In a major step towards permitting chareidi bnei Torah apply for a civil service position in local government, it has been decided to recognize years of Torah study as an equivalent to an academic degree. Until now, a chareidi ben Torah could not apply for a local government position without earning an academic degree.

Speaking with Kol Chai Radio on Tuesday morning 5 Menachem Av, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri told Betzalel Kahn he has been working on this since his first tenure some 25 years ago. He questions why a person obtaining a liberal arts bachelor’s degree would be more qualified for a job than a ben Torah but this is going to change.

According to the new arrangement reached with the Interior Ministry and the Civil Service Administration one is qualified under the new arrangement providing one meets the requirements as listed below;

· One who has Yoreh Yoreh semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel,

· Documentation to prove he learned in a yeshiva gedola and/or kollel for at least six years after the age of 18,

· One who has passed three of the semicha exams towards Yoreh Yoreh given by the Chief Rabbinate

Deri explains there are currently thousands of chareidim with semicha from the Chief Rabbinate and this opens many new job opportunities for them. Deri adds that continuing to study Torah is always the best option but for those who have to being earning a parnasa, this he feels will provide new opportunities that were not an option in the past.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)