Yosef Sholom Eliashiv
Jerusalem
BS"D, Tammuz 5766
It is well known that Gedolei Yisroel, zechusom yogen
oleinu, did not want to alter the study arrangements at
the Bais Yaakov educational institutions, only reluctantly
permitting a second year of seminary studies. Over the years
additional studies were added, whose hetter remains
unclear, Hashem yeracheim.
Now, regarding the current [proposal] —
The Education Ministry plans to decree quotas for bnos
Yisroel seeking to study in a framework of taharas
hakodesh and also to demand that seminary teachers take
additional coursework leading to an academic degree. The
Education Ministry has recanted its earlier pledges to
maintain the arrangement that allows bnos Yisroel who
complete a second year to teach at Chinuch Atzmai schools and
has gone so far as to demand that all of the seminaries
switch to a three-year study program.
The seminary administrations must be aware that they operate
only in their capacity as shlichim of gedolei
Torah who set the path for Bais Yaakov. They have no
permission to breach the limits established by the rabbonim
of past generations and must subordinate themselves to
daas Torah. Any questions on these matters must be
brought before Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah shlita for
clarification.
Bevircas HaTorah,
Yosef Sholom Eliashiv
Aharon Y. Leib Shteinman
Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz
