Dec 09, 2008 at 09:29 AM Anonymous Says:

Wow! what r all the girs going to do out of school....

This is terrible

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:40 AM Zach Kessin Says:

Those crazy teachers, actually expecting to get paid. If my job didn't pay me on time I would not show up the next day.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:39 AM Anonymous Says:

How can you keep a school for 1800 students going if no one pays tuition?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:35 AM Anonymous Says:

Maybe I'm wrong, but don't you think the school would pay if they had the money? What is a strike going to accomplish?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:35 AM Anonymous Says:

Does the school administrator get his salary? He should do more fundraising

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:32 AM Anonymous Says:

does the administration have the money in the bank? if no then we are in really bad shape because all mosdos are struggling

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:47 AM Anonymous Says:

This school want you to think that its about money but it is not. its about pure polotics and about an individual or two in the higher ups dept.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:45 AM Anonymous Says:

The way to do it. What kind of Chutzpah is it not to pay teachers? Do they not have to pay the same bills, etc., as the administrators?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:43 AM Anonymous Says:

don't be fooled by this article. its not about money and supplies or lack of .its about major politics about one or teo specific individuals.The cheder which is under the same umbrella and administration is open and teachers are being paid. this is what happens with a school that has the attide of HOLIER THEN THOU. Oh am I glad that my kids weren't accepted here because I work for a living

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:49 AM KANOY Says:

LIEDER..I'm afraid this is only the tip of the iceberg.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:52 AM Anonymous Says:

of couse no one has the money to pay teachers. lakewood is a community founded on Tzedakah. Recesession=rich people losing money= lakewood having no money=people learning in kollel or being supported by wife's whom are secretaries are going to have less than they did before. Maybe they should have learned some sort of trade, just in case a situation like this arises, and they are unable to be supported by others due to the economy.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:01 AM Big Masmid Says:

If you read today's news you would know that Stocks take a step back , we have to remember that Hashem is testing us, I dont see that we stopped other necessities, why can we support a school??? If its about pure politics, as some have posted, I can say its the biggest Chilul Hashem of our times.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:57 AM yankel Says:

well this didn't happen never ever since we know by us yiden that we have our privet mosdes !! i think that the local or or all the Rabbis to get involved this doesn't make sense that a thing like this to happen , all mosdes r having always problems with financial but if this can happen i think this is a big shame on the local raabis that it got to a situation like this

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:55 AM Anonymous Says:

I'm afraid some girls might go off the derech without school. Let's do tsheuvah now

 Dec 09, 2008 at 09:53 AM Anonymous Says:

sounds like a bailout is the solution!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:06 AM Anonymous Says:

yeshivos don't like parting with money---of course the administrator is getting a paycheck after all he's the administrator--this reminds me of wall street ceos bankrupting their companies and then they have the chutzpah to ask for a 10 million dollar bonus and severance pay.
I've worked this past summer for a yeshivah camp and when the administrator refused to pay me (succos time!! for the summer) telling me this garbage about no money (when his salary/and or embezzlement is paying for his Lexus LS430) i just went to the yeshiva accountant and said if i don't get a check NOW i'm going to bais din today. what do you know i got the check, but there are still tens of other bachurim who never got a check from their summer job as well as married rebbeim with families who don't see their check until shavous no exaggeration.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:12 AM z Says:

Sounds like a good fund raising tactic to me.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:19 AM Anonymous Says:

here are the facts as they stand

bais faiga despite the current economic situation is not in the red the problem is that the current Administrator is diverting funds from bais faiga to the lakewood cheder boys school ,thus denying much needed funds and resources to bais faiga.this jas been going on for a while and it was just discovered that the lakewood cheder has a deficit of over ten million dollars there is no fundraising at all and this administrator is the only one in control ,The problem is that there is a core group of parents that support him because he dosent take wvreyone in to the school which gives them a holier than though attitude.
he refused to pay for much needed staff for bais faiga which the current principle and the roshei yeshivos have took upon themselves to pay these salaries.
this is not just a strike its a demonstration of Kavod hatorah for the roshei yeshiva and for the ziknei hador in whose leadership we follow.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:19 AM Anonymous Says:

For the next week grades 6-8 will be held in the ocean county mall next to macys

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:17 AM Yolish Says:

Where is the tuition money going? The books should be audited to see if any of the office staff is misappropriating (pocketing) money. These things do happen, even in heimish enviroments.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:16 AM Anonymous Says:

Not only is the admin getting paid but the school will be having a chinese auction soon like every year. THIS IS ABOUT POLOTICS NOT ABOUT MONEY OR SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:15 AM Anonymous Says:

Who needs to work when you can sit in kolleln, baby sit for ur wife who works for 9 dollars an hour to support the husband who is home babysitting!! Lakewoods mentality is pathetic! I hope they struggle so badly with money that they become more receptive to actually people working to make a living and learn morning and night like our grandparents did for thousands of years!!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:12 AM YENTA PESHA Says:

time to address thsi to Obama together with GM.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:12 AM Anonymous Says:

Maybe, just maybe, could it be that Rav Forsheimer and Rav Kaminetsky know what they are doing better than any of the groisser sheesers commenting here?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:12 AM mark Says:

LETS BE REALITIC THE KOLLEL DAYS ARE OVER

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:11 AM kollelman Says:

Where is the "dedication" of the teachers? Did Rebb. Sara Schneir ZT"L open Bais Yaakov to get a salary??!! Don't these teachers care enough about the students to work l'shem shomayim? If they want ed money, they should go into better paying proffessions! This is chinuch ha'bonos, educating the future akeres ha'bayis of the Yeshivish world. Oy, the lesson these teachers are teaching by example to these girls, oy oy.
.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:10 AM Anonymous Says:

The root question is are the parents paying tuition and if not why? After all a school is a business. You cannot expect to pay for a product and not get it. If you are paying tuition and the school is closed send your child elsewhere. If you are not paying tuition on what basis do you have a right to expect free schooling for your childred.
(I am not speaking of someone who is recently unemployed.) That is a tragedy and we must seek to help thru this problem.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:27 AM Anonymous Says:

were going to have babysitters for a change

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:30 AM Anonymous Says:

And you know the CEo is still getting his paycheck because .............????

