Kollel Elyon to be Disbanded at Year's End

Allegations that Termination is an Attack against Rabbi Kahn

On Thursday, March 26^th, Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel Rabbi Aharon Kahn entered the room in which he teaches and announced to his shiur that he would no longer be the Rosh Kollel, because the Kollel had been disbanded. The Gruss Kollel Elyon, of which Rabbi Kahn is currently the Rosh Kollel, will be terminated at the end of this year, owing to lack of funding, according to administrators. However cries of foul play have emanated from the mouths of several Roshei Yeshiva and students citing the belief that the university administrators are able to find funding and choose not to for a variety of reasons.

History

The Kollel Elyon, was founded in 1982 by a wealthy philanthropist by the name of Joseph Gruss. Gruss gave money to many Yeshiva University causes. The Kollel was meant to provide three years of study for those who gained entry into the program. Entrance requirements are rabbinic ordination, interviews and success on a series of tests given by several roshei yeshiva. Each Kollel member receives $18,000 a year and if they chose to live adjacent to the campus, they are awarded another $5,000 to help out with housing costs, bringing the stipend that most Kollel members received to $23,000 a year, totaling $69,000 over three years. Generally there have been 10 members in the Kollel each year.

Gruss initially funded the Kollel for ten years. Through the business acumen of those involved with overseeing the funds, they managed to extend the Kollel funding for another six years, however unlike the usual endowment that is given for these programs, the funds have dried up. (An endowment differs from a donation because, the money used from an endowment is the interest that the endowment bears as opposed to a donation where the principal is used.

Rabbi Kahn explained that "the Kollel Elyon is the crown jewel of the institution. It gave the yeshiva the opportunity to train Talmidei Chachamim who can hold their own in comparison to the superior element in any Yeshiva. The members play a major role of inspiration and guidance for the community at large and for Yeshiva University." Rabbi Kahn then pointed to several of the Kollel's past members who now are roshei yeshiva and rabbis at YU: Rabbi Adler who will be a rosh yeshiva next year, Roshei Yeshiva Rabbis Rosenswieg and Twersky, Rabbi Hirsch who teaches in BMP, Rabbi Jacobson who teaches in JSS and Rabbis Simon and Sobolovsky, among several others.

Rosh Yeshiva and Dean of RIETS Rabbi Charlop also mentioned the various Kollel members who now hold positions in YU and called the program "very successful."

New Programs

Vice President of RIETS Rabbi Hirt explained that the Kollel Elyon "had an illusion of permanence, even though the dollars would not support this thesis. The Kollel Elyon was not an endowment, it was a good investment… that produced people who became internal and external models… and achieved what its intentions were."

However since the money has been used up, the administration has been searching for endowments to fund new permanent programs. Last year, one such program was created called Machon Barren, endowed by Mr. Barren. Hirt explained that the Barren program "follows in that line of reasoning [of the Kollel Elyon]. It allows them to continue learning in a structured manner." The entry requirements are somewhat similar, but students are strongly encouraged to enroll in a concurrent graduate program. Rabbi Hirt also stressed that "the capacity for leadership" is strongly weighed when deciding upon the candidates and along with their studies their studies students are asked to act in various capacities on behalf of the community. The stipend is similar to the amount provided for members of the Kollel Elyon and like the Kollel Elyon the program lasts three years. This year's members are Asaf Bednarsh and Shalom Rosner, next year's members will be Zvi Romm and Eitan Mayer.

Rabbi Hirt also stated that the administration is currently searching for endowments for similar programs that will create leaders for the next generation of Orthodox Jewry.

Controversy

The question has arisen as to whether the Kollel is being terminated for purely monetary reasons or as a slight to Rabbi Kahn who previously had some "run-ins" with the administration, particularly President Lamm.

According to Rabbi Charlop, "If there would have money, I don't believe anything would have happened." Rabbi Hirt also denied this rumor citing monetary reasons. Rabbi Kahn explained that he did not believe that the rumor had validity, but that he did not understand why new money could not be found to continue this program.

However some students and administrators who spoke on the condition of anonymity suggested that the reasons for the Kollel Elyon's termination were not limited to monetary reasons. One Rabbi explained that YU has a vast amount of money and many donors who would continue to support this program. He ventured to say the reasons for the termination were twofold.

He explained that the administration has developed a growing dislike for Rabbi Kahn and is either not finding new funds or not providing new funds as a way to limit Rabbi Kahn's influence because he often speaks out against Yeshiva University and Rabbi Lamm. The second reason mentioned was the perception that many of the Kollel Elyon members were too far to the right and if the university is going to fund programs that will create future leaders and rabbis, they want their prodigy to be centrist and follow in the philosophical understanding of Judaism espoused by Rabbi Lamm and other proponents of Torah U'madda.