Degel HaTorah directors met at the end of Adar at the Bnei
Brak office to discuss a series of organizational issues and
expanded activities at party headquarters and branches.
The meeting opened with a discussion of the local council
elections scheduled to take place in the next few months in
Elad, Modi'in Illit and Emanuel. It was decided the Degel
HaTorah executive board and Municipal Department, together
with directors of the branches in these towns, would
formulate joint positions before discussions of these issues
at the next executive board meeting.
The second half of the meeting was devoted to the current
government's attempts to strike out at kodshei
Yisroel, Shabbos and religious services, the Torah
world's budget crisis and the efforts by Degel HaTorah MKs to
limit the damage being done. A report was presented on the
transfer of the curtailed regular budget to the yeshivas and
the additional sum transferred to the Finance Committee, the
remaining portion for the 2003 budget year and the additional
amount for 2004.
In a lively and earnest discussion the directors addressed
the issue of the Education Ministry's attempts to dictate the
curriculum in chareidi schools despite staunch opposition by
gedolei Yisroel. Maintaining smooth operations at
Chinuch Atzmai institutions was also discussed and a decision
was reached to speak with Agudas Yisroel figures about joint
activities to resist the destroyers of religion and to
preserve the "jar of pure oil."
