One of the candidates in the presidential election, which takes place on Tuesday, 12 Sivan 5774 is retired Supreme Court President Dalia Dorner. The ultra-liberal secular justice is seeking to find common ground that might gain her chareidi votes.

In a pre-election interview Dorner explains that she will work to bridge the gap between the sectors of Israeli life, placing an emphasis on equal rights for all. She then mentions “my grandfather was a rav”.

In her message to the chareidim Dorner says “I think social rights are essential to your tzibur and my heart is with you. At the end of the day we must remember the state is a Jewish democratic one and you too must be remembered. I was told to tell you and I do just that. I am not in the habit of telling every day that my grandfather of blessed memory was a rav”.

The Supreme Court did not always maintain best of relations with the chareidi tzibur. What is your position?

Regarding human rights, the court generally intervenes when they are violated. If one sector receives rights and another does not for political reasons, for one has political might, then the court intervenes. I can understand that this upsets people, those who already were granted these rights but at the end of the day, and I want to stress here that the Supreme Court protects the weak. Years ago, when Netanyahu was finance minister and Lapid’s father was in the government, what occurred was an affront to the children in the weaker sectors. They turned to the Supreme Court and I headed that panel and demanded the government set criteria into place but I quit before getting the response. Here you can see the need [for court intervention]…” (She was referring to the abolition of monthly child allowance payments).

Is there a change of bridging the vast gaps between the sectors of Israeli life?

I must remain optimistic. You know the social responsibility that we are responsible for one another and this is one of our Jewish values. As president I will definitely voice this.

Who among the chareidi MKs is supporting you?

From Shas Amnon Cohen signed among the dozens of signatures that permitted me to run.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)