Perhaps the most frustrating reality is the one that shows frum parties uniting could emerge as a major political entity, one that would have unprecedented input in the governmental decision-making process, but unfortunately, at present, despite optimistic polls, it appears some of the religious parties would have an easier time uniting with the Arab lawmakers than their frum political rivals.
The last time all the religious parties united was 60 years ago, when dati leumi and chareidim joined forces. The Agudas Yisroel party joined with Poalei Agudah, Mizrachi and HaPoel Mizrachi, emerging with 16 seats.
Today, two sons of prominent Gedolei HaDor, Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, the son of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu Shlita, and Rav Yaakov Yosef, the son of Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, are working against the odds to unite the parties for the common good, to give religious voters a serious powerbase, seeking to stop the current reality in which frum parties must seek the mercy of their secular colleagues.
According to Rav Eliyahu, the chief rabbi of Tzfas, he sees two phases of the plan, with the first resulting in the religious bloc becoming a major entity in Knesset, eliminating the need “to seek favors from the other parties.” He also believes, phase two, that the religious bloc can become powerful enough to form the next government and that would mean the next prime minister would come from the united party list, a Shomer Shabbos prime minister.
His optimism is not without reason, for the polls show 30-35 seats, a possible major step up from the current 27 seats as the parties are divided – National Union/National Religious Party (9), Shas (12) and United Torah Judaism (which is Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel) (6).
While Rav Shmuel echoes the wishes of his father, Rav Mordechai [Tzemach ben Mazel Tov] Eliyahu, who remains in serious condition in Shaare Zedek Medical Center, but for Rav Yaakov, this is not known to be the case and Rav Ovadia Shlita has never indicated he favors efforts towards such a unified Shomer Shabbos list.
Unfortunately, at present the momentum that existed in the last election, with members of the dati leumi camp probing towards reaching a deal with the chareidi parties, this time the enthusiasm seems to have dissipated.
On the one hand, the B’Sheva weekly newspaper, described by the daily Haaretz as more ‘chardali’ (chareidi – dati leumi), affiliated with Arutz-7, dedicated its weekly question to such a possibility, a united religious bloc. The comments of some leading voices in the dati leumi camp, primarily elicited as a result of the ongoing controversy surrounding Rav Chaim Druckman’s Shlita beis din and conversions, signals such a unified list is all but an impossibility.
One well-know dati leumi personality is Rabbi Dr. Benny Lau, who stands at the helm of the Yerushalayim-based Morasha Beis Medresh, and also affiliated with the Pelech and Himmelfarb schools, well-known dati leumi institutions of learning. Rav Benny Lau feels that regarding the chareidim, the principle of Jews being responsible for one-another only applies for chareidim within the chareidi camp, and it is not a comprehensive all-inclusive concept engulfing all of Am Yisrael, i.e. the dati leumi stream. Lau feels the chareidim do not feel that they share the same plight as the remainder of the residents of Medinat Yisrael. “Their sons are not sent to the front line and their daughters do not commit to national service. They sustain themselves from charity and yet refuse to take part in the burden of Klal Yisroel,” states Rabbi Benny Lau.
He adds that they [chareidim] cynically comment on the small contribution of the dati leumi rabbonim, who are there to give a supporting shoulder to the general public. Regarding shmitah year and the conversion controversy, Lau is a strong proponent towards the establishment of a beis din and religious services that more closely reflects the value system of the modern state.
Rav Yuval Sherlow, the rosh yeshiva of the Petach Tikvah Hesder Yeshiva has a similar philosophy as was heard in his remarks during a recent gathering in Bar Ilan University to mark the yahrzeit of Zevulun Hammer, a former government minister and long-time leader in the dati leumi camp.
In his comments regarding the concept of a united Shomer Shabbos bloc, he called it a “powerful dream which cannot be realized”.
“The Lithuanian chareidi world does not count us and does not recognize us” Rav Sherlow added, expressing similar views towards chassidim and the Sephardi chareidim.
Rav Sherlow goes on to question the concept of unity when “I stand before the biggest rav and he tells me my kitchen is traif because I use heter mechira shmitah vegetables.”
Rav Sherlow also feels very strongly regarding the issue of frum women MKs and he is unwilling to compromise on this issue, making him incompatible with chareidi parties. “We will not sellout 51% of the religious Zionists in the name of unity,” he concludes.
In a related matter, Rav Sherlow is no less concerned regarding recent splits within the dati leumi camp.
