Health Minister Menachem Litzman on Wednesday, 14 Kislev, met with HaGaon HaRav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita to explain the situation in Arad and the frum community, particularly Gur Chassidim. While Litzman is seeking to bring Degel Hatorah on board, not everyone is convinced over the purity of the battle, some chalking it up to politics between Gur and Arad City Hall. In addition, in the quid-pro-quo game of chareidi politics in Israel, Degel is already reminding Gur that when Degel’s Councilman in Haifa was under fire, Gur distanced itself while Agudas Yisrael came to his side, with Gur unwilling to become involved.
Askan Menachem Gesheid has been called into action, hoping to build a unified chareidi position vis-à-vis Arad. He met with Shas leader Aryeh Deri earlier in the week, and on Tuesday, he met with Rav David Shapira, a grandson of Maran Rav Shteinman who has the Gadol Hador’s ear. Gesheid insists the events in Arad are not about politics and Gur, but simply an affront to Kovod Shomayim, compelling all of chareidi Jewry to unite against Arad City Hall. He maintain the magnitude of the Chilul Hashem in Arad is such all the chareidim must unite in their response. There are also allegations that Gur in Arad has fallen out of favor with Chabad in the city, and this is adding to the complicated situation but Gesheid insists these statements are not based fact and relations between Gur and Chabad in Arad are fine.
Litzman wanted all shuls in chareidi areas around Israel to daven musaf this Shabbos in the street as a unified message to Arad but at present, Gedolei Hador do not appear to be on board.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Can’t unite together
DO NOT GET INVOLVED!!
This is a Gur takeover – and the traditional & religious residents of Arad who have used this shul for the last 30 years are fighting back. This is the shul where they had their barmitzvohs, brissim, simchos and tefillohs of Yamim Tovim for years under their Rav.
The Chassidim need a shul and beis medresh for sure!!!!… yet what is the connection to this long-lasting Ashkenazic shul of the community.
Litzman is heading a Rabble-Rousing group to define this as a GLOBAL ISRAELI PROBLEM of anti-Chassidim or anti-Charedim or anti-Torah. It is nothing of the kind and please investigate and research before joining & BELIEVING his rhetoric. Litzman is a popular and efficient MK for health services yet in this case he is completely biased!!!
If Gur needs a new shul due to its growth, they are welcome to build one.
The city shul is just that, belonging to everyone. There is little chance that the locals will continue to use it, if Gur takes over. Therefore, the true kevod shomayim would be letting the community retain their mikdash me’at, rather than this hostile takeover.
Chabad has done their enormous share of such, basically parasitising a community synagogue, but at least they try bringing the locals in and doing some sort of kiruv, albeit well mixed with their own agenda.
Gur is exclusive, and is being unfair and bullying. There is a reason the gedolim aren’t taking their side.