Brazil Jews decry 'exclusion' from college entrance exam

Ok i understand that is important for some people to follow their religion traditions, but lets think about the alternative: 1-Having the Jews to do the test on another day is impossible, since the content of the test would leak 2-Moving the test to another day for every1 isn't possible either, because the ENEM is a easier test created to help poor people get into a university, and a lot of those people work and they just can't miss work, so it wouldn't be possible to move the test to 2 week days(i'm sorry but i think monetary needs are greater than religion needs), and doing the test in 2 sundays , 1 in each week first would go against the propose of the test, that is meant to be taken in 2 days in a row, and would also get in the way of another universitys tests (ENEM is a federal test, so you have to take in account all exams, and most of them are in december) So please, don't think this is an act against jews, because its not...

These tests should be administered on Christmas or on Easter Sunday, so that atheists will have a better opportunity to be educated.

Jews living abroad know that Saturday is not a holy day in that particular country. Why should the date be changed for them? they should accept the fact and move on (or move to Israel.)

you talk about jews in brazil and a no significant issue and what about this... Mahmmoud Hujaij has been told he no longer has a right to live in his city of birth, Jerusalem Under Israeli law, Palestinians can be stripped off their residency if they leave for more than seven years Same law applies if Palestinians acquire residency or citizenship in another country Former Israeli Interior Minister: "We also cancel the residency of Jews who are not living here."

I am surprised by the numerous responses. This is an internal Brazilian affair. Life is far from perfect, and it is unfortunate that so many gurus from all over the world are attacking Brazil's judicial system. This is not an atrocity; at worst this is lack of sensitivity to a minority. Let the Brazilians do as they please

It is fair that they ask for such benefit. Asking is somehow we should always exercise, however, obtaining is something different. All in all, I doubt whether Israel would do the same to Muslims [no exams on Fridays, pls] or to many Christians [no exams on Sunday, pls]...

Do you realize how ridiculous you sound? There is no place for this complaint, but surely your suggestion is out of question.

I think you missed the point. Jews, or any group - particularly religious, deserves the same protection as others in a just society. This is no different from the Moslems girl in Quebec that was kicked out of a soccer/football game because she was wearing a hijab or khimars and kippahs in France. A true republic (representative democracy) protects it's minorityies' rights. It is sad that you can't understand that.

In case some of the anti-Israel Jew-haters does not know, and obviously, there is at least one, the Jewish Sabbath runs from Friday sundown (because first there was darkness and then daylight, according to the Torah) to Saturday sundown. I do not know many college administrators, teachers that would like to give an exam Saturday night.

ENEM was always on Sundays, Saturday after sunset, would be OK too

person" Aristides de Sousa Mendes was shunned by fellow Portugese including his so called friends and he had no livelihood. He was a very fine courageus man but you are trying to point score with disinformmation. He sold his house AFTER the event and the shunning was NOT done by Jews. What's your point?

Its because to these folks,their own beliefs are a religion but Judaism is a superstition.

Shabbat is over in Ierushalaim. Should be enough of an excuse... or it would be more like having off both, Friday and Saturday, to be covered... completely.

died in 1954 before Israel and most Jews had recovered from the turmoil or had the wherewithal to help.Often the actions of these incredibly brave and righteous people were not reported till some time later. His children were helped by HIAS. The "righteous amongst the nations" when recognised through reports by the Jews they had helped,were awarded both recognition and financial reward. That is what happened when the actions of these courageous,righteous people came to light. 3 years ago in Jerusalem Israel there was a celebration of the lives of non Jews who had helped,the story goes on,they are not forgotten.

died in 1954 before Israel and most Jews had recovered from the turmoil or had the wherewithal to help.Often the actions of these incredibly brave and righteous people were not reported till some time later. His children were helped by HIAS. The "righteous amongst the nations" when recognised through reports by the Jews they had helped,were awarded both recognition and financial reward. That is what happened when the actions of these courageous,righteous people came to light. 3 years ago in Jerusalem Israel there was a celebration of the lives of non Jews who had helped,the story goes on,they are not forgotten.

"..he mortgaged his home & ALL he owned to save Jews, was shunned to the last days of his life..." Interested in Chavals response on " Who shunned Aristides de Sousa?"

