While it has taken some time, and according to some it is too late, many prominent rabbonim from the dati leumi community have spoken out against government plans vis-à-vis yeshivos. The rabbonim signed a letter on Sunday, 8 Tammuz 5773, perhaps finally realizing the Peri Share the Burden Committee is not only striking against the chareidim, but against dati leumi yeshivos as well. The committee as set 300 talmidim as the maximum number of talmidim in dati leumi yeshivos who will receive a draft deferment annually, to permit them to avoid IDF service as they are classified as the elite.
The more prominent names signed on the letter of over 60 rabbonim include Rabbi Dov Lior (Kiryat Arba), Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira (Rosh Yeshivat Ramat Gan), Rabbi Mordechai Sternberg (Rosh Yeshivat Har HaMor), Rabbi Yeshayahu Meitless, Rosh Yeshivat Nahariya and Rabbi Micha HaLevi, Rav of Petach Tikvah.
The letter begins with the words of Chazal – לא כרת הקב”ה ברית עם ישראל אלא בשביל התורה, continuing to warn of the grave danger faced by talmidim and yeshivot from the various camps. There is also a hint at criticism against Bayit Yehudi Knesset members, explaining they expected the matter to be resolved during recent weeks, but this has not occurred – adding the situation is far from a solution.
The letter is addressed to the elected officials of the Bayit Yehudi party to act to save the yeshivos before it is too late.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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10 Responses
The hilonim have declared war. The Dati Leumi now have to decide which side they are on. Will they choose to go with zionism and the medinah, or with Torah and MItsvos?
This is NOT the first letter against the draft of TORAH SCHOLARS by the Dati Leumi Rabbonim. There was a major meeting months ago at the home of Rav Nebezall with the cooperation of many RZ Rabbanim and RY and a smaller group of Charedi Rabbanim and RY when the first letter was penned at that time.
Moderator – my posted comment here wasn’t meant for this article – sorry!
zionflag wrote:
“cooperation of many RZ Rabbanim and RY and a smaller group”
What is a RZ and a RY?
Let’s go with the working assumption that Zionflag is correct and there was a ‘first letter’ ‘months ago’. In other words, over the past few months there have been two letters by the Dati Leumi Rabbis regarding the grave situation facing Torah learning.
There has not been a day gone by over the past months without Gedolei Yisroel screaming out in unified opposition for the honor of Torah learning at every possible opportunity.
The time has come to call a spade a spade. When you feel pain you scream! When the pain doesn’t bother you too much, you can manage to wait a few months until you pen off your protest. There is no longer any middle ground to stand on. You are either on the side of the Chareidim l’dvar Hashem or on the side of the secular Jews looking to destroy every remnant of Torah U’mitzvos.
to ruchi: I am on the side of Torah and halacha. Yes, that halacha that obligates every husband to go to work and feed his family. Yes, that halacha that says that, in times of danger, every person must go out and defend us militarily. I am on that side!
Dear Rabbi of Berlin,
Why don’t we let Gedolei Yisrael in Israel instruct us how to act? One things is clear – unlike you, according to this article even the Dati Leumi leaders are calling for government leaders to save the Yeshivos! You are clearly not on the side of the Gedolei Yisrael, yet you claim to be on the side of Torah and halacha. History has recorded many individuals such as yourself that place their personal thoughts as superior to Gedolei Yisrael. I wish you well in your modern form of Judaism. I’ll stand firm behind Gedolei Yisrael who walk down the well trodden path of other Gedolim before them holding the banner of Torah True Jews.
How right you are rabbiofberlin. I’m on that side too. The side of Torah and halacha. Ignorance is bliss for some people and we have to leave it at that.
reformrabbiofberlin should tell us this? How preposterous.
I’m on your side too, Rabbi of Berlin.
Please let these Talmidei Hayeshivos, when their time comes and they are forced to go bring parnassa, to be able to go out and find a parnassa legally without prior terms of service for the State.
By introducing the draft plan we are hit double. Of course the more important issue is the actual drafting of bnei yeshivos, but the second issue (which we had untill now as well) is cutting off thousands of people from being able to have a kosher legal parnassa when their time comes. and then you complain why they rely on government money.
Doesn’t the State want to boost the economy by adding thousands of more jobs?
the answer is – NO. Yisroel azin shebo’imos. Ukeshehen yordin hen yordin ad le’afar! They rather want to stick to their so called “Shivyon benetel” principles rather then boost their economy.