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:27 AM Anonymous Says:

How do you know that the administrators are getting paid? I'm an administrator and my salary stops before my teachers' whenever we have a real crunch!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:26 AM cheshboni Says:

I smell a RAT. A major auding firm (non heimish) should be brought in to check the books. Any monkey business on the part of the muckity-mucky should be brought to light and criminal charges should be filed.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:26 AM The Truth Says:

Perhaps someone should start actually working, rather than just 'fundraising'.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:22 AM Anonymous Says:

I heard from family in Lakewood that the teachers are still owed salary from LAST year. If that's the case, this strike is long overdue. The teachers have families to support too, and it's not fair to them. Are they slaves that they should show up to work every day without pay?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:40 AM Anonymous Says:

unfortunately teachers are the last on a long list of bills to pay. At one school (which I left due to a din torah of nonpayment) we were told this was an avodas hakodesh and we should consider it chesed till we get paid. Iexplainedthat the grocer, gas bill, tuition committees for my 6 children, electric bill, mortgage, etc. do not accept chesed as their payments and G'machim will not back unsecured loans to teachers since they know we won't get paid for months on end!!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:37 AM Anonymous Says:

guess what Rebb. Sara Schneir ZT"L isnot striking

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:37 AM glatekup Says:

There aren't many people that are rodef shalom as Reb shmuel kamenetsky. Obviously, if he felt that there was a need to strike then all these comments are worthless.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:35 AM zelig Says:

If some men are capable of learning in kolel, they should be capable of home scho
oling their children. What greater mitzvah is there than teaching your children.Then they wouldnt have to pay tuition and would not over tax the school system.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:35 AM reply to #26 Says:

Your comment is an exellent example of how messed-up the mentality is in lakewood! END KOLLEL FOR AVERAGE YUNGERLIET NOW!!! Kollel is only for someone who wants to learn for life, become a dayan, become a magid shiur, etc.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:34 AM fed up Says:

how dare you say that............. who you fooling with your name KOLLELMAN thats exactly your stupid hashkafa lets go collecting from the working ppl while you sit on your tuchus and drink coffee all day and i am sure u have a rich shver and ur wife works with no salary because its lshem shomayim..... and btw if ur a kollelman u shouldnt be on the internet secondly shouldnt u be learning oh i am sure u go @ 9 and ur wife sees u going then u come back home to go on the internet shame on u

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:33 AM Anonymous Says:

How does the school having a Chinese Auction next week prove anything??? It is a FUND RAISER.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:32 AM Anonymous Says:

Do those teachers have any jobs ?.........Back to work again!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:32 AM Big Masmid Says:

here is your answer: if Rebb. Sara Schneir ZT"L would be a teacher in Bais Faiga she would not be striking but the fact is that she is not teaching there so here you go.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:47 AM Anonymous Says:

Why dont you and your wife become the principles of a new school and just refuse payment because after all the chinuch habanos are more important than your pay check

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:46 AM Anonymous Says:

At least some people think they are slaves. Read comment #26.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:45 AM learner Says:

The Kolel system is the problem. We teach these men to avoid responsibilities for years and expect everything to be done for them. This here is the result of the system. 1800 girls are out of school and its not their problem.

Did you hear of one Kolel Yungerman volunteering to teach the classes during the strike. I think not. Its below their dignity. Better to let the girls run wild. Shame on youy.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:43 AM Anonymous Says:

You mean the lesson that even teachers are human and cannot live on air? That they also have to feed thier kids real food? That the students' parents have to figure out how to live on less or raise more if they are machshiv chinuch more than whatever luxury they might otherwise enjoy?
That it is assur to hire people if you cannot pay them?

That reb Yoel ZTZK''L did not put on his teffillin on pay day until he had heard from every Stmar mosad that they could cover the teachers' paychecks?
Oh, that would be terrible chinuch!!!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:43 AM Anonymous Says:

Who is to pay for the teachers' babysitter while she is teaching, Also her rent and other expenses while her husband is sitting in kollel not earning any money? Teachers and rebbeim should be the first to be paid. We want them to do a good job without worring how the bills will get paid. Our children are intrusted in their care most of the day.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:51 AM Anonymous Says:

Whoa! It didn't take much to bring out the anti-kollel, anti-lakewood crowd today!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:50 AM azh Says:

Rebbetzin S schenirer knew exactly what she was getting into. These teachers had contracts.
Anyone who volunteers the teacher's chessed is a 'tzaddik oif yenem's cheshbon'.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:49 AM Anonymous Says:

I think #26 is as anti-kollel as anyone and was looking for exactly your reaction.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:52 AM Anonymous Says:

Yeah, but if you think of it that way there is not as much fun to be had knocking the teachers.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:52 AM Loshon Hora Says:

Does anyone know this administrator?
Are they aware that him, his spouse & children sit up through the nights working for the mosdos, from their kitchen table?
Do you know how many parents [especially of dysfunctional homes & marriages] have paid nothing for years?
Do you know how they have given their lives litterally to the mosdos, that disgruntful parents cross the road when they see him?
Have any of you parents ever thought of showing some hakoras hatov, some respect, decentcy to someoone who has put himself out years to run a mosod of such magnitude sole handed & hearted?
You may not hold of his method, but have you dipped a finger in cold water for the mosod other than loshon Hora?
How about instead of a strike, making a dinner on behalf of the mosod & presenting him with a hakoras Hatov award? wouldn't that feel & work better?
Obviously it is much easier to critisize from an armchair than to praise on a platform.
Of course no to minds think alike, and differences will occur, but come on so much critisism, for such good service & no praise?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:53 AM Anonymous Says:

a fund raiser isnt free even if things are dontaed , plenty are not . Bottom line teachers should get paid before blowing money on a chinesse auction.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:02 AM Anonymous Says:

And that is why I have to pay way more than I can afford, in order for my daughter to sit at home?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:01 AM glatekup Says:

I don't think anyone does not have hakoras hatov to rabbi m. But it is time to move on.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:59 AM SICK & TIRED Says:

Don't be fooled.................It's a fundraising gimmick they are trying to pull, let them get their heads out of their a$$e$ and they will be fine. Just a little while ago they fired the BEST damn fundraiser in the industry and said thanks for all your contacts NOW GO TO HELL!!!!! So when word got out most of the "contacts" returned the favor and told them where to go! Don't get me wrong Lakewood may be a wonderful place but when you crowd too many egos in one room and each one thinks he is better than god then you end up with results like this. Stop worrying about the damn barcodes and freezers and start worrying about more importantissues, and most important don't ever slap the hand that feeds you it will always come back to slap you in the a$$.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:58 AM Anonymous Says:

My daughter is in a Bais Yaakov (not in Lakewood) staffed by many such noshim tzidkoni'os who commute for over an hour (in car pools) to work for pitifully small compensation and do it with such simcha and z'rizus I am convinced that they are one of the great zechusim of klal yisroel in this generation.

Had klal yisroel had such teachers in the first half of this century we would not have lost 1% of the children who went off the derech.

To malign them is mamash throwing stones at the mekor of kedushah bizman hazeh.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 10:55 AM Charlie Hall Says:

I thought that it was a chiyuv from the Torah to pay employees on time!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:09 AM Lyda Lyda Says:

I, too, was not accepted into Bais Faiga because I work. Looking at what is happening now, I can only thank Hashem that my child was placed into a school which is not being brought down by the Admin.
I highly doubt the people in charge learns more than I do, either. But hey, I work, and therefore my children are evil and deserving of shame.

Thankfully, my integrity would never allow me to act in such a vile and menuveldike manner. The culprit responsible for this will have a great deal to explain in shomayim for the bitul torah he brought upon the people of Lakewood today. But then again, seeing the glib manner with which these people (or person) has regarded roshei teshiva for decades, one can hardly assume he cares.

Shame on those responsible.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:06 AM GWB Says:

...and Sadam Hussein (l'havdil) did a great job providing electricity and crime protection in Iraq. You could do a thousand things right and still make one big mistake.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:06 AM this sounds odd Says:

I am puzzled by the decision to hold school in a mall. Is it a joke or does the school who has no money really intend to rent retail space to hold school when the actual building is not the problem? Of course, if there really is no school, lots of girls can head to the mall for something to do. Truancy officials love finding kids that age in malls. While there might be volunteers who want to organize learning for the girls, why would they use a mall?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:04 AM Anonymous Says:

Are you stupid or are yo one of the six year olds locked out of school r"l.

Money spent on a Chinese Auction comes back many times over.

If you are so concerned, call the school and donate your goods and services to bring down the cost of the auction and then go shlep all your friends to spend the money you were going to spend on chanukah gelts and parties at the Chinese Auction. And if you win a cash prize donate it back to the school.

Tell your kids you gave thier chanukah gelt to keep a makom torah open and to support the best people of our generation.

It wouldn't be such a bad chinuch for your kids (or for you, from what I read).

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:27 AM JustCurious Says:

This comment made me wonder
I, too, was not accepted into Bais Faiga because I work. Looking at what is happening now, I can only thank Hashem that my child was placed into a school which is not being brought down by the Admin.


Who do they accept? Kollel people? If so how do they get paid? I would think a regular school would want a mixture of both so the balie batim can pay and maybe a little more then their child costs so the kollel people can get a break on the tuition. So how is this institution running?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:47 AM Anonymous Says:

These people are facing a mental block caused by their extremist devotion to the Kolel ideology. They have lost the ability to reason. Give it up...they are a lost cause. They would rather destroy a yeshiva that listen to reason.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:45 AM Jacob Says:

"Meager salaries" How offensive! Where's the syate dishmaye?! Don't the teachers know that the "meager salaries" come from they same Hashem that they indoctrinate? What kind of message does this send the children? The hanhala should do as President Reagan did with the air traffic controllers strike in 1981. They should all be fired and their kids should be banished from all schools in shame. New yoirei shomayim teachers should be hired in their place. Shame on them.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:37 AM Anonymous Says:

If you really want to be realistic, then I'm afraid that stockbrokers, many banking jobs, computer technicians jobs, etc., etc., are also over. In fact, I read that many of them are back in Kolel.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:33 AM Anonymous Says:

These guys have different standards. They report to a higher authority.($$$$$$)

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:23 AM Anonymous Says:

Enough of this "oy oy" where is their dedication. All of this trouble stems from parents who won't get at job so they can pay for their daughters' school tuition and assume that some other hard working parents will pick up the tab for them. The parents of these girls--both fathers and mothers--should go out, get a job even it means washing dishes or scrubbing floors-- so that they can pay the tuition and the school can pay the teachers a living wage. To sit in the bes medrash learning while oblivious to the suffering your selfish behavior is causing for others is the ultimate chilul hashem. Once and for all, let us take responsibility for our own families and supporting our own yehsivot and stop the schneuring from others. The holy men and women who work in these schools deserve our support.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:23 AM brooke Says:

wow this is excellent chinuch for the girls! my niece came home saying that she has no school because the teachers are fighting. why can't the teachers act like adults and resolve the issue without getting the children involved?????

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:24 AM Joel Says:

Please leave these Roshei Yeshivos out of this garbage.
This a perfect example of what Lakewood is all about, KUVID!! A buch of fonies! All you hear them say is the Chasidim......
Let them eat their own......

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:19 AM BoroParkTeacher Says:

As a Teacher in Heimishe Mosad, We are also not getting paid, it is now exactly 6 months, How long will it take you think that we too will go out in a strike, its not the only school its now almost every other school in boro park and Monsey, some schools will close down very soon, there is no solution as I have heard, administrators will squeeze out teachers with Low/No Pay as much as they can, eventually they will leave with no place to go but better not to work then get paid nothing. The consequences is horrible for the teachers and students, can you imagine hundreds or thousands of girls on the street with no school? and very soon after that the situation will spill over to the Cheders and Yeshivas HASHEM YAZOR

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:27 AM Anonymous Says:

PEOPLE WAKE UP GET JOBS, START COMPANIES, MAKE KESSEF, ITS NOT A INYAN TO SIT IN KOLEL ALL DAY. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN, WAKE UP 5:30AM (LIKE I DO) LEARN A DAF AND WHEN YOU COME HOME YOU CAN LEARN. THIS KOLEL IS NOT FOR EVERYONE THEY SHOULD HAVE A MINYAN OF KOLLEL PEOPLE AND THATS ALL. WHEN I GOT MARRIED MY WIFE WANTED ME TO GOTO KOLLEL, LIKE SHE WAS TAUGHT IN BAIS YAAKOV. I PROTESTED THAT ITS NOT THE RIGHT WAY. TODAY MY WIFES IS SO GRATFUL I WAS STUBORN, B"H MY WIFE BUYS A NEW SHAITEL EVERY YEAR, (LOL) AND WE HAVE ALL BESHEFA. AND BTW I WAS AND I AM KOLEL MATERIAL.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:17 AM Anonymous Says:

I WILL NEVER GIVE THEM A CENT WITH THIER HOLIER THEN THOU ADDITUDE.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:17 AM Anonymous Says:

How do you know they work out of there dining room table?

Are you there when they do it? You must be one his crony’s.

Yes he has worked tirelessly to make sure the mosed runs, but not leshem shomayim, he has gotten a salary for that, and the fact is that he was offered 1 million dollars to leave, you know what his response was? I want 2 million and I will go.

And what right does he have treating people the way he was? He went against the rosh hayishvahs when it came to the school situation. One of the askonim said, the mashgiach said once, “what can I do if he does not listen, I asked him to do things and he just does what he feels like”

So take that and shove it, You idiot.

He does not want working people in his school, but how does he expect to pay for all the bills?

He only wants learning people; well guess what, there are working people that learn more than he does.

Oh one last thing, NO I am NOT a parent that got refused from this school, I don’t even have girls.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:15 AM Anonymous Says:

chas vsholom how can you say that

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:13 AM Anonymous Says:

The Rabbis have no issues in letting the girls go wild because of school closing and they certainly have no issues in allowing child molesters and enablers to move into town and even are mechabed them . What a backwards town .

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:02 AM learner Says:

It didnt require much proof. The current situation proves the failure of the Kolel system as it exists today. It needs revamping, only qualified men able to pass regularly scheduled exams that meet high standards be allowed to participate. All others GO HOME.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:55 AM Anonymous Says:

how did they plan to pay for the mosdos when they only accepted kollel yungerlet with no saleries??

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:53 AM Dovid Berkowitz Says:

Everyone is required to pay a minimum tuition. I pay tuition for my daughters to attend, please keep these outrageous and unsubstantiated comments to yourself.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:53 AM Anonymous Says:

Another one ready willing and able to be moser nefesh auf yenem's cheshbon.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:51 AM Anonymous Says:

if it is true that the administrator is driving a lexus, that is something that has to be addressed. When his salary is being collected thru donations and the teachers are not getting paid, he should be driving a simple, less expensive car. If his needs are to be driving a luxury car, then he has to be in another line of work.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:59 AM Anonymous Says:

In the last great financial meltdown klal yisroel was tested on shemiras shabbos and b"h many of us can point to parents and grandparents who passed the test even when it meant missing meals and stooping to the lowest jobs to put one meal a day in thier children's mouth.

Perhaps this is the test of our times. A time we can show how much we value torah & chinuch.

some people here better hope that is not the case because they are proudly failing the test.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 11:49 AM Anonymous Says:

Of course its a joke. where is your sense of humor?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:01 PM Anonymous Says:

And let me take a wild guess.

You just happen to know the criteria to be used in deciding who is worth supporting and who isn't.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:11 PM Anonymous Says:

Please watch your language!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:26 PM Anonymous Says:

Barcodes and freezers???

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:25 PM REB NOACH Says:

YOU MAY ALL COME TO CROWN HEIGHTS AND SEND YOUR KIDS TO A GOOD SCHOOL THAT HAS BEEN PAYING VERY NICE SALARIES ON TIME FOR YEARS!!!!!!! The school has over 2000 kinderlach that learn and there parents dont sit in a kolel all day smoking and talking bad about others........ 6 days a week we toil and then shabbos comes... Shaises Yamim Taavod ....

Go Bais Rivkah!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:22 PM mkarpas Says:

Kollelman

It seems that you did not learn much jewish history in your years in cheder,
yeshiva and kollel

Sarah Schneirer Zatsal was not a true Rebbitzin

She was a spinster (never married) and
did not have to work to support her kollelman prince and her
many children,

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:22 PM Joseph Says:

Good. Let both Bais Faiga and the Cheder suffer.

They wanted to be the most "exclusive" school in Lakewood and give an extremely hard time to people to get their kids in (I'm not talking about Brooklyn people who moved here a few years ago, I'm talking about sincere, ehrliche, Lakewood baale batim who've been here for quite a while). Well, let their "cream of the crop" take care of them NOW.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:21 PM Anonymous Says:

Lakewood Bais Din led by Rabbi Forcheimer does not exist Rabbi Forcheimer is a highly respected "top lefel" Rabbi but has nothing to do with Bais Din issues

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:17 PM Anonymous Says:

Yes - failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:40 PM A Says:

Oops, I should have read further before commenting (earlier). Thanks for the clarification, mkarpas.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:56 PM Anonymous Says:

wrong shneirer was actually a divorcee (her husband felt she was to tough for a proper jewish woman)

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:54 PM Anonymous Says:

I guess most of the people writing have no experience in administration.As one who does ,in the yeshiva world, let me say that i can't understand how bais faiga remained open till now hwen less than 47% percent pay tuition there is bound to be a shortfall maybe it's time for the lakewood community to start putting pressure on individuals who maybe are not learning the way they should

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:52 PM YENTA PESHA Says:

MAYBE THEY WILL GET PAID FOR STRIKING!!!MAYBE THEY WILL STRIKE A GOLD MINE!!!!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:48 PM Anonymous Says:

the teachers have tolerated the situation for far too long they are brilliant enough to enter any profession they want but they decided to go into chinuch for relatively meager salaries with no benefit a toll collector makes far more with no agmas nefesh plus benefits and retirement and job security it is agreat messirus nefesh to teach espescially with all the gashmius we are surronded with

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:39 PM Observer Says:

Your comment is so idiotic, it's incomprehensible. Your concept of being a Ma'amin is woefully confused with being a chasid Shoteh. Please, find a competent Rav and ask some Hashkafa questions before you go through life at a complete loss.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:38 PM kollel@risk Says:

WELL WELL, MAYBE SITTING & SUPPORT BY SHVER IS ABOUT TO END. WHAT HASHGACHA, TEACHERS TO SUPPORT HUSBANDS WHO SUPPORT BABYSITTERS WHO SUPPORT THE SYSTEM.
THE SYSTEM STINKS STINKS & WHEN IT STINKS IT STINKS FROM THE TOP. EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET PAID. LIFE IS VERY VERY EXPENSIVE, IT IS TIME TO ABOLISH KOLLE. GET A JOB GO TO WORK. DO WHAT THE PREVIOUS GENERATION DID. WORK GO TO A SHIUR, LIFE THE LIFE OF TORAH ALL DAY. BE EHRLICH, COMPROMISE ON LUXURIES.
WE HAVE BEEN LIVING ON TOO HIGH STANDARD. THERE SHOULD BE NO LUXURY CARS, NO FANCY HOMES. MOTHERS SHOULD BRING UP THE CHILDREN NO GOYTES. JUST GO BACK TO SIMPLE LIFE. TEACHERS WILL BE PAID ,THE HANHALA SHOULD MEET & EXPEL ANY STUDENT WHOSE PARENTS DRIVE A MERCEDES, ETC

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:35 PM Anonymous Says:

What on earth is a 'top lefel rabbi'???

