The Israel Democracy Instituted criticized, Monday evening, an Interior Ministry brochure that recognizes Torah education as an academic degree in connection with bids put out by local governments.
Dr. Gil'ad Malach, who heads the institute's program for haredim in Israel said "Rabbinical ordination or studying at a yeshiva for married students for six years does not include the writing of academic papers, knowledge of English or learning statistics. If there are specific tasks in local authorities that don't need these skills, there's no need to require an academic degree, but a blanket opening of positions and creating a parallel between academic studies and Torah education is contempt of the skills needed for public service, an opening for the lowering the level of services to the citizen in the local authorities and even allowing political and non-professional appointments."