Religious State Education Called Israel's Largest 'Return to Faith' Movement
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Rabbi Shimon Cohen, head of the Moriah institutions, stated that religious state education (Hamad) is Israel's largest "return to faith" movement since the state's founding. He argued that Hamad significantly shapes Israeli society and contributes to the Jewish world, citing its role in producing Torah scholars. Cohen also defended the system against a recent court petition challenging its special benefits and highlighted its appeal to secular and traditional families.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Religious state education (Hamad) is Israel's largest "return to faith" movement since the state's founding, says Rabbi Shimon Cohen.
- Cohen, head of Moriah institutions, credits Hamad for shaping his life and Israeli society.
- A petition was recently filed challenging special benefits and hours granted to Hamad institutions.
- Approximately 70% of Hamad students come from secular or traditional backgrounds, Cohen stated.
- Thousands of families have undergone spiritual transformation through the Hamad system, he claimed.
Rabbi Shimon Cohen, head of the Moriah institutions, described the religious state education system (Hamad) as the largest "return to faith" movement in Israel since the state's establishment. Speaking at the "Derech Chaim" Hesder Yeshiva in Kiryat Gat, he asserted that Hamad significantly shapes Israeli society and contributes profoundly to the Jewish world.
Cohen, a product of the religious state education system himself, stated that without it, he and likely many of his audience would be in different life paths. He highlighted that the daily religious observances and Torah studies instilled in Hamad students are absent in secular state education. He pointed to the large number of graduates from religious state education who are now prominent figures in the world of Torah study and yeshivas, urging listeners to verify this claim.
He also addressed a petition filed approximately six months prior to the High Court of Justice challenging the special benefits and hours allocated to Hamad institutions, questioning why they receive prayer hours and rabbinical resources not available in secular schools.
Furthermore, Rabbi Cohen emphasized that Hamad also serves individuals from traditional and secular backgrounds, with about 70% of its students coming from such families. He cited numerous instances where entire families have undergone a significant spiritual transformation, with thousands becoming Torah scholars and dedicating their lives to religious study, calling it an unprecedented "return to faith" movement in the country.