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:33 PM Anonymous Says:

What a nice backhanded way to be motzi la'az on the entire Lakewood kollel!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:33 PM Anonymous Says:

she never had any!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:30 PM Linguist Says:

#52 (Loshon Hora): "Disgruntful" is one of the best words I've heard in a while; thanks for a good laugh on a rough day.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:29 PM Loshon Hora Says:

I am not one of his cronys, I am unfortunatly childless,Yes I have seen his kitchen table.
As for the million did you see the contract, & the cash to back it? You know the answer to that.
As for listening to the Roshei Yeshiva & mashgiach, for one how do you know if he listens or not?
For two he knows a lot more about the moisod & ho wto run it successfully for so many years than they will ever know, ask they will all agree.
From my knowledge one of R' Malkiel's drivers asked him about the situation,his answer was I am not involved, and don't want to get involved.
There is a lot of Loshon Hora & motzei shem ra on the streets, & a great lack of menschlichkeit, and hakoras hatov out there.
Do I like all of M's way? no, but one thing I do know, I could never of done half as good as him,and all the rabonim & roshei Yeshiva feel the same, even if they don't say it.
As a total outsider being childless, and watching, I agree he has made mistakes, and is far from perfect, he will continue to make mistakes, but no one will do better.
Don't aggrevate & antagonize, show hakoras hatov, & then if you feel, it is time for a replacement, don't fight & pull the rug out from under his feet, thank him deal with him, & part nicely.
Make a dinner award him, & place a thank you plaque in all buildings for him, and compensate him as he deserves.
If you just want to put another person in, because of his anncesstory, & for that you kill & damn someone else, who has given his & his family's lives away for the Mosod then think twice.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 12:28 PM Anonymous Says:

#56 watch you language please.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:36 PM Bais Faiga parent Says:

well put you are s/o that knows that this is not as simple as teachers not getting paid

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:27 PM Anonymous Says:

How many of the husbands of these teachers are learning in kollel? Where is their bread and butter supposed to come from, aside from them being able to pay their bills?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:21 PM Anonymous Says:

i love all the hate lakewood guys and gals popping out of the woodwork this has nothing to do with kollel

75% of parents are paying a few thausand a year ,its the administrater who is diverting the monney to the boys school for years

bais faiga on its awn is a very profitable enterprise because the the teachers salary are pennies

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:18 PM aaron kotler Says:

Rabosai, enough!!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:44 PM Anonymous Says:

Just a thought...maybe the parents should get a job and start paying tuition?

I know thats just crazy talk.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:41 PM Anonymous Says:

hishtadlus and yiraas shamayim are required by so is the sechar of the eved and in this ase it is an eved ivri as well. Teachers strike as a last resort and only with the approval of daas hatorah while so many comment without any daas at all! why would someone else want a job at a low salary, not on time and constantly needs hours of unpaid labor at home! it is only with mesirat nefesh that teachers work in the first second and third place! I know because I am teaching 28 years and I love every labor intensive minute of it but if I did not get paid I WOULD STAY HOME!!!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:39 PM Anonymous Says:

No one has the right to accuse teachers of not being “lesheim shomayim” because they expect a salary. For the most part, every teacher went to work to support her husband so that he can sit in kollel and learn without earning any income. If we wish to trace this back to the roots, the problem does not lie with the economy, but with the lifestyle that deserves to be re-evaluated that every bochur needs to be a “learning boy” that should be supported through financially unproductive years of kollel. Furthermore, none of these bochurim should receive any guidance towards a career, as anyone should be able to consider himself “klai kodesh” – a future rosh yeshiva, magid shuir, posek, etc.

If one creates a community founded on such a system, the only support for school can be fundraising – which will certainly be impacted by the economy and other market conditions. With all of our wonderful ideas about Torah, a community needs to also establish itself with sustenance. The same mishna states openly – “Im ein kemach-ain Torah, and Im ein Torah ein kemach.” Both are pillars of our existence. It would be as criminal to eliminate our Zevuluns just to have more Yissochors. We finally have a few leaders that understand this. Our system needs to be revamped, and we need direction from gedolim to accomplish this.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:07 PM JUST MY 2 CENTS Says:

The only way this is going to end is for the state to put a freeze on all the schools assets including all the real estate they own. ,along with the admins assets.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:02 PM Anonymous Says:

The world stands on three things:
Torah - the husband sits in Kollel,
Avodah - the wife works and raises the kinderleich,
Gmilus Chassadim - the parents support them.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:02 PM Anonymous Says:

Can anyone explain the logic of diverting funds from the girls division to the boys if t is indeed under the same admin? something smell unkosher . We should bring in a 3rd party auditor right away before its too late .

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:59 PM Anonymous Says:

I'm sorry that you did not get your child into the school, but there is a very large percentage of working parents in the school, including myself.
In all the years, I was never made to feel like a second class citizen because I work, neither in the school system or in the greater Lakewood community.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:52 PM Fotheringay-Phipps Says:

You guys are all misunderstanding the story.

There have been issues between the overall administrator for the entire Cheder/Bais Faiga system and the principal of the BF for years and years. Without going into the details of exactly what the issues are (some of which I am not familiar with) as a practical matter the crux of the issue is the extent to which the principal takes direction from this administrator. Technically he is her boss, but while he is universally considered a supremely capable administrator, he is not - to my knowledge - a professional educator, and in addition, she has been principal of BF for longer than he's been there. This situation has been simmering for years and years, with occasional flare-ups.

What happened now is that the LCS/BF as a whole are extremely tight on cash. Most notably due to the fact that the Admin has kept the place afloat to a large degree by getting huge loans from local multimillionaires. In light of the current downturn, this has dried up, and in addition, several stressed multimillionaires have been demanding repayment of outstanding loans.

This has all put a lot of pressure on the Admin, and at this point, he decided his priorities were with the Cheder and not BF. IOW, his position seems to be that he is killing himself already to keep the place afloat, and he is not going to kill himself even more to float a place that doesn't effectively recognize his authority.

The above could all be a bit off, and there is of course a lot of detail that I'm missing and/or am not familiar with, but that's the gist of it.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:51 PM Anonymous Says:

Sad, but true. We have been shooting ourselves in the foot for years.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:48 PM point to ponder Says:

This School has a huge wedding hall . Weddings are there practically every night . Where is all this money going to?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 01:45 PM Anonymous Says:

Sara Schenirer was married and was nable to have biological children. We, however are all her children since without the chinuch she gave women like my mother ( a holocaust survivor) would have no Jewish Education and there would not have been futuredoros

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:12 PM Anonymous Says:

Just a thought - Maybe people who have nothing at stake in this crises should keep thier opinions to themselves instead of enjoying yenem's tzoros and drooling at the sight of things going bad for Lakewood and all Kollelim?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:09 PM Anonymous Says:

Yes, on paper the whole system doesn't work but then again it never did work on paper. As a 'numbers person' (yes, I work) I know that none of this works al pi derech hatevah so I am not ready to believe it will fall apart. Obviously whatever has been holding it together is not visible anyway so there is no reason to think it will stop holding it together now. It didn't make sense in a good economy either but somehow it worked.

