Problems of Jewish Education in Diaspora to Be Subject of Full Knesset Debate

The problems of Jewish education in the diaspora will be the subject of a full scale debate in the Knesset shortly. A motion calling for such a debate was swiftly adopted today after it was introduced by Yitzhak Korn, Labor MK, as a private member’s motion. It was one of the rare occasions when a private motion has been accepted by the chamber. Mr. Korn, who is chairman of the world Labor Zionist movement, deplored the fact that only a fraction of Jewish youth in the world is getting a Jewish education. Deputy Premier Yigal Allon who is also Minister of Education and Culture, said he was in favor of debating the subject. He claimed however that his Ministry was doing a great deal to further Jewish education overseas and cited a recent agreement with the Jewish Agency’s department of education and culture. He disclosed that Israel’s educational television trust was going to produce a series of films for distribution to Jewish schools abroad as one way to alleviate the shortage of teachers. Mr. Korn proposed an exchange of students and teachers with diaspora communities. He proposed a system of mass “adoption” of Jewish pupils abroad–meaning bringing them to Israel–for periods of up to a year for studies. He also called for an increased allocation of Hebrew teachers from Israel for the diaspora and an enlargement of facilities in Israel to train teachers from abroad.