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One of the most contentious debates in Israel is over the State subsidies provided for the rapidly growing number of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students. In conjunction with the recent Knesset vote approving the national budget bill, Prime Minister Netanyahu acquiesced to his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners and included a budget line appropriating 1.2 billion shekels as State subsidy to the some 120,000 yeshiva students. Hiddush has recently created a visual representation of a consistent theme in the Jewish tradition hailing the primacy of work as means to earn a living rather than living off public charity (and materially gain from the study of Torah). Above is an English translation of this widely distributed “Visual Midrash” Not only does Hiddush polling indicate how objectionable Israelis find this abuse, but the fact that such a large number of intelligent and capable young men do not study core curriculum [math, sciences, English and civics] and refrain from entering the work force is posing one the greatest threats to Israel's thriving economic sustainability. Of particular relevance is the fact that comparative studies done with regard to participation of ultra-Orthodox males in the workforce in Israel, New York, and London indicated that due to vast State subsidies in Israel only approximately 35% of ultra-Orthodox males participate in the labor market in Israel, compared with approximately 70% do so in New York and London [!!]. [See page 234 in the Taub Center study] 75% of Israelis supported reducing state subsidies to yeshivas in order to encourage yeshiva students to seek work. This great expense precludes meeting other high priority social and welfare needs. This is an example of one of the areas of Hiddush's advocacy and public consciousness raising, in promoting religious freedom and equality in Israel. We hope this will be of interest to you in both bringing source material on the value of work in the Jewish tradition, and in illustrating the growing concern over the implications of the huge scope of State subsidies, against public will and interest, to the ultra-Orthodox yeshiva world, which helps perpetuate the non-participation in the economic and security challenges faced by Israel.
Rabbi Uri Regev, Esq. |