To further complicate unity matters, last week, Rav Chaggai Gross, a former general-manager of “Rabbanei Tzohar”, an organization founded by dati leumi rabbonim towards creating an entity that fits the personality of the modern state, came out strongly against chareidim after Rav Chaim Druckman Shlita was the target of character assassination by chareidi rabbonim in relation to the ongoing giyur (conversion) controversy. In a bold move, he even suggests that members of the dati leumi camp consider boycotting smachot (weddings, bar mitzvahs, and the like) if they are hosted by family members of the chareidi community, explaining “the kashrus is not to our standard.” The same holds true he feels for the occasional chareidi ‘schnorrer’ who comes to one’s door to explain he is not conforming to their standard.
“Due to the declaration of war made against the dati leumi community by the chareidim over recent years, we cannot assist them,” stated Rav Gross.
While the polls stand behind the dream of Rav Yaakov and Rav Shmuel, current realities would suggest such a move is far from a realistic event at present, sadly a commentary on much that is wrong with the frum/Shomer Shabbos/Shomer Shabbat/Dati Leumi streams since without such unity, the frum parties in Knesset will always remain beholden to their secular colleagues, not an ideal formula for building a Torah way of life.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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18 Responses
Great article. The article focuses more on the Dati Leumi joining with the caredi parties than on Shas joining, and with good reason. IMO Shas will NEVER join, regardless of what R’ Yaakov Yosef wants. Shas gave the sephardim in EY an identity, power and a say in how things are run. They were the punching bag of the Ashkenazim for years before that. I would be shocked if they ever voluntarily gave it up. I’m sure if they asked R’ David Yosef for his opinion it would be VERY different than his brother’s.
what happened to enemies uniting to defeat the common enemy?
Its a shame to say this but jews cant stick together.
A very appropiate story for Parshas Korach.
All it would take would be simple statements from the chareidi leadership that they’re interested.
The “Chardalim”, who for the most part control the Mafdal, are very receptive to the idea- even with our disagreements with Shas/Degel HaTorah/Aguda.
At the end of the day, we have more in common than we have that separates us- like it or not.
Why it is not obvious to all the Gedolim and to all frum Yidden – what it says in this article? Even if there are different types of frum yidden, and even if we argue on various details of hashkafa, we all still agree on the basics. Even the Bene-Akiva and the Chareidim still agree on the basics. So why don’t we all join hands together to be able to change the face of Eretz Hakodesh? Wouldn’t this be perhaps the greatest thing since the Churban Habayis, if a religious Yid was possibly the Rosh Memshala in Eretz Yisrael! Someone who believes in Hakadosh Baruch Hu and in the values of the Torah!
How much longer will the Yidden need to suffer the decrees of a leftist-kefiradik government, intent on wiping out every trace of Yiddishkeit? How much longer will we suffer in silence when hundreds of missiles rain down on the Yidden and no one does anything because they don’t believe even in their own roots and in their own selves? How much longer will Yidden be uprooted from their homes and Shtachim be given over to our enemies?
This could all be changed if Yidden gathered together – Be’achdus! Chaza”l say that even the idol worshippers had more siyatta dishmaya when they were be’achdus than the yidden had when they were all learning Torah, but were not Be’achdus. Kal Vachomer if all the believers gathered together be’achdus for the honor of Hashem’s name!
And even for those frum yidden who avoid getting involved in politics, I say: This is not a matter of politics, this is the honor of Hashem! Today, Hashem’s honor is Mushpal Be’afar in this backwards Medinah. If only all the Gedolim would agree to join hands together, Litvish and Chassidish, Sefardi and Mizrachi. We all believe in Hashem, we all agree on the basics. We want to change Eretz Yisrael, to bring the Geulah closer.
Maybe some people out there (reading this) have connections with Gedolim and can convince them for Hashem’s honor that this is best possible thing for Klal Yisrael?
In a practical sense, the existing parties may feel that in joining together they will loose their current representation in the government and therefore not be able to push for the needs that they feel are the most pressing for their constituents. To this end, any number of practical ideas can be implemented. For example, if we all join together under a party named “Emes”, just for example, Shas could still have the same amount of representatives in “Emes” as they had had previously (or maybe an average of the number of mandates that they had in the past 3 elections). And the same for Mafdal and Yahadut Hatorah etc… They can all have the same amount of representatives in the new “Emes” party as they had before. The only difference would be that the party would be ONE party, and that the makeup of the government would be given under their control, and most importantly, a Rosh Memshala who believes in Toras Hashem would be prime minister!
If anyone has any ideas on how to move this idea forward, please post their ideas here. We need to work together towards the Ge’ulah. When we show Hashem our unity and our hishtadlus on this world, it will awaken the Ge’ulah in the spiritual worlds as well!
