Modi'in Illit: The only Sephardic seminary for girls closed down

Shas has three fathers now, and it is interesting to see who will be the one to raise their hand towards the city of Modiin Illit.

Minutes before they go out for a campaign in the city streets, I would recommend their vertices to take a break in order to take care of the next task: After all, the new Shas will be judged by the dedicated treatment on discrimination in the seminaries.

The following story revolves around the 'Maalot Sarah' seminary, a seminary designed for Sephardic girls, who do not have place in the Askenazi seminaries in the city, and we won't go into if the reasons are justified or not.

In any case, on 5th Kislev a letter announcing the closure (temporarily or permanently) of the seminary landed in the girls home mailbox.

The Education Ministry explains that the reason behind it is lack of sanitation and safety requirements, which brought about a warning letter to the institutions administration. The latter announced to the Ministry that they are leaving the ownership of the place. The Ministry added that, "the local authorities are examining the transfer of the institution to a third party."

Parents of the students received a letter stating "Unfortunately we have to inform you that due to administrative issues related to the seminary license and building facilities we cannot continue their studies until things are cleared up in the coming days."

There is hope that parents will understand that this is a letter which relates to problems concerning their daughter's wellbeing.

And as always, the ones who came into the picture is the "Haredim" organization, which aims to solve the plight of the Sephardic public in Kiryat Sefer in general and particularly in Modiin Illit.

In a letter sent by the Chairman, Yoni Mizrahi to Yehuda Pinsky, and Mrs Efrat Eshkol, Education Director in the Municipality of Modi'in Illit, he protested against the closing of the seminary and that about 60 girls have no educational framework, "Contrary to the Compulsory Education Law."

"According to our knowledge from the students' inspectors from the department, Ms. Elmaleh, was aware of it but did nothing about," adds Mizrahi. The Ministry of Education, by the way, does not deny the fact that the information was known to them but they claim they transferred funds just like to any other institution, and if parents have a problem it is against the local authorities.

Mizrahi says that parents who came to the municipal education department and complained about the situation, were told that "it's not our problem, it is a private seminary.

"This answer is most outrageous especially given the fact that most students came to this Sephardic seminary by lack of choice, given their acceptance discrimination to the largest and oldest seminaries in Modi'in Illit, and Sephardic students quantity management, including and as a result of municipality slotting".

The association requires both local authorities and the Ministry of Education to address the problem as soon as possible, and if not, will consider contacting the court with a request for intervention to enforce the Compulsory Education Law.

On this occasion the association reminds that the three girls are still sitting at home (due to privacy we will not mention their names).

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!