Belz Will Officially Accept State-Chasidic Curriculum

 

Belz the chasidic group, which is the second largest in Israel, has apparently agreed to include core curriculum studies in its schools as previously reported, according to a report by Actualic.

The Israeli ministry of education authorized the special framework of study for the Belz institutions which will enable them to receive government funding at a higher level in return for studying three basic disciplines at grade school levels: Hebrew, Math and English. If students can pass all three subjects, the schools will receive 100% funding as in other school systems in Israel.

The negotiations between Belz and the ministry were coordinated by Rabbi Yonatan Reiss, a Belzer chasid who established a network of yeshivos which enable chareidim to streamline their army service while maintaining their core values. Reiss himself was conscripted as a deserter at the age of 26 but then realized that chareidi soldiers do not have a proper framework to prepare them for the culture shock they encounter when joining the army. He established Chedvata, which prepares chareidi youth for technological service in the army and B’Tzavta, which prepares them for combat service while maintaining their religious lifestyle.

The “state chasidic” educational stream is expected to attract other chasidic groups who wish to maintain their unique educational style but to receive extensive government funding.