Yad L’Achim Welcomes Gov’t Decision to Cancel Jewish-Arab School Gatherings
January 29, 2014
The Education Ministry has decided to postpone a program aimed at bringing together Jewish and Arab youths. The program, which enjoyed the full backing of the education minister and was allocated generous funding, required every Jewish student to participate in at least two meetings with Arab students during his 12 years in school.
When the program was first announced, Yad L’Achim fired off an urgent letter to Education Minister Shai Piron. “As an organization that works round the clock rescuing Jewish girls from difficult relationships with minorities, both within the Green Line and outside it [Yehudah, Shomron and Gaza], we are witness to heartrending tragedies every single day involving Jewish girls who befriended those of foreign nations, moved with them to their villages, gave birth to their children and became completely assimilated. These girls completely severed their relations with their families, their nation and their roots.
“These complex ties have another painful dimension. Many of the girls who move to Arab villages are subjected to humiliation and unimaginable suffering. The situation for their children is even worse. Yad L’Achim is called on to rescue and rehabilitate these wretched souls. These operations are often long, difficult processes, but, with G-d’s help, we are seeing much success.”
After presenting the problem, Yad L’Achim clarified in its letter that “many of the initial meetings that lead to these girls getting caught in relationships with minorities begin innocently enough [like at school gatherings] but end up with the severe results we described above.”
The education minister decided this week on cuts to the budget for the program and to have it subjected to additional review. Only after the review is completed will the program be given out for bids. This means that it will not be launched in the current academic year.
Yad L’Achim expressed great satisfaction at the postponement. At the same time it appealed to the education minister to permanently shelve the dangerous, destructive program, which has no place on the Education Ministry’s agenda.
A copy of the letter sent by Yad L’Achim to the education minister
