Seminaries in Bnei Brak do not issue certificates of approval to ultra-Orthodox who are interested in academic studies.
This is what women who spoke with "Israel Today" testify.
"Everything is Rabbi Wolf's instruction, he is not ready to release any certificate to those who are going to study for a degree", "Totally annoying, I have already given up on them, I don't have the strength to fight with them".
"They are the system, and they are the power. And it sucks that this is what it looks like. So powerful, limiting and reducing."
These quotes were written by several women who contacted us in frustration, after the management of the seminary where they studied refused to grant them a study permit, even though they paid tens of thousands of shekels and fulfilled all their academic obligations at the seminary.
The reason for the refusal is that the seminary opposes them studying at the academy, even though these are women who stand on their own, have long since finished their studies at the seminary, and most of them are mothers of children who wish to acquire a profession that earns them a living.
Even though these are ultra-Orthodox institutions, the women do not receive permission.
Those photographed have nothing to do with the article, photo: Gideon Markowitz
"Wolf" Seminary, the Lithuanian in Bnei Brak, is the flagship institution of the ultra-orthodox seminaries in the area.
The cutting edge, the most desirable place of study.
Three other major seminars in Bnei Brak are conducted under the presidency of Rabbi Wolf.
One of the main flags in the seminar is the resolute opposition to going to higher studies in the academy.
However, if in the past going to the academy involved a secular and mixed environment, in recent years ultra-Orthodox, religious academic institutions and courses tailored to the ultra-Orthodox sector have flourished, and an environment that allows maintaining the color of life.
More and more ultra-Orthodox girls from home, who do not want to be teachers or kindergarteners, or because the list of professions offered does not satisfy them, choose not to continue the vocational path in the seminary.
Many of them consult and receive the blessing of the path from the rabbi with whom the family consults, especially when today there is a large selection of ultra-Orthodox academic institutions such as "Mabahar", "Campus Strauss", "Nevet Israel" seminary and others that provide an educational, rabbinical envelope and sacred lessons.
At the Wolf Seminary, they don't like the spillover of the girls into vocational studies that will serve them later in the world of employment, so they found an original way to put them on wheels.
If the seminary hears from the daughter that she needs the study permit she legally deserves, because she chooses to acquire a profession with an academic certificate, they refuse to grant her a study permit, regardless of whether it is a strictly ultra-Orthodox academic institution.
Bnei Brak.
At the seminar, they oppose academic studies for women, photo: Yehoshua Yosef
"I have six children, God's blessing, my husband Avrach, the manager of a strictly ultra-Orthodox house," Hadassah tells us.
"I went to study 'Sisters', at the 'Mabahar' college in Bnei Brak. A few years after I finished my studies at the seminary. When the seminary heard why I needed a permit, it refused to grant it to me, which forced me to lie. In the end, I took a study permit from someone else who studied At another seminar in Bnei Brak. I had no choice."
And why didn't you just ask for a study permit without providing an explanation?
"
The
secretary told me tell me where to send the school permit. So I had to tell her."
need proof
"My daughter also had to lie," Sarah's mother tells us, who requested permission to study from the seminary in order to study an academic bachelor's degree in education at the ultra-Orthodox 'Nevet Israel' seminary in Jerusalem, but was refused, even though several years had passed since she left her home to study at the seminary.
"We wanted to follow the straight path, but they didn't leave us a choice. So we said that we need the school permit for the court, because she was divorced, and we are required to provide proof that she attended an ultra-orthodox seminary."
"When I realized that the seminary was not going to provide the study permit that I legally deserve, I did not fight with them, but called the seminary at another time, to another secretary, innocently, as if I had never asked, but this time I did not tell the real reason."
Rebecca tells us.
Some of the graduates are already mothers but did not initially receive the approval.
Those photographed have no relation to the article, photo: Gideon Markovich
Ruth, who studied at another seminary in Bnei Brak, wishes to keep his name anonymous so as not to harm her younger sister who is still studying there, but says that when she went to study for an academic certificate, the seminary punished her younger sister and informed her that she would not be accepted.
Only after the family signed a document in which they guarantee that the little daughter undertakes to continue her higher studies at the seminary, did they do her a favor and let her in.
Not just one seminar
A young woman in her 20s says that she studied at the Wolf Seminary and graduated with honors.
"After a year, I went to study at the Mabhar College.
I needed confirmation of studies in the seminary, the grades of the external tests and some other documents.
When I called the secretariat of the seminar, they asked me what the purpose was.
I didn't think there could be any problem at all and said that I needed them for my studies at an ultra-Orthodox college.
I encountered a complete refusal from the entire secretariat on the grounds that it was 'instruction from above' by Rabbi Wolff." The young woman adds that she had to tell fictional stories about a difficult situation, which made her go to academic studies, in order to receive the certificates.
Shira, 33, mother of five, studied at the Meir seminary in Bnei Brak, which is considered more open and modern.
But Shira says that when she wanted to study nursing at a selective college at the age of 27, when she was already married and a mother of children, she realized that she had to try and bypass the system.
"I heard from two friends who asked for a study permit and got into trouble. One had to lie that she was going to study at the 'old' seminary in Jerusalem, and the other had to involve her mother who threatened the seminar. I did not ask for a study permit in advance, but brought my 'outside' scores to the college (SALT tests corresponding to graduation) and to my delight it was enough."
On the sidelines, it should be noted that most of the girls who are going to study at the academy choose professions that the seminary does not offer at all, such as nursing, etc.
So in the seminary's refusal to grant them a study permit, it leaves them without a proper alternative.
Currently, the seminaries preferred not to respond to "Israel Today" inquiries.
The Ministry of Education's response will be provided when received.
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