Israeli apathy is to blame for ultra-Orthodox arrogance
Why do the Haredim have their own school system? Because the state lets them get away with it.
By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: Israel newsI really would like to dedicate this column to praising Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy for standing up for the rule of law and calling time on the despicable segregation between girls of Ashkenazi origin and those of Sephardi or Mizrahi origin in ultra-Orthodox schools. But as much as his decision to jail the 74 couples who are refusing to allow their daughters to attend a desegregated school in Immanuel for their breathtaking contempt of his court is justified, his judicial wrath is misdirected.
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A haredi father being taken to jail for failing to comply with a court ruling on segregated schools on June 17, 2010. |
| Photo by: Tomer Appelbaum |
Justice Levy has changed the rules that allow the ultra-Orthodox rabbis to decide upon every aspect of the education of 20 percent of Israel's children. One can understand the anger of the parents and the rabbis at the fact that nobody told them about the change. But you can be certain that the final outcome of the Immanuel saga will take the form of a new school, solely for girls from the "Hasidic stream" (that is, Ashkenazi ). Instead of one small school, split done the middle, there will be two tiny ones. A monument to Haredi separatism and bigotry, and also to the limits of Israeli sovereignty.
The issue of state versus private education is a controversial one in most democracies. But even in the most liberal countries private schools must accept some form of government supervision and calibrate at least part of their schedule to the national curriculum. In those countries, "private" schools are just that, privately funded. In Israel, the vast, overwhelming majority of ultra-Orthodox schools receive most of their funding, usually around 75 percent, from the state. They are not required to teach the core subjects determined by the Education Ministry, nor are they obliged to prepare their students for national examinations. Officially, they are under the aegis of the woefully understaffed Haredi education department in the ministry. But the education inspectors, omnipotent when it comes to the other educational streams, have no real say when it comes to ultra-Orthodox schools. Most are Haredi themselves, and wouldn't dream of contradicting the rabbis who control the schools.
But even this is too much for some Haredi schools. They go for the option of rejecting even token supervision while still being entitled to have the taxpayer provide 55 percent of their budget.
We can blame the Haredi community for its arrogance, but the real blame lies with all of Israel's successive governments. For 62 years they allowed it to happen, approving ever-greater budgets and increased autonomy for the ultra-Orthodox schools. That's not something the High Court of Justice can change. The court would not be challenging the status quo had a small number of brave petitioners not decided to go all the way against the segregation in Immanuel. But this is a local issue, which has been inaccurately portrayed in the media as a matter of Ashkenazy bigotry, even racism. It is actually an example of the Haredi class system by which those who were born into the community will always be superior to the ba'alei teshuva, those who choose religious observance later in life.
The real issue at stake here is the extent to which a closed and separate community can be allowed to manage its own affairs in a democratic state. Does the government have any responsibility to children whose parents choose to belong to a group that shuns modern education? When can the courts intervene to prevent perceived injustices carried out in the name of a belief that is not the norm? Where do we draw the line between the duties of society and a dictatorship of the majority? The Haredi leadership claims to uphold not only Jewish values, or their interpretation of those values, but also the sacred cause of democracy. How can the government tell them how to educate their children, they ask, this is a secular Zionist dictatorship!
On the airwaves, they liken the justices to the Bolshevik commissars who shut all Jewish schools in the Soviet Union. In booklets intended for internal consumption the comparison is with the Spanish Inquisition and the Holocaust. But there's no need to go that far; how are ultra-Orthodox schools faring today in the lands of the goyim?
The Immanuel parents are willing to go to prison to defend their "pure education" and a way of life they claim to have been leading for 3,000 years. For them, the Slonim Rebbe's rulings take precedence over the law of the land. But somehow their brothers abroad seem to have no problem subjecting their children's schools to the inspectors of the non-Jewish authorities. Haredi schools in every country in the West teach the subjects of the national curriculum and are tested by the same examinations as everyone else.
If this was indeed a matter of life and death, a cause worth sitting in jail for, surely the ultra-Orthodox communities of New York and London would long ago have uprooted themselves and moved to the only country in the world that not only allows them total educational freedom but even pays for it. There is only one reason the Haredi leadership in Israel insists on running a totally independent education system, with no governmental involvement. They know they can get away with it. David Ben-Gurion, in the early days of the state, wanted a single education system for all, but political and practical circumstances precluded this. Then, it was the powerful secular parties that insisted on keeping their special schools. The only community whose schools were controlled closely was the Arab community. For security reasons, of course.
Ben-Gurion wasn't worried about the ultra-Orthodox. He believed they were a small, archaic group that was destined to dwindle and die out. He was sure that just as he had put aside the tefillin and prayer book of his childhood, so too would the young generation of Haredim choose to be part of a brave new society. How wrong he was. Today, almost 300,000 children are enrolled in ultra-Orthodox schools in Israel - 51 percent more than a decade ago.
With the exception of a muted response from Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar, no senior cabinet minister has said anything about the Immanuel situation. They can do the political math. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lose his coalition if he is seen in any way to be supporting government interference in Haredi schools. If Justice Levy genuinely wants to establish the supremacy of law over a recalcitrant minority, he should direct his efforts toward the government.
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stop beating around the bush it has nothing to do with different religion perception it has nothing to do with the Torah it has nothing to do with haredim it is only pure racisem between eshkenazi and sepharai the ashkenazim think they are better, this has been going on for 60 years enough is enough
You don't have to compare haredi behavior in NY versus Jerusalem. Just compare their behavior on El-Al versus that on foreign airlines.
Recently, we had here two christian fundamentalist mothers who were imprisoned because they held back their children from courses about sexuality in public schools. I then thought: it seems a hard punishment, but I'm not keen on getting back to the age of back-street abortions and diseases spreading not only because of lack of caution but also because of ignorance. Formerly, kids were punished for masturbating, now it's better to punish the demonizers and defenders of ignorance. A german teacher made us read Frank Wedekind's "Spring awakening" at school when we were 12 or 13 years old. Looking back, I'm glad we had teachers like him.
unbelievable, as if Israel has not enough on its plate it has to deal with this kind of retarded issues!! Dear Orthodox/Chose-once: start to pay taxes, start to serve the state, start to respect those who finance you and stop taking our of you tucheses!! it is really enough....and Israel: stop allowing Fundamentalist to direspect law and order and to dance on your noses. They are the weak link!
The State must act so that their children are not brainwashed into thinking their parent's racist, medieval view of the world is normal.
Like stated before, there'll be more and more reasons for some fuss. Then somewhere around 2025 they'll democratically vote into existence the Halakhic Republic and that's it. Enjoy.
Don't they have their own schools ?
Thanks Mr Pfeffer. That was an interesting and insightful story. I believe that Israel's increasing international isolation is due, in large, to the sucking up to the ultra-orthodox. They drive the Israeli agenda. It is nice to see someone trying to stir public opinion against the state of affairs. I was going to say 'status quo' but it's not static, Israel gets more extremist with time, just as the occupied territories get smaller with time.
Every Israeli should demand that non of their tax money paid to the receiver of revenue must go to the Ultra -Orthadox. Let them get their money from the Torah . Not until they intergrate into the Israel society . We all know that will only happen when the crab deceides to walk staight.
Mr. Pfeffer: You have the history straight. What are you doing about it? I have ten children who will build the land of Israel. Who's going to carry on after you're gone? What's the heritage and commitment that you're passing on to the next generation? Where are your children headed? To the affluent societies of the West, or will they stick it out here? We're not leaving, but take a look at the statistics of yordim. We, the religious, are the true Zionists. We love Zion, Eretz Yisrael, and we pray for it three times a day and mention in the Grace after Meals every time we have a meal. Chareidim, the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov and the Vilan Gaon, were here before the secular people came and took the name Zionists, making us by default anti-Zionists because we oppose the secularization of the Jewish people. As in the famous parable reportedly said by the Chazon Ish to Ben Gurion: When two donkey-drivers meet on an impassable road, the owner of the donkey who has cast off his burden will always yield to the owner of the donkey bearing the burden. You and all the seculars have cast off your heritage and connection to God and His Torah. You don’t believe in it, right? But we haven’t lost our will and our commitment. We’ll stand up against secular governments to protect our way of life, and we have a motivated and growing constituency. Go ahead and take away the paltry sums you throw our way after all the political machinations it takes to get them. Take all the tax money for your theaters, sports centers, rock and roll concerts, and all the other secular pork barrels in the budget. We’re willing to bite the bullet for what we believe in. We’re strong and idealistically steadfast. What about you?
First, we are dealing with one Hasidic court out of many, Slonim. Indeed, there are Sephardim for whom Ashkenazim are out of bounds, both in the "way they pray", as well as their approach to Halachah. And, for the record, there are Edot that discourage marrying outside their own circles, so . . . Are you going to go to the High Court to force Gruzenis to marry out of their group, or, Kavkazis, for that matter. Is that Racism?! The fact is except for Hasidei Slonim, there are more Ashkenazi Haredi schools where Sephardic children learn than not. It would seem that in his attempt to discredit any kind of Traditional Judaism, he chooses to hit it where it most extreme, ignoring the vast majority of Haredim who pay their taxes, and, even support the State of Israel in spite of its faults.
Do not use state funds for such schools.
Cut funding.
They have 20% of the vote. This should ensure them a strong impact on Israeli politics. But where is it? They splinter their vote, and the participation in elections is low. If those voters would have united behind one party covering their main interests, they would have been represented in government several times during the last decades! And Israel would be much different.
The Haredi who live on charity should be made to pay for everything including taxes, doing military service as other Israelis etc. Let them first and foremost ban the sale of Pork and pork products from all department stores in Israel. Have you ever heard of Pork products even being mentioned in any Arab country? What are the haredi doing ? Are they blind to what is happening around or only bothered about being an impediment to the archaelogical digs which are mandatory. It is time the State came down heavily on these overfed Haredi.
The Orthodox who are living on State charity should be made accountable and should not be allowed to live a lavish lifestyle without contributing in any way to the development of the State. They do not do military service, do not work, they go regularly to hookers. Their education should include all the subjects that are taught to the other Israelis including compulsory English. Military service should be made compulsory and not obligatory and the State should stop doling out taxpayers money to them. State should come down with a heavy hand.
I sat and cried .That in this day and age someone can write such an article with absolutely no deeper understanding of our beautiful religion.At least have respect....
Everybody knows it's the splintered Knesset, with all those mini-parties, which all but ensures that religious parties will be in a government coalition (26 out of 120 seats are held by mini-parties) . And of course once they have power they will do all they can to push their demands through and deliver to their constituencies. This problem would vanish if there was a 5% threshold for parties to get into the Knesset. The Israeli parliament would be reduced to only 5 parties, and those would be stronger. Just imagine how much more streamlined the government would be without all those useless extra ministers! And imagine the much more mainstream and reasonable laws that could be passed. Sadly, as long as the minis stubbornly defend their power, it will take a rebellion at the election to change the system. Not likely, or is it?
Out of the 43 so called ashkenasi families, 13 are actually sephardi!!!! come on, the haredim may look crazy, but they are not racist!!! I would also highly urge Mr. Anshel Pfeffer to get his facts straight so he can do some honest reporting! These families are not asking for public funding for their kids to go to school, they are willing to send them out of town to PRIVATE schools and suffer considerable financial loss in order to protect their children. The issues are NOT racially based, but rather, based on a fear of the other kids having a bad influence on their children.
How perversely misguided and factually incorrect! Fact: Haredi schools in New York are subject to government inspections ONLY in matters of health and hygiene. In London 30 years ago there were still Golf Country Clubs that denied membership to Jews. The Jews opened two Jewish Country Clubs. They are now being sued for being "racist" and only allowing Jewish membership! That is what is happening in Israel. The Haredim established their own schools in response to the rejection of their culture from the State of Israel schools. They are now being called "racist"?! Should the medical department at Hebrew University be forced to accept an individual who wishes to study Law?! That is a true analogy of Emmanuel. State funding you ask?! To all the true racist bigots who wish to deny funding for the study of Judaism- would you cut funding to the Hebrew University studies of Muslim culture?! Would you dare to cut funding to state Arab schools?! The real issue here is an inherent abhorration of the Haredi culture. That is the tragedy of The State of Israel.
Arabs can have their schools, learn about Nakba and even teach it. There are even Arabs that I believe call for the destruction of the Jewish people in the Knesset. Who would dare demand Druze children accept Bedouin children or Arab children in their schools? Nevertheless Religious Jews cannot have their schools, are so disloyal. Maybe they should be driven in the sea. Religious Jews were living in Israel way before 1948 but who cares. After all, they only study worthless studies. They pay their taxes but cannot have their share of tax. Of course the left claim they campaign only for democracy and not tyranny. The left are so disgusting it is laughable...
nice photo, he is playing karate on the street LOL
Who really is in control in Israel? What the Government does next may give the answer.
I don't know about the world being anti-Semitic, but you certainly are.
You can't blame this on the government, Bibi has been around for just over a year now but hey this government which is very unpopular especially amongst the leftists and the only thing that hate more than a right wing government is the orthodox jews. Now you got a chance to bash both of them. This has nothing to do with the government what it has to do with is Israel has a number of diiferent haredi sects some more readical than others and here you have a small group of radicals who want everything their own way and of course we never hear anything about the majority of these sects who are law abiding ( many serve in the army ) and rarely make trouble. I would iike to know why the left wing media never has much to condemn groups like Nautra Karta over. Its a fact in Israel the orthodox jews have a powerful voice as they should be entitled to as they make up a significant percentage of the population. This issue over the schools is stupid and of course one of those issues where the protestors can't have it all their own way but there are also occasions where the seculars are the ones in the wrong and there are issues when neither side is right and neither is wrong the secular & orthodox just look at the same issue from different angles. Lets stop constantly treating the haredi like they are evil and should all be locked up and orthodox judiaism should be banned. Israel would be a much worse place without the majority of the haredi.
Aren't the people going to jail determined anti-Zionists? Aren't they determined to make peace with the Arabs and live in a Palestinian-run state? Is THIS why you hate them? Aren't the robbery-minded "settlers" a thousand times worse?
Thank you Anselm! Israel has allowed the Haredim special favour since its founding: no tax, no military service, no public transport on weekends, public roads closed to other citizens, secular women forced to conform to Haredi dress codes in public areas, the appropriation of publicly owned buses and imposition of sexist rules therein - not to mention illegal settlements, the elevation of Rabin's killer to hero status and the deliberate misdirection of soldiers on active service. No wonder they only get more aggressive each year! This all goes back to Israel's failure in 1948 to clearly declare itself a secular state in which religion is a private matter (while noting the country's role as a safe haven for Jews). Time to correct this - otherwise the Jewish Taliban will do for Israel what their Muslim counterpart did for Afghanistan.
You lie thu your teeth. Many Hareidim take no govt support, had nothing to do with PM rabins muredr and now have begun to serve in the army as 40% are religious in army You have been programmed with the "parasite" hatred by Labor. Sonei Yisroel to many areas but Egged did not want to lose the busines
...by making an absurd comparison between Haredim and the Taliban? How can you say something so ridiculous? As much as Haredim may pose problems to Israel's core values, let's not go off the deep-end.
Both Taliban and Haredim are religious fanatics who if they had the chance would prevent others practising their religion or non-religion. The only difference is that we've seen what the Taliban would do. I don't want to see what the Haredim would do, given control; they are twin movements.
Mr. Pfeffer, I would suggest that something--as you say--that has 60 years of national tradition--cannot be turned "on a dime," as the saying goes...not unlike one of those big oil tankers which literally take miles to alter course...unless, of course, it suddenly finds itself heading straight for some rocks that are NOT miles away...
You think it can't be done so you don't even start trying it? Hell, even tankers can do u-turns! All it takes is the will to change course. It will take long, sure, but the sooner you start the sooner the direction will change!
we will pay increasingly steeper prices for letting these fanatics do as they please. Successive cowardly governments have let them get away with everything short of murder for purely political reasons. If we don't stop them now we will eventually face a calamity.
If they establish their own school for their own people and accept no public funds that would not be improper. What they're doing now is despicable and you let this small minority get away with it. Why are you scared of them? The only power they have is what you give them. Take it back. The majority needs to start acting like a majority while respecting the rights of the minorities.
as long as these groups have a political power they are really dangerous! as you can see beeing the "coalition-partner" they threaten to break it if they do not get what they want. they are growing fast and they have the right to vote, without a political education or even a general education! already now they impact the israeli society and the people are just fed up to finance those who basically spit on them while cashing their checks. it is never a good idea to mix politics with religious fundamentalist-never and no where!
The government of Israel for a long time has exhibited more than 'apathy' towards Haredim. Sixty years ago the attitude of the vast majority of Israelis towards the Ultra-Orthodox was apathy. Sure the Ultra-Orthodox were opposed to the foundation of Israel. Sure they were a major problem in 1948 because they refused to help defend or save themselves from the Arabs. Certainly they refused to take part in founding and defending Israel. So what? The vast majority of Israelis viewed them with apathy. They accepted them as colorful examples of a failed Judaeism from the past. During the last 30 years they have become a dominant part of the Conservative Coalition which has dominated Israel during that period. Their every lunacy was indulged, any absurdity was entertained. Why should people who's ancestors were opposed to the founding of Israel be dedicated to the concepts upon which Israel was founded? The fatal 'apathy' has not been the indulgence of Likud and Kadima governments to the every whim of the Haredim. The fatal apathy has been the failure of the heirs of those who founded Israel to assert the objectives and dreams of those founders who did not understand that those who opposed what they were trying to build 60 years ago would one day come to dominate the nation. Government 'apathy' hell. The vast majority of Israelis are those who have surrendered not only to apathy, but the a lunatic fringe which rather that Israel never existed. The Ultra-Orthodox exist upon Israeli welfare. The majority of Israelis subsidize those determined to destroy their nation. So WHO is insane?
The sort of segregation that is at issue here is part of all chassidic schools in other democratic countries. The chassidim do not recognize that the government in Israel has the right to control over them, and never has. There is only a status quo agreement that says that the Chassidim will not fight the government if the government does not interfere with them.
You talk about other countries. Every country by law requires enforcing core curriculum and standardized tests. Haredi in Canada are required by law ensure that their students meet the provincial standards. Then you talk about being left alone. OK, you know what? I will leave you alone and not enforce standards like in Canada or the US. DON'T TAKE OUR MONEY. FIANCE YOUR OWN IGNORANCE. I WANT TO PAY FOR AN EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT WILL BE RESPNSIBLE FOR THE NEXT SCIENTIETS AND PRODUCTVIE WORKERS. LIKE IN CANADA AND THE US, PAY FOR YOUR IGNORANT EDUCATION SYSTEM AND LEAVE US ALONE DUDE.
Then why do they get over 60% government funding? My late grandfather was a hassid and would bury his head in shame at their actions today.
Why is Anshel Pfeffer afraid to come out strongly in favour of proper education? When did it become controversial to insist that children receive a high-quality education (science, math, history, arts, physical education)? Only a fool would suggest that these are debatable controversies. If you acquiesce to the demands of a backwards group of people who want to live in previous centuries you are complacent in stripping these children of a quality education! How can one call themselves a Zionist Jew and allow this to occur? This is 2010, get with the program, you can observe whatever you want to and however you want to, and to whatever degree you want to, but the state cannot contribute to a a non-education on the public's purse. The state further cannot allow children to be robbed of an education due to "tolerance" of the "values" of moronic parents, even if it is subsidized. Give these children all the religious education they want, but NOT at the exclusion of the fundamentals.
have separation of church and state
Is it in Britain? The Queen is the head of the Anglican Church. Isn't it? Some Scandinavean countries have state churches. Sweden until not long ago at least. They are secular societies, that enjoy freedom of religion, but at the same time they have a state church.
...you can separate them on paper, but never in practise, as democracy and religion exist in the heart and minds of men and women. Religious (and non-religious) perspectives will shape the values and principles of politicians to varying degrees. Deal with it.
Believe me, I support such sepaqration, but it's rare.
These Haredim are wrong on so many levels -- as European Jews, they have suffered centuries of prejudice -- now they reproduce that prejudice against fellow Jews of a different colour.( If that is how they treat fellow religious Jews -- how then, would they treat gentiles? What do they think of us? Are we beneath them as even their fellow clearly Jews are? ) These Haredim have also recently been demonstrating about the removal of ancient Jewish graves -- now, what colour do you think those deceased ancient Jewish people were? Were the deceased Jews, white skinned Ashkenazim from Warsaw and Kiev and Brooklyn....? I don't think so. Israel and Jewish people are making themselves look really really foolish in the eyes of the world....but hey, maybe it's the world that is wrong, and maybe the world is just 'anti Semitic' and prejudiced.....
I agree these Haredim are wrong on so many levels, but your suggestion that the minority of a minority with in a minority is making the group look foolish is the equivilant of saying that all catholics are open to ridicule because of the high incidece of pedofilia amougst the clergy - i suggest to you that you asre just waiting to find justifications for your inherent prejudice.
wrong, many many are from the USA!
Israel's problem is not because inaction of the government; it is because of its ridiculous electoral system. The system ensures a splintered Knesset with minor parties wielding completely disproportionate influence. Change the system so a party has to get a defined percent of the vote before they can get seats (perhaps 10%) and there would be more robust parties and a much more stable system of government.
The current system allows voters not to compromise - you vote for the crazies you love, and never have to consider another viewpoint. In Australia you can vote for the crazies, but also have to choose 2nd, 3rd, etc, preferences: if the crazies lose, do you prefer Likud, Labour or Kadima? When the crazies do lose your vote goes to your 2nd choice, and so on. Result: a more thoughtful population elects a more intelligent government! Change or collapse, Israel.
Even more concentration of power? Who says that the receivers would be better, and not just more politically aware of how to play the game? Every time there is a problem, the easy way out is to strangle democracy.
as an american in the midst of his aaliyah, i am both shocked and appalled at the recent happenings involving clear racism between the orthodox ashk and seph. are you kidding? were all jews relax! if you dont like it, go to private!
a separate school system for ultra orthodox... financed by our taxes... been there done that... USA