I se that if the system does survive there are going to be many disappointed VIN readers.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:20 PM FFB Says:

I don't think diverting money from one institution to another shows that the system is working. clearly the system is broken and throwing good money after bad is not a great idea. If people are encouraged not to go out and work, how is it their fault when these things happen. The community needs to figure out its priorities going forward. Torah should always be at the forefront but full time learning should not be at the expense of the children eating and should not be on other people's backs.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:27 PM Back 2 Business?? Says:

If someone works, their children are not admitted to the school?? Isn't that discrimination? Besides being bad business sense, is that even allowed in these United States? e.g., discrimination??
It sounds like to me the SYSTEM is broken and must be fixed. But we all have short memories. Once this financial mess (recession) is over, hopefully, IY"H soon, won't it be back to business as usual???
U.S. automakers are being asked by Congress to come up with a VIABLE plan for the future. Shouldn't we as well come up with a VIABLE plan???.......

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:47 PM Anonymous Says:

just enroll them in public school.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:37 PM Anonymous Says:

of course its a joke....look at the age group - you cant keep the girls home so they go shopping!!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:37 PM Anonymous Says:

for those of u looking for an eitzah a new frum part online and part in class buisness school opened in lakewood togather with rutgers. in 8 months of just night seder u can have a buisness certificate from rutgers with an option for internship in big corps. I think the school is called BARRINGTON its advertided in lakewood

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:32 PM Anonymous Says:

Go sit and learn, Big Masmid!
Stop worrying so much about Chilul Hashem!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:02 PM Anonymous Says:

Its a pleasure and at times a great laugh to read all these mouth-breathing meat-heads commenting about a subject that they have no knowledge.
As an insider I can tell you that this is NOT a financial issue - tuition is being paid as usual. The Cheder staff is being paid. Bais Faiga staff is NOT being paid. The executive director is trying to rile up the staff against his nemesis the principal, so he's not paying them hoping that there will be a backlash against her.
Roshei Yeshiva and askanim are throwing up their hands in dismay as they fail to implement a new vaad hachinuch acceptable to both sides.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 02:27 PM binderdundat Says:

The kollels are not the problem; they are the end result of a problem that has spread thru our yeshivas and girls high schools for the past 20 years or so. The boys get a minimal secular education, but are taught that college is assur (Touro, anyone?), and they are all G-ds gift to women. They then head off to Israel where the "Rosh Yeshiva" continues the brain washing by telling them if they should demand 5 years, 10 years, etc of support. The girls, on the other hand, from the day they set foot in high school, are taught that they MUST marry kollel boys, and they will go straight to gan eden. The girls come home and since every friend is marrying a learning boy, they must also. Otherwise, they will be embarrassed. So parents have to kill themselves for some two bit freeloader (yes, I know there are some sincere boys), who sleeps til 10, and surfs the internet all day. It is here where the rabbonim and mashgichim im the kollels are to blame, They know who the bums are, but better to have them do nothing in lakewood than go out into the real world, work, and realize that "our" gedolim are not very good leaders. As long as they can have dinners every other night and have people line up to kiss their butts. You reap what you sow. This was inevitable.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 04:04 PM Anonymous Says:

As an old-time Lakewood resident, who sent all my children to the Cheder and to Bais Faiga,(they are grown now),it saddens me to no end to see what is happening. Both the administrator and the principal were very capable people who ran a great school. To see them being against each other and sending the wrong message to the students as far as chinuch is concerned, is such a waste. Just recently, people were trying to get into Bais Faiga as it was such a well run school(those people who say they don't take working people are just a bunch of baloney). I only hope the school itself doesn't suffer. When these two capable people worked together, it was beautiful. How sad.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:58 PM Question Says:

And will the parents get a refund for the days their kids are NOT in scholl not due to their choice? I am sure the answer is no so the scholl is takeh ganovim in this case and with the case of not paying workers.


Workers MUST be paid for their services and work and anyone who is moichel on this is a big fool. Parents are paying on avergae 4,000 per kid in tuition. 1800 X 4000.00 is 720.000 and then add the melaveh malkehs and other ways that the school raises it's funds. (add the governement subsidies)

Nobody is claiming that schools are raking it in but I challenge the school to open their book sto the parents. If the school refuses to open it's books to the parents then they are not trust worthy. This was also said by a godol this morning but the conversation was off the record so we can't mention the name.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 04:01 PM Anonymous Says:

it is very sad that so many peaple think about lakewood like this. these are the peaple who probely are working because they couln't keep up then went to work and today are just so plain right out jealous of those who are learning that it causes them to write such sicking things obout peaple who learn.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:53 PM Anonymous Says:

I want to address some of the various comments that support and codemn Rabbi M. the administartor.
1. He took over running ths school almost 20 years ago and ran it as best as he could, but when one has no one to answer to or no one who is his boss the adminstrator after a while even with the best intentions becomes a dictator. The old adage that power corrupts and abolute power corrupts absolutely is applicable in this case.
2.An admistrator who defies Daas Torah and only consults with himself is bound to fail as he makes mockery of our Rosh Hayeshivas who are our gedolim and are the ones who built Lakewood into the citadel of Torah that it is today.
3.On the issue of diversion of funds and Rabbi M's Lexus. That can be addressed by an independent audit that can ascertain where the funds came from and where they went. These are community schools that should be opened to publ;ic scrutinity.
4.If you check with the NJ US Attorney website you will see that the administrator agreed to repay over 1 million dollars to settle fraud charges. This money is coming from the school not his pocket so there is a shortage for salaries, which is not being disclosed.
5.According to my fellow parents it is known that the administrator is involved in personal very expensive court litigation because he ignored the Psak of Bais Din and the rulings of leading Rosh Hayesivas. That money has to come from somewhere. We as tuition paying parents have a right to know that our tuition money is going for the intended purpose and not being siphoned off for private Machlokes.
Finally if the powers to be no longer want you one should honorably step aside and give someone else a chance to run the schools that is not so controversial.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:48 PM Anonymous Says:

dear kollelman,
i guess the dedicated teachers that have had such wonderful chinuch from the bais yaakov schools & have been encouraged to support their kollel husbands as yourself cannot do this
because they are not being paid. also
why are you using your precious kollel
time to be on the internet that is forbidden by all gedolim.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:45 PM Anonymous Says:

As a Bais Faiga parent I have not paid my Bais Faiga tuition for the last few months. The money is in escrow and I will release it when the big M is ready to pay the teachers. If all Bais Faiga parents did that the crisis will be solved much quicker.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:42 PM shteig Says:

Gemera Kiddushin 30 father must teach a son a professional skill.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:40 PM Anonymous Says:

In reponse to #59 there are many parents whos daughters go to Bais Faiga who work. There are other reasons why a child is rejected. The home has to be toahdic home one can work and still be a ben torah from the tone of your letter I think working was the least of the problems.

