Rabbi Establishes Four Torah Institutions in One Year, Sees Demand Outpacing Supply
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Rabbi Eli Kaplan, head of Beit Morehset institutions, has established four new Torah institutions this year, expanding his network to seven. He argues there is a significant demand for religious education, with many students not entering existing frameworks. Kaplan views the growth as beneficial competition, likening it to the food industry, and emphasizes the need for personalized attention and community consent for new institutions. He believes educators must nurture the potential of the younger generation, especially in light of recent conflicts.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Eli Kaplan established four new Torah institutions this year, expanding his network to seven.
- Kaplan argues demand for religious education exceeds current capacity, with many students not entering existing frameworks.
- He sees the growth of institutions as beneficial competition, driving quality and student satisfaction.
- Kaplan prioritizes personalized attention in smaller institutions and requires local consent for new foundations.
- He believes educators must harness the energy of the younger generation for continuity.
- Kaplan criticized the reluctance of married scholars to enter the education field as a major crisis.
Rabbi Eli Kaplan, head of the Beit Morehset institutions, has established four new Torah institutions this year, bringing the total under his organization to seven. These new institutions include a yeshiva and a preparatory academy in Pisgat Ze'ev, a preparatory academy in Kiryat Malachi, and others in Be'ka, Havat Makneh Yehuda, and Shdmot Mechola.
Kaplan explained in a Channel 7 podcast interview that the institutions often arise from grassroots initiatives, and he never anticipated leading such a large network. Until two years ago, only one preparatory academy, Eitan, operated under the organization. The expansion has been rapid, with several new academies and yeshivas opening in the past two years.
Addressing concerns about an oversupply of religious educational institutions, Kaplan cited figures suggesting that over 9,000 students graduate from the state-religious education system annually, while only about 6,000 are currently enrolled in all yeshivas and preparatory academies combined. He estimates that around 35% of these graduates do not enter any further religious educational framework, a figure he believes is decreasing as more institutions become available.
Kaplan views the proliferation of institutions not as competition that harms existing ones, but as an expansion of the system. He noted that his institutions, like others he knows, attract students from secular and Haredi backgrounds, with at least 10% of students in his institutions not being graduates of the state-religious system. He likened the situation to the food industry, where competition drives improvement and customer satisfaction, arguing that this dynamic is beneficial.
He emphasized a preference for smaller institutions that allow for personalized attention, and a policy of not establishing an institution without the consent of significant local figures. Kaplan described his approach as that of a "startup," willing to take risks and even face failure. He believes that when there is community desire and a motivated leader, funding and organizational support can be found. He also highlighted the importance of pluralism within clear boundaries, emphasizing loyalty to the Torah, the Jewish people, and the Land of Israel, alongside spiritual development and community service.
Kaplan also reflected on the five graduates of the Eitan preparatory academy who fell in service, noting the importance of cherishing those who serve. He criticized the reluctance of many married scholars (avrechim) to enter the education field, calling it a significant crisis. He stated that the young generation's strength was proven by the recent conflict, and educators must ensure this energy is sustained, emphasizing that without education, there is no continuity.