Education Ministry Orders Male Students Writing Bible Verses To Wear Kippot, Teachers Object

As part of a project for schools in which more than 20,000 seventh-graders participated in writing out all the verses of the Bible, the ministry told schools that male students should wear skullcaps while carrying out the task.

Israeli teachers take on Education Ministry to keep Bible studies secular

Two educators oppose Education Ministry directive that male students should wear skullcaps while writing out the verses of the Bible.

By Or Kashti • Ha'aretz

Skullcaps have no place in secular schools, even when students are copying verses from the Bible, according to two educators who oppose an Education Ministry directive that they say gets in the way of viewing the Bible as a purely cultural text.

As part of a project for schools in which more than 20,000 seventh-graders participated in writing out all the verses of the Bible, the ministry told schools that male students should wear skullcaps while carrying out the task.

Last week the students completed the "Writing the Tanakh" project, which was aimed at helping them identify more closely with the Bible.

But the Shazar middle school in Kiryat Ono, a secular public school, didn't follow all the rules, said its principal, Guy Yisraeli.

"The Bible is a cultural work, and in [secular] state schools it has less religious significance," he said.

Yisraeli said the ministry directive can make it more difficult for students to see the Bible as an important part of their heritage.

"I want my students to feel a sense of ownership over the Bible, and that's exactly why they don't need to wear a kippa," he said. "They have to feel connected to the Bible because of a cultural attitude, and not because of observing the commandments."

Chinuch Yisraeli (Israeli Education ), a movement that advocates a curriculum based on cultural and humanitarian values, is also against the skullcap requirement.

"Bible studies could have been the banner of the secular value system," said the movement's executive director, Oren Yehi-Shalom. "I respect the religious interpretation, but the kippa is not part of the agenda of a secular state school."

Education Ministry officials said they wanted to show sensitivity to children from religiously traditional families.

Comments

[A. Nuran]

As soon as the religious extremists show sensitivity to anyone outside their cult the rest of us should be prepared to do the same. Until then, not so much.

[Maskil]

A.N.

I think the ministry is controlled by Shas. They have proven that they care more about social welfare regardless of affiliation or sector than they do about any religious matter. Remember that Livni failed to build a coalition because she refused to grant Shas's demand for higher social benefits. She tried offering them a disproportionate amount of ministries, and even taking Jerusalem off the negociating table. Each offer she tried to make had an element of extended religious control. She didn't get it but the bottom line for Shas was social welfare across the boards and not religion. She couldn't afford that price and her coalition talks failed.

[Maskil]

No, actually, that would have been my answer if the ministry was controlled by Shas. The Education Minister is Gideon Sa'ar, a Hiloni from Likud. We both spoke too soon. Religious extremists, whatever that means, were not a factor in this equation at all.

[Harbona]

what next?
-girls need not wear a head cover lest they be confused with moslem girls, worse yet : conservative, reform or reconstructionist.
- in fact girls, need not study scriptures as we are taught that nashim daatan qallah!

[seymour]

Education Ministry officials said they wanted to show sensitivity to children from religiously traditional families.

BS the orthodox go the yeshiva not these type of school. who is he kidding.

[harold]

Skullcaps have no place in secular schools

I guess one can also say writing biblical verses also has no place in a secular school.

[Maskil]

seymour,

By "Traditional" he meant families where the father generally carries a kippah in his pocket, says brachot on food most of the time, and makes kiddush on Shabbat - and then takes his kids to the Saturday football game (or they at least watch it together as a family). There are many of these in Israel, which can vary from the 19 year old who goes to shul Friday night and knows the entire service by heart, including the kabbalistic parts recited by Sepharadim, and then hits the local night clubs, to a guy who prays three times a day (including tefillin for shaharit) but generally does not wear a kippah and does not consider himself Orthodox in any way.

[Seraphya Berrin]

I can't say for sure, but it was probably the program director who had this idea, or if they were using a contractor for this program (most likely scenario), they used a sneaky kiruv one.

[friend]

When a "secualar" Israeli prime minister or some other official like does some religious act he customarily wears a yarmolka out of respect for Jewish tradition, thus it doesn't seem out of character for Israeli "secular" schools to require a similar behavior from students especially considering the polls showing that 67% of Israelis are traditional including many students of the "secular" schools.

[Mr. Apikoros]

By your twisting "logic," fiend, female students studying comparative religion should put on a burkha when studying the Koran.

The "Secualar" (sic) prime minister is performing a religious act. These students aren't.

Back to your link: Where's the Alef Bet Academy located, and does it qualify as a charitable institution according to the IRS?

[Dave]

Maskil, exactly right. That's why most Sefardic rabbonim don't come down too hard on their congregants to be more observant, because they're afraid of losing the kind of guy who prays 3 times a day but does not otherwise wear a kippah and does not consider himself Orthodox.

[rabbidw]

There is a principal of respect. Who would be hurt by requiring the kippah to be worn while writing a religious verse? Are we not taught to show respect to all religions? Have these students never seen a kippah? Yes, we can push all things to the limits and over the limits, but why make an issue just to make an issue? Can't we TRY to get along? Don't we have enough enemies?

[Mr. Apikoros]

So, if I read, or recite parts of the New Testament, Rabiddw, do I need to wear a cross around my neck?

This has nothing to do with "showing respect," and everything to do with the frumbag faygelehs in Israel trying to exert their insect authority.

[Eliezer]

a kippah is also a part of Jewish culture.

[TzVi]

Dont learn The Bible for "secular" reasons. Either accept it for the truth that it is or don't study it at all. Either accept the truth or live in falshood, but dont mix things up.

[Yehudha de Oliveira]

I am shomer miswot (not Orthodox, but traditional Sepharaddi) and I never wear a kippa, except in a synagogue (If I wouldn't, people would yell at me...) For prayer I just put my taletover my head.

There is nothing whatsoever in halakha that requires wearing a kippa when writing Bible verses.
Why are they forcing their non-halakhic humrot on secular Israelis?