The Central Committee (Secretariat) of Degel HaTorah met in
the movement's Bnei Brak office last week. The meeting was
attended by Degel HaTorah representatives in the Knesset and
in the municipal councils. At the meeting, the Knesset
members presented reports on their activities in the Knesset
and the Government since the founding of the current
Coalition some five months ago. Productive, penetrating
discussions were held on a broad gamut of issues. Tribute
was also paid to the memory of the Ga'avad of Shearis
Yisroel, HaRav Chaim Shaul Karelitz, zt"l.
The meeting was opened by HaRav Nosson Zochovsky, a member
of the Degel HaTorah Rabbinical Committee. In his remarks
about HaRav Karelitz, he cited the Ga'avad's loyalty
and trustworthiness, as well as his total obedience to
gedolei Yisroel. He said, "It is written; `Olas
tomid ho'asuyoh beHar Sinai,' " meaning that a sacrifice
that one offers daily must be as perfect as the original one
offered on Har Sinai. The enthusiasm of people involved in
communal affairs generally wanes as time goes by. However,
this enthusiasm persevered throughout the Ga'avad's
involvement in communal work, neither waning nor
dissipating.
"The Ga'avad enthusiastically carried out all his
tasks. He would run with the same fervor that characterized
him thirty years ago. Communal activists grow weary at
times. But they should regard each challenge as a new one,
both in individual and communal matters. The Ga'avad
also taught us to show deference to gedolei Yisroel.
He would always seek the opinion of Maran the Rosh
Hayeshiva, shlita, nullifying his own opinion in the
face of Maran's, and then hasten to execute his bidding. He
was unique in our times in the manner in which he nullified
his opinion in favor of those of the gedolei
Yisroel.
"The Ga'avad felt that bnei Torah should
unite, and would always come to meetings for that purpose.
We are obligated to continue to uphold his legacy," HaRav
Zochovsky continued.
Chairman of the Secretariat, Deputy Education Minister MK
Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz, also paid tribute to the
Ga'avad, citing the phrase, "umiMidbor
Matonoh," which Chazal explain homiletically to mean
that whoever nullifies himself like a desert is given the
Torah as a gift. "The Ga'avad was such a man. He was
a shaliach derabonon. For him there was no left which
is right, and right which is left. For him, there was a
right which is right, and a left which is left. He would
change his opinion the moment he heard that of the
gedolei Yisroel. He was a man of truth, a man of
mesiras nefesh, the emissary of gedolei
Yisroel on various issues. His deeds were his teachings,
and that is what remains for us."
Following these remarks, Rabbi Ravitz reviewed his
activities in the Education Ministry, saying: "People think
that when we are in power and hold positions, we can correct
everything. If we manage to do less than that, they think
that we have done nothing. In the past, we had many
complaints about the Education Ministry. When I entered the
Ministry I found that every single department was
antisemitic, including the Torah Culture department. We were
considered second class citizens. From the outset, this
Ministry was built on the principle that there are 150
thousand (chareidi) children who are regularly ill-
treated."
Rabbi Ravitz cited a wide variety of examples to indicate
that the chareidi sector has been deprived for many years.
"I plan to establish a professional investigation committee
to ascertain whether the chareidi educational systems
receive what they deserve. This has always been a corrupt,
hostile ministry. Only lately, under the current Education
Minister Limor Livnat -- someone who is interested in
equality between the chareidi and non-chareidi sectors -- a
favorable atmosphere has begun to prevail."
Rabbi Ravitz noted a number of rulings issued during the
previous period of Yossi Sarid which have been canceled due
to his recent efforts, following tremendous battles. He
noted that in the upcoming school year, he will be in charge
of classroom allocation to the chareidi educational system.
"The chareidi system currently includes 150,000 students.
There are also many Sephardi institutions that are
requesting classrooms. In the Shas network there are another
15,000 students, and in the upcoming school year, we will
divide the classrooms in an equitable manner. But we still
have a long way to go to meet the tremendous demand that has
accrued in the wake of discrimination over the years," Rabbi
Ravitz concluded.
Secretary General of Degel HaTorah and Chairman of the
Knesset Internal Affairs Committee, MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni,
opened with a hesped for HaRav Chaim Shaul Karelitz.
