by M Green
On Wednesday the Finance Ministry and the Minister of Finance announced it proposal for the Arrangements Law that includes a series of immediate cuts aimed at services provided to the chareidi community.
The proposal abolishes all support of the so-called mosdos haptur (free institutions), which include the chadorim that educate the boys of the chareidi community. This is done by insisting that they must teach the Core curriculum at least half of the time. They must also take standardized tests. The rabbonim and the community insist that the chareidi education institutions remain solely under the control of rabbinical authority and both these conditions have been rejected over and over again. No discussions on these conditions were carried out with chareidi community leaders.
Chinuch Atzmai and the Shas-controlled Ma'ayan Hachinuch HaTorani will see their support reduced from 100% of their budget to 75% of their budget.
The proposal requires that the students of all chareidi institutions regularly take standardized tests "for planning purposes." The rabbonim say they do not need these tests to plan and guide chareidi education.
The budget support for yeshiva ketanos will be reduced from the current 60% to 30% of the expenses. The Core curriculum is also required to be studied, and if it is not, there will almost certainly be further reductions.
The Bais Yaakov seminaries will see severe restrictions on their operations. The number of student positions will be reduced from 18,000 to 2,500.
Reductions on municipal taxes and day care will be given only to families in which both parents work to their fullest ability, regardless of their level of income.
UTJ and Shas made a motion of no confidence in the government in response to these proposals.
