Court Challenge Threatens Religious Education Funding in Israel
A legal challenge filed with the High Court of Justice (Bagatz) against the funding model for Israel's state-religious education system, known as Hamad, could lead to a reduction in religious studies and educational programs, and increase the financial burden on parents. Shimon Arbel, Deputy Director of External Relations at the Bnei Akiva Yeshivot and Ulpanot Center, warns that the petition, brought by left-wing groups including the Berl Katznelson Foundation and lawmakers from the Democratic party and Yesh Atid, argues that students in state-religious schools receive higher funding on average than those in secular state schools.
The petitioners contend that a portion of this funding disparity stems from elements unique to religious education, such as prayer, intensified religious studies, a school rabbi, and a broader curriculum. If their claim is upheld, Hamad institutions might be forced to finance these components from the same budget allocated for subjects like physics and technology. This could compel schools to cut back on religious studies and educational programs, reduce teaching hours, or shift a larger portion of the costs to parents.
Arbel emphasizes that this is not merely a budgetary dispute but a fundamental threat to the existence of state-religious education as it has been conceived. He argues that this educational framework, which aims to integrate religious observance with national commitment, has been instrumental in shaping generations of educators, commanders, doctors, and public figures within the Religious Zionist community.
The legal proceedings, ongoing for nearly two years, present an opportunity for the state to formally define its vision for religious education and the necessary budget to sustain it. Arbel suggests that if handled correctly, this challenge could lead to a regulatory framework that secures the system's future. He calls on the Religious Zionist public not to remain passive, viewing Hamad as the educational home that shaped them and that they wish for their children.
