Tzemach Atlas interviews Karl Marx about nepotism
TA: Reb Karl, did you read our recent discussion about nepotism?
KM: Yes, with great interest. Could you please explain to me the economic differences between Modern Orthodox and Charedi communities?
TA: MOs are exposed to the world. Virtually all have advanced secular education and are fluent in technological advances of our society. In the Charedi world because of the ideological restrictions many are not prepared to enter the labor force of the information age.
KM: Now I understand why one of your readers mentioned �Lakewood where every Rosh is a Kotler family member�. Lakewood is at the epicenter of the movement that considers every activity outside of learning Torah a waste of human endeavor. It is natural for such a family to preach to the masses that they have to place themselves outside of the productive society. But why, Tzemach, other Charedi families look at Schools as a family business?
TA: I think this is a result of not having any alternative for the employment. For these families this is literally a matter of life. MO families have other options and you rarely see one family dominate an educational institution but for the Charedi families this is the only choice. I also believe many of them feel insecure about their ability to run sophisticated schools. They try to protect themselves by authoritarian intimidation. They hide the lack of managerial skills by claiming that they were appointed to the role by the Higher Authority.
KM: So why not get the masses involved, and elect boards (we call them soviets) that can help in managing the Scholls?
TA: I am not sure a soviet (board) is such a good idea. For example I have seen many MO institutions that are governed by the boards. The people who sit on these boards are often rich but unenlightened. I believe you call them petty-bourgeoisie. Many Rabbis are employed by these boards. They are afraid to rebuke their capitalist employers and certainly are not able to perform their functions for fear of dismissal. You might say that they have nothing to lose but their chains. Their working conditions are terrible.
KM: I think you have a capitalistic society that is allegedly based on self interest, correct? Then one can say that there is diffence between a board in a Synagogue and board in a School.
TA: Why?
KM: A Synagogue has mainly a ceremonial function so the congregants prefer not to be disciplined. A Scholl is just the opposite, most parents have an interest in their kids being disciplined. If the members of the school board have their own kids in a Scholl it would be logical to assume that their advice will be commensurate with their interest.
TA: So what do you recommend?
KM: I noticed that all MO and some Charedi Jews pay their taxes. The taxes are used for transportation, building, salaries, etc. in public schools. I don�t see how you can maintain a vital educational institution with such a meager financial base as the Jewish Schools. I also noticed that my communist brothers in ADL are working against the Jewish schools by opposing vouchers. I can predict total collapse of the Jewish school system in the near future. I can only hope that world communist revolution will put the end to this misery once and for all!
TA: Amen, Reb Karl! Thank you for your time.
KM: Yes, with great interest. Could you please explain to me the economic differences between Modern Orthodox and Charedi communities?
TA: MOs are exposed to the world. Virtually all have advanced secular education and are fluent in technological advances of our society. In the Charedi world because of the ideological restrictions many are not prepared to enter the labor force of the information age.
KM: Now I understand why one of your readers mentioned �Lakewood where every Rosh is a Kotler family member�. Lakewood is at the epicenter of the movement that considers every activity outside of learning Torah a waste of human endeavor. It is natural for such a family to preach to the masses that they have to place themselves outside of the productive society. But why, Tzemach, other Charedi families look at Schools as a family business?
TA: I think this is a result of not having any alternative for the employment. For these families this is literally a matter of life. MO families have other options and you rarely see one family dominate an educational institution but for the Charedi families this is the only choice. I also believe many of them feel insecure about their ability to run sophisticated schools. They try to protect themselves by authoritarian intimidation. They hide the lack of managerial skills by claiming that they were appointed to the role by the Higher Authority.
KM: So why not get the masses involved, and elect boards (we call them soviets) that can help in managing the Scholls?
TA: I am not sure a soviet (board) is such a good idea. For example I have seen many MO institutions that are governed by the boards. The people who sit on these boards are often rich but unenlightened. I believe you call them petty-bourgeoisie. Many Rabbis are employed by these boards. They are afraid to rebuke their capitalist employers and certainly are not able to perform their functions for fear of dismissal. You might say that they have nothing to lose but their chains. Their working conditions are terrible.
KM: I think you have a capitalistic society that is allegedly based on self interest, correct? Then one can say that there is diffence between a board in a Synagogue and board in a School.
TA: Why?
KM: A Synagogue has mainly a ceremonial function so the congregants prefer not to be disciplined. A Scholl is just the opposite, most parents have an interest in their kids being disciplined. If the members of the school board have their own kids in a Scholl it would be logical to assume that their advice will be commensurate with their interest.
TA: So what do you recommend?
KM: I noticed that all MO and some Charedi Jews pay their taxes. The taxes are used for transportation, building, salaries, etc. in public schools. I don�t see how you can maintain a vital educational institution with such a meager financial base as the Jewish Schools. I also noticed that my communist brothers in ADL are working against the Jewish schools by opposing vouchers. I can predict total collapse of the Jewish school system in the near future. I can only hope that world communist revolution will put the end to this misery once and for all!
TA: Amen, Reb Karl! Thank you for your time.
posted by Tzemach Atlas at 10:11 PM
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