Member of United Torah Judaism backs out: "There's no discrimination in seminaries"

A letter sent by Moshe Gura, a member of United Torah Judaism in Jerusalem, in which he called to fight ethnic discrimination in Haredi seminaries in the city, and whose content was revealed yesterday in Behadrey Haredim - raises a storm in the corridors of the City Hall and he was quick to back out, and today (Tues.), sent a letter of clarification.

The Council member explains: "There were those who cared to interpret my appeal, as if I'm fighting against discrimination, I reject these arguments."

Behadrey Haredim learned that the clarification which Gura sent to all members of Shas and United Torah Judaism came after a rage arose against him among the factors in his faction that he is strengthening the argument that discrimination does exist in the haredi educational system. "

"I referred only to the girls that are part of the criteria set by the rabbis' committee," he clarified, "I did not mention in my appeal that there is ethnic discrimination, I reject the arguments of ethnic discrimination.

"My appeal was made to you by an internal e-mail," Gura said, "and with no external links, out of a sincere desire to consult together, how we could give tiding to those parents and students. There was one who took care to distribute my email to elements in the media, and interpreted my appeal, as if I'm fighting against discrimination existing in seminaries, which is not true. "

He said the publication of the words, "did me and seminaries injustice which is not justified."

Gura clarified that activity carried out in public, "is fraught with risks of abuse of things, by interested parties, which may result in injustice and harm and to promote the goal we are seeking."

Therefore he decided to continue his activity with the assistance to those parents and students "in a different format."

Council member Moshe Gura declined to comment.

Attorney Yoav Lalum said in response to Behadrey Haredim: "Anyone living in Jerusalem knows and lives the problems of discrimination seminaries. I understand Gura was hit over the head by members of the party who are engaged in hiding the problem of discrimination that is created by principals of seminaries. Every word I add will only subtract. "

A local Shas faction factor said similar things, "I wish that after picking up the gauntlet by Torah Judaism, they decided to submit to the dictates of public officials who prefer to ignore the problem of discrimination."

"I consider it my duty to demand of the heads of United Torah Judaism and Shas parties to hold a meeting soon to discuss the charged and sensitive matter of non-acceptance of students to seminaries. I get calls daily - and I believe that you also get - from parents to students going into seminaries, who are in great distress, with some who have not yet received answers from the seminaries, and some have received negative responses. "

Gura revealed an interesting statistic: "There are currently about 15 sisters who were not accepted to seminaries in which their sisters learn." He also added that the parties sought to hold a meeting on Sunday, and to call the relevant urban factors to it. "After the meeting, a delegation of members, along with the rabbis' committee, will go to Gedolei Yisroel, to update them about the situation and receive instructions from them on how we should act."

Immediately after the meeting, Gura said, members of the Council could "insist to seminary principals to accept those provisions as they were written." He added that the activity must be "backed by all members" and explained, "The appeal or pressure by a member, whoever he is, is unlike an appeal and pressure from all members of United Torah Judaism and Shas."

The letter is signed as follows: "Our commitment to those pained parents and students whose sleep is disturbed, when suddenly in the middle of life trouble befalls them, and do not know why or how, to stand behind them at their time of grievance, and to tell them - we did everything we could, and say towards Heaven - our hands have not shed this blood., and the sooner the better."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!