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Jerusalem - Unrecognized Charedi Schools Will Not Be Budgeted In Children's Allowances |
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Illustration photo: Dudi Vaknin)
Whatever school the child is studying in obviously has nothing to do with the fact that he still has to be fed and clothed. That Israel's Basic Laws guarantee freedom and equality to all citizens obviously hasn't made an impression on the heartless Treasury mandarins.
The gedolim set up the chareidi community's schools at the beginning of the State so they were not under government auspices. The farsighted reason for this was to prevent hostile secular forces from meddling in the curriculum and thereby gaining control of the children.
Chinuch Atzmai, where almost all chareidi girls and many elementary school age boys study, is a private association which received partial government funding in a "special allocations" budget after wearying yearly horsetrading between the chareidi MKs, their coalition members and Treasury officials. When Shas's El Maayan came on the scene two decades ago, they also received government funds in this manner. These schools are termed in Treasury jargon "unofficial but recognized," and they comprise today close to 25% of all Jewish children studying in the State.
In addition to those studying in these school systems, there are many thousands more who are studying in private schools which are termed "unofficial and unrecognized." These are the schools of the separatist Aida Hachareidis, which do not recognize the State and refuse to take State funds, such as Satmar, Toldos Aaron, Shomrei Emunim, Breslav, Toldos Avrohom Yitzchak, Dushinsky, Bnos Yerushalayim, Chinuch Yerushalayim, Mishkan Sara, Bnos M'lochim, Rachmistrevke, Mesilas Yesharim, Meah Shearim, etc.
A year ago, a demonstration was held at the Ramat Tamir hotel in Jerusalem celebrating the 150 years Yerushalmi psak against allowing modern studies in the cheder school system. Over eight thousand boys studying in such schools around the country participated. Such schools for both girls and boys are located mainly in Jerusalem, but also in Bnei Brak, Tsefas, Beitar, Elad, and Bet Shemesh.
It is these children which the new budget criteria are seeking to disenfranchise and thereby save the State another few hundred thousands of shekels.
Other children will fall under this guillotine too. For instance, children who were enrolled in a new school which didn't yet receive Education Ministry approval will not be eligible. In new chareidi areas where many young couples have moved in and Talmud Torahs mushroom from year to year, getting official recognition can sometimes take years while the Education Ministry flaunts its discretionary power and mounts difficulties.
The coalition agreements with the chareidi parties stipulate that the Children's Allowances will rise slightly for large families over the next few years. But the MKs failed to notice the sneaky budget criterion passed by the government which was formulated in Clause 3, paragraph 2-3 and says that the allowances will not apply:
"If the child does not regularly learn in an educational institution, according to its definition in the Compulsory Study Law, or if he is not registered in such an educational institution.."
Several hundred shekels of a family's income in these difficult economic times can be the difference between survival and crisis. Although many of the separatist groups will not take state funding for their schools, on a personal basis, as taxpayers like everyone else, the majority do take Children's Allowances and other government stipends.
An askan who became aware of the nefarious criterion called upon the chareidi MKs to wake up and fix the unjust measure.
We asked Reb Yoel, an Aida Hachareidis askan, how his public can call upon the chareidi MKs to change the budget in their favor, when they're not even willing to vote them into the Knesset.
"It's the Aida who fights all the chareidi community's battles for Yiddishkeit," he explained. "Who led the battles against autopsies, grave diggings, missionaries, chillul Shabbos? When they need demonstrators, who do they turn to? The Gerrer chassidim, the Ponovezhers and Chevroners -- or the Aidaniks? We take over the main battles and free them up for attending to the economics so at least let them do that."
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Read Comments (22) — Post Yours »
1
May 24, 2009 at 12:51 PM REB Dovid Says:
if you want the states money, you need to adhere to the rules. period. its not a scheme but manadatory law. if one chooses to be in system that distances it self from the state then you should distance yourself from the states money too. no wonder people dislike you!!!be fair!
2
May 24, 2009 at 12:20 PM Anonymous Says:
about time they started cracking down so called schools
3
May 24, 2009 at 01:19 PM rules are rules Says:
There should be a criteria as there is in everything, getting a drivers license equals taking a prelicensing course. Getting grant $$$ equals fulfilling qualifications. If the Tosh chasidim were able to add secular studies to their program as an adherence to the law and to get government $$$$$ then do it or else dont receive the bucks.
4
May 24, 2009 at 01:41 PM Anonymous Says:
You obviously do not live in Israel. Unfortunately many of these people making the laws hate frum Jews, and are trying to do all they can to make the frum people's lives difficult. This is the only reason they put in this clause.
5
May 24, 2009 at 01:55 PM Anonymous Says:
This is plain anti-chareidi. The child's allowance's are to help bring up the kids and are in every european country. Whats the difference which scholl a child learns in or even if the child is home-scholled, the parents are entitled to the child allowance.
If this decree was done to the arabs - who dont pay any taxes and many also dont send to registered schools - there would be an outcry.
Most chareidi people everyehere dont send to a state registered school, just as in NY and Lakewood the schools are not registered. Its not only the Eida-nickers that dont send to the registered schools but also the regular frum (orthordox and mizrachi and dati) that dont send to registered schools.
Eli, Baitar, Israel
6
May 24, 2009 at 02:19 PM Boroch Says:
“ if you want the states money, you need to adhere to the rules. period. its not a scheme but manadatory law. if one chooses to be in system that distances it self from the state then you should distance yourself from the states money too. no wonder people dislike you!!!be fair! ”
You are fully wrong. The child stipend is given even to the arab sector (murderers). It has nothing to do if they recognize the state or not. The state of Israel has only brought fear and uncertainty to the Jewish People.
7
May 24, 2009 at 02:09 PM mottel Says:
#1 #2 #3 What the smack does the school a child is sent to by his parents, have to do with his basic survival. The government allocates money to poorer families so that children can be fed and clothed....irrespective of ideology.
Do you think they ask the arabs and bedouin whether their schools are aproved? They scramble to pour money into their bloody jabaliyas
8
May 24, 2009 at 01:59 PM Anonymous Says:
The child allowance is an eduecational grant -- its plain and simple a monetry allowance for having kids.
Plain and simple this allowance is to help people bring up the kids akin to food stamps in the US (or Section 8 or WIC) and in the US if the government stopped food stamps to the poor that dont send to a governemnt school there would a huge cry of racism -- but in Israel all goes.
Again, the allowance is from birth to help people with children and has nothing to do with the eduecation. Only sinah for chareidim.
9
May 24, 2009 at 01:53 PM Anonymous Says:
“ You obviously do not live in Israel. Unfortunately many of these people making the laws hate frum Jews, and are trying to do all they can to make the frum people's lives difficult. This is the only reason they put in this clause. ”
let me ask u something. why is it ok for the government to reqire that your children get certain shots before u can bring them to school. I don't see u screaming about that. itsvery simple. u want money follow the required guide. don't like it open up your own place with your own money.
10
May 24, 2009 at 02:47 PM Anonymous Says:
"Whatever school the child is studying in obviously has nothing to do with the fact that he still has to be fed and clothed."
Actually, it has a whole lot to do with it. A Child who learns no secular academic subjects and cannot obtain market rate employment in the real world is going to have to be "fed and clothed," along with their equally ignorant offspring, forever. The State has a vested interest in deterring suicidal economic behavior. If the schools won't comply with academic education requirements, they are useless, and their students will be useless burdens on society.
11
May 24, 2009 at 03:01 PM Anonymous Says:
it is rather disturbing that the gov't wants to tie child allowances to schooling; that is blatant discrimination. however, maybe if some of the schools would teach the basic secular studies- of the sort that would be useful to making a parnossa- there would be less of a need for child allowances down the line. they should strike down this particular clause in the bill, but if they decide to stop funding schools that don't conform to the basic standard, go ahead.
12
May 24, 2009 at 05:00 PM Anonymous Says:
does this mean children not attending school YET also don't receive stipends?
