The Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs on Monday is expected to discuss a bill which will see yeshiva students get hundreds of millions of dollars from the State. The proposal, which is aimed at bypassing a High Court ruling, was initiated by Knesset Member Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism).
The new bill proposes “establishing the right of yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession to receive a grant.” It was signed by MKs from the United Torah Judaism, Shas and National Union factions, who explained that their goal was to reach a unique settlement which would grant funds to yeshiva students with at least three children.
The High Court of Justice ruled in 2000 that granting yeshiva students assurance of income harms equality, as it does not apply to people who do not study in non-religious institutions. Ten years later, the Supreme Court ruled that the budgetary clause violates the duty to equally distribute the State’s support, and therefore cannot be included in the budget laws as of 2011.
MK Gafni decided to submit the bill in a bid to bypass the court decision. Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Knesset’s Finance Committee examined the subsidization of tuition in higher education institutions and the aid funds and scholarships available to students.
The figures reveal that the total budget allotted by the State in the 2010 budget to support students stands at NIS 450 million (about $125 million), while the budgetary clause referring to assurance of income for yeshiva students totals NIS 121 million (about $33 million).
The bill’s initiators wrote that “the State encourages Torah studies and should therefore allow a modest living grant for yeshiva students who have chosen to follow this path.”
Knesset Member Nachman Shai (Kadima) said he planned to submit a similar bill in which he would add the word “students” to any mention of haredim. “Any other law would be discriminative and offensive,” he stated.
Have you checked out YWN Radio yet? Click HERE to listen!
(Source: Ynet)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
7 Responses
In our culture, learning Torah is a worthwhile endeavor – and is far more important for Jewish (and Israeli) survival than things the government spends lots of money on, such as studying western culture, or playing soldier.
However frum Jews are a minority in Eretz Yisrael, and most zionists see things differently.
Basically finally giving some-what equal to University students.
In the US Yeshiva is credited as collage points, but not in Israel, and then they complain that they don’t work…
akuperma,
Your line about “playing soldier” is offensive. You can argue that learning Torah is vital for our physical and spiritual survival, but we all owe a huge hakoras hatov to the young people who perform the most literal mesiras nefesh by serving in the IDF. Whether frum or not, these soldiers are protecting us from rotzchim.
Perhaps we should offer the greatest hakoras hatov to those in hesder programs who protect us both with their Torah and with their weapons.
mdshweks
the word is college
that only works for getting a law degree not so much for other fields
Akuperma – my child will be entering Tzahal within a year, and your comment is beyond offensive. “Playing soldier,” indeed. How dare you!
Akuperma – perhaps a needed vacation from the keyboard is in order.
To my “brother” dd: Dovid HaMelech wrote: “Omdos hayu ragleinu b’sharayich Yerushalayim.” Chazal teach us this means “B’mah omdos ragleinu ba’milchamah? B’zechus sha’arayich Yerushalayim” which refers to those who sit and toil in Torah learning. He doesn’t say their is a partnership here as far as who provides the zechus. I assume the reference to “playing” soldier is meant to imply that the soldiers do not actually effect the outcome.
To akuperma: It is not simply “worthwhile” endeavor. It is life itself. Is breathing a worthwhile endeavor? Is eating a worthwhile endeavor? Everyone has a portion in Torah they must contribute to the communal body of Klall Yisroel. Much as each cell, tissue, organ, and organ system contribute to the welfare of the individual body, each Jew’s Torah does that for K’neses Yisroel.
To mbachur: It is simply not true. Yeshiva/Seminary credits assist both young men and women to go on to acquire degrees in Education, Accounting, Business, Nursing, Medicine, Law, PT, OT, ST, etc.
To all those who have commented about Chevrei Kolell not working . . . It is not for naught that the berachah for learning is “la’asoke b’divrei Torah.” The shefa of berachos that comes through Torah learning, the Torah teaches, is if we are “amailim” – if we toil – in Torah leaning. The 10 – 15 hour learning schedule of the typical chaver kollel is physically straining as well as mentally. If they tutor to supplement their income there is preparation and travel time as well. Add to that the assistance they typically provide their wives – bus duty, shopping, laundry, homework – and I think most people would agree they are working. The litmus test is if we feel the same way towards academia in general. Should Einstein have gone to work? What about the hundreds of research scientists especially those who are not involved in “applied” research? The Gemora define the apikores as one who believes the Talmidei Chachomim do not provide us with anything. Let’s not lose site of that. We may not all be zoche to spend our days and nights in the Bais Medrash. And certainly whatever toiling we DO do, and it is likely with tremendous mesirus nefesh, adds countless merits and berachos to our families, communities, and nation. That is not to belittle those that can continue to do so throughout the day and night. We are all holy vessels for the Torah. Some also support it. But we must never forget that “Ha’Aron nosei es nosav.”