Kollel Elyon Goes Down

The administration is about to disband one of the stalwarts of Yeshiva University and of the Orthodox community at large. The university has announced that the Kollel Elyon will be disbanded at the end of this year due to lack of funding.

The Kollel Elyon has been in existence since 1982. In the sixteen years of its existence, it has produced rabbinical leaders both in and outside of the yeshiva. Currently, two of our own roshei yeshiva and many others rabbis who teach in our institution were members of this program. In fact the program has received such renown that several rabbis across the country have already commented on its termination including one rabbi who stated "they are trying to tear every last bit of kedusha out of the place [YU]."

The administration claims that the funding has run out. While we do not dispute this claim, we find it hard to believe that YU cannot pool its resources or find donors to continue funding the Kollel Elyon.

If YU is terminating the Kollel Elyon because it disagrees with its philosophical leanings or in an attempt to curb the influence of a certain Rosh Yeshiva, it should seriously reconsider its course of action. The Kollel Elyon has an outstanding reputation outside our yeshiva. No educational institution can suffer the loss of one of its most respected programs without it effecting the morale and reputation of the school.

Conversations with various administrators seemed devoid of any sense of loss. A remark such as "Well, I’m sure that the students who would have been part of the Kollel Elyon can qualify for another kollel," is indicative of this troubling attitude. We find it hard to believe that this program could be so casually dismissed. The kollel is such an integral part of this university that every effort should be made to ensure that it continues. Perhaps our eloquent administrators could persuade at least one of YU’s benefactors that the Kollel Elyon is worth saving.