OLD TIME RABBIS ON MODERN ORTHODOXY

I met an old Rabbi recently, a nice guy who taught in a yeshiva somewhere (I don't remember where) very friendly. We talked for a little after Maariv. He seemed to have a world of wisdom in the form of stories for just about every topic, as only an old timer could.

Somewhere along the conversation we hit the topic of orthodoxy/yeshivas. He told me that there is a difference between a good boy in a "yeshivishe" yeshiva and one in a modern orthodox one. He went onto explain that in a yeshivishe yeshiva a good boy is one that learns at any given moment he has and has respect for his elders. I was wondering exactly what he was going to say for a good modern orthodox boy, but I had no idea he was going to say what he said. He said that in a modern orthodox yeshiva a good boy is (take a sip of a drink near you and hold) one who doesn't watch TV on shabbos (now spit the drink out real quickly) .

I was taken aback for a minute, like I said last paragraph I wasnt ready for this kind of answer. I didnt know what to say, do I tell him youre wrong? do I bring honestly frum over? he obviously has the wrong perception about modern orthodox. Modern Orthodoxy is far from watching TV on shabbos, I dont know where he could have came to think this. I figured he just doesnt know what modern orthodox is, he probably meant reform (which wouldnt fit into a good reform kid not watching TV on shabbos because the "good" think its okay to a lot of things, but either way).

I am just posing a question out there, do you think all old rabbis think this way or its just a mistake or a fluke in this one rabbi? Comment what you think or we will never know.

INNOVATING USELESS KOSHERNESS

We here at Kosher Innovations are working hard for you at every given moment, and are looking to make your kosher life easier. So we introduce to you THE KOSHER LAMP, LIGHT SWITCH COVER tm. This new invention allows to you to feel safe when around your kosher lamp, so you wont come to turn it off. See how we make your life easier.

Also for shabbos, we have a new alarm clock. You have the regular alarms for shachris 1, and shacharis 2, then mincha and ma'ariv; but now we have one new alarm for the musaf service too, to make sure you don't over sleep musaf.


Have you ever felt the need to calculate how much money you owe to your child's yeshiva? Well we are in the middle of mass producing a never before seen pocket computer system, that will be able to instantly calculate how much you owe to the yeshiva. All you have to do is punch in a few numbers from your bill, and how much you paid so far, and it will magically tell you what you owe. All those years of not taking math class, will finally pay off. And if you order right now, then when we start to sell the product, we will give you an extra one, free!, so you can keep track of your other child's tuition bill too!

Kosher Innovations is truly working hard for you.


To donate to this non-profit organization call 1800-Ino-vate, or e-mail us at Kosherinnovaters613@yahoo.com (you cant e-mail us from optimum or dial up, only koshernet will work)

IF YOU COME TO VISIT

If you come to visit this web page, please use anything but Internet explorer browser. It has been causing major problems all over blogger, so I suggest either Mozilla fire fox, or the new chrome from google. Chrome seems to be working for me.

The sign that comes up says my web page is "aborted". Why use the term aborted, I certainly don't like abortions (republican here), and if its done, its the woman's choice. Here I am a man, and my precious site, which I have taken care of for almost a year, just got aborted against my will, where is my choice? Then I visited The Jewish side of babysitter, and her site got aborted too (I feel so sorry for you babysitter, I know how it feels).

I think its a virus running around blogger, kinda like the swine flu, and it will get you soon, so you better prepare. I am afraid it might mutate, because right now its only affecting Internet explorer, who knows what it could do later. It could be a conspiracy by the yeshivish velt, who's trying to wipe out the Jews of the blogsphere, in an attempt to get all Jews to stop using the Internet.

Whatever it may be, use an Internet that is safe, so the site you are visiting doesn't get aborted.

THE CUSTODIAN

Every Yeshiva has one of these guys, okay a few of them. They do back breaking labor and get paid worse than the rebbeim, which, by the way, is almost nothing. The kids in the Yeshiva cant really relate to them, because the rebbeim are constantly saying, "If you don't learn you'll end up like the shvartza janitors here", or, "So lets say shmerel had a cow, then Steve the guyishe janitor stole it.....", so the kids think of them as low lives. Some of them may be on crack all day long, but others just really cant get a better job. Every Yeshiva runs on these guys, and they are neglected.

