Jay Root, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, shared a link on Twitter requesting more dirt on the Yeshiva system.
“Please help us report on education in NY’s Hasidic community & other Orthodox Jewish communities, including in Rockland County and Kiryas Joel. Share your experience here,” requested the reporter.
The link takes you to a page that states the following: “A New York Times investigation found that scores of Hasidic Jewish schools in New York state are purposely denying students a basic secular education — and have received more than $1 billion in public money in recent four years.
We want to talk to former students, as well as parents, teachers and special education providers and others with experiences with education in Orthodox and Hasidic schools as well as the Kiryas Joel public school district. We will not publish any part of your submission without contacting you first.”
Of course, no such articles or surveys were requested by the Times’ attempting to find out how the public school system has been doing.
A Twitter storm naturally followed. People from all across the political spectrum were disturbed by the constant accusatory reports that the Yeshiva system has been undergoing. What the Times’ reporter did not expect, was the flood of POSITIVE feedback to his request for personal experiences. See responses below.
If anyone would like to share personal experience or feedback with the Times, please click here.
I’ll help…
1. Yeshivas proudly teach right from wrong.
2. Their students have very high attendance rates.
3. Many students continue their education.
4. Yeshiva graduates live law-abiding lives almost entirely.
Looking forward to you including that in your hit piece! https://t.co/9LTf59tJpn
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) November 17, 2022
Sure. Want me to: Dig up my kid's NYS standardized 99th percentile test scores? Tell you about my sister's classmate who became a Rhodes scholar? Have my mom explain that I always tested 2-3 years above grade level on state tests because yeshivas are superior to public schools? https://t.co/DeHHEm4mbb
— Sandy Eller (@sandyeller) November 17, 2022
When does the harassment end? pic.twitter.com/vtQsZlFQJB
— @Richard Altabe (@Raltabe) November 17, 2022
I don't expect much from @nytimes but this tweet is so despicable I was hoping that it was a parody.
Truth is #bringiton write a trash story about us each week we don't care.— Yosef H (@yossy770) November 16, 2022
Sent 5 kids to Rockland yeshivas where they all received excellent educations. One has a masters in nutrition, two are LMSWs, another has a masters in accounting and the fourth has an MBA, all thanks to their yeshiva educations. So sorry that their lives don't fit your narrative.
— Sandy Eller (@sandyeller) November 16, 2022
Please help us report on education in NY's black community, including in Schenectady, where 96% of students couldn't pass a math test.
Share your experience here… Or not? No Jews no news?https://t.co/H4TGPnDqLf— Tzippy Yarom-Diskind صِپورة #JusticeForMalkiRoth (@zpyarom) November 16, 2022
While yeshiva students were still at yeshiva studying, here's what was going on on the streets with nyc's public school students. pic.twitter.com/QxOFk5gfaI
— The Jewish Bookery (@Jewish_Bookery) November 17, 2022
I'm glad to see you asking. With the spike in Antisemitism, we need food stories about Jews
I went to chasidic school.
Had an amazing time. I feel I grew as a person and live a life I find deeply meaningful from my education.
Looking forward to hearing about stories like mine.— Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone (@Mottel) November 17, 2022
Horror stories only, sir.
— Emma-Jo Morris (@EmmaJoNYC) November 17, 2022
Went to UCLA. My non-Orthodox UCLA friends are all doctors and lawyers now. My current Orthodox social group who went to Orthodox day schools are more intellectual sharp (and fulfilled!) than my non-Orthodox UCLA doctor/lawyer friends. You can quote me on this.
— Sara (Glaz) Aloni (@SaraGlaz) November 17, 2022
If @nytimes had its way, I would never be where I am today. Yeshivas provide an education that is often lacking in secular and public schools – a focus on analytical and critical thinking, problem solving, and being lifelong learners.
— Shulem Rosenbaum, CPA/ABV (@ShulemRosenbaum) November 17, 2022
The New York Times hasn’t tried to figure out how the public school system is doing? Could have fooled me.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/19/learning/what-students-are-saying-about-how-to-improve-american-education.html