Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., November 14, 2007 Kislev 4, 5768 | | Israel Time: 11:23 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

Ultra-Orthodox businessman Lev Leviev. (Motti Kimche) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 03:36 13/11/2007 Ultra-Orthodox program taught in schools despite ministry ban By Or Kashti, Haaretz Correspondent tags: Israel, Ultra-Orthodox  Ultra-Orthodox businessman Lev Leviev is continuing to run an elementary school program to increase Jewish content in the curriculum, even though the Education Ministry decided the program was unfit to be taught in state schools. A few months ago, the Leviev Foundation presented the ministry with a second version of the program, but it too was rejected, in part because the ultra-Orthodox approach predominated in it. Haaretz has found that contrary to the ministry's decision, former Education Ministry director general Shmuel Abuav approved the program for some local authorities. Advertisement Some 70 schools in Rishon Letzion, Netanya, Petah Tikva and Beit Shemesh are running the program, Zman Masa (Travel Time). The Education Ministry has permitted these schools to continue implementing the program until the end of the school year, as long as a teacher attends the lessons to make sure the material does not contradict the spirit of state education. The program was first implemented during the last school year in about 18 elementary schools. The Leviev Foundation finances the study hours, books and other materials. The lessons are held in the middle of the school day, so all the pupils are obliged to take part in them. In January 2007, the Education Ministry's pedagogical secretariat, which is in charge of approving study programs, ruled the program was not fit to be taught in state schools. A few months later the Leviev Foundation submitted a new version, which was also rejected. "Apparently, many of the problems with the former program no longer exist," wrote Professor Anat Zohar, chair of the pedagogical secretariat, in her second opinion. "However, a more careful reading reveals quite a few residual views that are not in keeping with the spirit of the Shenhar Report." The Shenhar Report stated that Jewish studies in state schools should be taught with a secular-humanist, rather than theological, approach. "The program has various pedagogical limitations," Zohar wrote. In most cases, the program is taught by religious and ultra-Orthodox teaching students. The program is intended for pupils in first to sixth grades. The study book for third and fourth grade, for example, asks the pupils to point out which animals are considered clean and unclean according to Judaism. The children are taught about the various uses of olive oil, Sabbath candles and the blessings that must be said before lighting Hanukkah candles. The prelude to the sixth grade study book tells the pupils about the "nation's mothers and fathers" ¬ it says Abraham met his creator when he was only three years old, and "revealed the world's creator to thousands and tens of thousands." The book says that "thanks to Sarah, the light in the house was blessed." Zohar wrote, "Despite the fact that many parts deal with values, the Orthodox approach ¬ dealing mainly with principles of Jewish faith, religious laws and customs ¬ prevails." She also criticized parts of the textbooks and teachers' guidebook, including statements that "blessing and livelihood is granted from heaven to help the weak and needy"; "read the prayer with all your heart and your wish will be granted"; "the upheaval of the candle lighting moment must be enhanced. At this moment all work ceases, and Sabbath enters and brings a special atmosphere." Zohar said that the program emphasizes only the religious aspect of holidays. "Children in state schools cannot be taught this way," she wrote. The opinion rejecting Leviev's program was written in June 2007. A month later, then-education ministry director general Shmuel Abuav visited Rishon Letzion and authorized the program's implementation in 20 schools. The announcement that the program had been found unfit to be taught in state schools, which was to appear in the Education Ministry director general's memorandum several months ago, appeared only in November's memorandum. "Abuav apparently didn't want the ministry's rejection of the program to be commonly known," a ministry official said Monday. "Some of the local authorities knew the program had not been approved, yet implemented it in their schools anyway," he said. Abuav said, "After a few rounds of corrections, the program was finally ruled unsuitable for state education. I insisted on putting the ban in the director general's memorandum." Parents who tried to find out whether the program was authorized for implementation in their children's school had difficulty getting a clear answer. "Every time I asked, the school evaded the question," a mother from Netanya said. "I was told I was petty and apparently bored. When I insisted, they promised to get it authorized retroactively." A mother from Rishon Letzion said, "I did not send my children to a state school to have to ask them what exactly they learned in Jewish identity class. It's impertinent of ultra-Orthodox groups to presume to teach us, the secular people, about Jewish tradition, as though we don't know those things. The most infuriating thing is the Education Ministry's incompetence." Leviev's pubic relations' agency said, "The program's pilot was approved at a discussion in the education minister's bureau, and later the former director general examined the study material. To this day we have received no official notice that the program was rejected, and all the requests to meet the ministry officials dealing with it have been refused. We hope this is not an attempt to disqualify the plan due to ulterior motives." Related articles: Diamond magnate Leviev funds religious programs in schools Putin spurns Leviev, invites 'Gaydamak's rabbi' to Kremlin One order of Judaism, hold the religion Rosner: An epistolary novel: Will Steven's kids get a Jewish education? Bookmark to del.icio.us Speaking for Israel U.S. Secretary Rice says Israelis are prepared to give up the West Bank for peace. Doable deal Solana says an Israeli-PA peace agreement can be achieved within 9 months.   1.   Haaretz does the same if the story is pro-Israel/Jewish/Zionist 04:20  |  Genuine Tosefta 13/11/07   2.   Being a Jew 07:54  |  Ethan 13/11/07   3.   Is this Communist Russia ? 07:54  |  R 13/11/07   4.   Gelt is gelt..... 07:58  |  Esther 13/11/07   5.   Jewish studies. 08:32  |  Avraham 13/11/07   6.   The state can pass any laws they want... 08:36  |  Dave 13/11/07   7.   of course!! 08:43  |  shmuel 13/11/07   8.   Schools fail with Jewish education 09:28  |  Manny 13/11/07   9.   Re Avraham #5 09:56  |  Esther 13/11/07   10.   Ultra secular fasists try to shove their beliefs down publics ,, 09:58  |  Jew 13/11/07   11.   Re Dave #6 "...but they can`t outlaw Judaism." 10:08  |  Esther 13/11/07   12.   Outrage! 10:33  |  Yoni 13/11/07   13.   OK, ABBAS, THIS IS NOT A JEWISH STATE, KEEP TALKING TO OLMERT)))) 11:04  |  VOICE)))))))) 13/11/07   14.   STATE EDUCATION BANCRUPT,LET LEVIEV TAKE OVER THE SCOOLS)) 11:14  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 13/11/07   15.   Avraham - what is bankrupting us? 11:22  |  Michael 13/11/07   16.   Ultra-orthodox parasites getting to 11:41  |  Puhi 13/11/07   17.   What a Joke 11:45  |  D Hirod 13/11/07   18.   Secular humanism 12:05  |  Joseph 13/11/07   19.   TO JOSEPH # 18, YES, BUT THEY USED TO WORK 12:31  |  Robert 13/11/07   20.   Ultra-Orthodox businessman Lev Leviev go to hell 13:10  |  SJ 13/11/07   21.   THE OH,SO, SUCCESSFULL STATE WILL TEACH THE 3000YR OLD SUCCESS! 13:29  |  Moses 13/11/07   22.   #15 Go take a tranquilizer. 13:44  |  Avraham 13/11/07   23.   THAT`S ALL ISRAEL NEEDS - MORE MADRASAS! 13:50  |  B`Galil 13/11/07   24.   to guys from UK 13:56  |  the pope 13/11/07   25.   #19 Robert 13:58  |  Joseph 13/11/07   26.   To #15 - read about Adam and Eve 14:10  |  nkd 13/11/07   27.   reply to # 25 Joseph well duh 14:12  |  SJ 13/11/07   28.   Most people don`t think at all, either way! 14:33  |  Joseph 13/11/07   29.   big brother says no to teaching Judaism 14:35  |  Stalin 13/11/07   30.   #22 15:36  |  Michael 13/11/07   31.   # 25 - Joseph 15:37  |  Robert 13/11/07   32.   OF ALL PEOPLE.....LEV LEVIEV??? 15:47  |  Robert 13/11/07   33.   Teach religion and its aspects and traditions in the synagogues a 16:01  |  Lynn 13/11/07   34.   The critisism is Pathatic 16:04  |  S Judah 13/11/07   35.   #34 16:22  |  michael 13/11/07   36.   Bolshevik Propaganda 16:36  |  John C. 13/11/07   37.   To # 34 - S Judah 16:51  |  Robert 13/11/07   38.   Lynn 17:18  |  Marbpl 13/11/07   39.   What deceiving picture of Leviev`s beard?! 18:08  |  Max Samuels 13/11/07   40.   The Problem With the Orthodox 18:42  |  MIKE 13/11/07   41.   37 Boring Response Robert - Don`t be too Presumptuous 18:56  |  S Judah 13/11/07   42.   Shock! Jewish values rather than Amoral Secularism!! 19:20  |  Alan 13/11/07   43.   WHAT IS BEING A JEW ALL ABOUT? 19:21  |  Yochanan 13/11/07   44.   SCANDALOUS, ABSOLUTELY SCANDALOUS! 20:40  |  BILL HANDEL 13/11/07   45.   Judaism is not secular humanism 20:44  |  Douglas Evans 13/11/07   46.   You`re forgetting 20:55  |  Evelyn 13/11/07   47.   As usual, anti-semetic Haaretz does it again 23:39  |  Menashe 13/11/07   48.   Leviev 01:49  |  Elchonon 14/11/07   49.   wailing wall 05:20  |  alfred youngberg 14/11/07   50.   ELCHONON JUST SAW THE "MESIAH" 09:16  |  Robert 14/11/07   51.   I`m not the only one! 09:56  |  Joseph 14/11/07   52.   Maybe some genuine JEWISH education, 11:05  |  Yaakov K. 14/11/07

