Rechnitz Delivers Scathing Speech
Philanthropist Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz pointed an accusing finger at school principals in a landmark speech in Lakewood, NJ. Video
Philanthropist Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz pointed an accusing finger at school principals in a landmark speech in Lakewood, NJ. Video
# 9
What galaxy are you in?
Sadly, this person is addressing most communities.
this is a problem of leadership. its not the schools or elitist. its a problem with Rabonim who will noy get involved in chinuch which is their direct responsibility. principle wants his school to be the best and a father wants the best for his kid but RABONIM need to see to it that true takones every child is in school. Ain baal habais le bira zu!
The realm problem is that there isn’t any Yeshiva to go to if your looking for a place between Chicago and Jets. We need Frum Yeshiva High-schools.
It takes guts to say what needs to be said. And Mr Rechnitz said it!
Take heart all of the detractors – if you don’t see this issue in your community, either your eyes are closed or you are one of the parents who dictates to the school who can and cannot be admitted.
Every child is precious/
We have R”L lost too many of our children.
Here is a viable plan to save all the rest.
Please, teachers, principals, administrators.. OPEN YOUR EYES AND HEARTS NOW – before its too late.
You are soooooo right but what should someone do if they have good ideas but no one listens to them because they aren’t the Elite society.
great job!
Read 84…..
https://www.facebook.com/MaKorChaimCampus/photos/a.675898555853796.1073741828.663625990414386/801732196603764/?type=3&theater
however, I wonder how many people who will objectively agree with what he’s saying would feel comfortable with this aspect of the problem: would they be comfortable with their child “pals-ing” around with another child who is being taught at home that s/he needn’t keep to the ruchniusdikeh standards of his/her school even while the parents are screaming ‘you can’t reject my child’. Of course the one who ultimately suffers from such a split-personality chinuch is the child.
like some of the other commenters, I don’t have any solutions to offer, just making an observation.
Thank you Shlomo Yehuda for once and forever exposing this fallacy in the Frum World. I consider it a personal privilege and honor to act 365 days a year as the Shliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to State of Utah and reaching out to and loving “off the derech” young Jewish boys and girls as part of Project HEART http://www.jewishutah.com/heart
Loving a fellow Yid and providing him/her with love,wamth and acceptance is not only to Frum Metzuyanim as many in Lakewood would like to believe.
good speach
#87
SY Rechnitz is a philanthropist HE is ALSO is the son in-law of the Rav Belsky Shlita of Torah Vaadas- Major Posok Dayan/Manhig Hador, may he have a Refuah Shalaimah, he holds a unique seat.
#80
This speech was endorsed by the Roshei Yeshivos, and the leaders of the community. The dinner itself was honoring Rabbi Kenerik, who has opened Mosdos for this purpose. SY Rechnitz was invited as the guest speaker. It was the perfect segue & settings. The mere fact this video is available on all the non filter sites – is because his message is so strongly backed and rightfully so. Ashereichem. This speech was beautifully excecuted & artistically woven from the Ani Mamin with Moshe Rabinu to the 5 “mew Ani Mamins, R Yahushu Ben Gamla etc.. this is wonderful awakening.
Someone told me to listen to this — and I am so glad I did. Everyone should. Thank you Reb Rechnitz — you say many very important points (like someone mentioned — it sounds like ideology of the Baal Shem Tov, being told to an environment that could only hear it from a Baal Tzedakah like Mr. Rechnitz)..
Thank you, for your tzedakah that supports so many important things — and for addressing these important issues.
There’s one important point that I think everyone is missing. If there is a problem, don’t lament over it, but do something about it. If camps don’t have enough space, don’t say why aren’t you doing anything about it, pick up the phone, form a committee, and make something for the kids that don’t have space (as some people have done). Chabad has always been about activism. If we see lacks here, let’s stop complaining about what THEY should be doing, and start doing. … If you are thinking, who am I to be talking. I have a job in… Read more »
Please read what i wrote instead of pontificating it in a drawn out comment about “drawn out comments” I will state again: “Not being accepted by a local Mosad is the exception not the rule in Chabad. And it is usually because of extreme circumstances where a local Cheder or Mesivta or Girls school will not accept a local student.”
This is the reality with the local Mosdos in Chabad. Yes, your child may have been part of the “exception”, but it is clearly not the rule.