It is better to have strong individual parties that can actually fight for their own interests rather than one behemoth of a party with conflicting camps which can never actually decide on a policy everyone agrees with. I also highly doubt the accuracy of the poll and would love to see the way it was phrased. The parties can still unite together on the issues which they have in common.
I, for example, would vote for UTJ or maybe Shas, but would NEVER vote for a united UTJ/Shas/NRP party. I am pretty sure many share my sentiments.
an add on to number 2
“He also believes, phase two, that the religious bloc can become powerful enough to form the next government and that would mean the next prime minister would come from the united party list, a Shomer Shabbos prime minister.”
in other words we will have a frum prime minister, when the parties unite i.e. Mohiach
#2,
I don’t think these divisions can be attributed to sinas chinam.
Rather, it is based on views regarding major issues such as the army, shmittah, and conversion, with neither side willing to compromise on what is often a long-held view.
And while we may venture to suggest ‘Eilu V’Eilu Divrei Elokim Chaim’, unfortunately there are practical consequences here too, as it clearly makes it difficult for these groups to form one party.
Ultimately, we have to leave it to our Gedolim to use their discretion where to stand firm and where to compromise.
As I’m writing this, I can’t help wondering how much stronger our Torah World is in Eretz Yisroel and thru’out the world today because of the Gedolim’s steadfastness 60 years ago.
g-d forbid they should get 35 knesset member’s they would absolutely destroy the state of israel in no time,just look at all these small religious parties how much damage they are doing as is,just look at shas,they are the party who single handedly is keeping this traitorous criminally insane gangster,ehud olmert ‘yemach shemo’in power,as long as he keeps bribing them with hundreds of millions of dollars,they don’t care that he is ready to destroy israel
and chase out another 200,000 men women and children from their homes in YESHA,and for those few stinking dollars they are ready to sell our holy jerusalem and they will throw in the golan too[and maybe for a few more shekkels they will throw in their grandmothers too],let’s all pray
that in the next upcoming election, not one of
these so called religous party’s get into the next knesset
by the way i myself am chareidi,and i am disgusted and absolutely ashamed of all the frum parties in israeli,representing the relgious community
chaim
I hope it doesn’t chas v’shalom take another massacre of yeshiva bochurim lo alainu to bring chareidim & dati leumim together in unity. Bottom line is, the anti chareidi quotes in this article are venomous and hateful. I hope these are political figures rather than real Rabbonim. They should realize that although they differ in hashkofo they can still work together as do chassidim & misnagdim do under the flag of agudah
Benny Lau is saying good and straight (a lost ideal in the knesset). This is an utopian ideal, when Mashiach arrives we will still be fist fighting, I know, u know, we know, we are, u are, better, frummer, holier, etc.
BTW you should note what Rav SZ Auerbach zt”l says about eating my someone’s house who serves veggies from heter mechirah. (a yichud with a heart)
You, of all people, should know better than to publish lashon harah. You might simply summarize the differing viewpoints, without quoting. Unfortunately, even having smicha does not prfotect one from the temptation of lashon hara. All of us, including some of those quoted, need to review daily Shmirat Halashon. This sort of situation does not find favor in Shamayim.
Torahis1, we finally agree. When someone states anothers stringency regarding a heter that, in all likelyhood, even the original proponents would not feel should be used today, as a reason to seperate from them, that is not going to bring Moshiach. When someone says not to attend a wedding hosted by someone who prescribes to those beliefs, there is no way to describe that other than sinas chinam. This that he says to lie and blame it on kosher standards when the real reason is political affiliation is a clear example of averah goreres averah.
The issue is simple. The chareidim have to take the necessary steps to demonstrate that the Dati Leumi leadership would be equal partners at the table. But if the chareidim think this is a way to create dominance for themselves on the politcal scene, they are mistaken. A truly unified religious front, in which ALL the religious factions are given equal resepct and consideration would be wonderful. But anything short of that would be a farce.
Number 13 is correct in that the excess votes for a party which are insufficient to sustain an additional mandate, can be shared with a different party in a vote sharing arrangement and thereby not waste the votes.
This would be greatly preferable to a united frum party. If in fact 35 seats could be obtained, the president would likely be compelled to ask the frum party to form a government. A frum government in Eretz Yisrael would be obligated to use the Torah as its political platform. Sadly, I do not believe that Israeli society is prepared to accept or tolerate such a platform.
imagine all Shomer Torah including Eide Hachreides and Satmar vote for one party I think they can form the government without the frei. i’m dreaming
yosself – Satmar, Brisk, and the rest of Eida Hachareidis don’t vote for halachic reasons.