One of the leading moderate voices in the dati leumi community is Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, the rosh yeshiva of the Petach Tikvah Hesder Yeshiva and a founder of Rabbanei Tzohar. This week however, the rabbi’s remarks elicited the ire of many, in the religious and non-religious camps.
The rabbi was a panel member at an event hosted in the community of Efrat addressing protest and insubordination in the IDF. Rav Cherlow explained that if he would have know then what is evident now, the results of the 2005 implementation of the Disengagement Plan, he would have told his soldiers to disobey orders.
He spoke of the grave injustice committed against the residents of Gush Katif, and today, how so many are working to assist them to get their lives back on track. He explained that if another withdrawal involving expulsion is on a future agenda, the rabbi believes insubordination may be the call of the hour. This marks the first time the rav has entertained refusal of orders as a possibility, usually the sought-after voice by opponents of such action, but now, perhaps having learned the lessons of Ariel Sharon’s expulsion, moving towards the other camp.
The rav’s talmidim however explain this just is not so, and there is “no dramatic change” insisting the rav remains at the forefront of opposing insubordination in the military.
Labor MK Eitan Cabel did not waste time, labeling the “former moderate a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.
Kadima MK Otniel Schneller, who is also affiliated with the dati leumi camp added “A Zionist dati leumi never refuses an order”. He warned the rav’s statements are “dangerous”.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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4 Responses
So the leftists will not attack this rabbi even though they themselves brought up the idea of soldiers refusing orders on a political basis.
It was the leftists who years ago said soldiers should refuse orders when it was to protect the terrorists the leftists have always loved and supported.
Sorry; I meant to say the leftists will ‘now’ attack this rabbi.
schneller is not dati leumi. He is chiloni leumi. he is a traitor and should not be called one of the dati leumi group. it is a bizayon for the many good datiim leumim
“I vas just following orders.”
Didn’t we hear this somewhere before…?
(like about 65 years ago at Nuremburg.)
This is the approach we want Jewish soldiers ro follow?
I think NOT.