Israeli Knesset Passes Basic Law Establishing Torah Study as a Foundational Value

The Israeli Knesset approved the Basic Law: Torah Study in its second and third readings on Monday evening. The law, initiated by Moshe Gafni, chairman of the Degel HaTorah party, formally establishes Torah study as a fundamental value in the heritage of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. This marks the first time a Basic Law explicitly enshrines the status of Torah study since the Basic Laws were first enacted.

The legislation passed with a majority of 63 votes in favor and 52 against. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not participate in the vote, while Likud members Yuli Edelstein and Dan Illouz voted against the bill. The law’s wording was softened following legal counsel to avoid mandating a balance between Torah study and other constitutional values, instead simply affirming Torah study as a core value.

Coalition and Haredi parties hailed the law as a historic achievement and a significant step toward regulating the status of yeshiva students, particularly regarding future exemptions from military service and strengthening their legal standing against claims of inequality in the Supreme Court. Moshe Gafni described the law as a "historic step" that reconnects the State of Israel with eternal Jewish values and serves as a moral compass for the nation.

Shas party leader Aryeh Deri praised the law as a recognition of the supreme value of the Torah and its students, calling it a victory for the Torah world and a rebuke to those who sought to undermine yeshiva students. Knesset member Yaakov Asher emphasized that Torah study is not merely a tradition but a way of life and the source of Jewish identity and strength, quoting the sage Saadia Gaon to underline its central role.

The law’s passage reflects ongoing political efforts by the Haredi parties to secure legal protections and recognition for Torah study within Israeli society and governance.