Rav Gedalia Sheinen of Chinuch Atzmai on Sunday morning 15 Elul told Kol Chai Radio that when it comes to Chinuch Atzmai, there is no difference between Ashkenazim and Sephardi girls. He insisted there is no discrimination in the education network, adding that every child in Yerushalayim has been assigned to an elementary schools without regard to being Ashkenazi or Sephardi. He proudly announced that in Bayit Vegan alone there are four first grades, two boys and two girls, stating unfortunately the parents from Kiryat Yovel must travel to Bayit Vegan became the city will not permit opening a chareidi elementary school in Kiryat Yovel.

Sheinen stresses that this however has nothing to do with Chinuch Atzmai but with Jerusalem City Hall. He admits there are problems in the city. He cited that in Beit Margalit for example, the school wished to begin slichos for Sephardi students on 1 Elul and Chinuch Atzmai continues efforts to accommodate minhagim of all groups. He stresses “we do not try to steal students away” explaining Chinuch Atzmai permits Sephardi girls to say slichos from 1 Elul, not to compete with Beit Margalit but to accommodate all students and groups.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)