Have Israeli Government Fund Jewish Education In The Diaspora, Deputy Education Minister Says

“Anyone who leaves the Jewish world is our responsibility as the home of the Jewish people. The government of Israel must help children in the diaspora obtain a Jewish education. If we allocate 55 billion shekels [$14.5 billion] a year to provide a Jewish education for children in Israel, it’s inconceivable that for the rest of world Jewry, we barely provide one percent of that."

 

Have Israeli Government Fund Jewish Education In The Diaspora, Deputy Education Minister Says
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

Speaking at a conference on expat Israeli communities in the diaspora that was held in Jerusalem last week, an Israeli government official proposed taking a bold step to combat intermarriage in the diaspora – have the Government of Israel pay for Jewish education outside of Israel.

“Anyone who leaves the Jewish world is our responsibility as the home of the Jewish people. The government of Israel must help children in the diaspora obtain a Jewish education. If we allocate 55 billion shekels [$14.5 billion] a year to provide a Jewish education for children in Israel, it’s inconceivable that for the rest of world Jewry, we barely provide one percent of that,” Deputy Education Minister Avi Wortzman said, Ha'aretz reported.

Despite Wortzman’s desire to fund Jewish education abroad, the Government of Israel has no current plans to do so.

According to Wortzman, who is a member of the right-wing Zionist Orthodox HaBayit HaYehudi Party, right now the Government of Israel spends between 500 million and 700 million shekels ($131 million to $184 million) each year for educational programs for young diaspora Jews. Most of that goes to Taglit-Birthright Israel (the free 10-day trips to Israel almost all young diaspora Jews qualify for and many take), and to Masa (which runs various subsidized educational, volunteer and internship programs in Israel for diaspora youth). But these a short-term programs, lasting from 10 days to at most one year, while funding Jewish schools in the diaspora would mean that many Jewish children would get years of full time Jewish education they would never otherwise receive.

Wortzman is also behind a new Bible Studies program from the Education Ministry that will be used in Israeli public schools but which will also be used by Jewish schools abroad.

“Our goal is that within five years, millions of Jews will be using this program,” Wortzman said.

Wortzman’s focus on the diaspora may not be as altruistic as it might seem to some on first blush. According to him, 15% of Jews living in the diaspora are actually Israelis.

Comments

[Jeff]

Good idea. His party can establish Zionist Orthodox schools all over the world, then Israel can export Haredim to chase the Zionist Orthodox out and commandeer them.

[soso]

stooopid idea!!!!

[Sarek]

I can see the discussion unfolding:
- Let's pay for diaspora education
- What kind?
- All kinds
- If so, we won't support it. We'll support only Orthodox schools.
- Hey, wait! M.O. isn't good enough. If you fund schools other than *ours*, we will not recognize their education. Only *our* education meets halacha.

[(The other) Eli]

What a great idea. Sure, the cost of living is ridiculous, taxes are high, religious groups leech off the system, and the younger, potential workforce are leaving in droves, but let's spend MORE money....on people who don't live here!
The only way this would make sense is if they only did it for some right wing brainwashing schools in order to encourage waves of olim

[dh]

A) Hey, those kids in the photo aren't playing in the pink playground are they? We may need part of that money to enforce that.

B) It's mostly our money, anyway, isn't it? Can they reimburse AFDC, or whatever it's called now?

C) Better they send the money for secular education.

D) As for my neighborhood, we took a quick vote and are requesting they send one way return tickets. We will disburse.

[David]

Total disconnect from reality!!!!

This money should be used to educate the charedim, whether they like it or not.

If charedim were educated they could work and be self-sufficient.

Why does this clown think he is going to achieve?

[Yosef ben Matitya]

Have Israeli Government Fund Jewish Education In The Diaspora?
Oh yes, so they can propagate distorted truths to everybody jewish.
Next step? maybe expediting aliya by planting bombs in synagogues. a strategy that worked well for Israel to empty Iraq of jews.
Anybody noticed the hardly camouflaged glee of Israeli officialdom when jews feel 'the need' to do aliya?

[Yosef ben Matitya]

Have Israeli Government Fund Jewish Education In The Diaspora

but with poverty rampant, do they have the funds to brainwash young diaspora jews? who will pay? Sheldon Adelson?

[seth]

As an American taxpayer explain to me why a nation that can afford to compete with the public schools overseas needs any foreign aid whatsoever. The extravagant suggestion could and should cost the Israeli government all aid from other nations if implemented. You cannot swill down champagne day and nightand claim that you can only afford to pay beer prices whenever the tab comes round.