Thursday, August 12, 2021

Haredi ("ultra orthodox") Jewish schools do not teach religion.

That's right.

You see, there is so much variety within Haredi orthodox Jewish society, their schools cannot teach religion.

Their focus is textual study.

Interpretation is learned at home and synagogue.

 - Those families who embrace the study of the  Zohar, a book of mysticism, do so at home or with private tutors. 

They do not even think to impose mystical teachings on the school.

- Those who reject the study of the Zohar emphasize Bible and Talmud learning at home.

They do not even think to impose their eschewing of for mysticism on the school.


 See more examples below

Thus, in Haredi schools in Israel, when children learn scripture, they are NOT indoctrinated.  

They are simply learning classic texts and commentary.

Schools in the USA may like to try this. 

Stop indoctrinating.

Teach classic texts, science and mathematics, and leave interpretation to the home.

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Haredi means "shaker" or "quaker", and connotes fundamentalism. 

Within this segment of society you have many diverse streams, here are but a few:

Chassidic - follow the teachings of the Ba'al Shem Tov, founded in early 1700's to uplift the poor Jewish masses spiritually.

Within this group you have much variety, the following groups still bear the names of the towns in Eastern Europe from which they hailed:

--- Gur Chassidim - emphasize secular careers, husband and wife relationship a formal one.

--- Slonim Chassidim - emphasize Talmud learning, similar marriage philosophy as Gur.

---Viznitz and Sanz  - emphasize interpersonal warmth and awe of their Rebbe (Rabbi).

--- Breslov - emphasize simplicity and happiness, hold that Rebbe Nachman of Breslov was unique in that cleaving to his teachings can rectify one's soul.

--- Satmar - emphasize building strong family and community, anti nationalist regarding the state of Israel.

--- Sqvere - interpersonal warmth, separation from host society

Lithuania ("Litvishe") - rational, do not study mysticism, less in awe of their Rabbi.

Chabad Lubavitch - follow the line of teaching of the Chabad Lubavitch Rabbis. Study the "Tanya" , a mystical text.

In the country of Yemen, there were three major streams:

Yemenite Baladi - rationalist, reject mysticism

Yemenite Shami - study the Zohar, a mystical text

Yemenite Dor Dai - cleave to the teaching of Maimonides, reject the Zohar

Morocco - also host to streams more rational and streams that studied mysticism.


And this is just a start.

Therefore, in Haredi schools, when children learn scripture, they are not indoctrinated. 

They are simply learning classic texts and commentary.


Those who hold that the teachings of Maimonides are to be followed, emphasize this at home and at their synagogues.

They do not even think to impose Maimonides' traditions on the school. 

Those Chassidic Jews who hold that their Rebbe is a unique saint teach their children this in their homes and their synagogues.

They do not even think to impose the uniqueness of their Rebbe on the school. 

Those who hold that Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's teachings can rectify one's spiritual imperfections teach this at home and in the synagogue.

They do not even think to impose the soul-mastery of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov on the school. 

Those who hold that the state of Israel is premature teach their stance at home, likewise those who believe that the state of Israel is the herald of the messianic age teach this at home.

They do not even think to impose their ideas on nationalism, for or against, on the school.

 

Sex education is done at home. Should the school see a need, they will speak to parents privately.

One group holds that you teach sex-ed just before marriage.

Another holds that you teach sex-ed upon puberty.

They do not even think to impose sex ed on the school. 

 

If religious fundamentalists can respect other groups' interpretations, and leave school as a place to master classic text and commentary, then why on earth are secular relativists given free reign to impose everything from scorn for religion, to contempt for police, to concepts of sexuality, to dividing children based on race in the classroom?

Stop indoctrinating. Start learning the classics.

 





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