Education Minister Yoav Kisch issued a director-general's circular regulating tefillin (phylacteries) in state schools, requiring principals to allow students to lay tefillin only during breaks and in a designated dignified space, according to N12. The directive formalizes religious practice in the public education system.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch has issued a formal director-general's circular regulating the laying of tefillin (phylacteries) in state schools, with specific procedural requirements for principals. As reported by N12, the circular instructs school principals to allow students who wish to lay tefillin to do so on school grounds, but only during breaks and in a designated dignified space. Schools are required to formulate a procedure defining the location and times. The directive marks the first time the ministry has issued a binding regulation on the matter, formalizing a practice that had previously been left to individual school discretion.
The move follows a prior bulletin by The Zioneer (12:11) that initially reported the directive. The circular comes amid broader debate over religious expression in the public school system. In a related development, the Education Ministry's legal advisor previously ruled that allocating a dedicated space for tefillin would require the school to also provide parallel prayer spaces for Muslim and Christian students, according to a report from July 2025.
3 developments
- DevelopingEducation Ministry legal counsel: tefillin space in schools requires parallel prayer areas for Muslims and Christians
- DevelopingYoav Kisch faces hearing after reports of political interference in ultra-Orthodox education
- DevelopingEducation Minister Kisch says all schools may reopen tomorrow, pending PM's decision
- ConfirmedEducation Minister Kisch: No school Monday, aiming for in-person learning Wednesday
Source and signal
- Internal intake