Leading dati leumi rav, Rabbi Chaim Druckman Shlita addressed a community kenos and directed comments to the new Education Ministry curriculum designed by Minister Rabbi Shai Piron. Rav Druckman stated that while he is confident Piron has no intentions of harming the education system, the new system is quite harmful to the students.

The rav is referring to the new system which permits top students to be released from taking bagrut matriculation exams, including in Gemara and Tanach, and he fears that this will result in less students studying as they did in the past. This he fears will lead to a lower level of knowledge in these areas. Rabbi Druckman states that even under the new plan, subjects viewed as important enough are still categorized as mandatory regarding the bagrut and therefore it is clear the ministry places Gemara and Tanach in a lower category than math and English.

Rav Druckman and his colleagues plan to combat the plan for they feel it is imperative for students in the public religious high schools to continue taking matriculation exams in Gemara and Tanach along with the other important subjects.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)