More funds proposed for ultra-Orthodox

JERUSALEM - More money for adults studying Torah full-time? A Labor Party minister on Thursday attacked a plan by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to significantly increase funding for ultra-Orthodox adults engaged in full-time religious study.

According to the proposal, funding for men over the age of 23 engaged religious studies would increase by 40 percent, but government officials say the increased funding would not require an increase in the total state budget, as the funding for ultra-orthodox men under the age of 23 engaged in religious studies would be decreased by 40 percent.

While younger religious Jews study in a school known as a yeshiva, adults study in a school known as a "kollel." Many of the adults who study there are married with many children.

In 2003, funding for this purpose was slashed 40 percent, in an attempt to increase the incentive for these ultra-Orthodox adults to find employment.

On Wednesday night, Labor ministers were informed of a proposal to cancel the cuts for this purpose.

The proposal is being made because last year's cuts, in addition to cuts in benefits awarded based on the number of children in a family, has significantly harmed the financial resources for religious families.

Pines says proposal will remove incentive for ultra-Orthodox to work

Interior Minister Ophir Pines, from the Labor Party, sent a letter to the prime minister arguing such an increase would make it less likely these adults would go to work.

“The proposed decision you intend to bring before the government, with the contention it is urgent for the income of these same adult religious students, will first and foremost harm these same adults because it will take away the main incentive for them to integrate into the workforce,” Pines wrote.

In his letter, the minister questions the need for additional funding when ultra-Orthodox parties representing this sector have either already received significant funds or stated they will oppose the budget in the Knesset vote scheduled to be held in about a month.

“The urgency of the proposal for the funding is not clear to me because United Torah Judaism, which already received about 290 million shekels for its institutions, will vote in favor of the state budget and even Shas announced that it will not support the budget.”

Pines is also demanding an explanation as to why this issue was added to the cabinet’s agenda on the last day of the workweek ahead of Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting and how this additional funding will not dramatically change the budget.

'It was clear the 290 million shekels was just the beginning'

Meanwhile, the secular Shinui party, which resigned from the government earlier this year, slammed the proposal to increase the funding.

“It was clear that the 290 million shekels paid to the ultra-Orthodox was just the beginning,” Knesset Member and Shinui faction head Reshef Chen said. “Now comes another payment and after that a lot more money will be transferred.”

“It’s not clear why Sharon is wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayers money in order to bribe the ultra-Orthodox who oppose the disengagement plan, instead of simply creating a coalition with Shinui and establishing a unity government that really does support disengagement.”