The Rebbe’s Opinion About School Admission

Welcome to our weekly Motzei Shabbos program.

At the end of this program, or maybe even next week's program - because next week will be a continuation - I want to share with you a shocking letter that an 11-year-old boy wrote to the Rebbe.

Today's program is important for parents that have children in day schools and yeshivas, and also for the hanhalah gashmis and the hanhalah ruchnis [?].

So before I start, I want to say a statement of what the Rebbe said: "Every Jewish child is entitled to a Jewish education and cannot be turned away from school due to financial or other considerations, such as yichus or behavior."

Now, with the beginning of the new school year soon, much is being discussed regarding the topic of school admission. I was asked by some people what the Rebbe's take is on that subject, from the Rebbe's letters. Now, the following thoughts are based on the Rebbe's letter on the topic of school admission, with more, Im Yirtzeh Hashem, next week.

The Torah obligates every parent to educate his child himself. And if he for some reason cannot, he hires a teacher, as we clearly see from the story of the Alter Rebbe, where he asked the melamed, a teacher, to teach his son: "So that you will help me fulfill my obligation to teach my child, and I will help you fulfill your obligation to support your family."

But what happens when the parent cannot afford to pay the teacher or the school? So in a letter about admission to yeshiva, the Rebbe refers to the well-known story of Hillel the Elder and the doorkeeper of the beis medrash. The Rebbe emphasizes that the real purpose of the story is to bring out a two-sided lesson, both for those who are in the category of doorkeeper and those who are in the category of seeking admission to the house of learning.

Now, the lessons of the story: the Rebbe says to those who are in the position of doorkeeper - those in charge of admission to a yeshiva or similar institutions - they need to bear in mind that study is a matter of life for a Jewish boy or girl, and should seek every possible means to make it available to each and every Jewish boy and girl, even if there may be a doubt that a particular applicant might be trying to avoid payment for tuition.

The Rebbe says, "No child should be turned away, nor should any applicant be made to feel embarrassed in any case of hardship." Unfortunately, these principles have not always been fully observed in admission to some day schools and institutions in the present time.

Now, this is as far as the doorkeeper.

Now, as to those who are in the category of seeking admission to Torah learning, the lesson is that no sacrifice should be too great when it comes to study. Even those who have been learning every day, and it is a question of missing just one day, as in the case of Hillel - this same sacrifice should be made, not to miss even a single day of study.

Now, the Rebbe's letter has to be studied carefully. Now we see the teachings of the Rebbe. Let us analyze and understand the Rebbe's words.

The Rebbe includes both boys and girls - it is a matter of life for both. The doorkeeper - that's the financial administration of the yeshiva or of the day school - should seek every possible means so that every boy and girl gets a Torah education. There are many means by which the doorkeeper can raise funds. Imposing tuition on the parents is not the only way. Money can be raised in so many various ways. Is the doorkeeper making sufficient effort and exhausting all means of raising funds?

The Rebbe says, "Even if the parent is suspected of trying to avoid paying tuition" - the financial administration often points to the parent being able to afford such and such, so why can he not afford tuition - "even in such a case, no child should be turned away." If the parent is being less than honest in his claims, it's a matter between him and the Eibeshter. Regardless, no child should be turned away.

An applicant to the school should never be made to feel embarrassed in any case of hardship. Sadly, all too often, parents are squeezed and pressured with shocking words of advice, and are treated poorly and embarrassed when applying for admission. Is this the Rebbe's way?

Now, those seeking admission to Torah learning are encouraged to emulate Hillel of the story. They should make sacrifices for the sake of Torah learning. And even if one could get a scholarship, which is a public expense, try to be like Hillel, who paid for admission with his hard-earned money.

The order is also significant: the fact that the Rebbe deals first with the doorkeeper and his obligation shows this to be of primary importance. It is the doorkeeper's obligation to make sure that all children are admitted to yeshiva. This is a must.

Now, as to Hillel, the one seeking admission to yeshiva, the Rebbe encourages us to emulate Hillel's ways and do our utmost to pay for admission, however difficult it may be. This, however, is not a must as much as a suggestion to act in an exemplary way to the best of our ability. The Rebbe makes it a point to mention Hillel's character and humility, as related in the Talmud, which explains why he went to such lengths not to accept charity or any special favor. But how many can display such sacrifice? The least we should do is look to Hillel for inspiration, and aim for some measure of sacrifice for learning. Yet, however much we do or don't succeed in this, in no way can the child be denied admission. It can't be overemphasized.

Now the Rebbe continues: "Schools work for the parents, not the other way around. They are here to serve the parents. Of course, parents should pay what they are able toward tuition, but they should not be pressured, intimidated, or embarrassed by the financial administration. All parents should be treated with the same respect and consideration, regardless of their financial status or family lineage." We see in many cases that this is not done. No child can be refused admission to learn Torah, girl or boy, even if tuition was not paid. Period.

Now, donors to our schools donate exactly for this purpose - that's what they donate for: children to learn, so that no child should be denied what is rightfully his: a Jewish education. Are these donors aware that some children are denied entrance to school because the parents have no money? Are they aware of the way some parents are being squeezed and embarrassed by the financial administration for tuition? What would they say if they were made aware that such selection and such behavior is taking place?

Besides tuition, there are other ways to raise money for our schools. They should be utilized to the utmost. One way which is often overlooked in some institutions is fundraising.

We have had amazing fundraisers. We had very successful fundraisers who put their heart and soul into this holy mission of raising funds for our schools. Look, I remember when I was a bochur, we lived in Cleveland, that the Rashag, the Rebbe's brother-in-law, he himself went knocking on people's doors fundraising. I remember Rabbi Weinberg of Ash [?], Rabbi Tlesevski [?], Rabbi Kramer of Manual [?], and others.

And it is well known that even the spiritual administration and the rabbonim [?] of many institutions, even the Rosh Yeshiva [?], exert tremendous effort in fundraising. This they would do especially during the summer break. I heard this from Rabbi Tanib the Shiva [?], with whom I worked for a number of years. It is these devoted individuals who showed the way to do this. Members of the administration should not sit in a comfortable office and squeeze parents for that which they should be bringing in themselves.

Now, even the Rebbe himself often exerted effort to bring in funds for our schools. It is my sincere wish that the schools and parents will take the words of the Rebbe to heart and act appropriately, each fulfilling his duty and obligation to the education of our dear children. This will be, as Hashem will give much to each of us and to our children. And we will, with Hashem's help, discuss in next week's program about the spiritual administration specifically, what they have to [do]. And this is all based on the Rebbe's words.

Next week we will continue our weekly program. Thank you.