The full Aaron Kotler interview

In keeping with our goal of providing a forum for discussion and understanding in our community. We present a special interview with Rabbi Aaron Kotler of Bais Medrash Govaha. Rav  Aaron welcomes The Voice’s suggestion that our readers have the opportunity to pose questions and comments to him on this interview; if necessary, a  follow-up article will be featured in the future Questions can be sent to info@thevoiceoflakewood.com.
H is job is widely considered to be the most difficult one in Lakewood.
Since 1995, Rabbi Aaron Kotler has been one of the key figures in practically every aspect of the Lakewood kehillah. He shepherd Bals Medrash Govoha (BMG) thorugh a period of extraordinary growth and has simultaneously helped build and lead the broader burgeoning Lakewood kehillah, both from communal and government-activist perspectives.
While Rabbi Kotler is no stranger to our readers, he has stuck to low media profile regarding the subtleties of his work and the evolving Lakewood scene, leaving many of his activities prone to speculation and endless discussion. Recently, This hard-working figure graciously granted The Voice a rare extensive interview, where he candidly shared his reflections and perspectives on his very consequential role in our community.
RETURNING SCION
As the youngest child of the Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Shneur Kotler, zt”l, Rabbi Kotler’s Lakewood roots are ingrained in his being.
Nevertheless, he relates that he never originally envisioned himself holding this position.
Rav Aaron spent much of his younger years in yeshivas and kollelim outside Lakewood. As a youngerman, he spent his first five years of marriage in Eretz Yisroel, where he learned by Hagaon Harav Yotzchok Soloveitchik, shlita, and began a successful stint as a kiruv rebbe in Yeshiva Aish Hatorah. In 1991, the Kotlers moved to south Fallsburg, where Rav Aaron joined yeshiva Gedolah Zichron moshe’s Kollel. While in kollel, he continuously proved his business acumen and passion for kiruv and askanus, through various endeavors that included the clever resurrection of a failing Orthodox Mount Kisco, new York shul that was slated to be overtaken by a Conservative Congregation and is now a thriving from kehillah.
Then, in 1995, came the phone call.
Several prominent Lakewood askanim called Rav Aaron and requested that he return to Lakewood and help lead BMG out of its financial hardships. Although this turn of events was not where he saw his efforts headed, and it meant scrapping many of his other activities, Rabbis Kotler wouldn’t simply decline to tend to the needs of the mosad built by the sweat and blood of his venerable ancestors.
He says, “As Always, I contacted others of guidance. I spoke to Rabbi Naftali Neuberger, zt”l,  of yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Baltimore and ybl”c, Rabbi Avrohom Fruchthandler of Yeshiva Chaim Berlin, among others.  For their experienced perspectives. I decided to accept the challenge and follow the steps they outlined to help address the severe challenges then facing BMG.”
AIMING UP
As they say, the rest is history.
Rabbi kotler assumed his role at BMG and began a quest that has transformed Lakewood and the global yeshiva world. The yeshiva’s infrastructure went from two main and two secondary batel medrashim to its current seven main and seven secondary batl medrashim, plus three additional major buildings, totaling nearly 100,000 square feet slated to be occupied by BMG talmidim in the next few years. The list of talmidim gre from about 1,500 to 6,250 kein yirbu, and the number of chaburos went from a handful to 265. Twenty communities around the world have been built or revitalized through new BMG kollelim during the part seven year alone, with hundreds of yungeleit having moved from Lakewood to help build torah across the country.
Despite the ensuing economic crises in recent years, finances for BMG’s roughly $25 million annual operating budget, half of which is secured through annual fundraising, have been tight but stable, with staff and yungeleit receiving on-time, uninterrupted payment for nearly a decade and the size of the kollel’s payroll growing by large numbers each year.
Robbi Kotler relates that despite today’s challenging economic circumstances and the common perception that the kollel revolution symbolized by Lakewood has lost some of its steam, BMG’s future is strong. “We follow the numbers very closely. The net growth in the amount of BMG talmidim is over 7% a year, and that number has been consistent. Yungeleit and their families are still extremely dedicated to Torah as a long-term extremely dedicated to Torah as a long-term focus, and this hasn’t diminished. BMG has been in existence for almost 2% of Klal Yisroel’s entire history, and we have, b’siyatta d’Shmaya, perhaps the greatest makom Torah since Surya and Pumpedusa and one of the greatest in the history of klal yisroel. I believe that the hasmadah in yeshiva today is even greater than when I was a bochur.” Once all of Yeahiva’s planned construction will ly”H be completed, its buildings (including the Princeton Avenue building) will have a combined capacity to accommodate at least 8,000 talmidim.
Can one yeshiva optimally serve such a large student body?
