The Lubavitcher Rebbe's View on College

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↑ Motek ↓

Sun, Jul 23 2006, 6:36 am

more from the Rebbe:

* I was shocked to find out that you have considered going to college college. I hope and trust that you will abandon this idea completely, and you will calm me down with this good news... (from a letter of Friday 13 Elul 5710)

* A professor of Yeshivah University asked the Rebbe what he thinks about college, the Rebbe replied: "It is the Churban of Am Yisroel"

* There will come a time when the professors themselves will be against college, even though this will cut them off from their parnossoh... They will be opposed to college, because of the education that colleges give. (Yechidus 5729)

* From what I've seen, and also from what I've heard from others, it is clear that that it is not good for him at all. [And it is (at least a little) surprising that he has even considered it in the first place], and because of many reasons, (not just because of frumkeit). (from a undated answer from the Rebbe)

* After attempting to persuade a Bochur not to go to college, the Bochur told the Rebbe that he already promised his father that he will go, the Rebbe retorted: "But you have already sworn to your Father in Heaven at Mt. Sinai!"

↑ Motek ↓

Sun, Jul 23 2006, 6:45 am

from a letter in Igros Kodesh:

"how can you think about continuing your own education, when there are so many youth that are estranged from Yiddishkeit, and we need all the manpower available to reach out to them, to bring Moshiach that much sooner?!"

stem ↓

Sun, Jul 23 2006, 10:02 am

shouldn't this thread be put in the hidden lubavitch section?

Crayon210

Sun, Jul 23 2006, 10:08 am

Why? The Rebbe's views on college (especially with quotes!) are not a controversial internal issue...

↑ Motek ↓

Sun, Jul 23 2006, 10:24 am

Not that all threads in the Lubavitch section are controversial. Far from it.

There are numerous threads about Lubavitch special days in the calendar, customs, etc. on this forum, especially in the Judaism and Yom Tov sections.

Stem - the Lubavitch section is not for the purpose of hiding everything to do with Lubavitch. No doubt you know that Lubavitch is "into" promoting its way of life, not hiding it. The quotes from the Rebbe about college were mostly said to the public or written in letters that have since been published.

↑ stem ↓

Sun, Jul 23 2006, 3:13 pm

It might be just me, but I believe that frum people resent being turned into kiruv projects. It's like if we're not lubavitch, we're as open game as the non-religious. Rolling Eyes

↑ Motek ↓

Sun, Jul 23 2006, 3:21 pm

If you have zero interest in the Rebbe's view on college, why click on this thread?

Can you see why a Lubavitcher would be just as uninterested in (and disdainful of) the yeshivish view of things as you are in Lubavitch?

Yet it seems that many women ARE curious to learn about other frum women's way of life which is why the "how chaseedishe people date" was started.

lubcoralsprings ↓

Sun, Jul 23 2006, 3:30 pm

I am not sure the Rebbe meant this for everyone. I know there were specific people who were advised by the Rebbe to go to college. While I do think that it isn't good for the majority to go to college there are some exceptions. It's like Shlichus, some people were advised by the Rebbe not to go on shlichus. I think it's something that must be talked over with a Mashpia or with frum parents.

↑ stem

Sun, Jul 23 2006, 4:43 pm

Motek wrote:

If you have zero interest in the Rebbe's view on college, why click on this thread?

true.

↑ Motek ↓

Sun, Jul 23 2006, 6:16 pm

lubcoralsprings wrote:

The Rebbe addressed the public and stated his view of college (see previous posts). Ditto for shlichus. What he said to individuals is between them and the Rebbe.

↑ Motek ↓

Tue, Jul 25 2006, 7:12 am

Likutei Sichos, vol. 15, p. 42

Quote:

" ...the question of studying at college or university and the like * which are an isur chamur (serious prohibition) and danger (and danger is more serious than an isur) - since the entire atmosphere and hashkafa of the "dalet amos" of these places (in these institutions in our times) are instilled with kefira (heresy) in the hashgacha pratis (Divine Providence) of Hashem, that there is no thing or power that can mix into the ways of the world and its laws (to the point that this is taken for granted (and needs no proof) and is the foundation for everything that is learned, which doesn't need to be mentioned explicitly) - and in a large portion of them, meenus (heresy) and idolatry are taught etc.

