A new directive announced by Shas party leader Aryeh Deri does not work in favor of hesder yeshiva talmidim or females attending dati leumi midrashot.

According to a Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) report, the Ministry of Religious Services announced that in order for one to qualify for a position in a local religious council, one must have six years of Torah study documented in addition to have successfully completed at least two tests towards Chief Rabbinate of Israel Semicha. This will disqualify more hesder talmidim for by and large, they do not take the semicha tests and their yeshiva gevoha in hesder is only five years even if one includes military service time.

The new regulations also disqualify women who studied for two or three years in a midrasha, for they will not meet the six-year minimum requirement for a position.

The Ne’emanei Torah V’Avodah organization feels the new regulations are discriminatory against the dati leumi tzibur and women.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)