Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is in Israel. He arrived in Bnei Brak on Thursday, 8 Shevat 5774 and visited with HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita. Hoenlein listened to the gadol hador regarding the impending chareidi draft as the Shaked Committee finalizes the new chareidi draft law.
Hoenlein is known for his influence on Capitol Hill and following his arrival in Israel a few days ago, he met with the Belzer Rebbe Shlita. He spoke with MK Yisrael Eichler, the rebbe’s representative in Knesset, with Eichler stating the drafting of bnei Torah is not just a blow to the Torah community, but to the State of Israel’s image in the Diaspora.
Following the meeting with the rebbe Hoenlein met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu about the chareidi draft and matters of concern to the international Jewish community.
Hoenlein is quoted telling chareidi representatives that there is people that are willing to hear their voice, promising to act as their shaliach regarding the chareidi draft.
During his visit with Maran Rosh Yeshiva, Hoenlein is quoted saying “It was Siyata Dishmaya that the delegation of admorim did not head to the United States as planned, for he feels it would not have achieve the intended goal of pressuring Israeli leaders to back down with the planned draft of bnei yeshivos. He told the gadol hador he believes there is much that can still be done in Israel via quiet diplomatic channels.
Hoenlein told Maran that with cooperation and achdus more can be accomplished than by seeking to resolve the matter in the public arena.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
I don’t think Mr. Honlein should get involved in the Israeli draft issue. I don’t think we Americans have any business butting into Israeli politics. We should try to be helpful without interfering in their internal affairs.
I give tzedaka to Israeli charities, yeshivas and individuals. I don’t tell them what to do.
iamfenster:
That’s a nice attitude to take if it only involves Israeli politics that do not affect our faith.
Since, unfortunately, the Israeli government is persecuting our religious brethren, there is a need to do what is possible to convince the Zionists to leave the Jews there alone.
I realize it’s a big subject to go into, but I don’t agree. I don’t think our religious brethren are being persecuted, or that we should try to defend them. They need to find a way to get along with their non-frum fellow Jews without me getting involved. If that means serving in the army in greater numbers, or getting jobs in greater numbers, or going on hunger strikes, that’s for THEM TO DECIDE. We should not interfere.
My own sons are finishing yeshiva, moving to Israel, volunteering to serve in the IDF, going to college. I don’t recommend that for everyone, but I think it’s compatible with a frum, Torah observant life. But the main point here is that Israeli Jews need to figure out how to get by without us interfering. Their gedolim need to figure out how to live with others who are different. We do it here. They can do it there.