The following letter was sent by prominent members of the
British branch of Agudas Yisroel to the Israeli Ambassador in
London, Dr. Zvi Shtauber.
Your Excellency,
Thank you for kindly receiving a deputation from the Agudas
Israel Organization of Great Britain.
We represent the views of a large section of chareidim in
this country, and consider it to be our painful duty to
convey to you our deep concern over developments which have
taken place in Israel since last month's Knesset
elections.
Even in the run-up to the elections there have been daily
outpourings of hatred, false accusations and threats against
Israel's chareidim.
Alas, much of this "electioneering" is currently being
implemented in terms of new legislation directed against the
chareidi population.
We particularly have to protest against the annulment of the
status quo which was agreed at the inception of the Jewish
State between the then Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and
Aguda leader Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Lewin.
The status quo agreement stipulated 1) That the Sabbath shall
be the official day of rest and that trade and transport
shall cease on that day. 2) That marriage laws shall be based
on those prescribed by the Jewish Religion kedas Moshe
veYisroel. 3) That all public establishments shall
observe the laws of Kashruth. 4) That those who are
engaged in full time Torah-study shall have their enrollment
to the Army deferred.
Within days of the new government being installed, most of
this status quo agreement has been "torn up," and the rest is
under threat of being abrogated.
It is disgraceful that Justice Minister Lapid is hastily
introducing legislation that some quarter of a million non-
Jewish immigrants shall be integrated into Klal
Yisroel or that mixed marriages as well as those
performed at Registry Offices shall be recognized.
It is equally disgraceful that the Interior Minister has
encouraged the sale of pork in Jewish shops by removing the
authority of local municipal bylaws to forbid this despicable
trade or enforce the observance of the Shabbat in public
places and Government establishments can now be open on
Shabbat and festivals.
At the same time we must express our deep concern over the
fact that the Government intends to curtail its financial
support to yeshivot and kollelim and to cut family
allowances to those who are in greatest financial need.
We are also deeply concerned at the Government's intention to
cancel the agreement that full-time yeshiva and kollel
students shall have their call-up for national service
deferred.
We regret to note that the sudden and sharp U-turn in the
Government's attitude towards Torah and Torah-observant Jews
will lead to a dreaded Kulturkampf and will have a
most damaging overspill towards chareidi Jews in the
Diaspora.
We appeal to the Israel Government to remember -- even at
this late stage -- that Torah observance has been the
backbone and mainstay of Klal Yisroel throughout the
ages and that genuine Jewish continuity can only be achieved
if Torah values are respected and promoted.
In requesting that you convey this document to your
government, we sincerely hope that they will desist from
jeopardizing Torah values in the Holy Land, particularly at
this perilous period when the whole of mankind -- and Israel
in particular -- are so much dependent on Divine help.
Yours sincerely,
Rabbi J M Rosenbaum, Presidium Member of AIGB; Mr. IM
Cymerman, Vice Chairman; Mr. H J Lobenstein, Vice
Chairman; Rabbi C Y Davis, Executive Director
