Government Ignores High Court Ruling, Funds Haredi Yeshiva Students
Yesterday, the High Court of Justice demanded that the government explain within 90 days why it continues to pay income support allotments to married men studying full time in institutes for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature (kollels) in defiance of a previous High Court ruling.
Gov’t must explain continued kollel payments
High Court of Justice demands government explain why it continues to pay income support allotments for kollel students.
By JEREMY SHARON • Jerusalem Post
The High Court of Justice on Wednesday demanded that the government explain within 90 days why it continues to pay income support allotments to married men studying full time in institutes for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature (kollels).
In June 2010, the High Court ruled that the government could not continue providing allotments only to ultra-Orthodox students, while other students, such as those studying at university, do not receive similar income support. The court said that the practice was illegal and discriminatory.
To address the ruling, the government in December 2010 drew up new terms for the allotment of income support for kollel students, limiting the period for receiving the money to five years for kollel students under the age of 29. This accounted for only 10 percent of all kollel students. The new plan also provided an extra NIS 50 million for university students in need of financial support.
At the High Court hearing on Wednesday for the petition against the income support allowances, Justice Miriam Naor asked the state’s representative, “How can we not issue an injunction? The situation as it was and as it is now, will continue into the future, and this will not bring about equality.”
The petition was filed in January by the National Students Union, Hiddush – For Religious Freedom and Equality, the Masorti (Conservative) Movement, the Israel Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement, the religious-Zionist Neemanei Torah VeAvodah NGO and several other organizations.
Since December 2010, approximately 10,000 kollel students have continued to receive the allotments of NIS 1,040 a month.
Students eligible for this stipend are those who are married with three or more children and whose total monthly income is less than NIS 1,200. Approximately 70,000 kollel students also receive NIS 920 a month study allotments from the state.
Following Wednesday’s High Court ruling, Rabbi Shlomo Brilant, chairman of the Union of Yeshivot, defended the allotment system.
“A married kollel student with children gets in total roughly NIS 3,000, including the income allowances and kollel contributions,” he told The Jerusalem Post. “Do you think that living in such circumstances on NIS 3,000 is pleasant? It’s not, so why do they do this? Because they sacrifice their lives for the sake of studying Torah. Someone who takes up this lifestyle does not do it for the love of money but for the love of Judaism. I don’t think people who dedicate their lives and sacrifice themselves for studying Torah should be punished in this way,” Brilant said.
“I am certain that the Supreme Court will not allow this inequality to persist,” said Ofri Raviv, vice chairman of the National Students Union. “This is a struggle for Zionism that is also part of the social [equality] protests and another stage in the strengthening of the State of Israel.”
A senior ultra-Orthodox political adviser argued in response to the ruling that the criteria for receiving the income support allotments are anyway extremely tough “and have been so for more than 50 years.
“We’re talking about the most poverty stricken sections of the haredi sector,” he said. “Furthermore, just as the state pays and contributes toward secular culture, haredim also demand financial support for the study of Torah in the Jewish state.”
Shahar Ilan, vice president of Hiddush, welcomed the decision, saying that a series of government studies established that the income support allotments directly damage the state’s efforts to get kollel students into the workforce.
“This allotment causes severe damage to economy, because thousands of people will never go to the work. This costs the economy billions,” Ilan said.
[Hat Tip: Seymour,]
“A married kollel student with children gets in total roughly NIS 3,000
To understand this number better, how much would straight welfare in Israel pay such a family i.e. how much more is that family being paid because he is learning in Kollel as opposed to strict unemployment? This really the issue at play, not the full 3,00o NIS.
Posted by: p | December 08, 2011 at 06:43 AM
Posted by: p | December 08, 2011 at 06:43 AM
and the requirements maybe in Israel they do need to do some work for welfare and has a shorter time limit. and maybe prove they cannot work and or show that they are looking for work
Posted by: seymour | December 08, 2011 at 07:12 AM
and the requirements maybe in Israel they do need to do some work for welfare and has a shorter time limit. and maybe prove they cannot work and or show that they are looking for work
Posted by: seymour | December 08, 2011 at 07:12 AM
Are you asking or telling? I thought welfare is a safety net and has no time limit. If a family with, say, 3 children with a bum of a husband and a wife who can't work since she must care for the children. I can't foresee Israel not giving a penny after "X" units of time.
Posted by: p | December 08, 2011 at 07:28 AM
The chilonim had a chance to prevent all this. It was called Shinui. It imploded when it turned out that the secular special interest party was just as venal and corrupt as the chareidi ones.
The squeaky wheel gets the greasy. The whinging one gets replaced.
Posted by: Garnel Ironheart | December 08, 2011 at 07:31 AM
“Do you think that living in such circumstances on NIS 3,000 is pleasant?"
Obviously it is more pleasant than other alternatives for them. It is their free choice.
"they sacrifice their lives for the sake of studying Torah. Someone who takes up this lifestyle does not do it for the love of money but for the love of Judaism."
No they sacrifice other peoples lives by stealing their hard earned money through political corruption. If they do it for "love of Judaism" why don't they do it on their own dime?
"I don’t think people who dedicate their lives and sacrifice themselves for studying Torah should be punished in this way,” Brilant said. "
This is trully "Brilliant". He said that preventing a haredi from stealing someone elses money to support their lazy lifestyles is "punishment"!
I want to lay on a beach suntanning and swimming in the ocean to "sacrifice" for the sake of nature. Where are the willing haredim to support my lifestyle.
Posted by: who knows | December 08, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Are you asking or telling? I thought welfare is a safety net and has no time limit. If a family with, say, 3 children with a bum of a husband and a wife who can't work since she must care for the children. I can't foresee Israel not giving a penny after "X" units of time.
Posted by: p | December 08, 2011 at 07:28 AM
You really can't see the difference. That's tragic.
Posted by: Jeff | December 09, 2011 at 07:42 AM