MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni has demanded the Ministry of Internal
Security intervene to protect students at the Nesivos Moshe
school in Kadimah after Local Council Chairman Ezra Levy
refused to take responsibility for the children's well-being.
The council head said he does not recognize the school, a
remark that aroused angry reactions since the school operates
legally. "The council head is playing with the children's
security based on political motivations," said Rabbi
Gafni.
Nesivos Moshe is one of the best schools in the Sharon area.
After opening in the town of Zoran with 16 students, the
school grew until eventually moving to the town of Kadimah.
Today 250 students are enrolled there. Various figures have
tried to act against the school based on political and anti-
religious motivations, but all of their claims have been
rejected by the Tel Aviv District Court.
In his letter to MK Yaakov Edri, who serves as deputy
minister of internal security, Rabbi Gafni notes that Nesivos
Moshe has Education Ministry approval and is legally
recognized. According to the national policy, Israel Police
pays for 63 percent of security costs while the remaining 37
percent is covered by the local authorities based on the
number of students. According to Rabbi Gafni, Levy failed to
request the police funding because he wanted to avoid
transferring any money to the school.
In response Levy claims two chareidi schools are operating in
Kadimah without the consent of the council, which objects to
their presence on the grounds that most of the students are
not Kadimah residents. "We do not recognize the activities of
the schools in question in our town and it is inconceivable
for the council to cover 70 percent of the monetary costs of
students who are not Kadimah residents," he said.
"Unfortunately the activity of the chareidi schools harms the
town's government-religious school, Or Torah, by taking away
students for Chinuch Atzmai."
Rabbi Gafni says the Council Chairman's remarks are
scandalous. "How can an elected official play with human
lives based on personal political reasons?" If he objects to
having students from outside Kadimah, Gafni asks, why does
Levy complain that the government- religious school is
allegedly being adversely affected?
"The Council Chairman is directly responsible for their
security and well-being. Although the Ministry of Internal
Security takes part in the security of Israeli citizens it
does not have the right to allow this irresponsible and
criminal development to take place in the State of Israel,
particularly during these times of security difficulties."
