Some of the affidavits presented to the High Court of Justice by Sephardi students in the Beis Yaakov of Emanuel case on Sunday depict blatant racism, discrimination due to the fact the girls are of Sephardic descent.

According to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) host Razi Barkai and other media sources, the documents presented to the nation’s highest court detail name-calling, discrimination both inside and out of the school, and statements from Sephardic parents lamenting the simple fact that in Emanuel, they are treated like second class citizens. 

Yitzchak Weinberg, who represents the school’s PTA, explained to Barkai that what is being portrayed in the media is simply an injustice since the facts are not accurate. Weinberg explained that he too has daughters in the school, ages 9 and 12, both in what is labeled the “chassidic group” which he explains is also not accurate. He explains what is more accurate is to say the “strict” and “lenient” groups since the determining factor is not at all related to chassidic or not, but one’s willingness to accept the strict lifestyle as per the schools charter which depicts the rules and regulations. 

He added that it is important to realize once and for all the division is based on the strict and lenient principle, not Ashkenazi and Sephardi, which is evident by the fact that 30% of the “chassidic/strict” tract is comprised of Sephardic girls and 20% of the “lenient-non-chassidic”  group is comprised of Ashkenazi girls. 

According to R’ Weinberg, if a girl is willing to accept the fact that the schools charter is strict, banning internet and computer movies among other regulations, then “she too is more than welcome”. He added that he and others are aware that some parents require internet connectivity towards earning a livelihood and special accommodations are made, but the connectivity must be through one of the approved filtering companies available in Israel. 

R’ Weinberg appeared pained at the accusations that there is a policy of discrimination based on one’s skin color, and not separate learning programs based on lifestyle, which he insists in the case. 

Shas MK Nissim Ze’ev feels the true solution is the establishment of separate schools for Sephardim and Ashkenazim, permitting all students to learn in a suitable atmosphere that inculcates them with the traditions of their homes. Weinberg agreed that this is the ideal situation but until this becomes reality, he feels compelled to do his utmost to find a suitable learning environment for the Sephardic girls as well. 

He concluded that 75 girls had the option of attending a different school at the beginning of the year but opted to come to the Beis Yaakov, compelling to ask rhetorically what they are seeking since they knew the rules and the fact that there are two tracts, depending on one’s lifestyle, not one’s skin color.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)