Secretary of the Degel Moetzas Gedolei Hatorah Rabbi Avraham Rubinstein on Sunday morning 28 Adar stated the reality of the court ordering regional school registration in Elad schools means the schools will not open for the school year.
Rabbi Rubinstein spoke with Mordechai Lavi of Kol Chai Radio on the matter. He calls on those who adhere to the word of Gedolei Yisrael not to register under the regional system.
Rubinstein added that from his perspective, there is no discrimination and talk to the contrary is nonsense. He feels there are different approaches and to call this discrimination is not correct as is the case with chassidus where each has its own schools for its young. He feels each student must attend a school that is appropriate.
He explains that the accusations of discrimination have been going on for a decade and the accusations are nonsense. Rubinstein explains that “The mentality of a family” is probed and this holds true for Ashkenazi families too, not just Sephardim. He cites there are girls who live in Bnei Brak and travel to Netanya and Rehovot for school, showing not all Ashkenazi students are automatically accepted to the girl’s high schools.
Rabbi Rubinstein explains there are families that travel to hotels for vacation, at times abroad, and these are not the families they are looking for. He explained schools differ and there is a school in Bnei Brak for example that does not accept a girl if her mother drives. He explains this does not mean the principal does not understand but perhaps they are aware certain populations have more women drivers and these are not the students they are looking for. He suggests that those who are not accepted stop speaking of discrimination but to take a closer look at their lifestyles.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Just let the students attend the schools
In principle, he’s right.
Every school has the privilege of setting its own standards. Too often parents who want the school’s academic level/good reputation/great families, etc., aren’t willing to adhere to those standards but believe they have a “right” to be accepted anyway.
Case in point: A year or two ago there was a mother who made headlines claiming that her son wasn’t accepted to a certain cheder because her husband is in the army. On closer look: The family had (very loosely-filtered) internet and an unfiltered iPhone, two things that are major deal breakers in almost any Israeli chareidi institution.
With respect to Rav Rubinbstein, he does not have to be so politically correct. Of course the schools discriminate. Each school has a founding ethos and the schools discriminate in favor of girls who will flourish in that school with that ethos. The schools are in fact looking out for each girl’s best interests. They are discriminating in favor of each girl not against any girl. Unfortunately Rav Rubinstein’s last comment suggests an air of superiority that will only reinforce the prevalent idea that there is negative discrimination.