Education Minister Rabbi Shai Piron has done an about face, announcing the nation’s public school will begin the 5775 school year on September 1st, which corresponds to 6 Elul. The minister originally announced the school year would begin a few days earlier, on 27 August (1 Elul), but he changed this on Sunday, 21 Adar II.
The original plan was part of the minister’s long-term plan to cut the lengthy summer vacation, hoping to eventually reach only one month and giving additional days off during the school year. However he now announces the September 1st date is final.
To accommodate this, the vacation between Yom Kippur and Sukkos has been canceled; the Chanukah vacation was cut by two days, and the Pesach vacation was curtailed as well.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
The traditional Jewish summer vacation was usually only a few weeks, ending on Rosh Hodesh Elul.
Secular studies in the US have determined that the long American-style summer vacation, originally reflecting the need of students to work on their parents farms, is a rather dumb idea.
It should be noted that frum schools in America address the matter by having “camps” with a a half day of Torah studies (in effect, replacing the secular studies with recreational activities).
The Israelis should admit we were right all along.
Rabbi?????????? Shai piron!
Whichever angle they can use to hurt the Orthodox Jews (and I don’t mean the chareidim specifically – they’re one sect in orthodoxy)
Since when is September in the Jewish calendar?