In a very important decision, the Jerusalem District Court has ruled in favor of the Central Association of Talmidei Torah, supporting the latter’s right to run, supervise and represent talmidei Torah and not compelling it to limit its position to being subordinate one to the Ministry of Education. The decision will most likely have saved thousands of talmidei torah from closure or being taken over by Education Minister Rabbi Shai Piron, who has been seeking to usurp the association’s control by citing legal issues with the current arrangement in a hope of influencing chareidi education.

The ministry told the court that the umbrella organization is illegal and it must be dismantled. Attorneys for the Central Association of Talmidei Torah argued the organization is professional and permits maximizing services and spending of funding, resulting in maximum education and services while lowering the costs in a number of areas including manpower.

The court’s decision compels the ministry to recognize the umbrella organization and work with it, thwarting Piron’s plan to take control of the chareidi talmidei torah B”H. The umbrella organization has been in existence for decades, today representing thousands of talmidei torah.

Justice Naveh Ben-Ohr has harsh words for the minister and his ministry for seeking to undermine the basic rights of these schools and the organization which has been in place for decades.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)