Tensions between the litvish and chassidish faction of Yahadut Hatorah have been rising since elections. There is an ongoing machlokes as to splitting the limited number of positions given to the party, with the litvish Degel Hatorah faction demanding additional representation while the majority chassidish Agudas Yisrael faction insisting this will not be the case.
Degel faction members boycotted a meeting on Monday 29 Iyar in an act of protest, leaving only the members of Agudas Yisrael in attendance. The meeting was called to reach a decision regarding the distribution of positions among the faction members. The crux of the machlokes is which faction will receive the task of being a member of the committee that appoints dayanim?
Efforts to reach agreement have failed to date, and the failed efforts led to Degel absenting itself from the meeting. Hence the meeting was only attended by Yaakov Litzman, Meir Porush, Menachem Eliezer Moses and Yisrael Eichler. The two Degel Hatorah faction members, Moshe Gafne and Uri Maklev were no shows.
Some are concerned that if the factions continue in this fashion it may result in a split.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
A split will equal no seats. For the sake of klal Yisrael, I hope that doesn’t happen.
That would be rather dumb. The most likely result is that neither party would pass the threshold. And acting petty might encourage more Ashkenazi hareidim to support the anti-zionists – by abstaining.
Nu, even a husband and wife have the occasional disagreements. Let’s not make a mountain out of this molehill.
ENOUGH!!! Rachmanus on our Tatteh in himmel to see His children fight like this. Does anyone think this is Lichvodo.
Weren’t the parties started to solely advocate for Torah and not to function as normal political parties?
Where are the Gedolim?
Why has it become a power grab on the account of the Yidden the supposedly represent?
Are these parties and the rabbonim who answer their shailos at all interested in what effect these fights between Torah factions might have on potential or new baalei teshuvah? It makes perfect sense that people disagree, including in the Torah world. We’re not monolithic. But to bring the fighting to a level that threatens the ability of the ability of the Torah parties to have a say in the government after working so hard to get it looks cynical and selfish on the part of everybody involved. Even people who are supposed to stand for Torah are nothing but a bunch of low-life politicians!
#5,#6
If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.
Samuel Johnson
Leave it to the litvaks to demand what they don’t deserve. N
And today is Yom haMeyuchos where haShem declared ואתם תהיו ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש. Can’t we act the role???
Let Degel go and establish friendly relations with Chabad and Steinsalz.
Degel has been a problem from day one. The real Litvish representative is Poresh. The decision to originally allow Degel to run with Agudah was a mistake. However, it was excusable because Agudah did not wish to risk not passing the threshold. In retrospect it would have been better to skip Knesset representation than to merge with them. The lack of foresight and insight was sad but forgivable. Now Agudah can pass the threshold with out Degel votes. Litzman may even wish to apologize to Poresh for the callous and improper treatment his father received at the hands of Ger when the agreement was originally made. In addition proper relations with Chabad may make Belz easier to deal with. Relations with Steinsaltz may make it easier to deal with the Religious nationalists.
This is a fight to select Dayanim, and dayanim is torah!
Therein lies the problem. Where there is no unity, you become fodder for others politically.
All this shows is that it’s everyone for themselves and Torah doesn’t really enter the picture. What can we expect from Chilonim when this is what they see from us?