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Fear of Assimilation: Drop in Registration for Jewish Institutions in the World | Israel today

2020-07-13T03:05:57.508Z


| Around the Jewish worldDue to the Corona, Jews in the Diaspora forfeit enrollment to expensive schools • "These are huge sums" says Jacob Chaguel • In the absence of Jewish education, many may be assimilated Illustrative image // Photo: AFP In recent months, the Corona virus has been causing serious health and economic damage throughout the world. One of the derivatives of this crisis may soon manifest itself as a se...


Due to the Corona, Jews in the Diaspora forfeit enrollment to expensive schools • "These are huge sums" says Jacob Chaguel • In the absence of Jewish education, many may be assimilated

  • Illustrative image // Photo: AFP

In recent months, the Corona virus has been causing serious health and economic damage throughout the world. One of the derivatives of this crisis may soon manifest itself as a serious blow to the Jewish identity of the various communities in the Diaspora.

In addition to Israel, there are currently some 220 Jewish schools in which there are approximately 255,000 students. Data collected by the World Zionist Organization show that in recent weeks there has been a 15% drop in enrollment in Jewish education students whose parents are forced to transfer to public schools because of the economic crisis.

"This is a sad trend," says Lt. Israel Deputy and Chairman of the World Zionist Organization Ya'akov Chaguel. "Jewish communities are in deep crisis, even more so than us, which is reflected in the number of patients and the deceased which is greater in proportion to their proportion in the general population. Alongside this, the economic crisis also gives the Jews of the world its signals."

An average Jewish family invests in the education of a single child in a private Jewish school between $ 30 and $ 40,000 a year. Since in these families the number of children reaches three and even four, it turns out that the cost of Jewish education can reach $ 150,000 and above.

"Jewish education in the Diaspora is very expensive," notes Haguel. "These are huge sums. The lack of revenue leads to many giving up Jewish schools and enrolling their children in public schools. Will cost even more. If a child does not receive Jewish education and values ​​and does not study in a Jewish environment, the likelihood of a Jew remaining diminished. "

In some Jewish communities, they began to explore the possibility of creating independent educational systems for Sundays, with the aim of somewhat balancing the new realities and giving Jewish values ​​to children. Next to that, Hijuel points out that the difficult situation also has a positive angle. "We recognize a growing interest in immigration to Israel. In fact, there has been a 300-400 percent increase in this interest compared to last year."

"It is important to note that apart from the Corona crisis, over the last decade, 30,000 Jews are immigrating to Israel each year, and we expect the number to double and triple in the coming years. .

However, even Samuel knows that most of the world's Jews will choose to stay in their native countries and not immigrate to Israel and, he said, the State of Israel must provide a proper response for them to ensure that their Jewish character is preserved in the Diaspora as well. "The national institutions, the various organizations and the Israeli government need to rethink and strengthen Jewish education in the Diaspora. The number of emissaries in the world and the Jewish communities must be increased, probably in light of the Corona crisis that is hitting every part of the plot and is also affecting the Jewish character.

Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2020-07-13

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