NEW YORK (VINnews) — Chassidishe activist Yossi Gestetner, Executive Director of the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council (OJPAC), has written a letter to incoming Mayor Eric Adams, promoting the Yeshiva curriculum as “an amazing education system”.
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The letter begins, “You and your administration will sadly be trolled by noise makers regarding Hasidic Yeshivas.”
Mr. Gestetner then defends the robust curriculum, saying “Judaic Studies encompass history, geography, mathematics, biology, ethics, and subjects that require critical thinking.”
He added, “Detractors of yeshivas use the term ‘religious’ studies to suggest that the day is packed with stories and prayers rather than also including an all-encompassing educational program.”
Mr. Gestetner noted the strong family and community foundations in the Chassidishe world, as well as low crime rate and homelessness, all proof of “an amazing education system.”
The letter closes with an offer to discuss with the Mayor-elect how the rest of the NYC education system can be equivalent to the great education among Hasidim.
Mr Gestetner’s tactic appears to be preemptive, attempting to woo support from the new administration for Yeshiva independence. Some are bracing for another contentious battle, after incoming Comptroller Brad Lander recently pledged to crack down on yeshivas and vowed to do everything in his power to coax yeshivas to teach a secular curriculum.
While Adams has not weighed in on the subject directly, he has said that he is impressed with the education level of Chassidishe yeshivas, and he sympathizes with their plight against critics. The Adams campaign had strong support from multiple orthodox communities around the city, and was endorsed by many influential frum organizations.
The Igud HaRabbonim of America has put out a press release, also directed at Adams, praising him as a good friend to the Jewish community, and urging him to protect the integrity and independence of the Yeshiva educational system.
My husband went thru typical satmar education and makes millions a year. (Not in real estate…)
His English is not perfect but when u got to put 2 brain cells together I think he has it figured out…
Personally I wouldn’t mind if the boys get another year of education but if they don’t I’ll supplement their education myself
Everyone who’s crying about their education unfortunately has some other issues they didn’t deal with yet
because whoever wants to be educated does what it takes
The point often missed is, Bochrim can’t sit and learn all day anyhow. 95% of 9th grade don’t have zitsfliesh. Ask any rosh mesifta. They all struggle with what to do with them all day. This is a fact. We have chasidsha bochrim kratzing in the mikva till 10 and yeshivish hocking politics and fressing chulent Thursday night till 1 AM. There is no structure to the day.
So granted you can survive without secular studies. Many do well without it or just catch up if they need. And if you are a masmid kol hakovod. Learn torah instead. But for the 95% they are not learning anyhow. Whats the harm in learning a little secular studies which is easier than gemara ? You can;t say its doesn’t help at all? And we do live in this world. Why not?
Whats more no structure for kids is the worse thing. Its a churban. They grow up with no responbility and possibly the real bored ones can go OTD from doing the wrong thing out of boredom. (I am not blaming OTD on it. But it could be one of the 100 triggers). Kids need structure. Its huge churban that we don’t offer that. The chasdish and yeshvish mesiftas use to offer secular education. What’s so bad if we continue with our mesora of yes having english
There is absolutely NO WAY That boys in chasidish schools are given the knowledge needed to get a GED
I hardly see what the mayor has to do with it. The state law says these school must offer a program of instruction broadly equivalent to that of the public schools. “Reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmatic” have to be taught.
he’s missing the all important regents which would give it legitimacy. He’s just trying to head off Lander.
What difference does this make if NY doesn’t let unvaccinated yeshivas open?
Does Mr. Gestetner invite testing of students to confirm his claims about Hasidic education?
The huge number of well educated frum Jews in America, Europe, and Israel show that there is absolutely no reason NOT to have strong secular education in yeshivot.
Its about access for example to many healthcare jobs that the men in this community locks themselves out from. What would be so bad if the husband is a PA or other allied health field and the wife works as an OT. They are already in six figure territory with that combo. Not everyone can flip a bldg or has the stomach to lay out tens of thousands of dollars on chachkas that may never sell to flip on amazon.
Good letter.
The first point of persuasive writing is know your audience. He’s so caught up in his own world he doesn’t understand (or even realize he needs to understand) how outsiders think and view the issues. It’s like he wrote this to the Chasid next door. Very pathetic. This is why secular education is needed.
When did Yossi Gestetner become a representative of the community?
This Yutz simply needs company. He doesn’t want to be the only one whose language skills are more deficient than a lobster
kiryas joel is the poorest town in America officially, HOWEVER the real goal of Yaffed and the others is to teach toeiva and other sick things to our children they just use math as an excuse to teach LGBT rights etc and the rest of their agenda like misgenation.
this is the same Yosi Gestetner that supported weberman…. no surprise here
While there are low rates of homelessness that is partly due to the largess of welfare and section 8 paying the rent, lol.
What lies!
You’d think they’d also teach MiDavar Shekker Tirchak.
What a great idea.
School principals should be mandated to wear shtreimels, so they will have Hasidic heads (at least on the outside).
Mayor-elect Adams can be given one as well, by his Hasidic buddies.
The question remains how many of these young men and women are capable of conducting business in English and write a letter or report. Don’t remember adding and subtracting in the Torah or for that matter science.