MK Tamar Zandberg (Meretz) has proposed a law that would make it illegal to target children in kiruv efforts. Anyone doing so would be liable to up to 6 months of prison.
Zandberg points to organizations like Chabad, Hidabroot and Lev L'Achim saying they and others target children in their efforts to bring them to do tshuva.
source: Hamechadesh
I dont think any laws can be passed right now so it seems this will first depend on whether or not the "change government" is actually formed, and then it will next depend on whether Bennett does not veto this. He has been trying to do as much as possible to act as if he will take care of Haredi concerns and even leave a spot for them should they decide to join the government later. he might use his power to thwart this on their behalf.
I am not opposed to such a law in theory though. children should be off limits. Let parents raise their kids how they want. Parents should not have to worry about other people and organizations undermining their efforts. Once they are adults you can approach them with Judaism, or even as children with parental consent. Frum parents would not want secular organizations approaching their kids and putting ideas into their heads, so let the secular people raise their children the way they want as well.
That being said, I am not sure 6 months of prison is the right punishment. It sounds kind of harsh for talking Judaism.
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I understand a law to not target 6 year olds, but teenagers are thinking people of their own right, and should have the right to seek out such information / organizations. to make an organization that provides a teenager with tefillin criminally liable seems crazy to me.
ReplyDeleteI would have no problem with differentiating between the teen seeking out the organization and the organization seeking out the teen...
ReplyDeleteThen the law would just become a joke, like the laws about realtors charging the buyer. They just make you sign a paper saying you hired them, you'll just make the kiruv organizations do the same thing...
DeleteJust another try at trying to erase Torah from the Jews and Land of Israel. These are the plans of the Erev Rav Amaleikim. Too bad they don't know any Torah which is all truth and which foretells the end of the 'amaleikim'!
ReplyDeleteOf course, Zandberg would never consider what her side does to be indoctrination of children. Nosireebob.
ReplyDeleteparents choose what school to send their kids to, and parents know it is a secular school and have chosen such. I would agree that if there are organizations (and I have no idea if there are) that target childrena nd try to persuade them to drop religion, such a law should equally apply to those organizations.
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