If passed, Zahava Gal-On’s bill would give former haredim benefits like
those currently given to new immigrants to Israel, along with providing
education and employment training benefits to help ex-haredim – who
often have no secular education and few jobs skills – find ways to be
self-supporting.
Israeli Pol Wants To Give Ex-Haredim Government Benefits Like New Immigrants
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
The leader of the left-wing Meretz party, which had a surprisingly strong showing in January’s Knesset elections, says she will submit a bill to the Knesset that would give extensive financial support to haredim who want to become secular, Ha’aretz reports.
If passed, Zahava Gal-On’s bill would give former haredim benefits like those currently given to new immigrants to Israel, along with providing education and employment training benefits to help ex-haredim – who often have no secular education and few jobs skills – find ways to be self-supporting.
"Haredim who turn secular are like new immigrants, entering a world they are unfamiliar with. It is the responsibility of the state that funds the haredi educational system and raises generations of young people lacking general knowledge to offer an absorption basket for those leaving the haredi world and becoming secular,” Gal-On said.
Gal-On believes that every year, about 400 haredim begin the process of becoming secular.
The Israeli nonprofit organization Hillel (not to be confused with the American university and college campus organization) which helps haredim who want to leave, reportedly handles about 150-200 cases per year – about 2,000 cases so far. Hillel is a rough equivalent of the American nonprofit organization Footsteps.
Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post is reporting that the Hebrew University Students Union has launched a program to tutor ex-haredim. About half of the 10 ex-haredim being helped are Hebrew University students; the other half would like to enroll, but haven't passed the requisite entrance exams.
The secular tutors point out that haredi schools don't adequately teach math, science, history, and other needed subjects, leaving many ex-haredim with 5th grade secular educations.
An ex-haredi student says the government is at fault for this learning gap and should be providing resources so ex-haredim can close it.
“This is an excellent initiative, but I also think it’s the responsibility of the state to fund the completion of a high school education. Until the age of 18, it’s not our decision not to learn all the subjects we should have, and that makes it very hard to complete matriculation exams after the army and fill in all the missing [academic] complete gaps,” Rafael Rosenthal said.