The ongoing tuition crisis in the Orthodox Jewish community has sparked renewed discussion, with a prominent askan shedding light on the financial challenges faced by a typical frum family. Speaking on the Meaningful Minute podcast, the askan explained why even a family earning $300,000 annually struggles to pay tuition for their children’s yeshiva education.
THE FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN
Using a hypothetical family of seven—two adults and five children—the askan provided a detailed breakdown of their annual expenses, demonstrating how quickly a $300,000 income is depleted:
• Taxes: After taxes, assuming all income is on the books, the family is left with approximately $225,000.
• Housing Costs: $90,000 annually for mortgage, property taxes, utilities, and home repairs (averaging $8,000 per month).
• Food: $50,000 per year to feed a family of seven.
• Camp and Clothing: $15,000 annually for summer camp and basic clothing needs.
• Transportation: $15,000 for two leased vehicles.
• Health Insurance: $20,000 if not covered by the employer.
By the time these basic expenses are accounted for, the family is left with very little for additional costs such as tzedaka, vacations, or other necessities, let alone tuition.
TUITION AS A LOW PRIORITY
The askan emphasized that tuition often becomes a “bottom-of-the-list” expense in such scenarios, despite its critical importance. With yeshiva tuition costing tens of thousands of dollars per child annually, families are increasingly unable to meet these demands.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
This financial reality is not unique to this hypothetical family; it reflects the broader struggle faced by many frum households. The tuition crisis has led to difficult choices for parents, including taking on additional jobs, sacrificing other financial goals, or seeking scholarships and financial aid from schools.
CALL FOR ACTION
The askan’s comments highlight the urgent need for community-wide solutions to address the tuition burden. Suggestions include increasing communal support, advocating for school funding, and rethinking tuition models to ensure affordability without compromising the quality of education.
To hear the full interview and the askan’s insights, watch the Meaningful Minute podcast (minute mark 41).
The tuition crisis is not just a financial issue—it’s a challenge to the sustainability of Jewish education and the future of the community. The question remains: how can we, as a community, ensure that every child receives a Torah education without pushing families to the brink?
2 comments:
The first expense line item is where everything goes out of whack. If housing is costing $8,000 per month, then they should be renting a nice home somewhere for $4,000 per month and using that newfound $4,000 per month for tuition and savings. I understand the American dream is to own a home, and to build wealth. But when home prices become so expensive, a family may be FAR better off renting until prices come down or find a new neighborhood to live in.
Also clothing can cost money.
Maybe only for some, though.
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