On three different instances during the Hamodia debate this past Sunday, Yoni Hikind bashed yeshivas in an apparent bid to secure the “anti-establishment” vote.

First on the issue of TAP, the Tuition Assistance Program that was secured by Satmar mosdos along with Agudas Yisroel of America several years ago for yeshiva gedolas (Jewish undergraduate schools), Yoni asserted that he is “hearing from parents” that they believed that yeshivas were misappropriating the money. “This is something that has to change,” Yoni yelled at the Hamodia debate, saying that he was demanding answers from yeshiva administrators.

After Kalman Yeger staunchly defended the prerogative of yeshivas to teach Limuedei Kodesh, Yeger’s response to the question of whether the government should have the right to dictate the religious and secular curriculum for yeshivas: “emphatically no.” Said Yeger: “I don’t want any outside group dictating to us what we should teach.” Yoni Hikind responded to Yeger’s defense of yeshivas by mocking him, “I think it is very nice to say the right things,” Yoni said and then went on to slam Yeger for defending the yeshivas.

Then in a powerful moment of questioning by Hamodia’s Yochonon Donn on whether the controversial Markey Bill should pass, Yoni Hikind declared that he would not answer the question. This troubled many in the room who booed Hikind at the end that he would support legislation that in Yeger’s word would “bankrupt yeshivas.”

Yoni Hikind has a complicated relationship with yeshivas. Yoni has stated on the radio that he didn’t have a great yeshiva experience and explained about himself: “I went through some time where I was questioning some things and yiddishkeit.” Yoni Hikind the son of current Assemblyman Dov Hikind, lives at home with his parents.

One yeshiva administrator told YWN, “I think Yoni has good intentions. However, his lack of experience hurts him. It’s not easy running a yeshiva and keeping it affordable for parents in our community.” Another adminstrator told YWN, “I’m alarmed that we could have a politician representing the Heimishe community who would allow government to regulate our yeshivas. The fact is that Yoni is single and doesn’t pay tuition. That’s why he doesn’t appreciate how important it is for parents to choose the yeshiva that best fits their family’s hashkafah.” Both administrators insisted on anonymity out of fear of retaliation from Yoni’s father – Assemblyman Dov Hikind. Earlier this week, Hikind publicly said at the FJCC forum in Flatbush that he might release audio or video conversations of community leaders having compromising conversations. The veiled threats are keeping the conversations about Yoni off the record – for now.

(Charles Gross – YWN)