Lets see the real fact here. This exam, ENEM was created to allow the lower classes to have a minimal chance to get in state founded universities (in brazil they are the best universities). But ENEM doesnt garantee that the students will get in the universities automatically. They need to make a test in each university they try to attempt to.In most universities, those test take place in both days of the weekend, saturday and sunday, and for those who cant make those exams, they can do them by the following of the night, but, they need to get inside the university facility and wait like 5 or 6 hours in a room to do that. Thats possible becuse each university coordenate the exams, not the case of ENEM, when you have like 40 million students making the same exame. So, for simple logistic reasons, everybody have to make the exam at the same time, or by the brazilian law, it can be concidered invalid. Im a jew, when I got in the college I made the exams saturday and Im still alive.

Having made 3 business trips to Brazil this year, as well as son who is in his last year of high school in the US, this article and the responses intrigued me. My family are committed Conservative (NOT Haredi) Jews and our son has made decisions on his own religious observances, including the decision to take college entrance exams on Sundays. This is a wonderful accomodation that we grant in the US. We are NOT extreme in our views, nor do we hold any of the other beliefs so harshly suggested by many of the responses. Having this option makes him feel INcluded without a need to go through a difficult process. I clearly understand, as one writer from Brazil noted, that there are probably more important issues in Brazil (I honestly didn't see that much of the country, but the vast very poor areas were staggering...). An accomodation for these students would set an honorable precedent of access to all students. This is nothing extreme, just a request for respect and fairness.

what is wrong with these judges..

Perhaps this is an opportunity to consider other options. Israeli universities provide an excellent education at a reasonable price. IDC Herzliya even does so in English, a language many educated Brazilians speak very well, and would no doubt benefit from practicing even more.

"Yet another Catholic country like Brazil shows it antisemitic bias" -Israeli historian That remark paints EVERYONE in a catholic country as anti-jews. Not all Catholics are anti Jews. As not all Jews are anti Catholics. As a historian do you remember the Portuguese Catholic Aristides de Sousa ? Just wondering what you think of THAT Catholic that saved 30,000 Jews, died in extreme poverty he mortgaged his home & ALL he owned to save Jews, was shunned to the last days of his life. He died a martyr, and was denied a page-or even a footnote-in the history books. If you don't remember him here is the story of a righteous Catholic: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Mendes.html

One important detail has been omitted. The test takes place on two days, Saturday and Sunday. So, some fundamentalist Christians also have reason to complain. It wouldn't be practical to offer two other dates, on week days, for every student who claims to have a good reason not to take the exam on the weekend. Private and state (not federal) universities don't require the test. However, if you want the federal government to pay your private university tuition, you must take it. Those who choose not to take the exam or who cannot take it for any reason will have fewer choices, but they still can go to college. I admit the US takes better care of their religious students than Brazil. But I think our country has many other much more urgent problems to worry about. There is freedom of religion, and that suffices. It's OK to believe in whatever you want. But you should assume the consequences of your beliefs or superstitions, the rest of the nation is not responsible for them.

Peter, Peter! It is forbidden to take a test on a Saturday, but it is quite o.k. to riot violently in your holy city? I lived in Israel for 2 years and always had to work on a Sunday. I accepted this as I understood that I was not in a christian country. Please don't cry "exclusion, or even worse, anti-semitism". It is not, and it just raises real concerns about the paranoid mindset of jews living among us.

As Peter and others indicated, a national test must include a make-up day for ANYONE who is unable to make it on the main test day. For a Saturday exam, this may include Jews, Seventh Day Adventists, kids who had a death in the family on test day, kids who were sick on test day, etc. For a Sunday or Friday exam, it may include Christians or Muslims and others. The make-up exam can be held in a smaller number of locations, to minimize cost. Kids taking the make-up must commute. The questions on the make-up exam may be randomly selected from the same pool of questions as those on the main exam. Make-up exams are quite ordinary. No university should base admissions on exams that don't allow for make-ups.

They're Brazilian patriots. They grew up in Brazil and they love Brazil. They are loyal to Brazil and the vast majority will live all of their lives there. Your attitude shows, however, that in Brazil, anti-Semitism is alive and well.

The exam is not mandatory.

Thanks for that clarification. I don't think the consensus of opinion is that the Brazilian administration is in any way to blame - if the the Jewish students decide to harm their academic career for the delusional sake of political gain, then that's their problem!

