Shas and Degel HaTorah are at odds over the issue of life insurance for avreichim. Treasury officials want to take off a small sum for life insurance for avreichim before they are paid their monthly stipends, a move that enjoys the approval of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita.
The move is being initiated by Deputy Minister of Finance (Shas) Yitzchak Cohen, and it will impact an estimated 70,000 avreichim. Cohen is signaling the source for funding is outside the government system, seeking to win support for the move. The project would cost between 20-35 million NIS, an estimated 20 NIS per avreich a month. Shas explains the sum is minimal and the benefits are obvious.
Knesset Finance Committee Chairman (Degel HaTorah) Moshe Gafne opposes the move for two reasons; (1) once the treasury is permitted to tamper with the monthly stipends for this reason, it will happen in the future for others reasons, (2) it appears he opposes the move in principle.
Without Gafne’s approval, the allocation cannot move ahead so while Shas holds a deputy ministerial post here, Degel holds the checkbook.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Since when are Litvaks against Life Insurance?!?
The children and spouse will thank the SHAS party for planning and thinking in advance so that bills and food can be bought for a mourning family.