Journalist Says Torah Basic Law Drive Is Political, Not Principled

Journalist Amiha Atali said in a video commentary that the push for the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study is driven by political interests, not by values or religious principle. His remarks came after the law passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset this week.

At the start, Atali stressed that he has no objection in principle to Torah study. "Honestly, I personally like Torah study, I support it," he said. But he questioned why supporters chose this topic for basic-law legislation, asking why the state should not instead legislate a Basic Law against slander or against public humiliation.

He argued that the bill is being advanced for a very simple reason, saying, "It is all a scheme." In his words, the Torah is being used, as the saying goes in Pirkei Avot, "as a spade to dig with." He said Torah serves them as another tool, in this case a tool for separate autonomy, for money, and for exemption from military service.

Atali concluded that the proposal is not really about the status of Torah study. "So this is not a Basic Law of Torah study. This is a Basic Law of continuing the Haredi autonomy and scheme," he said. He added that if lawmakers want value-based basic laws, there are many other commandments and principles that could be enshrined in law.