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Written by Yosef Hershkop

Over the past few months there has been a major controversy in the Jewish community about education. I think this is something we have been arguing about for thousands of years. On a religious level, this is how we’ve managed to not disintegrate and have remained to be a proud people, even while our enemies tried to annihilate us on multiple occasions. On a practical level, it is how we have produced Nobel prize winners, billionaires, and members of the U.S. Senate, way above our population percentage.

The argument today, particularly in New York state (which is home to the most Jews outside of Israel), has been: a) are the Yeshivas (Jewish Religious schools) meeting Government standards, b) whether or not they are getting the job done and are providing their graduates with the ability to lead successful lives. For more information on this particular controversy you can read articles that portrays the stance of the anti-Yeshiva forces (Yaffed) as well as the stance of the newly formed pro yeshivas organization Pearls.

I am proud to say that I am part of team Yeshivas. I believe Yeshiva graduates face a lot of adversity when they enter the workforce, partially because of their unusual educational track and partially because of discrimination. Religious Jews suffer with financial difficulties just like the rest of America with some additional factors; including, marrying young and having children at younger ages, and life expenses that do not exist for the average American, such as paying for schooling, Kosher food, and higher real estate prices near synagogues.

I don’t have the answers as to what the Yeshivas should or should not be doing or what the Government should or should not be doing. But one small suggestion that I have that can end up being a real help is already on the table and very accessible.

For those who are at least semi-computer literate (most Yeshiva students meet this standard or can reach it very quickly) there is a new computer coding /science school that has had tremendous success in a short amount of time. Lambda School, which is run by serial entrepreneur Austen Allred, does not take any tuition upfront and you can log into class from anywhere.

The school only makes money by taking seventeen percent of your income when you get a job that pays at least fifty-thousand dollars. This percentage is taken for three years and is capped at thirty-thousand dollars, thereby eliminating the need for college loans. Allred already has students who have been offered jobs at Google and other top companies.

Why am I so excited about this ‘startup university’ that I’m taking the time to write about them without any compensation? The answer is that I really believe these schools are the future, even though their success till now has been shaky.

Also, I believe that this particular school can be a great partner with the Religious community because of the founder’s background. Mr. Allred is a proud Mormon and if there’s any religious community in the United States that can relate to the struggles of the religious Jewish community it would be the Mormons (MBD’s ‘Yerushalyim is not for sale song notwithstanding).

I have chatted with Austin on several occasions (mostly through Twitter) and he’s excited to work with our community. He seems to really understand what we need, and I have already connected him with several religious Jewish educational leaders. I am posting this publicly in hope of bringing more attention to this amazing possibility.

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