Repost: Israel Hayom | High Court petitioned to stop state funding of yeshiva students

Israel Hayom | High Court petitioned to stop state funding of yeshiva students

Nongovernmental organizations argue that following expiration of Tal Law, students are no longer eligible to receive state funds, which amounted to some 30 million shekels ($7.4 million) per month • Petitioners claim that since Tal Law has expired, there is no longer a legal basis to exempt the yeshiva students from military service. Zvi Harel Ultra-Orthodox men near the Tel Hashomer IDF Induction Center. [Archives] With the Tal Law no longer in effect, the fate of Yeshiva funding is up in the air. | Photo credit: Moshe Shai The government should stop funding 54,000 yeshiva students who can no longer claim exemption from military service following the expiration of the Tal Law according to a petition filed Tuesday with the High Court of Justice. The petition, filed by Hiddush and Free Israel (two nongovernmental organizations promoting religious freedom and equality), the Forum for Equal Service and former MK Ronny Brison (Shinui), argue that the criteria for funding for yeshiva students includes those who are exempt from military service in accordance with the Tal Law. They claim that before the law expired, 54,000 students were eligible to receive government funds, but the legal situation now does not make them eligible for the funds. The Tal Law, which exempted ultra-Orthodox men from mandatory military service, expired on Aug. 1. Defense Minister Ehud Barak has instructed the Israel Defense Forces to reinstate the last version of the Defense Service Law, from 1968, and to submit, within one month, a practical proposal regarding the implementation of the law in the ultra-Orthodox community. This would serve as a temporary solution until the Knesset legislates a new law that permanently regulates the ultra-Orthodox draft. Shahar Ilan, vice president of Hiddush, estimates that funding for yeshiva students while the Tal Law was in force, was around 30 million shekels ($7.4 million) per month and 400 million shekels ($99 million) annually. Attorney for the petitioners, Gilad Barnea, wrote in the petition that as the Tal Law has expired, there is no longer a legal basis to exempt the yeshiva students from military service. Attorney Rabbi Uri Regev, executive director of Hiddush, said the principle must be clear. "Whoever does not serve must and should not receive funds from the state. Any attempt to transfer the funds is a clear violation of the law."

Guest Post: What to Know About Renting a Home in Israel

By: Avner Slater, Adv.


You are looking to rent an apartment or house in Israel. The first and most important thing on your list should be to find a place you where you wish to live and at the right price. But the terms and conditions of the rent should not be far behind. 

Making sure it's the right neighborhood/community to fit your needs and those of your family, with good schools, synagogues, nice parks, shopping areas etc., is something you would do naturally. Unfortunately, however, people tend to think it ends there. The importance of reading and signing the contract are things which are often overlooked. Amazingly, sometimes no contract even exists.

Understanding the Contract 

Take the case of Avrumi G. from Brooklyn, who is planning to get married during the summer, and is looking to rent an apartment beginning this fall. His fiance hears from her best friend that a distant cousin of hers is leaving the apartment she had been living in for a few years. They get the owner's name and number, give him a call, mail him a deposit and the deal is closed.


But wait a minute! What are terms of the rental? What's included in the price? How long is the lease for? What if they want to leave early or stay longer? Is the rent in shekels or dollars? What happens when the dollar rate goes up or down? Is the apartment fully or partially furnished? What is the condition of the furniture? Is there an air conditioner? Is it in working condition?


These are just a few of the many issues which must be dealt with IN ADVANCE and IN WRITING. You cannot afford to have arguments later over what was said or not said during that brief long distance phone call. There must be a clear and detailed contract which spells out all the details.

Schedule for Dinei Yisrael Review Courses Posted

As a follow up to a previous post regarding this year's Dinei Yisrael exams for foreign qualified lawyers seeking to be admitted to the Israeli Bar, I just found the schedule for the Jerusalem review classes for the Dinei Yisrael Exam on the Bar Office's website.

It appears that Professor Yoel Tsur is stepping in for David Seville and organizing things this year.

The classes will be held at the Jerusalem Law Centre, 1 Chopin street- bus no. 13.

To register, contact The Israel Bar, Jerusalem, tel. 02-5411200, fax: 02-5610062  e-mail: mitmahim@israelbar.prg.il.

The charge for the course is: 200 NIS 1-2 subjects; 500NIS 3 subjects or more. And each exam costs 160 NIS.


And I have learned from Professor Tsur that even if you took the course in the past but failed the exam and want to take the course again, you must pay again. I'm not sure that's how David Saville did it and I definitely don't like that policy. I guess they don't guarantee your passage like BarBri.