He then reviewed at length the coalition agreement with the
Likud. "Sharon gave the Labor Party, Shas and the Russians
everything they asked for. But he abandoned us and in this
way was able to form his government quickly. After lengthy
negotiations, we signed the agreement with him. We sought to
pass a law on the issue of the draft of bnei yeshiva
prior to the formation of the Government as a condition for
our support, and it was passed. We asked that all issues
pertaining to the religious status quo be anchored in
legislation. We received positions in the Finance Committee
and in the Education Ministry, with clearly defined,
extensive authority, and Rabbi Ravitz was placed in charge
of chareidi education in the Ministry. We received key
positions in the Housing Ministry and the Interior Affairs
Committee. In addition, Rabbi Ravitz serves as a member of
the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.
"We are satisfied with Prime Minister Sharon and with his
policy of restraint. His attitude toward us is an
improvement on that of previous prime ministers. When
occasional problems arise, he displays a positive attitude
and tries to solve them. We have encountered no important
problem that hasn't been solved. After a turbine was
transported on Shabbos, Sharon issued an order prohibiting
any further transfers. After Peres met with Arafat on
Shabbos, instructions were issued to government ministers
not to hold Shabbos meetings. Ariel Sharon knows that if we
are dissatisfied and subsequently resign from the coalition,
that will be the end of the Government."
Rabbi Gafni later spoke at length about the harsh reality
encountered by Degel HaTorah representatives wherever they
turn, and the fact that discrimination against the chareidi
sector by government offices and local council heads
increases daily. He attributed this fact to the countrywide
success of the chareidi sector. "We feel threatened in the
Education and Justice Ministries. The clerks are against us,
as are the mayors, but nonetheless, we succeed. The mayors
see that the chareidim go to new places, found communities,
and as a result, they cause us more problems. This is an
intolerable situation. We have a choice between not
succeeding, so that they won't be afraid of us, or
succeeding, and letting them fear us. Sarid left behind
scorched earth in the Educational Ministry, and Rabbi Ravitz
had to turn the Ministry clock back by two years. It's not
an easy process."
Rabbi Gafni mentioned UTJ's struggle over the Jerusalem
Religious Council. "At the directive of HaRav Yosef Sholom
Eliashiv, we agreed that there should be a professional
managerial committee. We have been proving all along that
Degel HaTorah is the leading factor in all the battles of
chareidi Jewry. As a result, we have become delegitimized
throughout the State," he concluded.
Bnei Brak Mayor Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz noted that the
Degel HaTorah representatives are struggling to preserve the
status quo, and that it is important that the public know
that this is a very difficult battle. Our needs have grown
and there are no chareidi Jews in any government offices;
thus no one who understands our needs. The situation is
similar in the municipal councils, and our representatives
must concern themselves with petty matters -- involvement
which sometimes takes place at the expense of more important
issues.
"Today, and in recent years, more than in the past, so many
decisions by government ministries and municipal councils
have been anti-religious. In our battles, we must reach out
to broader sectors, so that they will feel at ease
identifying with our message."
Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Rabbi Uri Lapoliansky noted that even
if all members of the Jerusalem Municipality were chareidi,
the municipal clerks would still find ways to circumvent us.
"There is no doubt that there have been positive changes,
and we feel that progress has been made, but change should
take place not only with respect to possible activities, but
also between the national and local governments. It is
important to bring about stronger cooperation between the
Knesset members and the various ministries at this time: a
time when we have found willingness to hear and accept, a
willingness resulting from connections that were made
between various ministries and the Degel HaTorah
representatives in the local councils. It is important to
help each other, and to find solutions for the problems with
which we all grapple."
Rabbi Mordechai Blau mentioned that Toda'a, the
organization founded by Maran HaRav Eliezer Menachem Shach,
shlita, is currently in difficult straits. "On
erev Pesach we had to cancel the Toda'a youth
activities, due to a lack of funds. In time for the summer,
Rabbi Gafni convened an emergency meeting and we managed to
conduct activities in various cities, with the help of the
heads of the local councils and Degel HaTorah. Some Torah
shiurim did not have to be closed down. However, the
avreichim have received neither salaries nor
reimbursement of travel expenses for an entire year." He
called to those present at the meeting to rally to the aid
of this important organization.
Rabbi Eliezer Greenbaum, a member of the Beit Shemesh City
Council, briefly reviewed the situation in his city, noting
that today there are 30,00 chareidim in Beit Shemesh, as
opposed to 5000 a few years ago. "The chareidi educational
system constitutes 50 percent of the city's overall
education system, yet it has no significant political
power," he said.
