The Haredi schools system will be abolished, their will be forced to adopt the national curriculum, which means teaching evolution, maths, science, civics, and modern Israeli literature and history. If parents refuse to send their kids to school, they will be jailed. How about that for incentive?

Late rabbi Yoel Teitelboim of Satmar was saved from being sent to Auschwitz by the Zionists. They paid for him in cash. What a rich irony!

I have heard many times from Haredim that they are the true Jews and those of us who are G'd fearing but support ourselves should be honoured to be supporting them. We are not. The State has been around for 65 years we have had 3 generations for the Haredi Community to be a light unto the secular ..to teach middot and the beautiful ways of our religion. They have failed. They are alienating the secular through their new and bizarre interpretation of Judaism which seems to be only loosely based on Halacha. They can get their funding from whoever they want. I don't want their terrible Chilul hashem coming from my tax money. I am interested in hearing the Author "s response to these points.

Ohad, I am keen to hear what other Western country, would even allow private educational institutions, let alone state run institutions, to completley determine its own educational agenda. Every Western country has basic secular educational standards that all children are to learn, they normally inlcude - English, Mathematics, Social and General science and often a history componant usually specific to that country. One could say the skills required to be a citizen of the world. Why, Ohad? Should Israel be any different? Why should haredim in Israel be any different from those in the US, UK, or even Australia. Imposing such minimal standards does not constitute a 'war on haredim', it is simply ensuring that all kids are given an oppurtunity to be apart of the world. Furthermore to threaten, (albeit via an op ed), that if the Israeli government does not support haredi institutions with moderate anti Israel beliefs then that same community will then by funded by a different haredi institution with extreme anti Israel beliefs. Compared with the entire haredi population of Israel Satmar is relativley small, do you really think the wealthy Satmar of the US could actually support the entire haredi population of Israel? Really? Not to mention the regular ebbs and flows of a real estate market. One final thing Ohad, 'the Satmar institutes have...never been supported by the State". Really? are there seperate roads for Satmar hasidim to travel? are there seperate hospitals? Do they not enjoy protections of the army? reap the benifits of a relativley prosporus economy? It is impossible to live in a country and not on some level, partake in the wealth of the establishment. It is therefore not unreasonable for the country to demand something in return. This is the case in every Western civilisation.

I want to support Torah learning. I think it's the duty of the Jewish state. Jewish curriculum should be expanded, with secular kids being exposed to Jewish history and tradition. But it is unacceptable for us to fund people who intend to cut themselves off from society. Eventually you run out of other people's money. To create a permanent class that feels no connection to their fellow citizens serves only to breed sinat chinam. Lapid is right: the persons responsible for the family are the parents, not the state. All the status quo does is fuel hatred and resentment.

Does the author care to tell us who funds the medical care for the dozens of Satmar children born every month? (Yes, I said MONTH.) The Satmar and the Neturei Karta are an abomination before Ha'Shem. He hates them. So do I.

Those who think that the Haridim in Israel support themselves are very sadly mistaken. The exchequer subsidizes their schools, their living expenses and their rabies. Let them earn a living like their brethren do in any other country. They are so used to living at others expense their first thought is to ask for donations instead of thinking of working for a living. Of course to get a meaningful job they would hive had to learn the core subjects. It is about time that the Haridim cease being a privileged class and join society as a useful member.

For 30 years we have been hearing a myriad of explanations as to why it not appropriate to change the status quo with regards to the haredim. Over this time, the haredim have exploited every possible political opportunity to extract public tax support for their institutions. The secular public has been taken as "Friars". Now Shaked delivers another "talmudic" explanation in support of the status quo. Only this time, we are sick of being FRIARS. No more.

Ohand the satmar rebbe was saved by the famous kastner train that left budapest one had to pay for a place on this train and guess who paid for it ,??? the zionist organisation how is that for irony?

Kiryas Joel - home to one of the largest Satmar populations in New York - is ranked as the poorest place in America and a recent Jewish Communal Study in New York stated tht 43% of Chasidic Jews in New York live in poverty. But I wish Mr. Shaked luck in thinking that his "rich" American brothers will come to the rescue of the charedim in Israel!

can save Israel. The voice of the silent majority who wants an united Israel should be heard loud and clear NOW,before it is to late.

Here's a major flaw in the author's argument. He admits that "Rabbi Yoel" recognized Israel "as a state, yes, but not as a Jewish one". Presumably those in the US also recognize it as a state. And in the US, their institutions are ... required to teach core subjects! And most don't even get government funding to do so because they are religious institutions. So why do they, living in Israel, refuse to do what they must do in the US and elsewhere in Diaspora? If they can't accept the decisions of the Israeli consensus, they can, of course, ... leave! But I should warn them. As they resettle in the UK or France, the US or Canada or Latin America, their kids will have to study ... secular subjects. Just like the rabbis of old did.

