י״ז אב ה׳תשפ״ו | July 31, 2026
When the Rebbe Opposed the Founding of Touro College
Before founding Touro College, Dr. Bernard Lander presented his carefully designed plans to the Rebbe in yechidus. But the Rebbe responded with an objection he had not anticipated.
The Rebbe’s position against attending college is well known. The Rebbe repeatedly warned of the heretical environment and lack of moral standards in many colleges, which can pose a significant spiritual danger to those who attend.
Before establishing Touro College, Dr. Bernard Lander visited the Rebbe in yechidus and shared his plans, which included separate classes for men and women and careful selection of subjects taught. “I was sure that the Rebbe would be happy with it and give me his blessings,” he recounted.
However, the Rebbe requested that he not open the college.
“You’re opening the door for going to college at all,” the Rebbe said. “You have no guarantee that they will stay with you. One year they’ll go to your college, and then they’ll go to Columbia, Harvard, and so on. Once they get a ‘heter’ for your college, they’ll forget which college this allowance was intended for.
“So, you’re actually encouraging young people to go to secular college!”
(As heard from Reb Leibel Groner AH)
COMMENTS
Its interesting to note that many of my classmates at touro were Chabad. Many chasushuve erluch and chassidishe yidden can somone explain how this is possible? Is it different today
Why would it be different? Torah didn’t change. Having separate classes with selected subjects – only makes it the lesser of 2 evils relatively to a goyishe college R”L!
There’s still no heter to learn chochmos chitzonios by men or women and even l’shem parnosa because it’s מטמא חב”ד שבנפש
פרק ח תניא
Perhaps you should have a look inside before stating the exact opposite of what it says there.
The Rebbe’s objection to college was not because of chochmos chitzoniyos (which are allowed letzorech parnassa), but because of (1) the overall secular perspective and (2) the permissiveness.
Separate classes generally address the permissiveness, but the secular attitude is difficult to overall secular perspective is very hard to uproot. The confident attitude of science and its lack of submission to that which can’t be measured and proven (including Torah) is all pervasive, even among many “frum” professors. (How much more so in social sciences, which are heavily influenced by secular thinking.)
Regardless, the Rebbe’s objection in this story would apply to anything that resembles a college, because it could lead students further.
This story speaks of the founding of the college, not about attending it. The Rebbe was indeed against going to college, but this story is about something else.
as a proud graduate of Touro and my children attended we have no regrets. We have stable income and pay tuition and shul membership dues, BH. I believe, the Rebbe point was for an average person college is against chassidus. However, without an alternative Chabad makes up lots of seats in Touro. Very bad to compare 50-60 years ago yechidus until today. Rethink before you post!
1) “We have stable income” – Are you saying that somehow because it brings you an income it’s right? I can think of many incomes that aren’t suitable (whether themselves or because of what they require).
2) “for an average person college is against chassidus” – Who is not the “average person”? Who decides?
3) “Chabad makes up lots of seats in Touro” – Does that necessarily make it right?
4) “Very bad to compare 50-60 years ago yechidus until today” – That is somewhat of a reasonable argument. But how do we know? We do know what the Rebbe held then, but we don’t know for certain that it has changed.
I’m sorry to say this, but you seem to have absolutely no knowledge on the Rebbe’s opinion about attending college clearly spelled out in tens of sichos and many letters.
Your opinion that “Very bad to compare 50-60 years ago yechidus until today. Rethink before you post!” is strikingly reminiscent of the basis of conservative and reform movements, that Torah R”L is dated and therefore (will not continue the sentance).
Saying something doesn’t apply can only be made based off knowledge of the subject matter, and different CIRCUMSTANCES.
The dangers of the environment in college are much more relevant to the average college age student which is late teens. Once you’re an adult environment is much less relevant. (Especially because adults dislike associating with kids).
In general, college is not a standard value in our community and hopefully it never is. But it’s good to know that this option exists.
I do not have the documentation, but my recollection is that the Rebbe said it should be clear that Touro is an alternative to goiyishe college and not an alternative to yeshiva. Not related, but Touro gave many visas to many of the iranian teens which the rebbe brought out in 1979.
For anyone who thinks going to a jewish college with nor kefira or taruvos to learn a specific field in order to have a parnosa is wrong- check the rebbe’s letter about perek ches tanya in the back of chasiddus mevueres tanya volume 1. It has 6(!) scenarios in which it is mutar to learn chochmos chitzoniyus and it explains why the Ramabam and Ramban do not fit into any of these (the reason is that they did not learn for the sake of parnosa) any that is why tanya says that they are an exception because they were able to elevate it.
Dr. Lander came to the Rebbe to proudly share that he is opening a college alternative for those who would go to regular colleges, but now can do so without the issues of a secular institution.
The Rebbe did not encourage this, responding that in reality he is directing Yeshiva students to leave yeshiva for college – sending them down that direction (instead of what he thought – elevating people up from other colleges to a frum-run college).
Dr. Lander is quoted as acknowledging the truth of the Rebbe’s prediction (just look at who goes now!) but was not ready to shut it down.
(Source: Beis Moshiach magazine, 5779, article about college/limudei chol – to the best of my recollection)
The pshat in Tanya perek ח is that we are not on the level of the Rambam or Ramban and therefore chochmos chitzonios is off limits. See pirush רנ”ג – רב נחמן גולדשמיט on Tanya perek ח and ט which expounds upon this that even for parnosa is not allowed.
All this applies to adults too, as well as the precarious social scene on campuses and dormitories that the Rebbe elaborated against in likutey sichos chelek טו page 43.
Do we have evidence this story actually happened? Was he actually in Yechidus? Was someone else in the room with him, or did he tell this yechidus to someone?