Rabbi Avraham Yosef Lazerson, the executive director of Chinuch Atzmai in Eretz Yisrael has called on Education Minister Gideon Saar to stay out of Chinuch Atzmai affairs since decisions regarding educational material in these schools are made by gedolei yisrael shlita, not by the government ministry.

A kenos of heads of chareidi mosdos was held in Yerushalayim last week ahead of the new school year and the main speaker was the education minister. The minister opted to use his address to enter a controversial area, expounding on his vision of proper education along with sharing his philosophy regarding what the standard of education should be.

“Contrary to former ministers of education who concerned themselves with the curriculum in state schools, I see my responsibilities as education minister demand my involvement in chareidi schools as well”.

He explained that he feels a responsibility to bring ‘core subjects’ to chareidi schools toward providing the children with the tools to integrate into society and the workforce one day.

Lazerson, who was apparently angered by the minister’s remarks, felt compelled to counter, explaining that in his school system, only gedolei yisrael will determine which subjects are taught to the talmidim.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)