Many gedolim in the United States encourage newlyweds to make the move to learn in Yerushalayim and benefit from the kedusha the city has to offer. There are a growing number of Americans found in the capital, in areas including Ramat Eshkol, Maalot Daphne, Sanhedria and Sanhedria Murchevet.
A BRIEF EXPLANATION
For the purpose of this article, “Americans” refers to avreichim, yungerliet wishing to live in Yerushalayim in accordance to instructions of gedolei yisrael, with the understanding their way of life must reflect the lifestyle of the chareidi community of Eretz Yisrael at large, particularly that of Yerushalayim.
As is the case among all parents, Americans living in Yerushalayim seek out the best education for their children. This is not exclusive to Yerushalayim, and not to the chareidi population, but our story deals with a particular school in the chareidi community, the Beis Yaakov Tzafon, the primary school serving the neighborhoods listed above, a member of the Chinuch Atzmai educational network.
BACKGROUND
The story begins three years ago in the Sanhedria Murchevet Beis Yaakov North, headed by Principal Frieda Sokolovsky. For reasons that compel one to ponder, the children in first and second grades of American families have been targeted by Sokolovsky, who has blatantly implemented a discriminatory policy, segregating the American students along with a number of the weaker Sephardi girls, residents of the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood.
SEGREGATION BEGINS
The segregation began a bit over two years ago, with the girls placed in their own classrooms, distanced from their Israeli counterparts. The move not only left parents wondering, but upset; as they yearn to have their children meet their Israeli peers and acclimate to their new home. Parents have also learned from rabbonim and professionals who are guiding them through their struggle that the segregation may have a profound negative impact on their children’s emotional development, cause for real concern.
RABBONIM SEEK TO MEDIATE A TRUCE
Despite heroic efforts by parents, their representatives, particularly Rabbi Yitzchak Berkowitz Shlita, one of the leading poskim and rabbonim of the American chareidi community in Eretz Yisrael, with Kollelim and talmidim worldwide, the principal remains steadfast in her refusal to mainstream the children, who she seems to view as “Americans”, exhibiting an air of disapproval for their way of life, which is difficult to understand since “their way of life” is in line with dictates of gedolim in Eretz Yisrael, whom they turn to for day-to-day guidance in all aspects of their lives and marriages.
Rav Berkowitz has been working tirelessly for the past two years, meeting with Mrs. Sokolovsky, Chinuch Atzmai officials, and rabbonim both in Israel and the United States, including some of the generation’s Gedolei HaTorah. Despite the willingness of parents to conform to any school regulations, they have come to the realization that Sokolovsky has turned a deaf ear to their pleas, as well as any and all attempts to bridge the gap. As a result, their children are simply being discarded by the school, viewed as ‘inferior’, destined to remain outside the circle of Yerushalayim’s Beis Yaakov Israeli chareidi community.
In one case, a world renowned rosh yeshiva was markedly pained upon hearing of the situation, unable to understand what would compel such a policy that targets innocent children. In one meeting with one of the Torah giants of the generation, instructions were given to Principal Sokolovsky to set up a committee, a vaad, to address the issues and reach a solution. This took place close to a month ago but as of today, this committee has yet to be established.
CHINUCH ATZMAI SHOWS LIMITED CONCERN
To date, the limited intervention by senior Chinuch Atzmai officials did not turn the situation around, with parents realizing that the school principal is deeply entrenched in the system for many decades, perhaps lending an air of legitimacy to her actions. That said, the parents and the rabbonim are quite aware that if the Chinuch Atzmai leadership wishes to bring an end to this unfortunate policy, it can do so in an instant. Seemingly, Chinuch Atzmai intervention until now may only have been cosmetic, perhaps to exhibit an air of concern while in actuality, they are unwilling to challenge their veteran principal or perhaps they are not bothered enough by the blatant discrimination against innocent children who are seeking to enter the Beis Yaakov world with all its demands and benefits.
THE EDUCATIONAL REALITIES & OPTIONS
For the sake of a comprehensive report on the matter, there are actually two other schools which fit the hashkafa of the girls involved, the Beis Yaakov of Ezras Torah [which is small in numbers, no longer a flourishing institute], and the Beis Yaakov of Beis Yisrael. While one may reasonably argue the parents may send the students to either of these schools and end the ongoing dispute, the parents, instructed by rabbonim, are not willing because this would set a precedent, one that chas v’sholom may lead to discrimination in other schools and what is now an isolated incident may become de facto policy of the Beis Yaakov system. This the rabbonim explain would be disastrous, perhaps even resulting in yungerliet not moving to Eretz Yisrael or chas v’sholom some who have already done so deciding to leave.