I am a mother of a son who was a little different. He was not able to study all day and night and he was not allowed to come to the local yeshiva. Yet the behavior of those who can do this type of study sometimes is rude and big headed to say the least or they jump out of windows and cause problems. Every Jewish child should have opportunity to learn and not be made to think in elite way which they all do
He’s on a different path now one where his talents are recognized tg
Why not consider what dennis Prager suggested about promoting 7 Mitzvos to bnei Noach? Also I hear about young Chabadniks in Israel who move into secular apartment buildings and then invite the whole building on shabbos and do shlichus that way and work the rest of the week. Also the chinuch crisis is a result of our own success. Most of the post war generation yeshiva graduates have large families but dont make a lot of money due to lack of secular education. In the 70s and 80s most yeshivas were supported by rich Shoa survivors who lived irreligiously but… Read more »
I believe you both missed his point and are a bit too preoccupied with your own philosophical chiddush. In creating an entire philosophy in your mind and then pontificating it in a drawn out comment online doesn’t mean that it has anything to do with the reality. לדאבינו הרבים plenty of local parents can testify with aching hearts that your gibberish has nothing to do with the reality. I am an example amongst many other parents whose child was rejected from a local מוסד. But I would like to make a far more important here: The point S. Y. Rechnitz… Read more »
shlomo Yehuda please make a fund that gives a Rebbie substantial money when he has to marry off a child not that hes made a low begger a wonders if he made the right decision by going into chinuch help help help
I know Shlomo personally!! He has a heart of gold, and says it like it is, I never saw anywhere, not in CH, not in Willie, BK, Flatbush or anywhere in the continental USA or the world,,,,, where a man a Baal Haboss a businessman should get up in from of Rabbonim Rosh Hayeshivas Community leader and activists, and talk that way, He is speaking from the heart Tzum Zach and without fear of any repercussions, he says things that matter and bother him, I know he gets 10’s of phone calls a week, pleading to financially help, because yeshivos… Read more »
Unbelievable every word he said is soooo true. It would. be wonderful if the Elitists of our society would take to heart his words
This is not one of the problems that we should be focusing on. Its no big deal. There are much worse things going on nowadays that we should be speaking about and acting towards. It was a good speech, but not an important one.
Why do they feel they are better than anyone else? they created their own elitist community! I just wish there would be an honest person like Rabbi Rechnitz in Lubavitch who would have the guts to talk out load about the siknesses in our own community
#62 seems to have sage advice. If one considers who goes on shlichus today is mostly relatives of shluchim. The amount of places being saved for children is extraordinary. So, in most circumstances it is best to be resigned to the fact that one should get a job and just do shlichus work without getting in the way of a shliach especially those who believe that no one can do anything in his territory without seeking prior approval. I think Simon Jacobson has a nice Sunday night session on dealing with the shlichus crisis. Perhaps that is a fair term.… Read more »
Too many of us have forgotten what the Rebbe said…”every Jew is a shaliach”. We need to absorb and integrate this idea into the minds of every single Jewish child … maybe this will help keep them on the right track and become shluchim in the true sense of the word…. so it does not matter if they have a “place” on shlichus or not.
Many if not most of the comments are confusing and combining two separate issues. The problem they are facing in Lakewood and for that matter in most of the “Yeshivishe/Litvishe” world (to which R’ Shlomo Yehuda is referring too) hardly exists in Chabad. In Chabad, each city be it: Crown Heights, Los Angeles, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Miami etc. for the most part cares for their own. They will accept almost ALL students from their city. Be it Cheder/Boys Mesivta or girls high schools. Not being accepted by a local Mosad is the exception not the rule. And it is… Read more »
Too many of us have forgotten what the Rebbe said…”every Jew is a shaliach”. We need to absorb and integrate this idea into the minds of every single Jewish child … maybe this will help keep them on the right track and become shluchim in the true sense of the word…. so it does not matter if they have a “place” on shlichus or not.
Too many of us have forgotten what the Rebbe said…”every Jew is a shaliach”. We need to absorb and integrate this idea into the minds of every single Jewish child … maybe this will help keep them on the right track and become shluchim in the true sense of the word…. so it does not matter if they have a “place” on shlichus or not.
Why is it in Chabad, someone that goes to work for a living is considered second class. I have felt it. I work for a living b.c. the positions that I applied for went to relatives of the interviewer.
