The people of Torah Judaism want to anchor Bible and Talmud studies in the state schools in the coalition agreements. This is a blessed initiative. As a secular academic I welcome it, but it is a thorn in its side: this proposal deals with the 'what' and has forgotten the 'who'. After all, who is supposed to teach Are you students of the Bible and Talmud?
Teachers of course.
Did the people of Torah Judaism bother to find out how many female students were enrolled in the school year that started two months ago in teacher training colleges?
Moreover, have they inquired out of the general rate of enrollments, what is the rate of enrollments for the Israel Culture and Heritage, Hebrew Literature and Bible classes - those who are supposed to train tomorrow's teachers to teach, among other things, Talmud reading?
If they inquired, they would be exposed to a bleak and worrying situation.
The current school year is considered a drought year in teacher training colleges.
A year in which male and female students did not register for the first year.
As a result, in four years there will be an unprecedented shortage of teachers and kindergarteners, and the education system will reach a state of insufficiency.
More and more students will come to schools for shortened days.
In the public kindergartens, a kindergarten teacher and an assistant will try to educate 40 children at best, and provide these children with both emotional and cognitive needs.
Those who observe the humanistic disciplinary circles are watching a catastrophe: in the worst case, circles are closed and yearbooks are not opened.
At best, the presidents of teacher training colleges, who care about keeping the embers burning, cause a small number of female students in each yearbook, who study language, literature, Israeli culture and the Bible.
In this situation, the request to increase Bible and Talmud studies ranges between utopia and fantasy.
Also, in view of the current level of literacy of Israeli students, in which the students can barely cope with a story by Savion Liebrecht, how will they deal with Talmudic issues?
Talmud studies require significant preparation and prior linguistic and cultural knowledge.
They cannot be landed without a regular didactic program.
Therefore, if the people of Torah Judaism wish to preserve the Jewish identity, they should not be satisfied with statements or demands that cannot be fulfilled.
They must anchor in the coalition agreements the encouragement of humanitarian studies in the Israeli academy - both in universities and colleges.
How can this be done?
As is done in many countries around the world.
In these subjects, first and second degrees will be financed by the state;
Scholarships will be given to female students.
There is no need to promise a job - the system is thirsty for teachers, and they will be absorbed already during their studies.
Or then, when words and deeds come together, we will be able to strive for Talmud studies in the state education system as well.
And perhaps, based on the Maharsha's words, "Many of those who study legends do not elaborate on all of this in the words of the Sages and do not seek to know the whole matter about its truth, only to make his voice heard in many like the sound of the pots under the pot", the people of Torah Judaism only wanted to make noise and not really instill in us , the seculars, the Talmud for its wonders?
After all, an in-depth study of the Talmud develops more than anything critical thinking, challenge, questioning and self-examination, which are known to be the basic values of liberal state education.
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