Mekubal HaRav Yaakov Adas spoke with Kikar Shabbos News, joining the growing number of chareidim criticizing the Ministry of Education, which they accuse of trying to interfere in chareidi education.
Rav Adas explained “I am speaking in general. Nothing I say contradicts the words of Gedolei Yisrael. I am not getting into details. I am a student of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita. I accept anything he says”.
Rav Adas explained that what is indisputable is the government involvement and the ongoing effort to impact chareidi education. “There are differences of agreement between Gedolei Yisrael as how to combat this, but the problem is not disputed”.
Rav Adas then spoke of earlier periods when bnos yisrael were compelled to abandon their modest attire in their hope of changing the chareidi community. He feels the situation today is reminiscent of this.
“There can be no doubt the education system is trying to change us. I hear this from them. There are two things in particular that have them bothered, like a bone in their throat. The gender separation between men and women is intolerable to them and the second matter, the chareidi approach that Torah is supreme to all else, and this includes working people. They are bothered that we view all they do as nonsense”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
“… earlier periods when bnos yisrael were compelled to abandon their modest attire …”
I didn’t know about this. Did the government once dictate what clothing bnos yisroel could wear? This sounds terrible.
I believe he means when the government wanted to mandate Sheirut Leumi for the bnos yisroel. The Chazon Ish ztzvk”l and other gedolim fought tooth and nail against it saying it was “yaharog vial yaavor” Rav Adas probably said they tried to compel them to abandon their standards of tzniyus and it was translated as they were compelled to abandon their modest attire.
I don’t understand this. The Chazon Ish ztzvk”l fought against army service for women, but not sheirut leumi. In sheirut leumi, for which the government pays living expenses, transportations, and others, young women can work in a wide range of very kosher jobs — they can teach in schools, organize youth groups, teach yiddishkeit in irreligious schools, working hospitals, helping handicapped people, go abroad to each yiddishkeit, and many other options. What would be the problem for young chareidi girls to spend a year or two in these crucial jobs? What is the connection to tzniyus?