Likud MK Galit Distal Feels Robbed of her Jewish Identity
"Judaism is a diamond that we sit on and bury" MK Galit
This female politician, Likud MK Galit Distal, is extremely annoying to listen to. I think most of us can agree that we don't like the way she expresses herself.
But she did catch the headlines today with her dramatic presentation to our Education Committee. Because instead of focusing on the collective - she made it all about herself >>
[The following is a translation of what was said - the full video of her presentation in Hebrew is embedded in the article - my commentary is below]
A survey presented by the Education Committee: 80% of parents think that, following the war, it is necessary to learn more about the heritage of the Jewish people. Committee Chairman: "There is a huge gap between the plans of the Ministry of Education and what is happening on the ground." They don't know what it is to be Jewish. Children grow up here think that their Judaism is eating pizza."
The Education, Culture and Sports Committee discussed (today, February 12, 2024) the subject of student resilience during the war in view of the fear of blurring the values of Zionism, heritage and identity in the education system.
The Education, Culture and Sports Committee discussed (today, February 12, 2024) the subject of student resilience during the war in view of the fear of blurring the values of Zionism, heritage and identity in the education system.
"Our education system has been conquered," said the CEO of the Meirim organization Dorit Yitzhak. My child from first to fourth grade did not study Torah in the state school. This year they did not celebrate Tu B'Shevat there, and last year they did not celebrate Jerusalem Day. In my second son's civics classes, progressive leftist values were integrated. We conducted a survey of a pool of minds among 1,000 parents and teachers from around the country, from which it appears that the children do not know enough, the teachers do not teach enough. They are powerless because of the system."
80% of the parents think that following the war and the massacre on October 7, it is necessary to know and learn more about the heritage of the Jewish people.
Additional data from the survey showed that a clear majority of parents and teachers in state education believe that it is necessary to add additional lessons on the heritage of the Jewish people to the curriculum, and that the negative discourse surrounding Jewish studies and heritage leads to the erasure of students' Jewish identity. More from the survey - 80% of the parents think that following the war and the massacre on October 7, it is necessary to know and learn more about the heritage of the Jewish people.
MK Galit Distal Atbarian (Likud) said excitedly: "The state education system robbed me of my identity. And what is happening now is a thousand times worse. Judaism is a treasure of embodied knowledge, a diamond. We have to force this diamond on students because people do not know what is there. An ignorant generation grew up here. In Gaza there is Allah. We had the roots cut off from under our feet. I studied philosophy for 7 years. It's dust compared to the diamond we sit on and bury. Our children do not know what it is to be Jewish. Children grow up here thinking that their Judaism is eating pizza."
MK Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid): "The desire to compromise with everyone has meant that the Ministry of Education does not understand its role in the Jewish state. I am neither religious nor right-wing, and I feel this erosion."
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MK Tali Gottlieb (Likud): "We recognize in the students an erosion of the Jewish ethos and heritage in the State of Israel. In the education system there is a 'deep state', of associations that come in and assimilate radical ideas that I don't know who supervises them. This is how we find students in whom the Jewish ethos is not ripe. The definition of my country is Jewish and democratic."
Thinking we are pluralists because we include all kinds of crazy ideas - that's not the role of the education system. Its role is to connect to the roots and essence of the establishment of the State of Israel, the only state for the Jewish people." MK Hanoch Milwidsky
MK Hanoch Milwidsky (Likud): "The state education system is not relevant to a large part of the Jewish citizens here. It should reflect the fact that Israel is Jewish and democratic. They always talk about democracy and forget our Judaism. Thinking we are pluralists because we include all kinds of crazy ideas - that's not the role of the education system. Its role is to connect to the roots and essence of the establishment of the State of Israel, the only state for the Jewish people."
MK Limor Son Har Melech (Otzma Yehudit): "When I studied in my youth in a state school, there were no Bible studies at all and no heritage. Today it is even more so. It is impossible for there to be a divine soul that does not know what its mission is in this world. Every Jew has the right to learn who and why he was born specifically to the Jewish people."
My Commentary
This is a great topic and many important things were said.
However, most of the things being said are politicians guessing what needs to be done, or pushing a certain agenda.
All this confusion stems from us not understanding our true purpose, what the whole world is really anticipating to receive from Israel - good examples of human behavior.
No one really knows exactly how to raise our kids in a balanced way that is good for them, good for the country and setting the right example for the whole world.
All this confusion stems from us not understanding our true purpose, what the whole world is really anticipating to receive from Israel - good examples of human behavior.
We're getting plenty of incredible examples from the war ... seeing so many amazing young people tapping into the very foundation of the Jewish value system - many of them are secular. We're seeing religious and secular soldiers dancing, praying and fighting side by side.
It's all very beautiful but may not be sustainable in the long run unless we learn our most important lesson right now while it's fresh in our minds: our unity is our most powerful weapon in war, and the most powerful element for success in life. Kids can get "technical" knowledge anywhere nowadays. So all their education should mainly be focused on learning how to love your neighbor as yourself - the core value of Judaism.