Today, I’d like to conclude this video series on “Making Yeshiva Tuition More Affordable”
And today, I want to focus on Signing “The Yeshiva Pledge”
So, many of the solutions that I’ve focused on in this series have been discussed before. They are all sensible approaches and, when executed in tandem, can have a meaningfully positive impact on the tuition crisis.
The real challenge lies in the implementation of these solutions. How do you motivate an entire community to make changes to their personal spending and philanthropy? How do you get the yeshivos to make significant adjustments to their own finances? Perhaps it should start by getting the community leaders, religious and lay, to sign a document similar to The Giving Pledge, where they agree to work on implementing these changes.
For those who are unfamiliar, The Giving Pledge is a commitment made by some of the world’s wealthiest individuals to donate the majority of their wealth to charitable causes, either during their lifetime or through their will. It was founded in 2010 by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett to encourage philanthropy on a large scale. Since its inception, more than 250 billionaires from around 30 countries have taken the pledge, promising to use their wealth to address global challenges such as poverty, education, healthcare, and scientific research. That is quite the impact! A similar initiative, The Jewish Future Promise, encourages individuals to commit to allocating at least 50% of charitable contributions made upon passing to Jewish causes. Both initiatives highlight people of influence who have signed the pledge as a way to encourage broader adoption of their mission.
The frum community can start “The Yeshiva Pledge,” with the potential for a great impact. Our insular communities are so susceptible to peer pressure. Often it causes so many people in our communities to make imprudent financial decisions, but if harnessed properly it can also be used to motivate positive behaviors and solve complex problems.
The solution to the yeshiva tuition crisis is a math problem. It involves cutting costs and increasing revenue from sources beyond continuously raising tuition. However, it’s certainly not easy to implement. Perhaps instituting and signing “The Yeshiva Pledge,” which encompasses the aformentioned principles (and possibly others), can help motivate frum communities around the country to take the proper steps to make a yeshiva education affordable for every family.