"and in the vast majority of them - there are no boundaries for shame and tznius, to the point that they mock those who take this into consideration, and on the contrary, the more licentious one is, the greater one is etc.

"the terrible situation on campuses, dormitories, places to hang-out etc. is well known - and there's no need to go on at length about something so shocking in general, and something so frightening in particular.

"as far as the famous "claim" that he (or she) won't be harmed and will withstand the test etc. - the simple answer is also famous, that even a tzadik gamur on the last day of his 120 years on earth, at the beginning of the day, and before davening, asks Hashem, "don't test me," ..."

* I wonder what "and the like" refers to

↑ Motek ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2006, 3:24 pm

Quote:

To learn in College is not a matter of merely learning facts. It means to be exposed to certain circles and activities that are antithetical to the values and faith of the believer. It would be like taking someone from a warm environment and casting him into cold water – “shock treatment” – several times a day. How long would he be able to survive?

In addition to this, the studies in university are set up at an age when one’s personality is not yet sufficiently developed, usually before the age of thirty, and the exposure then is more dangerous.

From a Yechidus 5715, printed in Dem Rebben’s Kinder p. 211

↑ lubcoralsprings ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2006, 8:07 pm

Motek wrote:

The Rebbe addressed the public and stated his view of college (see previous posts). Ditto for shlichus. What he said to individuals is between them and the Rebbe.

Actually you are wrong Motek. When the Rebbe discussed things with individuals in yechidus or whatever people talked about it. While I will agree the Rebbe talked to the general public there were still individual cases and those cases were known. The general view might be that college is wrong but that is not to say there are not exceptions.

↑ Motek ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2006, 8:13 pm

lubcoralsprings wrote:

The general view might be that college is wrong but that is not to say there are not exceptions.

and that's precisely what I said, see page 1

↑ lubcoralsprings ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2006, 8:31 pm

We never know what a persons circumstances are and why they went to college. One can never speculate what a persons relationship is/was/will be the with the Rebbe and why they went to college. It's something that might not be for everyone but there are certainly people who are meant to be college educated. I don't think it's fair to judge people who go to college because you just don't know what their reasoning for going is.

PS If shlichus isn't right for one of my children then I would rather them be a professional then a grocery store clerk!

↑ Motek ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2006, 8:34 pm

If they can tell us of an answer they got from the Rebbe about going to college, that would certainly be respected. Lubavitcher Chassidim are not interested in personal reasons, but in what the Rebbe said.

↑ lubcoralsprings ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2006, 8:35 pm

And remember when the Rebbe spoke he was not necessarily speaking to every individual...there were exceptions! We must be sensitive to those people that there were exceptions for. It's ok to have a strong feeling against college but that doesn't mean that people who go are/were wrong. It's important to be sensitive to that fact!

↑ Motek ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2006, 8:49 pm

It's not about "feelings." It's about the Rebbe's view about college that he stated time and again, in public. The exceptions were private and I don't think they require special sensitivity. If the Rebbe told them to attend college, that's what they needed to do for their shlichus. Of course Chasidim respect that!

↑ lubcoralsprings

Sun, Jul 30 2006, 8:59 pm

It's important to respect peoples views and realize we are not always right on everything.

↑ Motek ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2006, 9:08 pm

huh? you said "strong feelings about college" - it's not about feelings but the Rebbe's view

for some reason, you want to personalize this thread

this thread is not about anyone's personal life

it's about "The Lubavitcher Rebbe's View on College" (see thread title). Not my view or your view or anybody else's view, but the Rebbe. It's not about anybody's personal choices either. Just-the-Rebbe's-View-About-College.

whatever the context of your post - my comment remains the same

reminder - this thread is not about feelings for or against anything or anybody. It's-just-about-the-Rebbe's-View-about-college.

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