Deputy Finance Minister (Yesh Atid) Mickey Levy granted a phone interview to Kol Berama Radio on Wednesday morning, 14 Iyar 5773. Levy was asked to comment on ongoing efforts to compel chareidim to serve in the IDF, the so-called sharing the burden plan.

Levy, a retired Jerusalem police chief who during his Israel Police career also served as the department’s attaché to the United States feels he knows and understands the chareidi community, close-up and from personal experience. He points out that he also grew up in a frum household.

Levy told Lavi that in his capacity as Jerusalem’s police chief he had opportunity to meet with and maintain a good relationship with leading rabbonim in the Eida Chareidis community. He insists that despite allegations leveled against his party, particularly party leader Finance Minister Yair Lapid, the effort to draft chareidim is not motivated by a hate or disdain for chareidim, but by the simple reality that the nation can no longer continue supporting an entire segment of the population “that does not serve in the military or national service or go out and work.” Levy stresses he is not opposed to chareidim, their rabbonim, or their desire to life as they do, but the nation “cannot afford to support them any longer.”

At one point, as the conversation heated up somewhat, Levy referred to chareidim as “parasites/leeches” ( טפילים), but immediately apologized profusely for what he called “a slip of the tongue during a heated debate”.

Lavi attempted to push the “parasite comment”, but Levy insisted he does not have to prove his position regarding the chareidim for his record speaks for itself. He added “if you wish to harp on the slip of the tongue then I will no longer agree to be interviewed on this station in the future.”

Levy feels that the chareidim are missing the point and unfortunately, viewing the legislation to draft them as an assault or an attempt to uproot their lifestyle. Whatever the case may be, Levy feels everyone must do his part and this includes serving and working.

Reflecting back to his tenure as police attaché in the USA, he commented on he saw firsthand how so many chareidim in Brooklyn and other areas learn in the morning, head to work and then learn at night, for they are aware they must earn a livelihood. He named a certain major electronics company which employs many chareidim to back up his point. He feels that Yair Lapid’s comment that parents must support their children was a correct one, and not necessarily aimed at chareidim, but a message for all parents of all walks of life.

Levy insists the introduction of ‘core subjects’ into chareidi schools is not intended as an affront to the lifestyle of chareidim but simply to expand the capabilities of the students towards acquiring the necessary education to one day integrate into society and join the workforce.

The chareidi and secular media alike are having a field day with the “parasite” comment, which focused on Levy’s interview. Some commentators feel that the slip of the tongue is a simple reflection of what the man really thinks, which leaked out in a moment of passion. Others draw a comparison to the pre-election remarks made by Shas’ Aryeh Deri, who spoke in a derogatory fashion about “Ashkenazim and whites”, pointing out that the tzibur forgave Deri because he is chareidi, so the same should hold true here, with Levy, and his comment was immediately retracted and he apologized in every way possible. In the secular media, both on the internet and radio, Levy came under attack for using such a derogatory term against an entire sector.

Lavi asked if Yesh Atid is naïve enough to believe that the chareidim are going to abandon their lifestyle because of threatened budget cuts. Levy explained that for one thing, a school that does not agree to introduce these secular subjects will not and cannot be compelled to do so. However, the state is not compelled to fund a school that refuses to comply with the national standard, adding this too is legitimate.

Levy concluded by explaining it is unfortunate the chareidim insist this is an effort to uproot their lives, Torah observance and traditions when it is merely a policy forced upon a government that is no longer capable of supporting an entire sector that does not wish to pull its own weight. Levy admits that ultimately, the schools may refuse to comply but then they will have to look elsewhere for funding.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)