Shas party leader Minister Aryeh Deri on Wednesday, 20 Kislev, met with the heads of Yahadut Hatorah, Minister Yaakov Litzman and MK Moshe Gafne, representing both the chassidic and litvish factions. On their agenda is the increasingly Ministry of Education Chareidi Unit involvement in chareidi schools and their curriculum.

Deri did however express criticism of Yahadut Hatorah for failing to update Shas regarding the ongoing battle with the Education Ministry concerning chareidi education. Deri told them that from what he has learned from Shas deputy mayors in a number of municipalities, the source of the trouble is Meir Shimoni, who heads the ministry’s chareidi unit but is also their address for issues pertaining to discrimination against Sephardi girls. Ironically, while Shimoni has elicited the ire of the Ashkenazi chareidim, he has championed Shas’ battle against discrimination in girl’s high schools.

In reality, Deri called the meeting in the hope of reaching an understanding with Yahadut Hatorah as they are now all aware a tender has been publicized as the ministry is seeking a new person to head its Chareidi Unit. The person in this position has the authority to authorize and cancel budgeting for chareidi schools and it is in the interest of all chareidi parties to see the correct person inserted in the post. Shimoni was appointed two years ago, and while viewed as hostile by Yahadut Hatorah, he has played a major role in compelling Ashkenazi girl’s high schools to accept Sephardi students who were rejected.

The opening of the position will possibly place Shas and Yahadut Hatorah in opposition with one another for Shas’ primary concern is to end discrimination while Yahadut Hatorah wants a candidate who will exhibit loyalty to the Ashkenazi chareidi party.

When asked to comment, officials in Deputy Minister of Education Meir Porush told the media “The minister does not become involved in a public tender…”

They three also discussed the critical housing shortage in the chareidi sector but their meeting in Deri’s Knesset office was cut short as they were all summoned to the plenum to take part in a number of votes.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)