The government on Sunday approved a program that will permit 140 hareidi (ultra-Orthodox) seminary students to work as teachers as an alternative to IDF service. The proposal passed in the cabinet vote despite vigorous objections by ministers from the anti-religious Shinui party.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved of the plan, saying that this is a Jewishly important matter, and that many of those slated to take part in the program would otherwise not serve at all. Lapid called the program "granting a prize to persons who refuse to wear an IDF uniform," while his party colleague Minister Yosef Paritzky expressed outrage over the decision. Shinui officials indicated that if the Foreign Affairs and Defense Subcommittee passes the cabinet decision, they will not hesitate in petitioning the Supreme Court to have it overturned.
According to the plan, presented by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, 70 rabbinical students in yeshivas supported by the Shas party and 70 in those supported by the United Torah Judaism party would be chosen for the new program. Each student would receive NIS 1,500 a month as teachers, and the IDF and state institutions would treat the teaching positions as equivalent to military service.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved of the plan, saying that this is a Jewishly important matter, and that many of those slated to take part in the program would otherwise not serve at all. Lapid called the program "granting a prize to persons who refuse to wear an IDF uniform," while his party colleague Minister Yosef Paritzky expressed outrage over the decision. Shinui officials indicated that if the Foreign Affairs and Defense Subcommittee passes the cabinet decision, they will not hesitate in petitioning the Supreme Court to have it overturned.
According to the plan, presented by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, 70 rabbinical students in yeshivas supported by the Shas party and 70 in those supported by the United Torah Judaism party would be chosen for the new program. Each student would receive NIS 1,500 a month as teachers, and the IDF and state institutions would treat the teaching positions as equivalent to military service.