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EDUCATION MINISTRY DEMANDS EQUAL EXPOSURE
FOR ALL STREAMS OF JUDAISM
by Abigail Radoszkowicz
Jerusalem Post, Nov. 5, 2003
"Whenever a rabbi from any stream of Judaism, including the Orthodox, is invited to address students, it would be most desirable that a rabbi of another stream be invited to speak as well," wrote Education Ministry Director-General Ronit Tirosh in a response to MK Ilan Shalgi (Shinui) last week.
Tirosh noted that a directive to that effect will be sent to all state non-religious schools.
Shalgi, head of the Knesset Education and Culture Committee, had demanded that schools give equal access to all streams of Judaism, including Reform, Conservative, and secularists.
Tirosh noted that her directive meets the standard of the 1993 Shenhar Commission, which called on promoting knowledge of Jewish tradition and culture, but within a pluralistic framework.
Shalgi said he thinks it best that pupils, or their parents, be allowed in any case to choose not to attend a rabbi's talk, and to take part in an alternative activity instead.
Gilad Kariv of the Reform-affiliated Religious Action Center was pleased with the ministry directive, saying, "It suits the values of the state education system. We hope that it will be implemented, and that it will be expressed in budgetary allotments for educational acquisitions as well."
Less impressed was Masorti (Conservative) Movement president Rabbi Ehud Bandel. While he praised Shalgi's initiative in promoting religious pluralism, he expressed doubts about the Education Ministry's willingness to implement the directive. He termed Tirosh's response to Shalgi as "lukewarm".
MK Gila Finkelstein (NRP), formerly principal of the religious Zeitlin High School, was even less pleased. "The real Judaism is the Orthodox one. The general population wants the real thing, which links back to a tradition of thousands of years, and not the counterfeit. While the Reform movement is very strong abroad, here it is just a small minority, so why should it be promoted and spread here?"
Regarding those parents who want their children to have more Jewish content in their education, yet don't feel comfortable with the Orthodox view, she said, "Orthodoxy can be taught without coercion, with students picking and choosing what to take from it. Experiential teaching – through drama or song, for example – has proven especially effective in this regard."
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