He is the one who bought the winning lotto ticket for the family. They made billions B.H. what a bal tzidakah!
for such a Mentch!! Elitism is, I believe likely the problem holding back Moshiach, and yes, it does affect certain cases of Shidduchim and Shlichus. There are places in the u.s. that are in serious desperate need of Shluchim and there should be no reason in the world why the many who want to go, can-not get a place. Really tragic!!
I think your idea should be taken to heart and something should be done about it. People that are not on shlichus often give up and feel they will never feel good about themselves if they dont. This causes a lot of unnecessary pain and damage, not what the Rebbe envisioned!
And the elitism of shlichus has quadrupled recently. Even in my own family, sad to say,
Laider Laider, this problem does exist in most Chabad Yeshivahs, Mesivtahs and Seminaries, Och Un Vay that Chabad Chasidim, The Rebbes Chasidim are cought up in the same elitism, Shemt Zich and take a good lesson, from a true caring man who put his mouth where his money is, and his mony where his mouth is.
For boys who need the extra push in learning to do well, they should check out http://www.Project Mesivta.com. It really has helped.
im impressed that such a man was actually saying something true and smart. way to go.
Reb Shloime is such a special man. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful tzaddik, baal chessed, and baal tzedakah in our world and generation. He will definitely be one of the main reasons that Moshiach comes.
Chaim T. G.
Our version of this elitism is Shlichus. There are a certain amount of slots that are realistic, nonetheless (at least when I was in yeshivah) yeshivah’s push shlichus and may even go so far as denigrate those that ear a typical honest living (farmers etc.). What yeshivahs should teach is Chassidus, yiras shomayim and emulating the deeply chassidishe yungerleit, whether they are shluchim, computer programmers or janitors. The bochurim who “aren’t stupid” and know that there likely is no shlichus position for them sadly often go the route of; I may as well not be very frum if I’m not… Read more »
how true
If a good yeshiva starts accepting below the radar kids it will ruin it for that the yeshiva and all the kids in it .i understand how amazing this man is but we don’t all have gold hearts like him
so beautiful, he really gets it
How about camps? You have to apply in DECEMBER for camp 7 MONTHS LATER and you get a rejection within 1 day. We are all encouraged to have large families, but the community leaders need to make sure there are enough camps, schools, yeshivas, seminary’s to accommodate this.
AMEN
Wow! It bought me to tears if one pcarerson listens and does something his speech won’t be in vain! You are an amazing person to have the courage to say the truth.
the summer camps actually dont have room, what can they do? unless maybe someone should open more camps….
YOur delusional!It applies everywhere!
Charity starts at HOME!
Make your home the Shlichus!!
Thank you Reb Shlomo. Your speech should be heard at every cheder, EVERYWHERE for every age! This problem is even here in Los Angeles.
this is so painful! Thank you Rabbi R.Raw truth.
We must praise R’ Shloime Rechnitz for the gumption and fortitude of his speech. True, the problem does exist by all factions, some more,some less. B”H our community has come a long way in the past 10 years.Many new Mosdei Chinuch have opened, and many geared to facilitate the different needs of many of our children. B”H we have those that will sponsor ANY CHILD THAT WANTS TO GO TO A SUMMER CAMP. Regardless, I think that EVERY SINGLE mechanech, from kindergarten to Rosh Yeshivah should find the time to watch this speech. On one hand it is heartbreaking, and… Read more »
THIS APPLIES TO US AND EVERYONE ELSE
he deserves his position as supporter of klall Yisroel our Moishe Rabenu was measured by taking care of a simpler sheep
We have the exact same problem in Chabad. If you don’t think so, you have your head in the sand.
There is a solution: Creating a centralized body of governance of Chinuch, including a group of ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, and most importantly PARENTS.
Not an elitist board that will just continue the madness.
It can be done, and we have the money for it, but it needs to become a FOCUS for us.
Notice how many comments here bring in shlichus when this has nothing to do with it.
Imagine if Merkoz Linunei CHINUCH put more focus on their tafkid! They have done so much to build the Rebbe’s vision of hafotzoh. If they started focusing on CHINUCH they tackle that problem and eliminate any sort of elitism that is C”V forming in Chabad! 2 birds with one stone.
this problem, as well as the tuition crisis, could be solved by funding a strictly limudei kodesh Kahn academy for all ages
We have this problem of going on Shlichus! Hundreds of Yungelait (within the past 10 years) have not gone out on Shlichus because of lack of space where to go!
They all wanted to go very much! What is the solution?
