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Gafne: Chareidim Send Their Worst To Knesset While Secularists Send Their Best


gafneMK Moshe Gafne, Chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee on Sunday morning 21 Iyar spoke with Kol Chai Radio’s Mordechai Lavi. He addressed issues pertaining to bringing chareidim into the nation’s workforce.

His message during the lengthy interview was simple. He explained that after 27 years of Knesset service he is quite certain of his conclusions, and it is clear to him that the so-called efforts to accommodate chareidim are in fact a guise and in essence, chareidim are not wanted in the workplace as chareidim, but only if they are willing to change their way of life to a more modern secular one.

Gafne explains by giving a number of examples. He highlights that the nation’s Civil Service Administration demands 12 years of education to apply for jobs, adding 12 years of yeshiva education is not recognized as ‘education’.

Gafne adds that this is the official policy of the administration but after his intervention, after approaching various ministries, he has been able to make minimum progress since the director-general and minister of a ministry have the authority to bypass the so-called ’12 years of education’ policy.

One chareidi who applied for a government job was turned down because he did not have a high school diploma. The job that he did not qualify for is a driver. Gafne intervened.

Another case he mentioned required the intervention of officials at the Tourism Ministry. This chareidi applies to enter a tour guide course but was denied because he lacked a high school diploma.

And a third case he cited, once again denied the ability to apply, is to become a driving instructor. Gafne stated in all these cases he intervened and made progress but the Civil Service Administration continues to insist on the 12-years of education. He of course admits there are many positions that do indeed require a secular education and he has no problem with that and those who are not qualified should not be permitted to apply.

Gafne warns that efforts are now underway to end segregated classes in colleges, which would compel the thousands of chareidim attending institutions of high education to leave. He explains this and many other ongoing processes proves the real intentions of the decision-makers, which is to bring chareidim into the workplace but only after diluting their chareidi lifestyles.

Gafne is confident this will not occur and despite mounting pressure, the chareidi community at large will remain loyal to its way of life. He points out that ironically, “the only place one can get a real job without the ’12-years of education’ is Knesset. One is on a party list and if his number get in, he is an MK”.

He then adds that over the years, the heads of the Knesset Finance Committee have been chareidim and this is testimony to their ability to understand and run economic issues, citing the position is the “most powerful economic position in Knesset”. When asked about the accusations that chareidim use the position to advance their tzibur, he retorted that is cheap slander but the reality is one must have a true understanding of economics and budgeting and that is reality.

Bottom line, he continues explaining that “the chareidim send their worst to the Knesset for the real successful chareidim go on to become roshei yeshivos while others send their best, the retired IDF generals and the like”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)



5 Responses

  1. FYI – the simplest job in New York (or in all of the United States) require a high school diploma. Most government jobs (& Reb Moshe Feinsten zt”l would recommend those types of jobs to his talmidim and family members)have qualifications as high school diploma and many BA also. That request is not ANTI- Charedi.

    MK GAFNI instead of fighting simple and normal qualifications – figure out how yeshiva/bas Yaakov students can secure these benchmarks.

  2. I think he is speaking out of both sides of his mouth. He complains about housing costs, lack of money for schools, not enough jobs, high cost of food and then says the Charedim running the Finance Committees understand economics and are doing a good job?

  3. as it should be….

    The leaders of the Torah world are the gedolim, and being a politician is only a fit job for someone who can’t find honest world learning or teaching Torah. This isn’t to say that politicians don’t do something important and useful, just as garbage collectors and dog catchers and engineers who keep the waste water and sewage systems working, etc., are also doing something important and useful.

  4. In the US one can get a college degree by going to Yeshiva. A mesivta that does not give secular education can give a letter to a company that the student completed “it’s High School program” and it is recognised for many jobs and courses. Israel, the Jewish State, requires secular education. they should realize that the best education is intensive Talmud study. You learn language, math, history, logical thinking, philosophy, ethics, all from the Talmud.

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