The head of the Jerusalem Finance Committee, David Hadari, has announced his ruling in the matter of the Mendelson Seminar. Hadari has announced the 10 million NIS budget slated for the construction of the school’s badly needed new building in the area of the Tamir Hall complex on Golda Meir Boulevard would be withheld. Hadari is convinced that despite the school’s claims to the contrary, it is indeed discriminatory against Sephardi girls and as such, the 10 million NIS budget is being withheld. Hadari added that he will not even permit a discussion on the topic for as long as the school continues its discriminatory policy.
The matter began with Shas Councilman Asher Mishali, who sent a letter asking to allocate the 10 million NIS budget earmarked for the school to another school, one that does not discriminate against Sephardim.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat back in February 2013 announced he would back a decision to hold funding for the school due to reports that it continues to discriminate against Sephardim.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
The useful facts for us in golus to understand the matter would be:
1) Does the school use Hebrew or Yiddish;
2) What percentage of the girls are Sefardi;
3) If the school asserts something other than religious standards are used, is there evidence of Ashkenaziot being admitted who don’t meet the religious standards?
akuperma,
Some of the “religious” criteria could be nothing more than Jim Crow rules.
MDG: If the rule is “no internet in the house” and it happens Sefardiot are more likely to have a television in the house than Ashkenaziot, it isn’t discrimination. Are they excluding things like television, or basing selection on matters such as whether you eat rice on Pesach? That’s why the specific rules are important. Are there any Sefardi girls (note that under “Jim Crow” – all white, meant 0% black)? Are Ashekenaziot allowed even if the use internet, but not Sefardiot? And is the school Yiddish speaking and limiting admission to girls who speak the language at home?
‘Are there any Sefardi girls (note that under “Jim Crow” – all white, meant 0% black)?’
Irrelevant. The Jewish quotas in American Universities during the first half of the 20th century didn’t mean zero Jews, but that didn’t make it acceptable.
But if there are some Sefardi girls, that suggests a non-ethnic criterion is used for admission, such as level of frumkeit — and if that’s the case, the attacks on the school are not really attacks on ethnic discrimination, but are attacks on having a high level of frumkeit. From our perspectives, ethnic discrimination is unacceptable, discrimination on the basis of frumkeit is meritorious.
“discrimination on the basis of frumkeit is meritorious.”
Possibly, but to quote Rav Shteinman, it could be “Gayva, Gayva, Gayva”
discrimination on the basis of frumkeit is meritorious. SAYS WHO???
Do you have extended family or friends in Israel who are Torah-True Sefardim? If you do not…..you do not understand the entire matzav. There is outright Discrimination that is guised in many different venues..
And then we wonder why so many people dispise the chareidim….