United Torah Judaism MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni has called for a
Knesset debate on whether the State Prosecutor Edna Arbel
can continue in office after she publicly spoke out against
posek hador, Maran Hagaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elishaiv,
shlita.
Arbel attacked HaRav Eliashiv's criticism of the High Court,
claiming that his remarks had "an element of violence about
them."
In a letter to the Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg, Rabbi Gafni
wrote that "such criticism, and far worse, has been made for
years by various public figures, legal experts, former
Supreme Court judges, ministers and MKs.
However, currently there is a disconcerting and serious trend
to silence Rabbonim and morei hora'ah.
"The unbridled attack on Maran HaRav Eliashiv, who is the
supreme halachic authority of Jews the world over,
constitutes an inexcusable affront to those Jews, and marks
the imminence of the end of the democratic era in Israel.
"However, this past Thursday (13 Shevat), something far more
serious occurred when the State Prosecutor, whose function is
purely professional-judicial, said that Maran HaRav
Eliashiv's remarks contain an `element of violence.'
"Who sent her to try and undermine the honor of such a large
segment of the community, which heeds his authority? Who
appointed her to interfere in such a controversial public
issue? What motivates her to undermine, in so acerbic a
manner, the elemental right of freedom of expression?"
Rabbi Gafni also sent a letter to Environment Minister Daliah
Itzik, who attacked the idea of sifrei yuchsin.
Itzik's claim was that the idea was "racist in its
essence."
"Maran, the gaon HaRav Eliashv, shlita, spoke
about the need to organize geneological records in which
every Jew will be registered in an organized manner.
"The reasons he feels this is necessary are: a) the State of
Israel and the offices responsible for this issue have failed
in these registrations, b) the number of non-Jews who have
immigrated to the country is escalating, c) the High Court
rulings on this issue which contradict the halacho.
"I was shocked to hear your attack in the media, as part of
your attempt to offend a large section of Israeli and
worldwide Jewry which heeds the authority of HaRav Eliashiv,
and your attempt to undermine the Jewish and democratic
identity of the State of Israel, and the elementary right of
freedom of expression. "You did all this even before you
examined the issue at hand."
The secular officials were reacting to remarks HaRav Eliashiv
made to the Am Echod delegation, which visited his home last
week.
During a meeting with the group, HaRav Eliashiv stressed the
urgent need to raise the issue of genealogical records on the
public agenda, and to take practical measures to implement a
plan to start registration in a sefer yuchsin.
Yated Neeman's front page report on the issue last
week prompted a wave of reaction in the secular media, which
bandied the issue in its news broadcasts and news summaries
throughout the entire day.
Other political figures and journalists joined the outspoken
criticism. Rabbonim and chareidi activists added that the
anger against the idea of a sefer yuchsin indicates a
total ignorance on this issue. The genealogical record will
not differentiate between Jews (only between Jews and non-
Jews) and its sole purpose is to prevent intermarriages,
caused by the specious recording of non-Jews as Jews, a
phenomenon which should worry all Jews.
All circles of chareidi Jewry are of the firm opinion that
the dangerous objective of silencing daas Torah and
dvar halocho must be curbed.
It is inconceivable that maranan gedolei Yisroel, in
their deep concern for klal Yisroel be prevented from
expressing daas Torah on issues of utmost importance
to the Jewish Nation.
