A conversation in shul recently took place on a Sunday morning between a prominent lawyer talmid chochom and a mechanech. The subject of the conversation was about a Kollel for single bochurim. The conversation went something like this:
Mechanech: “The aim is to create Torah scholars for the next generation that are fully proficient in seder nezikin and Choshain Mishpat. Twenty-five bochurim would be hand-picked for their commitment to learning Torah b’hasmadah, for their ability to study Torah in great depth, and for their ehrlichkeit. The Kollel would pay the bochurim $50,000 per year in order to ensure that their financial needs would be met – allowing them to learn undisturbed. The only condition of the Kollel is that the twenty-five bochurim must commit to remain in the Kollel until the age of forty, and to remain single during the duration.”
The response from the lawyer was, “WHAT? That is against halacha!”
“Why? It is for Torah growth.”
“But until forty? I have never heard of such a thing. Chazal tell us that one must marry young. This is something that Gedolei HaDor, the einei yisroel must pasken. And I highly doubt that this question was brought up to them.”
“But think of the future benefits.. Don’t you see the advantages of such an idea?”
“Yes, but I also see the disadvantages – The Gemorah encourages everyone to marry young. Also, it would exasperate an already catastrophic shidduch situation.”
“Okay, but what would you say if they knocked down that last requirement to 35 years of age. There are plenty of bochurim that do get married at 35. Then would you agree that it is a good idea?”
“Absolutely not! We don’t change what Chazal tell us – no matter what.”
“Well, you wouldn’t disagree with it if it was until age 30. If they adjusted the requirement until age 30 – then you would surely be behind it, no?”
“I would ask Gedolei Torah. I would not go a day longer than what the Gedolim would say. But I still think that they would never agree to such an idea.
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