Basic Law on Torah Study Passes Preliminary Reading by 56 to 43

Photo: Section 27a

The Basic Law: Torah Study passed its preliminary reading by a significant margin of 56 in favor to 43 against

Sivan Yehezkel 14:02 128 187 30

The Knesset plenum approved the Basic Law: Torah Study in a preliminary reading by a majority of 56 supporters to 43 opponents. The bill, initiated by MKs Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher, will now be sent to the Knesset Committee to determine which committee will discuss its further advancement. Among the opponents were several coalition MKs, including Dan Illouz, Yuli Edelstein, Moshe Solomon and Sharren Haskel.

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The bill seeks to enshrine in a Basic Law the status of Torah study as a core value in the heritage of the Jewish people. In addition, it proposes that the State of Israel recognize those who choose to devote themselves to Torah study for a long period as serving meaningful service to the state and the Jewish people.

The bill’s initiator, MK Moshe Gafni, said in his remarks that Torah study was the pillar that held the Jewish people together for thousands of years and served as its refuge in every difficult period. According to him, Torah study was the lifeline that enabled the Jewish people to survive across the globe, and the law is intended to entrench the social arrangement that has accompanied Israel since its founding.

1 + MK Moshe Gafni | Photo: Chaim Goldberg, Flash90

Speaking on behalf of the government, Minister Ze'ev Elkin said that Torah study is indeed a core value in the heritage of the Jewish people, and that the government’s position is to support the proposal. However, Elkin clarified that the comparison between Torah scholars and those serving will be removed from the bill, and that a revised version will be brought for additional approval by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation before the first reading. Without this amendment, the law will not advance.

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Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid strongly opposed the proposal, arguing that it has nothing to do with Torah study but is rather a "law to fund draft evasion." Lapid compared the situation to the Warsaw Ghetto, where, he said, they did not receive a stipend for Torah study but took up weapons and rebelled for the Jewish people, and called the proposal a "law about money" and not a "law about Torah."

1 + Opposition leader Yair Lapid | Photo: Lapid spokesperson's office

The explanatory notes to the bill state that מאז the dawn of the Jewish people, Torah study has been the cornerstone of the nation’s existence. The Basic Law is intended to clarify the Knesset’s position, enshrining in a Basic Law the policy of all Israeli governments, according to which, given the centrality of Torah study and its importance as service to the Jewish people, anyone who seeks to devote himself to Torah study for an extended period will receive recognition of this for the purpose of his rights and obligations.

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The ultra-Orthodox parties, Basic Law on Torah Study, Knesset plenum, Moshe Gafni, world of Torah

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