Israeli Journalist Slams Shas Party's 'Tefillin for Every Child' Election Pledge
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Israeli journalist Amihai Attali criticized Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri's pledge to provide tefillin sets to every 13-year-old boy, funded by the state. Attali argued tefillin are readily available and sarcastically predicted the plan would create a new Shas-controlled bureaucracy for political appointments and fund distribution. He suggested Deri's proposal is a political maneuver rather than a genuine concern for religious observance.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Journalist Amihai Attali criticized Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri's pledge to give tefillin to every 13-year-old boy.
- Attali stated tefillin are already widely available through inheritance, volunteers, and public stands.
- He sarcastically predicted the plan would create a new state authority controlled by Shas.
- The proposed authority would allegedly be used for political appointments and fund distribution.
- Attali believes the initiative is a political ploy, not a concern for religious needs.
Amihai Attali, a journalist for Yediot Ahronot, has criticized a pre-election promise made by Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party. Deri stated that if his party is part of the next government, they will implement a program called "Tefillin for Every Child." This initiative would provide every Jewish boy reaching bar mitzvah age (13) with a set of tefillin and a tallit, funded by the state budget.
Attali argued that there is no shortage of tefillin in Israel. He pointed out that tefillin are often passed down through generations, numerous volunteer organizations distribute them freely to soldiers and new immigrants, and special stands are available in public places and businesses. He sarcastically envisioned the program's implementation, predicting the creation of a "National Tefillin Authority." Attali suggested that property for this authority would be leased without tender from individuals connected to Shas leadership, and the administration itself would become a source of party appointments, sinecures, official cars, and budgets for numerous advisors.
He cynically proposed positions like "Advisor for Rashi Tefillin" and "Advisor for Rabbenu Tam Tefillin." Attali also foresaw an inevitable split within the authority into separate Sephardic and Ashkenazi departments due to differing traditions. The distinction between Rashi and Rabbenu Tam tefillin lies in the order of Torah passages within the leather boxes; most Jews use Rashi tefillin, while some Hasidic and Sephardic communities add Rabbenu Tam tefillin after morning prayers to cover both authoritative opinions.
Attali concluded that Deri is well aware of the lack of tefillin deficit. The journalist believes Deri's initiative is not about spirituality but a pragmatic plan to establish a new bureaucratic apparatus for employing loyalists and redirecting state funds to his electorate.
