The City of Haifa plans to restore funding for the chareidi
education system that it cut at the beginning of the year.
The funding to be returned comes to NIS 300 ($70) per
kindergarten student. The decision was reached following
concerted efforts by UTJ representative Councilman Rabbi
Chaim Williger.
In the agenda proposal he submitted, Rabbi Williger claimed
that at the beginning of the year Mayor Yonah Yahav decided
to increase the education budget but the chareidi education
system did not receive a funding increase and even had its
funding cut. Rabbi Williger said the city's chareidi
residents are not second-rate citizens and demanded a
discussion be held right away to address funding criteria.
Last week he met with Mayor Yahav to discuss the issue.
On Monday he was notified that the municipality would restore
the funding cut from the chareidi kindergarten budget at the
beginning of the year. Mayor Yahav instructed the Education
Department, headed by Mrs. Metoki, to transfer the funding
immediately. The kindergartens are expected to resubmit their
funding requests within the next few days to accelerate the
transfer to their accounts.
Meanwhile the municipality is waiting for government approval
for an employment program for chareidi women. Rabbi Williger
and Rabbi Daniel Hoffner, a Degel HaTorah board member, held
numerous meetings with government officials and company
representatives to open job centers for Haifa's chareidi
women. Now the municipality is waiting for the approval of
the Industry and Trade Ministry regarding government
compensation in chareidi neighborhoods in various cities.
Immediately afterwards the municipality is expected to
approve its role in opening employment centers for women.
