The rabbis called any secular academic studies done outside a strict haredi framework a “danger” because those studies often have inappropriate content that opposes the "true spirit" of haredi Judaism and ordered such academic studies banned.
Ashkenazi Haredim Ban Secular Education For Women, Will Now Refuse To Accept Teachers’ Diplomas From Universities
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
An emergency conference backed by the members of both the hasidic and non-hasidic Councils of Torah Sages of the Ashkenazi haredi United Torah Judaism Party (UTJ) to combat the “danger” of secular education for young women was held last night in Bnei Brak.
UTJ’s Rabbinical Committee for Matters of Education handled the actual organization of the conference, which was attended by the heads of haredi girls schools affiliated with the haredi political party’s constituent factions.
Both the # 2 rabbi from the non-hasidic half of UTJ, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, and a top rabbi from the hasidic half, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, spoke.
According to a report in Kikar HaShabbat, the rabbis called any secular academic studies done outside a strict haredi framework a “danger” because those studies often have inappropriate content that opposes the "true spirit" of haredi Judaism and ordered such academic studies banned.
The conference attendees agreed. From now on, teachers who want to teach at UTJ’s Beth Jacob schools and other similar girls schools will have to get their academic training in institutions controlled by those Beth Jacob and nowhere else, they decided. Degrees from other institutions, even from recognized universities, will no longer be recognized by UTJ’s schools for the purpose of promotions, meaning a teacher who want to get a master’s degree in education to raise her salary level would only be able to do so inside the Beth Jacob system – a degree from Bar Illan University of Hebrew University would not count.
UTJ’s rabbis called on the heads of the girls schools to stand as a bulwark against the “dangers” of academic studies and ordered them to go out and explain those dangers, how serious that situation is, and that such academic study is not in the spirit of the Torah.
There will be no excuses, the rabbis warned. Academic studies must be completely banned, and that ban must be strongly enforced without exception, to preserve the “pure and holy education of our daughters.”
Related Post:
Top Haredi Rabbis Call Emergency Conference On Dangers Of Secular Ed For Women.
[Hat Tip: Marty Bluke.]