Shas Party Leader Deri Proposes Bar Mitzvah Kit and School Prayer Zones

Arieh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, has officially unveiled a key plank of his election platform, dubbed "Tefillin for Every Child." This initiative mandates that Israel's public education system provide every Israeli boy, upon reaching the age of 13, with a special bar mitzvah kit including a tallit and tefillin. The proposal also calls for schools to establish dedicated prayer areas where students can freely don tefillin and perform morning religious rites during the school day. Deri stated that this move is a political and ideological response to statements made by Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, who has advocated for reducing religious influence in secular institutions and removing religion from public life. Deri emphasized that the current debates over Israel's Jewish character have reached a critical point, arguing that attempts to eliminate religious traditions threaten national identity and would turn Israel into a secular state devoid of spiritual roots. He linked the preservation of religious commandments to national security, quoting sacred texts that historically positioned tefillin as a spiritual shield for the Jewish people, providing strength against external threats. Deri urged voters to choose between safeguarding Jewish values and abandoning age-old traditions. The initiative's future hinges on coalition agreements Shas aims to secure following the upcoming parliamentary elections.