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13 Shevat 5767 - February 1, 2007 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Rabbi Gafni Proposes That All Students be Required to Learn Torah

By Eliezer Rauchberger

"Our existence as a people is in the merit of lomdei Torah and in their merit we are here in Eretz Yisroel," said MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni on Monday, responding to a provocative law to require all yeshiva students to perform civil service work and take part in one month of military training per year. "The worst aspect of the proposed law is that it views all service as service for the benefit of society — with the exception of Torah study. I intend to table a bill, in light of the collapse of the education system in Israel, to require every secular youth to study Torah in a Torah-based institution during the summer break. Under no condition will we consent to any change in the status of yeshiva students."

The anti-Torah bill was tabled by MK Ami Ayalon, a leading contender for the chairmanship of the Labor Party. The Labor campaign was a clean race until now, free of anti-chareidi attacks or issues of religion and state. Ayalon became the first to bring the chareidi sector into the fray, apparently based on hopes it would give him an edge over the other candidates.

According to Ayalon's bill every yeshiva student who files a request to defer his military service would have to take part in emergency services, e.g. the Home Front Command, police, firefighters, hospitals, etc. During routine periods yeshiva students would have to serve one month per year, during bein hazmanim, to maintain and refresh their abilities. In time of emergency the yeshiva students would be recruited to serve reserve duty as part of the respective emergency services organizations as long as necessary.

To organize and manage the program Ayalon proposes setting up a Civil Service Administration under the Minister of Internal Security.

The proposal also includes a "decision year" option starting at the age of 21 (instead of 22) and would extend the period to two years.

 

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