Rav Aaron explains that much thinking and many steps are implemented to help perfect its suitability. “ When a mosad, or l’havdil, a business grows very large, it requires ‘ scalability’. BMG’s scalability is through its 265 chaburos, led by the world’s best roshei chaburah, who are devoted and cater to the individual need of their bochurim and yungeleit, and as a result, increasing numbers of the roshei chaburah are on our payroll. We have now likewise increased the number of poskim on the payroll from four to eleven and plan on adding more. As relates to the community around the Yeshiva, Ibelieve that as the kehillah grows in age and size, our many community rabbanim will hold an in creasingly crucial role in leading out kehillah.”
“RUACH HATORAH”
While Rabbi Kotler’s hands-on, detail-oriented management skills and astute planning are renowned for their effectiveness, he points to other factors as the primary catalysts for BMG’s Strengths.
Reflecting upon his early Lakewood years, Rav Aaron says, “When I returned to Lakewood in 1995, there was a pervasive attitude of yiush regarding the yeshiva’s future in the world.”
He explains that the root of the doom and gloom was twofold. “People believed that the financial challenges were too steep for us to be able to support larger numbers of bnei Torah. Additionally, there was lots of negativity within the frum world regarding kollel yungeleit and Lakewood in particular, which made gathering support very difficult.”
The practical turnaround of Lakewood’s fortunes over the past decade or so is obvious to all. Rabbi Kotler, who spends a significant chunk of his year interacting with people from across America, relates that he sees a change in the underlying attitude as well. “Today, most people feel a sense of pride when discussing bnei Torah. It’s much rarer to hear rude sentiments when referring to yungeleit. It has mostly become an embarrassment to even say such things, which wasn’t so even ten years ago. There is also the practival realization that for any Torah community to flourish, it needs to have a strong body of yungeleit upon which to center itself”.
Rabbi Kotler credits BMG’s supportive Board of Governors and its highly active Executive Committee, comprised of young and seasoned baalebatim from Lakewood and other communities, which he assembled, for helping infuse an aura of optimism and growth regarding the Yeshiva and kolleleit, an attitude that has spread far beyond our community’s confines.
Beaming with pride, he relates that he has repeatedly witnessed this positive attitude from some
surprisinig sources as well. “We’ve had many prominent Yidden come visit the Yeshiva, such as media
mogul Mort Zuckerman, New Jersey Supreme Court chief Justice Stuart Rabner and New Jersey Health commissioners Fred Jacobs and Cliff Lacey. They were literally blown away by what they saw; some were in tears. The simchas hachaim evident on the faces of lomdei haTorah is unmistakable and recognizable to all.”
With a heavy dose of sentimentality, Rav Aaron relates childhood memories of his great father for additional insight.”My father, zt”l, would always straighten his hat before leaving home. He said that aben Torah must look honorable and feel pride. The zaida and my father, zt”l, are products of Slabodka, where they placed great emphasis on the kavod of a ben Torah; this is a major component of Lakewood’s history.”
PERFECTING THE SYSTEM
Despite the tremendous progress he sees in the perception of bnei Torah, Rabbi Kotler relates that other than the limitations it places on his ability to spend time with his family, hearing judgmental attitudes about Lakewood yungeleit remains the greatest frustration of his wide-ranging job. Complaints range from the frugal lifestyle it imposes on families, to the ironically lack of sacrifice in the more upscale lifestyle of some other yungeleit. Some people insist that there are kollel yungeleit who aren’t devoted enough to their learning and others lament the fact that yungeleit receive financial support.
Rabbi Kotler, toward whom criticism of the kollel system” is often directed, believes that most of these sentiments are a result of looking at only part of a whole picture  and that complaints notwithstanding, the Torah society of today is vastly superior to any other society or system that should be made? Yes and they will mostly happen. I believe that, oftentimes, the people who express such sentiments don’t have real negative feelings about kollel. Their critiques come from a good place: truly caring about Torah and our community’s future.” He adds that “there are those who speak up, and also get involved. Both are warmly listened to, although those who get involved will naturally achieve much and have a greater impact.”
“Look at the overall picture. Our system is beautiful and is the pride of Klal Yisroel. Of course, yungeleit can have their ups and downs in learning, but their dedication to a life of Torah is real. Even yungeleit who live a higher lifestyle than in Previous years are mostly not living a life luxury or wasting money on thrills and frills.”
As for yungeleit being supported in learning, he offers a metaphor to a military veteran. “The veteran, even thought he is not currently serving, will not resent the fact that a soldier on the battlefield isn’t economically productive; they’re fiercely proud of those who have stepped up to serve the noble missions that benefit all and that protect our entire value system. The tachlis of the beriyah is for limud ha Torah. Bnei Torah are fulfilling the primary mission of all of Klal Yisroel every day.”
