A recent Jerusalem Labor Court ruling may have widespread ramifications as the court feels rabbinical ordination is not viewed as the equivalent of achieving a bachelor’s degree. The case deals with two rabbonim who wanted to apply for a Ministry of Education position to become supervisors for the chareidi sector. It was ruled their semicha was insufficient to qualify as having a college degree and therefore they were not eligible to submit their names to apply for the position.
Justice Eyal Avrahami acknowledged that semicha is viewed as equivalent to a bachelor degree in the public sector regarding salary scale but it does not represent a replacement for the academic degree regarding job qualifications. Therefore, rabbonim certified by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel cannot be viewed as eligible to apply for jobs that demand a college degree based on their semicha.
Rabbi Avi Gisar explains that in the past the dati leumi education system opposed qualifications for a school principal including a master’s degree. Rabbi Gisar explained that in the past a candidate was certified as a dayan by the Chief Rabbinate was viewed as the equivalent of a candidate applying for the job who has a master’s degree. The rav added this was always the case in the public sector, that the rabbinical and lay degrees were viewed as equal.
The labor court added that the ministry’s demand that an applicant for the supervisory post have a bachelor’s degree is reasonable for one wishing to become a ministry supervisor for the non-chareidi sector must have a master’s degree to be eligible for consideration for the post.
The court added that one who has a college degree is more likely to have been exposed to the core studies, referring to secular subjects and this will permit such a person to better supervise and therefore, the demand by the ministry is reasonable”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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11 Responses
In the US and Canada it is,
but of course in …
Mr About time
In the USA and Canada they do not know how cheap Smicha had become . How low on a knowledge scale one can be to qualify.
Israel is correct.
Then they complain that we don’t get jobs.
This subtle sort of discrimination is very insiduous, because it is then used to justify even more discrimination.
About Time – where in America does Semicha automatically become a Bachelors degree? Stop being a Meragel.
#2 & #4
US and Canada grant a rabbinic degree
Call it how you will
The State ‘powers’ have long refused to grant BTL or a TE degree to Bnei Torah , which potentially would give them a headstart for a white collar job
Ever Wonder about this??
#4,
you are correct that smicha doesnt qualify as a bachelor, however what about time is referring to (probably) is that yeshivos offer a BTL (Bachelor in Talmudic Law) which can send you to a Masters in some colleges
In America, four years of higher education will be considered the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, and under federal anti-discrimination law an employer that fails to recognize it as such may be charged with discrimination if that decision impacts negatively on a protected group (and religious minorities are by definition protected). An employer in the US may require specific courses or a specific major, but has to be prepared to defend their preferences.
However diversity and inclusion, especially pertaining to Orthodox Jews, is contrary to Israeli public policy since, once must remember, the goal of zionism is to create a state free from Torah.
About Time and Coffee Addict – that’s not what this article is talking about.
Maybe Israel would grant BTL’s etc, if Israel’s religious community actually believed in getting a secular education. Not calling it Shmad or the likes. And no one needs your Pilpulim that in America you’re allowed to and in Israel you’re not.
No agency of the federal or state government in the United States would deem a bochur who never went to College out of high school but instead was a learner who was granted semicha (even from the most chashuve kollel) to be qualified for a position requiring a minimum of BS degree.
You are all missing the point. Read the last paragraph. They want people exposed to secular studies.
Having done the Rabbanut semicha (Rav Shechuna) I can attest that it took me 5 years of almost non stop study. (Shabbos, Nidda, Issur Veheter, Mikvaos, Avelus, Chupa Vekiddushin – Tur, Beis Yoseph, Shulchan Oruch, shach/taz/Magen Avrohom/Sma, mishna berura / modern poskim, tested without seforim in 6 written exams each lasting 3-6 hours). The level required is most likely to be far higher than a regular batchelor’s degree.
If they want core studies, why can’t they have an extension course – say one year – which covers all of those points?