyahu shlita to keep children with internet access at home out of our schools elitist? Is the desire to keep high standards in our schools elitist?

If this is elitist in R’ Shlomo Yehuda’s mind, why does he limit his criticism only to Lakewood? Does he not know that “yeshivish” schools were founded in Cleveland, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, and Baltimore, even though adequate schools already existed in those communities? Does the fact that those parents wanted a more “frum” environment for their children make them “elitist”? Do all of those people also “make frumkeit into an idol”?

Once again, I would agree that the current registration process is flawed. But there can be no greater krumkeit than an influential speaker with an agenda who gets up in front of the Torah leaders of Lakewood, thousands of yereim v’shleimim and talmidei chachomim sitting in front of him, and thousands of more choshuve Yidden listening live via streams and hookups and besmirches an entire Torah community with lies, half-truths and fabrications!

There are currently over 125 parallel classes for Primary in Lakewood schools. Schools are building state-of-the-art buildings to give our children the best possible chinuch experience every year. Parents are moser nefesh to pay tuition and building funds to allow the schools to flourish. It’s classic misinformation to state that Lakewood is “devoid of kedusha.”

Reb Shlomo Yehuda also erroneously stated that in Lakewood they do not love every Jew. “Where has the love gone?” he cries. “Why don’t we talk about love anymore?” If he would care to look at the Menahalim, Menahalos, Rebbeim, Moros and Mechanchim of Lakewood, at the chessed organizations and yeshivos and the thousands of Yidden doing whatever they can to help others, he would see where the love is. The fact that some schools are full, and there is a big problem with the registration process that unfortunately does hurt people, is not the result of a lack of love.

He attacks Lakewood for not embracing “individuality”. I invite him back to Lakewood where he can see the individual attention the hanhalos, the principals, the Rebbeim, and the Morahs of every school pay to the students and how each boy and girl is encouraged to excel in their own unique way. He will understand that is what “individuality” really is.

For me not to recognize the tzaar that numerous parents and children go through during the registration process would be unacceptable. Unfortunately, the process tends to drag on for weeks and parents are left hanging as they wait for an answer. This is especially true regarding the process of girls’ high school registration. No one should ever have to feel such tzar. There are many opinions how we can ease this problem. A system should be put in place in which parents receive an answer – either a yes or a no – within two weeks – or maybe no one should get a yes until EVERYONE gets a yes. And steps can be taken to encourage parents to consider sending to new schools.

There is much room for discussion on this issue, and that discussion should take place in the proper forums. Then it will lead to solutions. These discussions should take place between the Roshei Yeshiva and Rabbanim of Lakewood, askanim and Roshei Mosdos. But most importantly, there should be meetings and conversations until we get it right. Getting up and giving mussar in public is of no benefit to anyone.

Reb Shlomo Yehuda’s advice IS greatly appreciated. However, it must be properly researched and accurate. It also should be presented in the proper time and place, in a constructive, rather than destructive, manner.

And then we can truly say “Shehechiyanu V’kiyimanu Lazman Hazeh” on a new chapter of refining the registration process into one that runs more smoothly and is of great benefit to all involved.

All are asked to daven for Rav Chaim Yisroel ben Chana Tzirel l’refuah shelaimah b’soch she’ar cholei amo Yisroel.

By Rabbi Moshe Dovid Perlstein, who is the Dean of there prominent Yeshivas in Lakewood, NJ.

ציבעלע-קיגל

איך האלט אז עס איז געוועהן א קנאקעדיגע דרשה אבער נישט גענוג, עס וואלט געקענט זיין נאך בעסער