The introduction of Jewish religious instruction at the local Jewish High School may soon become possible, it was indicated here today. Religious instruction has been barred from secondary schools in the past.
A new government regulation introduces Moslem teachings in Moslem public and private high schools. As a result, Jewish leaders expect to apply soon to the authorities and hope to receive permission to extend religious instruction from the primary grades, where it is now permitted, to the secondary grades.
Meanwhile, it was revealed today that the Rabbinical Seminary, a recognized high school which is expected to train rabbis and other personnel needed for the spiritual welfare of Turkish Jewry, now has an enrollment of 50. The Grand Rabbinate, which sponsors the seminary, has made arrangements for two qualified teachers from Israel to join its faculty.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed its anxiety last night over the “cleavage of opinion” in Israel over the place of religion in the state.
In a formal statement, the Board expressed its “profound sorrow at the recent Sabbath disturbances in the Holy City of Jerusalem.” The government’s action in setting up an in dependent inquiry committee to study the causes of the clashes was praised as “an earnest endeavor to preclude similar occurrences in the future.”
While it condemned “attempts by insignificant and irresponsible elements in the country who have tried to exploit the recent events in order to spread hatred against the Government and State of Israel,” the Board expressed its desire “to put on record that the overwhelming majority of Anglo-Jewry cannot envisage Jewish history, Jewish unity and a Jewish future without according to religion its rightful place in Jewish life and education everywhere, especially in Israel.”
The Board further expressed its “confidence” that the Government of Israel will give serious consideration to this problem and its “trust” that there will be “cooperation with the Chief Rabbinate in Israel (on) a modus vivendi which will preserve the sanctity of the Sabbath and assure harmony in Jerusalem and throughout Israel.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