13
May 24, 2009 at 04:54 PM chusid Says:
its about time that the state started cracking down on these people who know nothing but to take from society. In brooklyn all Talmud toras have some minimal sort of secular education. Shame on the chareidim in Israel that refuse to give their kids minimal tools to earn a living.
14
May 24, 2009 at 05:29 PM Leizer B. Says:
Most of the people who posted here are simply ignorant. I live in Israel, and send my children to Eide Chareidis Yeshivah's. I pay hundreds of shekel's per month for Bituach Leumi, which is the body responsible for Government health care and Children's Allowance. If I don't pay one month, I don't receive Children's Allowance for approximately the same amount I pay in. So basically I receive money because I pay into the system. That's about it.
Now they'll expect me to continue paying them, but will give me nothing in return? Why? because I don't want to raise my children according to their standards? And just look where their education system has gotten them. Should one forget about the fact that hundred's of thousand's of children here in the Holy land can't recite the first Pasuk of Krias Shma? Even in secular studies Israeli children trail any Goy'ishe country by far. They do however excel when it comes to violence in the classroom. In fact, they lead the way in that field.
Mr. Chusid said: "its about time the state started cracking down on these people who know nothing but to take from society". What kind of "chusid" are you anyway? A Chusid of whom? the Zionist entity? The worst defamation of G-D's name ever?
Do you know how many taxes any and every Israeli Citizen pays here? Whether in the Grocery, or when filling up a tank of Gasoline. "Taking from Society"? Who do you think heads the largest Chesed organizations in Israel?
Shame on you!
15
May 24, 2009 at 05:14 PM chusid Says:
its about time that the state started cracking down on these people who know nothing but to take from society. In brooklyn all Talmud toras have some minimal sort of secular education. Shame on the chareidim in Israel that refuse to give their kids minimal tools to earn a living.
16
May 25, 2009 at 05:48 AM zev Says:
“ Most of the people who posted here are simply ignorant. I live in Israel, and send my children to Eide Chareidis Yeshivah's. I pay hundreds of shekel's per month for Bituach Leumi, which is the body responsible for Government health care and Children's Allowance. If I don't pay one month, I don't receive Children's Allowance for approximately the same amount I pay in. So basically I receive money because I pay into the system. That's about it.
Now they'll expect me to continue paying them, but will give me nothing in return? Why? because I don't want to raise my children according to their standards? And just look where their education system has gotten them. Should one forget about the fact that hundred's of thousand's of children here in the Holy land can't recite the first Pasuk of Krias Shma? Even in secular studies Israeli children trail any Goy'ishe country by far. They do however excel when it comes to violence in the classroom. In fact, they lead the way in that field.
Mr. Chusid said: "its about time the state started cracking down on these people who know nothing but to take from society". What kind of "chusid" are you anyway? A Chusid of whom? the Zionist entity? The worst defamation of G-D's name ever?
Do you know how many taxes any and every Israeli Citizen pays here? Whether in the Grocery, or when filling up a tank of Gasoline. "Taking from Society"? Who do you think heads the largest Chesed organizations in Israel?
Shame on you! ”
the average eida charedis family does not pay tax, which means they are getting municipal services, roads, garbage, an army that protects them, and numerous other benefits for free Why should they get schooling, It does not make any sense, work, pay taxes and than get money for your schools
17
May 25, 2009 at 12:37 AM Charles Hall Says:
“ Most of the people who posted here are simply ignorant. I live in Israel, and send my children to Eide Chareidis Yeshivah's. I pay hundreds of shekel's per month for Bituach Leumi, which is the body responsible for Government health care and Children's Allowance. If I don't pay one month, I don't receive Children's Allowance for approximately the same amount I pay in. So basically I receive money because I pay into the system. That's about it.
Now they'll expect me to continue paying them, but will give me nothing in return? Why? because I don't want to raise my children according to their standards? And just look where their education system has gotten them. Should one forget about the fact that hundred's of thousand's of children here in the Holy land can't recite the first Pasuk of Krias Shma? Even in secular studies Israeli children trail any Goy'ishe country by far. They do however excel when it comes to violence in the classroom. In fact, they lead the way in that field.
Mr. Chusid said: "its about time the state started cracking down on these people who know nothing but to take from society". What kind of "chusid" are you anyway? A Chusid of whom? the Zionist entity? The worst defamation of G-D's name ever?
Do you know how many taxes any and every Israeli Citizen pays here? Whether in the Grocery, or when filling up a tank of Gasoline. "Taking from Society"? Who do you think heads the largest Chesed organizations in Israel?
Shame on you! ”
Your slander regarding the Israeli educational system is motzi shem ra, not lashan hara. The 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science
Study, summarized by the US National Center for Educational Statistics, showe dthat in math and science, Israel was below average -- but far better than many other countries. And it could easily be argued that the inferior math and science education in many religious schools was what drove Israel's scores down.
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009001.pdf
18
May 25, 2009 at 09:51 AM destro613 Says:
I think this is a good thing, it will force the orthodox jews to stop all the bickering and in fighting, and vote as a single block and get want they want. Also the 150 psak, was a shas hadchok and has no relevance on today. There is no way they any rabbi would tell tens of thousands to not get an education so they will not have the basic skills they need in order to get a job and support a family and instead will have to live off of handouts from everyone. This psak was done at a time when the community was extremely small and the "modern studies" in that time did not help with a job.
19
May 25, 2009 at 10:11 AM chusid Says:
“ Most of the people who posted here are simply ignorant. I live in Israel, and send my children to Eide Chareidis Yeshivah's. I pay hundreds of shekel's per month for Bituach Leumi, which is the body responsible for Government health care and Children's Allowance. If I don't pay one month, I don't receive Children's Allowance for approximately the same amount I pay in. So basically I receive money because I pay into the system. That's about it.
Now they'll expect me to continue paying them, but will give me nothing in return? Why? because I don't want to raise my children according to their standards? And just look where their education system has gotten them. Should one forget about the fact that hundred's of thousand's of children here in the Holy land can't recite the first Pasuk of Krias Shma? Even in secular studies Israeli children trail any Goy'ishe country by far. They do however excel when it comes to violence in the classroom. In fact, they lead the way in that field.
Mr. Chusid said: "its about time the state started cracking down on these people who know nothing but to take from society". What kind of "chusid" are you anyway? A Chusid of whom? the Zionist entity? The worst defamation of G-D's name ever?
Do you know how many taxes any and every Israeli Citizen pays here? Whether in the Grocery, or when filling up a tank of Gasoline. "Taking from Society"? Who do you think heads the largest Chesed organizations in Israel?
Shame on you! ”
With all due respect, Look where your educational system has gotten you. Nothing but schnorrers flooding our batei midrashim begging for hachnosas kalla. Whens the last time you guys had an American schnorrer bothering you during davening???
20
May 25, 2009 at 12:21 PM destro613 Says:
I think this is a good thing, it will force the orthodox jews to stop all the bickering and in fighting, and vote as a single block and get want they want. Also the 150 psak, was a shas hadchok and has no relevance on today. There is no way they any rabbi would tell tens of thousands to not get an education so they will not have the basic skills they need in order to get a job and support a family and instead will have to live off of handouts from everyone. This psak was done at a time when the community was extremely small and the "modern studies" in that time did not help with a job.
21
May 25, 2009 at 12:15 PM Anonymous Says:
“ With all due respect, Look where your educational system has gotten you. Nothing but schnorrers flooding our batei midrashim begging for hachnosas kalla. Whens the last time you guys had an American schnorrer bothering you during davening??? ”
You'd better hope the RBS"O doesn't think like you. Maybe He doesn't like being bothered by YOUR shnorring from Him not just during davening but the ENTIRE davening.
22
May 25, 2009 at 02:51 PM destro613 Says:
I think this is a good thing, it will force the orthodox jews to stop all the bickering and in fighting, and vote as a single block and get want they want. Also the 150 psak, was a shas hadchok and has no relevance on today. There is no way they any rabbi would tell tens of thousands to not get an education so they will not have the basic skills they need in order to get a job and support a family and instead will have to live off of handouts from everyone. This psak was done at a time when the community was extremely small and the "modern studies" in that time did not help with a job.