Ask The Rabbi

Ask The Rabbi

category:  Dilemmas in Education

Studying in a place of immodesty and promiscuity

The Rav Name: Rabbi Yitzchak Arad

Is it permissible to study in a college where there is immodesty and promiscuity, if I am careful to behave according to Torah standards of sexual morality and am careful not to look at immodest sights?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe addressed the issue of studying at university on various occasions. I quote:


“Studying in universities and similar places is absolutely prohibited and dangerous (endangering oneself is even more severe than transgressing a prohibition), since the whole atmosphere and outlook is permeated with agnostic approaches to G-d’s Divine Providence. It is an accepted basic premise there that there is no force that intervenes with nature, and the greater part of the curricula deals with atheism, agnosticism, religions based on idol worship, etc.


“There are no standards of modesty, no threshold of behavior that presents a limit to any sort of relationship, and such limitations are scorned to the point of upholding and admiring the opposite of any limitations.


“The shocking state of affairs on campuses, in dormitories, places where people travel, etc., is known, and it is wiser not to go into detail!


“I [the Rebbe] am also familiar with the claim that ‘it will not happen to me … I will stand up to the test,’ and the answer to that claim is also known. Even a totally righteous person beseeches G-d at the beginning of each day and up until his/her 120th day on earth ‘and do not put me to the test’ … It is as clear as day that nowadays when there exists an option of learning in a religious university, permeated with belief in G-d, and upholding standards of modesty, this should be taken into account. Each person should consult his/her rabbi.”

Sources

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