Speaking during a Knesset plenum, MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni
attacked the government for its imperviousness to problems in
the area of economics and its harsh treatment of the poor and
the unfortunate. "Any heartless individual with no
understanding of economics could have made an economic plan
like the one the current government devised. It's as simple
as can be: take from the poor and save a lot of money. Deny
children food, take from the elderly, take from development
towns, from the local authorities — which are in a
state of crisis — from the religious councils, from all
those who are unable to cope with having the government and
the Finance Ministry take money away from them and give it to
the rich. And presto, here's the economic plan. Billions in
savings."
Rabbi Gafni said that he would like to suggest, in the name
of the chareidi public, that the government and the Education
Ministry not interfere with the curriculum of chareidi
children and not fund the education system, but also not
collect taxes from the chareidi sector.
"Since it is always being said that the chareidi public
studies in a way that differs from the [mainstream] education
system, I propose to the Finance Minister that the chareidi
public not receive a single shekel from the [State] education
systems. I am serious about this. We are willing to forego
all of it, on condition you don't collect [tax] money from
us.
"The role of the government is to collect taxes from citizens
and use them to pay for and fund the various systems for the
benefit of the citizens. I propose that not a single shekel
is given to us or collected from us. After all we don't work,
are not productive, we don't make a contribution —
according to you. So I propose, in all seriousness, that we
do not pay taxes and are not given anything. Neither your
honey nor your sting.
"Don't tell me what to study in my education system. It has
done fine without you. Don't tell me what to do with my
children. Don't collect taxes from me and don't give me
anything. I forego it all . . .
"Don't help us and don't interfere with us, not in curriculum
and not in [funding]. Don't charge us taxes. Let us run our
lives alone. Don't do us any favors . . .
"They even tell us what to study. And everyone steps up here
and attacks the money we receive. It used to be said that the
chareidi public receives from those who are not chareidi who
work. Today, there has been a reversal. I pay taxes that go
to fostering education systems that do no good. I don't want
to fund this. With my money I fund the general education
system [while] our funding is cut day by day. I forego all. I
don't want to pay VAT, I don't want to pay income tax, I
don't want to pay anything. With my money, I'll fund my own
education system. Why should I have to fund other education
systems?"
