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Last update - 02:26 16/07/2008 Joint secular-observant Jewish school system approved By Or Kashti, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Education Ministry, Israel  The Knesset Tuesday approved the creation of a new state school system for both secular and observant Jews. A few dozen schools will probably adopt the new system, designed to increase understanding among Jews. The bill calling for the new system, introduced by MKs Michael Melchior (Labor) and Esterina Tartman (Yisrael Beiteinu), passed its second and third readings Tuesday, becoming law. "This an educational revolution and a response to the divide in society," Melchior said. Advertisement There are currently four Jewish school systems: Secular, national religious, Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox and Sephardi ultra-Orthodox. The Ministry of Education says the new system will teach Jewish values and emphasize tolerance and understanding between ultra-Orthodox, national religious and secular Jews. It has a budget of NIS 34 million, and every school in the country will be given the choice to join it. Schools that adopt the program will be assigned Jewish values teachers. Dr. Eitan Shikli, director general of the Tali Jewish Education Fund, praised the proposal Tuesday, saying it will reduce the gap between religious and non-religious Jews. "There is no dichotomy between observant and secular Jews," Shikli said. "The problem is that most research shows that most of the Jewish population chooses one of these two polarities." One school that is expected to join the system is the Keshet school at Mazkeret Batya, whose students include children from both secular and observant families, and which already has a program for secular and religious students. "We aspire to a balance between observant and secular Jews," said Assaf Hirchfeld, a one of the people who founded the school. Two-thirds of Keshet's students come from secular families, but 30 observant families have recently moved to the town, near Rehovot, for the program, he said. At Keshet, children attend all the same classes, except for two hours a day, when observant children pray and secular children learn Torah studies. "The observant community will feel more comfortable sending its children to a joint school system," Hirchfeld said. "Until now, the community was a minority in the secular system. Fear that their children will not be religious is a major concern among the observant community. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hezbollah abduction How the Lebanese militia captured two IDF reservists in 2006, illustrated in pictures. Kuntar's crimes Israeli YouTube video details the 1979 terror attack perpetrated by Samir Kuntar.   1.   Tali school system 07:03  |  Non religious, 16/07/08   2.   It Will Never Work 07:17  |  Ben Israel 16/07/08   3.   great idea 07:59  |  Alex 16/07/08   4.   2 hours a day torah studies 08:35  |  TW 16/07/08   5.   Great idea 08:51  |  lily 16/07/08   6.   Tali Schools 09:42  |  Roxy 16/07/08   7.   System based on democratic values 09:53  |  Louis 16/07/08   8.   Tali Schools- OK ! 10:32  |  Eli Vardi 16/07/08   9.   If `secular` is already half-religious... 10:54  |  Ulf 16/07/08   10.   an inocculation against Torah 10:59  |  A bored Jew 17/07/08

Read & React Zvi Bar'el: It took 2 years, but Nasrallah kept promise to free Kuntar Responses: 16 Olmert's team now questioning Talansky over 'cash envelopes' Responses: 5 Ex-envoy to South Africa: Calling Israel apartheid insults victims of that regime Responses: 3 Thousands gather to bury abducted soldier Ehud Goldwasser Responses: 4 Rosner's Domain Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? Talansky threatened to use a bomb - a long time ago (WTR) The new 'Obama advisor' problem: Senator Chuck Hagel Attacking Iran to get the world's attention? More Headlines 11:06 Goldwasser's widow: Our journey has ended today 10:59 Talansky before cross-examination: I feel a sense of honor and truth 08:23 After swap, Israel fears Hezbollah will escalate tensions in North 09:50 ANALYSIS / It took 2 years, but Nasrallah kept promise to free Kuntar 10:11 Amman gunman wounds Israeli, 5 others before shooting self 08:12 Woman who inherited Kafka writings refuses to dispel manuscripts mystery 01:30 Israel concerned by U.S. plans to meet with Iranian envoy 02:17 Former MI head under investigation for disclosing state secrets 02:56 Outside the Regev home, family and neighbors share the sorrow 03:39 Barak: IDF will always work to bring the boys home 08:44 Top MK: Public pressure on abductees forced decision makers' hands 23:06 Veteran Mideast journalist Eric Silver dies aged 73 Previous Editions Select Day 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul

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