Former IDF Chief Rabbi Avichai Ronsky was speaking about the financial crisis facing Yeshivat Machon Meir, the premiere dati leumi baal teshuvah yeshiva in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood of Jerusalem that faces possible closure. As one of the yeshiva’s first students the rav cites the importance of keeping Machon Meir and its Meir internet TV broadcasts viable.

Rabbi Ronsky told Srugim News that he recalls when he began learning there 35 years ago when there were two rooms and four students.

Ronsky then commented on remarks made by MK Yoni Chetboun of Bayit Yehudi and former Yesha Council Director Dani Dayan, calling to replace Yesh Atid and The Movement with Shas and Yahadut Hatorah in the coalition.

Rav Ronsky concurs with Chetboun, that a strong connection with the chareidim is essential. He adds that there appears to be a renewed trust on the horizon, reminding us that the ultimatum that found the chareidim in opposition instead of the coalition was made by Yesh Atid and not Bayit Yehudi. Without that ultimatum he feels the chareidim would have entered the coalition.

However, Rabbi Ronsky feels that the chareidim may enter the coalition in addition to The Movement and Yesh Atid and not in place of those parties. “Yesh Atid received 19 seats and therefore it represents a large tzibur in the State of Israel that cannot be ignored…”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)