Last Thursday, the heads of Degel HaTorah met in order to
discuss burning issues on the agenda.
In attendance at the meeting were: the members of the
Rabbinical Committee of Degel HaTorah: HaRav Nosson Zochovsky
and HaRav Tzvi Friedman; the chairman of the Knesset Finance
Committee, Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz; the general secretary of
Degel HaTorah, Rabbi Moshe Gafni, Rabbi Yerachmiel Boyer,
Rabbi Moshe Frank, the chairman of the Jerusalem branch of
Degel HaTorah; Bnei Brak's mayor, Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz;
the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Rabbi Uri Lapolianski; the
general director of Toda'ah, Rabbi Tzvi Baumel; and the
deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Rabbi Uri Maklev.
The deliberation opened with an extensive survey, presented
by Rabbi Ravitz, of the stormy political events and the
effects the Knesset and the 15th government will have on
Torah life in Eretz Yisroel. He stressed that "our main
consideration in electing a Prime Minister must be his
promises and attitude toward the question of the conscription
of yeshiva students and the religious legislation meant to
prevent the undermining of the status quo, which has been
placed on the Knesset's table."
He also described the procedures and activities which until
now have enabled the Torah world to brave the dangers
threatening it. He stressed that these activities were
conducted in light of the instructions and directives of
maranan verabonon, who guide us in every step we take.
"Now we awaiting further instructions from maranan
verabonon regarding the ongoing activities which will
thwart the intentions of those bent on harming us."
Rabbi Moshe Gafni said that in the light of the decision to
hold early elections, Degel HaTorah will begin to organize
all of its branches, and will soon meet with the directors of
Agudas Yisroel in order to coordinate the election
headquarters at an early stage and to prepare the slate for
the Knesset on an equal basis.
Among other issues discussed were the means of broadening the
voter base, as well as the problems with the coalition in the
Jerusalem municipality. Special attention was devoted to Ehud
Olmert's attempt to draw the militant and anti-religious left
into the city coalition, especially its most repulsive
element, whose aim is to defile Jerusalem, something to which
no religious Jew can consent.
Degel's heads said that they were startled to learn that
there are doubts regarding Olmert's fulfillment of the
promises he gave to UTJ's representatives before the
elections. They were shocked by the fact that Mr. Olmert, who
was elected by UTJ adherents, is attempting to undermine the
loyal partnership of five years and the full trust which the
chareidim of Jerusalem put in him.
The public measures to be taken in light of the unprecedented
threat against Torah Jewry caused by the High Court's
decision to transfer deliberations on the question of the
conscription of yeshiva students to a Knesset whose makeup is
unknown, were also discussed. By the same token, the issues
of the involvement of the Reform in the conversion issue and
their inclusion in the religious councils, as well as the
High Court's decision permitting massive Shabbos desecration
on the kibbutzim, also received much attention.
All of those at the meeting unanimously agreed that it is
absolutely clear that Torah Jewry will not enter any
coalition which will not guarantee that every Jew in Israel
who wants to study Torah may do so undisturbed, as has been
the case for the past fifty years. By the same token, it will
not enter a coalition which does not promise to prevent
breaches in the wall of Shabbos, and the involvement of the
Reform in matters of religion.
