Adding Horror to Travesty: Education Commissioner Inserts Section that Would Jail non-Compliant Yeshiva Parents

By: Boropark24 Staff

Last week we reported upon the issuance of revised regulations by the State Education Department—which, among other terrible offenses—turned their focus more sharply on Yeshiva parents, exempting parents sending their children to non-Jewish schools.

As if the new SED regulations were not bad enough, we learn today that, if Commissioner Betty Rosa and her department had their way, Yeshiva parents sending their children to “non-compliant” mosdos will face jail time if found truant.

Yeshiva World News reported that the Board of Regents was given a presentation today on the new regulations issued by SED.

At the last minute, the following section 130.14 was slipped into the language of the regulations: “Penalties and Enforcement. ‘Any violation of the compulsory education requirements contained in Article 65 of the Education Law is subject to the penalties prescribed in Education Law 3233.’ Education Law 3233 provides that a first offense is punishable by ten days’ imprisonment, and each subsequent offense by imprisonment not to exceed thirty days.”

It is difficult to believe that these actions are being taken in a country founded upon the ideals of freedom—but we are in Adar, with Purim around the corner, and we are as hopeful as ever that we too will merit great yeshu’os during these times as we seek to educate our children in the ways of Torah and mitzvos.