Yahadut Hatorah continues efforts to push through legislation to benefit the religious population. One proposal is for state-funded life insurance for bnei torah, which would cost the state NIS 36 million annually. Yahadut Hatorah feels the 120,000 lomdei torah should have life insurance as part of improving conditions for bnei torah and avrichei kollel.
Deputy Finance Minister Yitzchak Cohen proposed removing funds for life insurance but Health Minister Yaakov Litzman and Knesset Finance Committee Chairman Moshe Gafne oppose Cohen’s intensions.
As has been reported, the increase in monthly payments to bnei torah, or perhaps more accurately, return to the situation prior to the previous Knesset which cut payments, will leave bnei torah with about NIS 885 a month plus NIS 25 to cover insurance. This will leave benefactors with NIS 500,000 paid monthly over 15 years. The ministers still have to reach agreement as to which ministry will fund this.
Needless to say the policies will be purchased in large numbers, permitting a far less expensive premium than one would receive if one purchased the same policy privately.
Also on the list is a discount on car insurance for shomer shabbos drivers since the insurance company is assured they are not driving one day a week. This is being pushed by MK Nissim Slomiansky of the Bayit Yehudi party. The chareidi parties are backing Slomiansky’s initiative.
Insurance companies estimate about 20% of the nation’s drivers are dati leumi or chareidi and there is an additional 10% of traditional Jews who refrain from driving on Shabbos as well. It is pointed out that today, some companies already offer a discount to frum drivers amid the realization that do not drive on Shabbos. These discounts vary from 7.5% to 15%.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
One Response
I hear the discount on car insurance, especially because it benefits anyone who is shomer Shabbos, but I can’t see the state-funded life insurance flying and I’m not sure it should.
It used to be that when one chose to stay in learning, there were certain sacrifices that one knew came with that choice – and the sacrifices were undertaken with love. Today, I can’t help but feel that there is a sense of entitlement – perhaps a result of the general sense of entitlement, perhaps not – that has taken hold within our tzibbur.
I cannot see any reason why on earth only those learning in kollel should be eligible for state-funded life insurance. If our MKs want to pursue an option for state-funded life insurance for any family that falls within a certain income bracket – regardless of occupation – that seems to make more sense to me.
On the other hand, if anyone has information to enlighten me as to why the state should hand out life insurance exclusively to bnei Torah, I’d be happy to hear.