There are many parents who are upset with the opening of a school in Betar Illit that is affiliated with Slonim Chassidus, creating a situation in which that school has separated itself from the others in the Torah city. In past years the girls from the Slonim Chassidus learned with the general population, Sephardim, Ashkenazim, litvish and chassidic, in the Naot Rachel Beis Yaakov. However askanim in the chassidus opened the new school, which is reportedly resulting in hardship in the old school.
In response, fearing Slonim’s control over the school, the Naot Rachel, Ateres Siach and Ahavas Chessed Schools have announced in line with the instructions of the rabbonim of the city, they will not be opening the school year as scheduled.
Persons involved in education in Betar explain the matter is a very complicated one which now includes the fact everyone in the city has their children studying together with the exception of Slonim, which has now decided to break away. One person explains this is exactly what Degel Hatorah leader Moshe Gafne warned would be the case, that the chassidim in each area of the country will open their own schools, leaving the litvish community alone to face the accusations of discrimination against the Sephardi girls.
Another problem it is explained stems from Slonim’s significant power in Chinuch Atzmai as teachers from the chassidus were employed in the old school and now, amid the decision to open a separate school, these teachers wish to remain in their posts while simultaneously getting the available jobs in the new school. This leads to the obvious question of just how the Slonim-affiliated teachers will hold all of the teaching slots, a reality that most view as discriminatory in Slonim’s favor.
A Slonim official explains the chassidus has finally done what all of the other chassidic courts have done instead of remaining together with the mainstream, insisting the move if legitimate. Regarding the teachers, the Slonim teachers from the old school will move to the new school and only after all the veteran teachers who wished to move have done so will the chassidus hire new teachers for the school.
It is added the opening of the new school was done with the permission of and assistance from Chinuch Atzmai under the condition all of the Slonim-affiliated teachers in the old school are taking to the new school.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
There are those that want to elevate oneself to the level of others. Then there others that can’t see others advancing while they aren’t. Solution, bash them, shame them, slander them. As if the slonim is committing a crime by opening their own school. Why don’t the sefardic residents open their own sefardic school and work to excel and exceed the slonims! They should work for govt funding and elevate themselves so that the slonims will run after the sefardi schools! Isn’t this the mantra of Rav Ovadia? He opened schools for the sefardi population and elevated the status of all the sefardis.
time to live and let live. hatzlacha raba to the new school.
Sorry, I really don’t understand the discrimination in chinuch. Our new school in Jerusalem, Machon Menucha, is based on Chabad hashgafa but we happily accepted students who are Sefardi, as well as girls from other Torah observant homes. We welcome any student who is looking for a small school that focuses on each girl’s needs and who is OK with learning Chabad Chassidus.
This is a horrible situation & I can only imagine the Chilonim rubbing their hands with glee over this massive chillul Hashem. I feel so sorry for the students.