Today Online Israel to declare freeze on W. Bank settlement construction Responses: 47 Editorial: For equality's sake, Arabs should be 'Israelized' Responses: 7 Seth Anziska: Is the two-state solution still viable? Responses: 18 Iran charges five Argentines over 1994 Jewish center attack Responses: 7 Hass: Gaza protesters hate Hamas more than they like Fatah Responses: 2 Uzi Benziman: Israel to blame for lack of peace with Syria Responses: 1 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Guest: Vanessa Ochs on inventing Jewish rituals GA 2007: Oy vey, no catastrophe to talk about Reasons to like John McCain (WTR) Ahead of summit, N.Y. Congressman fears for Mideast stability More Headlines 08:54 Israel to freeze settlement construction ahead of summit 10:57 Knesset to vote on bill requiring majority of 80 MKs to divide J'lem 08:57 Iran charges 5 Argentines over 1994 Jewish center bombing 08:50 Annapolis joint declaration to focus on goals of final status talks 08:59 Dichter: Syria is Israel's only neighbor that thwarts smuggling 08:46 U.S. Jewish entrepreneur buys Hitler's globe for $100,000 09:01 Abbas in Ankara: U.S. must pressure Israel to reach accord with PA 02:01 State refuses to release list of Waqf-owned properties in T.A., Jaffa 06:00 Lador will not recuse himself in Bank Leumi affair 10:10 Teachers, gov't deny breakthrough in talks to end month-long strike Previous Editions Select Day 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 02 nov 01 nov 31 oct

Special Offers Advertisement Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here! Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved