There were harsh words appearing in the Hamodia and Yated Neeman on Sunday, 1 Rosh Chodesh Adar II 5774 directed against rabbonim in the dati leumi community. The newspapers came out hours before the Million Man Atzeres, which was ordered by Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita, who announced the tzibur must decry the awful Chilul Hashem, the effort to compel bnei yeshivos to stop learning to enter the IDF.

The newspapers directed their criticism against Rabbi Eliezer Melamed of Har Bracha and Rabbi Chaim Druckman Shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Bnei Akiva and among the elder rabbonim in the dati leumi community.

“Tzohar Rabbonim sharply protests the contempt against talmidei chachamim, led by Rabbi Chaim Druckman and Rabbi Melamed, and we reinforce their position in their position regarding IDF service” the organization’s message begins.

“The chareidi media reveals great hypocrisy – showing great reverence for talmidei chachamim using a double edge sword permitting them to slander those who do not agree with their hashkafa. This affront is further evidence of those who elevate Torah by their worlds but do not permit opinions that do not contain their viewpoints” the rabbonim add.

“This is an opportunity to state once again for those in the dati leumi community calling for participation in the atzeres; How can you partner with this contempt of for talmidei chachamim, ingratitude for the country and the mitzvah to serve in the IDF” the Tzohar statement concludes.

MK (Bayit Yehudi) Shuli Moalem-Refaeli is quoted by dati leumi news sites calling on participants in the atzeres “to learn a few perakim of Hilchos loshon hora”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)