AN INSIDE PERSPECTIVE
One person, who has been instrumental in fundraising for Chinuch Atzmai in North America and elsewhere for many years has an inside perspective of the situation. He attests to the fact that gedolei yisrael in Eretz Yisrael and North America are indeed involved, and the situation is perhaps even more volatile than it appears on the surface. In actuality, according to some, in addition to the stigma to students involved, it may result in a financial tsunami against Chinuch Atzmai, as givirim in the United States have already begun innocently inquiring, some phoning their contacts in various mosdos in Eretz Yisrael, asking why this is happening. They are beginning to question why their money is good enough while the “children of the American yungerliet” are deemed inferior, not worthy of sitting side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts, pointing out that as a community, one could say that not only are these yungerliet leading a Torahdik life, but many represent the ‘cream of the crop’ of the American chareidi community.
A TIME TO ACT
This year the avreichim came to the realization that something must be done. After consulting with educators, their rabbonim and other professionals, it was explained to them that a continuation of the current reality will result in significant emotional scaring to the children, who may actually begin feeling inferior and exhibit outward behavioral signs in line with such realities.
As a result of the dire situation, the rabbonim instructed the parents to take the children out of the school. This decision was made before Yom Kippur. It was decided to remove the children from the school and tutor them at home. It is imperative to point out that this act is not one of protest, but perhaps more accurately a decision in compliance with rabbonim who are guiding the actions of the parents. The rabbonim explained the situation is unacceptable, that it will harm the children, and as such, the children were removed from the school and remain in private home-schooling type programs at present.
NOTE
YWN Israel bureau has probed the incident in depth, seeking to elicit responses from parties involved, but from the onset it was agreed that names would not be publicized due to the nature of the problem and sensitivity of the issues at hand concerning parents, gedolim and others. It must be pointed out that YWN has verified the facts, met with parties involved, and spoken with representatives of both sides. The actual names and identities remain on file, but will not be released for publication.
THE SEGREGATION HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL
Whatever the outcome, the sad realities of the segregation have already claimed victims, first and foremost the innocent girls who want nothing more than to be accepted. They are without guilt, but rather the innocent victims, pure and lofty, but nonetheless the main victims.
The parents involved are also living the day-to-day stress; with their children no longer in an organized Beis Yaakov framework, having to provide home schooling, albeit organized groups, but nevertheless, not an opportune situation on the best of days.
While an exact number is not available, there are also a limited number of families who decided to pack it in, return to North America, leaving them with the bitter taste of the segregation instead of permitting them to raise their families in Yerushalayim.
There is also the added expense. Parents pay the book fees in schools and other nominal charges. There are no tuition costs as it is part of the Chinuch Atzmai system, but now, the costs of arranging the alternative schooling have indeed placed an additional financial burden on them.
NUMBERS AND LOGISTICS
The Beis Yaakov Tzafon is a flourishing institution and it has four parallel first grade classes alone. Sadly, rather than grouping the girls according to academic abilities and other educational-related criteria, one class has become the segregated class, with 39 girls [32 Americans and 7 Sephardim]. One parent explained the 7 Sephardi girls are grouped with the Americans because they come from the lower-income Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood, which carries its own stigma. (The issue of discrimination against Sephardim in Beis Yaakov is in its own right a subject for another story).
YWN has confirmed that prominent educators, gedolei Torah in both Eretz Yisrael and North America are involved, aware of every move, and it is important to stress the parents are not acting blindly, but following rabbinical advise as they try to carefully negotiate their way through this difficult process, always aware what is best for their children must remain atop of the list of priorities.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
YWN has made an effort to contact principal, Frieda Sokolovsky and Rabbi Tzvi Baumel of Chinuch Atzmai, the official who is handling the affair.
Principal Sokolovsky’s secretary informed me on Thursday morning following a number of calls that she (the principal) is unwilling to respond to my questions or meet, referring me to Rav Baumel, who she explained is handling the entire matter on behalf of the school and Chinuch Atzmai.
I spoke with Rav Baumel on Thursday morning, who told me “I finished meeting with the Israelis and I am meeting with the representatives of the Americans later today. I will respond following that meeting.”
Rav Baumel’s response will appear in subsequent articles on the matter, G-d willing in the early part of next week, or earlier if the situation permits.
YWN is also working to contact some of the yungerliet who have relocated to places outside of Eretz Yisrael in the hope of obtaining their testimony and statements.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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