"The mayor, Danny Vaknin, is afraid that the city will
become chareidi, and almost no chareidi educational
institutions have received municipal subsidies. Nearly all
of the chareidi educational systems are located in rented
rooms, and in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef, not one kindergarten
has a permanent home. He gave two classrooms to the
kindergarten classes of the Talmud Torah, but now he intends
to abandon those classes. Since this phenomenon is likely to
reoccur in other cities, Knesset members should consider
Beit Shemesh as an important precedent. The MKs should give
the Beit Shemesh affair their urgent attention, and if we
succeed there, others will be apprehensive of us, too."
Rabbi Chaim Williger of Haifa urged that a day-long seminar
be held for Degel HaTorah representatives throughout the
country, where important issues would be clarified.
Rabbi Avrohom Feiner, a member of the Jerusalem Municipal
Council, commended the fact that the [Jerusalem] educational
institutions do receive what they deserve. He called for the
inclusion of student allotments for the chareidi educational
institutions in the basis of the state budget. He also
discussed the shortage of classrooms in Jerusalem, noting
that the chareidi educational system lacks 1000 classrooms.
He praised the work of the director of the Municipal
Chareidi Education Department, Rabbi Binyamin Cohen.
Rabbi Shimon Hadad said that he had merited to be one of the
first students of HaRav Chaim Shaul Karelitz, zt"l.
He said: "He established generations of Sephardi bnei
Torah, having been inspired by the Chazon Ish, the
Brisker Rav and yibodel lechayim tovim ve'arukim,
Maran HaGaon HaRav Eliezer Menachem Shach, shlita.
HaRav Karelitz taught us that hashkofoh issues take
precedence over financial issues. In his merit, we have an
illustrious community, not a community consisting of those
trying to gain control of Sephardi Jewry through monopolies.
A proposal has been made by these elements to start a
chareidi television channel. All of us know how much damage
that could cause. I bless Rabbi Ravitz and Rabbi Gafni for
their efforts on behalf of the community, and ask them to
denounce those who pretend to represent the Torah-loyal
sector."
Rabbi Moshe Man also paid tribute to the memory of HaRav
Chaim Shaul Karelitz, who was moser nefesh in his
fulfillment of the wishes of Maran, the Rosh Hayeshiva.
"HaRav Karelitz regarded the kashrus network of
Shearis Yisroel as the most important project of his life,
and we have a sacred obligation to strengthen it." He then
suggested that the Degel HaTorah Knesset members hold
reception hours once a month on public issues, for the
benefit of Torah and educational institutions. He also said
the communal representatives must present reports detailing
their handling of issues discussed at previous meetings. He
also mentioned the very difficult financial situation of
Toda'a.
Rabbi Yaakov Gutterman, head of the Modi'in Illit Municipal
Council, thanked the members of the Knesset for their
efforts to secure grants and loans for those who bought
apartments in Modi'in Illit, although Modi'in Illit did not
appear on the Housing Ministry list of settlements eligible
for such aid. He asked that the issue of "recognized,
unofficial education" be raised and suggested ideas for
reducing the bureaucracy plaguing the directors of the
educational institutions.
The meeting was attended by the following members of the
Party governing body: Yosef Abu, Aharon Agasi, Yaakov Asher,
Dovid Boyer, Tzvi Baumel, Yehoshua Buchnik, Mordechai Blau,
Moshe Ben-Shoshan, Yosef Becker, Yitzchok Ber, Yissochor
Bergman, Dovid Breuer, Shimon Hadad, Nosson Cohen, Shmuel
Epstein, Chaim Fuchs, Avraham Feiner, Yaakov Gutterman,
Yehoshua Gold, Mordechai Goldberg, Shlomo Goldental, Moshe
Gafni, Shmuel Grossman, Eliezer Greenbaum, Yaakov Hesse,
Moshe Karp, Ben-Tziyon Kugler, Uri Kaminski, Mordechai
Karelitz, Uri Lapoliansky, Moshe Lachover, Mayer Lantzman,
Moshe Man, Uri Maklev, Yitzchok Neshri, Avrohom Ravitz,
Avrohom Rubinstein, Yaakov Rosenstein, Yitzchok Reich,
Menachem Schwartz, Moshe Shiffman, Aryeh Shtauber, Yeshayahu
Smutni, Shlomo Stern, Yechiel Turgeman, Chaim Williger,
Eliyahu Weinman, Yaakov Virazhbinski and Yehuda Yabrov.
