Community Magazine December 2013

Peto’s master’s thesis, which was submitted in 2010 to the Department of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE), a branch of the University of Toronto, is provocatively titled, “The Victimhood of the Powerful: White Jews, Zionism and the Racism of Hegemonic Holocaust Education. The premise of the paper was that “Jewish people of European descent enjoy white privilege” and that Jewish victimhood is groomed among Jews in order to obscure criticism of Israel. The author charged that the UJA’s March of the Living trip, which brings teenagers to the sites of the Nazi death camps in Poland, is used as a tool “to erase the history of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine and to ensure that participants support the ongoing violence of Israeli apartheid.” A psychologist specializing in human rights and hate crimes, Dr. Karen Mock, was outraged. Ms. Peto’s work, now linked on the internet to several fervently anti-Israel groups, “should definitely raise flags,” Mock said. “People will use the token Jewish person who adheres to this kind of ideology, spreads this kind of venom, stereotype and anti-Jewish language.” Moral relativism has become the norm, rather than exception within the classroom – to the extent that students are left confused or indifferent to history’s atrocities. “I don’t think that colleges and universities are teaching integrity, academic integrity, and intellectual integrity, the way they used to,” laments Lawton, who has touched upon these issues in his writings and radio show. “It’s like they’re more interested in catering to fringes, and liberalism, and colleges have become more of a bastion of indoctrination rather than an institute of education.” Finding Alternatives Despite these concerns, many parents feel compelled to enroll their children in secular colleges because they believe a college degree is vital for the child’s future professional success and financial stability. The truth is, however, that many students are graduating college without a job or a career waiting for them. The only thing students (and/or parents) are guaranteed after graduating college is an enormous pile of debt from college loans, that may take up to 20 years to pay off. What, then, is the alternative? How can we prepare our children to be self-sufficient, independent, and capable of supporting themselves and their families in today’s competitive job market, without exposing them to the spiritual, cultural and ideological ills of college campuses? Actually, there are plenty of viable choices for the year after high school. Some examples include: Earn and learn – Earn an income during the day but earn a college or business degree at night. This can be done by taking online courses or by attending evening college or business classes. This arrangement allows you to grow accustomed to the workplace, gain work experience, and earn a valuable degree, without having to endure the spiritual challenges of campus life. Internship - Take time off and intern in a field or a profession that interests you. Even if it is an unpaid internship, it can offer valuable exposure, training and experience. Students who successfully complete an internship may eventually land a fulltime position at the same company. But even if you don’t, internships look good on a résumé and can yield some valuable letters of recommendation which can be used later when you’re job hunting. Vocational school – Learn a new trade that interests you and turn it into a career or a fulltime job. This can also be a great opportunity to sharpen the talents that you already possess and enable you to turn your childhood hobby into a successful career. Orthodox Jewish Universities – Since some professions do require a college degree, there is yet another alternative for observant Jews seeking to pursue a degree, without compromising their religious values or academic standards. Fortunately, the number of colleges and universities that cater to the needs of the Orthodox populace has increased in recent years. These schools schedule their classes around the Hebrew calendar, offer separate male and female programs, and provide kosher food options. Examples of such institutions include Touro College, Lander College, and Yeshiva University. In Conclusion The post-high school years are a crucial, formative period in a youngster’s life. Graduates and their parents must think long and hard about where they want to spend these four years in preparation for the future. Thankfully, many options are available that offer a solid education alongside the opportunity to continue living within a proper religious framework. So it’s a good idea to do some investigative research before college, carefully exploring the available options and considering what’s at stake. Alternatives: If you decide not to attend a secular college after high school, there are still many viable choices to choose from. Examples include taking online courses at night while earning an income during the day, completing an internship in a field of interest, learning a trade at a vocational school, or attending an Orthodox Jewish university. 42 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE