Israel – At a special Knesset session addressing the ongoing education crisis Wednesday, PM Ehud Olmert noted that the longstanding problems facing Israel’s education system cannot be easily resolved. Join our WhatsApp group
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“Do you think that a 20-year crisis can be magically mended with a single resolution, with a single strike?” Olmert asked the Knesset plenum, not sparing jabs at the MKs who petitioned for the special Knesset session but failed to attend it. The special Knesset meeting was called following a petition by 40 MKs, as indicated by the Basic Law: The Government.
Olmert also implied that the education crisis did not begin during his term his office, and thus runs far too deep to be ‘magically’ resolved with a single Knesset bill or resolution.
“Let’s put all of our cards on the table,” said the PM, “whoever thinks that a single political resolution, a single strike can reverse this state of affairs overnight is simply kidding themselves.”
The prime minister spared no punches for haredi education in particular. Addressing MK Yakov Litzman of United Torah Judaism, Olmert stated:” I will tell you what I had told your colleagues before…. If you (haredim) were allowed to run the haredi education system you would destroy it, because you would only hurt one another.”
Olmert furthermore noted: “The haredi children in Jerusalem had always thanked me for managing their education and said that they were lucky that I was not haredi. Only a secular Jew can manage Haredi education with any semblance of integrity.” [ynet]
What’s more distressing than Olmert’s comments is the nature of the discussion on his comments.
Thank G-d that no knives were confiscated in Haredi schools – but if that’s not a problem then let’s face the actual problems truthfully and realistically! No-one wins by trying to relativise the situation. The fact is that, no matter how strong our bitachon, we are explicitly instructed NOT to rely on miracles. That means we have to ensure that our children receive the best possible education so that one day they can provide for their children rather than spend their free time trying to squeeze every possible penny out of the State and charities. Science, maths, technology, English, geography – not to mention a wide variety of vocational subjects such as accounting, computer programming, opthalmology and even secretarial/administrative studies – can be successfully incorporated into the most rigorous Haredi system. Let’s breath life into the whole Haredi community (including those sections that aren’t cut out for full time Yeshiva/Kollel learning) rather than try to preserve it in amber.
I HATE TO SAY THIS ABOUT A FELLOW
JEW. BUT OLMART IS A LOOSER.
HE SEE,S THE FAULTS IN OTHERS.BUT PERFECTION IN HIMSELF.
HITLERS SON PERSONALLY MAKES ME SICK. HE,S UGLY INSIDE IN OUT.
AND HE HATE JEWS.
I MUST ADMIT OLMERT IS RIGHT ON THIS ONE..LETS SHAPE UP, FOR STARTERS WE NEED TO REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. LETS BE OPEN MINDED, AND ONLY LOOK FOR THE BEST FOR OUR KIDS…
As one who lives here in Israel there are problems with Haredi educ mostly Ashk vs Seph BUT the Chilonim have no right to say any thing about us- if we have spots on our clothes they are covered with mud e.g. violence/ drugs/ teacher harassment/ test grades lower thand charedi schools etc. I KNow-my friends teach in their schools and its a joke
To Anon 6:48 PM:
Whether you like or not Eretz Yisroel belongs to every Jew in the world, not just those living there.
this man is nuts!
Integrity. A person who grew up dirt poor, never held a private sector job and by his own account a “very wealthy man.” That is Ehud Olmert.
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Not 100% true. Shmolmert was a shyster lawyer in private practice, who used his political connections for all kinds of shady deals during the 80’s. Simultaneously, he enriched himself even more when in Knesset.
A real tzaddik, of the sort that is prefaced by the letter which is gematriya 80.
Integrity. A person who grew up dirt poor, never held a private sector job and by his own account a “very wealthy man.” That is Ehud Olmert. Whever he says anything, it is usually to promote his ego or agenda, never anything with integrity. You got very far in life by your fraud and your lies. Unlike the Israeli public, we can see through your grandstanding.
You know, the term Zionist is a bit passe. Enough with the whining and on with tachlis. Kudos to the Israelis here who are not afraid to tell it like it is. A breath of fresh air.
TO OU SAID…
Move to Israel, pay the taxes , send your kids to the army and then you can criticize proposals about dividing Jerusalem.
Walk the walk , not just talk the talk.
As a member of the chareidi community here in Israel, I can honestly say that whatever negative feelings I have against Olmert, THIS TIME HE IS 100% CORRECT.
The truth hurts.
Right, Ehud.
Only someone like you who is under investigation for fraud can manage an education system with “integrity”. . . .
Anonymous said…
THE WATCHMAKER said…
EVEN A BROKEN CLOCK IS CORRECT TWICE A DAY
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wtf?
January 2, 2008 1:46 PM
It means that Olmart being farkrumpt doesn’t mean he is always wrong and this might be the time he is correct.
Now that I elaborated on what I meant, can you explain the term “wtf”?
The Orthodox Union and our constituency – who care passionately for Israel and pray toward and for the welfare of Jerusalem daily – are deeply troubled by the statements by Prime Minister Olmert conceding the re-division of Jerusalem.
The Prime Minster stated that he is prepared to re-divide the city because “the world that is friendly to Israel… that really supports Israel, when it speaks of the future, it speaks of Israel in terms of the ’67 borders. It speaks of the division of Jerusalem.” This is plainly not correct. To take Israel’s leading ally, where we and our constituents reside, as the example: U.S. President George W. Bush, while consistently calling for the creation of a Palestinian state has not called for East Jerusalem to be handed over to the Palestinians for their capital.
We would hope and expect the Israeli Prime Minister to be fighting for Jewish sovereignty over our holiest city – not abandoning it.
We call upon Prime Minister Olmert to serve the cause of the Jewish people in Israel and throughout the world, past – present – and future generations, and fight for Jerusalem to remain the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel and the Jewish people.
THE WATCHMAKER said…
EVEN A BROKEN CLOCK IS CORRECT TWICE A DAY
—————
wtf?
HOW MAYNY TIMES DID WE SEE THAT
RUHACH HAKOIDESH HOIFIA MIBEIS MEDRUSHOI SHEL RABAINU BAAL VYOEL MOSHE ZY”O WHAT THIS MEDINA HATMEIAH IS READY TO DO????!!!!!!!
EVEN A BROKEN CLOCK IS CORRECT TWICE A DAY
Isn’t it absolutely amazing how frumme/haredi Zionists are more devoted to the Medinah than the non-religious Zionists, no matter how often the Zionists insult and demean Yiddishkeit? Do frum Zionists have no self-respect at all other than how much M O N E Y they can get from the Zionist regime? Is there more to life than MONEY from the Zionists?!
u self hating jews are sick olmert did not mean to say that they can not mannege the financial’s he ment to say about the cinuch part so stop to defand this antisemit
He is absolutely right. If he left it to us haredim we would just destroy the education system.
the satmar ruv was right! they will still get involved in our chinuch!
What a joke. I can’t decide To laugh or to cry.
Yes he is right that the haredim would get on each others throat. They would favor their own mosdos. They would be selective who can and who cannot attend a perticular cheder, school, yeshiva or sem, which is sad, very sad. But to have them manage our chinuch? Are you kdding? Do tell me how many knives guns, or whtever were confiscated in a haredi mosad compared to the secular sysem? How about the violence in the secullar schools? Do you really want them to be mechanech our children? Come on. Be realistic.
Olmert is 100% right. Unfortunately, and I say this as a member of the haredi community living in Yerushalayim, when the Haredim get power in a secular system, they simply abuse it. Ask anyone here who cannot get their child into a school. I am not talking about problem children or problem families, just regular kids from good regular families. The Haredi reaction to the Spinka Chillul Hashem says it all. Oh, and before you all come back and tell me he has not been found guilty of anything etc. etc. etc., just remember that I am one of you. I know what goes on. I know the cheating and fiddling that occurs on a day to day basis. None of this is considered a Chillul Hashem but if someone throws a pot of yoghurt at one of the “Torah leaders of the generation”, the world is going to come tumbling down.
its sad but he isnt wrong
Go Spika!
A model of integrity for the Haredi education system
Olmert is such a dictator. I would not be surprised if he would do whar Pakistan’s Musharaf did. I hope his faith ends up like Sharon’s, very soon.
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Anonymous said…
Oh my! Would someone care to explain why Haredi are unable to manage the education of their own children and what damage it would cause the Eretz Yisrael?
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Show me one ultra othodox school that manges to properly thier education. All they are interested is to get more money from the govnt. and to lune thier pockets.
he probably is right
He might be right
Oh my! Would someone care to explain why Haredi are unable to manage the education of their own children and what damage it would cause the Eretz Yisrael?