Historic Torah Revolution in New Square: Baalei Batim Partner with Bnei Torah to Double Kollel Stipends

A quiet but powerful revolution has taken shape in New Square recently, as local negidim have banded together with an unprecedented goal: to literally double the monthly kollel stipends of the nearly 1,000 bnei torah in the shtetl.

This is being accomplished through a highly innovative model that is already catching the attention of other major kehillos. The concept is simple yet groundbreaking: The demographic of New Square is roughly divided into thirds—one-third bnei torah, one-third baalei yecholes (businessmen and professionals), and the remaining third consisting of melamdim, maggidei shiur, and others. Under the new initiative, each baal yecholes selects a personal ben torah from the kollel and signs a formal Yissachar-Zevulun partnership, committing to double that yungerman’s monthly check.

When the Skverer Rebbe Shlit"a recently returned from a stay in Malibu, California, he was greeted with the news of this initiative. The Rebbe expressed indescribable joy and took the rare step of making a special Hachrazas Kodesh on Friday night in front of the entire kehillah to encourage this historic undertaking. During his remarks, the Rebbe noted that the previous Rebbe Zt"l strongly encouraged baalei yecholes to enter into Yissachar-Zevulun partnerships, citing the Shulchan Aruch which states that supporting Torah in this manner is considered as if the sponsor is sitting and learning the Torah himself.

The excitement surrounding the initiative was palpable at the recent "Amudei Olam" banquets held over the past few weeks. Prominent negidim could be seen eagerly securing their partnerships, playfully negotiating with one another over who would get to sponsor which Yissachar.

This past Shabbos, mispallelim walking into the Skverer Beis Medrash Hagadol were greeted by a massive, unique plaque displayed on the wall. The board lists the names of the nearly 1,000 baalei batim who have already committed to a partnership. Strikingly, next to each sponsor's name is the specific kollel branch "he" is learning in—reflecting the halachic reality that the sponsor is credited with the actual limud haTorah.

In one notable example, renowned Skverer philanthropist R' Nochum Rokach of Lakewood sponsored an astounding nineteen bnei torah. As a result, his name appears as "learning" in every single branch of the kollel—from Gemara B'Iyun and B'kius to Hilchos Shabbos, Hora'ah, and Choshen Mishpat.

The momentum continued this past Monday night at the fifth "Amudei Olam" banquet, this one geared toward the younger baalei batim of the kehillah. The event was chaired by the popular badchan R' Yaakov Yosef Langsam, who is a Zevulun in the program himself. Langsam entertained the crowd with a creative and humorous presentation contrasting the lifestyle of a typical baal habayis with that of a ben torah.

With his signature wit, Langsam playfully coaxed several baalei batim into sharing details about their monthly budgets, vacation habits, and daily learning schedules. He then brought up several bnei torah, highlighting their elevated, spiritual lifestyle, detached from Olam Hazeh and entirely devoted to Torah. The evening also featured a powerful drasha by the Limanover Rav Shlit"a.

The event was a massive success, culminating with 51 new Yissachar-Zevulun partnerships signed on the spot. Each baal habayis proudly signed a contract with his hand-picked Yissachar, committing to double his stipend and earning the eternal zechus of his Torah study.

As the New Square initiative proves to be a resounding success, several other major kehillos in the United States and Eretz Yisroel are closely monitoring this Torah revolution. It is expected that similar programs will be announced in other communities around Simchas Torah, expanding this beautiful model to further uphold and glorify limud haTorah. Lehagdil kavod haTorah u'leha'adirah.