1) I've been meaning to send on some of the responses I get for a while. Thanks to all for the queries and feedback - it serves as the greatest encouragement.

The following is from Gary Bradski

It's fine to support scholars if such support is freely given. To take other's wealth to support many people of questionable talent who are as likely as not just hiding out from life as if in an extended graduate school, causes those who's wealth is stolen to hate, and undermines the character of those whom are supported. It also turns the religious community into beggars and ganifs rather than a economically self sustaining society that can generate it's own wealth to support it's goals. If it's own wealth were used to support scholars, I bet you'd see the quality and general character of such scholars increase.

I think that the world is moving in fits and starts into a time when coercion is less possible, and therefore attraction is necessary. There are deep wells of spiritual attraction in Judiasm, but beggars and ganifs are not attractive even to themselves.

2) An abridged version of ideas 8 was printed in the oped section of the Jeruslem Post this past Sunday. Thanks go to Tom Rose for his help in this.

(The views expressed in this essay do not necessarily reflect the views of Tzemach Dovid)