I do not live i Lakewood so I have no children in the schools but I do know something of what is going on. There is a power play between the board & admin on one side and some other person(s) who would like to be in control. Nobody is saying that the current administrator is perfect (far from that) but the board, parent body and most of the teaches DO NOT WANT these person(s) taking over. The Cheder is run by the same admin & board and the teachers there are getting paid so why is Bais Faiga different there is only one reason these person(s) want to be in control and the teachers & the students have become the pawns.
If this is not straightened out soon this could be the end of the school and there will be blood on these people(s) hand they are ruining these fine girls for ever. What will these children think that because of kovod they are willing to sacrifise holy yiddisher neshomos. Let us settle before is to late.
For all those big talkers who say that the teachers should work for nothing Do you work for nothing? Remember a lot of these teachers thier husbands are Rabbeim and they need this income to put bread on the table (I did not say butter) all those responsible think of what you are doing people are ging hungry they can not pay thier bills do not say you mean kovod shomaim that is an outright lie you mean Kovod but not for shomaim.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:33 PM a yid Says:

If the strike isn't over in 2 days all the parents should not pay tuition. no tike no washy

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:28 PM moshe kapoyer Says:

#129 you hit the nail on the head

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:16 PM Anonymous Says:

Just for the information of #59 there are quite a few members of the parent body in Bais Faiga who work. I can only imagine that your child was rejected for some other reason and from the tone of your letter I can well imagine that they had good reason.
I am not a parent of any child in Bais Faiga in fact I do not live in Lakewood but I quite familiar what is going on. Let us be quite realistic the same board & admin is in charge of the cheder and there the Rebbe's are getting paid so there is much more than meets the eye. There is a power play here "MI BEROSH" who is the head of this mossad who is in charge. For years the school has been runnning very well. Now there are people who want to wrest control from the admistrator (I am not saying that he is perfect and he has to learn to work with people) but the parent body and the current board do no want the person(s) who would like to be in control. These person(s) will have a lot to answer for. Girls not going to school the loshon hora etc that this has caused.
That is why the teaches are not getting paid and the school has this problem. If it is not taken care of this could be the end of the school and the blood will be on the hands of these few people. Also, I understand that within the teachers themselfs there is no achdus they have to spaeak with one voice. Let us hope & pray that matter will be solved soon bezras hashem.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:25 PM Anonymous Says:

I wonder what would happen if parents say enough is enough and actually start sending their kids to public school....it's free...the kids will be in school getting a good education.....go to college.....get a good job.....become drs and lawyers.....who knows maybe one of them will become the president of the USA......yeah, I think that sending the kids to public school will solve all the problems...

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:24 PM Anonymous Says:

hi there im am employe at Bais Faiga i can honstley say that the account are running on neg the past 8-10 months

 Dec 09, 2008 at 04:12 PM Anonymous Says:

I dont unserstand how the Raboim can let the school get away with it.........

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:19 PM Anonymous Says:

There are many parents who have children in Bais Faiga who work. So, maybe there is some other reason your daughter was not accepted and from the tone of your letter there seems to be good reason, working was the least of them.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:18 PM Anonymous Says:

Is this some kind of joke? BR teachers went on strike when my sister was in the school.

The teachers there are not paid on time either (In fact Bnos Menachem has a better track record than BR and are arguably attracting the better teachers because of that).

As a Lubavitcher I find it despicable that you are kicking a brother (the Lakewood community) when they are down. Why don't you write a check instead to help ease the situation?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:14 PM Anonymous Says:

Did any of you ever hear of Rebbe Yochanan Ben Zakai.
He lived for 120 years.
He spent the first 40 as a businessman.
The second forty learning
The last forty teaching.
Note during the forty years of learning ,he mooched off of nobody.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:13 PM 100% kollel population is unprecedented Says:

Shmiras Shabbos is a midaryssa.

Having most of the population sit (and hopefully learn) in kollel is a system that was invented post WWII and was for the most part frowned upon prior to that time.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:09 PM Anonymous Says:

Not true. She was married to a Rabbi Landau....

That is all I know

Anyone know more who was this Rabbi Landau and what happened to him?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 03:07 PM Anonymous Says:

I guess if the parents don't have money the world doesn't run?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 04:23 PM whatever Says:

This seems to be a never ending battle in Lakewood these days. Girls not attending school during the SCHOOL YEAR.
If what this article is stating is indeed fact, then SHAME on the school administration heads!
How do you run a professional practice, and be so irresponsible, by not paying the teachers on time, every time the pay check is due.
I wonder how the school would react if none of the student's parents paid tuition.
Would they allow that child in the school? No.
If money is so important to these people, than practice what you preach and pay your teachers their proper amounts, ON TIME. Delaying a paycheck by just ONE day, is in itself extremely irresponsible.
Unless they lost all their money for buying houses they couldn't afford and the bail out didn't cut it. Awe poor things (*sarcasm*).

 Dec 09, 2008 at 04:20 PM Anonymous Says:

in your wildest dreams . The average tution in Bais Faiga is much less than $4,000. taking into consideration many rachmonus cases that pay nothing and the vast majority that pays minimum in the low 3,000 s or less

 Dec 09, 2008 at 04:24 PM Anonymous Says:

#82 - Are you seriously endorsing to starve your kids in order to sit in Kollel? That is cruel!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 04:19 PM A Says:

Well....when they come knocking at my door, calling me on the phone at all times of the day and night, sending me letter after letter for years begging for money, yes, then it's my issue as well and I can jump in and criticize all I want.

You know what, even if the above weren't an unfortunate truth I'd be allowed to voice an opinion. I have no doubt that you voice opinions on many matters you have no stake in.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:01 PM tooperfect Says:

i'm with #25. i think it's time we redo the whole system, because it cant function much longer this way.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 04:49 PM Anonymous Says:

he doesnt drive a lexus . that was in the example. read first and then comment

 Dec 09, 2008 at 04:43 PM Anonymous Says:

Exactly. And we are being tested on the same inyan again. Sehishes Ymim Taavod.

Sorry but I am having a hard time feeling bad for the Bais Faiga with their anti working people attitude for the past 10 years. They burned their bridges with the very people that could (possibly) bail them out today.

A lesson for the future that all yiddishe kinderlach deserve a torah education.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 04:38 PM Anonymous Says:

Oh, I don't know. Perhaps if teachers got paid the same way as rabeiim, and if they were treated with the same level of respect, that would be something different, but teachers are not treated the same, and if you did a job and did not get paid, wouldn't you be annoyed?
I can just imagine "learning" in kollel and not getting paid for 6 months, how thrilled would you be???

