By anonymous
The average newly married Lubavitcher who has spent his entire bochur life studying continues his studies in Kollel, generally for a year’s time, after which he will move on to another occupation.
I spend time in the Crown Heights Kollel (also known as the Mazkirus Kollel) and I can testify to the fact that these young men include many capable individuals who are there out of idealism and purpose, and not out of lack of drive to start working or fear of facing the real world, as some would like us to believe.
I try to avoid generalizations, but the average Kollel member by us utilizes his time much more in Kollel than when he was a bochur in Yeshiva. He views it as a job that he cares for and enjoys, and he feels a tremendous responsibility to give it his best shot and to acquire a thorough understanding of the subjects he is learning.
In short, it is a golden opportunity for these individuals to gain substantially in a way that can potentially have far-reaching positive consequences for the entire Crown Heights community.
Whether you are one who constantly bemoans the current sorry state of affairs of the frum world, or whether you feel things aren’t as bad as people make it seem to be, all can agree that there is a need for active encouragement to help move everyone forward.
Our Kollel has the ability to act as a rudder to steer the ship of Crown Heights on a course aimed for success. It can imbue our community with a sense of pride and purpose, reminding us of who we are and how much we can accomplish. Having an institution in the heart of our community is a blessing for us all, even for someone who may never walk through its doors.
And yet nobody seems to care. The Kollel is in a state of neglect from every possible angle, understaffed and undermanned, its members underpaid and its building unmaintained. This is not a new development, but rather all these issues have built up over the years until we have reached the current state of affairs.
And now Kollel members are waiting to be paid.
Many members have not been paid for the past 3 months, without any relief in sight.
I am aware that these times are tough, that many people are struggling and that many other institutions are behind in paying their workers. Nobody is interested in hearing Kollel members whine about not getting $300 a month.
But it still hurts, because it sends a message of indifference. There is a big empty silent space surrounding Kollel, an impenetrable bubble of silence that says louder than any words that nobody aside from those who learn there really care for the Kollel to exist.
It’s really a shame, for these are our children who have proved the naysayers wrong. They have stuck it through to the end, they have behaved and toed the line, and they have made it through the System only to find that there is nobody at the finish line to care.
I’m positive that many people do care, and that just because nobody shows support does not mean that the support is not there. I believe it is still possible to fix this problem, and I hope that this article proves to be part of the solution.
I have a son-in-law who just started Kollel a few months back and is generally dissatisfied with the lack of direction & organization that is in place. When we spoke with our Rabbi about this, who attended years back, he was astonished that their is no set sedar. No Chavrusa and no oversite. Basically it has evolved into a entity that is there and if you want to go, then go, but it really isn’t bearing any fruit and in fact is driving many of the newly married couples out of Crown Heights looking for either other Kollels or just… Read more »
…Kollel yungerleit to be “giving” back, why on earth should a newlywed man who is struggling to help support his overworked, pregnant wife/baby on JUST $300 a MONTH owe ANYTHING to the “community”???
From a wife/mother who had a miserable shana rishona.
Kolel should be supported by community as it is in many many places! I think it would be some $80 a year per family to make a decent pay to the students, which will cover rent and food for the family of 2 plus baby.
Im sorry, but the kollel isnt responsible for forks. The point of this message isnt that al is wrong, just that they need to pay out larger, timelier salaries. And we need to think of how to enable that
i know that money is tight these days, but there is no reason why the wives (pregnant or with little children) should be slaving away…
Then off to look for work…..
That might keep the number down and maybe the real Lamdonim can stay for longer
i, including many people would love to donate money each month to the kolel. where can we donate to?
Dear author!! Please start a fund so we can help the young people that serve as an inspiration to my son .My children see you as a role model and want to be just like you! Please start a fund so we can donate -every bit counts- may you continue to bring light and inspiration to the community
what happened with the original kollel building? the move to where the kolel is now was to be temporary (do they pay rent to tzach?). construction stopped midway and has frozen since. maybe meshaneh mokom to its orginal place will mishane mazel to its original mazel – under the rebbe’s wings.
Yes, an invitation would be nice, and a good start
what did happen to the new building on union st? they seem to have gotten too comfortable in Tzach’s upstairs apartment! Tzach should really get credit for letting them stay past their “two year” stay (probably rent free too!)
1. There needs to be a cap on how long yungerleit can stay in kolel.
2. Establish an evening seder for learning with balabatim. If you don’t give you can’t expect to get. A weekly shiur for the general public would be nice too.
3. Another rov or two to assist yungerleit (mentioned above)
My husband learned in Kollel for the first 2 years of our marriage. I worked hard to support him in his learning and it paid off. The learning that he was doing was so intense that it has set a foundation for the rest of our lives. I am not cautious to say that Kollel has fine tuned my tzaddik talmid chochom husband. Yet, although it sounds high and mighty, after a whole morning of intense learning, he couldn’t even go to the bathroom properly because THERE WAS NO TOILET PAPER! He started to carry napkins in his pockets. It… Read more »
The only people that do anything to take care the kollel are the members of the shul.
Stock up. Clean up and lock up. If not for the shul they would be in much worse shape
the $300 started when it covered a yungermans full rent.
you should be paid much more, and on time.
If you don’t invest in the public, the public will not invest in you
to 54: Adraba, who is stopping them from helping out in the community “in many ways”? are they waiting for an invitation?
Your comment is vile, and ruthless and just plain wrong.
You need to do Teshuva
How dare you make fun to those who sit and learn Torah.
The article brings up a valid point. These yumgerlit can help out in the community in many ways.
The kolel is a gem that the community needs to share from.
You make it sound like you’re really learning and you don’t have anything to show for it. maybe shribe an haora once in a while. “ein beis medrash bli chidush” or better yet put out a Kovetz hearos.
1- There is NO system 2 – Unlike other denominations, in Chabad all our resources and funds go towards Chabad Houses and our educational system is secondary. 3 – Kollel is viewed upon as a burden rather than a virtue. What’s worse is, if after 3 unproductive boring years there and you have still not found a Shlichus position, you are then slated to become a melamud by default. 4 – Most importantly. Those who do not “toe the line” and go to college, get degrees and become philanthropic, are the ones in Chabad who get the accolades. Case in… Read more »
This is the pervasive issue in ch along many of the institutions. The dirty little secret is that there is money in ch to support the ch institutions. The Kollel beis rivkah……. But ultimately politics prevails and because people don’t like the last names of the people at the top of these institutions the political leadership of ch which also happens to have a lot of the money doesn’t support their own institutions. When ch gets a grip and rids itself of its petty fights and decides to start caring about itself all these money crisis will subside. It’s interesting… Read more »
Unfortunately ur type of comment is very typical and tragic…any time I meet a open minded litvak who respects chabad, they have but one critisim…we don’t value and respect Torah learning…the only thing we are brought up and taught is shlichus, and of course this doesn’t have to undermine torah learning, but comments like yours reveal the fundamental void in our value system
Hayom Yom 9 Tammuz.
All Jewish parents who require special deliverance and salvation for their children [should know that] the most reliable means [to secure this] is to support those who study Torah.
(Translated by SIE)
We ALL need special brochos for our children.
what happened to the old building?? We need more rabbonim in lubavitch and dayunus should be taught in kollel.
many of us CARE AND WANT TO HELP!! lets start some ACTION. I would love to donate monthly a small amount to support torah. HOW DO I DO THAT??????????? TAKE IT UP A NOTCH WITH SOME ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!
he cant make it work??? the yungerleit luv him and even the older generation, He did so well for his own children. maybe he can try to raise the funds for his moisad
Perhaps it would be in the best interest of all including the wives if the men would learn how to take care of the simplest of tasks as in changing a light bulb, keeping their toilet rolls filled and doing a little light cleaning etc. How will they manage at home or on Schlichus with “rundown” premises that are constantly being funded by outsiders – I personally resent throwing good money after bad. What’s wrong with a kollel man taking perhaps an hour aside each day – I am sure his family and extended family will benefit until he gets… Read more »
I hope someone who can help reads this and takes the initiative to raise the pay for these wonderful people
I was in Kollel the year it moved from the old building to the current location. I was given that emotional Honor to bang on the table one day and notify all Kollel yungerlight that Rabbi heller just informed us to take our sefarim and march to the new buiding. There was a seance of pride in this new location. All the yungerlight took Initiative that entire time. we moved the sefarim and bookcases, kept the place clean and neat . Everyone had a job to upkeep the place such as the coffe cookies, toilet paper. The place was buzzing… Read more »
To # 38
There has been a few ideas posted already if you would like to help…
you can contact Rabbi Klein (Moshe or Benyamin) or Rabbi Heler directly
To # 36
I dont know when was the last time you have been to the Kolle or have checked who is on the payroll, but over the last few years no one gets even the $300 after one year!
