The secretariat of Degel HaTorah convened on the 15th of Elul
for an urgent meeting on issues on the public agenda, among
them religious services, government offices and their
attitude toward the Torah world, relationships between
religious and secular Jews and the elections to the municipal
councils of Elad and Modi'in Illit.
At the beginning of the meeting, Rabbis Avrohom Ravitz and
Moshe Gafni presented maranan verabonon's statement
that, "Due to the desire of the prime minister to effect a
secular revolution, we will not negotiate with him over the
dismantling of the Religious Affairs Ministry. Dismantling of
this ministry is the spearhead of his efforts to bring about
a secular revolution."
Intense discussions about the dangers of Barak's "secular
revolution" took place. The spokesman noted that Barak's
dangerous declarations have resulted in palpable changes in
the attitude of government clerks on issues relating to the
Torah world. Obviously the antagonistic and belligerent
attitude prevailing in the Office of the Prime Minster
towards the chareidi sector has affected clerks in other
government offices.
At the meeting, the recent elections in Modi'in Illit and
Elad were discussed. In Modi'in Illit only one slate was
presented: a united slate headed by Degel HaTorah's R' Yaakov
Gutterman, which includes representatives from all circles in
the city. All of the spokesmen praised the kiddush Shem
Shomayim of this slate whose accomplishments in uniting
all residents of the city are unprecedented. This slate has
the approval of maranan verabonon. The spokesmen said
that this slate constitutes a model of unity with the various
groups in the chareidi sector having joined for the sole
purpose of providing for the needs of city residents.
In reference to the dismantling of the Religious Affairs
Ministry, MK Rabbi Ravitz said: "We weren't particularly
enamored with the ministry, and aren't mourning its demise.
However, we are upset that things are being done without
considering the ministry's various functions and how it
helped people on a daily basis.
"A case in point is the Gamzu settlement which has no
religious council. Its mikvo'os had to be heated, and
for that purpose, Gamzu applied to the Religious Affairs
Ministry, which sent fuel.
"Now the Government says that because there is no religious
party in the government, they can do whatever they want. [And
they have stopped sending fuel to Gamzu.]"
Rabbi Moshe Gafni said: "Regarding the changing of laws,
Barak has no majority. We oppose the dismantling of the
Religious Affairs Ministry, and will vote against it. But we
must deliberate upon its outcome in all that pertains to
funds earmarked for the chareidi sector."
He then said that according to Education Ministry records,
the chareidi sector comprises 11% of the overall population,
while it receives only 3.9% of the funds. In addition, 5.5
billion shekels are transferred to the country's educational
institutions by the local authorities; chareidim receive none
of these funds.
Rabbi Ravitz and Rabbi Gafni suggested that Degel HaTorah
organize a team of top-ranking economists to examine the
various budget clauses and prepare a report substantiating
the shocking discrimination against chareidi educational and
Torah institutions in comparison with secular ones.
Rabbi Yitzchok Pindrus said that he opposes dismantling of
the Religious Affairs Ministry, since it will cause massive
damage to the Torah world. He added that we must fight this
plan in every manner possible.
Rabbi Moshe Karp spoke about hatred in the anti-religious
sector for anything related to religion, and proposed the
launch of an explanatory campaign to combat this growing
trend.
Rabbi Avrohom Deutsch said that the media's hatred for
chareidim stems from our siyata deShmaya in outreach
work. "When large groups of people draw closer to
Yiddishkeit, and Torah education is expanding, the
secular become envious of us," he noted.
Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz spoke about the discrimination
against the chareidi sector in all aspects of daily life. He
startled those present with statistics he presented. As a
case in point, he said: "The Education Ministry transferred
money for school trips to the Bnei Brak municipality.
However, this money was only for the secular and the national-
religious schools in Bnei Brak. When I asked the Education
Ministry why chareidi schools didn't receive any money for
trips, they replied: `There's no budget for that.' I sent all
of the money I received back to the Education Ministry, and
only then was I promised that the following year school trips
will be subsidized in all schools."
