Israel’s Achilles’ Heel “Upon the education of the people of this country the fate of this country depends.” (House of Commons - 15 June 1874) — Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield 1804-1881 by Raymond Cannon The failure of the State of Israel to insist and ensure that every child, girls and boys, receives a proper education – a democratic right – is a crime against humanity, no less. For tens of thousands of predominantly young boys and men to be denied an opportunity to acquire basic knowledge, which is their birthright, is a stain on Israel’s very existence. Religion cannot and must not be used to destroy the fundamental right to be educated and to be informed and have the capacity to exercise personal judgment. Indelible Stigma That hoards of Israeli citizens know absolutely nothing of basic math, elementary science, their own history or the physical world, let alone discovering something about the universe, the origins of earth and humans, is an inedible stigma on our nation. To prevent generations enjoying any culture – music, literature, and the arts – is to rob them of the ability to be inspired by the genius of humankind and the opportunity to be discerning human beings able to fulfil their natural curiosity – the engine of acquiring knowledge. If Judaism insistently shuts out these values, it is guilty of child cruelty which in most democratic societies is a criminal offence.
Dress style and physical appearance are not the arbiters of religiosity or virtue and the segregation of the sexes is not merely disrespectful but an abomination, it is a denial of female self esteem and worth. Deliberately not listening to a woman singing is contemptible; it is the desecration of a human being who, as religious belief teaches, is also created in the image of G-d. Parasitical An even more inexplicable practice, confined to the State of Israel, is the refusal of the “religious” to work and earn a living, on the basis that the state (that is tax collected from and paid by those who do work) has a duty to provide for the basic needs of those who, by choice, separate themselves from the society that provides their health care and security. That is a parasitical not a religious doctrine. Deprivation The right of every individual to observe and practice his or her religious belief is an undeniable human right, enshrined in the United Nations Charter. But religious belief cannot and must not actively promote the deprivation of another fundamental human right – to be educated. A
Promotion of Ignorance Indoctrinating hoards of young people is not “learning” but a distraction, indeed an escape from reality. It is the promotion of ignorance – like covering up exhibitions of dinosaurs when haredi children visit a Natural Science Museum. Religion should complement, not replace education.
YINN Pesach 5781 | 27
