Members of Agudas Yisrael’s Rabbinical Council (Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah) in the United States convened in an urgent meeting in the home of the Novominsker Rebbe Shlita. Taking part in the meeting were Rabbi Chaim Levine Shlita (Telz Chicago), Rabbi Aaron Schechter Shlita (Chaim Berlin), Rabbi Dovid Feinstein Shlita (Mesivta Tifferes Yerushalayim), Rabbi Yosef Harari Raful Shlita (Ateret HaTorah, NY), Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky Shlita (Philadelphia), Rabbi Malkiel Kotler Shlita (Lakewood) and Rabbi Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld Shlita (Gavaad Mattersdorf).
The Novominsker Rebbe Shlita raised the issue of the recent Israel Supreme Court ruling against Chinuch Atzmai, levying a NIS 5,000 daily fine against Chinuch Atzmai surrounding the ongoing controversy in the Emanuel Beis Yaakov School as was reported by YWN-Israel.
According to a HaMevaser report, the Rebbe explained to participants in the meeting that Deputy Minister of Education R’ Meir Porush explained the fine is in fact placing an untenable financial strain on the organization, not to mention the brazen decision of the court demanding that parents appear before the High Court to defend themselves, to explain why they have chosen not to send their girls to the school.
The Novominsker explained he accepts the position of the Slonimer Rebbe Shlita, who stated there cannot be any compromise or flexibility regarding chareidi chinuch, calling on parents to remain firm in their decision despite the ferocity of the High Court’s decision. The HaMevaser report quotes the Slonimer Shlita as saying that one must go to jail if required, but there cannot be compromise. The rabbonim on the council concurred with the position.
The rabbonim reiterated the need for the chareidi chinuch to remain independent, under the exclusive control of Gedolei Yisrael Shlita.
The forum decided that Agudas Yisrael Executive Vice President Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel would remain in contact with R’ Porush, who heads Agudas Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael, to work towards overturning the court decree. Following the meeting, Zwiebel spoke at length with Porush, who briefed him in detail regarding the chain of events and the court’s decision.
Regarding allegations of discrimination in the school, Porush explained that the facts in the case are simple, and anyone willing to accept the rules and regulations of the school may attend — stating it is as simple as that. He rejected any allegations of discrimination as alleged by the court.
Zwiebel then spoke with attorney Mordechai Green of the B’Tzedek organization, who provided a legal picture of the current situation, who reportedly explained the court’s decision was a precedent, lacking any legal stance since it was proven there is no discrimination as alleged.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
7 Responses
as i posted the other day , why can’t the rabonim in eretz yisroel work on this problom together and work things out .
What we have been reading is completely at odds with what Rabbi Porush is quoted here as saying. We have heard that the Ashkenazim do not want to attend school with Sephardim and have built walls, and now have left completely. Rabbi Porush is saying that it is a matter of following school rules.
Why can’t we get a straight and simple report from the frum news agencies on which it is? It is either one or the other. In addition, no news agency has reported exactly what rules are the source of contention. I would guess it is the issue of whether the families can have a TV at home.
If that is so, then why have we been told over and over again that it is a matter of Ashkenazim vs. Sephardim? YWN, please get to the bottom of this!
One reason is that entire hareidi enterprise is ochel al shulchan acherim, and those acherim are mostly American. It does leave the impression though that there is no mishpat tzedek to be had in EY. This, and the lack of Hasbara to the man on the street by the Chinuch Atzmai and the Rabbonus is a festering Hillul Hashem. Msking protests and denials of discrimination in Boro Park does little to dispel the bad smell in EY.
Therefore according to Porush, ALL THE SEPHARADIM did not adhere to the “rules”. Not even one??!!
I wish we can get a straight and direct report…
#1 yosse
That’s because there are people who gain by having a ‘balagan’.
You are aware of firemen starting fires so that they can be hereos? Same here. Besides getting credit for taking care of the issue, they now have thier foot in the door of the organazation. Hamaiven Yavin.
Listen to the way that all of you have taken a very painful issue and turned it into some joke.
The Rabbuniem are in charge! Not you and whatever diluted ideas that you have about why or why not this is happening! You should be davening that it ends, without draining all of chinuch atzmeis money.
And with Israel having a greater understanding of non-mixed schools.(Note: Most gedoliem want Sphardiem to maintain their own system and be proud of who they are and where they came from, as opposed to always looking at the Ashkenazi schools and always kvetching that they aren’t Ashkenaz. They need to learn that where they came from is just as “good” as Poland etc. ) But that is not the point. Grow up when you talk about these askaniem that work day and night to protect us, and the rabbuniem that save us from everything. We can make a comment when THEY are the ones dedicating their lives? They are not readind YWN they are making it! And working hard, and trying to follow Torah. Enough.
Hey Yael,
Sefradim love their heritage, their tefillos, the Ben Ish Chai, their spicy tasty Mediterrean food and their mesorah as much as if not more than Polish Jewry. This problem has been going on in Emanuel for years and has finally erupted — when the bottom line is $$$$$, the sleepy awake..
When Chinuch Atmazi solves the problem, devises a compromise then monies will not be drained ANYMORE…