As promised before the Lipa tangent, here's the much touted Megapixel Plan:

The megapixel plan refers to my ideas about kollel, finances, shidduch crisis etc. I think with this one plan, we should help all these issues.

Having been there, done that, I think I am qualified to state opinions.

I think that there should be a sort of limit on years spent in Kollel. Every couple who wants to pursue the kollel thing should do so, but at the five year mark, they MUST meet with a rosh yeshiva to evaluate their personal situation. (The reason I say five years is cuz in my opinion living on a small scale is doable in the early years, but once you start with paying tuitions it all goes to pieces.)

a-Where is this kollel man headed? If he is not in the top ten percent, headed for greatness in learning, then we need to answer some questions.
b- how are their finances? who is paying the bills? is it the wife? if so, is she coping, mentally emotionally and physically?
is it the shver? if so, is HE coping? does he have more children on line to marry off? is he struggling to maintain support of this couple? is he on the verge of a heart attack?
c-where are they holding as far as expenses? at that point, they may have a kid about to enter school, in which case their expenses will suddenly increase by about $4000.00 per year. are they in debt?

So after these questions are answered, the couple together with the rosh yeshiva decides on a plan of action - to stay in kollel, or to "graduate" and pursue some sort of training and or a job.

If he IS in the top ten percent, (and the wife is coping/agreeable) he gets a raise from the kollel, and whatever support he needs to stay in learning. subsidized housing etc...

That way, guys dont stay too long, to the point where it doesnt pay for them to get a job because they are making too much money from programs etc. And if you stay too long, you run the risk of needing A LOT of money as soon as you leave, with no time to train for something or build yourself up from starting salary.

Here's my experience: I was not supported by anyone. I worked two jobs for much of those years - at least until it became impractical what with the children. My husband stayed as long as possible, and we had alot of debt by the time he left. He got a job, but started from the very bottom. So even after he left, I still had to work almost full time to make it. I personally did not mind so much, because I dont mind working - it's not as if I was dying to be an at-home mom. (I still have to work) Also, I can definitely live on less - I am not at all a high maintenence wife. But the debt did bother me alot. It took a long long time to climb out of it.

I think it will also affect the shidduch crisis because there will not be as much great demand for a girl's parents to come up with so much money to support a couple if kollel is limited.
I want to add that if someone is really wealthy and can easily support the couple without any strain on their own families, they should certainly do that if they want to. also if a wife has great earning power and wants to continue working.
Please chime in with your opinions - do you think a plan like this would improve things?

Megapixel's Ideal World

Hello? Mr. Mendlowitz? How are you? This is Rabbi Haminahamina. I would like to meet with you and Mr. Schmeltzer about some concerns I and some other rabanim have about your upcoming event. Can we meet Sunday at 2:00?

Sure, Rabbi. I'll be there, iyh.

Sunday at 2:00

Thanks for coming, r' sheya and r' lipa. Like I mentioned earlier, we have some concerns about this Big Event. Lets get right to the point. First of all, several people have mentioned to us that these events tend to have boys and girls mixing inappropriately, before the concert, during intermission, etc.What can we do to avoid this, and keep a proper atmosphere for Yiddishe kinderlach?

Rabbi, I want to do everything in my power to keep this a kosher environment. After all, one of the points of this concert is to provide a little fun and geshmak for our kids, so they enjoy and take pride in their special role as frum Jews.
First of all, we have instituted separate entrances for men and women, so there will be no mixing from the point of entry. Second of all, we have eliminated intermission, and we have also decided not to sell snacks so the show will go from start to finish, with no reason for anyone to leave their seats. And finally, separate exits.

That sounds pretty reasonable. Another concern is that some of the recent music is a little not so Heimish sounding, including songs with questionable/goyish sources. There is a large part of the community that is very uncomfortable with this music.

Well, we want to work with you because again, we want this to be an enjoyable event, so if there are a few songs that are a tad too wild, we can tone down the music. Also, we can avoid singing songs A B and C.
There are still plenty of songs left to sing.

Thank you for your cooperation. It is a kiddush hashem that you are so accomodating. Apparently, we have the same goals. These new takanos that we have discussed will hopefully become the new gold standard for concerts, so that we will not have to ban future concerts for causing bad behavior. Please continue to be mesamayach frum yidden in an uplifting way.

Shalom Aleichem. Thank you for being open and honest with us.

Shalom Aleichem, Hatzlacha Rabba on the concert!

Shalom al yisroel. end of story!!