How do we donate? I would like to give a small sum monthly.
but we might be a little older then you 8-10 years and things were not much better for us back then I’ve come to think tat while we were going through the system we were complete fools. unfortinately things have not gotten better for us we have been struggling since and i came to the conclusion you gotta take care of yourself get a job pay your bills and if u love learning get yourself a chavrusa and learn after work dont expect hard working people should be paying for all these ”holy” causes.
i would be willing to give a 100$ a month,but whom do i send it to
I’m sure the Kollel needs money. But guess what? There are thousands of other institutions in CH and they also need money. Who are you asking to “care”? Everyone is caring – about what they need to care about. The Kollel – meaning you – needs to care about it and everyone else needs to take care of themselves. The Kollel is not the world’s problem. People need to stop blaming their problems on “the community” and “the leaders”. Take care of yourselves. There is no magical person that is going to come and give everyone money. Stop living in… Read more »
It maybe a nice thing but why are their many Guys in there thirties with families sitting their and it’s accepted as a safe haven for them they should be out working supporting there families is someone asking them why are you here 1 year maybe two years max after that something s seriously wrong why men with families are allowed to just sit their
#29 has my vote
I agree with you! i dont know whats the deal with the Shabbos Minyan if they pay rent are there is any agreements made with the Kollel but credit has to be given to those that DO do for the Kolel. Rabbi Klein and those that Help him run this Kollel like you said for the last 10 years + To raise money for a Mosod like this is no easy task, and dont think that the “merkos” is bank rolling this project. Rabbi Klein has been finding this all on his own! And from the comments above people expect… Read more »
The shabbos Kolel Shul pays very decent rent. Nobody is free riding anything.
True they don’t always pay on time but I did receive all my checks in the end. $300 is indeed not a large sum of money but when your wife is starting out and paying rent that meager amount helps pay basic bills. This is the sacrifice people choose to make if they enter kolel. There is at least when I was in kolel always coffee, milk and cups. WHO PAYED FOR IT? A selfless individual puts money from his own pocket and pays for it; I am not sure if he wants his name publicized so I won’t say… Read more »
yup politics and more politics .. lets face it this is another institution that the global merkos has under its wings that is failing.. the facts are simple the powers that be believe that only “shlichus” is the thin thing .. and anything else like helping our own children whether it be schools mesivtas or local people in ch … is out and since the kollel is a crown heights moisad they dont care …. we only have to give money to shluchim and shlichus … maybe the kollel should start teaching (after hours of seder) courses about getting a… Read more »
i DIDN’T REALIZE THAT THIS HOLY INSTITUTION IS SO DOWN b’GAHMIUS.
Any g’virs out there who want to “restore” the place – for starters?
First of all you mention there is a Shabbas Minyan. 1. They do pay rent 2. The gabai of the Shabbas only Shul comes to kollel almost every day to learn and take care of things. 3. Who buys and changes hundreds of Bulbs all year long 4. Who fixes the locks when they break. 5 Who installed for 2000.00 a new lighting system this year 6. Who gives out a bonus every year pesach time Etc Etc. Great credit goes to the Klein family ( Rabbi Benyomin Klein ) for paying the bills for almost 10 years also. I… Read more »
how do you know how they learn in lakewood? have you ever learend ther?do you know how they help other bocherim that cant learn ? stop with your coamments whats this sinas chinam for? to no 8? be good and hashem will be good to you
there are kollels throughout the world that the members are required to take two weeks a year and fundraise for the kollel.
There a few things you totally missed out of this post… 1. I know we don’t care about money but $300 is an insult. Why should my wife have to work her guts out to pay our rent when most likely she is pregnant so I can sit in Kollel all day? 2. All the people in Kollel are entering a new phase of life i.e. marriage, there should be someone in house that can offer some kind of guidance or at least answer the sha’alos in learning that they have. Not everyone speaks yiddish and Rabbi Heller’s time is… Read more »
who will pay directly to the kollel yungerleit, we will give a check gladly.