The secretariat of Degel HaTorah convened on the 15th of Elul
for an urgent meeting on issues on the public agenda, among
them religious services, government offices and their
attitude toward the Torah world, relationships between
religious and secular Jews and the elections to the municipal
councils of Elad and Modi'in Illit.
At the beginning of the meeting, Rabbis Avrohom Ravitz and
Moshe Gafni presented maranan verabonon's statement
that, "Due to the desire of the prime minister to effect a
secular revolution, we will not negotiate with him over the
dismantling of the Religious Affairs Ministry. Dismantling of
this ministry is the spearhead of his efforts to bring about
a secular revolution."
Intense discussions about the dangers of Barak's "secular
revolution" took place. The spokesman noted that Barak's
dangerous declarations have resulted in palpable changes in
the attitude of government clerks on issues relating to the
Torah world. Obviously the antagonistic and belligerent
attitude prevailing in the Office of the Prime Minster
towards the chareidi sector has affected clerks in other
government offices.
At the meeting, the recent elections in Modi'in Illit and
Elad were discussed. In Modi'in Illit only one slate was
presented: a united slate headed by Degel HaTorah's R' Yaakov
Gutterman, which includes representatives from all circles in
the city. All of the spokesmen praised the kiddush Shem
Shomayim of this slate whose accomplishments in uniting
all residents of the city are unprecedented. This slate has
the approval of maranan verabonon. The spokesmen said
that this slate constitutes a model of unity with the various
groups in the chareidi sector having joined for the sole
purpose of providing for the needs of city residents.
In reference to the dismantling of the Religious Affairs
Ministry, MK Rabbi Ravitz said: "We weren't particularly
enamored with the ministry, and aren't mourning its demise.
However, we are upset that things are being done without
considering the ministry's various functions and how it
helped people on a daily basis.
"A case in point is the Gamzu settlement which has no
religious council. Its mikvo'os had to be heated, and
for that purpose, Gamzu applied to the Religious Affairs
Ministry, which sent fuel.
"Now the Government says that because there is no religious
party in the government, they can do whatever they want. [And
they have stopped sending fuel to Gamzu.]"
Rabbi Moshe Gafni said: "Regarding the changing of laws,
Barak has no majority. We oppose the dismantling of the
Religious Affairs Ministry, and will vote against it. But we
must deliberate upon its outcome in all that pertains to
funds earmarked for the chareidi sector."
He then said that according to Education Ministry records,
the chareidi sector comprises 11% of the overall population,
while it receives only 3.9% of the funds. In addition, 5.5
billion shekels are transferred to the country's educational
institutions by the local authorities; chareidim receive none
of these funds.
Rabbi Ravitz and Rabbi Gafni suggested that Degel HaTorah
organize a team of top-ranking economists to examine the
various budget clauses and prepare a report substantiating
the shocking discrimination against chareidi educational and
Torah institutions in comparison with secular ones.
Rabbi Yitzchok Pindrus said that he opposes dismantling of
the Religious Affairs Ministry, since it will cause massive
damage to the Torah world. He added that we must fight this
plan in every manner possible.
Rabbi Moshe Karp spoke about hatred in the anti-religious
sector for anything related to religion, and proposed the
launch of an explanatory campaign to combat this growing
trend.
Rabbi Avrohom Deutsch said that the media's hatred for
chareidim stems from our siyata deShmaya in outreach
work. "When large groups of people draw closer to
Yiddishkeit, and Torah education is expanding, the
secular become envious of us," he noted.
Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz spoke about the discrimination
against the chareidi sector in all aspects of daily life. He
startled those present with statistics he presented. As a
case in point, he said: "The Education Ministry transferred
money for school trips to the Bnei Brak municipality.
However, this money was only for the secular and the national-
religious schools in Bnei Brak. When I asked the Education
Ministry why chareidi schools didn't receive any money for
trips, they replied: `There's no budget for that.' I sent all
of the money I received back to the Education Ministry, and
only then was I promised that the following year school trips
will be subsidized in all schools."
