The chareidi tzibur has stepped up its opposition against the Education Ministry’s Chareidi Division, accusing it of attempting to blatantly interfere with the education system in chareidi schools. Proof of these allegations has been shown to Gedolei Yisrael Shlita, and this resulted in an urgent meeting on Sunday, 26 Adar-I in the home of HaGaon HaRav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita. Also present for the meeting were HaGaon HaRav Hillel Hirsh (Rosh Yeshivas Slobodka), HaGaon HaRav Yigal Rosen (Rosh Yeshivas Ohr Yisrael), MK Moshe Gafne (Chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee) and aides and gabboim of Rav Shteinman.

The rabbonim discussed an increasing number of complaints from schools in the chareidi system of ministry efforts to compel change despite opposition. According to principals of schools whom have filed complaints, the ministry “has crossed a red line and the chareidi tzibur will not tolerate the situation”.

The rabbonim are apparently deciding how they will deal with Education Minister Naftali Bennett, with some of the opinion the dati leumi minister is intentionally trying to interfere with chareidi education as did his predecessor, Shai Piron.

Gedolim Shlita are expected to release a letter in the coming days that will instruct schools not to cooperate with ministry inspectors in any way, in particular those from the Chareidi Division.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)