14 Jul 2011

Israeli kindergarteners to be required to sing national anthem weekly

From September Jewish nursery and kindergarten teachers to raise Israeli flag and sing 'Hatikva' according to new Education Ministry directives; teachers also required to instruct children on state symbols.

Israeli children wave their national flag as they welcome immigrants to Israel's Ben Gurion airport on May 5, 2008. Four hundred immigrants from 23 countries arrived in Israel today as part of Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations.  AFP PHOTO/DAVID FURST (Photo credit should read DAVID FURST/AFP/Getty Images)

Beginning this September, Jewish nursery and kindergarten teachers will be required to open the week with the raising of the Israeli flag and the singing of "Hatikva," in accordance with new directives issued by the Education Ministry.

The preschool teachers will also be required to teach the children the state symbols once a week. The directives state that by next Independence Day, "All the children will know the words to the national anthem."

From Haaretz Daily Newspaper