Should Everybody be in Yeshiva?

Rabbi Harry Maryles' post today, while citing an impressive list of accomplishments by Israelis, proposed that perhaps a few of the "Bnei Torah" in Yeshivas in Israel today should be allowed to pursue other fields and contribute to the pool of accomplishments. Thus, he says, they won't have to scrounge for low paying jobs and actually be productive members of society.

Of course, all the RWNJs (Right Wing Nut Jobs) said how can you propose something as preposterous as this?! All these people should be in Yeshiva learning because Torah learning is the greatest thing they can do.

I say, Rabbi Maryles did not go far enough. It wasn't too long ago when most people worked for a living, supported their families, and didn't have to scrounge for money, live in poverty, or depend on their in-laws. Now, most do. How much longer can a system like this survive? What happens when the money runs out?

No. I propose most should be out of Yeshivas, both in Israel and abroad, learn a trade, and become productive members of society. We do not live in the Utopia that might have been had Adam Harishon not sinned and eaten from the Eitz Hada'as. We have a curse that says we need to work for a living, not sit on our asses and use Torah for academic purposes, which is pretty much what 99% of Yeshiva Bochurim do these days, and then walk around with arrogance at the Am Ha'Aratzus of everyone else who didn't spend as much time in Yeshiva as they did.

It's time to stop living in a fantasy world. It's time to stop spending unlimited amounts of time in yeshiva and Kollel and it's time to go live a normal, Torah life that involves both learning and Parnassah. The business/bein adam la'chaveiro laws in three volumes of Choshen Mishpat are not there for academic purposes. They are there to put into use and into practice. Well, Start practicing!!