An emergency meeting of Chinuch Atzmai in Jerusalem was attended by HaRav Yosef Efrati, United Torah Jewry MKs Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz, Rabbi Moshe Gafni and Rabbi Meir Porush, Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Secretary HaRav Avrohom Rubinstein and Chinuch Atzmai Director Rabbi Meir Luria and one of the heads of Chinuch Atzmai, Rabbi Tzvi Boimel.
All UTJ MKs were summoned to the meeting following an announcement from the Education Ministry that Chinuch Atzmai would not receive any of the information needed to plan and prepare for the 5765 school year until the Ministry received a commitment and a detailed explanation of the extent of their compliance with the demands of the Core Curriculum Program at all Chinuch Atzmai schools.
The announcement came after the Chinuch Atzmai administration notified Ministry officials that all aspects of the Core Program are under the exclusive authority of maranan verabonon gedolei Yisroel.
At the meeting it was explained that the Education Ministry's move places Chinuch Atzmai in a quagmire, since by law May 31st was the final date for notifying teachers of changes in their employment for the coming year. Therefore information on the amount of funding that will be made available to Chinuch Atzmai in the coming school year is essential.
As representatives of gedolei Yisroel the participants were briefed in full on the heavy responsibility and the many repercussions Chinuch Atzmai faces as a result of this predicament. The present situation could result in a major reduction in the number of teaching positions, to the point of having to dismiss the entire Chinuch Atzmai teaching staff, which would mean the total collapse of the system, chas vesholom.
Various proposals were raised during the meeting and possible courses of action were considered before being presented to maranan verabonon shlita. As a first step it was decided to request a meeting with the Education Minister to make her aware of the seriousness of the matter and the grave consequences for the chareidi education system and the thousands of teachers it employs.
