The Jerusalem Finance Committee acted and succeeded in preventing the release of a 10 million NIS budget for the Mendelson Seminar in Yerushalayim due to claims of discrimination against Sephardi girls. Councilman Asher Mishali succeeded in preventing the transfer of funds to the school, sending a letter of explanation to Mayor Nir Barkat, who supported the decision.
Mishali explained to the mayor that the funds are intended for a badly-need new building for the school near the Tami Hall on Golda Meir Boulevard. He explains how he has learned the school refuses to accept Sephardi girls despite having received letters from the city and Ministry of Education instructing it to stop the discriminatory practice as the law demands.
The mayor agreed and instructed the committee to remove funding for the new building from the agenda in response to the illegal discriminatory practices of the school.
Deputy Mayor Yitzchak Pindrus, who is responsible for education in the city, responded. He calls the committee’s decision “outrageous, unprecedented and irresponsible.” He said the allegations of discrimination are untrue, and vows to fight the decision and take appropriate action against the person who duped the mayor into believing otherwise.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
If the account of discrimination is TRUE, then this is a marvelous decision.
I have seen personally racism, discrimination, bad feelings all launched at Sefradic extended family members in mosdos, employment, pirchei groups, camp hirings in Israel. This discrimination has nothing to do with religious observances or care in mitzvahs.
As you say, if the allegations are true this is a wonderful decision. Perhaps some people will change their attitude and stop the discrimination non-sense if they are hit where it hurts the most ($$$)