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NEWS
Meeting of Degel HaTorah Secretariat
by S. Bruchi
The Degel HaTorah secretariat, along with representatives of
the chareidi sector from all over the country, met on 17
Teves, before the recent prime ministerial elections, for a
meeting in the Bnei Brak movement headquarters to discuss
current issues of importance.
The meeting was opened by Chairman of the Secretariat, Rabbi
Avrohom Ravitz, who reviewed the activities of the Degel
HaTorah representatives in the Knesset during the past one-
and-a-half year term of Prime Minister Barak. He noted,
"Despite the fact that the heads of the Government were
antagonistic to us, this Knesset term was successful; we
were able to pass several pertinent laws and take care of
many issues important to the chareidi sector."
Rabbi Moshe Gafni, secretary of Degel HaTorah, greeted the
head of the Modi'in-Illit council and its members, as well
as the members of the Elad council, new to the Secretariat.
He wished them success in their new positions. Rabbi Gafni
reviewed the activities of the Degel HaTorah and Agudas
Yisroel representatives during the past Knesset term,
noting: "Despite the fears we had with Barak's rise to
power, the term proved to be far better than we had
expected. We succeeded in passing many laws connected with
the chareidi and religious sectors and other social issues,
among them Rabbi Ravitz' law on prayer services at a place
of employment and Rabbi Halpert's law to raise the children
allotments."
Rabbi Gafni noted: "We joined the coalition at the
directives of the gedolei hador in order to legislate
the issue of bnei yeshivos, and resigned two months
into the term as a result of the turbine affair. But even
when we were in the opposition, we were productive. The
secret of our success is that all of our activities take
place far from the eyes of the media and without our trying
to make big headlines." He then described the activities of
Toda'ah, through whom the representatives of Degel HaTorah
form links with the public at large.
Other speeches were delivered by Rabbi Pindrus, Degel
HaTorah representative in Beitar and Rabbi Greenbaum, Degel
representative from Beit Shemesh. It was decided to hold
another meeting in the near future.
Among the well-known figures at the meeting were Rabbi Uri
Lapolianski, Rabbi Uri Maklev, HaRav Yechiel Tourgeman and
Rabbi Moshe Lachover.
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