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:42 PM Anonymous Says:

This business on Bais Faiga not taking working people is utter nonsense . There are many hundreds of working people in the parent body .anytime somebodi is rejected he blasmes it on his being a working person . There is a lack of space and I know many Kollel leit that were also not accepted for lack of space

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:38 PM Anonymous Says:

actually $7.2 million. But, I doubt he gets $4000 average per student. I mean that is what BT charges!!!!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:38 PM T S Says:

1. An employee must get paid. Period. No one has the right to expect anyone who works to do so one day past not getting paid (The torah explicitely (just like the prohibition of Pork) forbids an employer to delay wages). Regardless of occupation.

2. The root of this matter (its confusion and unknowns) has little to do with Lakewod per se. A charity-taking Mossad must have open books and unbiased decision makers. (Excusing the lack of transparency for the good of the mossad is blatantly hollow. In addition to that there's no heter to break dina dimalchusa, once hidden and in the exclusive control of few, shochad Yi-Aver even Einei CHACHOMIM). Finance should be open and controlled by non-school-emplyee, unbiased, multi-leveled checkpoints, as done in any honest business with multiple partners. There should be no secrets. Every employee's salary and every expense should be open. Why not?
If it is a truly private company then don't plead tzedaka and poverty and community service, divine role = chinuch, etc.

3. Maybe the girl's school was allowed to bear the brunt of shortfall because certain decision makers feel bittul torah of boys is worse than schooling of girls.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:20 PM Anonymous Says:

That has been removed from the Lakewood Shaas>

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:19 PM Jealous?? Says:

Jealous about people who learn?? Uhhhhhhhh.... I think not. I for one wouldn't have the zits fleish...... I believe people in EY and USA who learn "al cheshbon acheirim" are ganavim..... If there are willing participants a la Yissachar and Zevulun it's a different story..... but that's not always the case ....

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:16 PM Fotheringay-Phipps Says:

The idea that this admin is making big bucks off the school is highly dubious. This is a school that does not have a solid source of support. Tuition is relatively low, based on the parent body income.

It's not out of the realm of possibility that there could be shenanigans going on, like anyplace else, but there's absolutely no reason to suspect this, based on all external indicators.

This administrator appears to be strongly supported by the rebbeim in LCS as well as additional staff that I spoke to. The teachers in BF are adamently opposed to him - they are pawns in the power struggle over control of BF.

On the whole, both LCS & BF are very well run, from an educational perspective. The principal of BF who is challenging this administrator is an excellent principal and a very fine woman and she is doing a very good job of running BF.

One underlying issue structural here - as I see it - is a lack of clearly defined roles, which leads to people deciding for themselves how much authority they should have.

Re gedolim, there are all sorts of people involved, some of whose positions are not completely clear, and some whose positions are alleged to have changed.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:13 PM Anonymous Says:

This ideology is exactly the cause of the situation we face now.Back to work....NOW!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:11 PM Rodney King Says:

I'm laughing at al these people who know it all... The bottom line is, there is a big power struggle going on...and your anti kollel comments or any other angry comments that you are harbouring should be kept to yourselves and not aired in public.
For the real scoop..Connecticut, North Jersey , Upstate N.Y. and Boro Park are all being pressed into the scene, some more reluctant than others. Heard that Pennsylvania doesn't want to go at this alone. (No disrespect meant by using locale names)

Until then.. can't we all get along?

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:11 PM Anonymous Says:

$4,000 sounds unbelievably cheap for tuition, and some have said it is 3,000. In Far Rockaway, full tuition in the local schools is 12,000+.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:46 PM Anonymous Says:

As a parent I don't know where you get the idea that we are behind the administrator

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:52 PM Anonymous Says:

Boruch Mannes drives a late model silver Honda Accord.Not much better than the typical Lakewood yungerman on government programs

 Dec 09, 2008 at 06:27 PM Anonymous Says:

If he is only an administrator can't he be fired?He is only an employee and he would be required to report to a board.Unless he was given/taken complete control, in which case the school is reaping the rewards of what they've sown,anarchy.One man was given complete control of a community organization and the board have disappeared.I wouldn't want any of my kids receiving an education under such auspices.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 06:21 PM Anonymous Says:

The BF staff - minus a few teachers are pretty solidly behind the principal.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 06:15 PM Anonymous Says:

If this is true then kudos to the teachers - their strike is causing this eminent powow - that NEVER would have happened had they not gone on strike.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 06:11 PM Anonymous Says:

Naturally. Mannes and his cronies made a gelechter out of Pennsylvania yesterday. Create a REAL VAAD HACHINUCH that Mannes can not ignore or throw out and we'll be in business. Don't claim to have put together an impartial vaad when they're all Mannes yes-men.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 06:04 PM Anonymous Says:

BM is very smart - of course the Cheder staff is behind him - he pays them better, on time and gives them healthy bonuses before Pesach. All of which he does NOT do for BF. Any question left as to why in the Cheder they love him unlike in BF. Wake up!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 05:59 PM Anonymous Says:

Reb Malkiel was burnt one time too many on this issue. Ask Reb Dovid Shustals driver why he torpedoed the Mashgiachs attempt to resolve this issue. I would love to hear him say I have nothing to do with it. Its not for nothing that no one wants the Yeshiva involved.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 06:33 PM Anonymous Says:

Breaking news!!! No school on Wednesday!!!

 Dec 09, 2008 at 06:31 PM Long Island Mother Says:

All the years I was growing up, my parents were unable to pay full tuition. My mother volunteered in the school office two days a week (when she wasn't working her regular job) and my father ran fundraiser, after fundraiser to help my yeshiva make money.
I was taught that first you pay your mortgage, then you pay your tuition AND THEN you spend the rest. Some years it was really a struggle, but my husband and I always paid our tuition because we always understood that Rabbeim & Morot have to eat too.

Now I am constantly getting people coming to my door begging for money to keep their yeshivas running. I work, my husband works and we refuse to support any yeshiva that does not pay its teachers, pay them well and pay them on time.

My daughter is married to a young man learning in Kollel, going on 6 years. We told our daughter, if that is what you want, then you better get an excellent education so you can support that lifestyle. B"H, while they live very simply and carefully, she makes a comfortable income working part-time because she has the education to command an excellent salary. Perhaps that should be the lesson here.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 06:30 PM Anonymous Says:

You have elucidated part of Mrs. Epsteins issues very succintly.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 06:28 PM Anonymous Says:

Unless you work in the business office, you would have no idea what you're talking about.

 Dec 09, 2008 at 06:27 PM Anonymous Says: