JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In recent weeks several Chasidic groups, including Belz, Boyan, Karlin and Tzanz, have decided to join the new State-Charedi educational system, which provides full funding in return for studying a core curriculum (designated for charedim) including English, Math and civic studies. Despite assurances that they would receive funding even if they maintained their own systems, the money has not been forthcoming and the chasidic groups decided of their own initiative to join the new system.
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The heads of the Lithuanian charedi community, Rabbi Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, have strongly condemned those who joined the state charedi system. At a recent gathering for Degel Hatorah representatives, Rabbi Landau’s opinion was stated and a letter from him was read. The letter was published Tuesday in the Yated Neeman newspaper, as well as a similar letter from Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch. Both the heads of the Slabodka yeshiva sharply opposed the moves to join the state charedi system.
Rabbi Landau wrote that “the matter of pure education was always the focal point of our teachers, the Gedolim of the generation and they stood firm not to allow foreign elements to be involved in it. I offer encouragement to the heads of institutions maintaining the pure and unadulterated education according to our tradition. They are bravely withstanding all the temptations despite growing economic difficulties. Everyone recalls the strong stand of Rabbi Gershon Edelstein in his last years against the attempts to place Talmud Torahs into the state charedi education.
“Now we have heard the sad news that some intend to accept the ministry of education’s programs. Heaven forfend that we place institutions in the state charedi network. Woe to us that this has happened. They should realize that besides the evil they are causing themselves and their children, they are causing great damage to the entire charedi community, making such a great breach in the house of Israel, that we don’t know the end of it. We therefore call upon all those who have veered towards this worrying and awful program, renege on all of your plans to change the face of the education, and Hashem will provide for you.”
Rabbi Hirsch added in his letter that the “State Charedi program being sponsored by the ministry of education has a dangerous involvement in the independence of our education, as is known from the severe results of this education until now. Therefore the Gedolim in every generation dedicated themselves to this basic concept, that there should be no influence and meddling in the education of our children.”
Isn’t it interesting how in America, the Chasidim are against secular education, and the Litvaks are for it, while in Israel, it’s the opposite?
Josê they don’t struggle terribly financially,, they struggle terribly being away from their young families while they go begging in America. And they struggle being treated like the beggars they are. Still all was well with the great delegation of choshuve Ranbonin who went, flying in Business class and private planes, begging for those who they say shouldn’t become equiped with basic literary standards.
Since when it’s a Mitzva to be illiterate?!
“Foreign elements”? Like computers, medical science, Copernicus, modern accounting, etc? Yeshiva boys are hungry to learn Torah, but also to work and support their families!
So happy and surprised to see the chasidic community finally realizing that the change is needed.
These Rebbes are very much in touch with reality They understand that the Oilam will not have parnossa if they don’t know English and Math The “Liba” in issue is being made to fit the frum needs
These Rebbes are extremely smart and know exactly what they are doing. The issue is not a chinuch issue but more political
Kol Hakovod to these Rebbes who are all Gedolim also
Not c”v to denigrate Rav Landau and Rav Hirsch but they have different views. Each to their own
Hatzlocho to these Rebbes and their chassidim
I’m very upset my comments got removed. I live in eretz yisroel in a haredi area… I posted what’s going on here and my thoughts but it was deleted.
This is exactly one of the major reasons we need chinuch that can give independence to frum yidden from manipulation and control. That wasn’t the original subject I mentioned but it’s all the same… Moderators deleting comments from bnei Torah???
Every Morning a few boys come in during shachris and request hachnassas kallah for their friends… A healthy smart 20 year old is asking for us to pay for his friends wedding… All frum heimishe yidden! I said but after the chasana how will they live?
This is not healthy and I don’t find any makoros for doing things these ways.
Please don’t delete my comments.
So will these gedolim raise money in America for these kids that will be unemployed their entire lives?
These Rabbonim went to the diaspora with the goal of raising 107M, and fell short by 25M. Now they are arguing with level headed rabbonim from their own worlds. Let’s be honest here- this isn’t about da’as torah, it’s about continuing a way of life that was important to have after the destruction of the torah world in the war. The goals are now different-maintaining a torah environment in a secular world. But that doesn’t require what Rabbis Hirsch and Landau prescribe, and it’s something that the Chassidic rabbonim -who are intimately involved in the communal lives of their flock in a longitudinal way that Roshei Yeshiva may not fully comprehend- understand.
Using their logic, every change should be disallowed, yet we see other Gedolim leading us to adapt to change so long as we follow the halachic parameters they set out for us.
Does Litvaks who basicly refused to listen to Rabbi chaim Kanefsky ztl when he wanted a hundred thousand frum Jews to go out and protest the first Jerusalem gay parade years ago are now paying the price. We know that in the secular subjects will be same gender propaganda. Had they listened back then to protest there would be no parade in Jerusalem.
I understand these rabbonim are against the secular government having control over curriculum by controlling the purse strings. However, incorporating secular studies, like Yeshivos in America do, is perfectly in accordance to Torah values. In our day and age, Rav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch’s concept of Torah Im Derech Eretz is the best system of education for the masses.
I trust the chasidish rabbis running big kehilas for 30 to 50 years , Equivalent to the rush yeshiva who started running politics 3 years ago.