One complaint that he frequently hears is that “children can’t get accepted into Lakewood schools.” Yet he believes that this misses the most essential fact: “Lakewood is the only kehillah that has a vaad specifically established to ensure that all local children are placed in schools, even if it means the schools being unable to open until they’re placed. Due to our exponential growth, bli ayin hora, there is a shortage of school space, but we have nothing to be ashamed of regarding taking care of our kehillah’s children. Rabbis Yossi Atlas, Menashe Frankel and Tzvi Rosen and other askanim work tirelessly to ward that end.
When all the complaints are said and done, Rabbi Kotler relates that the proof of how important yungeleit are to the future of Klal Yisroel is in the pudding. “Wherever I go, in a cross section of kehillos, I’m asked about how to replicate Lakewood’s success in attracting bnei Torah. This attracts Yidden of all ages, including baalebatim.”
COMMUNITY ACTIVISM
Since Rabbi Kotler’s 1995 return to Lakewood, the kehillah has grown from roughly 1,500 families and less than 8,000 individuals to nearly 10,000 families and more than 50,000 individuals, bli ayin hora, with an addition of roughly 700 families a year. Whereas yungeleit who left yeshiva have historically left Lakewood, approximately 80% of those leaving now remain in the kehillah.  As a full-fledged Ihr V’eim B’yisroel, Lakewood’s needs far targeted toward BMG and its current talmidim.
Rabbi Kotler relates that a significant chunk of his day is spent involved in askanus for individuals and mosdos (both within and outside of Lakewood) unrelated to his work for BMG, a mesorah that He observed from his father, z”tl, and that he sees daily through the current Roshei yeshiva and the Mashgiach, shlita. It is this very askanus that has grown significantly more complicated along with Lakewood’s growing size and diversity. The needs of kollel yungeleit and the growing segment of baalebatim at times seem divergent. The Vaad (which was established by the directive of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Malkiel kotler, shlit”a) has been the recipient of criticism from those claiming its policies have failed to lower property taxes and inadequately cater to other interests of homeowners and businessmen in favor of policies that more narrowly benefit the yeshiva community.
Rabbi Kotler, a leading Vaad member, acknowledges the broad kehillah’s evolving needs, but insists that Vaad members are attuned to everyone’s needs. “All of the programs that we’ve implemented, such as affordable housing, health-care coverage, special education, and other support for the moodos of Lakewood, were in response to requests from large groups within the kehillah. We also spent much effort successfully increasing the amount of state Aid for Lakewood and its public-school district, adding tens and tens of millions of dollars indirect State support for Lakewood’s taxpayers that reduced the local tax levy. We spent much of our time on shtadlanus for mosdos hachinuch and chesed, for example spending hundreds of hours creating hatzolah’s Paramedic program and numerous others such programs.
“Now, with the current economic climate, we have more people who want to see serious cutting of municipal and school-district spending  as the primary focus, and we respect that and are focused on that. No drastic changes happen overnight, but the needs of our entire kehillah are always paramount and are what guides us.”
It is no secret that the Vaad has two high-profile instances where candidates they endorsed lost or received only some support from frum Lakewood voters, leading some to claim that there is a disconnect between the askanim and the kehillah’s diverse needs.
Rabbi Kotler admits that those Vaad’s endorsements were politically unpopular, but points to another motivation. “Elected officials know that we have principles, and we don’t sell them for political expediency. When we owe an official hakaras hatov for consistently helping the kehillah, we won’t abandon him, even if it’ll hurt us. For instance, in the last gubernatorial election, we felt the need to endorse former Governor Jon Corzine for being responsive to our community’s needs, despite the backlash that Governor Christie is in office; we have an open door with him, even though we didn’t support him. He knows that we act honestly and honorably and that we don’t ditch friends when times are tough. Our aim is always to be ‘Nekiim imhashem u’miYisroel.””
Whatever the justifications, it is widely agreed upon that the Vaad would require a shakeup in order for it to have long-term viability. Rabbi Kotler fully concurs, but advises that it be done wisely. “The kehillah must be visibly united. If we lose our achdus, we lose our clout. We actively encourage the tzibbur to join us in building a broader based Vaad and to step up and add new voices to the scene. I believe that our local rabbanim and dayanim also have a crucial role to play in shaping our future as a united kehillah.”