I thought the days of requiring kids to take tests on days when they were religiously prohibited from doing so were long gone in the Western World. As a Jew and as a liberal, I would stand up for a Christian's right not to have to take a test on a Sunday or a Muslim's right not to have to do so on a Friday. Why would others not stand up for a Jew's right not to have to take a test on a Saturday? I thought that was common decency. The amount of animus on this board directed at what should be a simple proposition is incredible. Mark Lincoln couldn't be bothered to notice that the test is required, not volutary, if you want to go to a federally funded university. Shiva thinks that according religious Jews a basic accomodation is "extremist" and comparable to wanting Haradi on the West Bank. The one who takes the cake in raw nastiness is Chris Lintwait's "get a Rabbi to tell you it's ok" to take it on Saturday. These people should be ashamed of themselves.

I do not accuse the Brazilian authorities for this problem. These exams are done each year and this is the 1st time I have heard this complaint from the Jewish population. Quite possibly there was no malice intended and the people in charge just did not think it out that the exams would fall on the Jewish Sabbath.

the majority or look for opportunities to cause mass casualties on festivals. Jews do not call for the destruction of any country Arabs in Israel can drive on any day,deliberately driving through the Jewish area to provoke with music blaring loudly on the day of atonment has consequences.

It's only breaking shabbos, guys. Get over it! Here in Brazil, even the most religous Catholics, Muslims and Jews wear Speedos all day. And they're really skimpy on the tuches.

That would be convenient, you're all supposed to be in Church, after services, you can go as a group to take the exams You'll leave from Church, the Jews will leave from home You can all gather at the examining hall

One important detail has not been reported: the exam will take place on two days, Saturday and Sunday. So, fundamentalist Christians also have reason to complain. There are around 200.000 Jews in Brazil. The overwhelming majority of the population welcomes them, and we are grateful for the enoumous contribution they give to the country, in science, arts and businesses. I can remember of two Jewish state governors: Lerner of Parana (in the nineties) and Wagner of Bahia (now). I am sure the great majority of the Jews here understand well their country and will take the test on Saturday without complaining. The religious fundamentalists are a minoriy among them. This exam will be taken simultaneously by four million students. It is not practical to do it on a weekday or to have two different exams. Those who choose not to take the test on Saturday can still go to college. There are still very good state (not federal) and private universities which don't require ENEM.

Jews wouldn't be offended, though most Christians would Or, if you prefer, hold them on Fridays, messing up the Muslim's day of prayer

Let's eliminate all special washing facilites in airports and public facilities that have been constructed so Muslims can wash their feet prior to praying Let Muslims pray like other peeople do, with shoes on, feet unwashed Groceries and butcher shops should refuse to process or carry Halal meats since most of the public doesn't eat them anyway

"No Oz, I didn`t answer my own question " of course you did, you just don't want to admit it. "What I do take issue is that when Jews stand up for their interests you seem to have a problem with that and blurt out "Jews crying again". In case you haven`t noticed, EVERY group stands up for their interests. Different groups, be they religious, political or any other, do that all the time What`s wrong with that? Nothing." If it hurts you that much, maybe you ought to go live in Israel. "Except when Jews do. Right Oz? Then they`re "crying"." yeah, Muslims don't cry, they whinge & whine.

"Did it ever occur to you that the university staff overseeing the exam might have regular work to do on another day?" I'm glad I live in a country that respects the religious traditions of ALL faiths and makes appropriate and reasonable adjustments to accommodate them. God Bless America. But one thing I do agree with you - ignorance is truly bliss. Thanks for reconfirming.

The last and only time Brasil produced a Nobel Prize Winner was in 1960. I understand that if your choice is to be a good football player you go to Brasil. But if studying is what you really want, I think that Harvard, MIT, Technion or Sorbone will be better places.

Pedro, I thought Brasil was all about dar um jeitinho? The only sensible reason for not offering the test on an alternative day is the cost. I doubt that is too expensive, but if so, then the Jewish students should be allowed to take another test, like the U.S. SAT, and that should be counted equally for Brasilian admissions instead of the ENEM. Your solution that they should go to university in another country is grossly offensive and discriminatory. Tchau!

hi lulu, i understand you dont choose to follow the laws of judaism or shabbat. but judging ppl who do as backward and extremist is very judgemental, undemocratic and arrogant. imposing your own veiws and your way of life as the right way which these jews should follow shows even more arrogance. we live in a world made of millions of cultures and practices. we each need to find out whats right for ourselves, not what's right for others.

if its only 1000 students they should either let them in based on their other marks or make another plan. i assume in this day and age we dont believe that the minority has to conform to majority opinion. that would be very undemocratic.

Are you seriously defending the idea that these students have nothing to complain about because the exam is not mandatory for admissions to inferior, local universities? Obviously the students want a fair shot at all the universities -- whether they are the national, federal ones, or the state, local ones.

do you not believe in religious freedom? they are not given a choice about the test. they do not believe in taking tests on saturdays and therefor there should be an alternative. just like you wouldnt force jews and muslims to eat pork as part of their admission they shouldnt have to take tests on their sabbath.

others religious days. "The law require alternative testing if one is precluded for religious reasons. All my kids took tests on Sundays" judith But I bet that in Isreal you would support putting non Jews in gaol for driving on Jewish holy days???.

You are right. Next year for example my Jewish nephew will attend the ENEM 2010 exam for sure, do not matter it will be on a Saturday or Sunday.

4.100.000 (four million and one hundred thousand) is the number of students that will attend ENEM 2009 exam at same date and hour.

All standardized tests, such as SAT, GMAT, GRE, for college and graduate school admission, as well as teacher certification exams, etc., are on Saturdays. The law require alternative testing if one is precluded for religious reasons. All my kids took tests on Sundays.

The exam called ENEM can decide if a student will go or not to study in the best Brazilians universities without paying nothing (free of charge). Therefore is important that everybody make the tests at the same time to prevent frauds. Another point is that the Jewish students are not better neither worse than others. Lie who affirms the contrary. But if they desire and have money, they can study in any other country.

Israel locks down it,s Minority on certain religios days. Arabs can be arrested for driving their car. Why are the Minority Jews in brazil (.07%)so much more special than the 20% of the non Jews in Israel. Please do enlighten us???.

No Oz, I didn't answer my own question but you have your opinion and I have mine, which is fine. You feel its special treatment and I feel it's a matter of being allowed to practice one's religious rights. You won't change my mind nor will I change yours, not that I care to. What I do take issue is that when Jews stand up for their interests you seem to have a problem with that and blurt out "Jews crying again". In case you haven't noticed, EVERY group stands up for their interests. Different groups, be they religious, political or any other, do that all the time What's wrong with that? Nothing. Except when Jews do. Right Oz? Then they're "crying".

Religious Jews have been able to take the SAT on alternative dates for as long as I can remember. I know this is the case today and it was the case 25 years ago when I took the entrance exam. This is a very minor accommodation and I'm really surprised that the test administrators won't bend.

i am professor in braz. university, before that worked in several others. most jewish students anyway are leaving at least for part of study to usa, eu or israel and almost never return, since they can mostly work in more advanced countries. this is a big loss for brazil but persons of lula type probably are unable to understand that.

These Brazilian Jewish teenagers are 100% wrong. Here everybody make exams like that in the same date for decades and give privileges to any group would be very expensive. People who says that the court decision is prejudice are idiots. Please, stop to cry for everything.

Thanks for the reply - It seems that Judaism is no different from Islam or Christianity when it's hijacked by fundamentalists - maybe that's why I'm an atheist who follows a Buddhist doctrine!

you are asshole, you are not in Izrael

Is it so hard to understand? Brazil is a hugn country, where students all over Brazil flock to Rio and Sao Paulo for entrance exams, to make a 'SPECIAL' day for any group is complicated and its not just on saturday, its friday{muslim] saturday{jewish and some christians]sunday[christians]for donkeys years it has been like this, before nobody complained, and i am including all religious groups in on this one.

Zydy do Palestyny" : Jews to Palestine. Birds of feather flock together. Yet another Catholic country like Brazil shows it antisemitic bias

Your post does make some sense. However Brazil is very laid back. I doubt whether the Government is truly aware that certain Brazilian citizens of Jewish faith which by the way is a small enough minority, considering that Brazil has more than 400.000 Jewish citizens of which many are of mixed marriages. Exclusion from college entrance exam by some, cannot be construed either as a blanket policy or simply some anti Jewish thing. I am sure that we are talking about a small number of students, small enough that the Gov.of Brazil has been rather taken aback than anything else. Obviously, equality for all is part of the Brazilian Constitution. Thats what makes it one the greatest countries in the world. Good day from snowy Alps.

According to Halacha, it is forbidden to write, turn on lights, sew, cook, drive a car, etc. Do you need other requirements for Shabbat? Most of them are in the Bible, but it can be summarized as requiring a complete rest, including no requiring animas (such as horses) or servants to work on that day of rest. I sugggest that not writing and not turning on lights would be sufficient to stop an observant Jew from taking a test on Shabbat. I know that when I lived in Canada, school trips were not scheduled on Saturday and tests were not scehduled on Fridays or on Jewish holy days, except possibly in Quebec which has long been known for its hostility to Jews.

- yes, different dates should be offered to different minorities. different dates would require different tests with the result that every applicant who didn't pass the test could complain that he/she would have passed the test given to another minority - where would it end? Nobody is forced to go to this university - whoever wants to study there has to apply to the rules set for this one or otherwise apply for a different university. It really is that simple.

The antisemitism that exists in Brazil is starting to show...

if Christians asked for exams to be moved from a Sunday

Surely asking for an exam in a predominantely Christian country to be moved from a Saturday, a normal day in Brazil is asking for special treatment. Amd why is a Brazilian flying an Israeli flag in Brazil, when asking for special reatment because he is a Jew?

Can you tell me which exams American kids take on a Saturday which isn't voluntary?

on a Saturday. Problem solved.

As someone pointed out, there are about a 180,000 jews in Brazil. The numbers are beside the point. I'm sure if it was fixed on a sunday and the many roman catholics in the country raised hell over it, you wouldn't be saying the same thing about them. BTW, on the issue of other religions wanting separate dates... well it depends on whether they are recognized by the government or not. after all I could jolly well start a religion of 'lazy people' and claim in our bible, God worked only once in a week, all remaining 6 days are resting days.

Assuming your figure of 180,000 Jews is correct (and I have no reason not to), that means when you figure how many Jews would want to take this specialized exam, and then you subtract the number of them who would take the exam on Saturday because they are not sabbath observant we are probably talking about a few hundred students at most in a country as big as Brazil. The cost per pupil and hassle of making up and administering a separate exam is just too high.

In case of Saturday exams Jewish students(OR Seventh day Adventists) gather in one or more centers to be supervised all day Saturday so they cannot communicate with the outside. They then take the SAME exam as everybody else. The cost is minimal. From experience if costs need to be covered the Jewish students gladly pay. One pays for ones own accomodation,the cost of the exam supervision is covered for all students as in any other exam. PS Multiple choice exam questions are not readily memorised to be passed on and there are usually hundreds The questionnaires are collected after the exams.

.It means that any request for special treatment made on basis of ANY religious belief for an entrance test for a federal university in Brazil would meet the same denial.Those who post here talking about discrimination against jews ignore the brazilian constitution.There is absolutely no discrimination.Probably the religious jews in Brazil think they can do the to the brazilian law the same they do here in Israel,where there is no constitution,and the haredim can press,coerce or intimidate. .In that case,they should form their own university there or emigrate to Israel

where do you get your numbers? there are 180,000 jews in brazil. and yes, different dates should be offered to different minorities.

And explain to me how this request constitutes "special treatment". These protesters are not asking for an easier exam or to be given the answers in advance, "they just want to take the exam on another day"! " right there, you just answered your own question. Oh, same goes for christians, mulsums & all the rest.

separate test days would mean a different test would be needed and paying testers for another day. I would say that only about 1000 Jewish students at most would even need to take test and many would take it at normal time.

Samos. If your comment is addressed to me, you give no argument as to why I should reconsider - perhaps you should resubmit your comment, including the reasoning behind your request!

These protesters are not asking for an easier exam or to be given the answers in advance, they just want to take the exam on another day! Did it ever occur to you that the university staff overseeing the exam might have regular work to do on another day? Same goes for some of the applicants. Saturday is usually chosen for these sort of events because it gives the greatest number of applicants the chance to take part. The Jewish students are not excluded, they exclude themselves. Ignorance is bliss.

Samos. If your comment is addressed to me, you give no argument as to why I should reconsider - perhaps you should resubmit your comment, including the reasoning behind your request!

The Jewish students are kept under supervision on Saturday in one or more places,then have the same written exams on Saturday night. How do YOU know what Jewish students WOULD do? The costs are minimal. Talk about cheep!

It is ironic that where a country that considers a Jew its God would do everything possible to humiliate the Jews to live according to its belief. Not long ago have we seen how far is the world willing to turn a blind eye to an antisemetic act. Now it is the time for Israel to stand by us the Jews and show its muscle if any!

There are 96.000 Jews in Brazil and the total population is 192 million. So this alternate test day would be for about 2.000 students. Organizing a nation wide test is not cheep and the questions could not be the same. Then the Brazil Jews would most certainly complain that their questions were more difficult that those for Christians and others. Or vice versa. What if in Brazil would be a equal size (=tiny) religious group who would have their "weekend" in the middle of the weak. Should the 192 million population organize a different college entrance exam for them on the normal weekend?

Having lived in Brazil for many years, i know that most of these exams have taken place on fridays ,saturdays and sundays, so they don"t just fall on the saturdays and this is the first time i have ever heard any complaints over this subject, what is happening in Brazil??

... would you care to re-think "why should Jews be given 'special treatment' phrase... ?

can't you understand? "In some areas in Brazil, such a Rio de Janeiro, observant Jewish students cannot apply to some of the leading universities," said Alex Kingel, 17, from Sao Paulo, who will not be taking the test. Kingel explained that because Rio de Janeiro's leading university is a federal one - funded by the central government - applicants must take the test, known locally as ENEM. The exam, which is not mandatory, is not necessary for applying to locally-funded state universities."

can't you understand? "In some areas in Brazil, such a Rio de Janeiro, observant Jewish students cannot apply to some of the leading universities," said Alex Kingel, 17, from Sao Paulo, who will not be taking the test. Kingel explained that because Rio de Janeiro's leading university is a federal one - funded by the central government - applicants must take the test, known locally as ENEM. The exam, which is not mandatory, is not necessary for applying to locally-funded state universities."

Perhaps as a sycophant of the Haredim, you could enlighten us ordinary people of the 'unchosen' variety as to what is permissible on Shabbat, and why with your extremist views you live in Melbourne and not some illegal settler outpost in the West Bank!

if this were Muslims asking for Fridays off or Halal food you would be crying that Muslims are trying to take over and impose Sharia law

This supreme court decision is much more significant than just an alternate test day. It indicates that Brazil's negative attitude to Israel is becoming a negative attitude toward Jews.

these people need to drop thei ultra-extremist religious idealogies and instead go to school and take their exams with everyone else! if your religion prevents you from getting an education, that means you have a wrong religion! stop whinning and complaining like babies and compete on an equal field against everyone else!

"Apparently they do not know the meaning of the word "equality." Apparently they do!

That is an alternative they should think of. Brazil's loss would be our gain!

This is unfair plain and simple, their religion doesn?t permit them to go take the test on that day so they need another day. All those who say they "choose" not to take the test are simply wrong. Make a second date possible and allow everyone who needs to miss the original test a change to take the test on that day. It?s called a "make up exam" for anyone unable to attend during the regular date. It?s what is done when there is a true interest in allowing everybody an equal opportunity. Otherwise it?s clear that there is no interest in being fair. What if even a non Jew is sick that day? Is it so crazy to have a make up day? Only one day is available to ALL students for testing into all federally sponsored Universities? How ridiculous.

Christmas as a public holiday in Oz?

as "all students are equal".?

and how many jews are in brazil should the government bent back ward to accomdate them I think they just few spoiled brats

Oz Person your racist ignorance is embarrassing but of course you're too ignorant to realize it. If the exams were held on Christmas you can be sure Christian groups would be protesting, and rightly so. If they were held on a Muslim holy day Muslims would also be objecting, as so they should. Would you be "whining" that the Christians or Muslims are "crying again"? Don't think so. But of course the Jews should just keep quiet when they feel they are wronged, Stop crying Jews, just take what you get. Right Oz Person? And explain to me how this request constitutes "special treatment". These protesters are not asking for an easier exam or to be given the answers in advance, they just want to take the exam on another day! Ignorance is bliss.

If one is barred for religious reasons for taking a test on Saturday, the law requires an accomodation.Why can't Brazil??

What! Have the Haredim moved to Brazil. If they want special treatment in a secular democracy, then maybe they should go back to Israel, where religion rules the day!

A country of impoverished millions run by a few thousand White Portuguese overlords wouldn't know equality if it slapped them in the face.

"The exam, which is not mandatory, is not necessary for applying to locally-funded state universities." - Cnaan Liphshiz Then what is the complaint about? The kids are 'excluding' themselves not Brazil. And what they are excluding themselves from is not required/ A total Bravo Sierra complaint.

Maybe it means to them that nobody deserves favored treatment because of their religion. The students have the right to take the exam like everyone else. If they choose not to do so for their own reasons, they have the right to do that.

If you jew are not happy in Brazil, please move to Israel and have a beautiful show of "equality" toward your cousins palestinians!

Apparently they do not know the meaning of the word "equality."

"What can one expect from a country that welcomes holocaust deniers?" want some cheese with that whine, so, tell us, why should these Jews be given special treatment compared to the rest of the population ?

What can one expect from a country that welcomes holocaust deniers?