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Bar Ilan student removed from class over kippah
Shahar Chai
Published: 11.12.12, 20:14
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17 Talkbacks for this article
1. Dont go t the vegetarian potluck requesting STEAK
secular, respect all ,   world   (12.11.12)
No ones making you go. You know the rules beforehand. This kids being a putz
2. Nobody will be ofended, the student should respect the rules
(12.11.12)
WEAR A KIPPA. Bar Ilan ia a Religious institution not a secular one and every body knows it
3. Teacher was right...
Dave ,   Montreal, Canada   (12.11.12)
Student was wrong. End of story.
4. journos are enraged
ironico   (12.11.12)
the drive-by lamestream media are enraged by something at last...
5. Is NO religious coercion! Sane RESPECT for Jewish TRADITION!
Jerry ,   The Netherlands   (12.11.12)
6. yarmulke enforcement
Bruce Maddy-Weitzman ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (12.12.12)
I wonder if this requirement applies to non-Jews studying basic Jewish texts as well. My guess is that nobody ever thought that of the possibility.
7. Do Christian and Moslem Students also Need to
Doug ,   Rochester, USA   (12.12.12)
Wear yarmulkes in certain classes? Or is the university an Apartheid university that only allows Jews?
8. University guidelines are void. State law reigns supreme
Avi   (12.12.12)
For those who with doubt who have a different opinion, let me point out the obvious: In Israel 2012 exists a law against religious and irreligious discrimination. "Hofesh medat". The university is recognized by the state and supported by it. This only sharpens what was fundamental anyway: You cannot order a student to wear a religious symbol or expel him. You cannot. Not in this country. Those who are in favor of the teacher's actions need to be reminded they live in a democracy and I'd wonder what they'd say if this was an Islamic university where you're ordered to pray to allah and wear a burka or be expelled. Would they be singing the same tone or reveal their bias and hypocrisy? I believe the latter.
9. Makes sense, it's the rules and they make sense
Joe ,   London   (12.12.12)
This is coming from a secular Jew.
10. To #7 Rochester Doug
Shalom ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (12.12.12)
A simple internet search would have informed you that lots of Israeli Arabs are students at Bar Ilan. So why didn't you bother to find out? Well, people with immutable prejudices, like antisemites, aren't interested in checking their facts.
11. #6
Aaron ,   Givat Shmuel, IL   (12.12.12)
I am a non-religious student studying at bar ilan and when I changed my status with the university because I didn't really care to take 14 credits of Judaic courses. they tried to pretend like it was their choice and told me that I wasn't allowed to take judaic studies courses. Bar-Ilan Administration is very clouded. They use religion as excuse for many situations for example they don't have a fitness center because they want to have separate facilities for men and women. They don't understand that they weren't founded as a religious university... they were supposed to be a balance between religion and science. This issue doesn't really touch into that debate but its here.
12. To: No. 7
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.12.12)
There you go again! Can't you read? The kippah is mandatory for certain courses in Judaism. GOT IT? JUDAISM! While you will find plenty of Jewish students in all universities in Israel who take courses in other religions, of this you may be certain: you will NEVER find a Christian or a Moslem student in Israel studying Judaism.
13. To: Bruce at No. 6
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.12.12)
Do you think that non-Jews study basic Jewish texts? They don't -- certainly not in Israel. But even if they did and were asked to don a kippah, why wouldn't they do it, as a gesture of respect?
14. Accepted practice & sign of respect
Karen ,   UK   (12.13.12)
It is an accepted practice to wear a kippah when studying Jewish religious texts throughout the world, it is a sign of respect as shown by people including secular Jews when visiting other religious institutions. Even in a democracy an institution should be able to set it's own code of practice. Students have the right not to sign up to it. Being expected to wear a kippah for a short time when studying religious texts is hardly an Infridgement of human rights & I would accept to wear a headcover if attending religious Islamic studies.
15. What a crock of crock!
Sheik Rattle & Roll ,   USA   (09.16.13)
Why can'y people choose to do what ever they want. Who the bleep is this religious nut case professor. Does he really think wearing a "kip pah" will make a difference in life? Not a fat chance. Religious person or no religious person a kip pah only identifies you as such, however no one knows what is in your true inner soul. Any other mythical BS is nothing but pure mythical BS.
16. jewish reform rabbis
mical ,   usa   (09.16.13)
In the usa, many of them, do not wear kipah when reading the torah. Just for you info.l belive they want to make a statment , whatever it is. They do wear talit and you get a feeling of being in a church.
17. How To Change Requirements
Christy ,   Boston, US   (09.18.13)
In college one expects to encounter requirements that one doesn't like. As long as the requirement doesn't harm the person - which seems to be the case here - meet the requirement and get on with it. To me, the thing to do would be to meet the requirement - and work to change it if it's so disliked. I encountered requirements in college I disliked and got together with fellow students to get things changed. While working to change things we met the hated requirement(s).
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