When discussing the changes for the future, Rabbi Kotler is particularly disturbed when the goodwill of his fellow Vaad members is impugned. “Whatever one’s opinion of specific Vaad decisions, no one can ignore the fact that the Vaad has always been comprised of volunteers who received no compensation for their work and worked tirelessly for the needs of the kehillah and its individual members. An infrastructure for 50,000 frum Yidden in a town wasn’t achieved overnight, and it did not arise on its own. Lakewood has seen the creation of new housing for Thousands and thousands of families; the construction of two hundred new shuls and of 100-plus new mosdos hachinuch; and the development of wonderful, strong social-service agencies for our families’ needs.  All of this took years of dedicated face of huge and sometimes fierce opposition to the growth of our community.
“The opposition to the growth of our community is not new. Go back to the 1980s, when Khal Zichron Shneur wanted to build its original shul; they faced a long, costly legal batter with lost of opponents. Over the years, we have led the way in ful-filling the needs of our kehillah. There is not Yid in Lakewood who is not directly benefiting in countless ways each and every day of their lives from these efforts,”
ACKNOWLEDGING THE BENFITS
Rabbi Kotler stresses that BMG and its talmisim’s contribution to Lakewood, government officials as  well“ The yeshiva is directly re sponsible construction over the past few years; housing starts in Lakewood are more than six times the county average, even during this difficult economic climate, and for the last fifteen years, Lakewood has been a state leader in economic development and new construction We have commissioned a detailed study to assess the full positive economic impact of our kehillah, looking at wealth created, jobs created, taxes paid and homes built. We don’t it’s huge, far more than anything we get back in return. In addition our families are creating economic wealth and running successful, innovative businesses in practically every filed from small businesses to large corporations, driving the regional economy.”
He encourages people to keep economic impact in mind when contemplating the very few benefits the BMG itself has received, either directly or indirectly. “when people, for instance, ask about the fact that Lakewood designated a small piece of land for a parking lot, which has been paid for by federal and not local funding, they might want to consider the following: ‘Is this a fair partnership? Is the support of providing parking appropriate relative to the economic benefits that it brings? ‘Such a public-private Partnership in building a town is very common,  and towns take pride in their communities and institutions, NYC ;  New Brunswick, NJ; Easton, PA – look around the country Towns that want to see economic benefits will partner with those who bring benefits, so that all gain as a result.
The one larger deal that Cedarbridge Development (an arm of BMG) has undertaken in partnership with the Township is also poised to greatly benefit the entire Lakewood economy. At the time of the original Cedarbridge deal in 2000, selling Township land on Cedar Bridge Avenue caused a net loss to the Township as the Township had to put in the roads and infrastructure before selling it at what then low value. The Township lost money on all those sales, which was the case for the entire Industrial Park. Contrast that with Cedarbridge, which has not cost the Township anything and whose huge regional infrastructure and improvements were the responsibility of Cedaridge and were installed at Zero Cost to the tax payer.
In light of all the  progress that marks the first fifteen years of this role at BMG, Rabbi Kotler relaters that he still sees much work ahead, including increasing opportunities, both in the areas of kodesh and chol, for yungeleit who whish to leave the yeshiva.
As for the many critiques he has heard over the years, Rav Aaron says that he always appreciates hearing reviews, even from those  who disagree with him, and that while sometimes people might get worked up and express themselves with anger, he bears no gruge. ‘Iwas taught by my father,  zt’l, to follow the Rambam: If someone attacks you, don’t respond in kind They’re entitled to their opinion, and it should not cause me to waver from doing what is right, so long as I remain true to the mission established by my father and zaida, zt’l’
In addition to the knowledge that he is helping fulfill his ancestors’ dream of spreading Torah in America and beyond, Rabbi Kotler notes another reminder that energizes him through an overwhelming and challenging career. “I get such nachas when cars belonging to yungeleit learning in the Forest Avenue Bais Medrash on the Yeshiva’a new Klwinman Family Campus pile up near my home. I don’t even get upset at those blocking my driveway a bit. Just seeing our bnei Torah running to the bais medrash makes it all worth it’
Source: The Voice of Lakewood Oct. 8 2010

Voice of Lakewood Article

First and foremost we have to say Rabbi Kotler is way out of touch with the public in Lakewood. both people learning in Kollel and also those who have left the Bais Medrash full time.

We have to give him credit for defending himself. however the man clearly does not smell the coffee

#1 from the article we see he personally does not give a flip that people are suffering from high taxes he just answers it like I hear people out there are concerned by a high tax burden he clearly does not think this is a priority he is not even sympathetic to the hard working baal habos or kollel man who owns a home and is struggling to pay his bills and buy food, clothes, and pay tuition and at the same time has to pay for others day care, support a culture of corruption and general government mismanagement.

Rabbi Kotler is so busy defending himself that he does not bother to answer peoples concerns
he brushes aside all attempts to address the real issues. Well this will not work I thought some meager posturing on the issues was do. Well I'm very disappointed shame on him for not even beginning to address the Tziburs now very vocal complaints