On My Mind

Sadly, what you describe is all too common in the yeshivish and kollel world. As a young married man, I try very hard to do the opposite of what these moochers do.

These folks, the product a frum community, frum homes and years of education in the yeshiva and seminary world, are not exceptional. Their attitudes and behavior towards the American system and its citizenr—an attitude rampant in areas of NY, NJ and Israel—is the quintessential example of chillul hashem:  when Jews who project themselves to the world as its most dedicated, pious and G-d-fearing practitioners act in such a way, it causes other Jews (never mind non-Jews) to look at them and their frum lifestyle (supposedly dedicated to doing G-d’s will) with contempt and embarrassment.  So careful about tznius and shabbos, yet so casual about ethics and morality towards the “outside world”. An example of why FAR RIGHT-WING Orthodoxy (which MUST be distinguished from MODERN, Centrist Orthodoxy) and its leaders, who indeed encourage such behavior/attitudes, are so spiritually irrelevant and anti-inspirational to other Jews and the rest of G-d’s world.  When so-called “Torah true”, “most halachically observant” practice of Judaism seems to lead to morally barren, and therefore, un-G-dly behavior towards any institution or even human being who is “not a part of the community”, it diminishes Judaism and G-d weeps.

Let’s hope they remember the generosity of the taxpayers when they too become taxpayers. 

HH