In a Public school, life is probably better. The kids can relate to them. They can play their music, unlike in a yeshiva which forbids all outside music (for the record lipa is outside). No teachers are degrading them. They are treated like humans who have a life, rather than something who is just needed to mop the floors.

The children speak to them normally, not like in many yeshvos where the kids speak to them as if they are retarded, for example: Custodian: "Are you done here?" Yeshiva Kid: "Now no. We done here in few minutes, okay". A normal public school kid would have said "in five minutes".

Being a yeshiva custodian is one of the worst jobs ever, I wouldn't be surprised if in the news you hear a story of a janitor massacring a bunch in a yeshiva .

THE REAL YESHIVISH LOOK

Although Yeshivos have been around for quite a long time, the style for one who goes there has has hit rock bottom only now, and in a culture full of fashion. Why did that happen? If it would have been 200 years ago where no one had enough money, I would understand why, but for it to happen now, that's ridiculous. I guess you could say that a yeshiva is a place for people to be different then the culture around them, so they must have a horrible style in an age of fashion.

What makes a yeshiva bochur, look like a real yeshiva bochur? and I'm not talking about the ones who must have 100$ shirts.

Your white shirt can only be white for, the first hour you wear it coming out of the dryer, and no it doesn't get ironed so its all wrinkly. After a full days work, your white shirt should be either gray, or stained with coffee or an assortment of liquidy foods, for example: chulent. Your shirt must be tucked half in to your pants, all the time. Sleeves are never buttoned, or cuffed, or even rolled up, especially when eating.

Your Tzitzis are the whitest part of your attire, chas v'shalom you have gray ones, otherwise your a goy, because everyone knows only goyim have gray tzitzis. You must have the thick woolen tzitzis, with it always hanging out. It depends on who if the tzitzis are out neatly or not. The neat way is with it hanging out from the belt, which is the only part of you're attire that looks superb, and the not neat way is for it too be very loose, and you can see the actual tzitzis garment hanging out.

Shoes cant have any laces, if they do you are wasting time from learning by tying them. Black shoes are the only type allowed in yeshivos, and no sneakers (sneakers need laces, see lace rule).

Your pants have to be either too long or too short, and the they wouldn't stay on you if it weren't for the belt.

I seem to think that with out The Belt, a yeshivah bochur cant make it with this look ( or get to the verrazano bridge), it helps the tzitzit, and it keeps the pants on. And when he is older and has a cell phone it could clip right on, that way he'll be able to text when ever he has a seder. I think it should be called the multi utility belt, like batman has. Batman also has the black color to his suit, like a yeshivah bochur (is batman a yeshivah bochur?).

The Jacket: One of these things should last on a bochur for almost for ever, and it will always be small on you. This jacket was an old shabbos suit jacket, and now has become the yeshiva jacket, because of a new shabbos jacket that came in because the one you were wearing (which is your new yeshivah jacket) was too small for shabbos, hence it will always be too small. This will, and should, never be taken off you, whether it be in the bathroom, or hot as hell outside, the jacket stays on. You are required by no law to wear it all the time, but you do anyway, also it has to have some stains, and its never washed.

Your hat for yeshiva cant be of any sale value, in other words, it has to be junk. The characteristics they must have is, the ability to be smashed, mailed in an envelope, then pressed by a very dusty rock, and all it needs is one bang and a punch, and its as good as it was before you did this process. Usually worn upward because if it to be worn with the brim down, it would look like the junk that it is.

This is the real yeshivish look, but you cant just look the look to be a yeshiva bochur, although you can fool many, but you still have to talk the talk, and walk the walk of a real yeshiva bochur to be one.

ITS KOSHER ALL DAY LONG

Being that we live in a society that is advancing in the most treife ways, the only thing that can possibly save us from this is, new ways to put hechshers on every item (Yay!). Its the only possible way to save us from any sort of treif out in the world. I will now predict the future of us as Jews:


The First thing to come out of the newly installed kosher market will be, people Hechshers; because many times you talk to people, and you just cant seem to tell who is up to your standards at that moment, maybe they are hiding something, and do you want to be influenced by someone treif, especially on a shidduch date? obviously not. So how can we possibly find a person who is kosher enough; therefore, we are going to introduce the human hechsher. At first there will only be Kosher and non kosher people, but somewhere along the way more hechsheirm will come through. Some people will have FFBTD (Frum From Birth Till Death) status, like OU parve, while others will will have a FFBBL (Frum From Birth But Lacking), sort of like OUDe (dairy equipment). Then others will be labeled with OTDCBAHS ( Off The Derech Coming Back on After High School) that's an OUD. Now its easier to keep yourself kosher with labels on everybody, you wont come in contact with someone you don't want to. Of course there will be mashgichim going all around checking up on people. This is an attempt to "fix" the shidduch crisis.


Everyone will be so into hechsherim, that every school will also have to have a hechsher on it. Schools will either be marked with Treif, Ba'adatz, or Kaf K. Treif being; anything that has a secular department. Ba'adatz being; learning non-stop to kollel, and Kaf K will be somewhere in between but frowned upon. If you send your children to the wrong yeshivah then you will be second class citizen.


The next thing to be hit, will be the communities themselves. Williamsburg is going to the dogs, to hipsters and bicycle lanes, this placed is deemed too treif, and that means anyone who lives there is not kosher enough. This doesn't say much for places out of the tristate area, they are for sure not kosher. Boro park and Midwood is borderline kosher, why you might ask? well its obvious, they don't have separate sides to walk on for men and women. Lakewood eer hakodesh and Bnei brak are kosher. New square, kiriyas Yoel, meah shearim, and any other sorts of towns like that are the kosherist (meah shearim is its own town, if kiriyas yoel is its own country) . Of course if you live in the wrong community you are an out cast and not Jewish.

I'll end it with this: I always thought the caste system in India was exaggerated, but now my thoughts are changing.

WHEN JEWISH GEOGRAPHY GOES TO FAR

Your life has sucked for just too long. All your friends just run away. Its time to get back at them. What will you do? You can, either: A) ditch them for new ones B) get a semi automatic gun, throw a huge party inviting all of them, and then mow them down with your new murder weapon, or C) Be so attached to them, they will go nuts. You speculate that B) may result in someone pressing charges, leading to life in prison (only to make new friends there), and C) will annoy the heck out of you. You remembered that; you took a course on how to play game shows and when two out of the three don't fit, it must be the third, so you go with A).

Now you are wondering, how do I make friends the Jewish way. You think for a bit then exclaim "JEWISH GEOGRAPHY!!!" (as the light bulb bursts from on top of your head). So you run into the nearest yeshivah, looking for your first victim. You spot a guy wearing a; white shirt, black hat, dark colored jacket and dark pants. You run to him and ask "where do you learn?" The guy looks at you for a moment, then he overcomes the shock, and says "right here". You say "Oh really... how nice" as you realize that he obviously learns here. You quickly run away thinking, "Hes just an unfriendly fellow".

You find another dude in a white shirt hat and jacket with black pants. You ask him "So where you from?" He says "Who wants to know". You say "I do, so.... do you know so and so, because he was just so weird I had to"..... Yeshivish guy cuts you off and says "I think you are looking for the guy over there". You say "You're a good friend, what do you want to do tomorrow. Should we go out for pizza, or....." The yeshivish looks up from his sefer and says "I seriously think that guy over there is calling you". You are still ignorant to the fact that he wants you to go away, so you continue " I guess will talk it out later, see ya". You then walk over to the guy he said was calling, lo and behold he actually wasn't, you are suprised.

You then walk out of the yeshivah, thinking "Wow I just made a new friend (the guy who told you to walk over to the other guy), and it wasn't that hard". You decide to make another one. You quickly run to the nearest grocery store and stand in the longest line there. You happen to stand next to a woman (its okay). You are about to ask her something but she goes first "Where do you learn, by what Rav". You say "Whats it your business, why do you feel like you have to know what everyone is doing?! sheesh get a life, are you so deprived of people to talk to you run everywhere just to make a friend and ask them stupid questions. I would never want to be you". she says back "well that's not someone I would like to be friends with (okay I'm a little far fetched with that word"friend" but who cares)". You then ask the nearest person where they live.

The story may be weird, but today I was in a bagel store and the guy standing in front of me, who I don't know, says "Hi, hello, how are you doing. So where do you learn? I spill out a "Hi" not knowing what else to say, since he just shot it out so quickly and so out of term. He asks again "where do you learn?". I look at him as if he fell from G-d knows where. I decided to get back at him for saying something so utterly stupid and annoying, "Do you want the truth or a lie" I don't know why I said that. So he says "Oh I understand you don't want to talk". At least he understood. ( you may wonder why I actually felt this to be weird, the answer is the guy came on too strong) A few minutes later he asks "So whats your name" So I say "Dude its enough already, I don't know what you are trying to do but stop!" When he got his stuff and left he looked at me and waved, I nodded my head for some unknown reason. the guy was obviously suffering from lack of friends, and this results in Jewish geography going to far. Don't let this happen to you.

BREAKFAST IN YESHIVAH

Unlike normal food, a Yeshivahs food is meant to make you lose your appetite. Whether there were ants in the oatmeal, or pizza with green cheese, it always managed to gross you out. I remember our famous joke, that was always used till it became lame; "Stand up for the food, its older than you".

We got our food from City harvest and other companies of that sort. There were times that they delivered soda that would have expired that day, and instead of my yeshivah giving it too us then, it got stored in a hot room for 8 months, only to be served flat, expired, and with a pinch of salmonella.


For breakfast we would have; corn flakes or rice krispies(oops, I mean krisp rice, the kemach version), orange juice that no one dared touch, tea from already used tea bags, eggs , oatmeal that if you ate it, you would have transgressed on the sin of don't eat insects, bread, milk that was questionable, peanut butter, butter, margarine, and sugar, our sugar was magnetic (it stuck to the cups through static electricity, does that not make it magnetic?) . Sometimes we would have Chocolate milk, and french toast. If we were lucky, they would give out coco krispies, or what ever the kemach version of it was. The milk was always being passed around to smell, till one guy decided to taste it, you could never trust it. The eggs were usually good. Now the oatmeal was a problem. Here's a story to explain why.

My friend was about to take a spoonful of oatmeal, and he noticed black dots in it. He looked a little closer, and saw it was fried ants (or boiled ones, grossing you out yet?). So he goes over to the cook and says "you've got ants in this" so the cook looks and says "No! its dots". So my friend saw a Rabbi, who was about to have some, and said there are ants in it. The Rabbi looks and shows it to the cook, only then did the cook throw it out. Ever since that event I didn't take oatmeal.

The Chocolate milk was not at all Chocolate milk, it was in fact leftover cocoa from the night before, and the cocoa was made out of all the expired milk they had. So basically, if you wanted your stomach to twinge for a few hours you had some "chocolate milk".

The French toast they gave was good, if you didn't get a whole wheat slice. They had some sort of imitation of maple syrup, that needed a lot of magnetic sugar added.

What I normally had for breakfast was; a bowl of cornflakes, or krisp rice, with sugar. It tasted nasty without sugar; and at the end of your bowl was all the sugar residue laying at the bottom. The smartest thing to do was to bring your own cereal, then you have it all set out besides the milk.

During breakfast we would all put our theories together on how to stay healthy while still eating the Yeshivas food, that consisted of what to eat and what not to. An occasional egg fight would break out, or who bet someone they cant eat some concoction without vomiting the whole day.

Breakfast is supposed to be the main meal of your day, we on the other hand had it lacking. Share some of your yeshiva food theories or experiences, I don't know how it is in girl schools.

ARE YOU YESHIVISH?

What defines yeshivish? Is it the hat and jacket, or is it the way you think, or whatever you say you are even though you definitely aren't? I, personally, consider myself "modern orthodox machmir" (M in M is M 'O' M). What that literally means, is up to you.

Yeshivish Definition #1: The outer appearance is everything. You wear a hat and jacket, and a gartel everyday, or the gartel just on shabbos. Those Shabbos coats are a must, without one you just aren't yeshivish, you wear it even though it doesn't keep you warm. You went to a Yeshivish Yeshivah, can there be a yeshivah that isn't yeshivsh seems to be against possibility then again its a frummie version of English so it is possible ( E.G. Frummie:I stayed by their house. normal:I stayed at their house), then you went to learn in kollel. This definition of Yeshivish has nothing to do with your outlook on life, rather how you appear. You can fake your way through, if anybody asks are you yeshivish you can say "Don't you see my hat and jacket?" and they will be forced into agreeing, you are.

Yeshivsh definition #2: You believe that kollel is good for a year or two, secular education is needed, you like music that has a beat to it. You don't wear those "shabbos coats", they aren't warm enough, for you its a nice puffy coat. You put on the hat and jacket, no gartel. You went to a Yeshivah, be it out of town or in. You learn a little here and there. Your logic is, "Its how you think that makes you yeshivish". You have a Rabbi that you hold of, and you keep all halachos and strict kashrut. You never miss a minyan. Your basically Yeshivish, minus the whole look and kollel idea. You are Yeshivish, just there are people more yeshivish than you.


Yeshivish definition #3: It doesn't matter how you act, all you need to do is say you are and you are, with some of the look. You go to any black hat shul. The yeshivah you went to could have been MO, it doesn't matter. You wear a hat sometimes, and you hardly daven with a minyan. Like definition one, you fake your way through, but instead people notice. You are Yeshivish, just there are people more yeshivish than you.


Yeshivish Definition #4: You believe in kollel for life, and you went to the greatest and strictest yeshivot. The hat and jacket are worn everywhere. Anything lower than you is not considered yeshivish.

Are you Yeshivish, well to some maybe and to others no. I guess its like a rhetorical question.

STUPID THINGS MY RABBI SAID

After reading Frumskeptics posts on teachers saying stupid things; I remembered all the stupid thing I have heard, over the course of my years in yeshivah.

My Rabbi told a story, of another rabbi, trying to prove to us its wrong to read English books. This rabbi, in the story, praised his mother for not letting him read English books. Not just any English book, even the ones written by great rabbis concerning halacha. This was because, the mother was afraid that her children will read a question in the halacha sefer, and will not read the answer for 24 hours, for whatever reason it may be. This will then leave an impression on the child, even after reading the answer. That's why we shouldn't read English books.

Is that not stupid? You could read any sefer or book, in any language, including Hebrew and yiddish!! Then get the same impression, why is that you are afraid of English books, even the ones that have to do with halacha! The reason is, there is no basis to this argument; its just so weird that maybe you'll be confused enough to listen to it.

My rabbi also said: Don't do kiruv. He didn't want to help people who had no chance at becoming frum. He felt that we cant stick our feet in the mud, to save someone in quick sand. He didn't want us to be exposed to the outside world through helping people. I found this to be disgusting. I couldn't believe he would say such a thing. Why should we not give an opportunity to these less fortunate people. I guess its no wonder they turn away the BT's, when they do become frum.

My Rabbi tried brainwashing us, lucky for me it didn't work. I know what is right and wrong, and my Rabbi was definitely wrong.

RANTING ABOUT BAIS FAIGA

You may already know, that the school, Bais Faiga, has closed its doors to 1800 students. The teachers, as you might have assumed, got late, or no pay at all. This school had a strict policy. You work and your children don't get in, you are in Kollel and they do. If the Kollel family, has no means to support themselves, how the hell do you think, they can support the school. Do you think they would pay full tuition? A normal Yeshiva can hardly stand, thats with people paying full tuition! Now you understand the tuition crisis.

The school was for sure teaching the kids to live a Kollel life. Then the merry-go-round continues, but this time, with even less money. Now the Yeshiva is going around collecting money, to keep up the same stupid rules, they had before. Albert Einstein said "insanity is trying the same thing, the same way, over and over again". This Yeshiva is INSANE!! And where do you think they are getting this, new found money from? Not someone in Kollel. They get it from the working class, the same ones they don't let into their school.

How could one institution say please give us money, and at the same time bash the ones giving them the money. Oxymoron's!!! It turns out, not only is this a problem for the girl school, the same is about to happen to the boys school. Did I mention this place is in Lakewood? G-d grant the people of Lakewood, some brains. The congregation answers. Amen.

CHANUKAH IS COMING!!

I love Chanukah for it brings back great memories. In school we would take the latkes they gave for lunch; stick a wick in it, light it, and watch how long it takes to burn out. How I used to stay up all 8 nights waiting for Hanukah Harry or Chanukah Chaim. Most of all I like Chanukah for a good Sufgani'ot. I don't know where to find some good ones around. Anyone have a clue? I know this post is a little early, but I am desperate.

WHAT A YESHIVA CAN DO

We all remember when Chaim Berlin banned the sheitel store, across the street, for showing woman's faces in the window. The owner didn't want to listen to them and kept it up. After a while of no business, the wig store closed down. They took away the faces of women; instead, they hung sheitels (without faces) in the window. They have now reopened with 30% off sale. Do you see what a yeshiva can do? they can get a store to have a sale. I think the Yeshivos are too influential.

A CLEAN JEW I BE

It is a known fact that many Jews have OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder). They are constantly cleaning themselves from germs, and bacteria. Why is it that these people, have been mentally convinced, they are in the danger of being infected. Lets look into the many reasons.

A common Jewish ritual is, to cleanse oneself in a pool of water, that so many others have cleansed themselves in already. (hey! whats the worst thing in a mikveh?..... Traffic). This practice is known as "going to the Mikveh". One of the more dreaded Mitzvahs, for those who don't normally go. There are two ways of looking at this. One is; since, many have the Minhag of dipping everyday, they are always feeling unclean, during the rest of the day. The other is; that, they feel contaminated after diving into a pool, where "uncleanlies" (sometimes really are) have gone to; therefore, they feel the need to keep hand sanitizers with them.

There are other places that may cause you to go into an OCD type syndrome. A Yeshiva is among the worst. I did a post on that a while back (link here). Basically, you can go crazy over, the filth that practically grows there. From the food to the rooms, its all disgusting. Then there is the restaurants/pizza stores; which have so many health code violations, (link here) I am amazed that I havent gone OCD.

Going back to the first reason. We are supposed to wash our hands: When we wake up, after we
go to the bathroom (hope everyone does anyway), Before you eat bread, and some, after you eat bread, after coming from a funeral, or just visiting a cemetery; all because of the Ruach Ra (evil spirit) that rests upon you. That is a good reason why Jews have OCD, it seems like you always have to be clean. It doesn't take a genius to figure out, why so many Jews have OCD.

RANDOM JEWISHNESS

I was driving down J at around 9:30 and I noticed that Subway was empty. I dont mean three guys on a line empty I mean guy behind the counter board empty. Also I havent heard too many people taking out from it lately. So I ask is it really losing to the competition? I remember when people were so happy that it became kosher, could it be that no one cares or are monday night just not a good time?

Another thing I noticed was a place called Satmer Meats. Wouldnt you think thats just a great random name because theres such a great thing about getting Satmer meats more than any other type.

Well thats about it for what I saw on J. A funny thing I heard is that Yeshiva guys will read Yeshiva World News just to know what to shmooz about pretty funny. Any other weird jewish things?

DONT USE THESE TERMS ON ME

You should know by now that I don't understand your mixed language, so please don't start using it when we learn. Words like Epis and shtickle don't help you in an interview (unless done with a chassidish employer). When I learn with you, use just the English language. I cant stand it, it bugs the heck out of me. I am not from a Yiddish speaking background I don't understand what point you are trying to make when you refer to things with these phrases.

After a while you used the word shtultz on me. I had no clue what you meant. At first I thought of it as if it meant a diss (a verbal offensive). Then you start hocking me up trying to explain what you really meant by it. It turns out it means to ignore someone. Now I ask couldn't you just say "ignore" instead of making me waste a few minutes to figure it out.

Words like lechaira and mashme are terms used in Meforshim like Tosfos not to tell to me about Sarah Palin's view on Israel and if its going to rain. Talking to me about politics and using these terms does not make me think you are a reliable source. Terms like Shanda, Mamish, Gevaldig, Shtim and many more like that get me thinking did you Drop out of high school and not learn the English language.

To my chavrusa just stop it. It doesn't make you a better person by using these terms.

YESHIVA HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUTS

In recent years there has beena plague of kids just not wanting to go through with the secular studies. They have become Yeshiva High School drop outs. Why would they like to drop is beyond any logic (real logic). Maybe its a knew kollel ad "Learn secular studies and forget about going to kollel". Or it could be "If you learn Secular studies you'll be so far from frum that you'll forget about kollel". Whatever it is, these guys/kids are dropping like flies (there are so many!!).

Soon there is going to be another question on the shidduch resume "Did you take secular studies in high school?". These guys/kids must know in advance that its coming, so I guess they are ready for it when the question comes around. After they pass the shidduch scene they will be moved to the kollel scene or part 2. How could you think that the people who drop out of secular studies be forced to work? (shame on you). They will be directly transferred to only the "best" kollel around where they wont last a while (being that they have 14 kids).

I was wondering what would you do if you don't even have a high school diploma?, and Chas V'shalom you have to stop the kollel business since you aren't making enough money and your wife isn't either making enough from her speech therapist job. What would you do? You wont be hired by anyone. If you try you may get to be a waiter at most or be the first Jewish taxi cab driver. One person gave me an answer that they can become a rebbi in a school, as if a rebbi makes so much money.

Many people are against this act of dropping out. I know the Yekis are very much against it. Then there are those people who are for it and don't allow their kids to get a secular education. I think its going too far, if you really want you can move back to your shtetle in poland.

YESHIVA A VERY SANITARY ENVIRONMENT

WARNING: if you are disgusted easily do not read this its for your own good.

A yeshiva is one of the most unclean places you could find in the frum community. It beats all those Jewish restaurants or fast food take out places by a mile. The dorms are usually one of the worst places to be in. The mattresses filled with bedbugs, you don't have to search to find roaches and mice living happily together in what they call a utopia.

The infestation continues to all parts of the building including classrooms and then one day a mouse shows up in middle of class and its all chaos. I was once learning with my friend in a classroom and a mouse jumps out from under the steam running back and forth hitting my feet a few times, I have no problem with mice they're okay but a few minutes later came about four to five roaches that fell from the walls. It was just disgusting seeing the mice and roaches scurry all around together in harmony Yuch! no doubt we left as soon as possible. Besides the classrooms have leaks in them and the walls had an indention in them just to make it look like they used cinder blocks but were hollow. With all the kids running around and destroying things you get what my brother calls a Mosh pit. (see pre Pesach trip for definition its in a comment)

The cafeterias are hazardous with leftovers from a resturant thats left over from the week before when they first served it. It reminds me of the joke we used to have "stand up for the food its older than you!"The milk they served usually was ok, but you would have about eight people smell it before you would taste it. You know the disgusting juice at the bottom of the ketchup bottle that looks like someone spit the ketchup back in the bottle, well that was the closest thing we had to real ketchup. (poor us).

Then there was the drinks they gave out. They always had expiration dates from the year before and they were sitting in this hot and sticky room (that had roaches) from the day before the date on which it expires. They never gave it when they got it why I dont know, they have to give it to us after it becomes toxic.

Once the Yeshiva gave out expired diet coke which besides for the fact its got no fizz and filled with bacteria that grew on the coke (which you could see it growing) is that its DIET. And there was kids running around with 2 liter bottles piled up in their hands like money or gold fell from the sky and you try to grab as much as you could by piling it on. Others were chugging it down straight from the bottle Oh! yeah this was all outside so the goyim can see (what a Chilllul Hashem). Then there was those smart ones who would take the bottles and throw them in the air and watch them fall and make a mess on the pavement...... If only the health department came on that day they would never give expired stuff again.

With all the tuition youre paying maybe it should be a healthier environment,just maybe Im not sure about it.