Rabbi Chaim Druckman Shlita, a prominent rav from the dati leumi tzibur visited with the Vishnitzer Rebbe Shlita in Bnei Brak on Sunday, 23 Shevat 5773. Accompanying Rav Druckman was Rabbi Yaakov Ariel (Rav of Ramat Gan), Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu (Rav of Tzfas) and Rabbi Elyakim Levanon (Rav of Elon Moreh and Rav of the Shomron communities).
On Monday ,24 Shevat, Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed Shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Beit El is scheduled to meet with the Gerrer Rebbe Shlita along with Rabbi Tzvi Yisrael Tau (Rosh Yeshivat Har HaMor). Later in the day the delegation will meet with the Belzer Rebbe Shlita as the dati leumi rabbonim appear to be making a genuine effort to work together with the chareidi tzibur as coalition negotiations to form the next government continue.
Srugim reports that a meeting has already taken place between the Gerrer Rebbe Shlita and Rabbi Yaakov Shapira Shlita (Rosh Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav) and Rabbi Simcha HaKohen Kook Shlita (Rav of Rehovot).
Responding to the reports, Shas leader Eli Yishai told Channel 2 TV “New Morning” program that the dati leumi rabbonim are not ‘our patrons and are not empowered to represent us”, calling on the rabbonim to refrain from making deals pertaining to matters of Halacha, the chareidim and the coalition.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
I find it odd, and indeed somewhat presumptious and disrepectful for Yishai to be chastising these chashuve rabbonim, “to refrain from making deals pertaining to matters of Halacha…”. Is it his view that such “deals” should only be made by politicans, or rabbonim of his choosing?
To #1:
Eli Yishai is an ehrliche Yid. Throughout his career, he was mevatel himself to HaRav Ovadia Yosef. He is certainly not presumptious.
#2 Well it was his party, that he is affliated with, who addressed all Bayit Yehudi Rabbonim and followers as GOYIM,, so you can’t have it both ways.
They all have a common interest as well as many interests in common. If a significant number of hareidim (and hareidiot) are engaging in civil disobedience (or worse) as resistance to conscription, it will make it look like the Dati Leumi are serving in the army not out of conviction, but for money or fear of the government. Also if the hareidim are forced to stop supporting the zionist state, the Dati Leumi could be the biggest losers. It is therefore in their interests to look for a compromise (no jail or fines for draft refusal, increase accomodation of hareidim in the army).