The fact that there isn’t enough physical space in our mosdos our yeshiva seminaries and high schools is a problem, if you are keeping your mosod for the Rebbe for the good of others you make sure there’s enough space for everyone who wants to come and learn, when the answer is “there isn’t enough space” it’s saying this is our mosod it’s not for the benefit of Yiddishe kinder who want to learn its for the benefit of whom WE choose…. We need a solution…
He not only explained the problem and gave proper Mussar but stated ways to solve it………………….
Get real we have just as big problem in our crown heights nebach on us as well !!wake up world !!!
A bocher in lakewood doesn’t date from the beginning of the year until Tu Beshvat. They are called “in the freezer” until tu beshvat.
In the outside world not luvbavitsh the boys learn until they ready for shidduchim ..they stay in freezer until they ready for martiage
i suspect you don’t have kids that have gone to mesivta & BM. it exists in our moisdos r”l, so don’t pass us off as so holy and accommodating. i’ve gone thru it and it disgusting. BTW, since some people love to bash the “tzfatis” on this forum, here’s something most people don’t know. The rosh yeshiva in tzfas, Rabbi Wilshansky, has a policy that any bochur that wants to come to his yeshiva can come, and he’ll find him a place. there’s no “we’re full, you’re late, too bad” in tzfas. this is besides bochurim from the mesivtas that… Read more »
REB SHLOIMEH IS AN AMAZING YID WHO IS NOT AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT. A TREMENDOUS BA’AL CHESSED WITH A CHASSIDISHE NESHAMA! MAY HE CONTINUE TO BE BLESSED FOR ALL THAT HE DOES!
The freezer joke: Bochurim of a certain age or grade are not allowed to date before Tu Bishvat. Until then they’re considered to be in the ‘freezer’
Doesn’t this elitist attitude carry over into other areas in our lives? Isn’t this attitude the real cause of our shidduchim crisis?
Because it’s much worse doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist and need to be dealt with. I am certain that iy”H he is going to make a big difference to the “atmosphere” and “attitude” in that community.. With the hierarchy in Lubavitch becoming more pronounced there are many who feel left out of the loop. If you don’t have a family on shlichus or tons of money or a big name, where does one fit in in Lubavitch????
When I went to Ocean Parkway they took everyone in. They had 15 people collecting money and it worked. Nobody was left behind
When my child (from baalei teshuvah parents) sits at a farbrengen and the speaker goes around and asks everyone where they came from and who their grandfather is, is this not promoting a type of elitism?
I am number 9 again, believe me I know it does exist and I just wanted people to express it. Kid use Hashem, when we recognize our faults, and allow ourselves to be criticized. My only question is, what if the child is not accepted because his parents have much lower standards of dress, haircuts, why should I have to deal and argue with a son or daughter because some parent doesn’t care about these things. What if I do my utmost to ensure he is in a chassidishe moisad and then deal with something he picked up from a… Read more »
You are missing the point of the entire speech. He is talking about kollel families not wanting their children in the same school as more “modern” working families. It would be similar to a school saying we only take shluchim’s kids but not kids from working families. He isn’t talking about having an academic standard for accepting kids. We can all agree that we don’t have a class system in regards to our educational system.
Sounds like he’s been learning Tanya lately… If only we would be LEARNING Tanya as well. we are unfortunately following a bit their lead as of late, specifically Gaavah, arrogance, the opposite everything Chassidus teaches us.
Years ago I tried to get in to a yeshiva and exactly what he said a mother called and said that she would take her son out if they took me so I was not excepted guess what 1 out of her 6 boys are frum today
It is much much worse in Lakewood then in Lubavitch this problem
With all due respect, your comment is quite naive and ill-informed. Our elitist mesivtas and zals have rejected many good chassidishe boys, who may not be big learners but wanted to be in the yeshiva atmosphere, and ended up rejecting Yiddishkeit. I am one of the most blessed parents because when my son was rejected, he ended up in a different Yeshiva where he thrived and is now a major lamdan and has the respect of his peers and hanhala. He is one of the very few lucky ones for whom rejection was a brocho, Boruch Hashem!
the truth hurts
IT NEEDS TO BE SAID HERE BECAUSE WE LUBAVITCHERS ARE FACED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AND YES, YES, YES #9 THIS PROBLEM DOES EXIST HERE BIG TIME!!!!!
Wonderful boys and girls with no issues are being rejected from camps for a lack of space and this is not being addressed. One may say, camp is not school and that is a correct statement. HOWEVER, we all know that what a month in overnight camp can do to a child, years of school cannot do. If there were not 2 months+ of vacation in the summer, fine. Being that there is, when the child gets rejected from camp, he/she will be left doing nothing which will damage the child emotionally as per Mr Rechnitz’s speech. Kol Hakavod to… Read more »
Im a huge fan of R Shlomo Rechnitz, he’s a tzaddik! Brilliant man. A true chassid at heart. What he said is just as relevant to chabad as lakewood.
Can someone please explain the freezer and date joke (of what does it mean)
What gutz! What erlechkeit! To stand there and say devarim hayotzi min halev. Divrai emes as expounded by the Baal Shem Tov so many years ago. True hafatzos hamayanos of the derech ha Baal Shem oh ahavas yisroel to all of yisroel.
Reb Shlomo, I have no doubt the nachas ruach in the higher oloamaos you must have effected by spreading the message of the Baal Shem Tov. Mayaymasai kiasi Mar? Kesheyafutzu mayanosecha chutza. Moshiach Now!
If your child fits into the moild then mesivtas are good, if your child is a little out of the box then no one wants to accept them. I registered my son to several mesivtas offering whatever extra I will give and still rejected him. He’s a good person, a good boy and wants to learn. Our mosdos need help
“Chinuch Hatzalah” began on 18 Elul 5775, when they were approached with cases of Chabad kids in the Crown Heights area who were out-of-school/in non-Frum schools/failing school.
“Chinuch Hatzalah” has been involved in 8 cases of Chabad kids, ages 6-14, in the Crown Heights area, that were permanently out-of-school, in the school year of 5776.
Gut gezugt
U are toately wrong Chabad acceptare and then they throw away good boys and girls my son happens to be one of them thanks to rabbi L from o t…
our kids are affected by this big problem
Rechnitz needs to talk to our community
Only a big fool, or someone living in a cave, could think we don’t have any of those problems.
He is only talking about Lakewood as he himself says. “the only out of town place with this problem is Lakewood. We don’t see this in California, Chicago, Baltimore…”
Many children have not been accommodated in Lubavitch schools, including all out of town mesivtas
He said that the principal who makes the “wrong ” decisions, will be known as the principal of the “Nebuch” school. He puts the blame on the arrogance of parents.
Over the last few decades, chinuch in chabad has fallen by the wayside. Look at the mission statement of Merkos L’inyonei Chunuch (printed in the back of older sidurim) and you will find that the first 3 goals are centered around chinuch and even mentions BR and TTL by name. In today’s reality, anyone with the courage to dedicate their lives to chinuch are faced with very difficult challanged that are not addressed in a centralized governing way. It should be no surprise that our schools face similar challenges that are seen in LW. The financial pressures and the need… Read more »
KOL HAKAVOD A MAN WHO SPENDS COUNTLESS HOURS HELPING YIDDEN
MAKING A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER A BAAL SHEMSKER YID
I don’t think this is a problem in Chabad, we are more accepting, mesivtas are very accommodating
he is talking about every where
The truth must be told as it is: On one hand NO CHILD should be turned away Chas Vsholom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On the other hand Mosdos need help and $ to be able to provide the support needed for “out of the box” kids on whatever level they may be. So he IS the right guy to talk about this because he puts his money where his mouth is. Bottom line, no Hanholo wants to turn anyone away – however clearly they need support to be able to properly provide for ALL children. So put your $ and your time where your… Read more »
Not scathing at all. He speaks with humility and genuine concern.
He’s obviously a very special person.
I’m not sure why this needs to be put here?
He was talking to Lakewood. Let them listen to his words and take them to heart.
Your title is not correct. He wasn’t complaining about the principals. He was complaining about the elitist attitude in Lakewood and by misnagdim in general. This could’ve easily been a speech made by the baal shem tov
I think this problem is just as bad in Lubavitch. Our yeshiva system is just as bad. If a boy isn’t the main then he gets rejected to every yeshiva and c”v this child one day will rebel, why? Because of the menahels that didn’t want to accept him because he had no zitz fleish and needed more moving around. I think every menahel must read this and cry!!!!! Every menahel is responsible, so if someone comes to you and wants to register their child you hav eNO ACHRAYUS to say NO, you must say yes and try to work… Read more »
for posting this on this site. I feel it’s a very important speech and wish someone would have the guts to speak about this and the similar yet different issues facing the Lubavitcher communities.
sound familiar?