Dear Author
Your story was basically unknown to the Lubavitcher public.
The tachles of your article should now be to have a trustworthy organization collect the donations by online cc & distribute equally in the Colel.
No, it is when they are not able to find an appropriate shlichus position do they find out the truth that they made it through the system to a puff of smoke and no skills.
Why don’t you learn with my son for an hour a day and i’ll pay you the $300.00 at the end of the month.Or howabout running a tutorial service for 2 hrs. a day and charging people a small fee for helping them. The system that you mention is no longer functional.
Isn’t there a Shul in the Kollel every shabbos?
do they pay rent? help fix up the kollel
I have been there most of the people that daven there are not the Yungerlite…
Some of them are well connected, riding along on the wagon…
get the shul together and GIVE BACK to the Kollel yungerlite!!
This is not the place to wash out Lubavitch’s dirty laundry …
so i wont go into detail… but the SYSTEM your all talking about is the one that is failing the Kollel and the people that most worry about it!
first of all the Kollel is NOT part of any System, its something that was set up by the rebbe and was almost closed down by the rebbe as well. at the moment there is a group of people that are working night and day to make whatever is left of the kollel work. to sit and write letters is the new thing to do and BH COL give everyone that opportunity to do so. When the Kollel was still in the old building on Union street there was someone that wanted to make a better kollel and moved the… Read more »
Wake up! There is no “System”
Mosdos are not run by the same. Maybe in Satmar. Not Lubavitch
The administration (whom I will not name) has repeatedly refused offers by capable young individuals to fundraise on behalf of the Kollel. They want to maintain full control – this is what it’s all about.
I was in Kollel 5 years ago, and the place was already neglected back then. No toilet paper, dirty floors… I can only imagine how much worse it has become.
I like the way you capitalized the word “System”
can we set one up?
$300 once upon a time covered rent! Today it’s just a bonus! so when the paychecks start coming it should be at least $1200!
As Learning in kollel is obviously a privalidge for the the ones who can afford it ( I would imagine it cost way more then $300 to live so they must be getting help from somewhere) I think that perhaps paying $300 for this honor,would no doubt solve the above issues u mention !
You are simply foolish enough to have believed that there is something, “for you” at the end of the system.
Wake up and smell the coffee — the system (or lack thereof — is there REALLY a true system in place?) helps NOBODY.
plople like giving money at auctions, or even just 1 grand prize raffle. I’ve never seen a kollel pushka, never received a mailing from the kollel.
Even if those in charge won’t do it, maybe a few kollel wives can get together, find a sponsor for a prize, and whatever money they raise goes directly into the pockets of the yungerleit?
Give us an easy way to help you.
I would be willing to give $100, and I’m sure many would be willing and abe to give even 10 times that amount and more.
“They have stuck it through to the end, they have behaved and toed the line, and they have made it through the System only to find that there is nobody at the finish line to care.”
That is a very mild and polite way of saying it. I would say: The system gave them a huge kick and sent them flying out the door.
I couldn’t agree more!
I took so much from learning there. If the place wasn’t so “Hefker” I would’ve taken twice as much.
I hope people will do something to reignite the Kollel.
Explain to me why I should care. I don’t see the positive of people sitting and learning alone. If they were learning with those less fortunate, I would see it a bit differently, but ‘A Tzadik in Peltz’, we have Lakewood for that BH.
Well written and balanced article. Think of it this way, if families are paying 1000’s into “the system” for tens of years, and at the end they finally are supposed to get a little something from “the system” it’s only fair that they get paid on time. Of course each yeshiva is independent but if you build a system you should follow it.
I personally have little faith in “the system” and would suggest that a bright guy like you start using your G-d given talents and resources to build your own future.
& so does the Rebbe, keep learning and Hashem will help…
When i was in Collel I can attest to the same thing exactly. Waiting months to get paid my 300 dollars (the check would always come before peasach and tishrei. The place was falling apart, but we really learned there. I can say now that was the best learning i ever did. Anyways i think that is just how all chabad places are. I dont like it but it seems there all the same way.
people simply do not know how dear the kollel was to the rebbe.
first i hear(read of it), get message out there!
Too bad it’s not written as well as it could’ve been. The author is being polite in the wrong moment.
such a beautiful poem, i’m in tears…