In practice, all schools are closed on Yom Ha'Atzmaut, except in the haredi sector. Even in the haredi sector the girl schools have the day off, but the boys have school, for Torah learning must go on. And I am in favor of that. The kids could have a half day of school, or even 2/3 day to learn Torah, and then celebrate, or not, after school. There is not really a need to stop Torah learning all day long in order to celebrate. Especially if the parents are not spending the day outside, and those sending to haredi schools are for the most part not doing this, appreciating the beauty of Eretz Yisrael or the accomplishments of the State, by way of tiyulim or visits to museums and air shows or even having a barbecue, there is no reason the kids should not be learning Torah.
What I would like to see implemented into the system is not a day off from school, but perhaps discussion about Yom Ha'Atzmaut. Some recognition of the importance of the day. Some hashkafic discussion and teaching about the day - even if the talks focuses on being against the day.
Yesterday, Kooker is reporting, the Ministry of Education sent out letters to many heads of educational institutions in the haredi sector stating that they had better be closed on Yom Ha'Atzmaut, or else. It said if they would be discovered to be open, withdrawing budget grants would be considered.
A copy of the letter can be seen:
I see no reason for this. While the purpose of shutting schools might be to give people the ability to celebrate properly, by removing the obstacles of the regular weekday such as work and school, most of the people affected by this would not be out celebrating anyway. And maybe they want to celebrate by way of learning Torah. I see no reason that this is an issue that should be forced, to the point that schools teaching Torah on Yom Ha'Atzmaut must be forced shut and then sanctioned if they do not listen.
As I said above, though, instead of forcing these schools to close, they should be finding ways to get these schools, those that are open on Yom Ha'Atzmaut, to teach about the day - include some recognition of the day, eve if just as showing the importance and some thanks to God, if not giving it actual religious significance..
My greater concern though is for the teachers. By law, anybody who must work on Yom Ha'Atzmaut is supposed to be paid 200% of his salary. Do the teachers in the haredi schools get the 200% for the days work that is coming to them? This is something that should be looked into and enforced. Instead of wasting the ministries efforts on forcing schools to shut down, they should be making sure the teachers are getting paid appropriately for the days work.
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