I don’t get it. Do you want the Haredim to get an education or not? do you want the Haredim to enter the workforce or not?
In Netanya, the Michlelet Netanya is rumored to be preparing to open a set of courses specifically for the Hareidi community. Not just a set of courses, but they have requested permits from the Netanya municipality for the construction of a new building that would house a “Haredi campus.”
Local residents have protested outside City Hall in an attempt to cause the cancellation of any such plans.
Residents see such programs as the beginning of a trend of “hitchardut”, or, haredim taking over the area. They say they want Haredim to integrate into society, but into existing programs and into full society, and not by creating their own secluded programs.
Netanya City Hall says that the new program will not be in a new, separate, building, but will be within the existing campus of Michlelet Netanya.
I don’t care if they start their programs in the same building, in a different building, in this or that city or in whatever way they want. Why shouldn’t they be allowed to choose the setting for the program they are developing for their community? If we want integration, and we do, at least in certain ways, we cannot force them to do things “our” way. Why is our way any more right than their way or than any other way? If we force them to do it our way, they will, or many will, retreat and cancel any such plans. the Haredi community makes changes on its terms, when they feel terms are necessary, or not at all.
This is another attempt to ram “our” way down their throats even at the expense of actual gains that we say we want.
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