A headline in the English edition of Israel HaYom blasts
Police raid yeshivas getting state funds for 'fictitious' students
The "above the fold" leed paragraph claims "Police said the case involves 'millions of shekels' in fraudulently obtained stipends for fictitious yeshiva students. A number of 'expensive vehicles belonging to yeshiva administrators' were also confiscated and five people were either arrested or detained for questioning."
This at a time when more and more Israelis and non-haredi Jews worldwide are starting to take umbrage at the behavior of the haredim - the "black hats."
According to the article at http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=4223, this is not the first time the yeshivot have found themselves in hot water. According to Israel HaYom, "Israel Radio said the case was the fourth time this year that police had cracked instances of fraud involving fictitious students at yeshivas, which receive government funding."
Unfortunately, this is not something that will be kept "within the family."
These haredim, who generally look down on Jews who are different from them, are what the world sees as Jews and their actions slander the average Jew trying to earn an honest living.
Such behavior is not, unfortunately, limited to Israel. We have had several embarrassing incidents - in both Ashkenazi and Syrian communities - in recent years here in the States.
Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's bill to force the haredim to do their part in Israel's life - serving in the IDF or performing community service - may be side tracked until after the September elections.
Israel's first prime minister - the one who instructed his army to kill Jews aboard the Altalena (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altalena_Affair) - agreed before the State's establishment to provide stipends to some 900 yeshiva "boys" in order to get the haredim's political support. The 900 has now swelled to thousands of "boys" who do nothing for the country except deplete its limited budget.
As an aside, a prime minister-to-be was in command on the shore and ready to murder fellow Jews.
I consider myself an "observant" Jew and I have no problem with Torah and talmud study, but I DO have a problem with people who make a career of study - in America they are called, derisively, "professional students."
I would not insist that every student go into the army - any student, any army - although I think it might be a good idea, but I believe everyone ought to do something for the country.
In the States, the Society of Friends, a/k/a Quakers, are pacifists and refuse to be inducted into the army. BUT these pacifists drove ambulances during World War I and now perform other national service.
Interesting word "pacifist." Both peaceful (paci) and threatening (fist).
There is a great deal these yeshiva "boys" could do for the State; start with teaching and mentoring in both cities and rural areas. Work in hospitals and institutions. Even just visiting the elderly and infirm would be worthwhile. Even in the IDF they could serve as non-combatants - medics, cooks, clerks, drivers.
No one is even suggesting that these "boys" abandon their studies. It wouldbe enough if they would invest a few hours-a-day to benefit the people who are taxed to fund their time in yeshivot, and to support their families.
When I was in ulpan, I worked 5 hours-a-day and was in class for four hours. Maybe the "boys" could do something for the country 3 hours-a-day and study the rest of the day? Is that too much to ask? Apparently, for the haredim, it is.
There are yeshiva students who DO serve; they attend "hesder" yeshivot and follow in the tradition of the luminaries of the Talmudic period, most of whom had incomes from their labors as shoe makers, water carriers, brewers, ranchers, and more.
The haredim should be positive examples to the rest of us.
Unfortunately, too many are not.