It's already for years that the majority is trying to find a compromise with the haredim to have them take part in the country's struggle to survive. They apparently only had "no" as an answer. Where you are mistaken is that in your comment you seem to present the current situation as a struggle between us and them. It should not be like that. It should not be fight among brothers. Each side has to move toward the other.

actually, satmar schools to my knowledge teach next to nothing of secular subjects despite the theoretical "requirement". basically, in the US you can do whatever you darn well please. i moved states and kept my kids home for sometime before starting a new school. no one keeps track if your kids are in school or not. no one even knew where i lived (until i decided to register to vote - which was completely optional and my choice) i could have kept them home forever if i wanted to.

look at all these hateful anti-semitic talkbacks. why do people feel like they have complete license to hate? how does this differ from arab anti-semitism or old style european antisemitism? looks pretty similar to me

Haredim are alienated already if happen to miss it ,...

I have a friend that grew up in a Satmar colony, he is 25 years old and still can't read or write English. They do not teach core subjects.

After they finish their homework of course from their real school. In this country education is mandatory and children must learn hebrew, math, english and the sciences. After school when they finish their homework they can go to an evening yeshiva that is privately funded, if they want. Parents who don't follow this should have their kid taken for child abuse by social workers and placed in a caring foster family while the parents serve time in prison or community work.

'And most don't even get government funding to do so because they are religious institutions' - You have no idea what are you talking about ,... Google 'Them and Them - New York Magazine' and read! This crap is going on everywhere they managed to settle ,...

actually, satmar schools to my knowledge teach next to nothing of secular subjects despite the theoretical "requirement". basically, in the US you can do whatever you darn well please. i moved states and kept my kids home for sometime before starting a new school. no one keeps track if your kids are in school or not. no one even knew where i lived (until i decided to register to vote - which was completely optional and my choice) i could have kept them home forever if i wanted to.

They are already self alienated! They are the worse thing in Israeli society but yet they think they are better than the rest while feeding from our taxes. We have to stop feeding this society of bumps and parasites.

thanks to yair, haredi children will get a decent education IN ADDITION to their torah education (not in lieu of it!)... in 25 years, when the haredi young folk are proficient in hebrew, english, computers and math IN ADDITION TO TORAH AND TALMUD (not in lieu of it), then you will thank lapid! although it is rather depressing and pathetic that yair lapid is more concerned with educating your children than you yourself are....but the fact of the matter is that it is us secular middle class israelis who are paying for your childrens education... so if you insist on chanting nonsensical, disingenuous slogans about lapids "war on haredim", and comparing him to his father then do that..and get your funding from hassidic sects and satmar and whatnot, at least that way you're only hurting your own children...and i can spend the few dollars saved on taking a vacation with my children! but first a couple of suggestions: 1 - it seems the haredim have an obsessive hate for tomy lapid z'l. how well do you know tomy's history (aside from him being a survivor)? he did not hate haredim as you may think, he simply wanted a full separation of church and state to prevent a theocratic country (like our neighbours have)... 2 - yair lapid is not tomy lapid, and he isn't at war with you (or anyone)...don't take my word for it..read his words: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3883019,00.html

The same lack of seykhel that led Ohen to become a ba-al teshuvah is what led him to write this idiotic op-ed. There is no logic behind it. I hope that he's earned some brownie points from his rebbe for writing it.

Yes, but how? Rabbe Teitelbaum was one of those connected chosen ones included in Kastner - Eichmann train deal that abandoned his flock and took off for Switzerland while his followers ended up in Auschwitz - Not exactly Dr. Janusz Korczak I may note and shut up before I say what I think of this sleazeball ,...

If those relatively few wealthy Hareidi Jews want to pay the cost of Hareidi education, kol ahkavod. However, that should not be the end of the discussion. A State has the right to establish and enforce basic requirements for its citizens and this should include education. If Hareidim want to treat the State of Israel as just another country, then they must fulfill the requirements of that nation. Just as it does not matter who owns the car, it must meet certain safety requirements, a person living in a country cannot blithely ignore educational requirements established for the welfare of its citizens. If Hareidim want to be the first religious Jews to leave Eretz Yisrael en mass in Jewish history, they have that right too.

Satmar is on the wrong side of history. They argued that Rav Kook was wrong and that Israel is not the "first flower of redemption" but rather a satanic plot to destroy Judiasm (sounds like Khomeini, I know..) Today it is quite obvious that Israel is the realization of a prophecy, that Jews will return to their ancestral lands, and no amount of hatred from Satmar will change the obvious. If the Haredim want to change the paradigm, they need to ally with the Dati Leumi, not the corrupt Satmar.

That our Torah is grounded in science, math, and logic. He declares one must first study these core subjects before one can even begin to understand the Torah. The Torah shows us that the Chasedim of old were also the first ones to lead the Hebrews in battle. The Charedim must implement some changes if they want to stop being seen as using religion as an excuse for not contributing.

Are you saying that kollel men receive no state funds? Really? No subsidies from the country they refuse to support?