Chareidi Protestors Wear Yellow Stars at Demonstration Against UK Interference in Chassidic Education
Edited by: TJVNews.com
Sparking outrage for wearing yellow stars reminiscent of the Nazi period persecution of Jews, 100 chareidim demonstrated in London against what they have termed “British interference in chareidi education, with the new British laws requiring all educational systems to teach subjects which are taboo in chareidi circles,” according to a VIN report.
As a punishment for not complying with British laws are they pertain to the imposition of a curriculum for secular subjects, the Chareidi schools were forced to close as they refused to teach the subjects as mandated by the government.
VIN reported that the demonstration took place outside the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion in Westminster and the report indicated that the protesters are associated with the Rabbinical Committee of the Traditional Charedi Education.
Among the 700 attendees were UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, as was reported by Vois Es Nais.
Speaking to the Jewish News of the UK, Rabbi Asher Gratt, a spokesman for the protesters, told the publication that yellow stars were worn because the Schools Bill’s impact on religious education was “equivalent to a death sentence.”
VIN reported that Gratt denied that the stunt was attempting to suggest the British government was behaving like the Nazis with its move to clampdown on unregistered schools. He claimed the protesters were sporting yellow stars to “express how they feel”.
Many prominent British politicians and Holocaust memorial activists reacted with indignation to the yellow star stunt, according to the VIN report.
Former Justice Under-Secretary David Wolfson, a Conservative peer and an alumnus of Yeshivat Hakotel, said that: ”There are some things which are sacred and beyond politics. And the ‘yellow star’ is one of them.
“For Charedi demonstrators to appropriate this symbol is utterly disgraceful.
“They may or may not have a valid point – but using the yellow star demeans them and their argument.”
Also speaking to the Jewish News was Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust. VIN reported that she said that, “It is absolutely shameful to see the yellow star used and abused in this way. Whatever your grievance, this is wrong and offensive.”
VIN reported that Chareidi elements also expressed their opposition to the Neturei Karta’s tactics. Recently many chareidim have been canvassing government elements in an attempt to prevent the new regulations from applying to chareidim. VIN reported that according to these regulations, the government will be given powers to suspend schools where there are serious safeguarding failures. Schools will also be required to teach children about issues pertaining to the LGBTQ population. At an earlier protest three weeks ago, demonstrators claimed the proposal represented a direct attack on the charedi community and removed the rights of parents of the freedom to practice their faith the way in which they wish to.