The Knesset finalized the decision to close the Ministry of
Religious Affairs and transfer its departments to various
government ministries. One of the Ministry's main
departments, the Yeshiva Department, was transferred to the
Ministry of Education, but the new department remained in the
same offices, located on Kanfei Nesharim Street in
Jerusalem.
The Union of Yeshiva Directors reports that because of the
uncertainty, roshei yeshivos and directors of Torah
institutions should submit requests for support payments for
the year 2004 as soon as possible to the Yeshiva Department
at the Education Ministry. The forms are available at the
department's offices in Jerusalem or at the offices of the
Union of Yeshiva Directors in Bnei Brak.
Regarding the questionnaires on Jewish studies until the age
of 18, following understandings reached with Education
Ministry officials, maranan verabonon are instructing
directors of Torah institutions for boys up to age 18
(yeshivos ketanos) to submit the questionnaires
immediately. Blank questionnaires and further details are
available through the Union of Yeshiva Directors in Bnei
Brak.
NIS 250 Million Allocated
"A portion of the state budget has been earmarked for the
recovery programs for the religious councils, including
council workers' salaries. Matters regarding workers will
remain at the top of the Minister's priorities in the
framework of the new department that will be transferred to
the Prime Minister's Office and will be under his complete
control," reads a letter Oren Magnasi, the Prime Minister's
liaison officer to the Knesset, wrote to MK Nisan Slomiansky
(NRP), chairman of the subcommittee in charge of dismantling
the religious councils. At the beginning of the letter
Magnasi states it represents the opinion of the Prime
Minister, who also serves as Minister of Religious
Affairs.
The pledged sum totals NIS 250 million ($57 million)
according to sources and it will be distributed in another
three months as part of the recovery program to be carried
out in cooperation with the local authorities and funded out
of the budget of the Prime Minister's Office.
The letter also states that the Prime Minister's stance on
the religious council workers differs from the Treasury's
position, according to which they do not have the status of
government workers and therefore the State is not obligated
to cover their back wages. "The Prime Minister and the
Religious Affairs Minister sides with the position of
Attorney Amnon De Hartuch, the Attorney General's
representative. This position was also mentioned in passing
by a High Court judge during the course of an appeal to the
High Court by the Tel Aviv Religious Council against the
Minister of Religious Affairs." The letter goes on to say,
"Since the workers in question belong to statutory
corporations set up under the Jewish Religious Services Law,
I do not see any possibility of withholding their pay on a
permanent basis."
