After a heated discussion: The Knesset committee approved the Torah Study Basic Law proposal for first reading this afternoon (Tuesday).
The law will be voted on tomorrow in the Knesset plenum.
10 Knesset members supported the proposal, and 4 opposed it.
The wording of the bill, after comments from the Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs, seeks to establish that Torah study is a fundamental value in the heritage of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. The focus of the discussion was the question of whether the bill indeed defines a clear fundamental constitutional value and what its possible implications are.
Deputy Government Counsel, Attorney Avital Sompolinsky: "It is impossible to move forward to the first reading before answering the question of what the purpose of the law is. According to what the proponents of the law said in the discussions here, the law came from a perception that the place of the ultra-Orthodox in Israeli society is unbalanced, and then we are in a different place and require further discussion on issues such as duties and rights. The questions that came up on the table about who is an ultra-Orthodox person are worthy and weighty questions, but the law as it is worded does not answer them.".
MK Yossi Taib: "The constitutional logic is well defined and there is no ambiguity in it. It has a value status intended to define an identity card for this people. And there is a declarative status, to grant judges a constitutional umbrella between the value of Torah study and other fundamental values.".
MK Meirav Michaeli: "When you cheapen a Basic Law and turn it into a political swindle in three days, what do you expect from the Supreme Court? The Torah existed before the establishment of the state and does not need this law. This is a law for men who study Torah only, and it will put them above other laws.".
MK Yitzhak Goldknopf emphasized the background to the proposal: "The purpose of the law is to recognize the Torah of Israel that was given at Mount Sinai and we all believe in it. How is it possible that here in Israel, after all the troubles that the people of Israel went through, Jews are arresting Jews for studying Torah. Why are we asking for this law? Because something happened in the country. We don't want to be on the other side, where a Torah student will be punished as if he were a thief. We have reached a situation where Torah students are at the bottom of the punishments.".
The discussion also raised questions regarding the practical implications of the law.
Shas and Degel HaTorah rushed to celebrate immediately after the approval:
Shas issued a statement stating: "Shas continues to advance the moves for the sake of the world of Torah - the Knesset committee has now approved for first reading the Basic Law on Torah Study, initiated and led by Shas Chairman Rabbi Aryeh Deri. The law is expected to be presented tomorrow in the Knesset plenum.".
The office of the chairman of Degel HaTorah was quick to issue a statement immediately afterwards: "By a large majority - the Knesset Committee has now approved for first reading the 'Basic Law: Torah Study', submitted by Degel HaTorah Chairman MK Moshe Gafni. The law will be submitted tomorrow for approval by the Knesset plenum, in preparation for the continuation of the legislative procedures.".
MK Gafni: "It is Torah study that has preserved us throughout the entire history of the Jewish people, and now, in the Jewish state, Torah study will receive the status it deserves.".
