Prefer Jewish News on Google
Israeli uni says modest dress and kippot no longer required in religion classes
Bar-Ilan will no longer ask for strict dress code for women or kippot for men amid a decline in observant students
Bar-Ilan University has eliminated the requirement for modest dress on campus and that male students wear a kippah during classes on Judaism.
The university said it has not enforced the rules in many years and that there has been a decline in the number of religious students on campus, Haaretz reported.
Students had been required to sign a statement accepting the requirements and acknowledging that the university operates “in the spirit of the Torah and tradition of Israel.” The statement called immodest clothing “harassing and hurtful to the feelings of the campus population.”
The new statement to be signed by the students says that: “I know that the University’s goals and trend is to foster and advance the study and research in all branches of the Torah and science in the spirit of Israel and the Jewish tradition,” according to Haaretz.
Bar-Ilan University was established in 1955 as a religious Jewish institution. It is Israel’s second-largest university with more than 18,000 students.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
