The issue of the talmidei torah, the chareidi school system, is back in the media; under attack as a result of statistics released by the Ministry of Education. Ministry officials report that over the past decade the number of students attending chareidi mosdos elementary schools has skyrocketed. These schools enjoy state funding, but the children emerge “ignorant”, the daily Maariv reports, referring to “core subjects”.
When the ministry refers to “core subjects” it directs its criticism to the fact these schools devote most of the learning hours to limudei kodesh, and the secular studies are not regarded as a priority. As a result, ministry officials feel the students are far below average for their age groups in subjects including math, English and basic science, which state officials feel is critical if one expects to compete is the workplace as an adult.
The ministry report cites that in recent years these chareidi schools, classified as ‘recognized’, have been established in many non-chareidi areas including Haifa, Zichron Yaakov, Maale Adumim, and Hadera. As a result, the number of children attending such schools has increased 40% during the past decade and state education officials are concerned, for they feel too many children are being raised without a basic education, which will result in increased unemployment in the coming years for the graduates of chareidi mosdos will not be capable of finding employment. The state estimates that in addition to the students in these mosdos, there are tens of thousands of students in chareidi schools not receiving state funding, compounding concerns of a growing population of illiterate people who will have to be supported by welfare as adults.
The report cites that as a result of successful efforts of chareidi MKs over the years, the schools enjoy 75-100% of the budget given to state public schools which compel students to comply with the state curriculum. Maariv adds that during the past decade, not only has the state agreed to fund a growing number of these chareidi elementary schools, the state paid to build the schools despite the fact the system does not recognize Ministry of Education supervisors or the state curriculum.
Maariv cites a number of schools in which students are not taught any secular subjects, such as the Knesset Yitzchak School in Hadera, established in 2001; and Talmid Torah Zichron Yaakov, established in 2004. In Beit Shemesh for example, the number of students in such mosdos jumped from 770 to 4,427 – adding that today, about one-quarter of the city’s elementary students learn in ‘recognized’ chareidi mosdos.
Of course the report focuses on painting chareidim in a bad light, as “parasites” who take from the state without contributing to society, adding that in Afula, in the Derech Emmes School, there are 101 students with an average class size of 18.5 children. In Haifa’s Zichron Meir School, established in 2002, the average class size is 14. The report does not address the hundreds of mosdos that live with the reality of severe overcrowding and even major safety issues, compelled to remain in caravan classrooms that are frigid in winter and sweltering during the summer months.
Following is the ministry’s data as to the number of children in ‘recognized’ mosdos in some cities around Israel:
Afula: 2001 (0) 2012 (101)
Beit El: 2001 (0) 2012 (201)
Elad: 2001 (0) 2012 (2,049)
Emek Lod Regional Council: 2001 (0) 2012 (400)
Hadera: 2001 (0) 2012 (223)
Haifa: 2001 (0) 2012 (109)
Kadima-Tzoran: 2001 (0) 2012 (102)
Maale Adumim: 2001 (0) 2012 (118)
Shomron Regional Council: 2001 (0) 2012 (102)
Zichron Yaakov: 2001 (0) 2012 (165)
Betar Illit: 2001 (0) 2012 (3,276)
Modi’in Illit: 2001 (0) 2012 (4,709)
Emanuel: 2001 (0) 2012 (70)
Kiryat Yearim (Telshe Stone) 2001 (0) 2012 (298)
Ofakim: 2001 (52) 2012 (278)
Ashdod: 2001 (1,118) 2012 (1,896)
Beit Shemesh: 2001 (770) 2012 (4,427)
The report, which was given prominent real estate in the mainstream newspapers and Israel Radio, will undoubtedly have an impact on the general elections on 11 Shevat 5773, perhaps a compelling factor to get chareidim out to vote or alternatively, to bring additional mandates to the parties seeking to force their realities onto the chareidi education system.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
How sad that the South Koreans acknowledge the wisdom of “Limudei Kodesh” requiring their students to study the Talmud, while in the “Jewish State” it is frowned upon.
The function of a school is to prepare students for the life that that running the schools envision for their children. The job of the Israeli Ministry of Education is to produce children to be good members of secular zionist society – and any education that fails to do so is by definition deficient.
The issue isn’t the schools. The issue is whether Eretz Yisrael is to be dominated by secular zionists or by orthodox Jews – either/or, but not both. One has to go, and the Ministry of Education has a strong preference which will stay and which go.
The problem is seculars don’t want large families and we do. Don’t complain if you are afraid invested with having more kids instead of trips around the world
bli ayin hara, there will be more kids enrolled in chareidi schools, HOWEVER, i dont see why it contradicts our mesorah to have our children ALSO excel in math,sciences… great chachamim come to mind such as rambam, even ezra, gaon de vilna….
Its embarrassing to meet grown chareidi men not know how to spell simple english, or draft a decent contract. why?!
“are being raised without a basic education, which will result in increased unemployment in the coming years for the graduates of chareidi mosdos will not be capable of finding employment”
IS THIS TRUE? Can graduates of Charedi schools find employment or not? and is the basic cause the lack of education? True or False!!!
The schools accept money that is offered al t’nai that they teach the core curriculum. Taking the money and not teaching that curriculum is theft, no matter how they try to justify it. If they don’t want to teach the curriculum they can choose not to take the money (which some do).
How one can justify gneiva like this is beyond me.