A well-known scientist once said, "You don't have to be a triangle to teach geometry."
Similarly, the education minister need not be educator, but it certainly does help. The appointment of Rabbi Shai Piron as education minister is a very promising development. For decades, Piron has been involved in the field of education: as a teacher, a rabbi, the head of a yeshiva and CEO of the Everything is Education movement.
Full disclosure: I had the privilege of working with and getting to know Piron as legal adviser to Everything is Education. Piron was one of the founders of the movement, setting its vision, displaying initiative and proving that by working together, we can move toward a better education system. As a student of mine in a seminar on social rights at the Shaarei Mishpat College, Piron further revealed his humanity and sensitivity to the needs of "others" in society, regardless of religion, race or gender.
Piron's awareness of people with disabilities and sensitivity to their needs is well known. Piron practices what he preaches, both at home and as the head of educational institutions. He works to integrate everyone as equals. In his eyes, social justice and equality are not just lip service, but rather a way of life.
Throughout Piron's years in the public arena, he has displayed courage. To realize his vision for a different society, one that is inclusive of the uniqueness of each individual, strives for unity and decreasing polarization, he abandoned the protective greenhouse of religious Zionism and the settler community, and joined the new framework of Yesh Atid.
In the wonderful play by the witty British-Jewish writer Jonathan Lynn, "Yes, Minister," the minister seeks to replace his chair immediately upon his appointment. His adviser hurries to offer him one of the two chairs commonly used by ministers: a folding chair that looks like it might fold in on itself and a swiveling chair that won't stop turning. Hopefully Piron won't be quick to fold or spin his wheels, but will stick to the values and principles he has embodied until now, through genuine dialogue with colleagues and partners in the educational enterprise.
The ball is now in his court. Talking loudly about a quality education system focused on values, one that provides genuine equal opportunities for all and promotes the values of justice and honesty, is no substitute for action. Anybody who knows even a little bit about Israel's education system knows that it is complex, complicated and cumbersome, with many potholes in the road. Piron will need to exercise sense and sensibility. With God's help, he will balance the needs of all the different stakeholders in the system.
His determination, belief in justice, vision and values can and should lead the educational system down the right path, to implement the same "soulfulness" Piron himself possesses. Time will tell if there is a better future for the education system, in which the people are granted the power and the focus is on the immense importance of ethics, morality in Israeli society.
טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו