Criticism from all sides:
After the Hebrew University threatened to withdraw its collections from the National Library and requests from donors to receive their collections, it is now the turn of approximately 1,600 researchers, scientists and academics to send a protest petition to the Minister of Education and the Prime Minister today (Friday) to cancel the change in the National Library Law that intends to harm in the independence of the library and subordinating it to the Minister of Education, this with the aim of deposing the former state attorney Shai Nitzan who is serving as the rector of the library.
The petition states that the proposed change threatens the functioning, status and future of the National Library as the national institution that treasures the memory, culture and opinion of the Jewish people.
The petition states that: "The National Library was founded as a jubilee years before the establishment of the State of Israel and it stands above this or that government, above political debates, and above attempts to control and direct from above. Its entire purpose is to preserve in the best possible way the treasures of the Jewish people and the State of Israel for generations, for the sake of society in Israel , the Jewish people and future generations."
"The proposed change threatens the functioning, status and future of the library."
Haggadah fragments from the library's treasures,
The petition was signed by nearly 1,600 researchers, postgraduate students, librarians and writers in just one day.
Among the signatories of the petition: Israel Prize winners Professors Sami Samuha, Alex Lubotsky, Olga Kapliuk and Nitsa Ben Dov;
Prof. Gili Regev Yohai from Sheba Hospital and Dr. Hali Dankner from the Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University;
Prof. David Levy Paor, founder of the Israeli Academy Network, writers Aggie Meshaul and Chaim Beer.
The protest petition was sent to the Minister of Education by Prof. Menachem Ben Sasson, who previously served as president and rector of the Hebrew University and was also the chairman of the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee between 2006-2009.
"Listen to these voices of men and women whose Jewish culture and that which was created in the Land of Israel and its surroundings are so dear to their hearts"
"It is clear to us that we would have received many more signatures if we had more time at our disposal. However, time is pressing. Before the law in its new form enters the Israeli statute book, we implore you: listen to these voices of men and women who hold Jewish culture and that which was created in and around the Land of Israel so dear to their hearts." Prof. Ben Sasson wrote to the Minister of Education.
The petition was also sent to Prime Minister Netanyahu, to which Prof. Ben Sasson added a personal appeal: "Prime Minister, who like you remembers the complex moves you were involved in for the enactment of the very balanced law of the National Library and its implementation. Please stop the move that will destroy the library."
"Please stop the move that will destroy the library."
Prof. Menachem Ben Sasson, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The petition also states that: "The drafters of the 2007 Library Law, which was drawn up following the recommendation of a public committee headed by retired Chief Justice Yitzhak Zamir, made sure to place the library and its institutions far from any political consideration and the mechanisms of power that could sabotage the professional considerations that determine the collection, preservation and access processes.
Among the national intellectual and cultural assets that the library curates: the manuscripts of the Rambam, Franz Kafka, SH Agnon, and Etc. The collections were built with diligence and dedication over decades, by generations of researchers and librarians who saw in the values of research and culture, and in them alone, the criteria for collection and preservation.
"Minister Kish's bill kicks this noble heritage. The subjugation of the library council and the board of directors, which is obligated to guard the library's activities despite the Minister's will, will seriously damage the independence of the library and damage its collections irreparably, since writers and composers will prefer to entrust their archives to independent bodies in Israel or abroad and they will choose stable institutions without appeals.
There is a serious fear that even donors will refrain from contributing to the establishment of the library.'
The purpose of the law - the impeachment of Shai Nitzan, photo: Gideon Markovich
At the end of the protest petition, the researchers write: "Therefore we call and call on the government: Leave the national library in the loyal hands of the researchers and librarians!"
Make it possible for the library council, the board members and the library staff to act professionally and independently, to establish our hall of knowledge and joint research, independent of external political factors!
Make it possible for all the residents of Israel, of all denominations, sects and religions, to see the library as their spiritual and cultural home.
Leave the national library outside the political field and outside the limits of power and domination - as a temple of knowledge and culture!".
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