Since the pained, and admittedly sharp, words of MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni last week in the Knesset about Shas joining the World Zionist Organization (WZO) we have heard bitter reactions [from Shas] whose basis is hard to fathom. One who looks at recent events with a little historical perspective rubs his eyes in wonder. What is incensing them?
Are we the ones who are responsible for what happened to the Sephardic Jews in the early days of the State? Did we shore off any payos? Were we the ones who broke into the communities even in the original countries with new "modern" education like the Alliance Israelite Universelle whose effect was to estrange the younger generation from their glorious Jewish heritage? Did we bring them to Eretz Yisroel in a way that would rob them of their spiritual heritage and dignity? And later on did we come with hypocritical offers to right the past wrongs with artificial solutions which involved further exposure to the sinful culture of the West which was in effect only pouring gasoline onto the burning embers?
And do we not — now as always — do our best to truly restore their heritage, even while we have our own struggles and issues, try to help them whenever we can in their spiritual quests. Rabbi Gafni personally is one of the founders of the chareidi community in Ofakim in which Sephardic Jews are the majority.
How is it that you suddenly stand with the atheist and Leftist groups who are the patrons of the Reform movement in Israel?
No sophisticated pontificating, nor apologetics will change the facts that these are groups that attack religion in general and the Sephardic chareidi community in particular, both the Leftists and the Rightists. They mean the Torah community no good, and are particularly worried about the threat at the ballot box that Shas represents to them.
May we be silent at such a time, when the boundaries that were set and respected for years are breached?
As Rabbi Gafni said, we have no intention of ceasing, even for a minute, our battle against the militant secularists. We will never recognize the Reform as a legitimate Jewish group, no matter what. We will also protest and criticize anyone else who weakens the chareidi position, and these critical principles.
If anyone is offended by these efforts, let him consider who has attacked him throughout the years, and from whom he has suffered the most. Let him not confuse a an upset and pained old friend with a hater who pretends to want to help him.
